Friday, January 22, 2010
Pajama Day!
Monday, January 04, 2010
The Uncertainties in Life
Although our faith in God was so strong (as is Renee and Tim's) it was so hard to hand over everything to Him to take care of. As Tim and Renee write on their caringbridge site, it's the unknown that's the torture....sheer torture. I remember saying to myself thousands of times, if we just knew what life would be like, we would deal with it. But it was the unknown that haunted us. I looked back in the private journal that I kept and here is one of the entries (which I've never shared before and no one even know I documented...not even Shane)
March 1, 2004 - Day 21
We were told that we would have good days and bad days and well, Thursday was a VERY bad day. We were told that both Drew and Kaylea have Grade III brain hemmorages. How can this be? I had such a great pregnancy and to be told this I just don't understand. Are my babies going to ok? I can't help but wonder what their quality of life will be. The internet is a great source of information, but can also be too much information as well. I have read and read and read searching for every bit of hope that it will offer me. An ultrasound is what showed the grade of hemmorage and so the doctors ordered a CAT scan just to compare and it did verify this. The doctor was as positive as he could be. He said that Grade I and II you can usually see no signs of the bleeds once the children are older. It's the Grade III's and IV's that are a lot more serious. Grade IV is definitely cerebral palsy, Grade III is hit or miss. It could be that they have CP as minor as having to stretch a little longer as the next kid at baseball practice all the way to complete wheelchair bound. Dr. Troup did say that with Drew and Kaylea doing so well with breathing on their own and tolerating their feeds that that is a really good sign but the future cannot be foreseen and we will not know the extent of their developmental state until between the ages of 1 and 2. We are choosing to withhold complete details from the family. We are telling them that there are brain bleeds but we are not telling the severity for the simple fact as it will not help the outcome and will only cause worry. As parents, it's just something that we do not really want others to know and then them look at our babies and feel sorry for them. We will do whatever it takes to give them access to the best care, whatever that may be.
Even though we've had a set back, we continue to thank God that things are going just as they are. Even though the news hasn't been ideal and isn't how we had planned it, we know that things could be so much worse. We're praying that God will just continue to wrap his arms around our babies and keep them safe in His hands.
I remember the day that we got that news as if it were yesterday. Although it seems like a lifetime ago, sometimes it seems like yesterday. I was a complete emotional wreck which is so not me. I always have it together and I just couldn't seem to keep it together. Looking back, that's why God put Shane with me. Although he was very worried as well, he was my ROCK! He was what I needed! I remember going to our room at the Ronald McDonald House and just laying there with Shane wondering how in the world this could be happening to us!
And now, almost 6 years later, it is a distant memory. A memory forever etched in our minds, but nevertheless, distant. That's my prayer for Tim and Renee and Jordan's wife, Heather. That in a few years, on each Christmas eve, when their family is together and they are reading the Night Before Christmas with their grandchildren, that the heartaches they are having today, will be a distant memory to them then.
Friday, January 01, 2010
Playing Catch Up! Part 2
Playing Catch Up! Part 1
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Black Friday Extravaganza!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Potty Training in Progress!
And this is usually what we see when we're outside.
Monday, November 09, 2009
My New Baby
Monday, November 02, 2009
Happy Halloween!
Somehow, me, Michele and Amy were the lucky ones to take all 7 kids Trick or Treating. We loaded the kids in Shane's Hoopty (the suburban) and off we went. It was crazy and a lot of work getting all in and out and buckled at each house, but the kids had a blast! This was the first time the kids have ever actually gone trick or treating since our church didn't have a fall festival this year. We now have WAY TOO MUCH candy but I think that's par for the course.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Out With the New and In With the Old!
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Milestones at the Pridgen House
And last but certainly not least, our little Will. We just laugh at the things that he comes up with. Normally at this age, 2, kids are learning to pull chairs over to something to get what they want. We are definitely past that stage. Will does that, but he's doing it to get the scissors to open something that he's gotten out of the pantry. He no longer wants me to help him with anything. He wants to "open" everything himself. Here he is practicing that task.
Milestones are always fun and are usually bittersweet. Milestones always put things in perspective for me. They always make me smile when I'm seeing them learn new things and at the same time make me a little sad that the kids are growing up so quickly.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Occupation Day at School
Thursday, September 17, 2009
A Fresh Start to Blogging!
Because our blog was ancient and hadn't been updated in so long, I had to do all of the upgrades to even get access to it. Thanks Casey for being patient with me. I can tell you right now that the background, banner, etc. will not be changed that often!
Drew and Kaylea are now in Kindergarten and are beginning to learn site words. They are now up to knowing around 80 words. Out of those 80, I can only use one particular word about once a week because it is just too much! LOL Watch the video and you will see what I mean.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyKOTk8fyCY
And then there's Will. Will is now 2 and thinks he's 5 like the twins. Unfortunately for him, he was never really a baby. Always along for what we had in store for the twins. But now he's his own little self. Smart, loving, independant, athletic, and adorable! What more could we ever ask for? Will loves to play sports. Anything that has a ball involved he is game on! Baseball, football, golf, basketball and even bowling and shooting pool! Of course, whatever Drew is doing is pretty much what he wants to do too.
I thought I'd add a few first day of school pictures as well. :)
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Update Finally!!
Things are going great around here. Drew and Kaylea went 15 months without ever having an ear infection and then got one and couldn't shake it so we ended up having tubes put in their ears. That was in August. It went great and no problems since. But, i wouldn't recommend having two infants coming off of anesthesia at the same time! That was stressful but at least it was over with all in one day.
Drew and Kaylea are doing great. They are EVERYWHERE! Including many places that they shouldn't be. Haha...like climbing on recliners, couches, tables, boxes, whatever they can find.
This is actually the fun part. I'm finally enjoying being home with them!! Sounds bad, but i didn't really enjoy the first year of staying at home and i look back and hate that. It was just such an adjustment for me staying at home and on top of that having two preemies! Now that they are walking and somewhat talking and have a little independance about them, they are just a joy each and every day!
We are probably going to somewhat hibernate again this winter. Not as bad as last winter, but we're going to still be careful. They aren't eligible for the RSV shots this year since they haven't been sick or had any chronic lung problems. That's great that they aren't getting them because they haven't been sick but it'd be nice to be able to get those shots for another winter. But, since the shots are $2500.00 per child per month (yes, you read that right) I think hibernating will be better for us financially! haha...
I sure wish i knew how to add pictures!! They are still skinny and are only about 18 pounds still, but boy have we come a LONG way!!
Hope everyone is doing well!
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Frustrated!
I'm really frustrated this morning. I have everything that we need to know in order for the neurologist to tell me how to wean Kaylea off of the phenabarb. He is an hour away from us. I finally got the nurse this morning and she tells me that we must come in to see the dr for him to "go over the test and tell me how to decrease her meds" What?? I've got the test results right in front of me. Why can't he just look at the same paper that i am looking at and tell me how? Now i have to round someone up to either go with me with both kids or find someone to stay here with Drew while i take Kaylea. Ughhhh...can't anything be smooth? Of course, it all boils down to $$. These stupid doctors want to be able to charge for an office consult in order to talk to me. Ughhh...it just infuriates me! I told the nurse that i have both the EEG results and the phenabarb blood level and she asked me where i got it and that i didn't need to have that until the dr went over it. Excuse me? These are results of whether or not my child is having a seizure or not and you're telling me i don't need them until the dr can go over them with me. Please! I told her that we pay for those tests and they are our medical records and that i have every right to have them. She said that they could get Kaylea in tomorrow to see the dr. Of course, that's the one day our of dh's schedule that he has a meeting. And the one day that his mother isn't able to come over that morning. Geez. So, i'm not sure what we're gonna do. The next appt that they have isn't until Sept 15th and i definitely don't want to wait that long.
On another note, our Sunday School teacher and great man in our community doesn't seem to be doing very well. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 liver cancer 3 years ago. They only gave him 6 months to live in the beginning. His unbelievable faith in God has gotten him through 3 years of treatments and he's just now beginning to feel the effects of it. His body just isn't holding up like it was. We rec'd an email from him last night stating that he was going on down to the oncologist tomorrow instead of waiting another 3 weeks for his regular followup appt. It's the first email that has really sounded as if he's unsure of what's to come. I'm praying that his bone scans that he gets tomorrow doesn't show what he thinks it will show. His family needs our prayers!
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Picky, Picky, Picky!
Drew has been a little whiney the last day or so. Not sure what's up with him. I just hope it's not his ears. And speaking of ears. Kaylea has not slept well for the past week or so. That's usually a sign that it's her ears. We go to the pediatrician for their 18 month check up on Friday. I'll have her check both of their ears out to see what she says. In the meantime, i'm not looking forward to the visit. Although it will be a bitter-sweet one. It's the last round of shots until they are 4!!!!! YAY!!!! I'm so glad of that. I'm sick of shots/vaccinations!
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Terrible 2's???
While we were on vacation we saw a lady that had triplets. Since we were on vacation with another couple that had a one year old, her kids thought that they might be triplets. They walked over to our table and asked if they were triplets and we told them no that my set were twins and that was our friends little girl. She proceeded to tell me that she had 8 year old triplets and that it gets much easier. She said that if i can just make it to 3 years old then it's a breeze. COME ON 3!!!! We were talking about "schedules" and she said that anybody that just has a single baby doesn't know the importance of a "schedule" to mom's of multiples. Boy, was she right. People usually think i'm just being over-reactive when i say "what time will it be or what time do you want to go" and when they say a time that's in their nap schedule I just pass. They are like "can't you just work it to where they nap earlier or later." Ummmmm....nope. Sure can't. I was glad that our friends heard her say that. Their little girl had no schedule whatsoever on vacation. By the end of the vacation she was about on Drew and Kaylea's.
I still haven't heard from Kaylea's EEG. This is just ridiculous! I can't believe how long it is taking. I'm on hold now with the doctors office to see if they have the results. I'm really wanting to get them so that i can schedule a visit with the neurologist so that we can get her off of this medicine. With the assumption that the EEG was fine and she doesn't need it.
We go to a speech therapist on Monday to see if she has any techniques and tricks to see if she can get Kaylea to eat more than she does. She just won't even try anything new and it is soooo frustrating!
Ok, just got a phone call back and the EEG was negative. Thank you Lord!! So, the next step is to get her off of this medicine. It's kindof scary to think about. I mean, she's been on it practically all of her life and it's such a strong medicine. But, this is what i want. I don't want to wait for her to "grow out of it." I want to get her off of it asap. I need to go and get an appt scheduled with the neurologist.
Friday, July 29, 2005
New Beginnings!
In the meantime, I couldn't help but think about Drew all night! This was his first night away from home! Dh and I were in the bed and I couldn't quit talking. I would say "I wonder how Drew is doing", "I wonder if he's gone to sleep yet", "I hope he sleeps ok for my mom", etc. I know dh was like "Shut up and go to sleep!" LOL My mom said Drew did great. He only woke up one time and went right back to sleep. She said that the minute he woke up, he got up and went straight for the piano. LOL He LOVES my mom's and stepdad's piano! That's practically all he does while he's there.
All in all, it was a great and smooth night and day. Very unlike what i had in my mind! I told my mom that since Drew passed the test of staying away from home that they're gonna have to keep him more often. LOL I doubt that will happen, but we shall see!
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Good Intentions!
Drew and Kaylea are such joys in our lives. They say after children you don't remember what you did before them. Well, that hasn't hit, but i wouldn't change a thing! Watching them grow and learn something new everyday is so much fun. Watching new steps, new teeth, new attitudes, all this new stuff is what Shane and I made. Amazing!
Drew has been trying to walk now for several weeks now. He can walk across the house now but still isn't very confident about it. And he's still wobbly. He's only stood up in the middle of the floor a time or two and started walking, otherwise, he starts by holding on to something. Boy, we never thought this day would come and it has! He's such a happy boy. And the telephone is his new best friend. He is so darn funny. He'll put it up to his ear and it sounds like he's saying "Hello" and he just babbles off a conversation. It's hilarious.
Kaylea is her same ole self. Just as independant as ever. Ever since vacation she (and Drew) has been a little monkey. Climbing in the glider rocker, on the couch, standing up on the bed. Whew! It's enough to give you a heart attack.
They've started really loving to play on their bean bags. They'll just walk up to them and fall on them and just laugh. They'll go back and forth. Drew will be on one and Kaylea on the other and then they'll switch.
I sent a picture to the NNICU where they were for so long. It was a picture of them in their beach chairs on the beach on their first vacation. I haven't heard from anyone to see if they got it. Hopefully they did. We are still so thankful for everything that they did for us. I just hope they don't think i'm a freak for sending them a picture! I mean, we've been gone over a year now. I know their primary nurses were happy to see it. The rest of the nurses probably just think i'm nutso!
Tomorrow is Kaylea's EEG. We've got to keep her up from 4 a.m. until 8 a.m. because the EEG has to be a sleep deprived one. Boy is this going to be a fun night! A little recap as to why she's having this done. While in the NNICU when Drew and Kaylea were having trouble eating they wanted to make sure that it wasn't something neurological so they did an EEG on them. Drew's was fine and Kaylea's had 10 seconds on there that was questionable. So, they put her on phenobarbital just in case there was something going on. Ends up that they were allergic to their formula. Anyway, she's been on this medicine ever since and I want her to come off of it if she doesn't need it. Primarily because it's a narcotic. To grow out of the dosage she would have to be 30 pounds and that seems as if it'll never get here. So, in order to wean her off, the dr has ordered another EEG. Never would i have imagined that it would be a sleep deprived EEG. Ughhh...so, that's where we are. Hopefully the night won't be that bad and we'll have it done and we'll be able to get her off of that medicine. That's the only medicine that she's on and Drew isn't on any. They've both had one additional EEG and both of their's were fine.
Boy, are we lucky! And boy have we come a LONG way from when we came home with them. I can't even begin to remember how many meds they were one. It was several on each baby. I've got it written down somewhere.
I'll update tomorrow on how the night went. Sending prayers above that it's not as bad as i think it's going to be!
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Busy Busy Busy
Drew has learned to do patty cake and it's now his new favorite game. It is the cutest thing ever watching him! Kaylea has been ill as a hornet all weekend. She's cutting two bottom teeth and she has a little bit of congestion to go with it. Not a good thing. She seems to be doing better today. Hopefully those little teefees will cut on through and she'll be her old happy, on the go, independant self instead of needing me 24/7.
I've got some great pictures but I've got to figure out how to get them posted!
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Another Great Day
These babies tickle the stew out of me. I swear Drew is gonna have whiplash if Kaylea keeps going up behind him and ramming him with her walker while he's in his. haha....i'm like "WATCH OUT DREW...HERE SHE COMES" and his little feet will go 90 to nothing trying to run from her. LOL...such a sight! That's one way to get that little booger (Drew) to step with one foot at a time rather than being lazy and pushing with both feet. He's doing so much better with that. He seems to have broken that habit thank goodness.