Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
T-R-O-U-B-L-E
You know something is up when they are quiet....this is just the beginning...
A few other snaps from our fun afternoon today....
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Proud Aunt
And more cousins! We were so excited this weekend to learn from Emily that JD & Cole will be getting a new baby cousin in April 2008!
Thank goodness for wooden spoons....
For they can provide for hours of entertainment...it's the simple things in life that are the most amusing for babies.
(JD on the left, Cole on the right)
(JD on the left, Cole on the right)
Monday, September 24, 2007
For fellow NICU parents...
This article was sent to me by a friend out in Denver. It appeared a few weeks ago in the Denver Post. It's a great article - a bit sad but very telling for the preemie community. I hope you find it as interesting as I did.
Preemies: Tiny Survivors
Preemies: Tiny Survivors
Weekend
What a fun weekend! Mommy solo with the boys - we had a great time. We spent lots of time outdoors, went to Cousin Emily's 2nd Birthday party, had a sleep over at Grammy's and then watched football on Sunday when Daddy got home. BAD Redskins game BTW. We're pooped!
Here is one highlight from the weekend - the boys loved riding in Emily's car (nevermind that it's pink)...and they enjoyed hanging out with all of the kids at the party. I can't wait until they can walk so that they can run and play. *Note: Cole is in the backpack carrier in order to free my other hand for an adult beverage...
Here is one highlight from the weekend - the boys loved riding in Emily's car (nevermind that it's pink)...and they enjoyed hanging out with all of the kids at the party. I can't wait until they can walk so that they can run and play. *Note: Cole is in the backpack carrier in order to free my other hand for an adult beverage...
We had another fun first this weekend. For years, as a child, my brother was called "Froot Loop" by a family friend. It's been a running joke for years - but who doesn't love froot loops?
He loved the cereal Froot Loops and could always be found eating them on our family weekend raft ups (on the boat). Same holds true for his daughter Emily, and apparently for his nephews too. The boys had their first froot loops this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed them. A special treat only at Grammy & Grampy's house!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Updates...
Well, I think we've come through round #2 of HFMD. It would appear that we may have relapsed...it's been a week of no sleep, intermittent fevers and trying to force feed my not hungry babies. The boys finally woke up with smiles on their faces this morning for the first time in a few days so I think we've turned the corner. Now C. and I just have to hope that we don't get it!
The fall weather is here - it snuck up on me! When Monday rolled around and it was cold, I was flailing in the crawl space to find some warmer clothes for the kids. Needless to say, we were forced to the closet swap so now we're ready. I'm a sucker for a cute little boy in jeans and a sweatshirt!
Here's Cole getting geared up for his big breakfast...
And I took a video this morning of the kids before breakfast...Kathy, this ones for you!
Here's hoping for a full nights sleep tonight!
The fall weather is here - it snuck up on me! When Monday rolled around and it was cold, I was flailing in the crawl space to find some warmer clothes for the kids. Needless to say, we were forced to the closet swap so now we're ready. I'm a sucker for a cute little boy in jeans and a sweatshirt!
Here's Cole getting geared up for his big breakfast...
And I took a video this morning of the kids before breakfast...Kathy, this ones for you!
Here's hoping for a full nights sleep tonight!
Goodbye NICU
I've been meaning to post about this for a couple of weeks now and I just haven't had time to sit down and do it. You may remember that we took the boys back to NICU for a visit a couple of Saturday's ago (right around their birthday).
I don't really know why we did it - I guess just to show them off to the docs & nurses and to let them know again how much we appreciate everything that they did for our family. Plus, our little friend Jack who shared our room for so many weeks in NICU, was going back too. This was the first time we have seen Jack & his family since we left there last November.
It was awesome to see Jack & his parents - we bonded a lot during our long stay there. And it was so good to see their family flourishing and what proud parents they are. And we did see a couple of our favorite nurses who we didn't get to see the last time we were there. Dr. L was there who cared for the boys, as well as our favorite nurse practitioner.
But aside from seeing those people, the trip to the hospital was not good. I felt sick as I was driving in there. We got the kids unloaded and as we walked into the hospital, the smell took me back immediately to "those" days. This didn't happen the last time I was there....maybe because we were together as a family this time and it was a special anniversary of our return? As we waited to go into the NICU unit, I had butterflies in my tummy and the kids started to fuss. We were welcomed with open arms by everyone there that knew us, which was awesome. But it still didn't feel good.
As we stood there talking for 15-20 minutes to everyone, there were new parents coming in and out of the unit. I wanted the floor to swallow us up and make us disappear every time a family came in or out. I wanted to reach out and hug these Moms who had that sad, discouraged look on their face as they walked by our little pod of laughter and hugs. It's just not usually a happy place and to be there with such happiness didn't feel right. Although I do realize it could be a symbol of hope for the families that are now there with their small babies, it can also be rather painful for them to see. Especially for those whose babies might not have such a good prognosis and are hanging on to life by a thread.
I did notice that when we first walked in, it was eerily quiet. And slowly, nurses started coming out of their assigned rooms to see us. It was somber. On our way out, we ran into another nurse coming off of break and she mentioned that it had been a hard day that day - they had just lost a 24 weeker. It's been a tough month there - sadly they have lost several babies; I know of 2 over the last couple of months, and there are more that we don't even know about. My heart hurts for those families.
As if we weren't feeling heavy hearted already, hearing that made us realize again how fragile life is. And how fortunate we are. C & I looked at each other on our way out of the hospital and we didn't even have to say words to each other to understand what we both were thinking. That was officially our last visit to NICU. Once we got in the car, we both agreed (me, through tears) that we need close this chapter of our lives and continue moving forward. Looking back to those days is so painful. In a way that is really indescribable.
I will surely miss seeing our NICU nurses - they were like family to us. They held us up, cried with us and comforted us every single day. I wish there was a way to stay connected to them without having to visit the hospital. They left footprints on my heart that will never fade - each in their own way. There is a special place in heaven for those that care for preemies. You can see it in their eyes when they see my kids grown up now - they are like proud parents in a way - it must be so rewarding for them to know that they were so instrumental in bringing life into the world and allowing our little fledglings to flourish. My kids will always know how amazing their first nurses were...but sadly, they will never get to know them like we did. Thank you will never be enough. Closure is important with life events that are painful. For me, this is it.
I don't really know why we did it - I guess just to show them off to the docs & nurses and to let them know again how much we appreciate everything that they did for our family. Plus, our little friend Jack who shared our room for so many weeks in NICU, was going back too. This was the first time we have seen Jack & his family since we left there last November.
It was awesome to see Jack & his parents - we bonded a lot during our long stay there. And it was so good to see their family flourishing and what proud parents they are. And we did see a couple of our favorite nurses who we didn't get to see the last time we were there. Dr. L was there who cared for the boys, as well as our favorite nurse practitioner.
But aside from seeing those people, the trip to the hospital was not good. I felt sick as I was driving in there. We got the kids unloaded and as we walked into the hospital, the smell took me back immediately to "those" days. This didn't happen the last time I was there....maybe because we were together as a family this time and it was a special anniversary of our return? As we waited to go into the NICU unit, I had butterflies in my tummy and the kids started to fuss. We were welcomed with open arms by everyone there that knew us, which was awesome. But it still didn't feel good.
As we stood there talking for 15-20 minutes to everyone, there were new parents coming in and out of the unit. I wanted the floor to swallow us up and make us disappear every time a family came in or out. I wanted to reach out and hug these Moms who had that sad, discouraged look on their face as they walked by our little pod of laughter and hugs. It's just not usually a happy place and to be there with such happiness didn't feel right. Although I do realize it could be a symbol of hope for the families that are now there with their small babies, it can also be rather painful for them to see. Especially for those whose babies might not have such a good prognosis and are hanging on to life by a thread.
I did notice that when we first walked in, it was eerily quiet. And slowly, nurses started coming out of their assigned rooms to see us. It was somber. On our way out, we ran into another nurse coming off of break and she mentioned that it had been a hard day that day - they had just lost a 24 weeker. It's been a tough month there - sadly they have lost several babies; I know of 2 over the last couple of months, and there are more that we don't even know about. My heart hurts for those families.
As if we weren't feeling heavy hearted already, hearing that made us realize again how fragile life is. And how fortunate we are. C & I looked at each other on our way out of the hospital and we didn't even have to say words to each other to understand what we both were thinking. That was officially our last visit to NICU. Once we got in the car, we both agreed (me, through tears) that we need close this chapter of our lives and continue moving forward. Looking back to those days is so painful. In a way that is really indescribable.
I will surely miss seeing our NICU nurses - they were like family to us. They held us up, cried with us and comforted us every single day. I wish there was a way to stay connected to them without having to visit the hospital. They left footprints on my heart that will never fade - each in their own way. There is a special place in heaven for those that care for preemies. You can see it in their eyes when they see my kids grown up now - they are like proud parents in a way - it must be so rewarding for them to know that they were so instrumental in bringing life into the world and allowing our little fledglings to flourish. My kids will always know how amazing their first nurses were...but sadly, they will never get to know them like we did. Thank you will never be enough. Closure is important with life events that are painful. For me, this is it.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Sneak Peek
We had the boys one year photos taken - here are a few of them. I was not sure how they turned out since that was the day that the kids had their shots and they had NO naps...not bad afterall.
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