A picture says a thousand words . . .

 . . . or at least we hope so because we don't have time to write a meaningful blog entry right now! The short version of what's happening is simple; everyone is alive (including us) and gaining weight (including us). And if a picture says a thousand words, these seven pics constitute our longest blog entry to date. Enjoy!  

Wilson no longer acts like the bathtub is filled with battery acid,
which makes bath time much more fun!

She is incredibly cute . . . when she isn't crying.

Our two peas in their pod

Wilson looked dashing in his tux for the Golden Globes.
For those of you who are curious, Wilson wore an original Nick Hart
custom made jacket for the affair.

Wilson, Nick Hart, and some scraggly Justin Bieber look-alike
celebrated the arrival of the Hollywood awards season.

Reading or going to the bathroom? 

At the end of the day, Clara and Wilson have us all on house arrest,
but we're trying to make the most of it.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year (Part 2)

Last New Year's Eve we enjoyed going out with friends and hoped we would soon become pregnant with our first child. This New Year's Eve we stayed at home and tried to balance our champagne flutes while feeding Clara and Wilson. The result was more awkward than Dick Clark's countdown. Wow, what a difference a year makes! We were really glad a few of our friends came over to keep us awake ring in the new year but, when the ball dropped, we were also happy to close the book on 2011.

If you've kept up with us through the blog this year, thank you. It means more than you'll ever know. It also means you know about all the ups and downs we experienced with Clara and Wilson, so we'll refrain from even attempting a recap. Instead, we'll use this opportunity to look ahead to 2012.

New Year's Resolutions

1. Get More Sleep - we're hoping this is a New Year's Resolution the entire McGarvey family (cough, Clara and Wilson, cough cough) will adopt.
2. Take Time for Each Other - whether once a week or once a month, take at least one night to go out for dinner, movie, concert, etc. without the kids.
3. Empty the Diaper Genie Sooner - yeah, that needs to happen.
4. Quit Talking to Each Other Through the Babies - for example, "Clara, I bet your daddy would love to get up and get your bottles ready" or "Wilson, is it Mommy's turn to change your diaper?" We are both guilty of doing this. However, when we catch ourselves doing it we intentionally make our comments funny and that usually results in delirious midnight laughter. (Typing this made me realize we must implement New Year's Resolution #2 and get out of the house a little more).
5. Take Down the Christmas Decorations - it would really be great if we could do this before the end of January, but don't judge us too harshly if you drive by our house in February or March and see candles in the windows.
6. Keep the Kids Healthy - it is important to remember how fragile Clara and Wilson are, especially during the height of cold and flu season.
7. Keep Laughing - turns out that's important.

We've been writing this post in little pieces for most of the last 10 days, but our time at night is more limited. We have pictures of the kids we've been meaning to post for Chris' family in Arkansas, a birthday pic of Clara and Wilson for Uncle Dave's birthday, and some funny stories we want to share. Hopefully we'll get to some of those eventually. However, our biggest news of the New Year might explain the delay. On January 3rd, Chris went back to work. The transition has been smoother than we expected, and Chris is handling the situation with perfect aplomb, but our nights are little busier. Chris going back to work has also directly coincided directly with Clara's and/or Wilson 's decision to stop sleeping during the night. It hasn't been good for our sleep habits or our blogging. Hopefully we'll get more time to do both.

Thanks again for sticking with us through what was a pretty tough year. We're excited about 2012 and wish you all a Happy New Year!

The kids are growing every day. Their development led directly to the first
"Wilson, stop eating your sister's head" quote.
Hey, at least they're noticing each other.



We Wish You A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year (Part One)

(Part One is a recap of Christmas, Part Two will detail New Year's and our hopes for 2012)

Other than the day(s) we brought them home from the hospital, Christmas was our happiest day with Clara and Wilson. And to paraphrase the Grinch, no one quite knows the reason. It could be the gifts, the trees, and the lights. It could be Clara and Wilson slept through the night. But we think that the most likely reason of all could have been that our kids are so big, we're not worried about them being so small.

Christmas is the occasion we've thought about constantly since finding out we were pregnant. Initially we thought we would have one three month old child - and the first grandchild - at Christmas. Those expectations were quickly ratcheted up when we learned we would be holding two three month old children around the Christmas tree. All along we thought having three month olds would be great because the kids would be sleeping better, engaging more with the world around them, and Chris would still be on maternity leave through the holidays. It seemed like the perfect plan.

As has been well-chronicled in this blog, that is not how things happened. When Chris' water broke unexpectedly on June 7th, Christmas was the last thing on our minds. For several months, Clara and Wilson fought to stay alive at Kosair Children's Hospital while we, for the most part, helplessly watched. We did what we could. Chris pumped every two hours to get the best possible nutrition into Clara's and Wilson's feeding tubes. We practically lived at Kosair and constantly quizzed the doctors and nurses on the treatments and prognoses for our children.

Throughout their stay in NICU, we also searched for ways to cope with our new reality. We relied heavily on our friends, family, church, and even the grief counselors at Kosair to get through the roughest stretches. But we also constructed some self-defense barriers to guard against the worst. We didn't know - and the doctors couldn't tell us - how Clara and Wilson would progress.

For whatever reason, the last remnants of our emotionally protective walls were torn down Christmas day. The worries, fears, and emotional (not to mention physical) exhaustion evaporated as we finally felt like we made it. It was Christmas Day and there we were with two beautiful, babbling, smiling babies. Instead of jumping for joy, we turned into blubbering idiots. No really, if you spent the day with us you would have seen more tears in the span of a few hours than you would during an entire season of Oprah. We started crying in the car on the way to Morgans' parents' house, cried when watching Clara and Wilson open presents, cried during the blessing before Christmas dinner, and cried before going to bed. Chris has gone from being "steel" to being "Steel Magnolias." They were all tears of joy, but we still looked ridiculous. 

At least we weren't the only ones who looked ridiculous. Chris bought, made, and received Christmas outfits for Clara and Wilson. Rather than pick her favorite, Chris decided to dress the kids in most of them. Between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Clara and Wilson went through more wardrobe changes than Lady GaGa. Below is a sampling of what their first Christmas looked like:

It was fairly early on Christmas Eve, but our little Santa Wilson was already getting tired.

Uncle Gabe and Aunt Mary Helen give Clara and Wilson presents Christmas morning.
(Yes, Wilson went from a Santa suit to those Christmas pajamas. He will hate these pictures)

Aunt Mary Helen lets Clara model her new stylish sweater dress!

Uncle Zac and Aunt Sara hold the kids while Wilson shows off his rockin' Christmas socks.

It was awesome to have kids this year at Christmas. Watching them, our hearts grew three sizes that day.

Big Mac held the phone on speaker while we all talked to Captain Uncle Dave in Afghanistan.

The third outfit of the day and Wilson was still smiling.

The next morning, everyone was exhausted.

The Christmas we imagined a year ago happened. And as the Grinch would say, it came without packages, boxes, or bags. Because for this wonderful first Christmas, we had our family healthy and together at home. Clara and Wilson still have a long row to hoe, but we believe these Christmas miracles will be waddling around knocking ornaments off the tree this time next year. And for us, truly, Christmas Day will always be just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart, and hand in hand.

(Part Two will be appearing soon, including a special Happy Birthday wish to Uncle Dave  . . . even though his birthday is today)

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

This is our first Christmas Eve as parents and so far everything is going well. We're frantically moving around getting food ready for tomorrow, wrapping presents, and making sure our wine glasses remain relatively full. Clara and Wilson have given us a few hours to get ready for their first Christmas and we're doing everything we can to take advantage of their generosity. Hopefully we'll get to sleep before Santa arrives . . . .

That's dedication . . . pumping while wrapping presents.

Thankfully she has some elves helping.

Gabey-claus is comin' to town!

The one and only Gabriel J. Sperber and his fiance, Mary Helen, have joined the four of us for Christmas! Gabe and Mary Helen live in New York, but Gabe and I lived together for four years in Lexington and Kentucky is his second home. With my brother Dave serving in Afghanistan and Clara and Wilson being confined to small groups of adults, we are thrilled to have them here! Similar to CT's visit, Gabe has agreed to guest blog. However, the entries will likely be less prolific because Gabe and MH will be here a shorter amount of time and are in the middle of the holiday craziness. Nonetheless, we'll try to provide frequent updates from our little Christmas miracles.

Wilson and Uncle Gabe

Wow, six months already!

Clara and Wilson were six months old on Saturday. We planned on commemorating this occasion by reflecting on our journey to this point. Unfortunately, Clara and Wilson had other plans for us this weekend. We will (and want to) talk about our experiences, but for now the pictures will have to do. The first two pictures were taken the day they were born, when Clara weighed 1.5 lbs and Wilson weighed 1lb, 15oz. The last picture was taken yesterday. In between the pictures chronicle their growth - they both weigh over ten pounds - and their growing pains (especially when Clara contracted MRSA and had to be placed in a special sterilized wing of the NICU).

Clara was born 14 weeks early and started out life with the assistance of a ventilator.

Wilson was born after Clara and never needed a ventilator.

Clara and Wilson met each other for the first time on their one month birthdays.
This was the last time they would see each other until Clara came home from the hospital.

Wilson at two months old. He had shed his breathing apparatus by this point,
but still relied on a feeding tube for most of his nutrition.

Clara contracted MRSA and was moved to a sterile part of the NICU.
We were not allowed to take things into the MRSA ward
so she didn't get her "birthday hat" back until she arrived at home.

Wilson was home for his three month birthday . . .

. . . but Clara was still in the hospital. However, she was starting to make
big strides and was finally free of any breathing assistance.

Clara and Wilson together at home!!!

They were getting bigger and starting to look much more "normal" babies.
By this point, they were close to two months old developmentally.

Merry Christmas! Clara and Wilson at six months old.
Do you have any idea how long it took to get both of them
somewhat smiling and looking at the camera!?!
We literally stood on a step ladder waving our hands and smiling like
lunatics for the better part of half an hour.

SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS EVERYBODY SHOTS

Do you hear that? Exactly, hear what? It is the sound of silence, glorious silence. Morgan is at the gym, both babies are sleeping, and I'm sitting at the dining room table enjoying my first cup of hot coffee in three months. Merry Christmas me! All you advice givers out there were right, it gets easier and better. In the thick of the insanity it is so hard to realize there will ever be a cup of hot coffee, shower, workout, or solid seven hours of sleep again (all of which happened today)! Chances are good it won't happen tomorrow, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

This week we are all about shots here at the McGarvey house. Unfortunately the shots we're talking about don't come with a chaser. We've traded shots of bourbon for shots of Synagis and various immunizations, but they all have the same side effects. When Clara and Wilson get their shots they turn pale, try to pass out, and are incredibly grumpy for the next 12-24 hours. The medical term for this is vasovagal, but it looks like severe alcohol intoxication and then mirrors a terrible hangover.

Our little party animals get shots at least once a month to help prevent and lessen the severity of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). RSV disease usually causes moderate-to-severe cold symptoms. However, for some babies, complications from RSV can lead to a serious lung infection. To learn more, click here. All you really need to know is RSV is VERY BAD for Clara and Wilson. If they get RSV we are looking at another lengthy stay in the hospital...or worse. Clara and Wilson will get the Synagis shots throughout the duration of RSV season, November - March, possibly April. In addition to these shots, this Friday, they will get their 6 month immunization and flu shots.

To help try and keep Clara and Wilson healthy we are limiting visitors through cold and flu season. If you would like to visit (and we would love to see you because we still can't take the kids anywhere), our doctors have requested all our visitors get a flu shot if they are going to be around the kiddos. And if you are feeling sick, please do not come over. We'll also pounce on you as soon as you walk through the door and have you wash and sanitize your hands as if you were scrubbing-in for surgery. I know these ground rules seem kind of strict, but they are "doctors' orders" and after spending 14 weeks in the NICU, we're not in a rush to go back. Part of the reason I'm bringing this up now is because Wilson currently has a cold and low grade fever. We are watching him closely hoping it goes away soon, but it reminded us that we needed to spread this info as another precaution.

On a more positive note, we instituted a bedtime routine this week, thus the silence. We feed Clara and Wilson at 7:30 p.m. and read a book before putting them to bed in their cribs. It didn't go well the first few nights, but Wilson and Clara are starting to get the hang of it. Wilson typically falls asleep within five minutes, while Clara fights sleeping until she finally conks out after 10 - 15 minutes. Shocking, right? Every other night before bedtime they get a bath- here is a picture right before getting dressed after bath time.

Wilson - 11 pounds!!!!

Clara - 10 pounds!!!