3 days later

Tatum is feeding from a bottle. The NICU staff is slowly trying to ween her from her heated isolette to a room temperature crib.

Noah's had a more challenging road. He's had quite a few apnias and bradycardias and is now on caffeine to help stimulate him.

The photos below are from the first time we bottle-fed the twins.

the twins have arrived

The twins have arrived! Noah Michael Shepherd and Tatum Jean Shepherd were born Friday, 26-Aug-2005, at 10:36 AM and 10:40 AM respectively. Noah weighed 4 pounds even. Tatum weighed 4 pounds 4 ounces. They were 7 weeks early according to their due date (33 weeks gestation).

They are in the NICU right now. Both are off oxygen as of Friday evening, but they still have feeding tubes. NICU staff estimates they'll be there for 2 weeks before we'll get to take them home to Orange City.

Lisa is doing much better. Ian (our almost 2-year-old) won't get to see his siblings 'til they come home.

Here are some photos. The first is Noah, the second is Tatum, and the third is both of them together after their oxygen masks had been removed.