I still think about the NICU. Pretty much every day. Yesterday, I think I finally let it hit me what we’ve been through. I’ve been through some tough adventures and completed lofty goals. Five long and short NICU months takes the cake for perseverance and hope.

There’s no ache like that you feel to hold and care for your babes or fear that you might lose them.
Hold your babies close and give them a hug for us. Never forget the fragility of life and the strength of love. 

We are all together and while it’s crazy town here at the house lately, we are full. Full of love... and food.. literally, someone is always eating or pooping at any point in a 24 hour period... but here we are.

I’ve been thinking about the quote “life is what happens when you’re making plans” lately. I try to remember that every day. I try to stop and look at my family, every member, and commit the every day stuff to memory. The way our little babes smell after their bath, the way Cam only says “I love you” when he really means it. The way Justin kisses me when he’s just shaved his face and changes to lyrics of songs to match what we are doing at the moment. The way my sisters handwriting looks on her thank you notes. The way my in-laws spoil us when they visit. That my mom calls me on the way to work to catch up. That dad buys when we go out to dinner.

There’s so much that can be missed if you’re not paying attention. 
I’ll definitely not miss tripping over oxygen tubes and cleaning Cecelia’s feeding port, but what will I miss when all of it is over? That’s what I’m focused on these days as they slip by so quickly.

Stella is basically off oxygen during the day. Cecelia is close behind her and is also taking most, if not all, of her bottles during the day. We use the feeding tube at night to “catch up” on what she missed during the day.

Stella is over 11lbs, Cecelia is over 9lbs.

Oh, and 2019 is a quarter of the way over... can you believe it?

Xoxo, The Gearys
#GearyStrong
#Geary5