Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Happy Happy, Joy Joy!!

We have some very good weight news. It's been a really up and down month. They've basically been gaining and losing the same pound for most of this year. Just a little recap:



Natalie
01/6 - 18.6
01/13 - 18.12
01/20 - 18.14
02/09 - 17.10
02/23 - 19.2
03/03 - 19.6
03/17 - 19.1
03/25 - 18.10
04/01 - 18.15.5
and today...
04/22 - 19# 13.5!!!!


Abby
01/06 -18.12.5
01/13 -18.15
01/20 -18.11
02/09 -17.11
02/23 -19.3.5
03/03 -19.11
03/17 -19.0
03/25 -19.11
04/01 -19.3
and today
04/22 -19# 15.5!!! (the scale actually flirted with the 20 pound mark but it dropped back down - soooo close)

So, the good news obviously is that we are making progress again. After all the sickness, it was getting pretty bad. The girls have really been eating well again this past week. Once again, a few days at Ya-Ya's Feeding Boot Camp did them well and they are pudgy once more. They are both eating solids well right now. Abby has a real fondness for chicken, and both girls LOVE fruit. Pineapple and cantaloupe are huge favorites. I'm thrilled they like healthy things, but I just wish fruit had more calories. If it did, they would definitely weigh over 20 pounds.

The not as good news is that if you look at the chart, they've really only gained a little more than a pound in nearly four months. This is really not good. We have a Duke SICC appointment Tuesday, and I'm sure to hear about it there. I'm not even hoping to be anywhere near the curve, much less on it. Our saving grace might be height. They don't seem that short compared to other kids. Hopefully, we will at least make the 5% curve.

I'm really hoping that they will each be over 20 pounds by our appointment Tuesday. It will just make me feel better if they are over 20, even if it really won't make much different on the chart.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Third Time's a Charm AKA Our Easter Adventure

I know I've been quite blog-delinquent...no more excuses. Part busy - part laziness - part way too obsessed with looking up stuff about Octomom. So - no long explanations, I'll just launch into our latest adventure AKA The E.R.

The girls have been off and on sick for a while now. We all remember the 2.5 hours spent at the doctor's office in mid March to diagnosis Natalie's pneumonia and then the discovery of Abby's ear infection a few days later. So towards the end of the antibiotic, Abby started spiking a fever every other night but seemed fine during the day. I didn't think much of it since I figured they couldn't get too sick while ON an antibiotic and whatever she had was viral.

So, last Tuesday night, Abby seemed worse. She had a fever again and seemed to be throwing up more than usual. Wednesday morning, her fever was about 103 and she was lethargic and wanted to sleep all morning. So - off to the doctor. Another 2.5 hours later, it was determined what she had was viral. !!!

Thursday - We were going to leave for my mom's for Easter, but Natalie was starting to show some ickiness. She was now someone lethargic and seemed to be throwing up. No big. I figure she has what Abby had (who was now feeling much better).

Friday - Natalie seems better, so we are off to my mom's. We arrive around 5ish and all seems well. Somewhere between 8 and 9, I notice Natalie seems really hot. We check her temp. 104.2. Now, I don't panic easily. I don't even get very concerned until a fever reaches 103.5. 104 worries me a bit. My mom, who is a bit on the over-reacting side, was ready to rush her to the ER that minute. Instead, I called the nurse -line for advice and gave Natalie a cool bath and some Tylenol and Motrin. An hour later when the nurse returned my call, her fever was down and she seemed better.

Saturday - Natalie seemed much better. She was laughing and playing. They went down for a nap about 1ish. When I checked her about 4, she was burning up again. I checked her fever again. 104.8. Now, I'm concerned. After more meds, mom gives her another cool bath and I ready our things for the ER.

We spent about 3 hours at the Angel Hospital in Franklin. She had a RSV test, blood work and an X-ray. (Her fever was down to 102, btw) Everything looked good except the X-ray. Yep, you guessed it. Pneumonia. Again. Third time in three months.

So, we get a new antibiotic (at Ben's suggestion since the other failed to work twice). I take Natalie home while my mom goes to the pharmacy for me. Long story short...there's not a pharmacy in a 30 mile radius open at 7:30 on a Saturday night. So, she returns to the hospital to fill it there. They don't carry it in a liquid form. So, she called and tells me I have to bring Natalie back to the ER to get a shot. After waiting for mom to get home to watch Abby (my aunt who was watching her had already left), I headed back to the hospital. We finally returned home about 9:30.

Natalie seemed fine the next day and has been fine ever since. This time we are definitely getting a follow-up X-ray at the end of the antibiotic to make sure the pneumonia is gone. This once a month thing is getting ridiculous.

Abby is still better too, I think. She seems to have a little cold, but that seems pretty normal these days. Hopefully, after this round, everyone will get well and stay that way.


A little funny about Angel Hospital...a few years ago when my mema was in the hospital, I went to visit her. I asked for her room number, and the desk clerk looked on a sheet of notebook paper to find her name and room number! Maybe that helps explain the pharmacy situation as well:-)

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Natalie and Abby say....

GO HEELS!!!!

Tar Heels rock!


(They are very sad the game is too late for them to watch. They really wanted to wear their cute UNC shirts from Aunt Reagan.)