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.

Brit pulling on Jillian's cannula

Brit sleeping

Jillian crashed out in her high chair after refusing to nap all day

Some days it is rough being Jillian

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.

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.

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!

From the Nursery Window

From the nursery window I've watched the world go by.
I've seen barren trees, brown and dull, grow beautiful green leaves, so lush and full.
The tree nearest the window was lifeless and dull, then it grew whirlybird seeds and aspen shaped leaves.
I've heard the wind howl, watched the rain pour down the window, and marveled at the lightening on the      horizon and jumped at the sound of thunder over head.
Flowers have come and gone.
I've told time by the fireflies dancing in the air.
I've laughed at the robins hopping across the street.
Sunrises have made me smile and reminded me of the blessings that are all around.
The leaves are turning now and leaving with the wind.
Soon the white stuff will start to fall and from the nursery window I will give thanks for the blessings that fill my home.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from my family to yours!

My 2 little lambs, Jillian and Britian

 my Dorothy, my clone trooper, and my Army man 

Recent Pictures

I know it has been a while since I posted new pictures of the girls and for that I am sorry. I know you all understand though that life is far from slow and boring in our house. The girls continue to grow, delight, and develop everyday. In a few days the girls will have a high risk doctors appointment. As always they will get weighed and assessed for their overall growth and development according to their adjusted age which is about 6.5 months.

In my last update I mentioned that the girls were battling their first cold virus. Well, it is still lingering. Thankfully they seem to be pulling through it and are on the tail end of the fight. Poor Jillian got it the worst and for a while there it was really affecting her appetite and growth. I definitely noticed a halt to her weight gain for about a week. Thankfully though she is back to her normal eating habits and for the most part is keeping the majority of her bottles and solids down despite her periods of reflux. I will of course update with their new weights and overall development after our appointment early next week.

Britian @ 8 months

Jillian @ 8 months

My 2 smily girls; Jillian and Britian