Carter is home!!!!

Carter hanging out in his bouncer seat and with his daddy and puppy RELAXING!

Carter in his seat ready to go home, and in his crib...he has lots of room to GROW!!

Olivia taking her bottle...what a Big Girl!!

Yesterday half of our prayers were answered when Carter got released from the hospital and was finally able to come home after 18 days in the NICU!! Mitch and I are so happy for our little guy, and for the first time since their birth we feel like "real" parents. We are able to hold him and kiss him and love him whenever we want and don't have to say "see ya later" and "love you bye" following our bed time kisses and prayers. Parenthood is amazing and there is no better feeling then holding our son and rocking him back to sleep in the middle of the night. Yes, in the middle of the night...though we were tired we were more thankful then anything to have the opportunity to be the one to care for him in the middle of night, and not just call and hear about how he was doing from his nurse. Carter is such a happy boy, and he smiles all the time!!! He is weighing in at a whole 4 pounds 7 ounces and growing bigger with each day! Though he is home and we would love to show him off to everyone we are taking the doctors advice and not having visitors for 6 more weeks....yeah I know, what a bummer, but he is only 35 weeks gestation and though he is getting better, he is still premature and VERY prone to infection and illness. We will keep everyone updated on how he is doing, but for now his only outings are to the NICU and home to visit with his sister. Olivia is doing well...she is eating from a bottle for about half her feedings and grows stronger each day. She is still having some alarms that she forgets to breath and then needs a nurse to stimulate her. The docs still think that it is reflux and that the medication is working. She seems to be only having about 1 episode a day now, so please continue to pray for her that she will overcome this soon. With each alarm that she sets she has to stay at least 7 more days in the NICU. Harley loves Carter so much and is already VERY protective over him. Last night Carter was crying because his mommy was changing him and since Harley was unable to see him she jumped into Olivia's crib next to the changing table!! She has never jumped that high before!!! The crazy things that we do for the people we love!! Please enjoy the photos from Carter's first day home and we will keep everyone posted on how things are going. Please continue to pray for Olivia that she will be united with her family as soon as possible. My pregnancy with the last 3 weeks has shown me that everything is in the hands of God, and the true power of prayer...our journey has been long, but we wouldn't change a minute of it! Life is a rollarcoaster and Mitch and I are loving the ride!