Happy 4 months!

William and Micah are now 4 months old! I can't believe how the time has flown by. Love you guys more than words can ever say!

Micah is rolling over and sleeping on his tummy, and sometimes in a half side lying position that just looks so relaxed, and William is growing, and it looks like the yeast is almost gone! He's giving us little smiles and an occasional coo, Micah is also talking up a storm and can say Hi and several other oohs and ahhs.

William's new Chiro Scan

Everybody was rescanned today at the chiro, here's Williams scan, but everybody (Micah and Tommy) had improved, (except me, but I walked up there too, and that could have thrown it off.), If you remember from last time this is much better! He was read at the top and bottom last time.

Also, William had acupuncture for the burping problem, and that helped it some, and he at and burped much better this evening since our appointment this morning.

The 4th & update

We spent the 4th of July celebrating Rob's dad's retirement from the steel factory after 33 years. Congrats to Papa!

William's been having lots of trouble with burps. He gets lots of air when he's sucking on the bottle, and this causes him great discomfort, and also causes him to loose some food when he burps it up. It's not reflux because you can almost always hear the burp that brought it up. Also, the pain from the burps causes trouble with him eating more food.

Also, William's been noticing other around him more, he has some pleasent looks that almost look like smiles, and his legs and arms seem a little looser.

We're still treating the yeast, and symptoms seem to be improving, SLOWLY. The white on William's tongue is much smaller, Micah still has the diaper rash, but it is showing signs of improvement. My nipples are much better and don't have the pain and cracking and bleeding they did earlier from the yeast. Also, William's pain from the thrush seems to be much better, and I haven't had to give him ibuprophen as much, and his limbs have been staying loose without the ibuprophen. Since we're still not symptom free we still need to stay on the medicine 10+ days longer.

Markers!

Robert Conrad

MIcah sitting at Church

Robert Conrad

Fwd: Ride ride ride

Robert Conrad

Fwd: Tommy train

Robert Conrad

Fwd: Tommy

He couldn't quite squeeze under the door to escape bedtime. He has been asleep for over an hour in this position.

Robert Conrad

Me and My Hubby!

IMG_6579.JPG, originally uploaded by conradzone.

Rob's Retirement

Rob's Retirement , originally uploaded by conradzone.

Papa/Dad/My FIL is now Retired!!!

Cousin Tyler Tommy and Micah

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Here's Tommy teaching Cousin Tyler to write on his leg, so he can also color a future brother or sister if they should ever come along.

Playing Together

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Micah Playing with Toys

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Big Brother Tommy Got Me

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Big brother got me with the markers before mommy could stop him. But don't worry they are washable

Yeast Treatment Underway.

It was quite the adventure taking 3 kids (felt more like 4) to the Family Doctor today to get the prescription for diflucan. I took my research with me showed what Dr Jack Newman recommends, and after a little discussion of everything I had tried and the Nurse practicioner leaving to check with the doctor they agreed to give the script for our yeast problem. (Newman recommends a very high dosage, and they wouldn't have give this dose without the research I brought with me. Because we saw my doctor instead of the Pedi, we had to fill out charts for each child and take vitals for them also since they were writing a script for them. And because the script for them needed their weight we also weight and measured them too.

Tommy is 36" and 33#

William is 23" and 10# 2oz

Micah is 24" and 15# 9.5oz

On another note William ate 35oz of milk today! The minimum he should be eating at this point is about 24oz.

Dip in milk supply resolved

I was panicking this past few days (Thursday/Friday and Saturday) as I had a drastic dip in milk supply and wasn't getting enough, I had to dip into my freezer stash of milk so I would have enough to feed William (only 4 oz total), and every time I pumped I was only getting 2-4 oz total when I normally get 2 to 4 oz from each side. As a result I started pumping ever 2-3 hours so I would have enough milk for William to eat.

It's now resolved, I'm not sure what did it as I did everything under the sun to get it back up quick.

Ultimately I think I wasn't eating and drinking enough calories and liquid.

But here's what I did to boost production:

More food, more liquid, more sleep, skin to skin time, more nursing, More milk plus (herbs), fennel, colostrum, extra pumpings, warm baths before pumping, hot compress while pumping, added back the ice cream I had cut out of my diet, pump before nursing as babies empty breast better than pump,

all in all I had 8+ oz of extra milk today so yeh!!! I would much rather have extra than have to dip into my freezer stash like I was having to.

In another note I think we all have yeast problems myself I have burning in the breasts during feedings, William still has thrush, and Micah has yeast in the diaper area, and they all respond and get better when treated with GSE, or other things, but immediately come back when treatment is discontinued, so we'll be going to the doctor tomorrow, hoping to get a script for everyone who is nursing/bf for diflucan.

play time

Tommy played with some friends today while I went to check on why my pump was acting up.

Today

Rob's been in bed much of the week due to his back flaring up BAD. So I haven't been able to get to the grocery store for lack fo someone to watch the kiddos so I could go, so I sent out and email pleading for a Mother's helper for Thurs or Friday, and found a friend of mine's who has a 16 year old who is the oldest of 5 kiddos, and she was a life savior. She watch the kiddos and helped straighten the house some for me. I was able to take William with me to the store, and get the groceries we needed, and also take William to the Chiropractor. Also I was able to make a run to the library with Tommy so I could pick up the books I had reserved for him. The only down side was I had to drive to down town to pick up my friends kid as she lived in Mesquite. So I'm still in the market for a mother's helper type kid to help me out once or twice a week. I'm looking for a 12-15 year old girl that's very responsible and I'm looking to pay about $5 an hour. But I'm negotiable on this too. Let me know if you know anyone interested.

Also, I am still in the market for someone to watch all the kiddos when I go back to work, right now I'm slated to go back in September (beginning) (or sooner if we drastically improve sooner) provided everything keeps improving, and I can find someone capable of feeding William.

Also today I picked up another bottle to try for William and I accidentally left the main bottle I use at home, so in desparation I tried the new bottle and it worked. He sucked 4 oz down in about 5 minutes. here's a link to the new bottle It's more like the breast than the current bottle that he was using, so I'm hoping he may be getting closer to learning to nurse. He needs to quit clamping down as that would HURT on the breast.

Our Day Tuesday

Tuesday, we had swim lessons, went home, then packed up and went to Jack Carter Pool, then went home and took a nap (Ok Tommy took the nap), I took William to his therapy appointment, then we went to the chiropractor, then back home, and Them I packed up and took everyone to soccer practice, I chased kids a soccer practice, a friend helped me with Tommy, and I did get to practice some. Then we went home and to bed. It was quite a full day.

Tommy Loved Jack Carter, they have a splash area for the kids that's about a foot deep, and in the center they have a fort like thing with 3 slides, tommy went up and down the slide SEVERAL times, and even wanted mommy to slide on the slide, but the slides are off limits to "older" people. When it was time to leave for nap time, I had to drag him kicking and screaming from the park. It was tons of fun.

At William's Therapy, the therapist worked on his frontal bone and senoid with the Cranial Sacaral Therapy, And she said to expect him to be about the length of his NICU stay behind his brother, but that if he hadn't gotten any therapy that it would be minimum double his NICU stay. His NICU stay was 7 weeks, and that's about where he is.

Micah is smiling and cooing and talking. He says 'Hi!' and 'mama' and 'nurse' now. Course 'mama' and 'nurse' are all in crys when he wants something. I'll have to see if I can catch a video of it. A friend of mine's baby is saying 'I love you' and he's only a week older, so I totally think he's saying that, and Tommy was saying 'Off' at the same age (he always heard us say off to the dogs).

At soccer practice Tommy really enjoyed playing with another boy of another player named Noah, and also with my friend Maria and her baby who came to help. He threw rocks in the water, and peed in the creek, and kicked the ball around.

Micah

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Tommy

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My 3 Boys

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Brothers!

What cuties!

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A day in the Life of the Conrads

Today was a busy day, we started running out the door at 8:30am to Swim lessons (for Tommy), after swim lessons we went home dropped off William and Micah with daddy and Tommy and I went to the library to pick up some books, as we try to read some books at nap and bed time each day.  Rob fed William a bottle and got poop all over himself while I was gone.  I had nursed Micah before leaving for the library.  After the library we came home Rob left for work, we read all our books, and lay down for a nap.  After much fighting Tommy finally collapsed on the floor next to his bed for his nap.  

While he slept William and I met with ECI, I pumped, she showed me some neck exercises for him as he still has tendencies to the right side, and we also discussed other exercises I can do with him.  She fed him a bottle for me as Micah had just awoken to eat again, and I nursed him.  He ate 4 oz in about 15 minutes and quickly passed out again.  William slept through most of the visit, and Micah talked and cooed away begging for attention which he wasn't lacking in.  

After the ECI visit Micah nursed some more, and then Tommy awoke from his nap with a poopy diaper.  We cleaned up and ran out the door about 10 min late to our 3:30 chiro appointment.  After our appointment we ran home to get shoes and clothes for soccer practice and headed out the door for soccer practice, on the way we stopped at Chick-fil-a for some dinner, and a quick play on the play ground, then we headed in the direction of soccer practice, sense we were running a little early I called someone more familiar with Wylie to ask where a park would be located close to our practice location.  We played at the park for close to an hour, while Tommy played and ran all over the equipment I nursed one child, and then bottled the other.  After playing on the playground we headed over to the soccer fields.  I pumped in the parking lot on the way, and changed clothes.

I played a little soccer and the babies lay happily in the stroller, and carseat, while Tommy played next to the field with some of the other older kids.  At the first water break William was hungry and dirty again so I changed him several times and fed him a bottle, he then lay on a blanket while I was able to play some more.  Then tommy came over to me hugging my legs asking me to "pick you up"  ie pick me up.  So at this time everybody was about to pack up and go home so we did too.  At 8:30 we were headed home.  We arrived home cleaned out the car, took a bath, had a snack, and lay in bed about 9:40 for some stories.  Then I nursed Micah while Rob gave William a bottle, and both babies passed out on the couch with Rob and I.  I will then pick up the house, wash diapers, wash bottles and head to bed myself.

William

William, originally uploaded by conradzone.

The sweetest smile ever. He was laying in bed drifting off to sleep and smiling several times so I grabbed the camera and caught this just in time!

New Pictures:

Tommy Feeding Papa's Ducks!!

William and Micah in the shirt Nana and Papa picked up on their vacation.

Micah and William Sleeping

More Size difference Micah and William Sleeping

Two of the sweetest angels ever!

Tommy Pumping for the babies

William OT

We had OT today, and cried through most of the Cranial Treatment.  It was tough!  He seemed a lot more relaxed after it was over.  He always seems to sleep a lot after treatments.  We're seeing more reflexes than we saw in the beginning, and Susan was saying that we will be watching to see if he coordinates and combines the reflexes and makes them into brain functions instead of spinal cord reflexes.  He keeps improving, but the improvement is slow.  

In other news it appears that the yeast/thrush is back.  we finished our medicine on Friday ~9 days, and sunday the white patch on the tongue was back.  I'm still giving motrin every day, but today was only one dose instead of 2.  I'm also giving pro-biotics in his milk, and still taking anti-yeast supplements myself.  

Nana's

Saturday Rob was working so we headed to Nana's house, after two accidents and 3 fits in trying to pack up and head out the door.  Finally we were in the car and on the way.  We stopped on the way and picked up chick-fil-a, and then continued on the hour drive to nana and papa's house.  at nana and papas Tommy played in the pool, feed the ducks, slid on the slide, and took a nap with papa.  Then we played in the pool again (this time with Daddy as he drove out after work).  It was a fun day.  I took some pictures I'll try to upload soon. 

Train Ride

Wed or Tuesday last week Tommy asked me to ride the train.  I told him Friday we would ride the train as we had plans for every day that week but friday.  So friday after nap time we headed to the train.  I had Maddie helping me out all day, and so she helped with the train ride too.  She carried William and held Tommy's hand while I carried the stuff (diapers, and stroller) and Micah.  We got on the DART rail at 15th street station and rode to city place, then we got off, rode up the escalators to the top, and then went down and re-boarded the train, and rode back to the 15th street station.  About a stop before our stop tommy was telling me all done train, but then when we got off he was crying more more train.  We played in the park close to the stop, and then headed home.  

LC Visit

Well Sharon Assessed him and he chomped on her finger quite hard several times, and she quickly declared that he's not ready, and I agree, he is better with the sucking sometimes, but not this time, and not consistently enough.  She encouraged me to keep trying, but did say that she wouldn't put a nipple within ten feet of his mouth with how he chomped on her finger.  So we'll continue our therapy and try again later, keep doing the skin to skin and maybe at 5-6 months he will be ready.  The important thing in the mean time is he's getting breast milk and I'm pumping to keep the milk supply availiable to him....

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LC Appointment

I'm taking William to see a LC tomorrow to see if we can work a plan to get him to the breast.  We've been treating a thrush infection and it seems much better now, and also with doing that his suck has been much more consistent (though still not always) at a bottle, so I feel it's time now to try to see a Lactation Consultant, so we have an appointment tomorrow.  I really don't know what to expect, but I would love to get him to the breast eventually.  He's 3 months old now, but didn't start feeding on his own (without NG tube) till close to 7 weeks.  Benefits for getting him to the breast include improving the muscles of the face and throat, more relaxing hormones to help him relax and lessen the muscle tone.  

Neurologist

Well I screwed up today, I asked for Rob to be off on the 12th, I totally thought our appointment was on the 12th of June, and on Thursday.  So I show up promptly at 7:50 as I'm suppose to be for a first time appointment at 8:20.  Only to find out that our appointment was suppose to be yesterday.  So they do some checking and they can fit me in first thing today, but the doctor doesn't get their today till 9am.  So we wait and have William's appointment at 9 am.  

So we see the doctor, they weigh and measure him he's 22.5 inches and 9# 6.5 oz.  Yeah, more weight gain! ;)  The doctor asks me questions about his development and what he's been doing.  And what my concerns are.  He says he's about a month behind, he should be smiling and cooing more, and he just gave his first intentional smile to me this morning when I was changing his diaper.  We discussed his Hyper muscle tone (too much muscle tone/holding his limbs all stiff)  he said we can do two things for the hyper tone, we can do therapy (which we are doing) or we can give medication that will relax his muscles, and the medication they would give would be valium.  After examining him he suggested we continue with the therapy, and to call if his tone got worse, but that he didn't need medication at this time.  He did say instead of giving Tylenol to give motrin for pain, to help with the inflammation.  Also, that if we find that we are giving Motrin or Tylenol everyday that we may need to switch to the valium as valium is easier on the liver and kidneys. 

Skills of a Two Year old

Don't forget to take your keys with you into the garage, especially when babies are in the house and especially with a two year old.  No nothing happened to the babies, and everybody was fine, but it could have been a whole lot worse.  Some times you just don't know what a two year old can do till you go out to grab something from the car really quick and come back to find the door locked.  Yes LOCKED!  Did I mention it's raining outside too.  I knocked on the door and could hear tommy on the other side, so I immediately knew what happened.  I try to tell him to unlock the door, and could quickly tell he couldn't figure out how to do that, but I quickly remember that I just got the mail in the front and left the front door unlocked then, so I dash around the house,in the rain barefoot through the wet grass, and I was correct, and am now back in the house.  A sigh of relief, and a hilarious laugh for Rob when I call him to tell him the story while he's at work.    

Treatment for Yeast

What we are doing to treat the yeast:

1.  Nystatin 4 x a day for 7-10 days

2.  Avoiding extra sugars (or trying to) (this also means we aren't fortifying the milk anymore because the 2nd ingredient on the formula is corn syrup solids, yeast food basically) 

3.  Gentian Violet 1-2 x a day

4.  Sterilizing bottles

5.  I'm taking Garlic, Echinacea, Grapefruit Seed Extract (all anti yeast supplements)

6.  Using Burt's Beas Baby oil, and Grapefruit Seed Extract Mixture on Diaper area, and powder (per pediatrician instructions)  

Also:

1.  Tylenol 2 x a day for pain (has helped stiffness with arms and legs, and less arching, and a few more smiles).  

Also if the Nystatin doesn't clear it up, I will push for systemic medication like diflucan. 

Root of the Problem

We may have found the root of the problem with William's weight gain/feeding issues.  YEAST!! We had our appointment with Speech (ST) and OT Tuesday.  William showed all his usual problems iwth the feeding we did with her.  Lots of arching, spitting, milk running out the side of his mouth.  She said what I've felt all along, that he looks like he's in a lot of pain, and she wanted to wait for most things til the yeast cleared up.  She said she felt like the yeast was causing the pain, and it was right on the portion of his tongue responsible for swallowing.  She really felt like his problems eating would be much better after the yeast was gone.  

OT appt

William had OT on Tuesday, and we started in the water, it brought out a lot of stuff that needed to be worked on around his rib change and shoulders. 

Friday at our weight check he gained 1.5 oz and is now 8#15.5oz.  We need to be doing a little better than 1.5 for 3 days

Stellar Weight Gain

Williams been eating way better over the weekend.  I was sure he would gain weight when he was weighed today, but I wasn't sure how much.  He gained 7 oz!!!!! YEH!!! That's 4 days, almost 2 oz a day, that's more the type of gain we want to see so he can catch up with his brother.  He's been eating 4-5 oz every 3-4 hour which is GREAT!!!  If fact he's been eating closer to 5 oz when he eats.  We've got OT therapy so I better grab lunch before we have to run out the door.

Pictures from Tommy's 2nd Birthday!

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Can be found here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/conradzone/sets/72157605223625587

I'm such a bad Mommy, I never posted the pictures from Tommy's 2nd birthday party on March 8th, but with everything that's happened since the 11th I hope you'll forgive me!

ECI

We had our ECI evaluation today, and of course William qualifies.  William ranks at a newborn level, and for as bad as his tests were, he is doing amazing is what they keep telling me.  Someone that already has CP sometimes their head or arms or legs etc cannot be moved, and when he is asleep he is very loose compared to other babies that are worse.  

Currently they don't duplicate services he's receiving else where, and he's getting OT, and ST else where right now, so they are going to do monthly service coordination, which means they will come out monthly and give suggestions for ways we can work with him in addition to the OT and ST and also check on him monthly to make sure he doesn't need more therapy.  Also, once the home nurse visits are done they can have a nutritionist come out and check his weight and make recommendations for him.  

Currently I'm suppose to go back to work around June 4th, but my husband and I have decided that I will stay home longer for William and pay for insurance with COBRA, as FMLA runs out after June 4th and at that point Raytheon will cease to pay for my insurance benefits while I'm on leave.  I would give anything for William to not have these struggles, but as there's nothing at this point we can do to change that we as a family are going to do what's necessary to insure his health.  At this point we feel it's best if I stay home longer to ensure he's eating and doesn't have to go back to the hospital for more NG feedings if he were to not eat well for a care provider.  

HANDSOME BOYS

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Figured we better wear these shirts before we out grow them. Micah is in 0-3 months and William is in Newborn, but both are about to move up to the next size (William up to 0-3 months and Micah up to 3-6 months.)

Tommy the Big Helper!

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Tommy was a big helper today at the Nature Preserve. He held Micah for about a 1/4 of a mile on his lap.

KISSES

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Hold the Baby

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And Hold the other baby.

Micah and William

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Tommy Time

The other night Tommy and I spent some time having just Tommy and Mommy time.  We painted.  It was so much fun.  Tommy painted naked because it was just easier to clean up that way. And when he was done he had painted "EVERYTHING" including you know what.  

Here's what we did:

Here's some cleanup pictures.  When we were done we threw everything in the tub, paint containers, brushes (ok the only brushes were the fingers).....etc.

      

Update on William

Wed to Friday last week William didn't gain any weight at all.  He was steady at 8# 0.5oz, then on Monday he had gained 4 oz.  8# 4.5oz.  We're watching his weight close, and will hopefully see gain again today.  

Tuesday he had OT and ST, and did great.  It wore him out, and he slept most of the evening, and night too.  He didn't do so well eating, but did eat enough we think.  

Today William and Micah helped me take Tommy to Arbor Hills Nature preserve.  We had a good time, but were worn out at the end.  I think I need a spare set of hands if we go back again.  

Missing Clyde

Friday we walked to a park near our house, One boy on my back, one in the stroller, and one walking with us holding Clyde our special teddy bear.  (I'll give you one guess who was walking holding Clyde, and it wasn't William or Micah).  At the park we played with another 2 year old boy that was there.  Tommy and Cameron (I think) had a blast chasing each other down the slide, and walking around the park balancing on the blocks. Then he had to leave, so we left too, it was nap time anyway.  We arrived home, dressed for nap time, and lay down in bed for some snuggle time, and then I went to tuck him in with all 3 teddy bear Clyde's (yes every teddy bear is Clyde), but these are the special ones we sleep with, but only 2 Clyde's were present, and I said to Tommy "We left little Clyde at the park!"  He gave me a wide eyed look, but was still ready for nap time, so he lay down for his nap and I went to feed the boys, and call Grandma.  I called Grandma, and informed her of the amber alert for the Teddy bear, and she rushed right over so Mommy could hunt down the missing Clyde.  I walked to the park and look all over, he was no where to be found.  Then walking home I remembered that he had gone up to one house, and then down their walk way, and I looked an on the front stoop there was Clyde!!!  HE WAS FOUND!!! I was so exicted!  Nothing make a mom's heart sink more that a missing special bear, and celebrate when it's found!  

Grandma stuck around and watched Micah and William so I could take Tommy to the store and get some much needed Grocery shopping done!  Yeh! I didn't have to do it at night after Rob returned home from work so I could use my night time for getting some much needed sleep!  

OT and ST appt Tuesday

We are finding lots of things/aversions in his therapy related to the hospital stay, like the bottoms of his feet are sensitive because of all the heal sticks he had, and he has a strong oral aversion to gloves on hands.  We are using other tools to work with him during the speech portions, and when it comes to using hand in the mouth for some of the treatment they've said if it's ok with me they can use a well scrubbed bare hand.  I'm find with that, I just want him to get better and what ever it takes.  I'm suppose to use the nuk brush at home on his lips and gums before feedings and then also massage his feet with lotion to put good feelings with touching the feet.  

LLL Disaster

We attempted to go to a LLL Mtg today (tuesday) and it was a total disaster.

Tommy started crying for ba-ba as soon as we walked in the door....(nurse) I try to avoid that, but he gave me no choice, so then I was nursing Tommy and Micah, but what better place to do it....sigh...

then after I told Tommy he was done he got down and started clubbing kids over the head with toys.  Then he had an accident and all I had to put over his bottom was a diaper cover, so I did that and he had another accident and stripped naked in front of everyone (about 15 moms).  All I then had for him to wear was some underwear I had found at the bottom of my bag.  

Oh and then he proceeds to scratch another mothers new baby on the face.  She was very understanding as her son was going through some of the same things.  

I just wanted to cry!!

Thank you Everyone

I went to the local ICAN meeting Monday night, and ran into several people that I didn't even know that were praying for my family, my marriage, and William of course.  It's so wonderful to meet strangers and hear that they've been touched by Williams story and following it every day and praying for him, and wishing they could do more.  We are so thankful for all the prayers, it is just amazing to sit her watching God perform Miracles through him.  Even if all you can do is pray it just means so much to us.  Please keep praying!

Explaining some things & 2 month checkup

I've been asked several of the abbreviations I've used and what those mean:

CP = Cerebral Palsy

OT = Occupational Therapist

ST = Speech Therapist (feeding issues)

ECI = Early Childhood Intervention provides therapy through school districts free birth through age 3.  

How is William and what's the prognosis:  He still resists eating and has trouble enjoying it.  It's lots of work for him still.  He eats the minimum, and is gaining the minimum needed (1/2 lb a week), but we would like to see him do better here.  He also had trouble eating for different people at times.  His official diagnosis for all the therapy and to qualify him for various support programs is CP.  His muscle tone is Hyper-tonic (over tone) (too much tone in his muscles).  He holds his arms stiff and his neck stiff at times, and twists it to the right.  We've now had 3 chiro adjustments and it's helped his neck, but I do see we still have a ways to go.  He will have chiro care 3 times a week for 4 weeks then we will re-scan him and access where his is.  This is also highly recommended by his pediatrician.  She recommends that all babies get chiropractic care.  He is expected to be "all there" intellectually, but the physically is a question at this point.  We won't know the extent of his injury for possibly several years.  The best thing we can do is get him all the therapy we can.  

William and Micah 2 Month Checkup

2 Month checkup for the babies was Monday.  William was 7# 14 oz and Micah was 12# 7 oz.  Micah was 75% height and weight, and William was closer to 10th.  I'm sorry I forget all the height information from the appt, I'll have to call and update this post tomorrow.   The main topic for the appointment was William, and what we are doing for him.  She wanted me to take cards and pass them on to the chiropractor, and other therapists and have them all report to her how he's doing with each different treatment, so she can coordinate it all, and be the "ring leader".  She was excited we were getting chiropractic care for William and even said that that's the best thing we can do for him at this point, and to keep up the good work.  

Pictures of the Boys!

BTW: I don't recommend pictures being taken at 8pm at night when the toddler's bed time is usually 7:30, it took tears and bribes and distractions to get these pictures, and my husband said don't take me with you next time.  

Tommy

William

Micah

Micah, Tommy, William

William, Micah

William, Tommy, Micah

If you can't see them in this email check out my blog.

-- 

Lydia Conrad
Mommy to Tommy 2 yrs 3/2006 + William and Micah 3/2008
http://conradzone.blogspot.com

William myriad of doctors appts.

William's myriad of doctor's appointments:

Monday afternoon we had the followup discharge visit with the Pediatrician, she weighed him, and checked his refluxes and range of motion, and briefly discussed how CP is a matter of therapy, and that's what we need to do is get all the therapy we can.  He weighted 7#8oz (up from 7#5oz on Friday)  And 7#1oz on discharge from the NICU.  She looked at him said he looks pretty good considering, and said we would check weight again at the 2 month appt in a week. She also said to feed him as often as he's hungry.  Try for every 3 hours, and watch his signals.  Also, she said to make follow up appointments with the neurologist for when then need to follow up on him, so I will call them tomorrow. 

Tuesday afternoon we had an appointment with the OT (again the OT and ST people we are seeing are those that worked with the conjoined egyptian twins IPT), who took a history of the birth, and events related, and also a history of his NICU stay, and then worked with him using cranio-sacral therapy.  After the appointment his head (the frontal bone of his skull looked much better.  It had a bad overlap before, and she said that a lot of his brain looked compressed, and that the therapy would allow it to expand on it's own.  Also she mentioned that the frontal bones are right over the motor cortex of the brain and that helping those expand would allow the motor skills to improve.  Also she mentioned that she does no manipulation of the bones, and that the pressure/touch they use is lighter than that of a nickel.  He squirmed a little for the appointment, but fell asleep by the end.  She said she would suggest 6-8 weeks of treatment at this time, and then re-evaluate at that time.  Also, she said he's some of the youngest patients she's treated, usually she get kids when they are 4-5 months old or older because then they are showing some obvious delays, so it's good we are treating him even younger.  

Wednesday morning we went to the new chiropractor that we'll be seeing.  He did a scan of Williams spine and it showed Red/severe disturbances at the very top of his spine and also at the bottom of his spine near his sacrum.  He then adjusted him, a lot of the bones in his skull were out (almost all of them), and then adjusted his neck, and then is lower spine and sacrum. Previous to the chiro visit and part of the reason for the visit William had been holding his head to the right side all the time and when he was in pain or discomfort, and had been doing so for weeks.  I knew he needed chiro care much before he was discharged due to this.  After he adjusted the neck William immediately turned his head to the left and fell asleep.  We will go back on Saturday for another adjustment, but now I'd say his neck is 80% better, and he's eating better after his adjustment. Several of his reflexes after the OT and Chiro treatments are looking much more normal. 

Also, Wednesday the home health nurse came by and checked on William.  Did his vitals and weighted him.  He was 7# 10oz up from 7#8oz on Monday.  She will check on him again on Friday.

PS the underlined words at the top are links to more information.

Our look ahead (PS any help with tommy for appointments would be appreciated.):

Saturday: 9am Chiro appoinment for William (Rob is home to watch Tommy)

Monday: 8am Pediatrician again for twins 2 month checkup 

Tuesday: 1pm William OT and ST appointment (Rob is home to watch Tommy)

Will have a standing appointment on Tuesdays for OT and ST probably around 2 or 3pm.  

Chiro scan

Story on the Picture below.

Tommy really needed to go down for his nap early today as he needed to go to a friends house at about 2 so I could go to Williams doctor's appointment today without him as I didn't want to play chase the toddler around the office again, or stop him from turning off and on the light 50 million times.  So I tried to get him to nap early.  (Oh and while trying to get him to nap early the attic people were adding insulation and radient barrier to our attic and making lots of noise in the attic and with a "big truck" out back. He had to get up twice to use the bathroom, one of those times the diaper didn't get put back on.  He tried to escape outside while I was dealing with the twins twice (BTW he can now open doors including the door to the garage, and the insulation people chased him back inside at least twice).  Then I think he got locked in his room in timeout with no pants on while I did one more thing and he finally was quite and passed out.  This is where I found him when I was packing his bag to leave.   

The toddler that didn't want to nap

I love this photo

IMG_6352.JPG, originally uploaded by conradzone.

Despite it not being in focus....

You can find more photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/conradzone/

Boys in the Bassinet together!

IMG_6350.JPG, originally uploaded by conradzone.

It's so good to have all my boys!

IMG_6355.JPG, originally uploaded by conradzone.

Me at the top,William, Tommy and Micah.

Our first full day was wonderful, and just a taste of what it's like to have 3 boys. We spent most of the day at home, and I finally got a shower around 3pm when my mom stopped by.

William and Micah were both up to feed at 5am. I fed them and just as I was about to drift off to sleep again, Tommy wakes up at 7am. So he gets up and we lay on the couch together snuggling and he watches tv from my arms so I can catch a few more z's, but with the assurance he won't "hold the baby" while I sleep. Then it was 9am and Tommy had some chicken while I fed the boys again. The boys slept in the bassinet together while I tried to get tommy in for a shower, when I realized the Home heath nurse had just pulled up out front to check on William. (We have a home health nurse checking on him 3 times a week for 6 weeks or what of that insurance will give us.) So much for our shower, Tommy starts crying while she's here and gets sent to his room for the 5th time out (at least), and passes out on the floor infront of the door before I have a chance to get him again. I meet with the nurse, and she checks out William, he's great, and 7# 5oz in a diaper, (she also weighs Micah and he's 11# 12oz also in a diaper). We fill out paperwork and after she leaves I eat lunch and attempt to take a nap after feeding the boys at 1pm, and just as I'm about to drift off my phone rings, my mom wants to see the boys, so she stops by and visits and takes a few pictures for us, Tommy wakes up from his nap (dry I might add). Good boy Tommy, I shower, and we head out the door to the park. (about 3 hours after I wanted to leave.) Oh and as I'm putting the boys in a wrap to carry them out to the car One of them poops so I have to stop and check diapers again and change the 30th diaper of the day. Finally we can go, my mom helps me load everyone up, and we go to the park. At the park I realize I've got cold milk, and no way to warm it. We end up using body heat to warm the milk. (DID I MENTION I HATE BOTTLES) At the park Tommy runs around everywhere and has a GREAT time! As were getting ready to leave both boys want to eat, so I feed William the bottle that was warmed with body heat, and then after he's mostly done I feed Micah, then we pack up to go, after 3 more diaper changes at the park.

We get home from the park, and all 3 babies decide they are starving (again for the little boys), and for the first time for the 2 year old, the neighbor lady comes by to see William, and cuts up Tommy's chicken (From the wonderful meal brought to us by a friend from MOMS Club) for him while she's there, and while I'm giving William a bottle and nursing Micah. Then Rob gets home and we play swap the baby while he holds one I try to get the other one happy that's not happy at the time, because you know it's evening grumpy time for them. Then Rob heads to bed I finish comforting the boys and put them in bed, straighten the house, post to my blog and head to bed right about time for another bottle.

So GOOD to be together again!

IMG_6325.JPG, originally uploaded by conradzone.

Two At a Time!

Two At a Time!, originally uploaded by conradzone.

So happy to be with my brother again!

IMG_6334.JPG, originally uploaded by conradzone.

Guess Who's Smiling!

Guess Who's Smiling!, originally uploaded by conradzone.

Micah

William is HOME!!!!

William is home from the hospital, we walked in the door a little after 3pm today.  You can find pictures on my blog: http://conradzone.blogspot.com

Thanks so much for the prayers, and please continue to pray for William's recovery, he has a long road ahead, with lots of therapy.  He's got some shaking in his eyes still and is super sensitive to motion.  We're still bottle feeding him fortified breastmilk, and hope to try breastfeeding soon.

--
Lydia Conrad
Mommy to Tommy 2 yrs 3/2006 + William and Micah 3/2008
Lydia@conradzone.com
214-226-3206 cel
http://conradzone.blogspot.com

William is Home!

William is Home!, originally uploaded by conradzone.