The rain continues. I can’t wait until it goes away so we can do to the park and appreciate the sunshine again. I remember thinking last year when it just rained and rained in March and April that the whole world was crying with us over our babies. Now when I think back on that now and just realize the winter/spring cross over season- but last year- that thought wasn’t even in my mind.
Today we took the babies for their 1-year well baby check. Thank goodness for our wonderful caregiver Doris – who is always there to help me with the doctors appointments and seems as invested as I am in their growth and development.
The doctor and I had talked about how the visit was well timed to recheck Sophie from earlier this week but I hadn’t expected Trent would be the one they focused on. I felt like such a bad mommy. Over the last 24 hours he had developed a horrible cough (sounds like a 3 pack a day smoker) and wheezing. Right off the bat the nurse asked about his wheezing and got the pulse/ox monitor. The results weren’t horrible but they weren’t normal either. He ended up getting a nebulizer treatment to help his wheezing. Because he has to be held during the treatment- I too ended up with it. This time though I knew better not to drink mocha afterwards and avoided giving my heart a jump-start. We’ve also been given a machine to use over the weekend in hopes that we can clear his chest up. The doctor mentioned that due to his chronic lung disease every time he gets a cold – we’ll probably have to use the machine to respond to respitory issues. Needless to say- the doctor has recommended we buy one of the machines to administer the breathing treatment and will decide on Monday when we see the doctor for a recheck. Fortunately for the babies though, because they’ve both been sick this week, we didn’t have any shots (as planned) and just had weigh in, measurements (Trent at 17lbs/ 2oz- and 27″) Sophie at 16lbs 14 oz/27.5 “) and exam. I asked about the nephrology docs concerns about Trent’s growth and our pediatrician didn’t share the same concern. In fact, she seemed a bit more concerned about Sophie – since she’s not the robust eater her brother is – especially with the green vegetables. Our doctor though was completely impressed to hear that Doris uses the blender to make baby food with grilled chicken and steamed vegetables. The new plan for Sophie is to mix the steamed vegetables in her “yo baby yogurt” that she loves so much. It will sure look yucky (green vegetables in blueberry or banana yogurt just won’t be pretty) but as long as it gets her the iron she needs- it will be worth it.
This week has been a bit tough and I know all four of us are hoping for a restful night tonight.
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Both babies thankfully had a restful night and seem on the upswing towards feeling better. Sophie is still not eating very much but is at least staying hydrated and is no longer throwing up. I was so impressed that our pediatrician called to check up on both babies to see how they were doing. It worries me that Sophie is really eating yet but hopefully tomorrow whatever is making her feel bad will resolve itself and she’ll be back to herself. The Trentman also is not yet quite himself and still continues to cough but at least he’s eating. Today we were suppose to have Sophie’s renal ultra sound but I called this morning to postpone it given that Sophie wasn’t feeling well. The scheduler said it was probably a good thing that I rescheduled since they were down and tech and we would’ve had to wait over an hour. Not something I would’ve wanted to put Sophie through when she wasn’t feeling well.
Tomorrow is their 1-year check up. Wow. It’s hard to believe it’s finally here. We’re hoping for a BIG number for their weight and height! Thank goodness the check up comes this week as well given how they’ve been feeling this week since the pediatrician wanted to do a recheck this week.
Today was a tough day at the Keene household. Poor Sophie’s tough night continued on to a VERY tough day. She woke up at 6am and was just screaming. Unfortunately she’d thrown up in the swing the night before so the pad was in the wash and I wasn’t able to put her in it, as I got ready for work. Fortunately after drinking a bottle and a short nap (while I showered) Sophie seemed to perk up a bit and was more than happy to sit on the floor in our bedroom and help me pick out something to wear to way. She’s so my daughter- mention clothes or shoes and she’s all ears.
Unfortunately her good humor didn’t last long and as the day progressed she began to feel worse and worse. Thank goodness for Doris our wonderful caregiver. What a tough day for her. We checked in several times today and by 1pm she told me she was wearing my sweats and Aaron’s shirt since Sophie had fully thrown up on her. Certainly more than she signed up for. After a call to our pediatrician and a discussion with the advice nurse, they decided Sophie they wanted Sophie to come in. I can’t wait until she can tell us what’s going on. Until then, every illness will have to be treated at a possible shunt infection. The pediatrician did an overall exam and basic neuro exam but had us go for blood work to check her white count. Wow- I’m not sure who is more traumatized. The phlebotomist, Sophie or me. All 3 of us cried. I think it was just between me holding me down and trying to sooth her with singing was just too much for the phlebotomist and she broke into tears.
Thank goodness the blood work (or at least what we’ve received back as of this evening) is totally normal and it appear to be just a virus. All Sophie wants to do is sleep and cry. Tonight will be another couch night for me to ensure she doesn’t get dehydrated. Thank goodness Trent seems to be moving through his illness though and is happy and smiling again. It feels odd though to have one in bed asleep and one in the jumpy seat playing.
Today was a tough day for both babies. Trent is still not feeling himself and continues to run a fever. He started out the morning at 102.5 but quickly came down after getting some Tylenol. Poor little guy – he just wasn’t that interested in food this morning and you can tell by looking at his eyes that he’s just not feeling good. I called the pediatrician as soon as they opened this morning but they said we should give it another day before bringing him in. I know every baby gets sick but when its your own (and he’s already had a rough start) its so hard not to worry.
Sophie too is beginning to act like she’ not feeling ok. Last night I had skipped their baths since I thought they were coming down with something but did them tonight. What a dumb move on my part. Sophie just cried and cried through her whole bath. She’s never done that before- she’s always so, so happy and she was so upset that I started to cry. Her little cry is just so gut wrenching. Of course I hit the panic button and asked Aaron where the hydrocephalus book was after she threw up after her bath. He assured me she was just over tired and possibly coming down with something but I always worry about her possible side effects from her shunt. It took us almost an hour to get her settle down -with her moaning the whole time but she finally went to sleep. My plan is to stay on the couch in the living room tonight in case either of the wake up and need me.
Today we had our visit with the temporary physical therapist. She didn’t rock my world and the kids didn’t seem to take to her but hopefully we’ll all bond over the next 4 weeks. For whatever reason it just didn’t seem like she knew what the kids focus areas were like Karen does and seemed at a bit of a loss what to do. Hopefully it was just a thing of all of us getting to know one another and over the next couple of weeks we’ll get used to each other. The good thing though was we did get the speech consult scheduled and will have a decision in early April if those services need to be added. Both babies are now fully teething (both now have teeth poking through) and poor Trent just doesn’t feel himself. He’s running a fever and just wants to sleep. It’s hard not to worry and want to run to the pediatrician. Tonight we did cold compresses and children’s Tylenol and were able to get his ever down. Unfortunately because they are twins, poor Sophie girl has now started to act like she too feels icky. Although Aaron said not too (for fear of making their coughing worse)- I couldn’t bare it and gave both babies a bottle this evening to take the edge off. He was concerned that the milk would make them feel worse but there seems to be something comforting about a bottle and sure enough it did the trick for both.
Hopefully both will be able to sleep tonight and will feel better tomorrow.
Today we celebrated Aaron’s 40th birthday with friends at the Los Gatos Bocce ball court. The babies were so good and were thrilled at all the different things to look at (lots of fans, lights, a fountain etc). Of course nothing is more thrilling for them than being held by lots of people and meeting new people and they got to do a lot of that as well and loved it. Needless to say, both babies crashed right as soon as we got home.
This weekend we’re worked really hard on practicing their sitting up and pushing Trent to crawl. He’s trying so hard but seems to get frustrated after a while and gets pretty mad (and starts to cry).
It must be hard to want to do something so badly and not be able to do it. Sophie unfortunately is still pretty far from crawling and although we know she’ll catch up- its still hard not to worry.
Tomorrow we’ll have our first visit with the substitute therapist who will be seeing the babies for the next month. We’ll have to change our schedule but we’re more concerned with keeping the progress going – even with a different therapist.
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Today we took the babies to the pediatrician for their RSV shot. Aaron and I are definitely going to have to step up our family events to avoid the babies thinking every time they get in the car that they’re going to a doctor appointment. The pediatrician’s office was so thrilled to see how big they’ve gotten and told us that our babies were the smallest that they’d ever taken care of in the practice. Originally we’d been told they needed to get the shots through April but today they said there’s a strong possibility today’s may be the last. We world be so happy if there were no more of the shots. Unfortunately the bigger the babies grow, the larger the dosage has to be. (Trent weighing in at 17lbs and Sophie at 16 14oz) Once again the babies are showing their different personalities by how they’re responding to getting the shots. Trent who typically cries easier that Sophie over the other things, just cries a little bit after the shots. Sophie on the other hand just cries and cries. The shot requires the babies’ temperature to be taken prior to the shot, and then its retaken 20 minutes after the shot. Today Sophie cried through the whole thing- the entire exam and the waiting period after the shot. It was heart breaking and her sad, sad cry almost made me cry. I so hope today’s was the last. They’ll still need their boosters (in fact they get them next week) but it just seems so unfair to have to get them monthly.