That afternoon, Jonah and Micah left on a hospital airplane in two little incubators on wheeled stretchers, hooked up to multiple monitors and machines. I thought that I might never see them again. Then Josh and my mom left in the car for Salt Lake to be with the babies. Because of my C-Section, I had to stay at the hospital in Idaho Falls. Alone. For 3 more days. It was the worst time of my entire life.
When I was finally released, my dad came up to Idaho Falls and drove me to Salt Lake. A few days after I arrived in SLC, Josh had to leave me to go home and go back to work and take care of Ammon. And I was once again alone. But at least this time, I could be with the twins. Their stay at Primary Childrens lasted 3 weeks, but because the NICU was being remodeled and since the twins' status was no longer critical, they were again transferred back to EIRMC in Idaho Falls.The twins remained there until the end of the November, when they finally got to come home a day before their due date. The two months they were in the hospitals was the most difficult time of my entire life. I got post-partum depression, but didn't realize it until later. I had to be strong at the time, and didn't really start falling apart emotionally until after the twins came home. I struggled for years with my emotions and my experience. And now I can't stop thinking about it. This is why:
Josh's best friend Ryan married Josh's cousin Heidi. Ryan & Heidi were married several months before us, and have lived in Boise ever since, so we usually see them a couple times a year. This fall, they announced that they were pregnant! This was their first pregnancy, so EVERYONE was so excited for them! Then we learned that they were pregnant with TWINS!!! An even bigger wow! Then we found out they were going to have 2 girls! We couldn't wait! Then, the next thing we heard was that the twins had arrived, at only 25 1/2 weeks gestation. Everything in her pregnancy had gone well until then; she got up the morning of February 12, had labor pains, and delivered the girls not long after. Ayla was 1 lb 6 oz and Zoey was 2 lb. Ryan and Heidi email everyday, with updates of Ayla and Zoey's status, detail by detail of their fight for life. If you've ever had a premie in a NICU, you know that life changes minute by minute, hour by hour. I'm grateful for this form of communication with them. Josh was able to see Ryan and Heidi and visit Ayla & Zoey in the hospital last week. I can't stop thinking about them, praying for them, crying for them, fasting for them. My heart and mind are always with them and their tiny and precious daughters. And this, in turn, brings me back constantly to my own period of NICU life. And I am finally healing.
Katrina made a beautiful cake for him. After he blew out the candles, we ate it with some ice cream. 
Then Dad helped him open the presents from Grandma and Grandpa P. After each present was unveiled, he would excitedly take it, run to Grandma, give it to her, then run back to Dad to open the next one!
On his actual birthday, we invited Grandma & Grandpa Tolman and his friend Wyatt & his parents over to our house for another little party. Ammon, Jonah, Micah, and Wyatt each took turns helping him open gifts. The first 4 presents, one from each of the boys, was a "Cars" car. He was SO excited to get them!! After that, he refused to let go of those cars the rest of the night! Because of this, he was impaired from opening the rest of his gifts by himself. 
He must have a lot of people who love him, because he sure got a lot of gifts! Thank you everyone!!! 
After presents came dessert; we ate brownies, Oreo ice cream, and Oreo cookies: his favorite. (In the picture below, see the Lightning McQueen & Mater pictures the boys colored as decorations for his birthday?! Also, notice how Kanyon is completely disinterested in the dessert because he's too busy playing with his new Lightning McQueen cars?!)
Some of the commercials were hilarious, like: the Budweiser one where the Clydesdale fetches a bigger stick than the dog, or the Coca-Cola one where the bugs took the Coke bottle from the sleeping picnicker, or the Grease Monkey one. (note: John used to think Grease Monkey was a restaurant. That's maybe why I remember that commercial as being so funny!) The half-time entertainment of Bruce Springstein was a little disappointing; I love his music, but I think his prime has past. The final score of the game was: Steelers, 27 and Cardinals, 23.
Jonah won the "Super-sized-Bowl" of No Bake Cookies for his predicted score of 24-21, which was the closest to the actual score. John won a "Symphony" bar as a consolation prize for his predicted score of 36-46 , the furthest from the final score. We had a great evening together...but then, Good Food plus Good Friends (and a little Football) always equals Fun!!!
Unfortunately, none of our boys caught any fish this year. But, they all came home with prizes: a fishing patch, new hooks, a fish ruler, some magnets and stickers, and some sugary treats! 
Micah took Butterscotch pudding for his class to make together and eat. His teacher Miss Savanna helped him make a crown with his name on it. When it was time, we talked about all the photos on our poster. Then he took the Star wand and picked one child at a time to ask him a question.
Micah's favorite colors are red and orange and green.
