Yesterday, we received the results we've been waiting more than a year to hear...the boys have overcome their preemie status! (Ha ha, you didn't think I was going to write about the election, did you?)
That's right, at their physical therapy checkup yesterday, both kids demonstrated that they've met nearly all the developmental milestones of 16 month olds, and they don't have to come back for any more assessments. Praise God and hip hip, hooray!
There are just two areas where they're slightly behind the curve: using a spoon, and talking. The spoon/fork delay is mostly my fault because I hardly ever remember to give them silverware during meal times. How can they learn if they don't practice? As for language, they have several "risk factors" for delay, namely being preemies, boys, and twins. They say maybe 6-8 words now. They're supposed to have 20 words by 18-20 months. Last night I think I heard Gus say "cracker," so maybe he's up to 9 words now. He's the more talkative twin.
The things they're doing well include walking, navigating over/around obstacles, throwing a ball, coloring with a crayon, picking up small items like beads, etc. Great job, boys! Onward and upward!
Showing posts with label NICU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NICU. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
My Brain Is Done...No Clever Title
For the last week and a half, my hobbies have been as follows:
In other words, the kids are sick again. Baby B came down with the unknown illness first. It lasted about 5 days. He finally recovered a few days ago, and then Baby A woke up with a fever yesterday. Arrrrg!
I know people say, "Oh, kids get sick all the time. Don't worry about it." How am I NOT supposed to worry when my kid's temperature rises to 105 degrees?! That is not 100.5, it is 105. At 3AM. PANIC MODE! Actually, I was too tired to totally panic. I gave him Tylenol, fed him a cool bottle, and attempted to lay a wet rag on his head (he wasn't a big fan of that 3rd technique). Within an hour, the fever dropped back to the 99-degree range and he fell asleep on my lap. Successful mothering!
But guess I do obsess a bit much over their health in general. Part of it is probably because they started out as NICU babies, so I view them as kind of medically fragile. Really, that's unfounded though b/c they were quite healthy in the hospital and even got to come home before their original due date. I really need to get a handle on my hypochondria before the nurse line cuts me off. They still call me back pretty promptly and I'm always sure to thank them for their advice. They say, "Call anytime - that's what we're here for!" But I bet they are blessing my heart up and down behind my back...
- Taking baby temperatures (using my super-handy forehead scanner thermometer!)
- Obsessing about results of said forehead scans
- Snuffing out little noses
- Calling the pediatrician's nurse line
- Googling symptoms and remedies
- Trying to convince myself the babies don't need to see a doctor yet
- Taking babies to the doctor anyway
- Rocking crying babies
- Experimenting with baby dietary changes
- Not sleeping
- Grouching at everyone
- Worrying
- Doubting my calling as a mother, as my patience evaporates
In other words, the kids are sick again. Baby B came down with the unknown illness first. It lasted about 5 days. He finally recovered a few days ago, and then Baby A woke up with a fever yesterday. Arrrrg!
I know people say, "Oh, kids get sick all the time. Don't worry about it." How am I NOT supposed to worry when my kid's temperature rises to 105 degrees?! That is not 100.5, it is 105. At 3AM. PANIC MODE! Actually, I was too tired to totally panic. I gave him Tylenol, fed him a cool bottle, and attempted to lay a wet rag on his head (he wasn't a big fan of that 3rd technique). Within an hour, the fever dropped back to the 99-degree range and he fell asleep on my lap. Successful mothering!
But guess I do obsess a bit much over their health in general. Part of it is probably because they started out as NICU babies, so I view them as kind of medically fragile. Really, that's unfounded though b/c they were quite healthy in the hospital and even got to come home before their original due date. I really need to get a handle on my hypochondria before the nurse line cuts me off. They still call me back pretty promptly and I'm always sure to thank them for their advice. They say, "Call anytime - that's what we're here for!" But I bet they are blessing my heart up and down behind my back...
Monday, November 2, 2015
NICU Life
Our twins spent their first 45 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Well, technically after the first 2 weeks they moved to the CCU which I believe stands for Continuing Care Unit, but it was all part of the same wing and NICU is the more commonly known acronym.
It was definitely the most stressful 6 weeks of my life. I'm not sure I can really describe it. For one thing, I have no other experience as a mom. I don't know what it's like to have one, healthy, full-term newborn who you take home from the hospital after 2 days and then a photographer comes over to your house to capture your family's postpartum glow while you frolic in the leaves or whatever.
No, my introduction to motherhood was being wheeled down the hall to the NICU nearly 24 hours after giving birth to see my little guys hooked up to all sorts of machines and then almost passing out while I was there because I probably shouldn't have been out of bed yet...
We learned a lot about preemies and the medical care available to give them the best chance at a "normal" life. Yes, being born early does carry with it all sorts of risks, but I think being a preemie in 2015 is way better than being born early a few decades ago. In the NICU, they try to keep the babies in a dark, quiet, womb-like environment so their brains can grow and develop.
My daily routine, once I got discharged, was to go to the hospital at least once a day. The babies had assigned feeding times which was when parents were allowed to touch them. When they were really little, all we could do was take their temperature, change their diaper, and put our hands on them in a "comfort hold" position. They got fed through a feeding tube and had to stay in the incubator for warmth. As they got bigger, we were able to hold them while they got fed through the tube, and eventually they started drinking a little from bottles.
I was pretty worried the whole time they were in the NICU that they would develop some major complication, or be exposed to a hospital-borne infection or something. But really, for being so early, they hardly had any problems. Just some jaundice, the occasional apnea (forgetting to breathe), low red blood cell counts, and that's about it.
In order to be discharged, they had to reach a few milestones - weigh at least 4 lbs, not have any breathing issues, maintain their body temperature without help (beyond a blanket), and eat their whole feeding from a bottle (no feeding tube). It was the last one that was the hardest for them to achieve, because they usually fell asleep while eating and just couldn't be roused to take another sip. Eventually, though, they got the hang of it and at 37 weeks "gestational age," they were released! Both babies came home on the same day, which is apparently sort of uncommon for twins. My theory is that they spurred each other on to greatness. Let's hope it continues :)
File under: NaBloPoMo Day 2
It was definitely the most stressful 6 weeks of my life. I'm not sure I can really describe it. For one thing, I have no other experience as a mom. I don't know what it's like to have one, healthy, full-term newborn who you take home from the hospital after 2 days and then a photographer comes over to your house to capture your family's postpartum glow while you frolic in the leaves or whatever.
No, my introduction to motherhood was being wheeled down the hall to the NICU nearly 24 hours after giving birth to see my little guys hooked up to all sorts of machines and then almost passing out while I was there because I probably shouldn't have been out of bed yet...
We learned a lot about preemies and the medical care available to give them the best chance at a "normal" life. Yes, being born early does carry with it all sorts of risks, but I think being a preemie in 2015 is way better than being born early a few decades ago. In the NICU, they try to keep the babies in a dark, quiet, womb-like environment so their brains can grow and develop.
My daily routine, once I got discharged, was to go to the hospital at least once a day. The babies had assigned feeding times which was when parents were allowed to touch them. When they were really little, all we could do was take their temperature, change their diaper, and put our hands on them in a "comfort hold" position. They got fed through a feeding tube and had to stay in the incubator for warmth. As they got bigger, we were able to hold them while they got fed through the tube, and eventually they started drinking a little from bottles.
I was pretty worried the whole time they were in the NICU that they would develop some major complication, or be exposed to a hospital-borne infection or something. But really, for being so early, they hardly had any problems. Just some jaundice, the occasional apnea (forgetting to breathe), low red blood cell counts, and that's about it.
In order to be discharged, they had to reach a few milestones - weigh at least 4 lbs, not have any breathing issues, maintain their body temperature without help (beyond a blanket), and eat their whole feeding from a bottle (no feeding tube). It was the last one that was the hardest for them to achieve, because they usually fell asleep while eating and just couldn't be roused to take another sip. Eventually, though, they got the hang of it and at 37 weeks "gestational age," they were released! Both babies came home on the same day, which is apparently sort of uncommon for twins. My theory is that they spurred each other on to greatness. Let's hope it continues :)
File under: NaBloPoMo Day 2
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