One Year Old

A lot has happened since I last sat down to chat with you all about the babies.  To be honest I can’t remember what I last wrote about.   So let me just get to saying what I want to say and not worry so much about forgetting something.

 

It is hard to imagine myself sitting in the hospital waiting for my delivery day.  Sitting and hoping that I made it as long as possible, but being so miserable and home sick I just wanted the day to come.  It is easy to remember the frustration of not being able to get Andy on the phone when they said that was the day, and I remember the pain of the contractions.  I remember waking up at 0330 scared to death because I now had 4 babies to take care of.  I remember getting to hold them for the first time.  I remember to happiness, joy, terror, and love I felt those first few days.  Thinking my little babies were the most beautiful on Earth.  I was excited to do anything and everything no matter how exhausted.  The beeping of the NNICU, the smell of purelle, and the elevator ride up and down were part of our days when the babies were in the hosptial.  Strangely the hospital doesn’t bother me as much as I thought it would after spending so much time there last year.  I don’t think I could revist the NNICU though.  I don’t think I could go back and hear the sounds and smells of our visits without falling apart.  It’s easy to look back and say “WOW…look at us now!”, but it isn’t easy to go back in my mind to those feelings.  The fear of having four preemies that could turn at any moment and the sadness of leaving every day.  Those are hard things to remember, but they go with all of the wonderful memories.  We are so very blessed, and I spend a good part of my day thanking God for the miracles he blessed us with. 

 

On the babies birthday they moved up in the extended care nursery.  They seem to do very well in that room, but giving them over to another group of ladies to take care of them wasn’t fun.  I know and trust the ladies that took care of them for 6 months so handing them over to strangers again was hard.  The first day they didn’t do too great after coming home, but now they’re all doing really well.

 

Let us begin with the updates

Aiden aka Baby A

THEN:

3lbs 1 oz

15.6 inches

NOW:

21 lbs 9 oz 

31 inches, but Andy admits to not holding him all the way at the end of the bed so that isn’t accurate.

a day after birth

@Target on Tuesday after his appointment

 

Aiden is up and crawling on all fours!!!  He is pulling up to his knees and can always be found near the jungle toy in the nursery.  He still loves baths, but gets nervous when I wash his hair.  He recently had to go to the doctor for throwing up.  I took him in on Tuesday, and we were sent home because he is such a happy baby, but then on Wednesday it got much worse.  On Wednesday night he started coughing so first thing Thursday morning I took him to the doctor where they sent us to MUSC because what the doctor saw and what he heard weren’t matching up.  MUSC kept us overnight, and did a swallow study first thing in the morning on Friday.  We found out he sucks sucks sucks then swallows slowly, and then breathes.  It should be suck swallow breathe suck swallow breathe!  Before he swallows some of the formula is trying to get into his airway so we are thickening his formula even more than before.  They diagnosed him with mild croup, and said he needs to be seen by a pulmonologist!  FINALLY!  So when I had to go to the doctor’s office the next time he said he wants Aiden to see a pulmonologist.  Not sure if it is because MUSC suggested it…probably…it really doesn’t matter though because we get to finally go see one!  Aiden is also going to go see an Allergist next week to see what he is allergic to.  The test can be misleading on a baby so young, but we feel it will be more of a benefit than to not go. 

Wednesday in the ER

 

Friday morning after the swallow study

Playing around on the floor at home

At the birthday party!

 

Maxwell aka Baby B

THEN:

3lbs 10 oz

16.7 inches

NOW:

21lbs 9 oz

29” long

day after birth

Just waking up getting ready for daycare

Maxwell is crawling on his knees and is getting really fast!  He can pull up on his knees and now he can even pull to stand.  He is trying to walk around objects assisted, but isn’t really sure of himself yet so he only takes a step or two.  He really likes our food instead of the baby food, and will attack us if we’re eating anything in the nursery.  He is still pulling hair, opening the drawers to the dresser, and now starting to bite.  We’ve been trying to get the dresser changed out for something safer, but so far haven’t been able to find exactly what we need.  This weekend though we’re going to find something and put an end to it once and for all.  The dresser is too heavy to be in the room with four babies pulling up.  He really likes the Baby Einstein videos, Mickey Mouse Club House, and Baby Signing Times.  He is going to have a swallow study done to see how he is swallowing because the OT saw him tilt his head back to swallow a puff instead of chewing the puff.  This can cause a problem because tilting his head back also opens his airway and can allow the puff to go down his airway.  He is still doing great and laughing at almost everything.  Especially when we try to get him to stop pulling hair and biting.  **SIGH**

Maxwell before daycare

@home

@ the birthday party with Daddy

 

Alexis aka Baby C

THEN:

3lbs 0oz

15 inches

NOW:

19.8 lbs

28 1/2”

day after birth

before daycare

Alexis continues to be a rock star.  She is standing without assistance, and now taking a few steps before falling or sitting down.  She is eating really well, and is into everything!  She loves Pooh Bear, and recently decided she had to have a big pooh bear at the local Once Upon A Child that was in a crib for decoration.  Thankfully it was for sale AND only 5.50.  That was after she decided she needed a tiger at another store that was only 2.50.  She is a shopper already, and we will have to teach her she can’t have everything she sees.  She is full of energy at all times, and wakes up ready to go. 

Playing at home

trying to sit on Carolyn

at the birthday party with Momma

 

 

 

Carolyn aka Baby D

days after birth

THEN:

2lbs 13oz

15.4 inches

NOW:

17lbs 9oz

28 1/4 inches

playing in the exersaucer

Carolyn is now crawling on all fours, and pulling up on to her knees.  She still loves books, but loves loves to listen to us sing If You’re Happy & You Know It.  She will almost always start clapping towards the end.  Some days I have to sing it over and over to keep everyone happy.  I don’t mind, but goodness I need a recording!  She is eating a lot better, and doesn’t spill as much as she did.  She has also started actually eating the puffs instead of just holding them in her hands.  She gets really frustrated with toys, and sippy cups when they don’t work as she would like.  Right now she is mad because she can’t get the juice out of the sippy because she has to tilt it up further than what she is.  She has been sick for about a week and a half with congestion.  She still isn’t feeling 100%, but is doing better breathing wise than she was. 

sitting on the lion Aunt Misty sent

In bunny ears playing on a Sunday morning

Sitting on the roller coaster seat at the birthday party.