April 21st - 12 weeks!

The boys had a really good day today. They’re both growing, becoming more alert, and starting to show more personality and playfulness. Those moments make the long days feel a little lighter and go by much faster.

Colton had a strong night and handled his morning like a champ. He had his eye exam and stayed calm through the whole thing. The results were better than we feared last week…not perfect, but encouraging. We’ll continue with weekly checks to monitor his progress as he grows. He’s gained a bit of weight, though not as much as we’d like just yet, so his calories have been increased to help him bulk up. We’ll see how he responds over the next few days.

He also had a new nurse today and decided to give her a proper welcome. After convincing her he was done, she changed his diaper… only for him to immediately prove otherwise. It gave everyone a good laugh and definitely kept the morning interesting. The rest of his day was a mix of playing, resting, and a few fussy moments as he worked through some tummy struggles. He’s still figuring out that whole “consistent pooping” thing.

Declan had a bit of an adventure today. He went down for an ultrasound of his lower GI. He wasn’t a fan of the contrast dye, but overall handled the transport really well and stayed in good spirits. In classic Declan fashion, his timing was impeccable…he managed to miss his eye exam because he was literally being wheeled out just as the doctor arrived. Even the doctor got a laugh out of that one, so we’ll try again next week.

Now we wait for the results from Declan’s scan and focus on a week of growth. The hope is that he’ll be ready for his procedure next week.

Colton’s job is simple…keep growing stronger every day. Get big buddy… your brother is almost 1lb bigger than you….

On a really positive note, Declan officially hit 5 pounds today. Our little guy is starting to look not so little.

A little perspective moment. Kylie has now been away from home for 102 days, and the boys officially hit 12 weeks today (84 days). Next Monday, they’ll be three months old. It’s hard to believe how much time has passed and how strong these boys have been through it all. We still a road ahead of us but we are all encouraged.

We’re holding onto these small wins and staying hopeful. Please keep the prayers coming, for continued growth, steady progress, and for everything to align for Declan’s upcoming surgery.

5 fingers for 5lbs!