The battle of phlegm

We have been having a serious battle of phlegm for the past 8 weeks at our house. In the middle of summer. I can't wait to see what winter brings. The kiddos have both run fevers a couple times. I had to go get Parker from respite care one day after he'd been there for 30 minutes because his fever was too high to stay. They both have had green stuff coming out noses and fluid in ears. We've been at the pediatrician's office about every week since all this started. You don't want to know what my pharmacy bill had been, but they now know exactly who I am when I go to pick up the latest  hope for a cure. We've added steroids to our arsenal. Nothing is working.

The ENT said that infants are more apt to have fluid build up in their ears because of anatomical reasons, and preemie have extra circumstances that can cause it. Great...two strikes against us. Since Parker is just having the roughest time, we are working to get him scheduled to have tubes in his ears, his adnoids out, and a scope done of his airway and voicebox. The ENT wanted to do that before he was discharged from the hospital but didn't. He's going to take the opportunity of Parker being under anesthesia to to it. Because he is so much more fragile than other kids that have this done, the initial plan is to have him stay the night.

If I have to see him on a vent after surgery, I don't know how I will handle that. It was hard enough after he had surgery in February, but now being this far out...I'm not sure. Nothing like a little PTSD to trip you up every once in a while.

Chef Auction

I know...I"m telling you about another event. But just thought I'd throw it out there. Could be fun. (And no one is paying me for any promoting, just trying to do a little something).

Chef Auction for MOD

9 months old

We had the babies pictures taken for them being 9 months old. Other than someone grabbing their camera and taking some random pictures, they had never had that done. Here is just a few of them (more to come in a few days).

P.S. Thanks Aunt Kristin - we love them :)

Exhausted

That's right - we're all exhausted. It's been a long week. So since I don't have much energy to write anything else, here are the latest and greatest.

Pausing for a mommy kudos

Last Saturday was the first night time bike ride in Omaha - The Owl Ride. They started at 11:00p.m. and did a 16 mile loop through the city. It was a fundraiser for the Munroe-Meyer Institute here in town that works with all kinds of disabilities in kids. Parker's feeding specialist is there. I had registered Chris and I to go and ride with Kristin. After a horrible evening with over tired babies who refused to go to sleep, Chris looked at me and told me to go and he would stay home. We didn't feel right leaving them when they were being so crabby. After some anxiety and tears, I got ready and left to meet Kristin on the riverfront.

We had a blast! So fun to see the city that way at night. The riders were all great, the people we passed that were cheering us on were great (most of them had no idea what we were doing but cheered anyway). It was well planned and well marked. I hadn't been on my bike in almost 2 years. I didn't ride at all last year because I was pregnant and scared of falling off the bike. Last winter, Chris bought me a brand new bike as a surprise. It was awesome.

They were hoping to get 200 people since it was their first year. They had about 1,000. It was fantastic and I can't wait to do it again.  Did I mention it was 89 degrees outside when we started and 86 when we finished? Also about 170% humidity.

Thanks mom and Chris for letting this mommy burn off a little energy and staying with the kids on an especially bad night for them. And letting me prove that I still got what it takes to get around on my bike. :)

Great cause

This is a fundraiser for Children's Respite Care Center. The kiddos go there. They are completely fantastic and I can't say enough great things about them. If you are free, have the extra cash to go and  are looking for something to do, I would encourage you to do it. A fun evening of entertainment benefiting a FANTASTIC place!  CRCC -Bill Info

New and interesting

Thanks to another preemie mom for passing this on. These girls are pretty much the size my two were. And we did the same ring thing with Chris' ring.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/family/articles/2010/07/20/micro_preemies_on_the_road_to_good_health/

Fabulous

Today I got a call from respite care Parker's o2 sats were in the low 80's. I immediately ran to get him, leaving Payton there, and took him to the doctor.

I had a mini meltdown on the way I didn't want to end up back in the hospital. In the end, I needed to do whatever he needed.

After some steroids, nebulizers and suction I was able to take him back to respite care for the afternoon.

Bringing them home this afternoon and playing around, I know that we've been through enough together already to get through all the rest. I have fabulous babies who continue to amaze and surprise me. Of all the mommies they could have had, I'm so glad that I get to be theirs.

Odds and Ends

We've been to the pediatrician 5 times in 6 weeks. Please think of us when you're saying prayers about being healthy.
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The babies start going to respite care 4 days a week this week. Let's hope it doesn't take too much out any of us to add the extra day.
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More added to the babies social calendar - we went to the car show at my work for Father's Day, we had a Father's Day BBQ, we've been the the Trails Center walking on the trails. This weekend we will be going the the Respite Care family outing.
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Payton is now sitting up on her own. Parker is rolling all over the place. Mommy is starting to diagnose all things by herself and the help from the computer. :)
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If anyone is a night owl and feels like hanging out with a baby, please contact Payton via Mommy to arrange her schedule to make that happen for you. ;)
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If anyone is well versed in filing paper for non-profit status for the IRS, please contact me. I need to pick your brain.

Naughty

Yes, the babies are naughty.

"How can they be naughty? They're just babies," you might find yourself saying.

Trust me. Naughtiness. Both of them. All over the place.

Good thing we were able to get Payton's oxygen and monitor discontinued. She continually was ripping off the leads and the canula anyway. I was getting tired of always re-taping them. Now, she thinks she is very funny to suck down a bottle, then roll and her tummy and puke part of it up on the living room carpet. She thinks she funny when she rolls her way to Parker, steals one of his blankets and rolls away with it. And she's very proud of herself when she can get ahold of the remote, scootch it across the room and hide it. That is of course after I've been trying to find it since she pushed buttons on it and changed things.

While he may come across sweet, is naughty too. He has figured out how to somehow get his tube and his g-button matched up and pull out the tube. I'm not sure how. Then he proudly waves the tube over his head while it is leaking all over and laughing. He like to scratch people. I have scratches on my face that are just now totally healed from the little stinker. He also has decided to be mad at me in the mornings I take him to "school", but as soon his favorite teacher shows up he won't even look at me and is all smiles for her.

I can already see the pattern forming. :)