ashton and mommy

Great News! The twins are doing excellent per the doctor! She used the word 'phenomenal' as they have gained some great weight. They were born at 6 lbs each and dipped to 5 1/2 pounds during the first week as most babies lose weight then. Last Thursday they weighed in at 6 lbs and 1/2 oz and 6 lbs and 2 oz. Now, Ashton weighs 6 lbs and 15.5 oz and Jordan weighs 7 lbs. As members of Team Miller, they do their jobs well: eating, sleeping, and growing!

Nicole is doing better every day. She is under the great care of a team of doctors and is in the great care of volunteers. She will be under doctor's care for the next five months as we wait for the clot to dissolve although the doctor doesn't think it will take that long. For now she will take coumadin and blood pressure medication to keep things stabilized. We marvel at the wonders of modern medicine and are very thankful for the experience and knowledge of doctors. The doctors are quite optimistic about her recovery as she is young and in great health.

We really appreciate every one's help these last few weeks. Your help has put our mind at ease during some stressful times. We are in awe at the constant support and care as it has brought tears to our eyes on more than one occasion. Thank you too to all the thoughtful people who have sent cards and flowers. It is joyful to visit our mailbox and retrieve cards from well wishers. The beautiful flowers have decorated and warmed our house.

Throughout the last few weeks we have learned an important lesson: Enjoy life, love, and laughter.

A Thorn between roses

Grand love!!

I love nanny! Thanks for all the help!

double trouble, double the love

Holding hands

Home sweet home

even better news

Nicole is coming home this afternoon!!!!!!! Her blood pressure has stablizied around 120/80, even after moving about. She is ready to come home too. I don't think that you could wipe her smile off her face right now. She looks like Nicole again.

Thanks again for everyone's support, prayers, and thoughts! I'm not sure where we would be without you!

God bless!
Mark

good news

Thanks everyone,
for your thoughts, concerns, prayers, and assistance in these last few days. We have good news to report that the doctors currently have found a prescription that has regulated Nicole's blood pressure. In the past several days, Nicole has been through many tests between chest x-ray, ECG, 2 Ultrasounds, MRI, CT scan, EEG ... These tests have found the clot in her lung and also ruled out the existence of other clots throughout her body. The clot as well as her unstable high blood pressure, have presented the doctors with a challenge to keep her stable.

Yesterday afternoon the doctors prescribed a new drug in concert with her current medication. This new drug has taken her unstable high blood and so far as lowered and stablizied her pressures. As of last evening, Nicole seemed more like herself. She noted being able to see better, smell how much she stank, noticed the clock ticking, and what not. She reports feeling overall better. Her blood pressure was even 120/80 which she hasn't seen since several weeks before the pregnancy. Over night and this morning her blood pressure has remained low, so hopefully this continues.

So if all goes well, she will remain stable on the blood pressure medication. Also the doctors are switching from a quick acting blood thinning drug to cummaltim (spelling???) which will be a long term blood thinnning medication. These drugs will help dissolve the blood clot over the course of 6 months. Hopefully Nicole will be released from the hospital in a day or two. Although Nicole will be on bed rest for atleast 6 weeks, she looks forward to being home with the little ones. So, this is all good news for Team Miller.

We feel so blessed with the concern over Nicole's situation. The response has been overwhelming. We appreciate everyone's thoughts, prayers, and actions. Ashton and Jordan lives have started out with a lot of love from everyone that surrounds them. Now we look forward to long nights of crying babies. Something I never thought I would say!

Till the next post. Thanks so much everyone and God bless!

Mark and Team Miller

never typical with us

Hello everyone,
Thanks so much for your wonderfull comments, thoughts, and prayers. As you know 'the Miller team' never does anything typical. The newest situation is the 'our new team, was released from the hospital on Saturday afternoon.

Yesterday (Sunday) Nicole's blood pressure went back up so Nicole and I went to the emergency room. The doctors have determined that she has a blood clot in her lungs. They are continuing to perform test to see if they is anymore throughout her body. I'm unsure of the severity of this situation since I have just come home to take the babies for a check up. I will try to keep everyone informed with what is happening.

For now keep "the miller team' in your thoughts and prayers! Thanks so much for all!

Mark

Hello Everyone from the Miller family. Thank you to everyone who has shared such kind wishes, prayers, and advice to the new parents! We feel we are in good hands and good hearts!

Well, the time has come to formally introduce to you Ashton Chandler Miller and Jordan Addison Miller, no longer known as Baby A and Baby B! Jordan and Ashton are both doing great. They were born, both weighing 6 pounds on Tuesday. Ashton was born at 5:16 pm and Jordan at 5:17 pm. They have enjoyed spending every night with mommy and daddy in the hospital and we are having a blast bonding as a new family. Originally mommy and daddy were a bit anxious about having twins but now having met them would have it no other way. We each have a baby to hold and adore the fact they have different personalities.

We want to share a special thanks to all our family and friends who have helped us tremendously these past few weeks as we prepared for this big event. We also want to share our thanks to all the awesome staff members at Crouse Hospital who have taken such good care of all of us.

Still not sure when we will come home but will keep you posted.

1. Ashton

Jordan

poor kid looks like mark (bad genes, huh, kid). no names yet.

We are all doing well. Nicole is recovering nicely, but a little sore. The little guys arrive by stork at 5:16 with the little boy and 5:17 with the girl following. They were 6 lbs each. The best way to describe them are little 'mini me's of mom and dad.

Still a doll and Mark's latest attempt at diaper practice. When I inquired about it his response was "It's a baby g-string". Should I be worried? He obviously needs more practice and that should come very soon in the form of two!

We are thrilled to be at 38 weeks today! We feel blessed to have such a wonderful pregnancy. They are obviously quite comfortable in utero as there aren't any signs of delivery soon, no contractions, etc. Can you blame them, as Mark put it they are in thier own 'hot tub'. We'll keep you posted!

Getting ready

No that is not a real baby! It is Mark, practicing diaper management on a doll. He fears when the time comes and he has to put one on a squirming baby! We are using cloth diapers which adds to the fun! After he learned you can pick up the feet to slide the diaper underneath things got a little easier for him.

The nursery is ready and waiting. We enjoy rocking in the chair, imagining the sights and sounds of two little ones. We enjoyed adding some special touches like an Eli Thomas painting dedicated to the birth of children, a painting from a Miller family friend reminding Mark of days he visited their farm as a child, and an antique Tibetan prayer wheel. They will share a crib for awhile, amongst sharing many other things. We laugh as our house has 'shrunk' in size with lots of baby furniture and gadgets.

We are now 37 weeks and the doctor said on Wednesday "soon". One of our doctors reported "she does good with pregnancy" to which I credit both my grandmother's genes. We are grateful to have made it this far and counting!