07-07-10

It has been awhile since I posted a blog. I do apologize for my lack of updates. I wish I had time to blog every day. I seem to miss things to tell you when I don't update.

We went to the eye doctor today again and I am happy to announce the girls now have mature retinas. So we won't have to go back for a few months. That is great news both for them and my wallet. Nothing like dropping $100.00 for a few drops to dilate their eyes and a 45 second examination. Yipee! Not to mention that we did the exact same thing 2 weeks ago.

We also went to the NICU follow clinic today and saw Dr. Suskin. The girls got rave reviews from him. Brooklyn's hematocrit levels (red blood cells) is up to 29. It was 24 when she left the NICU. So maybe my Pale Princess will get some coloring to her soon. With that in mind, we are stopping their Ferinsol (iron). They are getting enough iron from the formula. This will help in relieving their belly aches. Also, Dr. Suskin says she can stop her Lasix. Apparently, her genitals are no longer swollen. He seems to think that it isn't an edema but just...well, fat. He believes she just has some fatty tissue that eludes to her being swollen. Basically, it is baby fat that has accumulated in her genitals and will go away after some time.

In just over a week, Quinn has gained 13oz. She now weighs 7lbs. She is living up to her Porky Princess title. I can tell such a difference when I pick her up. Her weight and head circumfance is in the 25th percentile. Brooklyn is also gaining good weight even on Lasix. She is now 5lbs 12oz. She is still just in the 5th percentile of weight and 25th percentile in head circumferance. As long as she doesn't drop in weight percentile we are good to go. They aren't too concerned with it now because she is gaining steady weight. All of her labs for her hematocrit and thyroid came back normal.

Today, I found myself in a serious dilemma. Both girls were screaming in hunger and I couldn't decide who to feed first. So, my solution was to feed them at the same time. Please understand it is a chore to feed one at a time due to their lack of cooperation at times. They are getting better with feeding but their natural stubborn side will rear its ugly head. They will play hard to get when eating or start eating too fast and choke. As scary as that sounds, I am used to it. Porky Princess is always choking. She is in such a hurry to down her bottle she gets ahead of herself. Anyway, I propped both girls on the pillow with a wedge pillow behind them so they sat up. It actually worked without any problems. No one choked and the only issue I had was letting one cry while I burped the other one. It was amazing. I doubt I will be able to pull that off everytime but it is worth working towards. I mean feeding without help is at least an hour and a half process...minimum. That is with full cooperation from both chickies. Occassionally, I will let Richard sleep through a feeding and soon regret it because it takes forever.

Another milestone, Quinn has now outgrown preemie clothes. She is now in Newborn and I am also putting Punky in newborn but it is just a wee big for her. But she will catch up quick. They are just changing right before my eyes. I definitely understand what people were talking about when they say they grow up fast.

They are my life and I have no idea what I did before they came along. I am so surprised at how your life completely changes in a moment to include children. At what point did my main focus zone in on two little beings? It just amazes me at the committment involved in caring for babies. It is a committment that I don't hesitate to fulfill. Sure, I really don't want to get up every 3 hours to feed at night. But for some reason, getting up to feed them is easier than getting up for work or appointment or other activities. I know I am rambling but I am just amazed at the love I have for these two miracles. I don't understand how people are so mean or abusive towards babies and children. I have never really been a person known for patience...ask Toby, my dog. So I have always feared losing my cool if I had children. For instance, getting frustrated when I can't stop them from crying or losing sleep. I have changed. I feel different. I have more faith in God. I am a better person. I am a mother!

I know I am a proud mother and you will understand as soon as I tell you this next story. Last week I experienced my first "EXPLOSION." Quinn unloaded on that poor diaper. That diaper had no chance of surviving the wrath of her bowels. Her poop went up her back to her shoulder blades. DISGUSTING!!!! It was bath worthy. I sprayed her down with the kitchen sink sprayer. WOW!! I can't begin to tell you how amazed I was with her ability to produce that much poop. My only question, how did she get it up her back when I was holding her upright the whole time she was pooping. Yep, I felt the entire process and suffered the smell until she was done. Dedication to motherhood. We do need to have a moment of silence for the cute pink onesie she was wearing. The onesie did not make it through the bowel movement. I tried and tried to save its life but my hands could not scrub poo any longer. It was a devastating loss. I personally feel thankful for the onesie...it saved my clothes. It did its job well by containing the poop so it would not get on me. Thank you Pink Onesie, you will be missed. I was once again proud of Quinn for shocking me.

The 4th of July weekend was a busy adventure for us. Each day we ventured out of the house. You literally have to pack the entire house for a day trip. I can't believe I felt the need to pack so much stuff just to go eat at my parents home. I was told it gets better and I anticipate the light loads to carry around. But it was a successful weekend. And it was so great to get out of the house.

My Dad told me of a dream that he had and it was perfect. He said the girls were a little older, 1 to 2 years old and they had to potty while on the road. Now, when I was little and we were traveling, my Mom would open the van door and hold our hands and we would have our feet on the running boards. Basically, we were hovering and pottying. In Dad's dream, they did this with the girls. Brooklyn was all for it and peepee'd with no problem. Quinn was not so thrilled and only peepee'd a few drops. She told him that you were supposed to potty inside and she would not pee outside. It was perfect because I imagine Quinn being prissy and Brooklyn being a tom-boy. I look forward to knowing if I have them pegged.

Well, it is feeding time again. I will be glad when I don't have to live my life 3 hours at a time. That is a very tricky process that requires serious planning. Thank you for sharing in my crazy life.