RSV

Ellery crawled over the top of Emily one too many times...

RSV is in the house.....I'm not too happy about this. The girls have had colds for the last few days and they have progressively gotten worse. They have horrible hacking coughs and poor little Em has a little wheeze - but not the high pitched wheeze they told me to look for....it's a low pitch which is apparently just as bad. But, they've been super happy, eating, sleeping, no fevers so I was hoping it really was just a little cold.

Andy took the girls into the peed today just to make sure everything was ok and our Dr confirmed that Em has a mild case of RSV. Ellery is technically not there yet, but honestly how can she not develop it. They drool on the same toys, breath & sneeze on each other, and take each other's bottles so it's only a matter of days. She has everything but the wheeze - but since she's always been bigger and stronger maybe it will be a little easier for her to kick the virus.

Luckily because we've been taking the girls in for the $30,000 shots (a year of college tuition or how much I made at my first job out of college!!!) they seem to be the reason why the girls only have mild cases of RSV. Remember, my earlier posts said the shots only helped minimize the symptoms to decrease the possibility of hospitalization it doesn't protect or vaccinate them from the virus.

I'm annoyed because we've been living like hermits avoiding public places, crowds, large family parties, and only going to daycare 2 days a week or Dr. appointments but yet, they still end up with RSV. Yes daycare is a risk, but there are only a few other babies and none of them have been sick nor have the teachers. It's impossible to trace where they picked it up. But, unlike normal germs that die once they hit solid surface or after a period of time - the RSV germ basically saturates everything and is active for 6 hours. Even with lots of hand washing if you have been exposed and you touch the faucet, door, ect....it's still live and kicking. I start thinking about all the little germs floating around....ew!!!

I hope, hope, hope that we continue to only have mild cases of RSV. Our Dr seemed pretty confident that it should remain pretty tame, but of course we need to keep a close eye on the girls. We're giving them albuterol breathing treatments and it's hilarious to try to get them to breath with the contraption that fits over the inhaler. It's supposed to go over their mouth and nose so they can inhale it but both girls either start smiling, opening their mouths, or trying to lick the inside of the contraption. We need to get better at this - it's the only thing that can help. There's no cure for RSV - just have to hold tight until it passes. They said the girls should be good as new in 10-15 days. When exactly did that countdown begin? Today....5 days ago when they runny noses started?

Oh, and they haven't been in daycare since a week from Wednesday. They were sent home on that last Wednesday for having the "runs" but I actually never saw evidence of that. I was sure the alleged incident was due to the introduction of yogurt to their systems but then two days later the runny noses started, they were really crabby over the weekend, and then on Monday the hacking cough started. So we've missed almost two weeks of daycare - we only go two days but still! I'm imagining we may miss one or both next week which means in the month of January the girls will have attended 4 days of daycare. Same thing for December. Yikes, thank goodness they aren't in full time daycare or I'd be even more annoyed.

Ellery says yummo!

RSV

Ellery crawled over the top of Emily one too many times...

RSV is in the house.....I'm not too happy about this. The girls have had colds for the last few days and they have progressively gotten worse. They have horrible hacking coughs and poor little Em has a little wheeze - but not the high pitched wheeze they told me to look for....it's a low pitch which is apparently just as bad. But, they've been super happy, eating, sleeping, no fevers so I was hoping it really was just a little cold.

Andy took the girls into the peed today just to make sure everything was ok and our Dr confirmed that Em has a mild case of RSV. Ellery is technically not there yet, but honestly how can she not develop it. They drool on the same toys, breath & sneeze on each other, and take each other's bottles so it's only a matter of days. She has everything but the wheeze - but since she's always been bigger and stronger maybe it will be a little easier for her to kick the virus.

Luckily because we've been taking the girls in for the $30,000 shots (a year of college tuition or how much I made at my first job out of college!!!) they seem to be the reason why the girls only have mild cases of RSV. Remember, my earlier posts said the shots only helped minimize the symptoms to decrease the possibility of hospitalization it doesn't protect or vaccinate them from the virus.

I'm annoyed because we've been living like hermits avoiding public places, crowds, large family parties, and only going to daycare 2 days a week or Dr. appointments but yet, they still end up with RSV. Yes daycare is a risk, but there are only a few other babies and none of them have been sick nor have the teachers. It's impossible to trace where they picked it up. But, unlike normal germs that die once they hit solid surface or after a period of time - the RSV germ basically saturates everything and is active for 6 hours. Even with lots of hand washing if you have been exposed and you touch the faucet, door, ect....it's still live and kicking. I start thinking about all the little germs floating around....ew!!!

I hope, hope, hope that we continue to only have mild cases of RSV. Our Dr seemed pretty confident that it should remain pretty tame, but of course we need to keep a close eye on the girls. We're giving them albuterol breathing treatments and it's hilarious to try to get them to breath with the contraption that fits over the inhaler. It's supposed to go over their mouth and nose so they can inhale it but both girls either start smiling, opening their mouths, or trying to lick the inside of the contraption. We need to get better at this - it's the only thing that can help. There's no cure for RSV - just have to hold tight until it passes. They said the girls should be good as new in 10-15 days. When exactly did that countdown begin? Today....5 days ago when they runny noses started?

Oh, and they haven't been in daycare since a week from Wednesday. They were sent home on that last Wednesday for having the "runs" but I actually never saw evidence of that. I was sure the alleged incident was due to the introduction of yogurt to their systems but then two days later the runny noses started, they were really crabby over the weekend, and then on Monday the hacking cough started. So we've missed almost two weeks of daycare - we only go two days but still! I'm imagining we may miss one or both next week which means in the month of January the girls will have attended 4 days of daycare. Same thing for December. Yikes, thank goodness they aren't in full time daycare or I'd be even more annoyed.

Ellery says yummo!

11 Months Old

Friday the girls turned 11 months old. AUGH! Where did the time go and can I still use the excuse that I'm out of shape because I just had twins?? The girls are just amazing! They are both proficient crawlers, Ellery will sit for a few minutes without help but only if you put her in that position - Emily still won't. Ellery has also decided to start pulling up on things to her knees or to stand. Very scary since she can't even sit on her own. All weekend long I watched her pull up on anything and everything.

Last week we had our follow up appointment with the developmental pediatrician, physical therapy, and a hearing specialist. The Developmental & PT appointments went great. Both girls are still very healthy and doing wonderfully. The only concern is that Emily is stuck in the pattern of arching her back/shoulders and not sitting on her own. I think she's strong enough, but now it's habit. We've been assigned some exercises to work with her to try to break the pattern. We also have another PT appointment in 6 weeks. I just keep hoping she'll come out of it on her own. Ellery was in the same boat then suddenly this week I set her down and she stayed there for a while. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Emily will do the same. Life is so much more fun if you can sit up and enjoy it!

The Dr's also did a standardized test to see where the girls were in terms of motor skills, speech, and a few other things. Basically we would want their scores to fall somewhere between their real age of 11 months and their adjusted age of almost 8 months. Ellery in all areas was at 10-11 months and Emily in all areas was 7-9 months. So strange that they can be so different but then again everyone (in the medical community) has always said that Emily is what they would expect to see in a 26 week healthy preemie and Ellery was always an anomaly. I'll take that!

Today we went in for our third RSV shot and a quick weigh in. Ellery is now 17.5lbs and Emily is 15ish pounds. I'm hoping for 16 & 18 pounders by their first birthday. We just might make it!

The girls have been feeling a little under the weather this week so we've slowed down on eating a little - I hope that we get back to the usual routine so we (except me!) can keep putting on the weight. Ellery has decided she likes to eat cheerios cut into 1/4th and Em still things chunks are gross!

In other big news, we've bought the girls convertible car seats!! Not that they are ready to sit front facing, but they are too tall for the snap n go type car seats. Once we install them, it's the type that stays in a car and doesn't snap into a stroller. I love that the girls will be happier and more comfortable, but then I've got to figure out a system of strapping one in at a time and wondering where the other one is since they are crawling and getting into trouble whenever possible.

11 Months Old

Friday the girls turned 11 months old. AUGH! Where did the time go and can I still use the excuse that I'm out of shape because I just had twins?? The girls are just amazing! They are both proficient crawlers, Ellery will sit for a few minutes without help but only if you put her in that position - Emily still won't. Ellery has also decided to start pulling up on things to her knees or to stand. Very scary since she can't even sit on her own. All weekend long I watched her pull up on anything and everything.

Last week we had our follow up appointment with the developmental pediatrician, physical therapy, and a hearing specialist. The Developmental & PT appointments went great. Both girls are still very healthy and doing wonderfully. The only concern is that Emily is stuck in the pattern of arching her back/shoulders and not sitting on her own. I think she's strong enough, but now it's habit. We've been assigned some exercises to work with her to try to break the pattern. We also have another PT appointment in 6 weeks. I just keep hoping she'll come out of it on her own. Ellery was in the same boat then suddenly this week I set her down and she stayed there for a while. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Emily will do the same. Life is so much more fun if you can sit up and enjoy it!

The Dr's also did a standardized test to see where the girls were in terms of motor skills, speech, and a few other things. Basically we would want their scores to fall somewhere between their real age of 11 months and their adjusted age of almost 8 months. Ellery in all areas was at 10-11 months and Emily in all areas was 7-9 months. So strange that they can be so different but then again everyone (in the medical community) has always said that Emily is what they would expect to see in a 26 week healthy preemie and Ellery was always an anomaly. I'll take that!

Today we went in for our third RSV shot and a quick weigh in. Ellery is now 17.5lbs and Emily is 15ish pounds. I'm hoping for 16 & 18 pounders by their first birthday. We just might make it!

The girls have been feeling a little under the weather this week so we've slowed down on eating a little - I hope that we get back to the usual routine so we (except me!) can keep putting on the weight. Ellery has decided she likes to eat cheerios cut into 1/4th and Em still things chunks are gross!

In other big news, we've bought the girls convertible car seats!! Not that they are ready to sit front facing, but they are too tall for the snap n go type car seats. Once we install them, it's the type that stays in a car and doesn't snap into a stroller. I love that the girls will be happier and more comfortable, but then I've got to figure out a system of strapping one in at a time and wondering where the other one is since they are crawling and getting into trouble whenever possible.

March for Babies 2009!!

I've heard of March of Dimes for many years and I knew it had something to do with babies. It wasn't until our NICU stay with Emily & Ellery that I realized the mission and goals of this organization. Very quickly I knew that March of Dimes would be very near and dear to our hearts and that I'd do what ever it takes to help.

Andy and I have formed a March for Babies Family Team to help the March of Dimes work toward the day when all babies are born healthy. We are marching in honor of our girls as well as for all the other babies born too soon and plan to make this an annual event. By sharing our story, we hope to remind everyone of the mission of the March of Dimes and inspire our friends and family to join our team. The Portland March for Babies is a 6.2 mile walk on Saturday April 25, 2009. We’d love for you to come out and walk with us. You can either participate as a walker on our team, as a fundraising walker, or you may give a donation if you wish. Won't you please help us in this worthy cause?

We are doing just that by participating in March for Babies as a Family Team. March for Babies offers hope by raising funds for lifesaving research, education and innovative programs that offer hope for preventions and solutions for babies born too soon or with birth defects.

Won’t you join our family at this wonderful event? Email me for more details or click on the link below to register online. Our team name is Singer Twins. If you can’t join us, please consider sponsoring our team with your donation. Just log on to our team web page http://www.marchforbabies.org/teams/586132

Many employers will match their employees' charitable contributions - so please check into that if you choose to make a donation. Contributing to our team online is fast, easy, and secure. You can donate directly from our webpage with a credit/debit card or PayPal. If you prefer, I can also accept cash or check. Just click the appropriate box on my webpage.

One day all babies will be born healthy. But we’ll have to walk to get there!

Thank you!
Andy & Heather

March for Babies 2009!!

I've heard of March of Dimes for many years and I knew it had something to do with babies. It wasn't until our NICU stay with Emily & Ellery that I realized the mission and goals of this organization. Very quickly I knew that March of Dimes would be very near and dear to our hearts and that I'd do what ever it takes to help.

Andy and I have formed a March for Babies Family Team to help the March of Dimes work toward the day when all babies are born healthy. We are marching in honor of our girls as well as for all the other babies born too soon and plan to make this an annual event. By sharing our story, we hope to remind everyone of the mission of the March of Dimes and inspire our friends and family to join our team. The Portland March for Babies is a 6.2 mile walk on Saturday April 25, 2009. We’d love for you to come out and walk with us. You can either participate as a walker on our team, as a fundraising walker, or you may give a donation if you wish. Won't you please help us in this worthy cause?

We are doing just that by participating in March for Babies as a Family Team. March for Babies offers hope by raising funds for lifesaving research, education and innovative programs that offer hope for preventions and solutions for babies born too soon or with birth defects.

Won’t you join our family at this wonderful event? Email me for more details or click on the link below to register online. Our team name is Singer Twins. If you can’t join us, please consider sponsoring our team with your donation. Just log on to our team web page http://www.marchforbabies.org/teams/586132

Many employers will match their employees' charitable contributions - so please check into that if you choose to make a donation. Contributing to our team online is fast, easy, and secure. You can donate directly from our webpage with a credit/debit card or PayPal. If you prefer, I can also accept cash or check. Just click the appropriate box on my webpage.

One day all babies will be born healthy. But we’ll have to walk to get there!

Thank you!
Andy & Heather

2009!

Welcome to 2009!! Hope you all are having a great beginning to your year! We've had so much fun with the girls and their first holidays now in just seven short weeks we look forward to the girls' first birthday. I can't believe it - it seems impossible that so much time has gone by.

The girls are developing so much! While they are 10 months old they are 7 months developmentally. Ellery is now crawling and not always with the strange inch worm method she demonstrated in the video I posted a bit ago. She crawls all over, between things, over things including toys and her sister, and my personal favorite- into my lap. :) She's also starting to pull up on things which is a little scary. Neither girl will sit on her own for longer than a few minutes not because they can't, but they don't want to. It's strange. That makes me really nervous though with Ellery pulling up on things because once she's up the only place to go is all the way down at least if she could sit she could balance herself a little better. We go back to physical therapy and the developmental ped. this week and I'm sure we are going to be in trouble because the girls aren't sitting yet. We've been working with them since September, but they are very strong so we can't just force them to do it. Hopefully they'll have some tips and solutions to get us to that point. Emily can crawl and will do it for a short time, but she prefers to just cry and scream when she can't reach something. It's fun! Emily is clapping now though, if you clap she'll do it and if you say "YEAH" she will start clapping with a big smile on her face. It's really cute!

Ellery liked the chair for 30 seconds and then pushed herself out of it.

Emily would have sat here all night if we let her.

2009!

Welcome to 2009!! Hope you all are having a great beginning to your year! We've had so much fun with the girls and their first holidays now in just seven short weeks we look forward to the girls' first birthday. I can't believe it - it seems impossible that so much time has gone by.

The girls are developing so much! While they are 10 months old they are 7 months developmentally. Ellery is now crawling and not always with the strange inch worm method she demonstrated in the video I posted a bit ago. She crawls all over, between things, over things including toys and her sister, and my personal favorite- into my lap. :) She's also starting to pull up on things which is a little scary. Neither girl will sit on her own for longer than a few minutes not because they can't, but they don't want to. It's strange. That makes me really nervous though with Ellery pulling up on things because once she's up the only place to go is all the way down at least if she could sit she could balance herself a little better. We go back to physical therapy and the developmental ped. this week and I'm sure we are going to be in trouble because the girls aren't sitting yet. We've been working with them since September, but they are very strong so we can't just force them to do it. Hopefully they'll have some tips and solutions to get us to that point. Emily can crawl and will do it for a short time, but she prefers to just cry and scream when she can't reach something. It's fun! Emily is clapping now though, if you clap she'll do it and if you say "YEAH" she will start clapping with a big smile on her face. It's really cute!

Ellery liked the chair for 30 seconds and then pushed herself out of it.

Emily would have sat here all night if we let her.