We had a normal pregnancy. Easy, even. Sure, because we were expecting twins there were extra appointments and extra belly, but no sickness, no cravings, nothing causing concern, and even a trip to Spain before the babies came.

And then on Christmas Eve day, at a normal twin pregnancy check-up and ultrasound, Missy's water broke. We were quickly on our way to the hospital to get checked... only to hear that these babies were on their way. At 31 weeks 6 days gestation.

Fast forward 3 hours. Baby A and Baby B, as they were so lovingly called because we hadn't quite decided on names, were born and rushed to the Children's Saint Paul NICU for medical assessment and admittance. 

Madden and Joseph lived in incubators for a week to maintain their body temperatures. They received billiruben light treatments, complete with infant 'sunglasses', to combat jaundice. They were fed via ng tube for several weeks, unable to eat on their own. 

They were cared for by a huge team of neonatalogists, nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory therapists, lactation specialists, Otolaryngologists, speech therapists, radiologists, pediatricians, not to mention the specialists who provided services to us as new parents.

Madden and Joseph spent 45 days in the NICU before we were able to bring them home. In that time, we were faced with the many challenges of premature birth. But we were never doing it alone. In addition to the support we received from our family and friends, there was an incredible staff surrounding us as we navigated parenthood in this unexpected way. We learned how to care for our new bundles of joy from some of the most qualified teachers (medical professionals) in the nation. We were blessed by a schedule and routine that only an extended hospital stay could have created for us. Our nights were spent gaining the strength and courage needed to face the next day, as we slept- uninterrupted- at home while the NICU staff cared for the boys. And there was a constant number of staff that checked in with us to make sure we were getting what we needed as we spent long hours each day sitting, reading, napping, holding, feeding, and helping care for Madden and Joe in this bizarre home away from home.

And this is why we've decided to walk. Because of our experience, facing our new stage of life in the most unplanned way, we walk to remember how fortunate we are to have a top medical facility 12 miles from our house; to thank the staff who cared for our boys; to honor the small but mighty tenacity Madden and Joe showed us in those first few weeks of life; to be reminded of our own strength and resilience; to provide hope for other families facing similar circumstances; and most of all, to celebrate our happy, healthy, vivacious boys.

We ask for your support. Please consider donating to help us celebrate how far we've come from the day Madden and Joe were born, and to help provide other's with that same opportunity.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.