A Series of Firsts...

In the weeks and months leading up the arrival of the twins, I (this is Jason) found myself marking a series of "lasts." The last good night's sleep. The last night out for beer and nachos at a sports bar without having to find a babysitter. The last quiet night watching TV. The last time I could say "I'll be there in 20 minutes." The last easy road trip......

But now that I look back, none of that means all that much, especially given the series of "firsts" which has begun since the twins were born. See below for some photos marking these "firsts."

The first nap for Baby Mama and Cameron


The first time reading a book to Isabel, and the first look of "awe" on her face...


Isabel's first crush...she gave Jack Hayken the "eye" during a recent visit to Northern Virgina.


The first Halloween

Cameron's first dance move? Is that the "running man"?

The first time meeting their cousins

And of course, what made our hearts melt, the first smiles :-)

We're looking forward to a lot more "firsts" over the coming weeks and months!

October 14 Update - Ten Weeks Old

So the twins are already 10 weeks old (today). Here are some of the things we have learned so far:

1. You really can function on less than 5 hours of sleep for prolonged periods
2. After getting 5 hours of sleep for prolonged periods, use of kitchen knives is not advised (Jason has already cut his fingers twice)
3. Using a diaper that is too small for a baby leads to more laundry (due to unfortunate diaper leaks)
4. Poop really can travel across the room in a stream like a water fountain
5. "I'll be there in 20 minutes"....ha! That doesn't exist anymore!

We are sure there are more things we forgot...oh yeah...sleep deprivation makes you forgetful.

Anyway, below are some recent pictures of the Little Darlings.

Auntie Allison and Cousins Anna and Ethan during their first visit with the twins.


The first big family outing. We went to Honey Pot Hill apple orchard, and spent the first hour and a half waiting for bottles to warm, feeding the kiddos, and then changing an unfortunate diaper leak (see #3 above). But it was a nice fall day and we got to enjoy the weather.


After we finished with the feeding and changing ritual, it was off to the Apple Orchard and Pumpkin Patch. The kiddos were comfortable in their carriers, so we decided against pumpkin patch photos with the kids next to the pumpkins.


Isabel just chillin' on the sofa.

Cameron enjoying one of his favorite things....riding around in his carrier while Daddy Darling makes dinner.

Cameron (in white) and Isabel (in pink) after a walk around the neighborhood.

Cameron getting to know his puppies, Dixie (left) and Duchess (right). The pups have been great with the babies.

September 20 Update

Earlier this week (Sept 16), the twins finally hit their official due date! They are now 6 weeks, 4 days old, but only 4 days by adjusted age (based on their due date). Cameron is becoming the feisty one, letting us know when he wants something, although we can't always figure out what that is and he just keeps screaming at us! Cameron is also the resident pig, as you can tell from his weight gain....already almost doubling his birth weight! Isabel is the quiet and contemplative one, with a lot more alert time where she takes in her surroundings with a look of awe on her face. She is more dainty with her feedings, since she is trying to keep her trim figure :-)

Below are some photos of the twins' first weeks at home.

Cameron has three typical states. Sleeping, eating, and the one shown below.


Let's hope they always play this nice together.


Baby Mama learning how to cuddle with two babies at once
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Duchess checking in on her new family members. Both Duchess and Dixie are very excited at the additions to the family. The dogs like Cameron and Isabel so much, we are constantly trying to stop them from licking their faces!


Isabel posing for the camera.

"Oh my gosh" said Meghan. "Cameron is awake and not screaming. Quick, take a picture!"

Happy Homecoming!!

After close to 4 weeks in the NICU, both Cameron and Isabel have finally come home!! Cameron was discharged on Saturday, August 30, and enjoyed one day at home as the "king of the roost." Because on Sunday, August 31, Isabel was discharged...and the adventure of caring for the Darling Twins has begun!!!

Prior to his official discharge, Cameron was supposed to come home on Monday, August 24. But then he mysteriously developed issues with eating and occasionally stopped breathing while he was eating...so this placed him on a "3 day watch", which meant that he needed to go three days without a problem before he could come home. We think he intentionally sabatoged his ability to come home so that he could wait for Isabel. Or, he enjoyed all of the attention from the female staff of nurses. Either way, his eating issues conveniently subsided just in time for Isabel to come home :-) We're going to be suspicious in several years when Cameron tries to convince us that he is too sick to go to school...

So after waiting for many weeks to unite our family, we have enjoyed having Cameron and Isabel home with us. Meghan's parents are visiting and are providing lots of help, and so far the twins have slept well (only one wake up during the night), and we are knocking on wood trying to keep them on such a great sleep pattern. Below are some photos to capture the events of the last several days.

Cameron and Isabel a few days before coming home. Isabel says "Hey Cam, are you gonna wait for me before going home??" Cameron replies "Sure Izzie, I wouldn't want to leave you here all by yourself!!"

Meghan trying to burp Cameron...this picture gives you a good idea of scale. The twins are still both less than 7 lbs!

Busting the twins out of the NICU! This was taken in front of the exit to the NICU, right before we passed through the doors to start our lives as the parents to the twins!

Cameron all snug in his carseat, getting ready for his first walk around the neighborhood.

Isabel also ready for her first walk, in a matching polka-dot blankie. Did somebody throw-up "pink" all over Isabel?? :-)

Mommy Darling pushing the "stretch limo" double snap-n-go down the Minuteman Trail in Arlington.

Cameron and Isabel, all tuckered out after their walk!

Grandpa and Grandma Bahler enjoying some time with their grandkids!

The Darling Family, Labor Day 2008. (minus the dogs, but we couldn't figure out a good way to get them in the picture...a task for our Christmas Photo!)

Isabel speaks!!!

Well, not really, but the pictures below document Isabel's first attempts at communication.....using some hand signals with universal meaning :-)







Believe it or not, we did not pose her...this was all Isabel.

Definitely Daddy's little girl :-)

12 day update....

So it has been 12 days so far since the twins were born, and a lot has happened. After they were born, Meghan remained in the hospital for 5 days and was released on Saturday, August 9. She is doing very well recovering from the c-section delivery, with no complications so far (knock on wood!).

Cameron and Isabel are still in the NICU at Beth Israel. They have been progressing very well, but the staff still cannot tell us a date when they will come home, only that they will come home when they are "ready". "Ready" is defined as: 1) regulating their own temperature in an open air crib; 2) breathing on their own without any "spells", or times when they forget to breath; and 3) taking all of their feedings without the help of a feeding tube. Cameron jumped out to an early lead, storming through criteria #1 and #2, but has stalled at #3. Isabel was a slow starter, but we think she was plotting and planning a methodical approach (making her more like her Mom!), storing her energy in the early days. So she slowly conquered #1 and is close to conquering #2 (she has a few spells here and there), and she has almost caught up with Cameron on #3. So hopefully they will both start taking all of their feedings very soon and get to come home...together!

Below are some pictures of the little munchkins from the last several days.

Cameron at changing time in his cool outfit!

Isabel and her Auntie Chele (visiting from DC).

Baby Mama and wee little Cameron, curled up in a ball.

Isabel showing off the grip that will make her an Olympic champion in 2026!

Isabel at her pre-Olympic weigh-in...she's 4 lbs 13 oz, 1 oz above her birth weight!!

Jason and Mini-me, otherwise known as Cameron!

The Darling Family, together in room 977 of the Beth Israel NICU.

The Big Day

At about 5:30 am on Tuesday, August 5, Meghan woke up with a very painful contraction. Shortly thereafter, she noticed a spot of fluid on the bed and decided to get up and use the bathroom. During this trip to the bathroom, she was disturbed by more fluid running down her leg (just a slow trickle) and wondered: "Is this my water breaking? Or am I just losing control of my bladder?" She returned to bed and the leaking seemed to stop. Then she got up to go consult our small library of pregnancy books to see what she should do, and the leak started again. When she returned to bed, the leak stopped. Hmmmm, what to do?? At this point, she decided to wake Jason (who was sleeping soundly through all of this, as usual) and they discussed what was going on and decided to call the Doctor's emergency line. The Doctor recommended she come into the office (by now it was getting close to 8 am, opening time for the office) to get checked out.

The trickle of fluid seemed to stop until Meghan was making the walk from the car to the Doctor's office, when it started again and she exclaimed: "I feel like I am peeing myself!" Upon arriving at the Doctor's office, the fluid had stopped again (of course) and when they checked her out, they decided it was not amniotic fluid. But when Meghan stood up to leave, the leak started with a vengeance and she sat back down and the Doctor checked again and sure enough, amniotic fluid! Meghan's water had broke (or at least sprung a leak).

So we made the drive to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, calling family along the way. We had to go to Beth Israel, since the twins were only 34 weeks along and considered preemies, and Beth Israel has the NICU for preemies. After a couple of hours at Beth Israel waiting for the Doctor to be available (see photo below of Baby Mama in waiting), Meghan was wheeled into the operating room for a C-section. Jason decided to stay on the "non business" end of the surgery, sitting next to Meghan's head (see picture below) until the sweet sound of babies crying was heard.

At that point, he went to meet his new son, Cameron James Darling, born at 2:29 pm, 5 lbs 3 oz, 18.7 inches. Below is a photo of Cameron and one of Cameron holding Daddy's finder.

Shortly after Cameron was born, his "younger" sister Isabel Clare Darling followed right behind at 2:31 pm, weighing in at 4 lbs 12 oz and measuring 17.3 inches. Below is a picture of Isabel and another one of her holding Daddy's finger.

Currently, Meghan is recovering well from the C-section. She is very sore and weak, but has already been able to get out of bed and walk around a little.

Cameron and Isabel were taken off to the NICU shortly after being born. They are both doing very well and breathing on their own, but will need to remain in the NICU for at least of couple weeks while they continue to mature (they were only 34 weeks when they were born). We'll add more posts to the blog as things are updated.

Thanks for all of the emails, phone calls, and prayers. They are all appreciated!!