thier first few days

MercerTwins Complete - Upload a doc

Read this doc on Scribd: MercerTwins Complete

Here are some photos of our two little miracle babies. A very sweet and talented friend of mine took them yesterday during our kangaroo care hour. Twice a day Lonnie and I are able to hold the babies next to our skin. It calms the babies down, helps them regulate their tempatures, promotes brain and heart development. It also helps me feel like a mother. In these photos I am holding Maya and Lonnie is holding Max.

The babies are doing very well considering their small size and early arrival.

If anyone is the Houston area is looking for a photographer I would be more than happy to give you her contact information. She takes beautiful photographs.

our beautiful little babies...

(Max is the one wearing the hat)

Because they were born 5 weeks early and only weigh 4 lbs each, the babies are in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU). Their lungs are strong so they don't need any breathing assistance, but they are on IVs and are slowly building up their ability to eat from bottles (hopefully they will allow breastfeeding soon). We would love to be able to hold them more often, but we are glad that they are receiving such good care. The nurses in the NICU have been wonderful to interact with us and let us feed and hold the twins as much as possible.

Welcome to the world babies!

Proud mommy and daddy!


Maya Catarina
4 lbs 4 oz and 16 1/4 inches long


Max Elliott
4lbs 2 oz and 16 inches long

We are all very happy and recovering well.

-Alisa

34 weeks prego

As of today I am officially 35 weeks pregnant.  I'm so glad to have made it this far and hope that the babies will stay safe and warm in their watery home for at least another week.  We have the nursery all set up and the car seats ready, we just want them to gain a little more weight before they arrive.  I am getting rounder by the day, but I actually feel better than I have for almost my entire pregnancy.  I finally am over my terrible morning sickness (that lasted all day and night for 8 months- I am still on medication to make sure that it doesn't resurface) and I am able to eat like a normal person.  My gestational diabetes has also been kept under control with diet. I am also much less stressed knowing that we are now in a safe window for their arrival.   

I just  think the babies are waiting until Obama is declared the official Democratic Party nominee before the enter the world.  Sometimes I think I hear them quietly chanting "Yes We Can!"

-Alisa

Warm Houston Weather

We have been enjoying the warm Houston weather for the last couple weeks (sorry to all of you who are in Utah and still dealing with snow). Last year we didn't get very many hibiscus flowers, this year they have been amazing. Everyday there are new blooms. Lonnie took some great shots of them. Enjoy!

30 Weeks pregnant

My belly is getting bigger and bigger, especially when I hold it on the underside and show off my psychedelic swirls.


Out in the garden in a more conservative outfit.

You may notice that all the belly shots are taken in dresses, well that is due to the fact that I have gotten to the point where I only require myself to get dressed nice and fix my hair one day a week, Sunday. Blow drying my hair on any other day requires too much effort and I have to save my strength for more important things, life gestating babies. :)

I'm looking forward to the days when we have baby photos to put up and not just photos of my belly.

thank you

To Do List:
Thank you notes:

Aitran
Maggie Ascanio- Gift certificate, dinner
Sister Johnson *-gift card
Liz Brown*- gift card
Kathy Holt*- gift card
Seanna Jolly-
Seminary Teachers-play gym
Marian Pickard*
Andrea Nelson*
Paula Jurinak*
Carolee Weber
Behtany and Andy- CD, doula
Emily Van Orman* *Blankets, towels, pacifiers and gowns
Doula supporters
Leah- clothes, onity, coming to help, doula
Johanna
Ann
Tiffany
Shima
Jessie
Grandma Allred- Blankets*
Tyler and Andrea- Lot of baby clothes
Jared, Debbie, Kyle and Daniel- Gift Certificates
Kelly- preemie gowns*
Mom-preemie clothes
Bridget- dinner*
Tanya- Dinner*
Samantha- quilts
Help-Jacki, Jana, Samantha, Sister Stay (diapers, Onsies) Marci, April Young
Susan- Quilts
Tara- Thing 1 & 2
Patsy- visit and afgans
Ann- onesie- Big Lots*
Sister stay- diapers, onesies, dinner
Terri and Toby- Snugglies and Clothes
Laura- lots of clothes/help
Cuban neigbor- clothes
Lopez- clothes*
jacki- Pecan candy, teddy bears
Dawn- clothes
sandy and suzie-clothes blanket*
Tara Bauer- Blankets*
Bauer Family- Target card*
Place Family-*
3185 W 132 Place
Leanwood, KS 66209
Peggy Willams- Check
Fiet- Target card*
DeGraffs- Childrens Board Books*

Names, names, names...

So we've been discussing baby names for some time. It's complicated enough when you just have to think of one name, but we have the duty to name two kids at the same time. We're pretty settled on the name Maya for a girl, and we even have a back up girl's name in case both are girls. But we haven't really settled on a name for a boy. We have a front runner, but we thought we'd do another poll to see what you (our friends and family) think of various boy names. Please feel free to make comments and add suggestions. You aren't going to hurt our feelings, so fire away. By the way, we reserve the right to name the children whatever we like, and you might want to be careful about expressing your opinion to Alisa once the names are set. You know how mothers get protective of their children. :)

-Lonnie

all in a name

Which names do you like? (Select all that apply)

.....one of my recent favorite painting by Brian Kershisnik