our tough little guys

this picture was taken today in the NICU.

(Adrian has McKay & I have Crew.)

i can't believe how different the boys look

compared to when they were born 16 days ago.

they have both been such fighters and have progressed so much.

luckily, our boys have had very few setbacks while in the NICU

& have mostly taken steps forward each day.

this forward progression has made the experience so much easier for us all.

there are a few criteria that need to be met for babies to be released from the NICU:

1.  need to breathe on their own

2.  need to hold their own temperature

3.  need to take all of their meals through their mouth (rather then feeding tube)

4.  parents need to be comfortable taking baby home

5.  home needs to be ready to care for baby.

as of today, the only one we are still working on is #3...

they are well on their way though!

 in the last 24 hours the boys have both taken multiple bottles successfully

and have been able to nurse full feeds as well.

now we just need to keep this up for a few days...

then they will remove the feeding tubes.

(yeah!  i can't wait to see my babies without tubes on their faces!)

and, if all goes well the next few days,

the twins should be home soon!

i'll post more pics of how they have progressed while in the NICU soon.

these sweet little boys have accomplished so much already!

we love you McKay & Crew!