Landon's swallow test went really well on Wednesday. He has very little acid reflux but we will continue with the Zantac because it seems to be working very well. He weighs 14lbs. 8oz.

Logan is doing well and he 19lbs.

Sorry for the delay in posting. Things have finally started slowing down for us some. I have not been on the computer much at all. The boys are doing wonderful and growing up so fast! They are both laughing, and talking and have now discovered yelling. They are now yelling when they want your attention if you are not in the room with them; both are rolling over. We have finally gotten over an upper respiratory infection and colds in the last month.

Logan
He is doing well and has started going to physical therapy once every 2 weeks. Doing really well with his therapy. He weighs about 17lbs.

Landon
He does not have to physical therapy. He has been to see his pulmonologist and she has diagnosed him with acid reflux and started him on Zantac; the medicine is helping a lot. She is also trying to wean him off of his oxygen at night and hopefully we will be off before we go back to see her the end of June. He also goes on June 3rd to have a swallow test done. This will be our first one so I hope everything will go well and we get results. He weighs about 13lbs.

McTwins are growing!

The McTwins are really growing by leaps and bounds, seems they grow right before our eyes. Logan now weighs 15lbs 7 oz, and Landon weighs 12lbs 1 oz. For Landon, the apnea monitor has been discontinued and only uses oxygen at night, but still has to have breathing treatments once or twice daily,depending on the amount of wheezing he has from his asthma. Otherwise, they are doing great.

They were evaluated yesterday at the Developmental Clinic at Baptist Hospital in Jackson by a physical therapist, speech therapist and nurse practitioner. The good news is that they are on schedule developmentally for their adjusted age of 3 months, even though age wise they are 5 months old. They go back in July for another developmental evaluation, as well as an eye check up. The reason for the eye evaluation is that there are problems visually that preemies can develop, but our prayers have been answered that the McTwins haven't had any.

They're smiling, gurgling and making noises, which I'm certain they are saying "You're the greatest grandmother ever", you think?

Today was another first. The boys started on baby food, and carrots was the food of choice. The boys sit in their high chairs to eat, and as Landon told his mom, the whole family was going to eat togather at the table for supper. Smart little boys aren't they!

We continue to be blessed each and everyday as prayers have and continue to be answered. God is good!!!

Posted by Dawn McMinn

Pictures

Here are some pictures that have been taken while both boys have been home!

Prayers needed

These last couple of days have been good for the boys. They are loving there cereal. Landon is finally out of newborn clothes and into 0-3 and Logan is out of 0-3 and into 3-6 months. They are getting so big.

I wanted to mention that Paige's son Dylan has been put back in the hospital. Dylan was born at 24 weeks (October 1) was in NICU until February 12th when he came home. He was doing really good until the last couple of days and went in for check up to the pediatrician and was immediately flown back down to Jackson. He has a severe infection, thinking it is pneumonia in both lungs, but will not know until they get the cultures back. He is on the ventilator, sedated and paralyzed and also nitric oxide and dopamine. I ask you all for your prayers and that he will pull through this and be back home with his family. They have a website on caringbridge. You can go to http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/babydylan.

Another friend of mine, Mallory, had her baby girl Brayleigh on Feb 19 and was a healthy baby until Friday night when she quit breathing 3 times and was sent to UMC for futher testing. She had a cat scan and MRI on Saturday with many prayers she is fine and just had some apnea episodes. She is doing extremely well and will be coming home tomorrow.

Big Boys

Things are going good around the house with the boys! They are starting to coo, smile and laugh when you talk to them.. it is so precious! We are now getting ceral 3 times a day and they love there cereal. Uncle Bo came stop by to visit yesterday and they enjoyed the holding time they had with him.

We had a doctor appointment with Dr. Bolden on Wednesday, Feb. 18th and Landon is progressing extremely well. We are now starting to wean him off his oxyge by taking him off in 30 minutes incriments at a time. So far his O2 SATS have been really good! Eah week we can increase the time to hopefully where he will only need the oxygen when he eats and sleeps. He now weighs 9lbs 6oz.

Logan is doing really good as well! We are now being taken off of the formula Neosure (22 calorie preemie formula) and put on regular Enfamil. He now weighs 12lbs 8oz.

We had our 4 month shots on Thursday, Feb. 19th. They were not very happy boys!

Happy Valentine's Day

McTwinville on Corinne Drive

Sunday - Feburary 8 "This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice..."

January 28th was our BIG day to bring Landon home. We now have 2 babies, 4 machines and tons of stuff, along with a home health nurse and respiratory therapist. It looks like Babys R Us has arrived on Corrine Drive. Landon is adjusting to the home environment, but probably alot better than we are adjusting to the machines and navigating around with them. Landon has an apnea monitor, O2 sat monitor, oxygen concentrator, and a nebulizer. It's alot at present, but hopefully all of this will be discontinued in about 6 weeks. We've learned to attach a long extension to the oxygen tubing which allows him to be taken to almost any area of the house.

Landon has already gone to the doctor for his post hospital check-up and he's doing great. He's adjusted to home life and is thriving. He's trying to out do Logan for "Big Bubba time". As with Logan, he's found the best place to sleep is on Big Bubba's (Billy's) stomach. He's now up to 8lbs 8oz. and drinks 4 oz of formula every 3-4 hours. He and Logan normally wake up only once a night to eat, but spend some of that time discussing things while awake in their crib together.

Logan is well over #10 (probably over #11) and is also thriving. He and Landon both seem less fussier since being home together than they were in the last few days Landon was in NICU.

Everyone being at home together is wonderful and a reason to rejoice. Every prayer, word of encouragement and love, meals, gifts and so much more are appreciated more than you can imagine. We've been the recipients of christian action in so many ways and are so blessed, in fact, twice blessed.

Therefore, as we have oppurtunity, let us do good to all people, expecially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galations 6:10

posted by Dawn McMinn (or as Big Bubba calls me-Granmyster)

NICU Day 98/ Home Day 22

The McTwins are looking forward to being back together again! It seems Logan has been doing a lot of planning and keeping notes so Landon's transition to home life will be easier, though we know who will transition easier and it's not the big people.

Wednesday, Jan 28th is still the discharge date.

The hospital is calling periodically with discharge plans and things to be done or have set up here at home. We've gotten the oxygen company with supplies in place, as well as a home health nurse who sees pediatrics (at the doctors request),prescriptions on hand at the pharmacy, appointments to have their monthly Syngist (immunization for RSV) immunization, and 100 other things attended to (or so it seems).

There is a lot of talk about RSV at present. For those who hear it, but not familiar with it, it stands for Respiratory Syncytial Virus. It's a lot like a bad cold (and more prevalent in the winter), but very contagious and can lead to pneumonia. Preemies are more susceptible to catching it, so it's a priority to do everything we can help prevent them from acquiring it, including limiting visitors.

Mary Beth is going to Jackson today to visit Landon, so I'll post a progress note tonight.

Posted by Dawn McMinn

NICU Day 94/Home day 18

The McTwins are now 3 months (and 1 day) old, and progressing well!!!!

We're counting down to the day when Landon is discharged and everyone is under one roof. Logan has settled down to a routine, but I really think he knows our routine and is letting us know in his own way who is really in charge, and it's definitely not the big people.

We figure that by Logan's facial expressions that he's thinking of what he's going to tell Landon when he gets home. Important details such as the best place to take a nap (on Big Bubba's stomach), which dog has the best ears to pull (Oscar), and who will be the first to come to the rescue when unhappy (Big Bubba). But we figure his best information to pass along is, Life is good at home.


Landon
Continuing to do well. His oxygen has been decreased another small increment, but the flow is so low, there's not much room to decrease it very much. He continues to hang onto it as his security blanket. His last weight several days ago was 6 lbs and 10 oz, so he's almost to #7. His feedings have increased in the range of 70-90ml every 3 1/2 to 4 hours with no G.I. problems. There are no more preemie cloths and newborns fit well (for time being) as the same with the size of dipers. It seems unbelievable that he's in his 3rd size of dipers (micropreemie, preemie and newborn)in such a short time.

Logan
Having us adjust to him I think is his major objective. It's a constant reminder to the 3 of us big people that because he's unhappy at times (when he's not being held)doesn't mean we have to pacify him. His feedings are the same as Landon's, every 3 1/2 4 hours at 5-6 oz (150-18 ml). At his doctor's visit last week his weight was 8 lbs 14 oz, so now he's over #9. He's still wearing a few newborn cloths, but is now moving into the 0-3 month size.

Posted by Dawn McMinn

NICU Day 85/ Home Day 9

Mary Beth went to River Oaks and was able to spend a long time with Landon while Billy and I baby sat Logan. It's interesting how at times it takes 2 adults to take care of a wee one. It's going to be interesting when the duties double.

Landon
He's still on his wisp of oxygen, but it's taken off periodically during the day to see how well he tolerates being off of it. He's able to be off of it for long periods (as stated by the nurses) at a time, though not sure what the time frame of a long period is. The physician is hoping that he'll be able to be off the oxygen soon and can be discharged home without it, though the physician is still not giving a time frame for discharge yet, only saying soon.

He had routine blood test Friday (CBC, lytes etc), and for the first time, his hematocrit was normal for his age, as was the rest of his lab values (A prayer answered)

He was fussier than usual today,though not sure why, and his nurse said that she ate her lunch while holding him. He doesn't want for attention.

Logan
Continuing to do well. He had a good well baby check up Friday. He was fussier than usual today, but so was Landon (interesting). I guess it's the twin thing, that they can sense things even when apart.

Posted by Dawn McMinn

Sponsor Me at March for Babies!

NICU Day 82 / Home Day 6

Let the children come unto me... Matthew 19:14

I think the whole family is having seperation anxiety with Logan at home and Landon still in NICU. Despite our previous thoughts of not bring Logan home before Landon, it's been good to have a wee one to help us get somewhat organized (or maybe organized chaos) with all the stuff that goes along with babies these days. Not only is there more stuff for them, but some of the things we used years ago is still around, but only bigger. There is no simple swing, it's a major contraption, along with the bouncer, boppy, travel systems (car seat and stroller travel system for those who aren't use to the babyism logo) etc...

Landon
Still on oxygen, but has been decreased to 40% (previously on 60%), though he's still hanging onto his O2 like a security blanket. He was taken off his oxygen Tuesday to see how he did without it and went approx 20 minutes with no problem, but then his O2 sats started dropping and it had to be restarted. He's still on the diuretic, but it also has been decreased with hopes of discontinuing it soon. He's weighing in at 6lbs 6oz and as he's filling out, he and his brother are looking so much more alike. We're taking turns going to Jackson to visit, and Landon is enjoying getting all the attention and not having to share his visiting time with brother. Of course, the nurses are still doing their part spoiling him.

Logan
Discharged home on Friday (Jan 2) and is enjoying every second of home life, though not really happy about sleeping in his bed alone. We think he's holding out until Landon comes home so he'll be satisfied when they can bunk together. He has his first doctor's appt. tomorrow with
Dr. Huddleston in Greenwood, thank goodness both boys had their first set of immunizations while still at River Oaks.

Posted by Dawn McMinn

NICU Day 75

As we begin a new year, we look back at how our lives have changed. We are so blessed to have had so many praying diligently for Mary Beth and the boys through her pregnancy and during the time the boys have been in NICU. Prayers not only for their health, but for our family.

Tomorrow (Friday Jan 2nd) is a major step, not only for Logan for but for the whole family. Everyone is excited that he's able to come home, but also eagerly awaiting the time when Landon can be discharged. We are told that it will be within the next 2 weeks.

Landon
Still on oxygen and no apnea since Sunday. We still say he was trying to show out for Billy. Will be able to give a full report tomorrow on weight, feedings etc. after visit at the hospital.

Logan
Probably has his bag packed and by his crib waiting for a ride tomorrow. We wonder how many bottles of formula he has squandered away in his bag in case he gets hungry on the way home.

Posted by Dawn McMinn