August 25th, 2008

Just a quick note.  We are leaving for MI tomorrow morning at  10:00 am.  The doctor said to go ahead and send Kinnick.  I hope they're able to sedate her.  She's still pretty junky.  She's back to her 1/8 lt oxygen, but still sounds bad.  

I won't have my computer, so I'll post when we return.

August 23rd, 2008

Today, Carver ate soooo good.  He is eating everything that Kinnick is eating with the exception of meat.  We haven't pushed that one, yet.  But, it won't be long.  Carver is also rolling from stomach to back now (he was already rolling back to stomach).  When he wants to get somewhere he just rolls till he gets there.

Kinnick has caught a cold.  She's up a bit on her O's.  She sounds terrible.  We're hoping she's better by Monday.  Otherwise, the trip to MI will have to be rescheduled.  Anytime her chest sounds bad, they won't sedate her.  We try so hard to keep the kids healthy.  We have a family of 9, so it's nearly impossible to keep the house free of germs.  We don't take the kids anywhere except to the doctors office.  We rarely even take walks (could probably count the number on 1 hand).  It's too bright outside for their eyes and it seems to really bother them.   Hopefully Carver won't catch the cold.  I have it and it's miserable - I caught it from Kinnick.  I rarely catch anything.

August 15, 2008

Carver got his 2nd tooth today.  He now has 1 on the bottom and 1 on the top.  It looks like he might be getting 2 more.  He went from having none to getting 4 at once.  Kinnick still has no signs of any new teeth.  Go Carver!

August 14th, 2008

Just a couple of updates... 

I met our new Case Manager today.  We lost our Case Manager when Kidscreen dissolved with the new TA Waiver.  This is our Medicaid Case Manager.   I was a little nervous about getting a new Case Manager, but she was fabulous.  She's already mentioned a lot of good things that she can help us with in the future.  I'm excited to see everything she has to offer.  She even wants to go to our Doctor appt's with us.  She used to be an NICU nurse at Wesley Hospital where Kinnick and Carver spent 5 months of their 7 month NICU stay.  She's been doing Case Management for the past 15 years and seems to be very knowledgeable.  We're excited to have her on board.

The other update is around our Pulmonologist appt that we had today.  She wants to avoid any changes with oxygen until after eye surgery and cochlear implant surgery.  Both of these surgeries are within the next month (hoping the cochlear is within a month), so this shouldn't slow us down too much.

Oh ... one more thing.  Carver is eating good for us.  We've only G-tube fed him 1 day feed in the last 3 days.  We're crossing our fingers that he continues improving.

August 12th, 2008

Ok, ok, ok..... I guess I better post :o).  I don't like disappointing people that visit our blog.

It's been a really busy couple of weeks.  I got my 15 year old enrolled in High School, my 11 year old enrolled in 5th Grade, and my 19 year old enrolled in college (and paid for).  

We've finalized most of the plans for our trip back to Detroit for more ROP surgery.  We are getting another medical flight and approval for an overnight stay the night before surgery.  I've also gotten my approval for lodging and food.  All of this helps a lot!  I'm taking Kinnick's "best friend" with us just in case we get sent to the hotel with the babies for a couple of days.

We were approved to keep our nursing and our medicaid card.  I'm pretty sure we'll continue to qualify at least until the babies are off G-tube feeds and/or oxygen.   

Kinnick and Carver are both doing fabulous on 1/8 lt of oxygen day and night.  They're ready to try 1/16 lt during the day.  We see our Pulmonologist on Thursday, so I'm going to wait and see what she says.  Cold season is just around the corner, so I'm not sure how aggressive she wants us to be.  In addition, both are getting ready for possible eye surgery and Carver is getting ready for his Cochlear implants.

Kinnick's feeds have been going really good.  I still need to find a way to get another 8-12 oz of fluids in her during the day.  Until then, we have to G-tube feed her at night.  Carver is eating really good for 1 of my nurses.  So, with her out the rest of the week, we're going to see if we can get him to do the same for me and the other nurses.  She was able to feed him all of his feeds today during the day.  So, 5 oz of food/drink for all 3 meals.  I still have to G-tube another 8-12 oz of fluid at night.  So, definitely making progress.

Kinnick is prop sitting really good.  Carver is doing pretty good, too.  He still likes to flop his head around.  Kinnick is playing a LOT in her exersaucer.  She stands really good and turns in circles.  She doesn't see well, but seems to find all of the toys and plays with them.  Carver struggles in the exersaucer due to the floppy head.  However, he seems to like the jumperoo.  He tries to stand in it.  

Kinnick still doesn't like laying on her stomach.  So, no crawling in site.  Carver loves being on his stomach.  He's starting to really hold the majority of his upper body weight with his left arm.  If it wasn't for his bum right arm, he would be crawling.  He doesn't have any problem getting on his knees.  He just struggles getting his upper body off the ground with 1 arm.  If we support his chest for him, he does pretty good - even rocks.

Oh... Carver got his first tooth today!  Finally!  I was starting to wonder if he would ever get any teeth.  He's 16 mth old.  Kinnick has 2 teeth on the bottom.  She's had them forever, but no signs of any new teeth.  Kinnick's teeth are yellow.  I talked to my pediatrician about the color and he says that it is just a sticky coating that will come off when she is able to have them cleaned at the Dentist office.  I'm not sure what color Carver's tooth is going to be.  

Sorry it has been so long since I posted.  It just seems like a lot has been going on - time gets away from me.   I've also discovered craigslist.org, so I've been selling stuff that the babies no longer need.  I made $675 last week just cleaning house.  I'm addicted now.

August 1st, 2008

July 30th, 2008 - Pics from OT/PT at the Pool

Another day at our neighborhood pool doing OT/PT.

Mommy and Daddy with Kinnick and Carver.  Isn't it funny how Kinnick looks like Mommy and Carver looks like Daddy?

Shana and Daddy with Kinnick and Carver.  Shana is/was our OT.  Today was her last day with Rainbows.  We are sad to see her go.

Kinnick ready to go home for a nap.

Carver with Nurse Marci - He's pooped!

Carver having fun with Daddy.

Kinnick playing with toys in the water.

Kinnick getting used to the water.

Shana (OT) and Kinnick.

Kinnick slowly entering the pool.  The water was cold today.

Mommy and Carver getting used to the water.

Kinnick with Pam and Daddy with Carver.  Pam is our PT.  We really like her.  Kinnick made it through the whole class without crying.   Kinnick still struggles with stranger anxiety.  I think she's finally "ok" with Pam.

Daddy with Carver.  Every time Daddy dipped Carver, bubbles would come up Carver's shorts.  Carver thought it was funny.