Happy Birthday Boys!

Tomorrow Mack and Morgan turn 2. I really can't believe it! Kent and I were talking about how the memory of their birth day is still vivid in our minds and that 2 years really does seem to fly by. In hindsight. The reality of having the boys these past 2 years has been slow moments and days but quick years.

We have been through a lot the past 2 years as a family and looking back I feel like the Lord blessed us with the boys so that we couldn't worry to much about the day to day things. We have just been in survival mode and have not had a chance to worry at details really. Probably a good thing!:)

These guys are so adorable and fun and sweet that I feel extremely lucky to be their mom! I still don't know how we have done it and honestly can't believe most of the time that they are mine. I love them both so much though and can't wait for more years and more birthdays!

Happy Birthday Mack and Mo! We love you!!!

love,
Mom, Dad, Emma and Claire

My little guys

How do you get mad at a face like that? Morgan is definitely the dominate twin of the two. If there is ever anything that he wants he has no problem taking it away from Mack. Take a look at breakfast this morning?:)
Twins are so much fun...a lot of work but FUN!

We made it to 1!!!!

Today is the day that one year ago our lives changed. The day was super snowy and cold and unexpected weather for March. Unexpected has been the word to describe these boys.

The boys are such a joy! From the first Dr appointment that was unexpected to their early arrival they have been a pleasant surprise. They have been a joy to have in our house and I wouldn't change a thing.

Happy Birthday Boys!!!

We had a nice day yesterday celebrating their "big #1" as my dad put it. Thanks to family who helped with the food and the fantastic presents.

love,
mom, dad, Emma and Claire

Blessing Day

Yesterday was Mack and Morgan's blessing. It was such a great day and we were very lucky to have most of our family there. Kent and I both are the 7th of 8 kids so you can only imagine how many people make up our families together in one place!:)
Kent did a great job and it was a nice moment in time to reflect how much our lives have changed in such a short amount of time. Looking back at the photos of the day Kent commented on this photo that we are a really big family now. It was one of the moments when reality hit. Crazy!!! We have 4 kids!!!! Thanks to all our family for coming and helping us with the food! We felt very loved and supported once again!:)



Mack and Morgan after the blessing. They were zonked!



W. Mack holding Mack W.



The boys in their outfits. They were happy the entire day until I tried to take a picture of them.



The boys post party. What a great day!

Morgan holding Mack...

No matter how far apart I put these guys in their crib they always end up together...linked. I can't explain but just thought it was cute!:)

Boys home week 2

We are having a great time with the boys home and adjusting to life with 4 kids! I must say that having them home has been a bit easier than I thought it would be. It does help that the NICU put them on a great schedule and that the girls are a HUGE help! I was telling Kent last night that before I had them I could not comprehend having two babies at once! Now I could not comprehend having only one of them at a time. I couldn't imagine what Claire and Emma would do if they actually had to share a baby. This way they each get their own!:) Every morning Emma comes into our bed after Kent and I have fed them and asks to hold one of them. Kent always asks her who and she will yell out randomly whoever she can think of. So yesterday it was Mack and today it was Morgan. Her day I guess can't start without her boy fix!
The only difference between 2 and 4 is the amount of free time I have. With 2 I had a little bit of free time when Claire went down for her nap and Emma watched her show. Now I have zero free time from 6:30am-11:30pm. It just never lets up! That is an adjustment I am learning to make!

I did venture out myself with all the kids twice last week. Once to Target then to Costco. It wasn't that I needed anything so desperately that I needed to brave the stores. It was more about me knowing that I could do it if I needed to. Kent thinks I am crazy and he is probably right! It is easy right now I think because they are just sleeping and not mobile. Check back with me when they are actually moving and having a voice.:)

On a small update of how they are growing they weighed them last week and they were 5 pounds and 2 ounces exactly. That is the 16% on the preemie charts. Not even close to the "normal" baby charts. They are getting bigger though and other than not having enough preemie clothes to fit them life is great! I defiantly can't complain!!!!

Also, yesterday all my sisters and sisters-in-law came over to "help" but really it was just a good excuse to get together and have an awesome lunch and let the kids play. It was so nice and thoughtful of them to come and a ton of fun. What would I do without family and especially sisters/sister-in-law? Thanks you guys!

(still can't figure out the pictures! Honestly, I need help!!!)
1.Mack and Morgan in custom made onesies. Thanks Ellen and Liz Hoke!
2.Emma holding Morgan (I think?!)
3.Hannah holding cousin Charlie
4.Sarah holding Mack, Mom holding Morgan
5.Action shot! Mack wouldn't hold still. Custom made onesies thanks to Aunt Dree!

Our boys are coming home!!!

We just found out this morning that they are coming home tomorrow. I can't even believe it! I must say that I am quite excited and very nervous because "real life" will start. Being in the NICU has been an interesting experience to say the least and I am grateful for all the doctors and nurses who have been so great to our boys and to our family! With that said though, the NICU is like baby jail.:) We have to complete baby CPR training and monitor training and have had training all day long today. What ever we need to do though I will do!
Mack will have to come home on a heart monitor which will scare the life out of me if it goes off...but other than that the boys are doing great! They are both 5 pounds now and eating like champs.

Just thought I would celebrate and now I am going to sleep as this might be the last night I sleep for the next 6 months!!!:)

3 weeks old!

The boys are 3 weeks old tomorrow. I can't believe it! In some ways it has felt like we have been in this no man's land of life forever and in others I still can't believe we have had twins. It is a very odd feeling and completely surreal and I think it will feel this way for awhile regardless of where they are. I do want to add that it has been very nice to only have to drive to one hospital this week though. Primary Children's is a distant memory!

I am happy to report that Mack is 4lbs 8oz (so 4 1/2 pounds) and Morgan is 4lbs 5 oz. They are gaining weight and are doing sooooo well. Morgan has really started to eat from a bottle pretty well. Today he ate 2 feeds completely from the bottle so tomorrow he gets to try 4! Mack has eaten 1-2 feeds completely as well from the bottle but they are not consistent so he will be 1 more day before they let him try 4. In all though we are looking at hopefully 2 more weeks. Possibly 3 but I am praying for 2.

I know it will be hard (like I really know, but I can try and guess can't I?) and crazy but I am starting to feel like I am ready to take on crazy! I am ready to not have to explain to Emma that 1-2 more days is not the same as 1-2 more weeks. I am ready to cuddle and enjoy the boys and not have to ask permission to hold my babies. I don't know if I am ready for the sleepless nights but I am ready to start them so that they can be over (hopefully in a couple of months!)I know I keep saying this but I want to thank my family and neighbors and friends for all the love and support we have been given the past couple of weeks! AMAZING!!! Thanks so much!
Here is to another week of driving and feeding and everything else!!!:)

On these pictures Mack is on the left and Morgan on the right. I really liked the one with Kent looking at the boys. We are finally starting to think that they look slightly different.

Easter Eggs and Boys Together

This week has been crazy to say the least. Not as crazy as last week but a very close second!
Thanks to all our babysitters this week. Both Kent and I have amazing family that stepped up this week and helped make sure our girls had a great time and were very well taken care of. Aunt Hannah even dyed Easter eggs since of course I forgot! Thank goodness to great aunts!!!:) I just honestly want to thank everyone who has helped out this week and offered help to us this week. We have been really blessed! I don't know what I would do without all of you!

Today Mack and Morgan were reunited! It was so much fun tonight to go up for our date night to only one hospital and get to see both boys! The Dr at McKay actually called and said that their NICU received another "bundle of joy" (his words, not mine!:)). He also told us that Mack must have enjoyed the ambulance ride so much that he ended up getting off oxygen en route. Also since Mack came back they let Morgan out of the incubator so they are both in the open air crib together!!!

We have another potential problem though. Kent and I both thought we would know who was who but honestly, we were a little bit stumped at first. The nurse asked us if they were identical and we told her that we didn't think so. She was surprised and said that she would have guessed that they are identical. What do you think? Can you tell who is who? (Mack has the little jacket with the hood and Morgan doesn't).
I won't lie to you. I also felt an overwhelming sense of tiredness! I can't believe we have twins let alone boys and that I get to take care of them with my other girls!!! Exciting and very overwhelming! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Kent was especially great tonight. He took the boys in his arms and gave them a little "pep" talk for the future. I won't tell you everything he said but he did tell them that when their older sisters start to date that they need to be pests and scare off any other boys that might be coming into our house. I just laughed and told him that the girls will be the ones who are watching out for the boys not the other way around.

In all we are really grateful though with everything so far and look forward to having the entire family under one roof. For now though, we will take 2!:)
Happy Easter!!! Hope you all have a great weekend!

One big step for us!

I just wanted to let you know that we found out today that Mack will be back transferred to McKay Dee hopefully tomorrow. That means that our twins will actually be in the same city, county and yes hospital! I will let you know if it actually happens but I never thought it would be such a joy to have your babies in the same NICU and not a different one. It is funny how when you think the worst thing would be to have your baby in the NICU you don't take into account 2 different NICU's. That's just life isn't it?!
Now we hopefully only have 2-3 more weeks before the new chaos happens at our house. Oh and they are also both about 1-2 ounces away from 4 pounds. Yah!:)

One week today!!!

So it was one week ago today that we had the boys! I can't believe it has only been a week as it has felt like a month at least. Kent and I are surviving and the girls have been absolutely wonderful! Other than the fact Emma and Claire haven't seen the boys yet they are perfectly happy playing with cousins and grandmas and friends everyday. To them it is like a little vacation!

Mack is doing much better. They finally found a medicine that is working for his heart and he hasn't had any episodes since 3/31 which is fantastic. He is actually starting to try and feed from a bottle and is in an open air bassinet which is really great. He still weighs just under 4 pounds but in all we couldn't be more happy with his progress in one week. He will probably be in Primary Children's until he comes home but we can handle it for a couple of more weeks. I think!:)

Morgan is great as well. He is still in an incubator which is kinda a bummer as it is a lot harder to just sit and watch him like we do Mack. He has gotten his IV out of his head and also a major IV which was in his belly button out the past 2 days and that is great for us! Both boys are off oxygen and breathing room air which is a huge step for us as that is one of the requirements for them to come home. We still have a long way to go but I will take any progress as a blessing.

One quick little story which I would like to share about this week was a pretty special experience for me. On Friday night Kent and I had our date night by going and visiting the boys. We visited Mack first and then rushed to Ogden to make it to Morgan's 8pm feeding. After having a romantic meal at McKay Dee cafeteria we headed up to see how he was doing that day. The room was quiet and Kent and I were just saying how much Morgan looked like my Grandpa Simmons. (It could possibly be the hair from the eyebrows up to his hair like:)) and for those of you who don't know which is probably everyone we decided to name Morgan, Morgan Simmons Phippen. Very fitting! Anyway, back to the story we got to talking to his night shift nurse and it happened that she grew up in Kaysville as well. We were talking about where we both grew up and I had said, "Do you know where the barn in on Crestwood Rd" and she said " Oh the Simmons place." I was surprised that she knew and she continued to tell me that she happened to be one of my grandpa's nurses a couple of years ago and told me some great stories about my grandma and grandpa.
I left the NICU on Friday night almost crying. I told Kent that my grandparents were watching out for us and especially our little guys. I could possibly be "reading into" this experience too much but it is a very big coincidence that the nurse on Morgan on Friday night was one of the same nurses for Grandpa. To me it was a miracle. Thanks G & G!!! I miss you and love you!

Throughout this entire week Kent and I have felt peace and miracles and blessings bestowed upon us. I have been carried through this week and I want to thank you all for your prayers on our behalf!!! We are doing great and it is because of our family and friends who have supported us this week!!! THANKS SOOOO MUCH!!!!

Here are some updated pictures of Mack Williams and Morgan Simmons. What do you think? Do they look alike?

On the top is Mack and on the bottom is Morgan.

Update on M & M

Things are going well. Morgan is doing so well and other than a bit of jaundice, with billi lights he is eating well and seems to be doing good. This morning I got to do what they call Kangaroo Care which basically means that I got to hold him for almost an hour with him all nestled on my chest like any newborn who fell asleep on their parents. It was AMAZING! It also made me think about the days ahead that are going to be hard but so worth it. It also made me realize how much I needed to get out of the hospital and see Mack. I can't explain how much I felt he needed me as well. Does that sound crazy?!
So with my Dr.'s blessing I got out today and this afternoon went to Primary Children's to see Mack.

Little Mack had a rough day yesterday since they were still not able to figure out his heart. It would just not stop shooting up and he was having around 30 "episodes" with his heart every hour. So yesterday afternoon the Dr decided to try a different medicine and I am happy to report that since yesterday afternoon he has not had one episode! Kent was also able to hold him which I personally think helped Mack as well.
I was able to hold Mack this afternoon and fell in love again! I can't believe I am so blessed to have 2 little boys that are such fighters! I want to also tell you that Kent has been amazing! He has been so good at the whole running back and forth thing the past few days. I don't know how he has been doing it but I am so grateful that he is my companion in these crazy moments of life! He has been everything to everyone and that is pretty much impossible!
Thanks everyone for your love and support! We are so blessed and I feel a real sense of peace at such an out of control time in our lives! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

Here is a brief explanation of the pictures (if anyone wants to tell me how to write text under the photos I would love to learn how!)
1. Kent holding Mack for the first time!
2. Maria holding Morgan for the first time!
3. Kent and me saying good bye to Mack before he left for SLC
4. Morgan right after delivery
5. Mack right after delivery

Mack and Morgan are here!

Well, we are officially a family of 6! On Sunday night Mack and Morgan decided that they needed to make their appearance. I went in on Sunday with preterm labor thinking that they would just give me a shot to stop the contractions and then send me home but Mack decided that he and his brother needed to come. Actually Mack was not doing well inside so they did a C-section at 5pm. Mack was born at 5:03 and was 4lb 5 oz, 17 inches long. Morgan followed at 5:04 weighing in at 3lb 14 oz and 16.5 inches long. They worked on the boys for some time before the NICU Dr came and told Kent and me that they needed to life flight Mack to PMC. So after waiting for the transport team come they let me see him for about 2 min and then off he went to SLC. His little heart would not slow down to a normal heart rate and that is why he is there still. Morgan is doing great! We got to hold him last night and he is such a fuzzy little guy. Both boys are off ventilators and other than being preemies and of course little Mack's heart they are healthy.
In all we are doing well all things considered. I guess if I can put a little plea out to the blogging world for some prayers for our little guys especially Mack we would not turn you away! I will post some pictures as soon as I get home. Just thought I would let you know that they are here!

Mack and Morgan

We have done it. I think we have decided on names for our boys. Please feel free to agree or disagree if you feel so inclined!:)

2 weeks ago we went for the big Ultra sound and I am so happy to say that they are very healthy and doing well. The tech looked specifically at their brain development since Claire's condition happened in the womb and I am so relieved to say that so far everything looks 100% normal. She also said that she hadn't seen twins that were as healthy as our little guys in a long time. Thanks goodness!!! They also did those weird 3D pictures (which I have no idea how to post so if someone wants to tell me I would try!). One looks just like a Watkins and the other a Phippen so that is why we decided to name one Mack after my dad and the other Morgan after Kent's grandpa. Initially we didn't want to do double initals but honestly they just work for us and feel right so far. We are still working on middle names and will let you know.
Bring on the M & M's!!!

I am trying to make it to the end of April and at the latest May 9th. It is coming up and then the true CRAZY will hit our small family! I am nervous....very nervous!:)