11 Weeks!

Some pics of Cash Owen









Some pics of Remi Blake








Some pics of both angels

To nap or not to nap...the babies were supposed to be sleeping in the pics, so I couldn't decide whether to keep them up so they would sleep through the pics. I was afraid they would get overtired though...I was right! Remi had just had it and wanted her bed! She screamed through most of the pics, but hey...we're capturing reality! The pics are done by a great photographer who is very reasonable! If you want a referral, let me know!

It is so sad that I cannot remember at all what it felt like when the babies were inside me! I wish

I could go back and relive it for about...an hour (no longer)! I remember it was painful, but I wish I could go back and feel them moving now that I know them.

We are trying to weed through the hospital bills. It is so overwhelming! How can anyone be expected to understand all the deductions, co-pays, out-of-pocket, not covered, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH! I have been putting them all in a pile hoping they will work themselves out somehow. Yeah right!

I am hoping to get the babies on a sleep schedule with two naps soon. I have just been "surviving" lately, but I know they need to be on somewhat of a schedule. I hope then they can sleep longer than 4-5 hours at a time through the night. Right now they sometimes don't nap at all and then sleep for like 12 hours at night (minus waking to eat). The pediatrician told me they should be sleeping through the night (not waking to eat) by 3 months. We are not even close. I think once Cash's tummy problems get worked out, he can eat more and sleep longer. We are going for a second opinion for Cash's tummy problems. I am going to inquire about "silent reflux." If Remi did not wake up for her beloved PACI all night long she could sleep longer! Remi is definitely strong-willed. She is so sweet most of the time, but if she wants something..she wants it NOW and she will NOT give in until she gets it! I suppose that will serve her well in life. I think Cash will get through life on his sweet disposition and smile!

We miss all of you and hope you can come visit soon! Just invite yourself...we are zombies most of the time and don't think to invite anyone over.

XOXO -Abbey

9 Weeks!

Hold Me!


No...Hold ME!


Hey...Who are you and why are you crowding me?

Sharing Mommy's lap while Daddy does something really selfish like...GO TO THE BATHROOM! How dare Jeff think he can have 5 minutes to himself! =0)

Yeah, Yeah! I know...I haven't lost the weight yet!

Cash being a big boy and standing on Grandma's lap!

Remi thinks she is falling in the tub!

Cash LOVES bath time hates getting OUT of the tub!

Remi had a little too much milk to drink! ;0)

Remi and her sweet friend Maci! xoxo

Just thought this was cute of Cash waiting in the doctor's office.

Well, the babies are already 9 weeks old! I can't believe it. I am finally getting time to update because the babies are sleeping in their own cribs at the same time for the first time EVER! I had to move them away from each other to nap because they are starting to feed off each other. If one cries, the other one starts! They are on the same schedule within 30 minutes and are eating every 4 hours. Last night they slept 5 hours in a row!!! WOO HOO!

Cash is over 11lbs. and is soo cute! He is such a HAPPY baby! He is starting to laugh and smile all the time. I just LOVE IT! He has a little dimple on his right cheek. He is now moving from Neocate formula to ElaCare! This will be number 9 I think! The Neocate is $107 a can! The can does not even last a week. I wanted to switch again because he is still gassy on the Neocate and if I am going to pay over $100 a can, I want it to work! We will see about ElaCare! Hopefully it makes a difference with the pain he is in all the time.

Remi weighs around 9lbs. and is so pretty (if I do say so myself)! She is not losing her hair yet and I am so excited about that. Her hair is so pretty! She is just now starting to make more eye contact and smile. I thought I saw a little dimple in her right cheek today! We'll see... She is a couple of weeks behind Cash. We are thinking it may be from her NICU stay. Her pediatrician says it is because they are two different people and I should stop comparing them! How dare he! =0)

Cash's surgery went great! I was so scared. It was so sad seeing him all drugged up, but my goodness it is nice that he does not have that intestine bulging out anymore! It was getting so bad that we would have to massage it back in at every diaper change! His pediatric surgeon was amazing...need a referral let me know! I slept over with him at Medical City. We went spent the night together in the recliner that DID NOT RECLINE! I started to feel sick that day. The next day I came home and Remi was sick along with me. Then Cash got sick! We all three spent the next week SICK! Remi and I are better, but Cash is still a little under the weather. I tried to use this as an excuse to avoid the babies' two month shots. I was so afraid for them to get them. All the hype on what the shots can do to your babies scared me to death. Well, they were horrible! Cash had a very bad reaction to the shots and once we got home he started screaming at the top of his lungs for a couple of hours! It was horrible for him. He also got a lump on his leg almost the size of a golf ball! =0( Poor baby. Remi was a little fussy, but fine for the most part.

Everyday I thank God for these babies! They are so wonderful and we love them soo much! Babies are starting to stir. I will update more in a few weeks! Love you guys! xoxo

7 Weeks!

This is such a sad picture! Cash had to have an upper GI and a sonogram this week. It was horrible to see him strapped down. Later they strapped his arms above his head. I had no idea this would be so traumatic...I was sent over by the doctor while Jeff was at work. I wish we had realized what would be happening. I do not do well with this kind of thing. Poor Jeff felt bad that he wasn't there with us.


Cash has been having such horrible tummy problems. He will be sleeping peacefully and wake up screaming in pain from gas. Once he passes the gas he is fine. He will have these pains off and on throughout the day. This could be caused by an immature digestive tract. After trying 3 different formulas, we decided to go to a gastroenterologist. The problem is either:
*A milk protein allergy
*A twisted intestine (ruled out by upper GI)
*An immature digestive tract
*Complications from his hernia (we'll see after surgery)
We are trying Nutramigen (the super expensive formula) for a milk allergy. We also visited a pediatric surgeon today. We are having surgery next Friday! I am so worried about my baby. I know that this is not a big surgery, but who wants their 7 week old baby to go under anesthesia! Cash will be staying overnight at the hospital next week. Please pray for him.

I may have stopped breastfeeding a little sooner than I had planned. I got a blocked milk duct that turned into mastitis. I had a fever and could barely walk from this. The way to relieve the pressure is to pump or nurse often...so I did. the pressure went away, but left a blister! Then I got a staph infection...not just any staph...I got MRSA. It is the "superbug" that can't be treated by regular antibiotics. So, I had to go on super strong antibiotics which would cause problems for the babies if they ingested my milk. I will not be nursing for 10 days. We will see if there is anything left after that time.

Uncle Bryce and Aunt Patty came and got Remi and Cash so that we could sleep on Sunday morning.
Sydney feeding Cash

Mathew feeding Remi

Daddy and Mini-Me

Pretty Princess in her sweater dress

Dancing with Daddy

Remi never gets mad about anything... ; )

Super tired eyes

Notice where Cash has his foot!

We are sooo tired!

Four Weeks

The first four weeks have been a blur! I have so many thank you notes to write and phone calls to return. If it seems like I forgot you, I didn't. I promise I am working on it. Between feeding, changing, burping and sleeping there is no time for much else! Here are some pics to enjoy.

Merry Christmas everyone! xoxo

We miss Grandpa and Grandma Brownell

Millie watching over the babies.

Best Friends in the jammies from Jami.

We LOVE each other!


We take turns trying to eat each other.

One of the many faces made by Miss Squeaky!

Cash chillin with Daddy.


Daddy and Mini-Me.


We love the aquarium Michael bought us.


It puts us to sleep though. Night-night Sissy..Night-night Cashi...XOXO