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by Jeanette Trompeter
Fargo, N.D. (WCCO) ― It's hard to believe it's been almost two months since Abby and Belle Carlsen left Mayo Clinic and headed home to Fargo, N.D. Seeing them apart, it is easy to forget how connected they used to be. What is extraordinary about the formerly conjoined twins is how ordinary their lives have become.

"Rice cereal and fruit in the morning for breakfast. For lunch they'll have a veggie and a little fruit for desert," Amy Carlsen explained as she hands a fussy Abby off to her husband Jesse. Like most new parents, the Carlsens talk about all the foods their babies eat and all the sleep they miss. "Every night before I go to bed, I'm like 'OK, girls, let's sleep for five hours,'" said Amy.

Jesse Carlsen believes his life is like any family with new twins.

"It's hectic. It takes a lot of work," he said. "We're just trying to get used to it."

Jesse headed back to work three weeks ago as an inspector for the North Dakota Department of Transportation. Amy spends her days caring for her girls.

"Eat, play, nap -- but gosh, it's a lot. Nonstop movement," said Amy. "I had my mom come back down just to help me get ahead again because without her, oh my gosh."

Abby and Belle may wiggle and reach like other eight-month-olds, but they are different. They're the Carlsen Twins.

"Every time we go some place people you know, 'Oh I recognize you from TV -- how are the girls?'" said Amy. The Carlsens don't worry about their daughters' fame. "I feel just like a normal couple with two normal twins," said Amy.

They don't mind when people wave, but pointing is another story. "There have been times when we get pointed out in crowds and stuff," said Jesse. "I would rather they just come up and say hi. Rather than point and talk, so it's a little weird."

Every week or so, Jesse posts updates on the twins' Caring Bridge Web site. Since so many people prayed for the girls' successful separation, the Carlsens say it feels right to keep sharing their daughters' story.

"So many people come up to us and said, 'There's so many bad things going on. I really like reading about the good things,'' said Amy. "And it just makes me feel good. I'm going to keep up with the story just because people want to know."

Amy and Jesse's willingness to show off their girls will bring them to Minneapolis this weekend. Next Sunday, their twins will team up with some other well-known Twins. Abby and Belle will throw out the first pitch at the Dome. Actually, their parents will help them out a little.

The girls look like other 8-month-olds until bath time. When Amy removes Abby's clothing, the dressing on her chest is a reminder of the successful separation surgery. Amy still doesn't put Abby's chest under water.

"I'm still covering it until we go down to Rochester and see what they say," said Amy.

Abby and Belle's surgical wounds have healed well. It still seems pretty amazing to their Mom that the girls were separated without any major complications.

"Everyday I look at these girls and I think wow, I have two babies. They're here. They're my miracles," said Amy.

If anything shows how far the Carlsen twins have come, it may be the scene in the kitchen at day's end. The girls who spent most of their lives stuck in the hospital and stuck to each other are now stuck simply in highchairs just like other babies.

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