The last few weeks have been a life-changing, incredible whirlwind. Frankly, we're still in shock that it actually all happened.
Introducing:
Millie Allison and Brooke Brianne Neary
Born Wednesday, September 23rd at 5:04 PM (both were out within the same minute)
Millie weighed 6lbs 8oz, and Brooke weight 6lbs, 12oz
Both were 18in. long.
On Wednesday, September 2, My Aunt Ally called and told me that her best friend's sister (you got that?) was pregnant with boy/girl twins and was considering placing them for adoption. We got the call that they wanted to meet with us, and we flew down to Arizona that night!
The first meeting with the birth parents, A and R, went really, really well. I fell in love with A instantly! She's a beautiful woman with a selfless heart. We talked for a few hours about ourselves, about adoption, about our families, and a whole slew of topics. Afterwards they let us know that they had chosen our family to adopt their twins! I don't think I've ever been more excited (or nervous). Because A found us on her own and not through an agency, we decided to pursue a private adoption (only meaning we have our own attorneys instead of going through an agency).
Our attorney, social worker, and NICU nurse
The next three weeks were filled with playdates with A and her adorable son, E, lunch dates with the family and attending doctor's appointments and ultrasounds. At the first ultrasound our boy/girl twins turned into twin girls. Talk about a shock!
On Tuesday, A let me know that she was scheduled for a C-section the next day. She was only allowed one person in the operating room with her, and I was honored that she let me (Melissa) go in with her! After having experienced two C-sections myself, it was so strange to be on the other side. Anyone who knows me knows I hate needles, so I was an awful support system through all the blood draws, IV, and anesthesia. I'm glad A was patient with me!
At 5:04, both girls were born within about 30 seconds of each other. It was an incredible experience!
Brooke
Millie
Though their lungs had been shown as mature through an amniocentesis, they both struggled with respiratory issues and were put into the NICU. Millie soon overcame her struggles, but Brooke continued to need extra care for the next little bit
. The hospital kept them both in the NICU for us so the girls could still be together.
Millie / Brooke
We were able to take the babies home fairly quickly! We are incredibly grateful and in awe of the blessings that have become part of our family.
Common Questions:
Did you get to name the babies?
Legally, we do, but we talked about it extensively (their names changed about 5 times) with A and we finally decided on Millie and Brooke.
Are they identical?
A didn't have an ultrasound soon enough to see if the babies were identical or fraternal. They did have different placentas, so there is only a 30% chance they are identical. For now we're thinking they are fraternal
since they each have some distinct facial features, though despite the differences we have still mixed them up a few times.
Millie Brooke
When can you go home?
It will take an additional 7-10 days to receive permission to cross state borders, but then we will be home free to WY!
Is this an open adoption?
This is a VERY open adoption. We inherited a slew of cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents with the adoption of these beauties. We are looking forward to a life of open communication, lots of visits, pictures, videos, gifts, and love from every angle. These girls are blessed beyond measure!
Birth Grandma (Grammy) with Brooke
We've officially given up on family pictures for the next few years :)
As I ponder on this last month, I can't help but be filled with gratitude for the events that happened in our lives. We have been blessed beyond measure. Our adoption situation is nothing short of ideal. From being able to adopt healthy, newborn twins to being present for their birth to our open adoption with their birth family and especially their amazing birth mother. My highest hopes did not even go that far. Hindsight is 20/20, and when I look back on the adoption situations that never worked out, it is easy to see now that the Lord had a better plan for us. I really hope that I have gained some perspective and trust in the Lord from this experience. I hold Millie and Brooke alone at night during their feedings, and I just want to cry from how beautiful they are. I guess it still hasn't quite hit that they are mine forever, and I get the amazing opportunity to be their mom. 
Now to the girls. The transition from 2 to 4 kids was much easier than I anticipated, and also much harder than I had anticipated. I think the experience is easier because I am not recovering from months of bedrest/ tons of drugs/ gaining 60lb/ or a c section. It is a perk of adopting that I am at my peak physical fitness and don't have any baby weight to lose- score! Also, no raging hormones. That's a plus. Also, I'm much more laid back with these babies than with my other two. The girls themselves haven't actually been much of a challenge at all. They are very typical newborns- not even a big of colic!
Now the difficult part is having four kids under four. With Millie and Brooke eating four times each night, and Hyrum and Lydia experiencing some serious regression in behavior, we have been in survival mode for a few weeks. Most days it's all I can do to take a shower, and we have watched far too much TV, but I know that this is temporary. Already the situation is getting. Hyrum and Lydia seem to be getting used to their sisters, and their behavior has improved dramatically the last few days. Also, Millie and Brooke are sleeping longer, so we are down to three feedings a night, which has made all the difference. We even managed to get out of the house this week and go pick some pumpkins. 
The love and support felt from our friends and family is beyond anything I expected. Countless gifts, dinners, babysitting so I can get a nap, and helping out at church (since I often am there alone-thank you, Air Force). I promise I will get all those thank you notes out soon! I have definitely have fallen behind. 
