It has been nearly a year since the girls' birth and I still cry like a crazy woman when I watch micro preemie NICU videos on YouTube. Why do I do this to myself? I need to just stay far away from YouTube until that spot in my heart is healed a little more, if that is even possible. However, I do have to say that watching these videos or hearing other micro preemie stories makes me count my blessings 100 times over. So many micros that were born later than my girls had to spend a considerable amount of time more than what we did in the NICU. The more stories I hear about make me realize that a mere 78 days in the NICU for 26 weekers is a miracle beyond description. Their struggles pale in comparison to what other little babies have had to (or continue) to endure at the expense of being born so early. How will I ever communicate the depths of this miracle to Britian and Jillian as they grow up? I will pray that when the time comes for these conversations that God gives me the words I need to sufficiently tell my girls what beautiful blessings they truly are and how He had His hand upon them every single second of their tiny lives.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Friday, December 16, 2011
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!
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| Sister toes |
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| Britian's toes |
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| Jillian's itty bitty toes |
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Teeth all around
I am happy to announce that Britian and Jillian both got their both two front teeth today. Jillian was more fussy than normal today which I attributed to the cold she has been battling but now I know it was more than just her cold. Hopefully now that their teeth have come in the will both get back to their normal sleep schedule. My kids typically get their teeth in rapid succession and have 6 or more by their first birthday so this may just be the beginning of a very long winter filled with colds and teething.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
10 months old!!
Well technically they will be 10 months in 2 days but I've got a moment to post an update now and not sure I'll have one again in 2 days so I am doing it now. :)
As you will see in the pictures below both girls are getting very big. Their next Dr. appt is next week but Brit should be pushing 18 pounds or more and Jillian is well about 14. Just from holding them I can tell they have both gained a bunch of weight since our last high risk appt the beginning of November. Jillian most of all has really filled out which I couldn't be happier about. The more weight she puts on the better it is for her lung growth and development. Both girls have been stable and healthy for the last couple of weeks which has been a huge blessing. I avoid taking them anywhere I absolutely don't have to though now that cold and flu season is upon us. I am hoping that becoming hermits for the winter will help them get through this season as healthy as possible. And on a lighter note both girls are doing awesome with their reflux and seem to be outgrowing the worst of it. Because they are doing so well it also means that they are both sleeping in their cribs all night, no more swing sleeping for either girl.
So without further ado, here are some recent pictures of our little blessings.
As you will see in the pictures below both girls are getting very big. Their next Dr. appt is next week but Brit should be pushing 18 pounds or more and Jillian is well about 14. Just from holding them I can tell they have both gained a bunch of weight since our last high risk appt the beginning of November. Jillian most of all has really filled out which I couldn't be happier about. The more weight she puts on the better it is for her lung growth and development. Both girls have been stable and healthy for the last couple of weeks which has been a huge blessing. I avoid taking them anywhere I absolutely don't have to though now that cold and flu season is upon us. I am hoping that becoming hermits for the winter will help them get through this season as healthy as possible. And on a lighter note both girls are doing awesome with their reflux and seem to be outgrowing the worst of it. Because they are doing so well it also means that they are both sleeping in their cribs all night, no more swing sleeping for either girl.
So without further ado, here are some recent pictures of our little blessings.
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| Brit pulling on Jillian's cannula |
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| Brit sleeping |
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| Jillian crashed out in her high chair after refusing to nap all day |
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| Some days it is rough being Jillian |
Sunday, November 13, 2011
On the Mend
I just wanted to update everyone real quick. . .
The girls are both on the mend with their colds, especially Jillian who got hit the worst. There is no more coughing or congestion or yucky mucous to deal with. The next month or so they will still need meds to maintain their healthy lungs but so long as we are not dealing with the bad stuff I am a-ok with giving them an inhaler twice a day to maintain the status quo.
Thank you for your prayers, they have definitely been answered.
The girls are both on the mend with their colds, especially Jillian who got hit the worst. There is no more coughing or congestion or yucky mucous to deal with. The next month or so they will still need meds to maintain their healthy lungs but so long as we are not dealing with the bad stuff I am a-ok with giving them an inhaler twice a day to maintain the status quo.
Thank you for your prayers, they have definitely been answered.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Preemie Lungs and Winter Do Not Mix Well Together
As I've mentioned in previous posts the girls both have colds. We are on week 7 or so of the girls both dealing with one virus or another. If I've read their symptoms correctly we are on virus #3 or so. They catch one cold and get better from it only to catch other virus before totally getting over the previous one. It has become a viscous cycle. Fortunately it seems as though Britian is on the mend thanks in part to the medication that was prescribed earlier this week. Her breathing is much easier and she isn't coughing all night like before.
Jillian on the other hand did not improve when we started the same medication earlier this week. Her breathing was of such concern to me yesterday that she saw an on-call pediatrician (so happened to be the one that was on call the night the girls were born) in the night clinic. He agreed that she was still wheezing so we did a breathing treatment there in the office which seemed to help improve her lung sounds a bit. Ultimately he prescribed an oral steroid and a nebulizer, both to help with her breathing. He also prescribed an antibiotic the help with her nasal congestion and to clear up an ear infection that might have been starting. So currently my little peanut is on 4 different medications, all of which have to be staggered at different times and given a minimum of twice every day. Needless to say, I've taken to writing down the times I give her each of her medications so that I don't miss a dose and also so I make sure that I am not giving certain medications too close to each other.
My baby girl needs lots and lots of prayers again. Her little lungs are struggling and Winter hasn't even officially begun. I sure hope this isn't a sign of what is to come this season. Thankfully, after just a day of the new regiment of meds her breathing is much better and she actually slept decent last night.
Jillian on the other hand did not improve when we started the same medication earlier this week. Her breathing was of such concern to me yesterday that she saw an on-call pediatrician (so happened to be the one that was on call the night the girls were born) in the night clinic. He agreed that she was still wheezing so we did a breathing treatment there in the office which seemed to help improve her lung sounds a bit. Ultimately he prescribed an oral steroid and a nebulizer, both to help with her breathing. He also prescribed an antibiotic the help with her nasal congestion and to clear up an ear infection that might have been starting. So currently my little peanut is on 4 different medications, all of which have to be staggered at different times and given a minimum of twice every day. Needless to say, I've taken to writing down the times I give her each of her medications so that I don't miss a dose and also so I make sure that I am not giving certain medications too close to each other.
My baby girl needs lots and lots of prayers again. Her little lungs are struggling and Winter hasn't even officially begun. I sure hope this isn't a sign of what is to come this season. Thankfully, after just a day of the new regiment of meds her breathing is much better and she actually slept decent last night.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
8 month update
Yesterday the girls and I made the long drive back to the "big city" for their high risk check-up. Both girls are growing and developing wonderfully.
Britian is a whopping 16lbs 11oz and nearly 26"
Jillian is cruising right along at her own pace. She is 13lbs 3oz and 24" long.
When we left the nicu 6 months ago neither girl was on the growth chart. Now not only are they both on one curve or another but from one appointment to another they are jumping curves. At nearly 17 pounds Britian is 50% for her adjusted age weight. Even my peanut Jillian is on the curve somewhere for all of her measurements. After starting life so small it does my momma heart good to know they are growing so well without medical intervention.
We did learn yesterday that both girls are RAD. No, not rad like back in the 80's but RAD as in reactive airway disease. Considering their lung issues this really is no surprise and will impact their lives minimally. They have inhalers now and are using them twice a day for the next month or so. As I mentioned in a previous post they have a cold virus, yep for 6 weeks now they've had a virus to one degree or another. At yesterday's appointment they had "musical wheezing" as their neonatologist put it, not the typical one tone wheeze but rather a nice musical one with a variety of tones. The inhaler will help clear up their lungs and maybe even help their sinus congestion which I am all for!
Developmentally both girls are doing great which is always nice to hear. As a micro preemie parent, fine and gross motor development is always on your mind.
Thank you everyone for your continued prayers and words of support!
Britian is a whopping 16lbs 11oz and nearly 26"
Jillian is cruising right along at her own pace. She is 13lbs 3oz and 24" long.
When we left the nicu 6 months ago neither girl was on the growth chart. Now not only are they both on one curve or another but from one appointment to another they are jumping curves. At nearly 17 pounds Britian is 50% for her adjusted age weight. Even my peanut Jillian is on the curve somewhere for all of her measurements. After starting life so small it does my momma heart good to know they are growing so well without medical intervention.
We did learn yesterday that both girls are RAD. No, not rad like back in the 80's but RAD as in reactive airway disease. Considering their lung issues this really is no surprise and will impact their lives minimally. They have inhalers now and are using them twice a day for the next month or so. As I mentioned in a previous post they have a cold virus, yep for 6 weeks now they've had a virus to one degree or another. At yesterday's appointment they had "musical wheezing" as their neonatologist put it, not the typical one tone wheeze but rather a nice musical one with a variety of tones. The inhaler will help clear up their lungs and maybe even help their sinus congestion which I am all for!
Developmentally both girls are doing great which is always nice to hear. As a micro preemie parent, fine and gross motor development is always on your mind.
Thank you everyone for your continued prayers and words of support!
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