Sisters

February 2015 (Lena 39 months, McKinley 6 months)

In October 2014 we officially learned that McKinley is Lena's genetic sibling.  We had guessed as much since they have so many similarities: the shape of their mouth, the color of their eyes, the shape of their head, their noses, the way they sound when they sneeze, the fact that they both sneeze profusely in direct sunlight...I could go on and on...  The fact that they are genetic siblings is amazing for many reasons but primarily because McKinley, statistically, should never have been born.  

November 2014 (Lena 36 months, McKinley 3 months)

 Lena and McKinley were frozen in the same straw of embryos at the 2PN stage (18 hours after fertilization). (They were created and frozen together in 2006.) They were thawed at the same time in March 2011 and then spent 5 days together in a petri dish until they were blastocysts.  McKinley was then deemed by the embryologist as the "lowest quality" embryo of the three that were thawed and was refrozen.  Lena and her sibling (the embryo on the left) were transferred but we lost Lena's twin at 7 weeks. Three transfers later, in November 2013 McKinley was thawed again after having survived being frozen and thawed twice and was transferred and born 10 months later against incredible odds. They are now reunited again!

McKinley Jane and Lena Joyce together in a petri dish (the two embryos on the right) (March 2011)

McKinley Jane and Lena Joyce together once again at St. Jude (August 2014)

It was a very difficult decision for Dan and I to refreeze one of the three embryos instead of transferring all three.  I remember calling myself a "utilitarian" for choosing to refreeze McKinley to avoid jepardizing Lena and her twin by risking a triplet pregnancy.  I wonder now what would have happened had we transferred all three embryos at once...but McKinley and Lena are here now and together again! 

Lena loving on her sister in utero! 

A hug for McKinley when I was in my third trimester.

Excited to become a big sister!

Lena gets to touch McKinley for the first time.

Visiting baby sister on the day she was born.

Giving McKinley her Sunshine Bear

Holding McKinley for the first time and giving her the first of many kisses.

Lena didn't like having to go home with Grandma and Grandpa when we stayed in the hospital.  She insisted on giving McKinley a hug and a kiss before she left for the evening.

So excited to see sister during a hospital visit.

The big sister!  "She came out!"

A new companion to keep us company on our car rides.

Sisterly affection

Lena loves holding McKinley

Another chance to hold sister or "Little" as Lena calls Kinley

Kinley Jane hanging out in the boppy with Lena

On some nights Kinley joins Lena in bed for story time.

It will fun to watch these two miracle girls grow together.  They have come so far to both be here with us. 

Lena and McKinley with their Care Bears - Feb. 2015

McKinley Jane: 8 Months Old

Happy, Sweet Girl!

McKinley Jane is now eight months old.  She is becoming more and more interactive.  I see so many similarities to Lena in her personality as she enjoys being around people and animals.  She rarely cries at the nursery at church.  She has seemed happier this month and I wonder if it is because she is less frustrated being able to crawl and stand, or if she is healthy and well over her bad sickness from last month, or perhaps just glad to be back in our routine and sleeping in her own cozy bed.  Whatever the reason I am glad there have been much fewer tears this month.  One thing that has been fun to see is how much more Kinley has been able to play with Lena.  She is a little more sturdy now so she can roll  around and play toys with her sissy.  I think these two are going to be great friends

One of her favorite activities is standing and pulling items out of a box.

It is hard to get a still shot of this beauty.  She is always on the move!

8 Month Stats

18 lbs 9 oz

Size 3 diapers

Size 3 shoes

Size 9-12 month clothes

Two Naps: 9:30-11:30 / 3:30-5:00

Still wakes 1-3 times at night to drink a bottle

Getting into the bin of Easter eggs after the big hunt.

"Little's" most favorite activity of the day is bath time!

 8 Month Likes

Spending time with Lena

Getting in the water

Climbing everything

Getting into a box/drawer of "whatever"

Chewing on anything in sight

Randomly shrieking and yelling

Being held by Mommy

Being Outside

Eating Yogurt Melts

Visiting animals, especially Jersey and Figgy

I walked in one day when she was sleeping likes this!  Kinley is especially "bendy".

She likes to sit with her knees totally bent back!

8 Month Firsts

Pulling to stand

Shuffling while holding onto something

Babble (especially "da da da")

Eating first solids (bread, french fries, pizza, spaghetti, yogurt)
Waving (she holds both arms out and flaps them up and down)

I woke up one morning to find Lena and McKinley playing in the crib together.

Making friends with her buddy Miss E

The two "baldies" in the family.