New Pictures!

New Pics of the Boys!

Here's Austin wearing probably the cutest hat we've ever seen him in! Thank you Aunt Susy!

Chase was too sleepy for hat wearing...funny, with his baldness, he's the one who should be wearing the hat!

Now that we're getting so many visitors, everyone wants perspective on how far the boys have come. So, here are the diapers they started with on day one (about 3.5" high) and next to it, is a #1 diaper, which they've just grown out of. I have other items, such as hats and outfits, that I'll photograph and post. It's just amazing to think each baby started out less then three pounds.

Ok, so we don't leave him unattended, but how cute does Austin look in the bumbo seat? What a big boy!

We kept putting the boys together and I think Chase had enough. He's saying, "This is my boppy. Don't even think of putting that big brother of mine in here with me because I'm big too, and I'm using all of it!"

There are definitely better ways to do tummy time, but this is just so much cuter! Even though Austin has so much more hair than Chase...we're starting to think Austin's is falling out too. Maybe one of them will be bald like their mommy was...?

Wow - We're Growing!

These boys are getting heavy! The last weigh-in (2.29.08) had Austin at 9 lbs. 3 oz. and Chase starting to catch up at 8 lbs. 7 oz. The newborn clothes are quickly disappearing from their drawers and the three month ones are coming in. We cannot believe how fast time is passing us by. But not to worry, we are trying to capture as many moments to share with everyone as possible. Here are a few shots from the past week. The Alcatraz bibs are from Aunts Amy and Stacy who live in San Jose. I'll try to get better at dressing/photgraphing the boys in outfits people give us so you can see them in use before they're outgrown. Goodnight...

Update and New Pics

The boys are doing great this week. We're on a steady 3-4 hour schedule and there have even been a few nights where they've slept 5+ hours. The boys we evaluated for early-intervention development services on Wednesday and they passed with flying colors. They are 3 months old and were rated as 2-4 months in every category. All of their actions are appropriate, especially since they are only 3+ weeks corrected. With all of that being said, they did not qualify for any services. The visiting nurse had to cancel today due to weather but we're confident the boys have continued to grow. My guess is that Austin is 8 1/2+ lbs. and Chase is 7 1/2+ lbs. Here are few pictures from the week!

Update & New Pictures

Hi everyone. I'm so sorry I didn't write earlier. Some of you have been concerned about all their appointments last week and I didn't mean to keep you in the dark. The "snip, snip" on Monday was a great success. The Couture boys will now look like all their buddies in the locker room. The eye exams on Wednesday were also a success. The boys' eyes were labeled for the first time as "mature." This means we don't have to go back for another six months. Phew!

The boys are gaining a little more than an ounce a day at this point. Austin is nearly 8 lbs. and Chase nearly 7 lbs. With nine feedings a piece everyday, my arms are sore from holding them. We've got them sleeping four hours at a time at night and two to three during the day. If it's possible, we actually think they keep getting cuter! Ahhh, the bias of a parent is wonderful.

Go Pats!

It's Super Bowl Sunday and the boys (Chase - left, Austin - right) are resting up for the game. We're enjoying a quiet Sunday together in preparation for a week of excitement. Tomorrow is the boys official due date and to celebrate...drum roll...they're getting circumcized! Now what could be more exciting than that? I'm hoping I can get updated weights and lenghths tomorrow so we know exactly what they were on their original due date. As of this past Friday, Austin was 6 lbs. 12 oz. and Chase was 5 lbs. 12 oz.

The circumcision is tomorrow in Nashua and on Wednesday, we head back out to Lebanon for a repeat eye exam. Let's hope this one goes smoothly and that everyone keeps breathing. For those of you who hadn't heard, the last eye exam landed Austin back in the NICU for a night of observation because he had an apnea during the exam. Dan and I had to stay in the Birthing Pavilion with Chase. Needless to say, I'll never go to Lebanon again without a change of clothes in the car! It's really quite common for babies this age to experience apnea during the eye exam because it puts pressure on their vagus nerve (which makes you pass out). A metal speculum is used to hold their eyes open while the doctor takes several minutes to look inside each eye. The boys scream bloody murder the whole time and they come home with extremely bloodshot eyes. But, they're several weeks older now and we're hoping the fourth time is a charm. All we need the doctor to say is that their eyes are "mature" and then they're done. The only good part of Wednesday is that we get to stop by the NICU to visit some of our friends.

So, we're all ready to cheer the Pats to victory. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend. I'll write more later this week with an update on eyes.

We celebrated Dan's 32nd birthday on Friday and the boys enjoyed the party. Well, Austin did. It was just the four of us, but that has left some much appreciated extra cake and ice cream for mom and dad!

Both boys are getting big. As of Wednesday, Jan. 23, Austin was 6 lbs. 4 oz. and Chase was 5 lbs. 3.5 oz. Austin is gaining an above average amount every week at this point and Chase is right on target. Most of the preemie clothes are getting packed up at this point, with only a few outfits that still fit. I'm hoping they stay in the "newborn" clothes for a little while so they get some use out of all their cute outfits.

I've decided that is just isn't natural to wake up in the middle of the night and feed two babies. But as awful as it feels, I really can't complain because most of the time, it's every three hours. That at least gives us about two hours of sleep at a time.

As the boys have grown, so have their voices. Each has a very distinct cry. Austin's is mature and rather controlled, while Chase's cry is by far more demanding. Their cries seem to be reflective of their personalities, as Austin is a bit more laid back and patient. If Chase wants something or if he is annoyed, he's going to let you know.

VISITATION UPDATE: We will be accepting HEALTHY visitors starting in February. If you want to come meet the boys, we ask you to give us a call or send an email and together, we should be able to find a time and date that works. Weekends are best, but if you are local, an evening could work as well. You should expect to stay for about an hour and wash your hands often. If we learned anything from our stay in the NICU, it's that hand washing is the single most effective weapon against spreading germs. So help us all stay healthy and wash your hands! If you have children, they can come along, but please prepare them for a look but don't touch approach. We'll be a lot less neurotic about this once winter has passed and everyone is less germy.

Well, that's it for now. Off to another feeding session!

New Pics of Us!

New Pic of Austin

New Pics of Chase

A Moment Worth Waiting For

We've waited 53 days to take this picture and it felt just as good as we anticipated it would. One more night in Newport and tomorrow, we'll drive to Merrimack! Finally, we're full time parents and feel like our family is complete. Let the sleepless nights begin!

Happy New Year!

We have had the most incredible new year surprise - Austin came home today! It wasn't easy leaving our little Chase behind but we know he's in good hands and will probably be joining us later this week when he completes his A&B countdown. Until then, we'll continue living out here by the hospital to spend the days there with Chase. A second crib will be in Chase's bed space for Austin to use while we're visiting. Our departure from the ICN today was exciting, but we are saving the picture taking until we can walk out of there with two full car seats in hand. Gotta run - there's a baby calling my name :)

Love, Rebecca & Dan

We've Come So Far

Hi everyone. I'm sorry we haven't posted in two weeks, but boy, have we been busy! The holidays came and went without much of our routine changing. We did get to spend some time with family but most of all, we hung out with our boys. Starting on Dec. 15, we were a bit distracted by what the doctors thought was meningitis in Chase, but it turned out to be a false alarm after eight days of a 21-day treatment. This was Chase's third set back with "infection" but he is extremely strong and we couldn't be prouder on his ability to prove he's not going to let these set backs keep him from moving forward. I suppose his tenacity is the first hint of the competition we'll witness between he and his brother for years to come. In the meantime, Austin has continued to eat and grow.

Ok, enough excuses, here is the fun stuff (besides new photos) that I know you're all wondering about...

Today, Austin weighs 5 lbs. 1 oz. and Chase weighs 4 lbs. 9 oz. To us, they are huge! Both are starting to make lots of wonderful baby noises and they even cry. The boys are in open cribs and for the last few days, we've started ad-lib feeding. This means, we've taken the gavage tubes out and they are eating from mom exclusively. Needless to say, I'm starting to finally feel like this mother role is real and I couldn't be happier to be spending such quality time with both babies. To help the boys adjust to this feeding process, Dan and I are sleeping at the hospital tonight and tomorrow night. We'll get a call whenever the boys are hungry and then I go feed them. Austin has already finished his apnea/bradycardia countdown and Chase is in the midst of his. The car seats are installed and once the boys have breastfeeding perfected, we'll introduce a bottle and they say we could be home within a week to ten days. Of course, we'll believe it when we see it, but finally, we are starting to feel like real parents and that our stay in the NICU could be over soon.

Here are some pictures from the past two weeks. The nurses had a photo shoot with the boys on Christmas and I'll post those pictures separately. Enjoy and as always, thank you, everyone, for your continued support, warm gestures, kind messages, care packages and love. We are extremely blessed to have all of you in our lives and to share this amazing experience with.


Austin (left) - mom made me wear this silly hat!
Chase (right) - I'm so concerned!

Christmas '07 in the Intensive Care Nursery

Checkout our Christmas photo shoot! A special thank you to Amy M. and the rest of the nurses on that night for capturing such great images of our boys while mom and dad were home resting.