NEW PICS

First football game of the year!

Harley's first day of K, and the twins first day in the 2 year old class.


Heath's newest acheivment would be .... throwing a ball so hard that it shattered the glass in the stove, who even knew that glass would break.... Im glad he can throw good but dang...now we have to buy a new stove!!

NO MORE BUTTON

YAY for Hallie!!.... 2 weeks ago we went to Tiny Tots to check on Hallie's button that looked like it was getting an infection...and we chose to take it out!! It had an infection and she wasnt using it... but it was still a very hard decision...and Hallie has withdraws from it...She cried for her button..and told me to go back to the dr and get it.. But, now it has healed nicely and looks like another belly button! I am also very excited to report that Ms Hallie Brooke weighs 21 lbs... (more then Halle Grace!!) That was a huge gain for us!

Harley started K on Monday...He didnt cry at all and could care less when we left. But, it has totally wore him out. He cant even function when he gets home because he is just so tired. If you ask him about school, he talks about going outside to play... That's MY boy!

Heath and Hallie started a new class "The Two year old class"... They really like their new teachers but they cry in the mornings now when we drop them off. They have to wait in another room for about 15 mins for their teacher to get there and they do NOT like that room.

Thats about it in the Lovvorn house... sorry the pics are so old...Its been a while!

(There is my update Julie)

I'm pretty sure I have lost about all of my viewers to the blog, since it has been 3 months since I have last posted. Anyhow, the twins have been doing great. We have been hospital free since March. We are getting more and more teeth, throwing more and more tantrums, and talking more and more. Besides that, it has been a pretty eventless 3 months. Harley played soccer for the first time. It was fun watching him, but he already knows that the goalie doesnt have to run, so that is what he always wanted to be! That is MY son!! Heath and Hallie have realized that thunder "scare me" and that they LOVE the outdoors. Heath pretty much acts like we are beating him every time we put him in the car... Hallie tackles Heath on command, and Heath can NOT get her off of him...he screams bloody murder!!!, Hallie will take out her "hair bow" EVERY time she gets in the car...she now asks for her glasses..We found out 2 weeks ago that Heath has to wear glasses again... they should be in any day now... but he asks to wear Hallie's all the time, so I'm crossing my fingers that he will keep them on..., and Justin has already started Heath on pitching lessons since he is a lefty!! (To a baseball coach, left handed pitchers are gold...Poor Heath!)


Hallie's first day with 2 "Hair bows"


Does Heath not look like a "mini coach" or what!!??

Harley is really just pretending to listen.... I can only imagine how intense the pep talks are going to be in 10 years...
A tackle on command!!!

ICU.....and more!!

I just noticed it has been a month since I have updated...Oops! This has been one CRAZY month.. Heath has had 2 different hospitalizations! The first was rather scary..He was put into ICU for 24 hours, he was needing 5 liters of oxygen and they were talking about intubating him... We were SO scared!! Then we were out of the hospital for 2 week and had to go back in.... he had a minor surgery on Friday the 16th and during that he stopped breathing and had to be bagged 2 different times... well that night we ended up back in the hospital (the surgery was at an outpatient clinic) We stayed 3 more days in the hospital since he needed more oxygen then they would like for us to do at home....(we often do more then they think we should without taking him to the hospital). The Dr. told us anything over a liter was too dangerous for us to do at home...and there has been several occasions were he has needed 2 liters at home.. I did tell him we would end up living at the hospital if that was the case.

Harley and Hallie, thank God, have been relatively healthy through all of this...

I will try really hard to update more often...

Pray for April to be a month WITHOUT being in the hospital!! 

Heath is still sick...or shall i say sick again! Another double ear infection... more fever. Hallie is teething, so we have a fussy one there too... I wonder what its like to have healthy kids!!??
These pictures are SO Heath. He thinks if he has a "bogan" on his head then he can go outside, so he stood by the back door yelling "side"... He must have forgot he has to have clothes on too... and he always runs around with that football helmet on his head...and of course a football...and I must say he catches it great for his age/size. Daddy is so proud! 

DOLLS? We don't need no stink'n dolls!! 

 

Happy Birthday and Hospital Stay # 2

I am VERY pissed right now. I just spent the last 45 minutes writing this big story on our last month. Including Hospital stays and Birthday #2! Here is a very short version… I do mean VERY.


*Heath was in the hospital for 5 days at the beginning of Jan for RSV and Pneumonia.
*Hallie went to the Dr. when Heath got home from the hospital and has Pneumonia too.
*We are 2 weeks post hospital stay and Heath is STILL on oxygen at night.
*Heath STILL has Pneumonia, no better or worse. So we, yet again, try another antibiotic!
*Heath’s eardrum busted.
*Heath learned how to climb out of his baby bed.
*This week we see ENT, GI, Pulminologist, Pedi (Yes, we get Synagis. It just doesn’t work for us!), and we also have the yearly evaluation with ECI.


****Two very special kids turned TWO!! H & H turned two on January 18th. It really seems like it should be their first birthday. Our birthday wish was more weight, and less sickness for 2007!****

Someone at the Dr’s office asked their age difference.” Two minutes”. ”Oh, they’re twins, I couldn’t tell”. I’m sure I looked at her like she is crazy but they do weigh 17 and 24 lbs and are 5 inches apart.I guess I’m starting to look like one of those crazy moms that got pregnant right away.

Ambulance Ride and Oxygen

We have had one CRAZY week. Short run down, Hallie was sick all week ...Monday, the dr put her on antibiotics for a double ear infection and an RSV test came back negative. Tues and Wed I stayed home from work because she was still sick. Thursday,since we had to go to Dallas for 2 other dr's appt's, we took Heath and Hallie to the dr for being sick. Little did I know how sick Miss Hallie really was. While we were at the dr they ran another RSV test, gave 2 breathing treatments, and then hooked both up to the Pulse ox machine. I will admit I thought the Dr was crazy since that is what they were on when they came home from the hospital. I thought that I would be able to tell if Hallie couldnt breathe, well I was wrong.... You want your 02 sats in the high 90's atleast! Hallie was in the mid 80's. I made the excuse that the thing wasnt on her foot right.... well it still came back the same. I thought I knew what that meant but it was one of those feelings that I was hoping I was wrong.... Yes, she needed oxygen.... and Yes, we were heading to Childrens.... by ambulance. Once we were there, it was madness. Hallie was on oxygen and the breathing treatments were making her better. Justin comes in with Heath, the dr looks at him and decides that he needs to be admitted too.... Crazy! He was released a few hours later after meds and oxygen for a while. Now is when it gets bad.... In the middle of the night the dr's come in and tell us Hallie has been doing bad and they need to work on her (at children's the turn off the monitors in the room, so parents can sleep....Im not sure I like that) They turn on her monitors and begin deep suctioning her out.... I asked how much oxygen she was on, and at first it was 1 liter..... then 1 1/4, then 1.5, then 1 3/4, then 2.....(remind everyone, she came home from the NICU on 1/32nd of a liter, so I KNEW this wasnt good). At the point she was on 2 liters I asked them what was next because she wasnt getting better and nothing was working....They said "We are going to try suctioning really deep one more time and then Its the INTENSIVE CARE UNIT" I got so sick, literally. The head RT came in and FINALLY , FINALLY... got her a little better.... I was so scared because I knew that there were no meds that could help this....(I forgot to mention, yes they were treathing her for RSV) Besides, Heath's life and death heart surgery, that was the by far the most worried I had been about the babies....Long story.... but we are home now! Prayers, once again, were answered! Merry Christmas to All!
 

I have so much to be thankful for this year. My family of course being the most important. I am so thankful that the twins are relatively healthy, Hallie can see out of atleast one eye, Heath has so far not had to have another heart surgery, Harley is a great big brother, my wonderful husband that takes such great care of me, that I get to wake up 3x a night to feed my baby girl....yes, I'm thankful for that! She eats, she is growing, and she is HERE....im very thankful. I will also be thankful when she is big enough to sleep all night without having to eat. But, I do remember the days of constant praying that I would do ANYTHING for her to take a bottle, and I do suppose that meant not getting more then 3 hours a sleep at a time. I thank God everyday for my family and everything He has done for us. It has been a very hard road and I must say it has all been worth it. Preemie life is a rough road to travel and I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy but it has taught me a lot and I do believe I am a better person because of it. I have learned to have patience, dont stress over the small stuff. If a surgery can fix it, we're good!

Wow, how life changes after watching your children fight for their life!

I'm also very thankful for
-My parents, especially my mommy, she is the best mom in the world. I would have gone crazy many nights without her.
-The Amy Harris Fund that has allowed our twins to recieve their RSV shots this winter.
-Justin's parents, who are always there when we need them.
-the friends I have met in the NICU
-my neices and nephew
-the wonderful kids on my CC team, who make coaching worth it.

Christmas Card

I'm asking for your advice...Which photo would be the best Christmas card???

 

Another round of Synagis today. That $6000 qonder drug. The makers must be making a killing. They help save our babies but then they make us broke. Go figure!
Hallie now weighs 17lbs 10oz. YAY, the nurse said she gained a half pound this month. Heath was 22lbs 8oz.

Both babies seem to be progressing great. The ECI worker told me that "heath is SO smart" which was great to hear.... but im still wondering how she got that since he doesnt communicate!
 

HWEEN

Hallie is a little fairy, notice the cute shoes I just got her!! Heath is a tiger with glasses! Even though it doesnt look like he is getting much use out of them since he is looking over the glasses to see. Harley, of course, is the Shrek! The twins are getting their rounds of RSV shots Oct- March and we just got their first bill in....The shots were over 6000 a piece for ONE month. I wasnt informed that when they weigh a certain amount they use more dosage and the $$ amount doubles. Thank God for insurance or our little two would be having to go without them. At our last appointment Hallie weight 17lbs 7oz and Heath was over 22lbs. Both have broke through a lot more teeth lately...considering that Hallie just had one... anything is a lot but she now has FIVE... Heath has 7 and almost 8... Hallie and Heath both got 4 in a weeks time!
While he was throwing his daily tantrum at daycare, Heath broke his glasses. We had to call and get him a new pair. Besides all that, there is nothing new.

 

Just a few cute pictures!
 

Once again the famous 4 kids on a couch picture! We went and visited our friends and had a blast. We have already decided that every time we get together there has to be a picture taken on the couch, to see how much they have grown.

I had to put this bottom picture on here to show Julia'a dad that she ate that day...a lot! About 10 cheerio's, which to a tube fed baby is like a whole thanksgiving dinner. We were so proud...  

Arent they just the cutest two boys in the world? Heath now weighs 22 lbs 8oz, he gained 7oz this week! He is doing better eating and talking...and he is a PRO at tantrums. He still gets on Harley's bed, on the table, on the couch, in the trash..... all those are every day! But, he also is still the cutest baby ever. He will be one of those kids that get in trouble in school, but look so darn cute that you hate to punish him....Yep, just like his brother, Harley- A very cute stinker!
 

Hallie is getting SO big, well.. for her! Just a little update. She now weighs 17lbs 2oz! She had her first round of Synagis today (the shot to help prevent RSV). We'll be praying it works!! Hallie has been eating a little better too. SHE HASNT USED HER TUBE IN 3-4 MONTHS!! She has also starting talking a lot more. She will try to repeat whatever you tell her to say. You cant always understand her but ..."she's getting there".


The Dr. called her a toddler.... Oh my, my babies are growing up... 

This time... it really has been forever since I have updated. The twins are doing good! Heath has been battling with a cough/wheeze for about a week now, along with some throwing up. Hallie has been doing great. She woke up with a rash on her face and legs this morning. Im sure she will be sick just in time for the homecoming football game tomorrow night. That is how it works around here... Making plans = sick babies! The kids have been getting to play outside a lot lately. They feel like they are in Heaven when they get to run around everywhere. Im still not convinced that its worth the major tantrum when we come back in the house... but atleast the tantrum wears them out, then its off to bed!
In this 2nd picture you can really tell the difference in the twins skin color. Heath has my color, and Hallie her dads. Great News... Hallie is getting another tooth.... She just might have 2 whole teeth before her second birthday.

To the Anonymous person that wrote asking if we still use Duocal for Hallie, YES!! It adds 45 calories to every bottle! Im not too convinced it works wonders but I cant imagine how small she would be without it. I dont really know her exact weight since we havent been the the dr in a while, but im guessing (hoping) around 16 1/2 lbs... @ 20 months...(Carrie and Julie....can you believe our babies are about to be TWO... I think you guys need to start working on siblings for your little girls) im sure that isnt even close to being on the charts. She still is taking the bottle pretty good but she hasnt increased ANY on her table food.

Harley has been doing great at school. He comes home everyday with something new he has learned. Most recently learning how to spell, stop, go, no, dog, cat, daddy, and of course Harley. I will say one thing....FOUR is looking better then the three's did. He is getting to where you can reason with him. And he is getting to where he can pick the twins up and move them from things they arent suppose in/on.

I went to change Heath's diaper the other night (just a reminder, its football season, my husbands a coach...so yes, i was home doing the single mom thing) and I come back in the living room and Hallie is on the rocker, standing...rocking herself fast as she could..and hanging on tight....
Then, i stepped on the back porch and threw something away and come back (took maybe 10 seconds) and she was standing on the kitchen table!! 

Hallie has a tooth. It is as sideways as it can be, but its there! I have not been updating because I just dont know if I am going to keep this blog up since the Halle Grace scare. One of our close friends that had a blog had someone pretend to be Halle's mother. Way too creepy for me. Anyhow, my trio are doing fine. Running me crazy. I can not leave the twins sight. The climb on the chair, on the table, in the high chair.... faster then I can throw something away in the other room.
Check out Hallie's new carseat.... or shall i say LOOK AT THAT TONGUE! Hallie isnt using her big girl carseat yet, but my mom did get it for her for Xmas.

I took all three kids to Justin's first football game of the year. Well, we made it a whole half before we left. I was really proud of that! The kids were actually good but they kept me so busy that I didnt get to watch ANY of the game.

Julie, email me an update. You know I cant go very long without knowing how she's doing!! 

Look Halle Grace, I have something wrong with my arm too....


Heath is acting more like a toddler everyday! In his first week of his new class at daycare, he broke his glasses throwing a fit..ok, not too big of a deal, Wal Mart fixed them (kinda)... Next day, breaks them GOOD this time. I mean, might have to buy a set of new frames good. He is so strong. And tantrums, wow, this kid can throw them with the best of 'em. He has a different bruise on his head everyday from throwing a fit and throwing himself back into whatever is in his way.

Are the terrible two's starting early?? Oh no, terrible two...times two... HELP! 

stinker

What a cute little stinker I have! Hallie's personality has really started coming out these last few weeks. She now dances everytime she hears music, screams everytime you leave her sight, and pulls her own hair, just to name a few. I know, some good...some not so good. The last two days Hallie has been acting really cranky. We are hoping its the beginning stages of a first tooth. There are no real signs of a tooth coming but I think we are just hoping this crankiness isnt just a new phase for Ms Hallie. The kid is 19 months old with NO teeth, its bound to happen soon. A good thing about no teeth is, she cant be blamed for bitting other kids in her class. (which is happening, but its not my angel...this time!)

Aunt Stacey, doesnt this bottom picture favor you. There is a picture of you when you where about her age that was professionally done. Its the one that looks like Daddy got you straight from bed and had your picture made.

Carrie...UPDATE!
 

God is good!

Another good reunion! The 4 some got together again. From L to R, Halle Grace, Hallie Brooke, Heath, and Julia. All of them were born within 2 weeks of each other, and all weighing less then 2 lbs! God is good. These babies are so healthy. They enjoyed playing together and of course the moms enjoyed their time to chat. Heath and Hallie tried teaching the other 2 to eat while Halle Grace was showing off her verbal skills. This kid amazes me. Not only is she the smallest baby that I know that survived, but she is talking up a storm. Answering questoins, asking them, she even old me she loved me. "I love you, Bobbie"
Julia and Heath looked like they were getting a little comfortable together in this bottom picture. Heath is making a move but I want to think Julia has the look like she was going to tell her daddy!!

I can't wait until next time!!  

Heath and Hallie are IT

We have been tagged by Halle Grace! Here it goes...

THREE NICKNAMES:
Hallie- Hal-Hal, Beautiful, Sissy
Heath- Heafers, Heafies, Brother
THREE PEOPLE THAT MAKE ME LAUGH:
Hallie- Mommy, Daddy, Harley
Heath- Harley, Daddy, Mommy
THREE THINGS THAT I LOVE:
Hallie- outside, being held, playing in water
Heath- outside, his car, playing in water
THREE THINGS THAT I HATE:
Hallie- all the above taken away
Heath- all the above taken away
THREE THINGS THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND:
Hallie- Why I cant play in the office, why I cant get into the pool with the big kids, why I have to be strapped in my high chair.
Heath- Why I cant get on Harley's bed, Why he cant be in the pool all the time, why everyone shuts me out of brother's room
THREE THINGS ON MY FLOOR:
Hallie and Heath- My car, my rocking dog, and Hallie's carseat
THREE THINGS I AM DOING RIGHT NOW:
Hallie- sleeping, sucking on pacifier, holding blanket.
Heath-sleeping, coughing, swinging.
THREE THINGS I CAN DO:
Hallie- EAT, walk, get out of my high chair while strapped in
Heath- run (starting to), throw a massive tantrum, destroy blinds
THREE WAYS TO DESCRIBE MY PERSONALITY:
Hallie- determined, funny, playful
Heath- loving, playful, like a 2 year old
THREE THINGS I CANNOT DO:
Hallie- run, climb stairs, talk a lot
Heath- understand why I cant be a big boy... 3 x that!
THREE FAVORITE FOODS:
Hallie- toast, oreo's, icing
Heath- grilled cheese, pizza, cake
THREE FOODS I DO NOT LIKE:
Hallie- veggie baby food, anything cold, strawberry applesause
Heath- baby food, hmm, that all for now
THREE BEVERAGES I DRINK REGULARY:
Hallie- Nutren Jr, some tea and water
Heath- Milk, Nutren Jr (when I get a chance), tea
THREE SHOWS I WATCH:
Heath and Hallie- not interested

Boys I tag: Kristian, Collin and Cyrus, Jackson
Girls I tag: Julia, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Ava

Finally- an update

I know, I know… It’s been forever since I have updated. Justin and I just got back from a well needed vacation; actually we were at coaching school but no kids, which means a vacation!

I just caught up on some blog’s that I read on a regular basis. I am so glad that I have all you other preemie families to depend on to make my life seem normal.

Billie, I totally understand how you feel about the eating issue. It is so hard to make sure they eat all that they need in a day, and we have the button but try extremely hard not to use it. It was easier making sure Hallie got all her calories in that day when we did use it but now it is a challenge but I feel so blessed that she does/can eat. She by no means eats great but I would guess she is on the same page as your two. You have the most amazing strength out of any woman I know. You are an awesome mother. We always like to say how blessed we are to have our children, and we are...but, your children are blessed to have you.

Liz, words cant even describe how your last post makes me feel. I cant even hold back the tears when I think about it. I, too, lost a triplet and that feeling along makes me feel weak. I can’t even begin to imagine what you went through during their birth, and after. You are such a great mom. You have so much strength in caring for Kaitlyn everyday. It is not easy dealing with all the preemie issues that we are dealt with but you do a great job! It won’t be long and she will be smiling and eating and you will wonder when she grew up. It happens so fast, right before your eyes.

Ryan Twins, I see my twins every time I read your blog. They seem to have the same facial expressions, clothes, wagon, Hannah wears glasses, just like Hallie. The only difference, Heath is bigger then Hallie!…. And guess what we decided on, yes, we are copying you again…we are getting the car seats!!

And now for my favorite to preemie moms, ever!

Julie, I am so thankful that I met you in the hospital, and even more thankful that we have kept in touch. You have been such a great support system for me. I have always been able to count on you for advice, whatever it may be. You are such a sweet person and a great mother. I’m still not sure how you do it but your daughter is so darn smart. She is such a miracle, in fact…the smallest one I know!! She amazes me all the time. The feeding tube, leg braces, and all the other issues that she has been faced with has not slowed her down one second. Having you there to talk to about all our problems makes things so much easier. I know that you share in my kids milestones just like I do Halle. You understand how exciting it is to have Hallie eat a cheerio! Thank you so much for putting some kind of ease in this nice roller coaster we are living.

Carrie, You are the first friend I met in the NICU. It doesn’t seem like 18 month ago when I was catching Julia from trying to escape her crib, or watching her monitors as if she were my own. How neat was it knowing that everyone knew the friendship that you and I had, that we could check in on the other ones babies. That was just unheard of in the NICU. I’ll never forget when Julia and her nurse came to visit us in the “over night” room when we were taking Hallie home. I felt such a bond with you when you moved into our “pod” and both of our children were about to go through major surgery. My heart aches just thinking of those days. You are such a great friend to me. Our friendship will go way beyond the “preemie” stages. I have always been able to count on you for advice, or just for a good laugh. Your sense of humor cracks me up! You and I are so much a like. And come to think of it, Darrin and Justin are too. I can’t thank you enough for all you have done for me. You are one of my closest friends!


Now, on to the kids.
Heath- He is so dramatic. If you didn’t know him you might think he broke his leg from the crying/screaming fit, but no…really, we just shut the door so he couldn’t get into his brothers room. He can throw a tantrum like a pro. He is doing really good with eating. Walking everywhere! Has 4 teeth, and I must say its killing ME every time one comes in. He now gives kisses, plays “nite-nite”, climbs on the couch and Harley’s bed. He loves to be held and is the best baby ever when he is outside. But, sometimes I wonder, is it worth taking him outside to have to deal with the meltdown of bringing him back in….hmmm!

Hallie- my little princess. Well, things are going great with Hallie. She is walking everywhere. We finally found shoes that fit her thanks to ebay. Her favorite thing to eat is toast, with lots of butter. She also likes icing, so yes, I did go buy her her own bowl! She has been probably almost a month without her tube (except for this weekend while we were gone, my mother used it to get her med feed down! Bad Nana!!) Anyhow, I am so pleased with her eating. We go tomorrow to her new pediatrician just for a first visit to her established before school starts. Harley and Heath have already gone there. She on the 18th to the dr and she weighed 15 lbs 9oz. She is getting there and at east she is gaining without the tube. She continues to amaze me.

Harley- he has been several weeks with just 2-3 accidents!! Yay for underwear! He turned 4 years old on the 28th of July. Justin and I have had him now for over 3 years. Time goes by so fast. We are so lucky to have him as our son. When you look at the way the system works, we should have lost him. Everyone thought we would! Long story, but we won… and we got to adopt him. He is so darn cute!!

 

I just spent almost an hour writting about the twins , and the fact that they turned 18 months old. Somehow, it didnt get published. Im so upset. It was the longest post I had ever written!!! UHHHH! So, I am way too tired to re-write all of it, here are the pictures!!!

My little girl finally can eat a cheerio! I know this doesn't sound like anything big but I have been breaking a single cheerio into 4 pieces for months now, and still she gagged the majority of the time. Not anymore, now I can put 10 on her tray and she eats one at a time. Now that she has done a good job with eating and everything, in 3 weeks she moves up to the new class in daycare. Which means a new teacher, which means learning how to eat for someone new, again. She doesnt eat for everyone, mainly just myself and her daycare teacher. Not only do I get to stress about wheather Hallie is eating, her and Heath will not be in the same class. Heath has moved up to the 18 month old class (in 3 weeks) , this class eats the school menu , drinks from sippy cups, doesnt have their milk heated, and they sleep on a mat! Technically he will be 18 months but Oh my goodness, he will be the youngest one in the class, not including that he was a micro preemie. Dropping them off in 2 different classes will be hard. I hope they don't feel lonely. But, Hallie just wasn't ready for that big room, yet. And after talking to the daycare they agreed to let her stay down a class instead of skipping that class to catch up with her age group! Thank goodness!
**I know it has been a long time since I have updated, but Julie W, you haven't updated in July!! Carrie and Julie, we should get together soon, coaching starts back up pretty quick and then time is very limited.  

I hope everyone had a good July 4th! The babies are over their sickness, for the most part. Hallie has done extremly well with her eating lately. I found something that works....we get all the kids in the neighborhood (not really, but my 3 little cousins) to come over and everytime Hallie takes a bite we clap and cheer for her, she LOVES it...so she keeps eating! Whatever it takes, right!! Heath and Hallie are both doing a good job with walking. Heath walks about 20 steps before falling, but in our little house...20 steps will get you to where you want to go! Little miss Hallie is walking about 10 steps. She amazes me all the time. This little bitty girl has so much strength and determination, and a fiesty little attitude to go along with it!
Harley has been doing great with the potty training. He is now telling us when he needs to go (sometimes)...But this is major progress.
Pictues: Heath in Harley's chair he takes to the baseball games, Heath is his cousin's swing, Harley on the tractor with Pop (Justin's Dad), and Papa (my dad) with the twins.


 

sick again

Little Heath man is sick again. His temp reached 104.5 last night and I took him in this morning the the Dr. He has pneumonia again, but this time we caught it really early. He seems to be doing better this afternoon. Hallie has a cold too, so im hoping hers doesnt get near as bad. Heath crawled around, finding every blanket he could find.... and just laid there.
 

Hallie is winning the fight, then its a toss up.... in the end.... Heath won! (They know Hallie eats in the carseat , so I guess they let us know when they are hungry!

 

Fighting over the carseat (which Hallie eats in), again!

 

*Julie, next time I start telling you anything positive about my babies, STOP ME! I just got off the phone with you telling you how "I can't even remember the last time Hallie threw up". Well dang, now I know..TONIGHT... but I will say it wasn't like the old reflux junk.... She is running a fever and is congested , which made her throw up so bad she was gagging! After I posted my happy 1 week anniversary of NO TUBE, since Hallie all of a sudden got sick she cant eat. She cant breathe through her nose...so I gave in...I cant force my sick baby to eat...so I let her rest peacefully while I fed her with the G Button.
** This picture is of Hallie and her Pop (Justin's Dad, as if you couldnt tell!) , he is one of Hallie's newest favorite people...she now knows Pop alway has a pen or 2 in his pocket! And what Hallie wants , Hallie gets from her Pop.

* Harley got his first stitches today , he is ALL boy, so Im sure there will be more. He fell at the waterpark, but didn't understand why we had to leave!

We LOVE our bath, LOVE vanilla waffers, and LOVE riding on the 4 wheeler with our daddy. Even though 3 kids at one time was just posing for a picture!
 

15 POUNDS

OH MY GOODNESS..It's been a week with no feeding tube... I will admit the last 2 days have been kinda hard but I have stuck with it. She is SLOWLY starting to eat more food (or maybe its just my imagination hard at work!) To all you moms that are like me, that love hearing about foods babies with feeding issues will eat....well Hallie's new favorites is Pretzel sticks, the thick ones...Im sure its the salt but she will suck on it til its gone.
I took Hallie into the Dr on friday to check out her rash (eczema!) and anyways, he gave me a rx for that...but she weighs 15 POUNDS.... the best news is that she has gained 3-4 oz (in a week) with us not using the tube. She is also taking about 4-5 steps on her own...Yes, her size 1 feet can walk!!!
Heath is going everywhere...He stands up on his own and walks room to room. He has been doing great.
Harley's potty training is doing better...This weekend 4 different times he has TOLD us he needed to go potty, as opposed to us making him sit every hour and him holding it until we tell him to go. This is no baby step....this is like a grown man step!!
Kids are good...Life is good! 

NO BUTTON

We have gone 3 days with NO G button!! Yay! Everyone that has a kid with a tube/button can appreciate my excitement! We have gone a day or 2 without it before but it was a struggle and we had to return to using it 1-2 times a day but this time we have had more luck. She is waking up in the middle of the night for a feed , which I am NOT complaining about. She has been taking the same amount as always just adding the middle of the night feed. I am very excited and I hope that this is just the beginning. Even though the Dr. discouages using the infant feeder to take baby food, she has been taking some food too. Last night she took half a jar and tonight , she took the rest! She is DEFINITLY still eating tons better when she is sleepy or sleeping....but I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I love matching the twins. I never thought I would be the one to match their clothes and I always talked about people that named all their kids with the same letter, and here I am with Harley, Heath, and Hallie! Which makes it very difficult if we have anymore children. Do I name he/she with an H or make them feel left out?!? I'll worry about that when/if the time ever comes. Even thought I think about that all the time because there just arent a lot of H names to choose from. Anyhow, enough rambling!

Kim- notice how I can only get one baby to look at a time...really, show me your trick!
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DADDY!

WE LOVE YOU,
Harley, Heath, and Hallie 

MICHELLE AND DEION..... You guys are in trouble.... I KNOW that we (us, Halle Grace, and Julia) are your favorite patients....Then please explain to me why we weren't invited to take those awesome pictures I seen in the NICU hallway today.... Girls, you should be ashamed of yourselves!
ok, Im through venting over that!
On a happier note, during our visit to Dallas we had several hours to blow between Dr appointments and so we thought this would be a great chance to visit our old nurses. We were able to see each babies old primary nurse, Adena and Gloria. They of course thought they looked great and huge. Considering they look at 1lb babies all day...we are huge! It was great to see them again as well as a few other nurses. I don't think that they realize just how important they are to our family.
** Notice the picture..... I was telling the kids to look at the camera so I could take a picture of all the NICU friends in the pool. Its a proven fact, kids don't listen to their parents. Notice, Julia and Halle Grace look perfectly at the camera, while my 2 little rats continue playing like they have heard nothing!!!  

Hallie went to the GI Dr. today and she weighs 14lbs 13oz!! GO HALLIE! The Dr. told us to stop using the G Button all together (we were only really using it 1 time a day).
In this top picture Hallie was getting a morning bath and I guess she didnt realize she wasn't still in bed. She slept through the whole bath. It was so funny but also pretty hard to hold her up.  

And Heath is off! He started walking this week. He still prefers to crawl since it is faster but he CAN walk!! Yay! He has also learned how to get on Harley's big boy bed, so the babies are no longer allowed in their without us. We took a trip to Dallas today to take both kids to the Dr. Heath went to his ENT Dr and he said Heath's ears look great. He weighs 20lbs!!! New Carseat here we come!
 

Hallie looks so happy in this picture. But, look very closely... she has a cheerio in that back of her mouth and she is actually gagging. The kids have been doing pretty good lately. Heath is starting to walk, he is becoming such a big boy... He has taken up to 15 steps! Hallie is doing about the same on all her eating issues. She still takes her 5:30 am feed with the tube, all others are by mouth and she still isnt eating any solids. She loves putting cheerios in her mouth but she still gags every single time. Im waiting for that one day when she just "gets it". Thursday we have an all day trip with the twins to Dallas. Heath goes to see his ENT specialist and Hallie goes to her GI specialist. What fun that day will be! But we will know what Hallie's new weight is.