The Twins Are Here!

As I realize this was an international event of epic proportions, I suspect you've already heard the news, but the lovely and talented Fishman twins burst onto the scene last Friday, June 5th, at 10:21 am!!!

It was one of those expected, but unexpected, moments in life where something you've waited for, or dreaded, for a very long time seems to happen in an instant. I left Jenny on Thursday night, feeling pretty normal. I got up on Friday, prepared for a busy day at work, planned for the weekend ahead and headed over to the hospital for a "routine" weekly sonogram. About an hour later, I was watching my baby girls arrive into the world! It was both surreal and incredibly, tangibly real at the same time and like nothing else I've ever experienced.

Avery Leigh (aka Baby A) arrived first and was 16 1/2" long and weighed 3 lbs & 15 ounces

Kaitlin Victoria (aka Baby B) came about 20 seconds later and was 16 1/4 " long and weighed 3 lbs & 14 ounces

We won't know for sure if they are identical or fraternal until the DNA results are in, but they appear to my untrained eye to both be girls :) So far, the consensus is definitely fraternal, but its a little hard to tell at this age so you never know.

Both girls are doing exceptionally well under the circumstances...

Kaitlin has developed about a 10,000 word vocabulary in English and is a fair conversationalist in both Spanish and Italian. Physics seems to be a bit of a struggle thus far, but she did grasp relativity theory the first time through, so there's still hope.

Avery has a lovely singing voice, plays classical piano by ear and has the basic chords down on guitar, violin and cello. Her 36" vertical leap was a newborn record to my knowledge, but we'll need to work on her 4.6 second time in the 40 yard dash.

Okay...not quite the truth, but figured I might as well get the bragging off to a ridiculous start and prepare everyone early for how unsufferable I'll likely be in the coming years. I already have the basic outline of my 2010 update letter about their amazing ability to consume strained peas :)

In all seriousness, things are going very well with both Mom and babies, but we are not without complication, because that is just how we roll. Jenn has certainly been through a physical and emotional experience for the ages, and everyone continues to be impressed with how well she's doing. Her bond with the girls is already so strong, I know its going to be really special for their whole lives (Disclaimer: Ages 13-22 not included in above statement). Its going to take some time for her to heal from the surgery and the complications of bedrest are showing up in her muscles, but she has been up and around and walking more in the past 3 days than the previous 90 and that is very positive. Jenn will be officially released from the hospital on Tuesday, but we'll be staying on site in a "hotel room" available to parents with newborns in the NICU so we can be close to the girls and participate as much as possible in their care. Current plan is to stay there through the weekend and then re-assess from there. The girls are both breathing independently, which is excellent for their gestational age and all their vital signs are good. They are receiving round the clock care from excellent nurses in the NICU and are currently receiving IV fluids and have a feeding tube for their seemingly constant eating. We're spending a lot of time just watching them sleep, but we've also had opportunities to change a few diapers, take a few tempatures, and get in a little quality snuggling. Jenn and I will start meeting with the doctors to discuss plans in more detail over the next few days, but we're hopeful for them to come home in early to mid July at this point.

As you can imagine, our lives are a bit hectic and between our 8 daily "pumping" sessions and 8 daily feeding and care sessions with the girls, it seems that every minute of the day is spent moving from one scheduled activity to the next (I can hear a collective "get used to it" from all the parents out there).

Thanks again to everyone for their love, support and friendship, without which none of this would have been possible