A Little Updating

We are at Nena and Pappaw's this weekend, so I thought I'd do a little updating while the boys are napping. Nena and Pappaw live out in the sticks and have DSL... we live in a town and can't get DSL... though we have been told for several years that AT&T would have DSL in our area within a year. We finally quit asking! The little men have been doing great! They are going everywhere and into everything, but they are super little boys!! We hope y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that your Christmas is merry! God has certainly blessed us with so much to be thankful for!!

February 18, 2010 - How far they've come!!

It only took two tries to get this precious picture of G the morning of his first birthday!


I don't know how many pics I took of E and this was the best I got! He is such a nut!!


E really didn't want to wake up for his birthday party.








Some shots from Christmas 2009
G & E in their new winter hats.

G looks like he's about to be into something!

E - How cute can you get?


I've hear this little guy (E) resembles me just a little!


G & E are now awake and they have found all kinds of stuff to get into, so that's all I have time for at the moment!

One Set of Sheets

So, what happens when you only have one set of sheets for your bed? You have time to update your long neglected blog when you forget you've got to wash those sheets!!
I can't believe it's been four months since I last posted! In that time Grant & Ethan have grown a lot. The High Risk Newborn Clinic that Ethan goes to said that we really needed to have Ethan evaluated for developmental delays and by the time we were able to get that scheduled, he went on a developing kick and he passed all tests with flying colors (even being tested on actual age instead of adjusted!) Grant got to "sit in" on the testing as well and, at the time, was doing everything Ethan did with the exception of crawling. It took him a little longer to realize he could move faster with his belly off the ground! Hopefully, Ethan's last High Risk appointment will be next month. Their one year appointment is Tuesday!!
Here are the photos... I know this is really what ya'll check the blog for...


Ethan on the guitar. Both boys really love to help their daddy play music.


In November we ALL got the flu. They say it was the swine flu, but who knows! It wasn't near as bad as the last time I had the flu!!


We were well for Thanksgiving, though, and got to spend time in Crossett with our family. This is my nephew, Carson. He loves to have his picture taken and then come look, so I have lots of pictures of Carson in the leaves! I think Grant resembles Carson.

Unfortunatley, these pictures are taking forever to upload, so... I will really try to get the rest on tomorrow (oh, wait... it's 2:30am... I will try later in the day!)

This picture just makes me laugh. Most shots of Ethan have his mouth either wide open, or like this. The bruise on his forehead was a permanent fixture for a while as he was learning to pull up. I don't know how many times he hit that same spot!

Busy Times!

Grant & Ethan are now scooting and rolling everywhere! They are so cute and they are keeping us quite busy.
Ethan adjusts his mirrors

Look out Sierra, Grant's car only moves in reverse these days!!

It seems as if we've made umpteen trips to see doctors over the past few weeks. We've had well baby visits, sick visits, and high risk newborn visits! The well baby visits went pretty well, except for concern over both babies weights, so a follow up visit was scheduled to monitor that more closely. During that time, Ethan went for his high risk visit and they, too, were concerned about his weight, so they added a supplement to his milk. That did'nt go over too well!! Ethan doesn't want anyone messing with his milk!! Anyway, we finally got him taking that and the doctors were pleased with both guys weight gains at the follow up visit. As far as sick babies, Ethan & Grant have both been having some respiratory issues. They've just been snotty & wheezy, so they are now on breathing treatments which will hopefully be over with in three months! They are now just using an inhaler with an aerochamber (a tube with a mask to make sure they inhale the meds), but at one point they were both on the updraft (breathing machine).
Ethan and his "Bubbles the Fish" mask (Michael fixed his hair that way as a joke, I'm not sure what to say about that look!)
Grant sleeping through his treatment (it's much easier to give that way!)
Both are doing much better, by the way!!

Also over the past two months, Ethan and Grant have started going to a babysitter every weekday. Thank you Crystal and Amanda for aiding in getting that set up. She is working out great! We are so glad not to have them in a daycare facility where their chances of getting sick are so much more, and we just like the babysitter so much more than anything we saw with daycares!!

I think that about gets everybody caught up on the boys, now just for some cute shots!! (I'll try to get those posted again later today)
Well, here's one...

I also have pics of our new niece, Aubrey, but this is all I have time for right now, it's taking forever to upload these pics... maybe I can get another hour of sleep in before the guys wake up!! (or maybe one is waking up now... please go back to sleep... maybe... not yet, but he's quietly kicking the bed and not crying, there is still a chance he'll go back to sleep on his own...

Squash!

Grant tried squash last night. I hope the carseat cover is dry enough for church in the morning!!

Nina with Ethan (sitting) and Grant

Ethan and his tiger blanket, cute as can be!

Grant. Both boys are so expressive! This picture always makes me laugh.

Brothers. Grant is now about 12.5 pounds and Ethan is about 11.5. They had to stop sleeping in the same crib some time ago because one of them was always kicking the other in the head! Boys!!



Isn't that the sweetest?!?

Grant hanging out with his buddy, Lucas. Grant is one happy guy!

When Ethan decided he needed to eat every two hours in the afternoons, Mom decided it was time for cereal! He's not too keen on the idea just yet, though.

Grant has been eating rice cereal for a while and has now started carrots. That boy loves his carrots!!

A Busy Day!

Michael left for choir tour this morning. I missed getting to see him off this year, but yesterday we decided that I should go ahead and take Grant to the pediatrician and since they are "first come, first serve" on Saturdays we wanted to get there pretty early. Grant has had a little bit of cough and a tad bit of wheezing for a little over a week now. The cough wasn't a big deal, but I was worried about the wheezing and the rattling. Anyway, the pediatrician that was in today said he did have a bit of chest congestion and had a little bit of wheezing going on so she sent us with a prescription for an inhaler and a tube to use with it and we are hopeing it clears up within the week. Grant was so cute! I think he grinned at everyone he came across! We had a short wait in the room and we just laughed and played and had a good 'ole time! He goes back in a week and hopefully that will be cleared up. After the doctor we got our prescription, hurried home to pick up Ethan, feed both boys, unload the car (we found a baby food sale while waiting on our prescription!) and head back up the road to White Hall to visit with Michael's family. Somehow, after all that, I still had energy at the end of the day (while I was eating my 10:00 supper).

Now, to follow up on the previous post, Ethan has been released from the care of the ACH GI Clinic. Yay, Ethan!! His last tests showed that he is anemic, but his liver function tests are good enough that they are comfortable with the pediatrician monitoring them now. He is on an iron prescription now, which was a little worrisome at first when he's taking that, the multivitamin with iron, and the formula (which he refuses to take, anyway) has iron. Now he has started cereal, and that, too, is enriched with iron! The worrisome part comes in when you read the labels on the vitamin and the iron talking about the risk of overdose! So I have checked and double-checked that he wasn't getting too much. Now I'm just wondering how to keep the iron from staining his clothes!!

Boy, that energy I had faded quickly and I had to call it quits last night! It is now Sunday night and we've had a pretty good day. I haven't heard Grant wheezing any today, but I did have to pull the swaddle blankets back out so he won't startle himself awake so much on this medicine. I think it's just a cold (and I think he has shared it with Ethan, too!)
This is my brother, Alan, with his youngest, Carson, and with Ethan. This was a few weeks ago when our family was camping at Maumelle. Please be in prayer for Alan and his family. He started radiation Friday and has 4 more treatments scheduled. Monday and Wednesday's treatments are at 11:00 and Friday's is at 8:00 so that, hopefully, he and his wife will be able to go home and see thier kids for the weekend. Then he'll return for a 3:00 treatment the following Monday. We would really appreciate extra prayers for him at those times.
I have more pictures to upload, but it is taking too long tonight... maybe tomorrow.

Four Months Already

Where does the time go? In the past month Grant and Ethan have grown a lot! They had their four month well visit and we learned that preemies should double their birth weight by the time they are six months old. Grant and Ethan passed that mark a while back! Their pediatrician, Dr. Salman, seems pleased with their progress. We have to work a little more with Ethan on some things, but he is doing great. We should get updated liver test results this week and Friday he has a High Risk Newborn doctors appointment at Children's (and I have no idea what that entails).

This is just a picture of Grant being cute. I could also include Grant looking thoughtful, Grant looking funny, Grant looking mad, and on and on...

"Do you know where that hand has been?"

Ethan in his fishing get-up.

We had Ethan & Grant's baby dedication on June 7th. They are very well behaved boys! Ethan locked his focus in on something and kept it there until he finally fell asleep. Not even Bro. Allen could distract him! Grant gave out a few grins and just about started talking, but then he just went back to grinning and then to sleep. I know we won't always have it so easy!

Down time with the crew before daddy got home.

Sleep Deprivation

Life with twins is tiring! Really, I imagine life with just one premature baby would be tiring! I think we are almost out of the stage where we have got to make sure Ethan & Grant eat every 3 to 4 hours, day or night! I just weighed Grant and he is now 10 lbs 4 oz. His pediatrician said that she wanted them to be 10-12 lbs before we took away any night feeds. Michael will be so excited!
Ethan had some more blood work done recently and his liver function is still improving. I think the doctors had anticipated it being normal by now, but we're not there yet, so we'll test again on June 18th. I'm thinking Ethan may keep us on our toes as he gets older. I often catch him with such a mischievous look on his face!

This past weekend we went to visit my great aunt. She is 95 years old. I was really glad that Ethan and Grant got to meet Aunt Fain. We always have to make surprise visits now because if she knows we are coming she wants to cook us a full course meal! She is pretty well blind now and uses a walker, but she is doing great. She said for new recipes these days she has to remember the recipe because she can no longer read them. I couldn't imagine what I would come up with if I were making everything from memory! She has a lady that comes in to help her some during the week. She is 84! Aunt Fain joked that she can't remember for the both of them! (Apparently Aunt Fain's caretaker is starting to be forgetful). Anyway, we had a good visit.


Now, for all of you who have had the pleasure of meeting my dogs and wondering what we did with them after the arrival of the boys... my mom & dad took "the girls" once I was admitted to the hospital. Eventually, the girls were allowed up for a visit to see how they would react to Grant & Ethan. Amazingly, they hardly even took notice! Still, they both went back to my parents house two hours away. The next weekend, Sierra got to come back and is doing great with Grant and Ethan, and even with Lauren, the babysitter. I haven't told Lauren this yet, but after only 3 days Sierra has started crying at the door when Lauren leaves. Spotter is a bit more "bull in a china closet" type dog and has a bit of a chewing problem (blue tooth earpieces, keyless entry for the car, corner of the dresser, corner of the cedar chest, ink cartridge, lots of ink pens, and I could go on...), so she is now an outside dog at my dad's. Pretty amazing for a guy who often says "One dog is one dog too many." Even after I've moved away my dad still has to deal with my adoptees (he currently has two of them and one that he and my mom adopted on their own, ha!). Anyway, I think that gets everyone up to date! Goodnight!

Mother's Day Weekend

First of all, let me say a big "Thank You!" to my mom & Michael's mom for coming up and keeping the boys when I went back to work. Aren't mother's great. We love you both!!
Our exciting news for this weekend is that we can now let the boys sleep up to 4 hours between feeds! What a difference an hour makes. I feel so much more rested. There are still times when it's just three hours between a feeding, but it still is a huge difference. Other exciting news is that, because Michael and I changed our mind about insurance, we were double insured from the boys birth until April 1, 2 days after Ethan was released! This, on top of verifying that the person I talked to in the hospital billing department really couldn't read the info right and we really don't owe them $45,000.00 after insurance paid their part! Ha! I couldn't believe that, so I asked her about five times and then waited until Monday and spoke to insurance folks (who really didn't clear anything up) and then the bill came in. No where near $45,000.00!! Oh, and all of that was for Ethan. I think the've lost Grant's big claim. Who knows?!?
Anyway, it's been a good week and we are all doing great. Michael is off this week to keep the boys until the babysitter (Lauren) starts, so ya'll all say a quick prayer for him. It can be quite tiring!

This picture was taken the day after the boys turned 2 months old. I wrapped Ethan up in a baby burrito and put him on his back. About 10 minutes later, this is what I found!! I can't tell you the number of times we dug the boys out of the bumper pads when we had the mattress raised to help with Ethan's reflux. So much for all of those crib safety rules. We do try, though!
I finally got Ethan's test results from the GI Clinic. His liver is still enlarged and his LFT's (Liver Function Tests) are elevated, but they are improved. We go back again on the 13th of May for more tests. Poor little guy has been poked and prodded so much, but he's a trooper. Thankfully he won't remember all this when he's older! As for the audiologist appointment, after about 2 hours Ethan passed his hearing test (one of them anyway). Basically, he can hear, but he has fluid in one of his ears and we'll have to go back again when he's a year old. Hopefully that too will clear up on its own.
The boys are 8 lbs 5 oz and 7 lbs 5 oz now. Grant weighs twice what he did when he was born! He was laying on the couch with his dad today and they were cooing at each other and making faces. So cute! I feel like I'm already missing so much being back at work now. They do grow so fast.

2 Months Old

I can hardly believe it's already been two months! Grant and Ethan are both doing good. We had their two month wellness check this past Wednesday and the pediatrician was very pleased with their developmental progress. Ethan will go to a specialist in June for even more thorough testing in that area (that appt has nothing to do with the pediatrician's visits, it was scheduled before we left the hospital). The boys each got 5 shots and 1 oral vaccine. Ethan did pretty good with both. Grant seemed to love the oral vaccine, but he would hold his breath every time he got a shot (he takes after his dad in the needles dep't I guess)! Anyway, we are waiting on test results for Ethan on his liver. It seems that his troubles may be the twin to twin transfusion stuff still resolving itself. Hopefully that's it and there is no long term damage. We go to the audiologist today for him, so pray all goes well. I will get more pictures up when I can get them to upload again!
For those of you interested in how Michael and I are doing, we are exhausted!! But it is all so worth it. My mom will be back up this week as I go back to work Tuesday (I'll almost feel like I'm starting a new job, as I've been off for over 2 months!). I'm sure going to miss those guys during the day!
In other family news, my brother is also having another check up in Houston today. They got great news at the last appointment and I pray that there will be more of the same!

Sorry Ya'll

This is the third day in a row I've tried to upload photos and it's just not working! And what a shame, because there are some cute ones (if I do say so, myself).
Anyway, things are going good here. Grant and Ethan made their first trip to church Sunday. That went pretty good, although we were a bit late. I thought we would sneak them in and Michael thought, hey, let's announce to everyone on facebook that we are going! We've really got to start discussing these things better. Ha! Anyway, Mrs. Frances was our hero for the day, standing gaurd outside the nursery to keep our boys peacefully sleeping, and germ free. Thank you, and what a great job! I'm going to try one more time before I'm done for the night and get some pictures uploaded...
Well, no go... and my brain is really not up for troubleshooting, so maybe later.

We Made It!

Ethan and I came home Monday evening! We had quite a stay at UAMS, but not near as long as some! And I think I've said it before, but the maternal and NICU staff there are great!! This is just a quick update, because life with two infants is busy. Even though all they do is eat and sleep, they keep us busy. Thank you Nena and Cesa for the help. We are very grateful! Ethan went to his first pediatrician appointment Tuesday and he is doing fine. When Dr. Salman asked us to tell her about his medical history we just had to say, "Here's his report." Pretty much everything has resolved. We are now just watching the hydrops and the liver enzymes, oh and he has to have a hearing screening at Children's still, too. He passed in one ear, but not the other. Anyway, we are doing well... And now it is off to bed for me. It's one hour to feeding time again!! Hope to have time to post pictures soon... Good night!

Home At Last?

Well, if nothing adverse happens in the next 12 hours or so, Ethan and I will be home Monday evening! We almost made it this past Friday, but due to a little breathing trouble the doctor felt better watching Ethan a little longer. He asked me what I thought about that and I just told him we want whatever is best for our boy, so we are still here. Ethan weighed in at 5 lbs Friday, and he passed his car seat test, though we did have to buy a seat from the hospital since he is so small... I think a lot of his weight is in his belly still. Anyway... we can't wait to be home! Thank you Lord, for all you have done for this little guy and for the great staff here at UAMS!
Grant is doing good at home... If I had to guess, I'd say he's at about 6 lbs now. He has moved from preemie clothes to newborn. He's my big boy, but I have a feeling Ethan will be catching up soon. It seems they look a little more alike each time I see them together.
For more good news... the maternity jeans that I outgrew several months ago are now too big! Yay!! Okay, I know ya'll really don't care about that, but I'm excited. Perhaps no one else will mistake me for still being pregnant, hah!! Ya'll should have seen the look on the face of the pharmacist at Target (of course it didn't help that I was eating ice cream at the time!)

Any Day Now!

Ethan is doing better every day and according to the doctor he could possibly be headed home as early as tomorrow, but he will have to do really great with his feedings. At any rate, he should be home by early next week anyway. He now ways 4 lbs 14 oz! 5 lbs here we come!! Grant was up for his audiologist appt the other day and we had pictures done by the March of Dimes. They were so cute together! This was the first time they were ever in a crib together. Hopefully I will get the picture CD really soon and get some of those pictures on here. For now, though, here's the one I took with my cell phone. Grant looks so big next to Ethan!
Grant passed in both ears at his hearing screening and Ethan had another screening done here today. This time he passed in his left ear, but still got a referral for the right ear. His last lab work on his liver showed one liver enzyme slightly higher than before, one slightly lower, and the other the same as before. His liver is still a little swollen, but I guess everything is stable now. Dr. Hall said that this could be monitored by the pediatrician now, so we are just working on getting Ethan to eat 8 times a day so we can pull out the NG tube and go home!
See you soon!
-Kara

A Quick Update

Hey everyone! Grant's pediatrician visit went good. They took all his measurements for his one month visit and everything looked fine. We go back again in another month and will hopefully get the second hep b vaccine and another round of the RSV vaccine then. Oh yeah, he has his audiologist appointment Monday at Children's. Pray all goes well! While he's up here, we hope to be able to get pictures with him and Ethan. The March of Dimes volunteers take some really good pictures. Actually, they do quite a lot around here. It is a big help to talk to others that have been in similar situations as us and hear their stories.
As for Ethan, things are going good and I see us going home in the near future!! (I'm thinking 1-2 weeks). The doctor said today that if his labs come back good Monday then the only other thing we'd be waiting on is his feedings. I'm hoping and praying that those labs turn out great! He looks good! I think he's finally lost his yellow tinge and his stools look normal, so I'm hoping the liver is functioning like it should now.
As for me, I'm missing my friends and family and I can't wait to be home for good! These quick trips between Little Rock and home are starting to wear on me!! But pretty soon this will all be just a memory (and I'll be missing all the nurses that were there around the clock to take care of my boys!). Hope to see you all soon! -Kara

Ethan's Test Results

Ethan had labs run early this morning and the docs gave us the results late this morning (Make that yesterday... by the time I checked his diaper, searched for his diaper rash ointment, decided it was in the locked medicine drawer, found someone to get it, and got the diaper changed Monday was gone!). His liver enzymes went up a little higher, but his bilirubins went down. They said they feel like his liver is doing better, it just needs more time. They consulted with some other type of doctor (my little brain can only hold so much info) and decided to take him off the Phenobarbital and start him on Ursodiol. Now we wait another week and test again, so as far as the question of when Ethan gets to go home, all I can tell you is... not this week! He is starting to feed better (a step forward), but has lost weight the past three days. I'm not sure what's going on there, unless it has something to do with that diaper I just changed!! Maybe he's getting rid of some more belly fluids... that's my hope!
Michael and Grant are doing good at home. Michael is being initiated into the world of the sleep deprived, but his mom is up to help now, so maybe it won't be too bad on him! For now, anyway! Just wait until both boys are home!

Prince John

Grant is Home!

Grant got to go home Friday evening! He is now staying at home with Dad while I am staying with Ethan. I did go home Friday and stayed and then came back up to UAMS Saturday evening. Grant did so good his first night home! He is on a three hour schedule that the hospital uses, so he didn't cry any except for the dreaded diaper changes when we were getting him ready for feedings! I think he cried less at home than he did at the hospital. Ethan's checks and feedings were 30 minutes before Grant's and it seems he would usually wake up at Ethan's turn and fuss until his turn. Anyway, things seem to be going good for Dad and Grant at home!

I love all the little expressions he makes!
So cute in his brown stripes.
Grant was actually awake to welcome his first visitors

Ethan is still the same as before... we are waiting until Monday or Tuesday to see how the Phenobarbital worked. Hopefully all will be well and he won't be transferred. Since Grant went home and UAMS was expecting triplets any day, Ethan got moved to a new room. He went from the Kangaroo Pouch (mainly for multiples) to the Stork's Nest (mainly for healthier babies!! -I think) His new room is great! Like the other, it is a private room with a sleeper sofa for mom, but this one also has a bathroom for mom, with a shower (but I think the nurse got sidetracked on the way to get towels... sounds like me!). Anyway, Ethan now ways 4 lbs 4 oz (about 1 lb less than Brother) and he got his tube moved from his mouth to his nose today.
I get to see Grant again Tuesday! He has his first pediatrician's visit then. It feels like our first steps of normal (as opposed to NICU) parenthood. I can't wait! Thank you all so much for the prayers... please keep them coming!

Still so tiny! That is the tip of Michael's thumb by his head!
So peaceful (at the moment)! Actually, Ethan is the more laid back of the two, for now.