10/30/2010
10/26/2010
NICU Reunion
Sunday was the NICU Reunion at Bergan. The invited the kids come do some Trick-or-Treating activities and wear their costumes. Obviously, the monkeys are a little too little to really care about it now, but it was nice to see some of our nurses and the practitioners. There were several "we love the pictures you brought" and "thank you for the birthday cake" comments as we went around. Nice to know that lots of people got some. :)
We also got to tour the new NICU unit that they are opening next month. It's goreous. I don't wish a stay there on anyone but it's a wonderful, beautiful facility.
This is a story that Channel 7 did on it. We're not in it, but its so cool.
Bergan NICU Reunion
We also got to tour the new NICU unit that they are opening next month. It's goreous. I don't wish a stay there on anyone but it's a wonderful, beautiful facility.
This is a story that Channel 7 did on it. We're not in it, but its so cool.
Bergan NICU Reunion
Our First ER Trip
Not exactly the kind of milestone you want, but there you go, we did it. First ER trip. They need to make sure there's a spot in baby books for that.
Anyway - Sunday night at 11:00 when Payton had had Tylenol, Advil and still had a raging fever that didn't want to come down, paired with some labored breathing and very high heart rate we went to Children's Hospital. It didn't help that she really had no intrest in eating and was very lethargic.
I know - why not just go to one of the hospitals that are 2 minutes away vs. Children's which is 20 minutes away? They have all of their records which the hospital docs can access and look at in an instant, all their specialists are there, and they are used to seeing people like my little ones.
It took forever - there was only 1 doctor on duty that night. Ugh. Her fever broke while we were there which seemed to help her breathing. They did a culture - no strep. Her lungs just sound like her own little crackling lungs, nothing out of the ordinary for her. She does have fluid in both ears and an inflamation of her pharynx and a bright red throat. She is still having some tummy bug issues and the anitbiotics are making her sick also. Poor little things is going to be loosing some weight this week (not what we want to happen!).
So, if anyone is bored, I have lots of clothes that need to be washed that she has destroyed one way or another in the past 36 hours. :)
Anyway - Sunday night at 11:00 when Payton had had Tylenol, Advil and still had a raging fever that didn't want to come down, paired with some labored breathing and very high heart rate we went to Children's Hospital. It didn't help that she really had no intrest in eating and was very lethargic.
I know - why not just go to one of the hospitals that are 2 minutes away vs. Children's which is 20 minutes away? They have all of their records which the hospital docs can access and look at in an instant, all their specialists are there, and they are used to seeing people like my little ones.
It took forever - there was only 1 doctor on duty that night. Ugh. Her fever broke while we were there which seemed to help her breathing. They did a culture - no strep. Her lungs just sound like her own little crackling lungs, nothing out of the ordinary for her. She does have fluid in both ears and an inflamation of her pharynx and a bright red throat. She is still having some tummy bug issues and the anitbiotics are making her sick also. Poor little things is going to be loosing some weight this week (not what we want to happen!).
So, if anyone is bored, I have lots of clothes that need to be washed that she has destroyed one way or another in the past 36 hours. :)
10/19/2010
Pumpkin Patch
The day after the big birthday party, we went to the pumpkin patch for the first time. It was very fun. We went with Aunt Bo, Grandma, Uncle Mike, Angie, Aunt Bunny, Sarah, Joe and all 6 of the cousins. The older cousins are so good with the babies. A few people said things about why would I bother taking them to the pumpkin patch - they're 1 and don't care or really know what's going on. Well this mom knows what's going on, and a little dose of normal was great. Especially where we had been a year ago. And besides, the babies love being outside. (Please forgive how mom looks in the pictures - I'm still having a bit of birthday recovery going on in these).
Thanks for a great 1st trip to the pumpkin patch everyone!
Sarah and Payton in the petting zoo
Aunt Bunny and Parker watching the horses
Parker was pretty happy sticking straw in his mouth
I don't think they cared too much for this :)
Aunt Bunny and Sarah with the babies in the corn maze
Parker and I are checking out the chickens (Austin is watching us in the background)
Payton is trying to decide if she likes the bunny. It doesn't quite look like the puppy at home.
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All the cousins (except I think Cayce was off riding a horse)
Thanks for a great 1st trip to the pumpkin patch everyone!
10/15/2010
1 year doctor's appointment
This past Monday we had our 1 year appointment with the pediatrician (who we love). I was on my own for the appointment but luckily it was in the morning so everyone was still in a pretty good mood. They give us the big exam room and 3 nurses - one to ask me questions, one to strip down one baby, and another to do weight, length and head circumfrence. Since there's two of them and only one of me, our main nurse Kay asked if she could take Payton out to the desk with her. "Sure! She'll love it". The nurses had her out helping with phone triage. They laughed because she likes banging on the computer and was trying to eat the phone.
Dr. Bob came in and we did Parker first. He has lost 1lb 4oz since being sick and the antibiotics making him have diarrea before his surgery so bad and he's having a hard time gaining it back. We've upped his calories for a while to see if that helps. He's gaining in length, but his head circumference didn't grow very much in the past 3 months so we will continue to monitor that at our next appointment in January. He has also had a hydrocele but is now resolving, we have to go to surgery just to rule out a hernia.
His current stats - 17lbs 9oz, 28 inches
Then it was Payton's turn. While we did her check, the nurses took him out of the room to play.
Payton is doing fine. Most of her wheezing is gone but we have to continue the breathing treatments and steriods indefinately. She is growing. We are to continue following with pulmonology more than likely through the winter at least.
Her current stats - 18lbs 4oz, 26 inches
They are both just barely on the growth curve for their actual age, and in the middle for their adjusted age. Both babies got 4 shots and their finger poked. No one was happy! Good thing they went back to respite care and got alot of love for the rest of the day.
Now we are looking to set up their synagis shots (to prevent RSV).
Dr. Bob came in and we did Parker first. He has lost 1lb 4oz since being sick and the antibiotics making him have diarrea before his surgery so bad and he's having a hard time gaining it back. We've upped his calories for a while to see if that helps. He's gaining in length, but his head circumference didn't grow very much in the past 3 months so we will continue to monitor that at our next appointment in January. He has also had a hydrocele but is now resolving, we have to go to surgery just to rule out a hernia.
His current stats - 17lbs 9oz, 28 inches
Then it was Payton's turn. While we did her check, the nurses took him out of the room to play.
Payton is doing fine. Most of her wheezing is gone but we have to continue the breathing treatments and steriods indefinately. She is growing. We are to continue following with pulmonology more than likely through the winter at least.
Her current stats - 18lbs 4oz, 26 inches
They are both just barely on the growth curve for their actual age, and in the middle for their adjusted age. Both babies got 4 shots and their finger poked. No one was happy! Good thing they went back to respite care and got alot of love for the rest of the day.
Now we are looking to set up their synagis shots (to prevent RSV).
10/13/2010
We did it...we're 1!!!
Thank you to everyone that took time out to come to our party. We're sorry we're a little crabby - we're used to being quiet and hanging out at home. We had a great time and we can't wait to see you all soon! Watch our little slide show with some pictures (if you click on the pictures, you can watch the slide show much bigger).
10/11/2010
Cake delivery
To celebrate the twins birthday I knew I had to do something for the people that have helped me take care of them since they came home, not to mention all the people at both NICUs. Those are the people that I still can't talk or think about without getting teary.
So we got birthday cakes. Abby (a.k.a. Aunt Bo) said she would help me deliver them if we could eat when we were done. We picked the cakes up at Hy-Vee and started at Respite Care, then went to my work. After that, we went to both hospitals. At Bergan, Payton's main nurse was working. "My Payton, you have pictures of my Payton!" was what Carla was yelling as she came through the door. They were so excited and had questions about how they were doing now. I promised to come visit when I wasn't delivering sheet cakes. Then we went to UNMC. There was NO parking. So I parked in front of the door, did a Chinese fire drill with Abby who drove around the block while I ran the cake upstairs.
It was a little hard to go visit the NICUs. That good ol' PTSD reared its ugly head. It got Abby too though, so I wasn't alone.
If you took care of my kiddos at first or do now, I can't say enough to possibly try to explain how much you're appreciated. You are all angles that helped bring home my two. THANK YOU!!!
So we got birthday cakes. Abby (a.k.a. Aunt Bo) said she would help me deliver them if we could eat when we were done. We picked the cakes up at Hy-Vee and started at Respite Care, then went to my work. After that, we went to both hospitals. At Bergan, Payton's main nurse was working. "My Payton, you have pictures of my Payton!" was what Carla was yelling as she came through the door. They were so excited and had questions about how they were doing now. I promised to come visit when I wasn't delivering sheet cakes. Then we went to UNMC. There was NO parking. So I parked in front of the door, did a Chinese fire drill with Abby who drove around the block while I ran the cake upstairs.
It was a little hard to go visit the NICUs. That good ol' PTSD reared its ugly head. It got Abby too though, so I wasn't alone.
If you took care of my kiddos at first or do now, I can't say enough to possibly try to explain how much you're appreciated. You are all angles that helped bring home my two. THANK YOU!!!
10/09/2010
Friday at Respite Care
Friday morning as I stopped into Respite Care, I notices a fire truck pulling into the lot ahead of me (I was stuck at the light). This made me a little nervous. I went inside to find out that the firemen had come to talk to the kids about fire safety and let them climb on the truck . What a fun start to the birthday weekend! Here are a few pics.
1 year old
I can't believe it but we made it. 1 year old.
Parker and Payton -
You were given more then enough reasons to not be here or give up and you never did. We are so proud of you. Happy 1st birthday!
If you are one of the people who in the past year sent good vibes, hugs, prayers, happy thoughts or baby dust our way - thank you ! We know that all of that helped to get them to where they are today.
Parker and Payton -
You were given more then enough reasons to not be here or give up and you never did. We are so proud of you. Happy 1st birthday!
If you are one of the people who in the past year sent good vibes, hugs, prayers, happy thoughts or baby dust our way - thank you ! We know that all of that helped to get them to where they are today.
10/07/2010
My last night of sleep
One year ago last night was my last night of sleep. I haven't slept much since then. (And it's a little ironic that I was up most the night with Parker last night.) I'm so excited for this weekend. It took alot to get to Saturday. ALOT. I know that and do not at all take that for granted. Thinking about it brings on a mix of smiles and tears. But the goal is to not linger in the tears, but be happy for how far the little monkeys have come. It's going to be a weekend of stuff - appointments today, football game tonight, appointments tomorrow, party on Saturday, hopefully naps on Saturday, and if the rain stays away our first trip to the pumpkin patch (I can probably find a giant pumpkin and put both of them inside of it), and our 1 year check-up on Monday morning.
That's right - get ready for some posts about the past year. You knew it would be coming. :) But I'll try to include plenty of pictures.
First order of big birthday plans - Abby (a.k.a. Aunt Bo) and I are playing cake fairies tomorrow and dropping off cakes to all the wonderful people that got Payton and Parker here.
That's right - get ready for some posts about the past year. You knew it would be coming. :) But I'll try to include plenty of pictures.
First order of big birthday plans - Abby (a.k.a. Aunt Bo) and I are playing cake fairies tomorrow and dropping off cakes to all the wonderful people that got Payton and Parker here.
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