06-22-10

Well after a few days in the NICU, Brooklyn was discharged...again...on Sunday. It was a great Father's Day for Richard. All of the tests came back negative for infection that would cause her apnea. The UTI was also negative. They decided the episode was caused by her anemia and low hematocrit levels (Red Blood Cells). Go figure, low iron can cause you to stop breathing. They decided not to transfuse her. Which in the long run is better. A transfusion at this point would convince her kidneys not to make the RBCs and that would be bad in the long run. Dr. Leigh told me today that her swollen goot (genitalia) is also a result of her low RBCs. It is causing fluid buildup in her genitalia region. Hopefully that will go away when she gets her hematocrit levels back up. It looks so uncomfortable.

She went to the pediatrician yesterday. Dr. Steele was concerned about her swollen goot. Which was the reason we had to see Dr. Leigh today. She contacted him and was concerned so he wanted to check on it. She was great, Dr. Steele that is. Really liked her also.

Not to mention that on Thursday I called the pediatrician and cancelled Brooklyn's appointment for Friday because she was readmitted on Wednesday. Well, later that day, Dr. Pitts (pediatrician that saw Quinn) called us and left Richard a voicemail concerned that Brooklyn was readmitted and wanted to know how she was doing. Keep in mind, he has never seen her in the office. Friday would have been the first time. I was just taken back by him taking the time out of his day and calling us to ask how Brooklyn was doing. I told ya'll before that he did his homework on Quinn's medical history before we even got to the office. I really like him. I am so glad he is one of their pediatricians. And Dr. Steele expressed genuine concern and took it to the next level by calling Dr. Leigh of the NICU and discussing Brooklyn's case. Above and beyond the 9-5 duties of a pediatrician if you ask me. I am highly impressed.

Okay back to Miss Brooklyn...first night was a dozy. She was quite congested and stuffy so I decided to suction her nose with the infamous blue bulb at about 3am. Apparently, DO NOT suction if you don't see what you are suctioning. I actually made it worse and her lips and tongue were turning blue. So Richard started suctioning her as I held her. He suctioned like crazy to get a huge booger out of her nose. Finally, what seemed like 10 minutes, she started gasping for air. Scary Scary Scary.

Did I mention the night before, Quinn was gasping for air and blowing bubbles out her mouth. She had a stuffy nose and wasn't hardly breathing. See babies do not know how to breathe with their mouth. So she was hardly getting any air through her nose. Scary Scary Scary. Have a baby and the worries is completely overrated. And I have TWO!!!!! What have I gotten myself into? I am a worry wart as it is and now I just feel like I am in overdrive. My sanity is truly being tested.

Yesterday, my Mom drove me and the girls to the doctor. Again, I must be sitting between them in the car. I fear that if I wasn't one of them would stop breathing or start turning blue. I hope that when they get bigger I will be able to trust them enough to not request a chauffeur. When we got back my wonderful Dad had the bottles washed and my laundry folded. Love him!!! I know I looked like I was a walking zombie. I was completely exhausted. My Mom made me take a nap and honestly I wasn't arguing with her. When I woke up the girls were being fed and my house looked wonderful and all my laundry was done. I have amazing parents. It was a huge relief. Not to mention, the nap helped when Quinn and Brooklyn decided to scream in tandem for 2 hours straight. Richard was so exhausted that he slept right through their screams. I felt bad because he didn't get an opportunity to nap. I thought if I took one out of the room then the other wouldn't hear her crying and decide to stop. Well, not so much. In different rooms, they were still carrying a tune with their screams. Even when I was holding one of them.

They finally calmed down around the 2nd feeding at 330am. So the last few hours of sleep was peaceful. Feeding twins by yourself is a chore. One has to scream while you feed the other. It is sad but I don't know of another way to do it. Honestly, I will be glad when they get older and can hold their own bottles.

They are truly a handful and I wouldn't have it any other way. I can already tell they will be in control of that household very soon. Quinn has been home long enough to realize that if she cries long enough she will get picked up. Brooklyn hasn't yet caught on to that trick. But she is a screamer. That chick has a powerful set of lungs on her. DO NOT let her size fool you. She will bust an eardrum. Both the girls are cuddlers. If you cuddle with them on the bed, they will feel so soothed and go right back to sleep. Then I have to move them back to their bed and they wake up so that part is no fun. But the cuddling is while it lasts.

I would just like to remind everyone that my husband is the best. He is so helpful during this time and I could not ask for a better partner in crime. He had this whole baby thing down to an art. Because that is what it is...an art. Schedule is very important with twins or any baby for that matter. Only bad thing is that they babies may not like your schedule and change it without asking you. Yep, they control everything already.

HELP ME!!!!