Our beautiful daughters are here!!!

Wow what a difference a week makes!!!

Sunday evening Nikki started having contractions again, so as a precaution we went to the hospital. During the first ultrasound they discovered that Baby B (Araya) had almost no fluid in her amniotic sac. They decided to monitor her through the night and check the fluid in the morning. There was no change in the second (and even third) ultrasound, so the high risk ob made the call to get the girls delivered. 2 hours later Nikki and I were in the OR witnessing our beautiful girls being born.

Chloe Elizabeth Clinger was born at 2:08pm on 11/11/13 weighing 3lbs. 5oz. and Araya Mae Clinger was born at 2:09pm on 11/11/2013 weighing 2lbs. 8oz. They are tiny, but they are mighty!!!

The girls are really doing very well. The both needed help breathing and they are now weaning them off of their C-PAP machines to see how well they tolerate it. They are getting all of their nutrients through an IV right now because their little tummys just aren't mature enough yet for formula. They are both under lights for jaundice and they are monitoring their blood counts as twins with twin to twin transfusion typically have either too much blood or are anemic.

Overall, I am thrilled with the health of the girls. They have a long way to go, a lot of weight and strength to gain, but the fact that they are breathing on their own with very little assistance makes this momma very proud.

We don't know how long they will have to be in the NICU, each baby is different so we are just taking one day and one milestone at a time. Araya has been great with her sucking reflexes and little Chloe started practicing her suck reflexes today! That is a huge thing developmentally as that is very important when they actually start feeding from a bottle.

Nikki is doing very well. I know the c-section was not her ideal birth plan, but she did it because she knew it was best for the girls. She is healing well and has been able to hold both of our daughters while she has been in the hospital. I am glad that I have some great pictures of her holding each of them so I can show them to the girls when they get a little older and will be able to physically show them how much their Mama Kiki loves them and cared for them during their stay in NICU.

Time is a little limited right now, but I will do my best to update the blog with the girls achievements and photos too!