Together Again

Gage and Lila are together again. This time out of the womb. They used to be wombmates and now they are roommates. I just had to share these pictures with you.

Twins Pictures

Good news!

Yesterday, the NICU took all of the IVs, tubes, and electrodes off of Gage. He is functioning very well without them. Britney and J. P. were able to feed him a bottle. He took 40 ml which is great for him. One of the nurses will feed him 50 ml. Needless to say, he's about to take off.

His preemie clothes don't fit. So, they took him NB and dressed him along with a little cap. Brit said he looked so handsome. He is also out of his NB diapers and into a size 1. That's another milestone.

Lila looks fabulous in her preemie clothes and her NB Swaddlers. She may be the "little" sister yet. Who knows?

Brit and J. P. said that Gage has a test today. He will have to pass his car seat test. That means that he'll have to sit successfully for an hour and fifteen minutes in HIS car seat. Once he passes his test (and I know he will), then maybe he'll be coming home very soon.

Daphne, Brit and J. P.'s poodle and my Granddog, got to come home last night. Pops (Kenneth) brought her. Lila was in her little Pack & Play asleep when Daphne got there. Lila kind of squirmed and let out a little grunt. Daphne whipped her head around and looked in her direction. She tiptoed over to that area to see what she'd heard. Daphne would turn her head first left and then right and look at the play pen to try to figure out what that noise was.

Finally, Kenneth picked her up and finally got her to see that little baby in the play yard. Her nose was going crazy trying to take in all those baby smells.

When Brit and J. P. got home from seeing Gage, J. P. held Lila down to Daphne and she inspected her. I think she's going to make a fine big sister for the twins.

Pictures of Gage and Lila

I posted a blog below that gives details about Gage and Lila and their progress.


Look at the twins' pictures. Gage has tubes; Lila is free from tubes on her face. Enjoy!

They're here and they're grand!

As you might have suspected, Brit had her babies on Thursday, Dec. 11. Both were born at 7:54 a.m. which the doctor says is very unusual. Usually there's at least a one or two minute gap even with Caesarean birth. Although Lila was actually taken first, they will have the same birth time because she arrived at the first of the minute and Gage arrived at the end of the minute. Neat, huh?

To clear up some confusion, the actual birth statistics were: Lila Kail, 5 pound 5 ounces, 18 inches long; and Gage Preston, 6 pounds 4 ounces, and 20 1/2 inches long.

Gage had some breathing problems from birth. Both the OB and the pediatrician said that was typical. They told us that he had the "wimpy white male syndrome". That is, of all the races and genders of babies, the white male's lungs are the last to develop. When babies are pre-term (35 weeks and 4 days) and even more common in twins, the white males are more likely to have respiratory problems because their lungs simply are not developed enough to function without help. Interesting, huh?

Gage was Careflited to Scott and White to the NICU within a couple of hours of birth. He was greeted by his Aunt Karen and Aunt Brenda Edwards. Shortly thereafter, J. P. and his dad, Ricky, arrived. Of course, they immediately began working with him. Someone has been with him 24/7 ever since. Although we knew that there was nothing that we could actually do for him, we wanted someone from the family with him always.

Saturday, Brit was released and she went over to see him. A He was already doing better. She couldn't stay long, but at least she got to touch him. Yesterday, they took the oxygen away and he is breathing on his own. They also removed the feeding tube. Both Elizabeth ( J. P.'s mother) and J. P. were able to hold him and feed him. His respirations were down to 48 late yesterday evening and they want them to stabilize around 60. They had been up to 120. Once he can maintain the breathing rate and is nursing vigorously, he may be released.

Lila was released on Sunday. J. P., Brit, and Lila went home. They were offered a place at the Ronald McDonald house in Temple. However, J. P. didn't want Lila nor Brit to be subjected to any sickness since their immune systems are so fragile. He thought it best that they go home.

Brit is doing pretty well. She looks great and is getting around good. I hope she doesn't overdo it. She stays really busy with taking her own meds, pumping for the babies, and tending to Lila. Don't misunderstand, There's been someone with her 24/7 as well. She just enjoys tending to her.

In my family, we have always had big, healthy babies. Even Landry was bigger than the twins. So, knowing exactly what to do with them is still an exploration. That brings me to the nature of pre-term babies. Brit's pediatrician said that she should not take them out except for the doctor's appointments for 2 months. He also said that their immune systems are in a suppressed state. He advised that she limit visitors and those that do come must either wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before touching them.

That causes distress for her and J.P. They're so proud of the babies and want to share them with others, but they simply can't yet. I guess she'll be posting pictures and so will I so that you can at least see them.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers for them. However, everyone wants to see pictures so, I have attached the better pictures that I have. The pictures of Lila are good, but I haven't had an opportunity to get a really good picture of Gage because he's been in a situation where I couldn't get pics without the tubes. Basically, though, Lila resembles Brit and Gage resembles J. P.

Please continue to include their little family in your prayers.

Patience. . .

They say that patience is a virtue. I agree. I have quite a bit of patience. That comes from dealing with high school students for 30 years. However, the rest of my family does not have patience. Whenever they were made and the Lord passed out the patience, they misunderstood and took none. Now as they sit on pins and needles awaiting Gage and Lila's birth, they are learning patience. I've told Brit many times that God is still instructing her daily. These days, the lesson is, having patience. I must admit, though, that even my patience (that of Job) is stretching thin. I'm antsy to meet those two precious little ones.

Lila and Gage as ducks

Lila might be a little like this duck except for we think Lila will have dark hair.

The ladies at Brit and J. P.'s church gave them a shower a couple of weeks ago. One of the ladies at the church is 96. Along with her other gifts, she gave burp pads for the babies that her daughter had made. They are simply precious.

As Elizabeth (the twins' other grandmother) and I sat there, we agreed that the little ducks on the burp pads are probably precursors to our grandchildren.

We could envision Gage as this little boy. He is scooping out the sand from his pail just after he had spent time filling it.



Can't wait for them!

And the beat goes on. . .

No Thanksgiving Day travesty this year. My oven didn't go out or anything. All the food was properly cooked at my home in my oven. No snags whatsoever. It was even very good. You might remember that last year on Thanksgiving day, my oven went out before I had a chance to warm the turkey and to bake the dressing, the pies, and the rolls. I nearly had a meltdown, but luckily I remembered that in the Home Ec. department at our high school, there are 5 working ovens. So, I just transported my food to those ovens and wa-la, the food was all baked to finish at the exact same time. Thanksgiving dinner saved!

This Thanksgiving was uneventful in comparison.

Ken and I have re-painted the two bedrooms at the end of the house and the Jack 'n' Jill bath between them. They look so nice and fresh.

We got the baby bed out of storage and, of course, we were missing 2 essential pieces. Lucky for us, our son-in-law is very clever and he can make us replacement parts. When we get those parts, we'll be able to dress the bed and we will be finished with that room, as well. I have all the little baby things (blankets, bibs, burp pads, and clothes, etc.)washed in Dreft and stored in the dresser.

B. C.'s room is nearly finished. I repapered a couple of walls and repositioned his furniture. Also, I sorted, categorized, and organized his clothes and other "stuff". He can find everything for a while until he messes it all up again.
That will take only about 3 days or so.

So, now we are listening for the beat. You know the beat that goes on and on and on. That means that our lives are steadily moving forward. I suppose that's a good thing.

It's been a while. . .

The school year is off and running. We have finished two six weeks already. That means that we are one-third of the way through the school year. Yippee!

Football ended on Saturday with a loss to Grandview. It was one of the coldest ball games I've ever watched. Although the temperature was not all that low, the wind blew like crazy making it seem like the single digits. It was all a bit too much. I'm sorry that the boys lost, but I am ready for basketball.

Our girls' team seems to be doing well. They have won all their games and they have some very talented athletes. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

The boys' team won't play until Friday. They won't have a home game until Dec. 19th. That's good and that's bad. Bad that I won't get to see them. Good that I won't feel obligated since I'll be busy.

Ken, B. C., J. P., Chris and Braden have been clearing brush at our place. They've made quite an impact. It's really looking good. They'd all stay for dinner on Sunday night and it was so nice to have the fam over. So, there's two pluses to that situation.

Ken and I painted the babies' room (formerly Brit's room) from the radioactive pink she wanted to a much more soothing leather color. We've moved some of the furniture back in. I'm looking for just the right bedspread. I cleaned the walk-in closet in that room. It was an all-day task, but it looks so nice and now I know where everything is and I can get to it. I can go shopping at my own house for things to decorate the room.

Whenever we get the Christmas decorations out, we will be able to get to the babies' bed and then put it in the room. I already have the bedding so that we can dress it. Whenever they are at Gigi and Pops' house, they are going to be little cowpokes. So, our time is occupied with getting the house in order before the babies arrive.

We are going to also paint Chad's room and the shared bath. Hopefully, the bath won't be a big job, but his room will. I have enough of the boxes from Britney's room sorted and packed so that now we will have space to do the same for his room. That will be an enormous undertaking. Pray for us that we don't kill each other!

The greenhouse is up and full of plants. Yeah for us! Aren't we just moving right along?

Saturday, I'm going with Brit to her other baby shower at Cranfills Gap. Her little church ladies are throwing her one. I've heard that they have some special gifts for the babies. I'm sure it will be quite fun. We may go shopping afterward since we are so limited on time. We'll take it easy, though.

Our family will gather at Brit's house on Thanksgiving. I plan on making the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Then, I'll bet the guys go outside and toodle around on the gator and four-wheeler for a while if it's nice. I imagine Brit and I will work on the babies' room or something. Then, we'll all watch the traditional football game on TV. Hope the Cowboys and A & M win!

That weekend will be a mad house for shopping so I'll most likely forego it. Besides, I'll be preparing for a colonoscopy the following Monday. Nice. . . not.

Well, I've gotta go get busy. My school day is about to begin. Check back later.

The hurrieder I go . . .

I'm sure you've heard that old adage, "The hurrieder I go, the behinder I get." That is particularly true for me. I try to take on too many things, do them way too fast, and then have to either re-do or am assigned yet another task. Anyway, it's safe to say that I am no Speedy Gonzales these days.

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks because of my hectic pace. It's not even spring yet and I'm already very, very busy. What will it be like then?

The grandbabies are doing just fine. They are growing inside. Brit is feeling pretty good. She has most everything in order. We're all just waiting for those little twins to grow enough to be born. We hope they're here by the end of the year. Christmas babies would be nice. I'll bet they will make their appearance, though, when they are good and ready.

Brit has added yet another item on her educational list. She is now a real estate broker. She has passed the rigorous test and will be getting her license soon. Who knows what is next on her agenda. She has lots of options. Way to go, Brit!

We have a big football game coming up this week. We play Crawford at Crawford. That is always tough. Although we are picked to win by seven, as you can discern, it's anybody's ball game. I hope the Dogs prevail. If they do, they have a good shot at going to the playoffs. We remember what happened last year during the first round of the playoffs. . . we beat #1 Mart!. That was such fun! All I have to say is, "Go Dogs! You're #1!"

Banker

B. C. has added a new dimension to our family. He's become a banker. No, not really, he's just a teller, but hey, that's an occupation we've not had in the fam before. He's still in the training phase, but he really likes it a lot.

Since his dad and I have had so many surgeries and other health issues, he wanted to stay nearby to help us out. What a guy! I think he just likes our home-cooking and beating me at Wa-hoo.

No matter what, we're happy to have him around (at least most of the time).

Halloween

Both of my children have always loved Halloween. They like scary movies, dressing up in costumes, trick or treating, and the entire silliness associated with the holiday.

For the past 2 years, B. C. has won costume contests at College Station. Once he won with his red Power Ranger suit. Another year he went as Woody from Toy Story. This year will be no different. He already has his costume ready to go. He will be the Penguin from the Batman series. I can honestly say that with his suit, he really resembles the Penguin (except his height).

I think Brit may paint her tummy orange and make it into a jack-o-lantern. Wouldn't that be cute?

Happy Halloween to all of you. I hope you have a safe, yet delightful experience.

Growing

Brit went to the OB yesterday for a sonogram. She said that she could see Gage really well. He has chubby cheeks (like his dad). Lila was more difficult to see. I guess she was in a "mood".

The OB told her that they have grown since last month. Both have just about doubled in weight. Gage has gone from 1 pound 6 ounces in September to 2 pounds 10 ounces this month. Lila grew from 1 pound 3 ounces last month to 2 pounds 5 ounces yesterday. At this rate, they may be almost normal size at birth.

Brit went shopping to pick up a few things that she still needed for the nursery and the babies. She said she thinks that she's acquired the essentials for now. She is so excited!

Babies' Shower

The babies’ shower was just perfect. Brit had requested a LeeAnne Jackson cake and cream cheese mints. The hostesses did not disappoint her. Brit had a great time and really enjoyed herself. There was a super turnout and many of those attending she had not seen in quite a while. That is always such a thrill. She also received many, many nice gifts for the babies. People who hadn't even been sent an invitation sent gifts . . . just because they love her. How wonderful!

The hostesses’ gifts, a travel system and a pack 'n play, are something that she will put to good use. Maybe she’ll actually take the twins out of the house since she has such a nice stroller and play pen to use.

Elizabeth (J. P.’s mother) and I went over Saturday night and helped her organize Gage and Lila’s room. We hung some of the little clothes and put others in drawers. We dressed the cribs and put up the valances. Their little room really looks like a nursery now. She added up the gift cards and cash and has already made plans for their use.

She’s really in the nesting phase right now and thanks to her shower gifts, she has things to feather it with.

Newest Addition

Last week, we had a new addition to the Stephens family. Brett and Elizabeth Stephens became proud parents to Landry Peyton Belle Stephens who weighed in at 6 pound 11.5 ounces and was 18.5 inches long. Although she had a little bit of a rough start because of some breathing problems, she's good to go now.

Whenever I look at her, I can see both Brett's and Elizabeth's features about her. I think she is absolutely precious and just what that part of the Stephens' family needed. . . a girl. With six little grandsons, Rick and Gloria needed a feminine touch to that generation.

Welcome to the world and welcome to our family, Landry. We already love you!

He's home

My husband had yet another back surgery yesterday. To be exact, it was on his neck. The neurosurgeon fused two vertebrae and re-did a prior fusion. The doctor took bone from his hip to help make the fusion. As one might expect, he is sore and sleepy. His hip seems to bother him worse than the incision on his neck. It did the last time, too. After less than 24 hours in the hospital, he got to come home to recuperate. I get to be his nurse this time around as he was mine for the last couple of months. I hope I'm at least half as good as he was. Please keep him in your prayers and ask for a speedy recovery.

When it rains, it pours. . .

On the side of the Morton Salt box, a little girl with an umbrella holds a box of salt. As it rains, the box of salt still pours out. Thus, the saying. However, most of us nowadays find this to mean that when one thing happens, it seems a deluge of other things happen, as well, and they occur all at once. So it goes in my life right now.

So far, 2008 has been a very eventful year and some of the events are ongoing.

• Our UIL kids tied with Crawford for the district championship. Way to go H.H.S.!
  
• Brit and J. P. began their in vitro journey in late January. That ride lasted until May when the pregnancy was confirmed. Now the twins are on their excursion. What a joy!
  
• My mom passed away in late March. I miss her terribly.
• In June, I began to have back trouble with excruciating pain in my lower back. It got to where I couldn't sit, lay, or stand nor sleep.
  
• July 7th brought emergency back surgery followed by twelve days in the hospital and weeks of recuperation from the surgery and the MRSA I had. I'm still getting bills for that.
  
• Early August brought a new air conditioning system because the old one went out. Along with it came a $6200 bill.
  
• August 8th, Chad graduated from TAMU. Whoop! and Gig 'em.
• School started without me for the first time in 30 years. Brit subbed for me the first week and parts of the next two weeks.
• Last week, I went to see both my doctors and they were very encouraged with my progress. I have to report back to him in November.
  
• Tomorrow, Kenneth has to have yet another neck surgery to fuse more vertebrae and fix one of the ones he's already had done. Poor guy. If it's not one thing, it's another.
  
• B. C. takes his LSAT on October 4th. He's taking the Princeton Review to help improve his score. That had a hefty price tag, too.
  
• Brit's baby shower is October 11th.
• Sprinkle in there mountains of medical bills that the insurance company is not covering, and I think you can see why I am somewhat overwhelmed and can truly say, "When it rains, it pours. . ."

Ready or not. . .

I worked the first four days of this week. The kids have been great. I really enjoy being back with them. They are so funny. I just love them.

Monday started out good, but I was really tired by the end of the day. Tuesday started out with me weak, but it got better. Wednesday was pretty good all day long, except that my ankles swelled and hurt. I even played Keno that night. Thursday was NOT good from git to go. My back hurt most of the day which is something that it has not done since the surgery. My legs hurt. I was fatigued and my ankles swelled again.

I notified my sub that I'd need her on Friday. I had pushed myself to the limit. So, I've been resting today and hopefully I'll still build enough stamina to go through next week.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

Finally

Today was the last day of my IV antibiotics. Yippee, I am so glad about that. I'll still be on oral antibiotics for quite a while, but I can handle that (I think). The pills are like horse pills, but so far I've been able to swallow them.

I also had my normal infusion although is was over a week late. I've been so tired and lethargic that I haven't wanted to do anything but rest. But, even the rest did not make that tired, sick feeling go away. The last few days, I've also experienced a lot of the Crohny symptoms related to the time period just before an infusion. My hope is that they will also subside.

The nurse then took out my PICC line. I'm so glad to be free of it. It continued to be sore and really bothered me. I almost feel like an uncaged bird. I'll still have to take medicine by the clock, but at least it won't be 3 times a day.

I enjoyed visiting with my nurses at the ACS department today. There are five of the nurses that I have gotten really close to there. They look forward to seeing me and I look forward to visiting with them. Whenever they know that I am scheduled, they make it a point to pop in if for just a minute. Even though we don't really know each other's families, it seems like we do because we share stories about them the entire time I'm there. Over the course of the years that I have gone for my infusions, they have made my "room" so very comfortable. They have not one, but two leather recliners (one for me and one for Ken), a television with a remote control, a telephone (I don't know why), an ice cold soft drink, and a bathroom just steps away. In addition, they have put the neatest little picture film in the fluorescent light boxes so that when I recline while infusing, I can see cloudy skies and bougainvillea spires.

My stamina is improving, but I still don't have enough strength to stay an entire day at my job. Luckily, I have an awesome substitute while I'm recovering.

I'm going to try to go back to work next week. I'm going to take it day by day, but maybe I can make it the whole week. If not, I'll call on my substitute to step in.

My principal said that they would start school without me and that whatever they messed up, I could fix once I got there. That sounded fair to me, so I agreed. No telling what I'll find next week. Oh, well, it'll give me something to do.

Did you hear that?

Did you hear that noise yesterday afternoon between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m.? You know, that great big “Whoo-hoo”? It came from Waco’s direction. Well, if you were one of the few that missed it, let me explain. Britney and J. P. found out yesterday that they are having a boy and a girl. How ‘bout that? That’s exactly what they wanted.

The sonogram technician said Twin A is a girl. She loved having her picture taken. She has a little turned up nose and faced the sonogram camera every chance she got. On the other hand, Twin B is the boy. He did NOT like having his picture made. In fact, he ducked his chin and would move his arm and hand in front of his face consistently. At one time, he even moved his entire shoulder around so that his face could not be seen. Hmmmm. . . that’s something that his mom and dad will have to work on.

They are both right on track developmentally with Twin B being 1 day further along that Twin A. They weigh exactly the same (about 10 ounces) and measure the same size. The girl is positioned slightly lower than the boy. Both, however, are head down and feet up and snuggled right up against each other.

Her OB told her that given her physical make-up that she would probably not go past 35-36 weeks which would put their birth date in the two weeks before Christmas.

Please keep the little Aaron family in your thoughts and prayers as they continue on this wonderful journey. Also please remember the twins' grandparents: Pops and Gigi Andrews, as well as, Honey and Pa Aaron. I figure we'll need some prayers, too.