Oh the places we will go!

So for our SUPER productive Sunday...

I should start with Brent's parents popping in for a quick visit. They came on Saturday afternoon so that Brent and I could go on a dinner date together. Although I was panic stricken at the thought of leaving my little ones in the perfectly capable hands of their grandparents for little more than an hour, I did have a wonderful time reconnecting with my long lost hubby. Brent pulled a favor from a friend and got us into a very nice restaurant here in town complete with fantastic wine and and even better view. The nasty weather cleared just after we were seated and we could see a beautiful rainbow as the sun was going down. The babies were (of course) just fine when we returned home - fed and just about sleeping. Pops even had a little chat with David about his night fits and they had made a deal that he would no longer keep me up all night - that he would sleep for at least a few hours. Ha - much to my surprise, it worked as David slept quite well between feedings last night other than a 2 hour period where Brent sat up and rocked him. So, perfect company, delicious food, lovely wine AND a few winks of sleep?! What a spoiled girl I am.

Also on Saturday - a good friend of mine dropped by with her husband and son. She had her little one a few weeks - mabe even a month after the triplets were born. Ha - he's 18 pounds - and just amazing next to our 2. We had a quick but nice visit. It was so good to meet her little one and see her and her hubby for a few minutes!

Today I woke up planning to conquer grocery shopping on a budget. I collected a few coupons for the few packaged items we needed and set off on a mission to stick to my list of items which included the planned list of meals for the week. I started cooking 3 or so things on Sundays that can either be put in the freezer or just would last a few days for us so that I don't have to worry about planning meals during the week and there is no temptation to just pick up something quick in lieu of cooking. It seems to be working so far - I've done it for the last 3 Sundays including today. Anyhow, shopping with coupons is time consuming but rather fun. I save $11.00 on items we would have bought anyhow - so it works for me! The reason I don't typically shop with coupons? We eat tons of produce in this house - and there usually aren't any coupon offers for produce. However, there are coupons for things like diapers, cereal and cleaning products. So we are saving where we can.

When I got home, Brent actually took over the cooking (chicken salad - because I'm absolutely obsessed with it - and from the stock, potato soup) That was it for today - I have prepped things for the veg / turkey spaghetti and we have all of the items for chicken fajitas for later on this week.

THEN, we tried the babies in the stroller again - and by golly - they FIT!!!! Oh I was so excited! Really - the feeling of knowing that I can actually take them out of the house for a simple walk is suck a relief. They can hold their heads up well enough now to safely go for a ride and they are just barely tall enough to fit in the smallest setting on the harnesses - and David LOVES being outside! (Mary Louise on the other hand seems to be able to take it or leave it. ) Anyhow, Brent and I took the babies to the state park again, strapped them in, and Brent went for his run while I took the little ones for a walk. We did 2 miles. I realized just how out of shape I've gotten and smiled as I thought of my modest starting point. I'll get back into the swing of things soon. I'm on my way. The babies did quite well. They sucked furiously on their pacis and looked around with wide eyes. We saw deer, rabbits and people's dogs. David fell fast asleep and Mary Louise tried to take it all in. It was really wonderful to have such a simple family outing - to feel normal (whatever that is) and relatively inconspicuous. Only a couple of people asked me how old they were but most (well there really weren't many people there) just smiled as they rode their bikes or ran by us. All in all it was immense fun!

first time in the stroller

I heart Fridays!

Oh so there are many reasons to be excited about Fridays around here. It means Brent will be home for 2 whole days keeping us company and lending an extra set of hands. I'm sure that many times he's busier on the weekends than he is during his work week!

Also, the sweet cleaning ladies come on Friday mornings. It forces me to keep up with a few things around here during the week to make their 2 hours here on Friday that much more productive. Having a clean house is indescribably umm nice? For lack of a better word - it just helps me breathe better and allows time for better focus on more important things.

I am sitting here with my Pink and Blue Avenue babies. There is a store here in town that was started by 2 lactation consultants. I LOVE it and so do my friends apparently...I looked at the babies sleeping the other day and noticed that literally everything they had on and were sleeping in was a product from that sweet little boutique. Ha - "spoiled already," I thought. Really the things Brent and I purchased there were out of sheer umm - necessity...desperation really. When the babies were screaming literally all night and we couldn't get them to lie down in the Cosleeper when they were flat we began fumbling around with different ways to prop their heads up - then we found the Nap Nanny (and angels sing here). It is basically this chaise lounge for babies that allows them to contour their bodies in a way that comfortable for them. That along with placing them in tight swaddles on their sides has helped IMMENSELY!! Their Wubbabnubs also came from there and have been so so handy. Mary Louise was a bit slow at gripping things with her hands so I was looking for way to provide a more constant reminder. Enter, Wubbanubs. Really a basic idea that entails sewing Soothie pacifier to a little stuffed animal to allow a longer handle for the little one to hold on to. After a few days of "exploring" the new soft item dangling from her mouth, Mary Louise has become quite attached to her Clifford (what we call her big red dog paci). She sleeps clutching the little guy tightly under her arm and gets excited when she sees that we are bringing him to her. So funny! I've never seen a baby so small get so attached to a toy before. David has his ducky which he seems to like as well - though doesn't clutch so tightly. He still goes back and forth with his favorites - between the ducky and the tiny purple NICU paci that's really too small for him but he likes anyhow. So, those are my product plugs for the day. The rest of the oh so fabulous items we have from there have been gifts from friends I think - other than the Adiri bottles.

Another "milestone" or more like a pebble really was toppled yesterday. I found socks in our vast collection of baby socks that FIT!!! and both babies have a pair to boot. I am so excited! Their feet and legs have been so tiny that no socks, booties, etc. would stay on their little toes. So, I'm happy to say that the smallest of the small new born socks have started to properly cling to their feet finally. I know it sounds like a silly thing to fret over but at every doctor's appointment, the first thing we do is take their clothes off - but I can usually leave a hat and socks on. Believe it or not, with the 40 degree doctor's office, the hat and socks really do help keep the little ones from freezing during the exams. Anyhow, I am excited that our little ones are growing from their sweet perfect noggins right down to their toes!

Also, Mary Louise laughed TWICE yesterday in response to me playing with her and making faces. David is a bit more serious in general (if you get too excited over him, he furrows his brow with disapproval for your ridiculousness while Mary Louise spreads a big silly grin on her face). It's so fun to watch them react to the world around them.

We've had a couple of cautious visitors pass by in the past few days as well. I am always so excited to show off the little ones to our closest family and friends. I have been quite sad lately about having to keep them so isolated but remind myself all the time that it's just the best thing for them long term. Anyhow, we appreciate everyone being so respectful of our strict boundaries. Please know that this is incredibly difficult for us and we would truly like nothing more than to shout our news of Mary Louise and David's homecoming from the rooftops and have a mass parade with them on display (honestly - I would!). Unfortunately the reality of our fragile situation is a constant nagging in my life (and I suppose in consequence, it is for the blog readers as well)- we (gulp) start RSV injections in another week or 2 and I get a lecture at least once a week from one of their doctors on the importance of hand washing and isolation.

The little ones are continuing to grow like weeds!! Such an amazing thing to watch really as their little cheeks develop - small rolls on their legs peek out. Mary Louise was 6 pounds 10 ounces at her cardiologist appointment earlier this week and David was 5 pounds 7 ounces here at the house yesterday!! I went back and looked at the photos of their delivery and was just in awe of how far they have come! Their strength to simply survive is nothing short of incredible to me. In keeping my end of a promise I made to the 2 of them way back when...I still break out with a smile at every dirty diaper and cherish their little fussy moments (and who am I kidding - their out right tantrums, though trying, I still view as a blessing).

Having said that. The fits do provide some rather interesting and tense moments around here. The night before last, I slept (I kid you not) from 12:30am to 1:30am. I did get another 15 minutes or so at about 4:45 but other than that, nothing but screaming. When I tell you I did everything I knew to comfort these guys...So at 5 am, with nary a Brent in the house (he had gone to work in a totally exhausted state), a desperate and red-eyed Heather had had her limit. David was completely inconsolable. I had rocked him, repositioned him, fed him, changed his diaper...twice, given him his colic and acid reflux meds, sang to him, walked with him, talked with him...so I gently placed him in his nap nanny and took a moment to regroup. I went outside, took a deep cleansing breath under the carport, admired the roses in the garden, and stepped back into my world with a new sense of purpose and determination. David and I rocked and rocked and rocked and I hummed until he finally fell asleep (along with Mary Louise) long enough for me to shower, dry my hair and eat a proper breakfast!!! I was a new mom after that and although more exhausted than I ever thought I could possibly be, I snuggled peacefully with my grumpy brood for the rest of the day. Last night they were MUCH better and slept well between feedings. Mary Louise eats rather consistently every 4 hours - sometimes earlier and David is definitely every 3 still (and you'd better be ready with a warm bottle at that time missy!).

This weekend, I think Brent's parents are coming for another visit with their favorite grand babies (though I'll have to confirm that) and a friend from nursing school is set to pass by as well. So, it should be fun at any rate. Yay for family time!

Love, Heather

P.S. umm - that Gripewater stuff - so does not work for us - in fact, it debatably makes things worse! (although the worse part could be due to my utter disappointment in my supposed quick fix). So that's my gripe about Gripewater - pft.

Some new photos! (gotta get all I can on here while it's quiet!)

August 2009

MD appointments...

Just a quick update on Mary Louise...

She will have to have her hearing checked again in 3 weeks. As it turns out, she is not only tiny but her ear canals are narrow - even for her tiny size - so the instruments used to evaluate her will not work properly. We have another appointment in 3 weeks.

Her heart is improving!!! She was also 6 pounds 10 ounces today - she's gained almost 2 pounds since her last visit to the cardiologist. He was very pleased with the progress. Her PFO has gotten smaller and was evaluated at small to medium rather than medium to large. Her pulmonary pressure has also improved. The doctor left her on oxygen 24 hours a day but reduced the amount. So, she is now on 1/4 liter 24 - 7. He will evaluate her via phone in 2 weeks and evaluate her in office in one month. By that time, hopefully her little body will have caught up enough to discontinue the oxygen. He did say that he feels she will continue to improve and surgery is highly unlikely!!!

David is continuing to do well also but is very fussy today. As I was running about with Mary Louise, he and Brent got some quality bonding time in so that was nice. The cardiologist said that with Mary Louise's growth rate, he expects her to be caught up to her peers in another 6 to 9 months. David will be close behind he thought and has been cleared for a year from a cardiology standpoint.

So, overall, good news today!

Must run as one is hungry and one is waking up from a nap.
Love, Heather

still adjusting

So I've had a few strange days as I continue to adjust to a new normal. Mary Louise and David are doing well with their feedings although they are still very slow with actual breastfeeding. I pump most of the time and give the milk to them via bottle and use breastfeeding as a comfort measure. At least they are getting the milk right?

I suppose the past few months - or the past year actually is finally starting to catch up to me. We've had so many changes around here that sometimes it's hard to keep them all straight. Combine that with all of the hype about the upcoming flu season and I think I'm appropriately nutty (well that along with the continued sleep deprivation).

Mary Louise has her hearing and heart rechecked tomorrow. It will be nice if the cardiologist reduces the oxygen wearing to nights and during feedings rather than 24/7 but we'll see - definitely don't want to rush things!

I can't believe our little ones are 4 months already - and that they've been home for about a month now. I relish the time I get to spend with them - breathing them in - hugging, holding, loving them. It's truly amazing - even with my slow adjustment to raising them as 2 rather than 3. I take in every look, every grin or frown, every kick and cuddle and tuck them away in my memory to bring forth at a later time - I feel as if I have an overflowing treasure chest tucked away already!

Brent sent me an article today that said that the second smallest baby in Louisiana went home this month from the NICU at Oschner in New Orleans. The baby was 13 ounces and was second to a 12 ounce baby. I suppose that would put David in line for 3rd place - a recognition I surely wouldn't vie for. The statistic does, however, work to reinforce just what miracles these little ones are (as if I really needed any more reinforcement!).

So, as I work through this period of adjustment, I take many moments each day to marvel at the simple fluidity of life in general - how quickly it can change, how vast the possiblities are and the amount of potential that is laid before me in these little ones that I am so so lucky and privledged to care for, and watch blossom and grow.

Will update on the appointments tomorrow!
Love, Heather

almighty gros grain!

From the gros grain god

So before explaining the photo above (as if any explanation excuses that monstrosity on Mary Louise's noggin'), let me first congratulate our precious baby girl on her NORMAL thyroid!!! That's right! No more Synthroid for that little one! She will be rechecked in a couple of weeks to make sure her hormone levels remain steady but for now, all is well in thyroid corner!

Now for the photo. Ok, so prior to getting pregnant I would proudly proclaim, "I will NOT be putting headbands on my poor little girl's head - those things look like they squeeze the brain! Can't they just wait until she grows hair for goodness sake?" Right, so, about that proclamation...

I was at the store today - ok well I stopped at a big baby store that recently moved to see umm how their moved went? (I'm not fooling anyone with this am I)- I saw the bows at the cash register and I swear, something came over me. I determined that she needed one (I also determined that her head was in fact quite a bit larger than it actually is - hence the OBNOXIOUS size). I was so excited as I made my purchase. I chose the color carefully - red hair - she looks wonderful in opposite colors tourquiose and green. Ok - I picked up the GIANT pot of Boudreaux's that I went that way for in the first place and returned home. (an aside - I have found that putting Desitin creamy first, and Boudreaux's second on our babies' rears is the quickest way to get rid of and prevent diaper rash - I'm NO expert but that's what has worked for us). Back to the story...

I walked in the door so excited I could hardly stand it. I put the bow on the band and wrapped it securely around Mary Louise's head. I must say, the new panty hose type bands seem quite comfy compared to the old squeezers. But that bow - it was downright hilarious!!! Honestly, hours of entertainment.

So, apparently, I'm that mom. Go figure.

Here are the rest of the newest photos...

the gros grain god

Pedi appointment

We all went to battle - I mean - the pediatrician today for another check-up. We braved the weather, the coughs and colds of the new school year and the tantrums of our little ones to get there! It went very well. Brent was able to take a day off of work to help out so It was MUCH easier than last time.

Mary Louise is 6 pounds 3 ounces and David is 4 pounds 15 ounces (ALMOST TO 5 POUNDS!!!). The doctor was very pleased with their weight gain and said (and I quote), "they both look really good!!" (Ok, I may have added an exclamation point - for my own benefit).

They start their Synergist injections next month. It is an antibody injection that we are hoping will help to protect them again RSV. They will thankfully be given at home by the home health nurse every 25 days during the season - until either March or April. The doctor recommended that we get flu shots but as the babies are being isolated from people and are breastfed, he doesn't feel they need the flu shots. They are not recommended for babies under 6 months of age anyhow, and from what I've read and heard, can compromise the immune system for a time after administered. He recommended that we continue to isolate them as much as possible and practice meticulous hand washing, keep them away from fumes and cigarette smoke and he expects that they will do well. (YAY! they are expected to do WELL!!)

Mary Louise had her thyroid checked (she has hypothyroidism of prematurity) and we should get the results tomorrow. The hope is that her thyroid has started to function normally and that we will be able to stop her Synthroid dose.

We had a wonderful time at the state park just down the road from our house yesterday. We went yesterday evening and sat on a blanket by the water. The babies had tummy time and seemed to enjoy the change of scene - I know I did. We stayed for about an hour as it was really nice out before coming home and rocking our little ones to sleep. They slept quite consistently between feedings last night as well.

In other news, Mary Louise is officially wearing new born clothes!! At 4 months, she has out grown the majority of her preemie outfits and is just barely in New Born sized clothing! Way to go Mary Louise!!!

More news soon as Mary Louise has her hearing rechecked and her Cardiologist appointment on Tuesday.

Love, Heather

Mary Louise

MARY LOUISE IS 6 POUNDS and one ounce!!! After being born at 1 pound 6 ounces I thought it was worth a celebration and happy dance!

have a good day! love, Heather