I knew I was going to be a father ... I just didn't think I'd become a father THIS early!

Twin baby boys have turned our world upside down.  Nicholas Paul and Nathaniel Philip were not due until August, but they decided to come early.  Like TODAY.  They were born at 4:45 this morning here at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital: Nicholas weighed 2 pounds even; his brother Nathaniel, meanwhile, weighed just 1 pound, 2 ounces.  They are incredibly teeny-tiny, looking more like baby frogs than human baby boys.

Right now, both chidlren are in the NICU, where they are being closely monitored (and cared for) by a dedicated staff of doctors and nurses, whose job is to keep these tiny newborns alive.  It is way too soon to tell whether they will make it, but all I know is this: both baby boys are very sick and don't have a good chance of surviving.  It is often said that baby boys seem to do worse than baby girls when it comes to being born premature.  I don't know why, but that's the way it is.

Of course, Eva and I are thrilled at the arrival of Nicholas and Nathaniel, but right now time is of the essence.  The longer they survive, the better the odds.  They are at the critical point right now, and so far nothing really has happened (knock on wood).  I am praying that this continues.  

I was able to see the boys in the NICU.  They are two of the smallest babies there (there is a baby girl in there now who weighs just 12 ounces; she was 10 ounces when born).  They are hard to find because of all the machines surrounding them; one has to really look hard to find the children in their beds.  I was shocked at the sight of them: I had never seen anything so small in all my days ... that was, until I saw the little 12 ounce girl beside them.  

Right now it is too soon to tell if anything will happen, but anything can.  This is why the NICU staff has to be on full alert when tending to these precious, fragile bundles of joy.  I just hope and pray that Nicholas or Nathaniel don't end up with any lasting effects of their earlier than normal births.  It's hard enough dealing with premature twins; it would be worse if one or both of them were to die or be left permanently disabled somehow!

I will keep you updated on Nicholas and Nathaniel's progress in the NICU.  Just say lots of prayers for my babies; they (and we) could use a miracle (or two, maybe even three or four)!  Thanks in advance!

~David, Nicholas and Nathaniel's father.

~To be continued.~