I forgot one tidbit about our 4th of July weekend trip and Shannon was hesitant to post it on the internet for fear of being labeled as a bad parent and having the kids taken away! :)
We have this really awesome stroller that my aunt Robyn bought for us. For those of you who may have multiples or know someone who does, check out doubledeckerstroller.com. It's basically a metal frame that is collapsible and has awesome neumatic tires like a bicycle. Then your car seat gets removed from the car and snaps right onto the stroller. Very easy to push and not as big as other twin strollers. We really couldn't live without it. Anyway, my cousin Emily, Robyn's daughter, has twin girls that are 3. She shared the story of how one of the girls wasn't locked in once at a county fair and she tumbled off onto the grass. We had a good laugh and I tucked that away to make sure the same thing didn't happen to me. Well...
There we were at Target in Lake Geneva. I loaded the babies in the stroller - Adam on top and Sara in the bottom this time, which in retrospect was probably good. I guess I didn't check very well to see if the car seats were locked to the frame. You can see where this is leading. My mom was pushing them through the parking lot and hit that bump for the metal grate going into the store and off Sara toppled. Car seat on the ground laying on its side in the foyer of Target. People walking by, which I didn't notice because I was scrambling to check on my baby! Emily looked back to see Sara's eyes pop wide open in surprise and then shut again to go back to sleep as she laid tipped on her side. Not even a peep out of her. Guess those 5 point harnesses really work on those car seats! I picked her back up and snapped her on and took a calming moment, mostly for me apparently, and the incident was behind us.
All I know is that when she wants to go on roller coaster rides when she's older, Shannon will be riding with her and I will be taking pictures!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
4th of July road trip
We packed up the kids for our first real road trip to my (JoLynn) aunt Robyn's house in Lake Geneva. Seemed like good timing since cousin Beth's 3rd daughter, Clara, was having her first birthday party.
Shocking some of our friends and family, we actually left home at 7:30am Friday morning. I had plans to leave an hour earlier so we could drop Ivy off at the Pet Palace right when they opened. But you know how it goes with kids...why Shannon and I were still packing at midnight the night before when we had all day is puzzling to me. Then I set the alarm for 2:15 for the next feeding. I have had a lot of questions as to why I set an alarm - just get up when they cry that they are hungry. First, we both pretty much black out (see previous post regarding the missed feeding) and wouldn't wake up to a crying baby. Second, it's usually Sara who wakes first and her "cry" is usually a few little grunts. Anyway, they decided to sleep extra long. At least I got caught up washing bottles at 3:00am while Shannon napped in the LazyBoy in the living room. They finally ate and I went back to bed at 4 to get up at 5:30 to pump, shower, load the kids, make Shannon a breakfast sandwich for the road.
We stopped in Mendota at a restaurant to eat a little more breakfast and feed the kids a bottle. Quite the discussion in the ladies room as I left from changing one baby and arrived with another, facing all the same typical questions...what's their name, when were they born, how old are they now, how much do they weigh, how much did they weigh when they were born. I had no idea the attention that would come! Shannon and I have joked that we would like to laminate a sign to put on their car seats that answers the top 5 most asked questions. Those answers that will vary - current weight and age - we will write in with a grease pencil!
It sure felt like a long car ride with all the road construction and traffic but we made it in one piece. My cousin Emily's girls came running to see us - Jordyn (5) and Peyton and Morgan (3). The accommodations worked out great. My aunt had set up a pack and play for the kids to sleep in our bedroom and have a little shelf to store diaper changing needs. The only downfall was in the middle of the night when Shannon forgot a baby was on the bed getting a diaper changed and he would roll over! Robyn also bought a little "dome" at a garage sale that came in really handy. It's this little padded pod thing that they can sleep in and if you need to, a canopy pulls over and zips shut to keep various pests out. Adam and Sara spent a lot of time in it and loved it. Great buy!
There was another baby at the party who was born 2 weeks before Adam & Sara. Everyone was amazed at the size difference. They are just now getting to a newborn size even though they are 3 months old.
The weekend went well and the kids looked great in their 4th of July outfits. My mom had made the trip as well so it sure was nice to have a few days of extra hands with holding and changing and providing interaction. They are both becoming more alert and having periods that they are awake for a while so we are learning what they like for amusement and stimulation.
That's it for now. Just getting settled back in at home. Adam has his developmental appointments tomorrow with a physical therapist and occupational therapist. They will assess if he seems behind due to his brain bleed. I'm anxious to hear what they have to say. And Thursday he has another follow up eye appointment that I am hoping will be his last one. G&G Mollenhauer are visiting Friday/Saturday to help hold babies. Maybe Shannon and his dad will finish our deck that has been a work in progress! We continue to wait for news on the job front for Shannon. A current prospect seems intriguing since they decided by the end of the first interview that they wanted him back for a second. Keep us in your prayers as I am now officially working part-time.
Shocking some of our friends and family, we actually left home at 7:30am Friday morning. I had plans to leave an hour earlier so we could drop Ivy off at the Pet Palace right when they opened. But you know how it goes with kids...why Shannon and I were still packing at midnight the night before when we had all day is puzzling to me. Then I set the alarm for 2:15 for the next feeding. I have had a lot of questions as to why I set an alarm - just get up when they cry that they are hungry. First, we both pretty much black out (see previous post regarding the missed feeding) and wouldn't wake up to a crying baby. Second, it's usually Sara who wakes first and her "cry" is usually a few little grunts. Anyway, they decided to sleep extra long. At least I got caught up washing bottles at 3:00am while Shannon napped in the LazyBoy in the living room. They finally ate and I went back to bed at 4 to get up at 5:30 to pump, shower, load the kids, make Shannon a breakfast sandwich for the road.
We stopped in Mendota at a restaurant to eat a little more breakfast and feed the kids a bottle. Quite the discussion in the ladies room as I left from changing one baby and arrived with another, facing all the same typical questions...what's their name, when were they born, how old are they now, how much do they weigh, how much did they weigh when they were born. I had no idea the attention that would come! Shannon and I have joked that we would like to laminate a sign to put on their car seats that answers the top 5 most asked questions. Those answers that will vary - current weight and age - we will write in with a grease pencil!
It sure felt like a long car ride with all the road construction and traffic but we made it in one piece. My cousin Emily's girls came running to see us - Jordyn (5) and Peyton and Morgan (3). The accommodations worked out great. My aunt had set up a pack and play for the kids to sleep in our bedroom and have a little shelf to store diaper changing needs. The only downfall was in the middle of the night when Shannon forgot a baby was on the bed getting a diaper changed and he would roll over! Robyn also bought a little "dome" at a garage sale that came in really handy. It's this little padded pod thing that they can sleep in and if you need to, a canopy pulls over and zips shut to keep various pests out. Adam and Sara spent a lot of time in it and loved it. Great buy!
There was another baby at the party who was born 2 weeks before Adam & Sara. Everyone was amazed at the size difference. They are just now getting to a newborn size even though they are 3 months old.
The weekend went well and the kids looked great in their 4th of July outfits. My mom had made the trip as well so it sure was nice to have a few days of extra hands with holding and changing and providing interaction. They are both becoming more alert and having periods that they are awake for a while so we are learning what they like for amusement and stimulation.
That's it for now. Just getting settled back in at home. Adam has his developmental appointments tomorrow with a physical therapist and occupational therapist. They will assess if he seems behind due to his brain bleed. I'm anxious to hear what they have to say. And Thursday he has another follow up eye appointment that I am hoping will be his last one. G&G Mollenhauer are visiting Friday/Saturday to help hold babies. Maybe Shannon and his dad will finish our deck that has been a work in progress! We continue to wait for news on the job front for Shannon. A current prospect seems intriguing since they decided by the end of the first interview that they wanted him back for a second. Keep us in your prayers as I am now officially working part-time.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Monitor results
Just a quick update - we got Adam's apnea monitor results from the past 2 weeks. He only had 1 apnea episode of not breathing and no other bradycardia issues or other items of concern. Needless to say, we are happy that we didn't move forward with the caffeine. His reflux has definitely seemed better this week. No red face after eating and writhing and wiggling. So either the extra rice has helped or he is growing out of that stage somewhat. We are to return for another download in 2 weeks and will probably have Sara's done at the same time to see if she can kick the bucket. In the meantime, I'll use that time to start nursing Adam again a few times a day to see if it causes any reflux issues.
He also had a follow up appointment with his cardiologist today, Dr. Hassleman, to check on his SVT (rapid heart rate). Since being taken off the digoxin in the NICU he has not had any other episodes. The doctor thought he looked good. We need to listen to his heart from time to time with a stethoscope and count how fast he is breathing. If the SVT returns, he would show no symptoms. When we turn in the apnea monitor, we will call the cardiologist back and have him put on a heart monitor belt for 24 hours just as a final analysis to check for any strange heart rhythms.
And the doctor weighed him in at 8lbs! 21 inches long. A growth of 6 inches and 5lb 4oz since birth.
Happy 3 month birthday, kids!
He also had a follow up appointment with his cardiologist today, Dr. Hassleman, to check on his SVT (rapid heart rate). Since being taken off the digoxin in the NICU he has not had any other episodes. The doctor thought he looked good. We need to listen to his heart from time to time with a stethoscope and count how fast he is breathing. If the SVT returns, he would show no symptoms. When we turn in the apnea monitor, we will call the cardiologist back and have him put on a heart monitor belt for 24 hours just as a final analysis to check for any strange heart rhythms.
And the doctor weighed him in at 8lbs! 21 inches long. A growth of 6 inches and 5lb 4oz since birth.
Happy 3 month birthday, kids!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The big 4-0!
I can't believe time has gotten away from me and I haven't told you yet that the twins turned 40 last Thursday! 40 weeks, that is. Or Sara prefers 0 (zero) - you know how women are...who wants to be 40? The doctors have been tracking them by their gestationally corrected timeframe and up until now they have been a negative. So officially as of June 24 they were supposed to be born and are now considered fully gestated.
They went 11 days between pediatrician appointments and measured last Friday at:
Adam - 7lb 6oz, 20 1/2"...a gain of a pound and 1 1/4"
Sara - 6lb 15oz, 20"...a gain of 11oz and 3/4"
Holy cow! They are looking like healthy, newborn babies and have officially outgrown their preemie clothes. Never to return, no going back!
Basically we are to keep doing what we are doing and go back in 2 weeks to check their weight again. They are eating every 4 hours during the day now and 5 during the night. And they are having more awake time for studying things. Of course yesterday Sara was awake in the morning and Adam in the afternoon so there are advantages and disadvantages to not having them synchronized.
We will have Adam's monitor downloaded again tomorrow morning and ask for ASAP results to check his apneas. If needed, we'd like to start his caffeine before the holiday weekend. Honestly, I don't think he needs it. And I think he is outgrowing his reflux. We haven't seen him twist and turn his belly and get red in the face because he is going to spit up in a few days now. So if his monitor is clear, we will start backing off the rice and see how it goes. He visits the cardiologist Thursday to make sure there are no lingering issues from his SVT (rapid heart rate) in the hospital.
As far as Sara, while I was concerned she had gone 12 days between stools, the doctor didn't think it was an issue. Since I am nursing her almost every time, she is getting more straight breast milk and it doesn't have anything in it that the body needs to expel. We wish it was a little more frequent so maybe it would help with her gas. I don't know how many times a day I say 'Oh, Sara..." She will skip the monitor download appointment and have her own around July 20. Her last report indicated she had 162 alarms since she had been home...and all 162 were false! Before switching her to the "belt" the lead pads would shift, fall off, and not pick up her breathing very well when she was sleeping sound. If her next report is as boring, we will turn in the monitor and she can be wire-free! Certainly a day to celebrate!
They went 11 days between pediatrician appointments and measured last Friday at:
Adam - 7lb 6oz, 20 1/2"...a gain of a pound and 1 1/4"
Sara - 6lb 15oz, 20"...a gain of 11oz and 3/4"
Holy cow! They are looking like healthy, newborn babies and have officially outgrown their preemie clothes. Never to return, no going back!
Basically we are to keep doing what we are doing and go back in 2 weeks to check their weight again. They are eating every 4 hours during the day now and 5 during the night. And they are having more awake time for studying things. Of course yesterday Sara was awake in the morning and Adam in the afternoon so there are advantages and disadvantages to not having them synchronized.
We will have Adam's monitor downloaded again tomorrow morning and ask for ASAP results to check his apneas. If needed, we'd like to start his caffeine before the holiday weekend. Honestly, I don't think he needs it. And I think he is outgrowing his reflux. We haven't seen him twist and turn his belly and get red in the face because he is going to spit up in a few days now. So if his monitor is clear, we will start backing off the rice and see how it goes. He visits the cardiologist Thursday to make sure there are no lingering issues from his SVT (rapid heart rate) in the hospital.
As far as Sara, while I was concerned she had gone 12 days between stools, the doctor didn't think it was an issue. Since I am nursing her almost every time, she is getting more straight breast milk and it doesn't have anything in it that the body needs to expel. We wish it was a little more frequent so maybe it would help with her gas. I don't know how many times a day I say 'Oh, Sara..." She will skip the monitor download appointment and have her own around July 20. Her last report indicated she had 162 alarms since she had been home...and all 162 were false! Before switching her to the "belt" the lead pads would shift, fall off, and not pick up her breathing very well when she was sleeping sound. If her next report is as boring, we will turn in the monitor and she can be wire-free! Certainly a day to celebrate!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Adam's eyes
We have talked off and on about Adam's eyes and how he has follow up eye appointments. I thought I would explain what those are about. When both kids were in the NICU, they received a screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). This test is performed on any baby born at less than 30 weeks gestation or with a birth weight under 1500 grams (3lbs). Both Adam and Sara met these parameters. ROP is an eye condition which affects the blood vessels of the retina. There are 4 stages - normal and Stage 1-3. The eye begins at the normal stage and then progressively worsens through the various stages until reverting (hopefully) back to normalcy. Mild ROP of Stages 1 and 2 are common in about 65% of preemies and settle on their own. Only a small proportion of babies develop a disease or Stage 3 which, if not treated, can seriously affect a baby's sight or cause blindness.
When a baby is born early, the blood vessels of the retina are not fully developed. After birth something triggers the blood vessels to start to grow abnormally and this forms scar tissue. The main cause of ROP is prematurity itself. The amount of oxygen treatment required and the baby's general condition may also influence whether ROP develops or becomes severe.
About an hour before the exam, eye drops are put in the eye to dilate it. The ophthalmologist uses a speculum to hold the eyelid open and places a scope gently on the surface of the eye to examine the retina. Obviously this is a little uncomfortable for them but they have handled it like troopers, probably better than I would having something propping my eye open!
Both Adam and Sara were screened for ROP initially during the week of April 20. Sara was diagnosed with the lowest stage of immaturity and had one follow up appointment after being dismissed from the hospital. Adam had a Stage 1 in his left eye and Stage 2 in the right. Visually the doctor could see a white line surrounding his retina and the veins and arteries in his eyes were more pronounced and a little "squiggly." He had 2 more exams while in the hospital and has since had 2 more after being discharged. His most recent visit indicated the left eye is now at the lowest stage of immaturity and the right eye is just a slight Stage 1 - the white line around his retina had receded. He goes back to the Illinois Eye Center for another follow up in 2 weeks. Hopefully that will be his last visit as the results this week had shown quite a bit of improvement.
When a baby is born early, the blood vessels of the retina are not fully developed. After birth something triggers the blood vessels to start to grow abnormally and this forms scar tissue. The main cause of ROP is prematurity itself. The amount of oxygen treatment required and the baby's general condition may also influence whether ROP develops or becomes severe.
About an hour before the exam, eye drops are put in the eye to dilate it. The ophthalmologist uses a speculum to hold the eyelid open and places a scope gently on the surface of the eye to examine the retina. Obviously this is a little uncomfortable for them but they have handled it like troopers, probably better than I would having something propping my eye open!
Both Adam and Sara were screened for ROP initially during the week of April 20. Sara was diagnosed with the lowest stage of immaturity and had one follow up appointment after being dismissed from the hospital. Adam had a Stage 1 in his left eye and Stage 2 in the right. Visually the doctor could see a white line surrounding his retina and the veins and arteries in his eyes were more pronounced and a little "squiggly." He had 2 more exams while in the hospital and has since had 2 more after being discharged. His most recent visit indicated the left eye is now at the lowest stage of immaturity and the right eye is just a slight Stage 1 - the white line around his retina had receded. He goes back to the Illinois Eye Center for another follow up in 2 weeks. Hopefully that will be his last visit as the results this week had shown quite a bit of improvement.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Are you a follower?
I have to tell you about this experience I had - it's been on my mind every day since it happened 1 1/2 weeks ago. It was the day that we took the kids to church for the first time. We came late to avoid large amounts of people and just sat in the lobby. When it was over, we moved to a corner to let the crowd thin and say hi to a few people. Unfortunately, the corner we picked was in direct line for parents heading to pick up their children. Or maybe fortunately. Twins draw attention, especially when they are in a cool double decker stroller. But in the middle of the attention came a woman holding her own baby carrier. She approached us very excited and had tears in her eyes. I still remember her voice - "Is this them? Are these the twins we've been praying for?" Her husband turned around and came back when he heard her. He was crying, too, as he asked for confirmation - "Are these the twins?" We told them they were.
Shannon and I just stood there looking at them, starting to cry ourselves. It was so moving. And I'll tell you why. We have absolutely no idea who those people were. We still don't know their names. Or how they are connected to the information in any way. But they knew our kids, had been praying for them, and were blessed to meet the fruit of their efforts.
Obviously we know some of the folks who follow our blog, homepage updates, or pictures depicting our journey since April 2. But I'm wondering if we could know more. We certainly don't want to exploit you in any way. It's just that I want to be able to tell the kids about you when they are older...when we talk about them being born 12 weeks early and the awesome story of how a little girl went home before she was supposed to know how to drink a bottle and a little boy had every digestive test possible and all came up a big fat negative. I am confident it was the ear-deafening, concert volume chorus of voices that prayed my kids into the doctors saying over and over again - 'They're Superstars!'
If I had a chance to get all of you together for a party, I would cook you the most fabulous desserts and stand in front of you to say absolutely nothing. I have no words. Hopefully you would just know.
So if you follow our journey in any way, will you shoot us an email and let us know? Just send it to mofamily, then hit the @ symbol and finish with mollenhauers.us. Put "I do" in the subject line and we'll know it's you. Maybe give us a name, city and state, and how you heard about us. Feel free to write the kids a little note and we'll save it for their baby book.
Shannon and I just stood there looking at them, starting to cry ourselves. It was so moving. And I'll tell you why. We have absolutely no idea who those people were. We still don't know their names. Or how they are connected to the information in any way. But they knew our kids, had been praying for them, and were blessed to meet the fruit of their efforts.
Obviously we know some of the folks who follow our blog, homepage updates, or pictures depicting our journey since April 2. But I'm wondering if we could know more. We certainly don't want to exploit you in any way. It's just that I want to be able to tell the kids about you when they are older...when we talk about them being born 12 weeks early and the awesome story of how a little girl went home before she was supposed to know how to drink a bottle and a little boy had every digestive test possible and all came up a big fat negative. I am confident it was the ear-deafening, concert volume chorus of voices that prayed my kids into the doctors saying over and over again - 'They're Superstars!'
If I had a chance to get all of you together for a party, I would cook you the most fabulous desserts and stand in front of you to say absolutely nothing. I have no words. Hopefully you would just know.
So if you follow our journey in any way, will you shoot us an email and let us know? Just send it to mofamily, then hit the @ symbol and finish with mollenhauers.us. Put "I do" in the subject line and we'll know it's you. Maybe give us a name, city and state, and how you heard about us. Feel free to write the kids a little note and we'll save it for their baby book.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
No Starbucks for Adam
It's official - don't caffeinate. For now anyway. Dr. Neese liked my approach of seeing of Adam's apnea is due to reflux. If he would be started on caffeine and that wasn't the issue, it would cause his reflux to be worse and therefore, his apnea to be worse. Caffeine would cause the stomach muscles to contract more. So we are to continue on the path of feeding him 3t of rice with his bottles and hold off on breastfeeding for now. However, downloading the monitor again after just a few days won't give enough information for comparison purposes. He would prefer 2 weeks. So we will probably get it done prior to the July 4th weekend so we can get results before the holiday. And Zantac or something similar would not be the next step because that is simply an acid reducer rather than something that stops reflux. We could consider it if his reflux was caused by acid but it's not. He received it when he was in the NICU just after his stomach was irritated by the vaccuum that suctioned out his stomach contents so it made more sense at that time.
I know Dr. McCarthy is very competent but I'm sure as the on-call doctor she was just going by what would most likely be a typical cause rather than knowing his history. Another time that it was helpful to push and ask questions to make sure of a direction because we know our kids best.
I know Dr. McCarthy is very competent but I'm sure as the on-call doctor she was just going by what would most likely be a typical cause rather than knowing his history. Another time that it was helpful to push and ask questions to make sure of a direction because we know our kids best.
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