First Hair Cuts

We took the boys to get their first "official" haircuts on Friday. (I say official because Bryce has had a few haircuts, but this one was by choice.) I was expecting complete meltdowns but both boys surprised me! Cohen had a total of 3 suckers the short time he was in the chair. Bryce was a little more unsure of what was happening and wanted nothing to do with the sucker. We didn't get the best "after" pictures, but they look so darn cute!

Thanks to Sandy Godman of Country Cuts & Curls!

Update on the Braces

So we were all very happy with Day 1 of the braces. Bryce seemed to be very excited to stand (which was VERY surprising). However, Day 2 he decided that he HATES the braces; hates to wear them, hates to stand in them. I know it can't be fun for him, but I really hope that he will give in just a little. He is so strong-willed!

Bryce has also turned a bit of a corner with some of his eating habits. He actually ate a chocolate chip cookie, chili, pimento cheese and some pasta over the past few days. It is so unreal given he wouldn't each much more than sweet potato baby good. I think he finally decided that there must be better things out there.

Cohen is doing great... He continues beating up on his brother, running around like a mad man and demanding all attention from everyone in a room. Typical boy I guess.

Standing Tall

Today was a very big day for us.... I have been working from home the first Thursday of every month. I meet with our CDO Support Broker and Bryce's physical therapist (aka Mr. Dan).

Mr. Dan has been with us since Bryce came home. Bryce has always hated PT but is starting to trust Mr. Dan more and more each week.

Bryce's braces came in, so today was Day 1 of trying them out. Mr. Dan had Bryce standing at the coffee table. It was amazing to see Bryce standing there with very little assistance. You could see the excitement in Bryce's face. He knew he was standing tall like a big boy! After a while, Mr. Dan just let go. I have to admit I was nervous but just sat on my hands. After all- we have to start somewhere.... For around one minute Bryce stood there all by himself. Once I realized what was actually happening, I told Matt to hurry and grab the camera. We only caught a couple seconds of the moment, but I will never forget any part. I couldn't get the video to load so hopefully Matt can figure this one out later.

It was so exciting and so unexpected. We were so lucky to have all been home together...even Cohen knew that something exciting just happened! It's moments like these that keep us going! I was so proud to see my little peanut standing tall today. He continues to surprise us every day.

Ready for Spring

So I promised myself that I would keep up with the blog this year - Not off to a very good start.

We had a wonderful Holiday Season, but we are more than ready for Spring's Arrival.

We had to pull Bryce out of Perlman (his therapy school) for a few weeks. He has been sick a lot through the winter months. It is more important to keep him health right now - he will continue his in-home therapy. Hopefully he will be back there with his friends soon. We really do miss them! Bryce is up to 17 pounds, 15 ounces (so close to 18 pounds...finally!). Bryce had casts done of his legs and his braces should finally be in sometime this week. I am sure he will love us for those.

Cohen is ALL BOY! He is running and climbing on anything and everything. We call him our "Little Bruiser." I probably don't need to explain why. He is talking more all the time and really helps out with Bryce. It is so cute to see that brotherly bond at such a young age. I can already see that he is going to be so good to Bryce.

I wanted to send a note to everyone and let you know that we have started our fundraising for March for Babies 2011. I am hoping that our family can raise over $2K this year- we are already over $500. Please let me know if you would like to join our team.. I would love to recruit more walkers. Last year we had 13 - It would be awesome to double that this year. If anyone is interested please let me know.

Together with our family, we decided to do NICU care packages. I wanted to do this last year, but with Bryce just coming home a couple of months before Christmas we didn't have the time. I am proud to say that Sunday we made 54 individual baskets filled with tons of goodies!

I hope to bring a smile to the faces of those families in the NICU and to let them know that prayers are being sent up for them. We know just how difficult that experience can be. Even though we did spend 5 months in the NICU - I still couldn't imagine how it would feel to be there through Christmas.

I wanted to thank our family- each and every one of you - that bought things and helped us put together such neat, special packages. You guys have always been the very best. Thank you!!

Prematurity Awareness Day!

Looking back now it is so hard to believe everything that our family has went through. I thank God every day that we are all together. We somehow had the strength to make it through some extremely hard times. Prematurity is something that I didn't know much about until it brought us to our knees.

My two little boys are growing more and more every day. Both of them have been given different paths to follow and through it all have shown us how to love beyond words. I think we have seen both sides of what prematurity can do to a family. How unpredictable the future can be. I used to hate to hear that no one can tell you what the future is going to be - strange how I find comfort in those words now. Bryce has shown us that you can't listen to those predictions- he has already proved them wrong on numerous levels.... and Cohen- you would never be able to tell that he was born just over 2 pounds.

I hope to help raise awareness... I would never want a family to go through anything close to what we have gone through. The sad thing is - another family will. Please help us raise awareness, we will be walking in March for Babies (April 2011). We invite you to walk with us or make a small donation to the March of Dimes.

One Year Home

We had a Halloween Party and One Year Home Celebration on Saturday (10/23). There were about 13 kids in total and I think they all had a great time. We had a mini trick-or-treat in our back yard - It was a hit! All of the kids had their buckets packed with treats.

Since we have last posted, we have started Bryce in a theraputic school program called the Perlman Center. He goes twice a week for two and a half hours. There he gets Speech, OT and Physical Therapy. The neatest thing is the access to medical equipment that we have there. He has been in standers and walkers - which he hated at first but LOVES now (the stander more than the walker)! There are four other kids in his class all ranging in age from 9 months to 2 years old. -- He is already making friends :) We are still getting in-home therapy --- as you might be able to tell he is very busy. Bryce weighs 17 pounds and every day is a struggle with his eating - but we will get there. We have a feeding specialist that will be coming in within the next week or so.

Cohen is doing great- He is a very typical 17 month old boy. He loves running everywhere and climbing on everything. He absolutely loves playing outside. He loves to tell us No and hates when we tell him No. I would say that is pretty much normal. Cohen is great with Bryce. He gives him kisses and shares his toys with him (Of course he trys to climb on him and get a little rough- but that is a brother). He weighs 26 pounds - shows absolutely no signs of ever being a preemie.

They are at such a fun age right now and we are enjoying every minute of it. Both have the greatest personalities - I am so proud of them!