Yikes

It's in those moments that I look at the van, with all the car seats installed..or filled... that I think "Yikes, we've got a lot of little people." Yesterday I found myself in another situation that reminded me again.

We went to the mall. We needed to exchange something and I needed a trip out of the house that wasn't to the Pedia. Plus, I've heard some women get a present after having a baby and I totally earned something good. Once we got in the store I caught a reflection of this...

Yikes, I've got a lot of little people...and that oxygen tank doesn't really help diminish the parade-ish feeling of going anywhere with everyone. I love it.

Digestive Systems

 

With school fast approaching Grace is very excited to teach. Anyone. Today it was whoever would listen, at the Mall, about the digestive system. After seeing her go through the following path with several kids, I asked her what she was doing.

 "I'm teaching kids about digestion. I learned from Sid {The Science Kid}. First you eat. Then it goes to your stomach.....{if you want the full lesson click here}." She was sure to add that "it poops you out." and "If you are going to take a picture and tell your friends make sure you get a picture of that." 

 I should be proud right? She understands the digestive system. It completely normal to glorify the poop part when you are entering 3rd grade...right?

Case in Point

Remember that 4 hr, 2 bags of sugar water L&D visit in June?

Total charge for all that jazz, 1523.18. Amount due for uninsured, 624.50.

You need a hearing test to graduate NICU. I remember James had to have it done twice. I remember insurance (BCBS) not covering the second test and we paying right around $400. Since Grant got out fast they just scheduled the test for next week at Timp. They called Rich & quoted him a couple of hundred. He forwarded them to me. They quoted me $75 and I had reservations about doing it as Grant responds when I talk to him. I understand the use of oxygen could have an effect on his hearing but I really see no signs of it. They then offer it for $54. I know there is a chance so for $50, let's do it.

Today Mr Grant had cosmetic surgery on his man parts (aka circumcision...NICU boys have to have it done at the Pedia). How much is that? It's $260. Oh you're paying for it? It's $200 and if you pay today it is$154.

What a freakin racket. I can't wait for the NICU bills. Come what may...

NICU Sunday

Sunday morning Grant got off oxygen at 9:30am and is still off... I'm not getting my hopes up or anything. We're just playing it cool. Ok, I lie. I am pretending to play it cool. We are almost a quarter into blowing that popsicle stand. But like I said, we're playing it cool.

We went up as a family to visit him.

Grandma went with us and

then Kelly came at the next feeding and gave me a ride home. Kelly was lucky enough to receive his first projectile spit up. That 1 mil had to have gone a good seven inches before landing on her hand. I'm glad she could be a part of such a important milestone...I don't know if she was so much.

And something for Gma/pa Brossette about the boys new spenders. They love them. I do too.

Day 5: Why

I've only really been in contact with family and facebook but I am a little nervous about church tomorrow. Grace's assistant teacher from Kindergarden saw me Friday at the school and asked, and I thought I'd be just fine, but the lump in my chest, came up my throat, and was doing everything it could to come out my eyes. Big deal. I cry.

Why is Grant still in the NICU?

When he sleeps his oxygen saturation drops, most babies readjust or take a deep breath, he does not. He just breaths shallower and shallower until his alarm goes off. He has to out grow that to come home. They are testing him. They take him off oxygen and see how long he can sustain himself on room air. If he drops below 90 and stays and does nothing; like move, breath deep, etc, it proves he still needs the oxygen. We are past the point of needing it around the clock. He's gotten to the point that he can sustain himself while sleeping, just not all the time.

He gets one test every nurse shift (7a-7p or 7p-7a) that he can prove he is ready to try. I love the nurse I had today (twice now). She's very informative and very aggressive on keeping that line between helping him with O2 and making him work to progress very fine. The first time was 1.5 hrs. Today he made it 5 hrs before needing help. They put him on the lowest amount of oxygen needed so that he does not become dependent on it and balance that with not letting him get so low that he wears out and needs more than the minimum. We'll get there. Probably not in the next day or two but next week is highly likely. On top of that, since he takes two steps forward and one step back, they want a 48 hr perfect record to let him take his car seat test (2 hr buckled in perfect O2 for him).

So, that's why.

In happier news, the nurses call him a bottomless pit. Who wouldn't be happy that their son can out eat everyone in the NICU (including what a set of twins can down per day)?

NICU Friday

Kate wanted a big video of Grant, so we'll share.

and it's back...

Stupid dumb old ugly nose cannula. I hate it. Thankfully Mr Grant is cute enough to make IT even look cute.

Guess who's rockin the NICU sans nasal cannula?

I'll give you a hint. He's the cutest baby in the joint.

I was about to make a "so, happy I could pee my pants" comment but given the circumstances, that's kind of not appropriate. I have bladder control but am super duper excited (but that doesn't really convey my excitement).

Look at those chub cheeks. He's a great eater. I love his expression... kinda reminds me of a little Kate. {Holy cow, if you knew the number of times I have edited this post to be coherent...I have a touch of post partum ADD :P }

NICU 2

eating all the time...

getting held all the time...

people watching you breath...

being by the window...

being so dang cute...

It's hard, I know... :)

Somehow we will overcome...

We just need to get his sleeping breathing in check and we're out of there...but who knows when that is.

Grant Brossette Lewis

About 2am, I thought I was having contractions. I called L&D and confessed that this was number five and I wasn't sure if this was really contractions and wondered what they thought. Two tylonol, water, and a shower later I was pretty sure it was. If not, I didn't want to be experiencing this so we were going either way. We packed a little and contracted a lot while Abby was getting there. We left and raced up to St Marks. After going 80 to Lehi, I felt it better to get there faster. Really faster. We called a couple of times when I started feeling like pushing. We got here at 3:55 with a wheel chair waiting. Grant Brossette Lewis was born at 4:11. They checked me at arrival to find I was at a 9 and unable to have ANY, really ANY, drugs. I begged and cried and the nurse told me I gave her a look of death, but we're still friends. I think 3 pushes, one of which broke my water and he was here. He came so fast that he was unable to squeeze out all the fluid so was on a oxygen mask for a little bit He's a perfect little man. He's 7lbs 13ozs, 19 inches, and did I mention perfect. I love him. His skin is so sweet. I'm in love with him.

Rich was amazing, drove like a rockstar, breathed with me to calm me (as much as that was possible), put up with my evil side, crying, maybe yelling, fingernails...who know's... it was kind of intense there for a while. He held him as my body was very tense and was either shaking or jello. I love them and loved seeing their first hour together.

It was an awesome experience. I wanted to do it naturally for the experience, then was positive I changed my mind in route, to find out that nope it's going to happen as planned.

8:51 - the nursery said he needed to warm up after his bath, a 30 minute process but just came back saying his oxygen drops each time they try to remove his mask. :( It may be time for another field trip to the nursery.

9:15 - going to the NICU, :( won't keep his oxygen above 80

3

My James and Miles are 3. I have 3 days until my due date with Grant.

3 is a GREAT number.

It's another...

perfectly boring and normal cervix. The baby just had it's head mashed against it and was making it look shorter via ultrasound but after moving and alternate view we got a "perfectly normal, middle of the road" description. I didn't get to see Ball or Belfort but everyone else was still there and it was like if Cheers was a Maternal Fetal office.

Kate went with and only there to make sure it was a girl. Well, sorry Kate it is another stinky ol brother. At lest you won't have to share your pollys, barbies, and dress ups with two sisters? Or have someone trying to wear your clothes? Or have to talk to him or even touch him? When Jeniel confirmed it Kate's response was "aww, I wanted the girls to win." Kerri got her a consolation Sprite. I think she'll survive. In telling Grace, she scrunched her face in disbelief. We've got 19 weeks to get used to the idea.

Profile, legs, face, manhood, feet.

As soon I figure out how to rip the video, I'll show better pictures.

Guess where we are?

I'll give you a hint. The give IVs, mauve tubs of personal items, and O2 tubes.

{PS: it's not ironic or funny yet}

We are back at Timp, although in a different room with the same monitors, same oxygen tubes, same dumb IV, different boy.

Miles started puffing/spitting out breaths this evening so we headed to the after hours Pedia and after a nebulizer treatment and O2 monitoring, he thought it best to send us to the hospital. Miles has his IV, had his boogers sucked out, x rays and is now sleeping.

I already could tell them apart!

I did not need popeye eye (if you can't tell it's blue & swollen) to tell the boys apart. Remember Miles has 2 crowns, chubby cheeks, an inch taller; James has 1 crown, thinner cheeks, fading stork bite on his forhead... I already could tell them apart! 
After wasting all morning at Ikea we were in our last stretch, Grace, Kate, and James were in the stroller, and Miles was walking. He's been in shoes about two months and then only when he isn't at home, so I assume the shoes are what tripped him up. Dumb shoes! He fell and hit a display riser. It was one of those turn white....wait....wait... {it's gunna bleed right?} aggg, it's bleeding moments. He cut about 3/4 inch of his eyebrow and roughed up the rest. Thankfully we were with Kelly and Manda (sorry Abby it just happened). Manda took the {5} other children and Kelly was calm and thinking. I'm not calm when my babies are bleeding out their eyeballs, or thereabouts ... or really anywhere.  We received Ikea first aid, aka dirty ol cheep bandaid, then went and got stitches at our doctor. They thought he may need one, nurse came in and said two, doctor came in and said three. Yikes! They wrapped him in a velcro papaoos / straight jacket. That was too much for me so James and I tried to stay calm in the corner. We did ok. Miles was tough. His cries were so sad but as soon as he was stitched up, out of the papaoos, and being held he was calm. I know it's minor but these are my first stitches...in my 5yr, 4 kid momhood. 

Give me some freakin amoxicillin!

I'll spare all gory details (just the highlights) but I was inches from this.

I just need some freakin' amoxicillin for my baby! She has double ear infections. I checked the black market and there's not really a demand. The stars aligned for us yet again at the pedia.... we needed a Rx, in an effort to 'be efficient' I had Lady call it in so we wouldn't have to hang out at WalMart, she forgot to leave what doctor she was with. I blame this completely on lack of experience and have mental images of her relaxed at home, carefree... {it's my mental image, back off}. So, when we get to the pharmacy at 4:50 the pedia is gone for the day and I have no Rx paper. (Thurs is their day off) I spend the next hour with all four moaning or crying and on the phone with Dr Whoeversoncall's Lady and/or hold, Rich, and eventually my sister to get his home number; of which I gave to the PharmTech at WalMart and watched her talk to someone. Yes I cashed in the sacred "your my sister's BFFs daddy". 

 I finally convince her that MY daughter is being treated as the red headed step patient and I'm not going to quit regurgitating my plight until the doctor approves my baby's script. An hour and twenty later, and a emergency "Mom I've got poops" from Katie,  I have drugs in hand, made friends with Lady PharmTech, and am taking my toys and going home. Anyone know a great pedia, with even greater office staff, looking for a rockstar set of twins and two adorable sisters?   

TTTS Maternal Fetal Medicine Media Event

Today's story in the Tribune. This was done before the press conference and was in today's paper. We attended the press conference and were interviewed by ABC4, 2News, Fox13, & KSL 5, SL Tribune, Deseret News, & Healthy Utah Magazine. We should be on tonight ABC at 5pm MST or KSL 5 at 6pm and most all of these have internet feed. 

I'll try to link them all.

A KUTV story

Let's clarify here!... “It worked. I'd do it all over,” said Libby... The question asked was " Knowing what you know now and have your twins with you, would you (in reference to amniotic reductions and the septostomy) go through it again? I know 'some' (ahem ...harkthewaa ...cough) media folk see this as micro managing a pregnancy that would have made it without all the monitoring and intervention. My boys would have died in Washington at 21wks due to a pre mature delivery brought on by a rapid increase in fluid, I have no doubt. I would do it all over again...I would not 'wait and see'. I know I would not have them.

KSL Story

Deseret News - should be in Tuesday's edition
SL Tribune- should be in Tuesday's edition

If you find one that I have not linked yet, please leave a comment and I will add it.

Purge post

**friendly reminder- this is my place to unload in order to keep my sanity**

I am ready for this week to be over. It's been non-stop all week, plus add 4U4 and it is just too much. We and/or I did a halloween party, family halloween, IUD OB visit, MFM visit for media stuff, interview for St. Marks, got ultrasound & birth records for the TTTS foundation, birthday shopping for dad, made a cake, had a three cousin & 3 aunts birthday party at a Playplace, while still keeping everyone clean and fed sine Tuesday. Did I mention I have a cold or the flu and the boys are not sleeping well. The poo post below was the day we did all the hospital type stuff. The pillows that are on their way to the trash are still on the front porch. They fit neither into the important nor urgent quadrant (eww, did I just use a Covey-ism to justify poopy chocolate pillows on my porch? how embarrassing!!).

I went to the temple to figure out what I need to be doing to "do my best" and had two options. I feel like He picked both and to do it without begrudging it or with anxiety. So, what a week to start being calm. It's hard. I can not do my best that I am capable of given my current load. I have a hard time figuring out what percentage of my best is appropriate right now. I can't make those (my boys) who are incapable of choosing to sacrifice, sacrifice (ie: waiting to nurse, my stress level affecting my supply, just being with them versus wake, feed, burp, change, wrap, & back to bed...and that's just my boys).

We're going to Outback tonight for mommy's gift to daddy reminiscent of the days of double income, cheap rent, no kids, and Outback multiple times a month. Now to find a babysitter (a small detail I doubt Rich recalls me asking him about).

So, can you tell that my blog has recently become my little BFF? Outback was packed (2 hr wait) so we went to Tocanos and had Mt Dews and a meat-apalooza. I think the way back to my sanity is through red meat and caffeine, who knew!

distal symphalangism (sĭm-făl'ən-jĭz'əm)

Katie & I have a rare gene mutation called distal symphalangism. It is is ankylosis or rigidity of the distal interphalangeai joints of the hands. Findings report substantiate the mutation as an autosomal dominant phenotype. The most common expression of the mutant gene is rigid index fingers (which are where Katie and I have it). Craniosynostosis, premature closure of the sutures of the skull, is very closely related but is currently unexplainable as to why; hence my interest in it, a genetic oddity to Katie and I could be much worse for James and Miles.



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Notice her right index finger.

Babies are coming home today!!

belfort and the boys...& mom




Babies are coming home today!!

No visiting , I'm a mean momma but I get'em first.

Tentatively plan on baby blessings Sept 9th, pending on gma/gpa flight. 

Kate feeding the boys video
Dad in NICU 1 video
Dad in NICU 2

NICU D8 8/29

The boys are coming home! We are taking the car seats tonight for the 'test' and should have them sooner than the initial 3wks we were told.

Let's make sure everything that belongs to the boys, gets used first!