Growing and Growing

Tayden in his new boots

Brooklyn in her new boots

Tayden sleeping, holding onto Fox In Socks

New pajamas

New pajamas

Holding hands - how sweet!!!

Our hearts are rejoicing tonight for the two families we met in the NICU.  As of last week one family has all of their triplets home (born in December) and as of last night the other family has both of their twins home (born in March).  We look forward to many play dates with all of these little friends who for so long were NICU mates.  I have been enjoying every minute of my summer, and I am sad that it will come to an end in about three weeks.  The babies and I have found our groove and have developed a routine and schedule so that will make going back to work a little easier.  When I think about leaving them each day, I have extreme anxiety.  I thought I would welcome the time away from home, but there is no place on earth I would rather be.  I would love to find a work-at-home job that would give me the same insurance I get now for the twins and I, but that is almost impossible.  Tim has been approved to take 12 weeks of FMLA and will be staying at home with the twins starting August 2nd.  He will do his real estate full time during these twelve weeks and will show houses on the weekends and in the afternoons after I get home.  We are so blessed that he is able to do this and we are not having to take the babies to daycare.  I don't think I would be able to do that!!!  The babies had their follow-up with the pulmonologist last Thursday and it went really well.  The doctor wants us to continue with the Prevacid for reflux and the Flovent inhaler for their breathing.  We asked if the twins are more likely to develop asthma due to their prematurity and he said that they have a slightly greater risk.  Only time and their lung development will tell.  At this appointment Brooklyn weighed 13 lbs. 8 oz. and Tayden weighed 13 lbs. even.  He wants to see them again at the end of September and then he has recommended that they get the Synagis shot every month of RSV season.  This shot will not prevent RSV, but if they were to get it, the symptoms would be much less.  He was explaining how intense the whole Synagis process is - 1 vial costs him $1200 and the twins would each need two vials every month!!!  He stressed the importance of keeping our insurance current.  His office gives this shot to 500 patients every year - WOW!  So, at this time - NO NEW OLOGISTS!!!  We have been to the opthamologist, pulmonologist, cardiologist, and gastrointerologist, all of which were impressed with the twins health.  We realize every day how fortunate we are to have healthy babies.  God is so good!!!  ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) came back today with an Occupational Therapist to assess Tayden.  Since their first visit two weeks ago he has started cooing, smiling, and holding his head up much better.  He qualified for services based on his premature birth and stiff neck.  They suggested that the OT come by once a month to work with him at whatever stage he is at developmentally to keep him on track.   These visits will be informative for Tim and I will give us the tools to help him meet his developmental milestones.  Overall, he scored in the 2 month range, which is right on track since his adjusted age is 2 months.  The OT gave us some great exercises to do with him to help him with his neck muscles and to make tummy time more enjoyable.  Some really great news - the reflux monster is slowly being defeated at our house.  Brooklyn still spits-up some each feeding but she has not had a reflux episode in two weeks!!!  Tayden spits-up a little and has not had an episode in one week!!!  This is a huge celebration considering that  Brooklyn was having daily episodes and Tayden was having them about three times a week.  We were having to practically wear the bulb syringe as a necklace.  The babies are still sleeping through the night and both are eating rice cereal or oatmeal every day.  They love eating from a spoon and I can't wait until we can start introducing other items.  Brooklyn continues to thrive and has become quite the chatter box.  She coos constantly and looks at you like you should understand everything she says - it is so precious!!  My Aunt Sara and Uncle Dean bought them their first pair of cowboy boots and it has been so fun to try them on.  Now we just need to get them some overalls and cowboy hats and we will be all set!  They are growing up way too fast!!!