Friday, January 19, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Check out these bellies!
This speaks for itself. I can't help but laugh at their bellies. Where on earth did these come from?
Both boys really like thier baths. I can't wait until we can get them in the tub at the same time once they can sit up on their own. Then they can splash and play together. I've been working on trying to help them like the water. So far so good. When I run water over their head and face, they don't complain at all so hopefully we'll have a couple of water babies! Of course, a pool is a bit different than a warm bath tub but we'll see. Nevertheless, bath time is quite an adventure around our house. Especially with all of Cole's wires and tubes ~ he's rather patient though so that helps so much. Taking those on and off for baths cannot be fun for him; he takes it like a big boy and works with me pretty well. He really hates his oxygen canula now though and bats my hands away as I try to put it back on. Hopefully very soon we'll be able to start weaning him and get rid of it all together. Afterall, he looks so much cuter without his "O" tube!
Both boys really like thier baths. I can't wait until we can get them in the tub at the same time once they can sit up on their own. Then they can splash and play together. I've been working on trying to help them like the water. So far so good. When I run water over their head and face, they don't complain at all so hopefully we'll have a couple of water babies! Of course, a pool is a bit different than a warm bath tub but we'll see. Nevertheless, bath time is quite an adventure around our house. Especially with all of Cole's wires and tubes ~ he's rather patient though so that helps so much. Taking those on and off for baths cannot be fun for him; he takes it like a big boy and works with me pretty well. He really hates his oxygen canula now though and bats my hands away as I try to put it back on. Hopefully very soon we'll be able to start weaning him and get rid of it all together. Afterall, he looks so much cuter without his "O" tube!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Go Syracuse?
I might get in trouble for this photo someday - but I'll take my chances! As you may know, C's family is from Syracuse NY. His cousin sent the boys these fun sweatshirts - maybe in hopes that they would grow up to be CUSE fans? NEVER! Not with a Maryland Terp fanatic father!
In any case, I know that someday this will be good blackmail material to be used by C's side of the family (Joey). At this point, Cole & JD don't know the difference of course. Rest assured, someday they will! The next photo I post will be of them in their TERPS garb...(yes, we have some already).
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Flashbacks & Memories
Unfortunately, these kind of flashbacks are not the fun kind. Another friend of mine has found the bedrest blues. Not only that, but she's been "magged" like I was for pre-term labor and she has found herself in a very similar situation that we were in, at almost the same time in her pregnancy (28 weeks). I talked with her yesterday morning and as soon as I heard her voice, I knew that she had been given magnesium for her contractions. It's that weak, shakey, slow talking voice. Her response when I asked how she was doing was "I'm getting my a** kicked". Boy, do I know that feeling. I can't get them off of my mind.
It's amazing how quickly all of that comes back when you talk to someone going through it. It brought both of us to tears when we talked. She's holding strong and hanging in there. She'll be 29 weeks tomorrow so we're keeping our fingers crossed that she can get some more time under her belt before the baby decides to come. J&J, you're in our thoughts and prayers - LOTS! And Baby Z - the world isn't quite ready for you yet - keep cookin' in there!
It's amazing how quickly all of that comes back when you talk to someone going through it. It brought both of us to tears when we talked. She's holding strong and hanging in there. She'll be 29 weeks tomorrow so we're keeping our fingers crossed that she can get some more time under her belt before the baby decides to come. J&J, you're in our thoughts and prayers - LOTS! And Baby Z - the world isn't quite ready for you yet - keep cookin' in there!
Monday, January 15, 2007
Milestones
Well, I hate to speak too soon so I'll say it quietly but I think we are sleeping through the night now! Over the weekend I started to work on dropping the 1-2 am feeding and within 2 days, I think we've got it. In prep for my return to work, I would like to have them sleeping solidly through the night so I've got 2 weeks to perfect it.
I can hardly believe that they are already 4½ months old. I will be returning to work on their 5 month birthday. Amazing. I will get the latest stats on them next week when they get their 4th Synagis shot (for RSV). But I can tell you that they are certainly not starving!
Cole is still on his oxygen and monitor but we're hoping like crazy that next weeks pulmonologist appointment will change that. He's ready to get off of both so I'm going to push pretty hard to start weaning him off.
I'll post more pics soon. Have a good week all!
I can hardly believe that they are already 4½ months old. I will be returning to work on their 5 month birthday. Amazing. I will get the latest stats on them next week when they get their 4th Synagis shot (for RSV). But I can tell you that they are certainly not starving!
Cole is still on his oxygen and monitor but we're hoping like crazy that next weeks pulmonologist appointment will change that. He's ready to get off of both so I'm going to push pretty hard to start weaning him off.
I'll post more pics soon. Have a good week all!
Friday, January 12, 2007
Bath Night
Grammy came over for bath night the other night. Needless to say, I don't think she was quite prepared for the chaos (fun). Nevertheless, she got a few cute pictures of the boys after they were all squeaky clean.
Big boy Cole
and Big Boy JD
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Drooler & Napper
Very true to form. Here are a couple of updated pictures from today.
Cole is a professional sleeper (Daddy) and JD is a professional NON-sleeper (Mommy)
Will I ever be able to get them both to look at the camera at the same time? This was the best of about 15 photos! Check out their bellies?!?!?!?
Cole is a professional sleeper (Daddy) and JD is a professional NON-sleeper (Mommy)
Will I ever be able to get them both to look at the camera at the same time? This was the best of about 15 photos! Check out their bellies?!?!?!?
Saturday, January 06, 2007
It's an Indian Summer!
72 degrees and sunny on January 6th? Thanks to global warming (NOT!) we are having one of the most beautiful days that I can remember in the middle of winter. It's amazing outside! It's given me such spring fever - especially since I missed so much of the summer last year.
We got up early this morning and headed over to Grammy & Grampy's to take a long walk downtown Annapolis. We also met cousin Emily and Aunt Erica & Uncle Toby to feed the ducks. Apparently the ducks had too much for breakfast (everyone else with kids under 2 had the same idea earlier than we did) and they were too stuffed to eat any more. Plan B - we went to the local playground. Today was JD & Cole's first playground experience and as you can see, they were not as enthusiastic as I would have hoped. There were a zillion kids there and I could just picture them there, at this time next year. They will both be running in opposite directions I'm sure!
But they did enjoy the nice fresh air and warm sunshine. Needless to say, they are zonked out this afternoon, sleeping very soundly and peacefully!
Boy, fresh air does a body good. I feel so guilty even writing this because I have so many friends and family who are out West and in the plains and you are getting pummeled by snow! Hope you guys are surviving the tundra alright - I'll send this nice weather your way after today, I promise!
P.S. - thanks to all of you who commented on my post yesterday about Grief. Time heals, I know. We're getting there, slowly but surely. It's amazing to know that there are people out there who understand and who care so much. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. xo
We got up early this morning and headed over to Grammy & Grampy's to take a long walk downtown Annapolis. We also met cousin Emily and Aunt Erica & Uncle Toby to feed the ducks. Apparently the ducks had too much for breakfast (everyone else with kids under 2 had the same idea earlier than we did) and they were too stuffed to eat any more. Plan B - we went to the local playground. Today was JD & Cole's first playground experience and as you can see, they were not as enthusiastic as I would have hoped. There were a zillion kids there and I could just picture them there, at this time next year. They will both be running in opposite directions I'm sure!
But they did enjoy the nice fresh air and warm sunshine. Needless to say, they are zonked out this afternoon, sleeping very soundly and peacefully!
Boy, fresh air does a body good. I feel so guilty even writing this because I have so many friends and family who are out West and in the plains and you are getting pummeled by snow! Hope you guys are surviving the tundra alright - I'll send this nice weather your way after today, I promise!
P.S. - thanks to all of you who commented on my post yesterday about Grief. Time heals, I know. We're getting there, slowly but surely. It's amazing to know that there are people out there who understand and who care so much. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. xo
Friday, January 05, 2007
Grief waits
It's true what they say about grief. If you don't deal with it when it happens, it won't go away, it waits. Anyone who has gone through grief over loss, or anything else for that matter, would probably agree. This week has been particularly hard for some reason. It's all catching up to me. There isn't an hour that goes by that I haven't thought about Cal or cried because I miss him. I can't find a very logical explanation for why now, other than, my grief waited and now it's here.
I attended a memorial prayer service last week for lost babies; perhaps that triggered it. Or maybe it's that we're finally settling into a routine and it's glaringly obvious to me at times that he's missing. There seems to be a hole in my heart. It hurts.
It's that mixed blessing thing again. I look at JD & Cole in amazement and am so thankful that they are with us and doing so well. But moments behind those thoughts these days are thoughts about Calvin and how come he couldn't have made it too. Why did he have to go to heaven so early? For the last many, many weeks we've been concentrating so much on Cole & JD and making sure that they are healthy and happy; it was easy to push the sad thoughts away and fill my days with the busyness that is called life. And it's only going to get busier as the days go on. Especially at the end of the month when I "officially" return to work. Maybe that is why my heart hurts so much now - it's time to get it out and do some healing that needs to be done.
My heart bursts with love when I hold my boys and I've never experienced such a content happy complete feeling. Yet at the same time, it sometimes feels incomplete. I know that this feeling will probably fade with time, but I also know that I will never, ever forget my baby Calvin and his sweet face. The intensity of these thoughts varies by day; but I can usually turn my tears to a smile when I remember that he's watching over all of us and keeping tabs on his brothers. After all, he is the reason that Cole & JD are with us today. Our angel.
I attended a memorial prayer service last week for lost babies; perhaps that triggered it. Or maybe it's that we're finally settling into a routine and it's glaringly obvious to me at times that he's missing. There seems to be a hole in my heart. It hurts.
It's that mixed blessing thing again. I look at JD & Cole in amazement and am so thankful that they are with us and doing so well. But moments behind those thoughts these days are thoughts about Calvin and how come he couldn't have made it too. Why did he have to go to heaven so early? For the last many, many weeks we've been concentrating so much on Cole & JD and making sure that they are healthy and happy; it was easy to push the sad thoughts away and fill my days with the busyness that is called life. And it's only going to get busier as the days go on. Especially at the end of the month when I "officially" return to work. Maybe that is why my heart hurts so much now - it's time to get it out and do some healing that needs to be done.
My heart bursts with love when I hold my boys and I've never experienced such a content happy complete feeling. Yet at the same time, it sometimes feels incomplete. I know that this feeling will probably fade with time, but I also know that I will never, ever forget my baby Calvin and his sweet face. The intensity of these thoughts varies by day; but I can usually turn my tears to a smile when I remember that he's watching over all of us and keeping tabs on his brothers. After all, he is the reason that Cole & JD are with us today. Our angel.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
4 Month Checkup
The boys had their FOUR month check up today (they are four months actual age, 1 month corrected) and they are doing great! Aside from when Cole threw up all over me and my hair, everything went very well. I looked like a wet rat when I walked out of the doctors office...
JD is weighing in at 11lb, 11 oz - now, I was more floored by the 11:11 coincidence than his actual weight. Remember my post about that a while back? Anyway, JD is now on the growth chart for non-preemie babies. We thought it would take a bit longer but he's in the 5th percentile which is a great milestone for a 12 week premature baby. He's catching up fast.
Cole weighs 9lb, 9 oz. He is not yet on the growth chart but has made such terrific progress with his weight since his last well baby check up. We're very proud of them both!
Their length's are only an inch apart and their head circumference too. They are actually very close in size other than their weights. JD just has a bit more meat on his bones! Both boys are eating about the same amount now - about 5-6 ounces per feed. They are still on the higher calorie formula which explains a good bit of their rapid weight gain.
The nights have been awesome - they are sleeping between 5-7 hours during the night, only waking for one feeding in the early morning hours. Who can complain about that? So far, they are great sleepers.
They also had their hearing exams today, which went fairly well. They are not deaf, but they still are questionable on some of the low tone hearing. The audiologist is fairly certain that the reason for them not hearing the low tones is due to their reflux and fluid in their ear/nose/throat area. It's all inter-related in there and with so much muffled sound, it usually explains the poor results on the low tone portion of the test. It doesn't appear that she is too worried about it at this point so we'll get them re-tested in another 3 months. Both C. and I have a gut feeling that everything is OK. They respond to our voices well and hear their toys and other surrounding noise. Hopefully at the next appointment, we'll get the greenlight that their hearing is fine.
Haven't had a chance to take any new photos over the last couple of days. I promise to post some soon. Be well!
JD is weighing in at 11lb, 11 oz - now, I was more floored by the 11:11 coincidence than his actual weight. Remember my post about that a while back? Anyway, JD is now on the growth chart for non-preemie babies. We thought it would take a bit longer but he's in the 5th percentile which is a great milestone for a 12 week premature baby. He's catching up fast.
Cole weighs 9lb, 9 oz. He is not yet on the growth chart but has made such terrific progress with his weight since his last well baby check up. We're very proud of them both!
Their length's are only an inch apart and their head circumference too. They are actually very close in size other than their weights. JD just has a bit more meat on his bones! Both boys are eating about the same amount now - about 5-6 ounces per feed. They are still on the higher calorie formula which explains a good bit of their rapid weight gain.
The nights have been awesome - they are sleeping between 5-7 hours during the night, only waking for one feeding in the early morning hours. Who can complain about that? So far, they are great sleepers.
They also had their hearing exams today, which went fairly well. They are not deaf, but they still are questionable on some of the low tone hearing. The audiologist is fairly certain that the reason for them not hearing the low tones is due to their reflux and fluid in their ear/nose/throat area. It's all inter-related in there and with so much muffled sound, it usually explains the poor results on the low tone portion of the test. It doesn't appear that she is too worried about it at this point so we'll get them re-tested in another 3 months. Both C. and I have a gut feeling that everything is OK. They respond to our voices well and hear their toys and other surrounding noise. Hopefully at the next appointment, we'll get the greenlight that their hearing is fine.
Haven't had a chance to take any new photos over the last couple of days. I promise to post some soon. Be well!
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