Making Progress!

The girls are doing really well with drinking from the bottle... so well, in fact, that their feeding tubes were removed today! This means that they will likely be coming home soon which we are so excited about. Here is a picture of Emily (left) and Lauren (right) after their early evening feeding session... they both drank their entire bottle without any difficulty!

New Pictures of Emily and Lauren!

Emily (left) and Lauren (right) sleeping in their crib. Emily was yawning and just starting to wake up but Lauren was still fast asleep... she likes to stretch her arms above her head!

Emily eagerly awaiting a bottle.

Little Lauren all bundled up and looking slightly groggy.

Each day the girls are getting a little better at drinking from the bottle. Coordinating sucking, swallowing, and breathing is a lot of work for a preemie! They are growing well... Emily (left) is 5 pounds, 4 ounces and Lauren (right) is 4 pounds, 12 ounces. After each feeding, the girls usually fall fast asleep in preparation for the next feeding!

Family Portrait!

Our friends Andrew and Jill came to the hospital to meet the girls which was really great. Andrew took our first family portrait of the four of us together!

Emily (left) and Lauren (right) sleeping soundly side by side in Mom's lap.

Emily (left) and Lauren (right) awake in their crib.

Lauren's hand is so tiny compared to Justin's!

Emily and Lauren- Together Again!

Emily and Lauren have been slowly gaining weight which helps them to regulate their body temperatures better... today they were placed in the same open crib as opposed to being in separate incubators! It was really nice seeing them together.

Justin holding the girls... one in each arm!

Lauren (left) and Emily (right) were fast asleep and looked very cozy in Justin's arms.

Hanging out with the girls!

Our favorite time of the day is when we are visiting the girls at the hospital! Emily and Lauren are doing well... they are both at their goal for tube feeding, so the next step will be transitioning them to oral feeding once they mature a little more and are able to coordinate sucking and swallowing. They are weighed everyday and each day they gain a tiny bit more weight which means they are that much closer to coming home!

Emily looking alert and peppy.

Lauren looking at Mom.

Justin holding Lauren.

Stephanie holding Emily.

Tiny handprints! (These are on a 3 x 5 index card.)

Update on Emily and Lauren

Emily and Lauren are doing well in the neonatal ICU... Emily is digesting her feeds like a champ! Lauren is having a little more difficulty with digestion, so her feeds are being increased very slowly and she is also receiving nutrition through a peripheral IV. Here are a couple more pictures we took with our new camera:

Emily spends most of the day resting.

Lauren seems to be the more vocal one and really likes to be held.

More Baby Pictures

We got a new camera to take more pictures of the babies, so a bunch are posted below. They were born around 3am on Thursday, July 31st. They are premature at 31 weeks 5 days, so they are currently in the Neonatal ICU. They are doing very well though and have not required oxygen or help breathing. The doctors tell us they will likely be in the ICU for at least a month and will be able to go home when they are eating well, gaining weight, maintaining their body temperature, and not having any pauses in breathing (apneas, which are common in preemies). We've had lots of visitors over the last few days and really appreciate everyone's enthusiasm for our new additions.


Here we are in the recovery room the night the twins were born.


Emily Jane Rufener, opening her eyes on her first day. You can see how tiny she is next to my hand.


Lauren Michelle Rufener

Stephanie, tired but excited to be with the new babies. She is holding Emily.

You can tell by the look on my face how great it feels to be a Dad! Justin holding Lauren.


Justin's parents, Brent and Michelle, enjoying some time with their new granddaughters.


Stephanie's parents, Kim and Jane, with Emily. This is the second set of twin granddaughters for them!

Stephanie with her sister Kimberly. We are so happy to have Kimberly living across the street from us... she has 4 year old twin girls and lots of experience.

Here are Kimberly and Greg's twins, Kali (purple) and Kaylin (pink). They came up to visit but weren't allowed in the neonatal ICU. Instead they were models for me with the new camera. I thought this picture turned out well.


Our friends Jon and Karen came up from Eugene to visit us and see the new babies. Here they are on the skybridge between OHSU and the VA. Karen is 24 weeks pregnant with a boy! Chad and Kari Peterson are also close friends that came by this weekend. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera when the came.

The Rufener Twins Have Arrived- July 31, 2008

Emily Jane Rufener- 4 pounds, 6 ounces

Lauren Michelle Rufener- 3 pounds, 9 ounces

More updates and pictures to come!