First dentist visits

I finally found a wonderful dentist who is great with the kids. The twins finally had their first dentist visits yesterday. They did go well! They went back, to separate rooms, and me and Skylar switched back and forth so that someone was with them the whole time. They counted teeth (both have 20!), and gave them a quick cleaning. No cavities! And, the best part (at least for the boys) was getting cool Lightning McQueen toothbrushes when they were finished. They proudly carried them out of the rooms, and were eager to show them off to everyone when we got home. They couldn't wait to open them and brush their teeth. And first thing this morning I heard..."you brush mine teeth wif mine yeitning queen toofbrush"
Tomorrow Addison goes for his pediatric psychologist visit for an IQ test to see if he qualifies for SSI. Wish us luck. I'm curious how well an hour long appointment with this psychologist is going to go considering Addison rarely talks to strangers. I'm sure it will be interesting.

Diagnosis day

Yesterday was our long awaited appointment with the pediatric neurologist. Riley got the referral back in August or September of last year because our pediatrician was concerned that Riley wasn't talking and that his gait was so off. He suspected that there would be a Cerebral Palsy diagnosis given.
And there was.
The doctor was wonderful. He seemed very knowledgeable and he was great with the kids.
The good news is that Riley doesn't have muscle tone problems and hopefully, with therapy, he'll improve. He diagnosed him with mild CP, likely due to PVL. He wrote a prescription for ST, OT, and PT and I have to speak with the social worker at St. Christopher's Hospital later today and try to get some services lined up. We decided to not do the MRI now because, at least right now, it wouldn't change his diagnosis. He wants to see Riley back in 6 months and if therapy hasn't helped, we'll proceed with the MRI. I want Riley to get the help he needs, while causing the least amount of trauma. The MRI would be done at St. Christopher's in Philly, while under sedation. That's something I'm more than willing to put off for 6 months if it means we might not have to do it.
So, this now opens a new world of medical stuff for us. And it's kind of overwhelming. I think I just kind of pushed all of this to the side and didn't do much research, which is so unlike me. I knew, deep down, that he probably had CP but I think a big part of me was hoping he'd just catch up. I think actually having it be official is just sinking in. Riley has Cerebral Palsy.

Proud mama today :)

Since the boys got sick, back in the beginning on December, they've spent at least part of the night sleeping in my room. And they've also been very clingy and reserved at school.
Last night, they slept in their room the whole night. Addison only cried to sleep on my floor for a few minutes while he laid next to Riley and fell asleep. Even when they sleep in their room, they curl up together in the same toddler bed. One bed has probably only been slept in a handful of times.
Anyways, they got a great nights sleep. I had to wake Riley up at 8:15 this morning.
So, off to school we went, prepared with our valentines for the valentine's party. We missed last week because the lady who watches Terran had a tummy bug going through her house and I wasn't about to take chances with that. I fully expected them to be grumpy and clingy but I was surprised from the beginning when Addison ran up the walkway, not caring if he was holding my hand or not (which has NEVER happened). Addison went right into the classroom, without me, and gave the teacher her candy, then came out to put his jacket in the cubby.
They played with the other kids and more importantly, they played separate from each other! They participated in circle time and sat on the carpet instead of my lap. And, just overall, were delightful!
I was so proud of them when we walked out of school today. And it made me feel better about having just handed over $100 to register them for school next year (where they'll get dropped off and be without me...yikes!).

The days just fly by

We're dealing with minor colds. Easy peasy! The twins have made their way back to preschool and life has picked back up.

Hard to believe that the baby is 8 months old already! He's doing so great with his physical therapy. She comes every other week and after this quarter, we'll likely go to once a month. Terran rolls all over the floor and is so, so close to sitting up. He has just started to kind of push himself with his feet and scoot along the floor. He doesn't get far but he is starting to get around. He's a whole 15lbs.8oz.! He's got rolls after rolls and big chubby baby cheeks! And he eats baby food. a lot. The twins weren't able to eat food until well after a year and Terran will eat half of a jar at a time.

Twins are doing well. Riley is starting to talk in sentences. It's usually word for word what Addison says but I'll happily take it! Our next big goal is going to be potty training. That is a huge goal. I dream of the day when I only have one in diapers. The money I'd save will help offset their preschool tuition for next year...when they have to be potty trained to go to the next class. Our tuition is a manageable $45/month for both. Next year, it will go to $150-160/month. It's normally $90/month but they give a sibling discount (thank goodness!)

Which brings me to...mama's goin back to work! Yep, at the grocery store. in the deli. Not the most glamorous job and I'm only going back very part time, but, every little bit helps. And, dare I say that after sitting home since last May, I'm kind of excited to be an adult and talk to other adults, even if it's only 15 hours a week.

And, with that, I'm heading to bed after uploading a few adorable pictures. Before I know it, it'll be 5am and time to start all over again. And tomorrow brings a day of keyboard shopping because it's also the first night of Leah's piano lessons!

Me and my snuggle bunny :)

Addison and Riley playing at the Hands on House museum in Lancaster

(Addison in the one in front)

Starting the new year and battling with germs

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. We had a busy but fun Christmas and a fun New Years Eve celebration. Addison was able to stay up until 10:30!
The boys keep asking about Christmas. And Addison's new thing is "I being good boy, Mommy" and he keeps asking to get a new tree. This is the first year they really understood Christmas and it was awesome to see them excited to see Santa, pick out ornaments at the Christmas tree farm, and help decorate the house. In our township, the local fire company spends 4 nights driving through all of the developments with Santa on top of the firetruck. They come through with a police escort and full lights and sirens. And the firefighters had out candy canes to kids. It's really pretty cool and I don't think there is a better combination than fire trucks and Santa for 3 year old boys. They talked about it to everyone who would listen for days!
We were very busy for a few days visiting family. And I think we've been paying the price ever since. We've been passing around germs since the week before Christmas. The twins missed their preschool Christmas party and missed their first day back after their break. Fevers, vomiting, sinus and ear infections. You name it, we've been dealing with it. But, the twins aren't hooked up to the nebulizer non-stop and aside from sleeping extra, we've been able to deal with all of the germs without continuous doctors appointments and no hospital trips.
Here's some pictures. I apologize that they're out of order but my keyboard is not working correctly and thanks to curious 3 year olds, I'm missing 13 keys and I'm not able to click and drag the pictures in order.

The boys with their Christmas gifts

Christmas morning

Next to our Christmas tree

All of the boys with Santa

Our family picture

Life has become a lot busier

As I posted my earlier post, I realized that the last time I posted to my blog was MONTHS ago. Holy smokes does the time fly by!
I guess I'll begin with Terran. He came home on August 5th, after a 68 day NICU stay. He came home weighing 5lbs. 12oz. and is now a whopping 13lbs.! All breastfed. No fortifiers or formula. This kid can eat. He's still on the apnea monitor and we're hoping to be rid of that in the next week or two. He smiles and coos and is adored by his siblings.

Now..onto the boys. So much has happened since their 3rd birthday.
They are no longer getting in home therapy. They continued therapy until the end of the summer and they were supposed to transition into a preschool setting through the BCIU. They were placed in a class that was rented out of a daycare setting in a horrible part of town. I voiced my concerns to the coordinator there and was told "well...that's where they were placed, so...". So, they refused to place them in another classroom and I ultimately decided against sending the twins there. Since they're not potty trained, they can't go to a traditional preschool class which left me with few choices. Luckily, I was able to get them into a 2 year old preschool class at the preschool my daughter used to attend. It's only one hour, every Friday, and it's a mommy and me style classroom setting so I stay with them. including the twins, there's only 6 kids in the class which is perfect because it's not overwhelming to them. They get free play, circle time with songs and games, arts and crafts, and snack. It's a really good intro into a classroom setting and even though they're not getting specialized therapy, they're gaining much needed social skills while still having to do fine and gross motor skills and speech. Riley has really started to come out of his shell at school. He stands up and tries to participate in the songs and is starting to play with other kids. He also loves arts and crafts. He is always coloring and painting. Addison is a bit more stubborn and he's still really overwhelmed with his new classroom. The one downside.....germs. They've had a runny nose since the 2nd week of school.

First day of school

The boys were recently at the pediatrician for their 3 year check up and they're both just shy of 30 pounds. Addison has a never ending vocabulary and shows almost no physical delays. Riley is still struggling to talk and he still walks like he's had too much to drink. His delays have resulted in a referral to a pediatric neurologist for an MRI and possible CP diagnosis. His appointment isn't until April but according to the office, a second neurologist should be starting in January and our appointment date will likely be moved up. Does this referral scare me? Of course. I never want my kids to have to grow up with labels or a special needs diagnosis. But, it's been a suspicion of mine all along and if we can get some sort of diagnosis, hopefully we'll be able to get him specialized therapies and help that he needs.

They have both had their yearly check ups with the opthamologist. I'm happy to report that they both have perfect vision. There's no lasting issues from their ROP or their Strabisus. They still might need glasses down the road but for now, you'd never be able to tell they had problems. We don't have to go back for a whole year.

The boys have finally moved out of their cribs and into toddler beds. They have these awesome race car beds and Addison doesn't sleep in his. I will lay them down in their beds and Addison will quickly move all of his stuffed animals and blankets into Riley's bed and fall asleep at the opposite end of Riley.

They are transforming into such bright kids. They're definitely toddlers now. They are mischievous, charming, sneaky, happy, and lovable toddlers. They team up with each other for both good and bad. They give the best hugs and have the sweetest smiles. And they love books. They could have books read to them all day and nothing would make them happier.

October 21st

I'm looking forward to the holidays. They know who Santa is now and they're very much looking forward to his visit.

I've got to start wrapping this up because they're now teasing the cat...which is a nice change from teasing the puppy. Yep...we have added a puppy too. Yes, I am crazy. I wouldn't have it any other way :)

At a local dairy

Prematurity Awareness Day

Today is National Prematurity Awareness Day. Anyone who has visited this blog before knows my twins story and more recently, the premature birth of my newest son, Terran. My oldest son, Skylar, is also a preemie. He was born at 32w3d, weighing 4lbs. 1.6oz. While a 32 weeker pales in comparison to 25 and 28 weeks gestation, it was just as frightening as my other NICU experiences. He only spent 21 days in the NICU but he was my first. Despite all of my boys being early, they're all doing well. They each have problems which may or may not be linked to their early entrance into the world, they're healthy, wonderful children that have made my life remarkably better.

So, please take a moment to visit http://www.marchofdimes.org/ and find out what you can do to raise awareness about premature birth and how you can help to ensure that all babies are born healthy and on time.

Stationery card

Family Bliss Holiday Card

Shutterfly always has unique designs for our holiday cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Yesterday, my amazing little boys turned 3!! We had a little family party for them, filled with Mickey Mouse everything and they were beyond thrilled. We got them a t-ball set, mickey puzzle, and a 4 pack of sports balls (which was the clear winner of their gifts).
Last year, I couldn't take them outside and put them down because they hated the grass. This year, they were outside, hitting the ball, running through the dry grass, in bare feet and they loved it :)
They have come so far and they are so amazing. They impress me every day. Yesterday, I asked Addison whose birthday it was and he would say "Riey Addin" (Riley and Addison), and then I'd ask how old Riley and Addison are and he would say "free" (three). And then I asked him where his ba-ba's (bottles) were and he said "bye bye". Yep, we're getting rid of their night time bottle. And they got a cool new potty seat with Elmo and Ernie on it and hopefully they'll start to get excited about sitting on the toilet.
I sat in the nicu last night, holding my new little boy, remembering how terrified I was 3 years ago when the twins were given a 50% chance of survival. They not only beat those odds, but they beat and continue to beat even more odds.
They've officially been discharged from their in home therapy and are now going through BCIU therapy to help transition them into school. They're going to start going to a classroom in August. I'm so excited but scared for them. I know they'll eventually love it but it will be really hard to put my babies on a bus and send them to preschool.
Anyways, today I am taking them shopping at Toys R Us so they can each pick out a new toy. Should be exciting!
I'll add pictures later tonight. My camera battery is charging.

Addison on the left, Riley on the right

Addison

Riley

I'm happy to announce...

Addison and Riley are big brothers (3 months early). Little Terran Conner was born May 29th, 12 weeks early. He weighed 2lbs. 3oz. and was 15 inches long. Yes, another itty bitty baby, and it's my last.

He's in the NICU, being cared for by some of the same amazing nurses that took care of Addison and Riley, and he's doing remarkably well. He is getting breastmilk through his tube, his PDA valve closed on it's own, he's already down to 2 litres of oxygen on the high flow cannula, and we've been holding him every day since Thursday. He's going to grow and learn to nurse, and hopefully be home with us in 8-10 weeks.

What a difference 3 weeks and 1 pound make. His apgars were 7 and 9, and he came out feisty, pink, and crying.

in the delivery room

Proud papa, holding his son for the first time!

My sweet baby boy

Another successful March for Babies!

Ok, so maybe it wasn't as successful as last year when we raised somewhere around $3,000, but we did what we could and raised just shy of $1,000. More importantly, the twins WALKED instead of riding in a stroller. To me, that was worth more than any money I could have raised. We only walked about a quarter of the walk but they walked the whole thing and I couldn't have been more proud to turn around and cross the finish line.

On the trail

Stopping to get a picture with mom!

After crossing the finish line and having a yummy lunch
The boys are doing more and more every day. Riley is finally fully walking, Addison is jumping and running, and they're saying new words every day. Addison can put 3 words together to make some sort of toddler rambled sentence.
It's so unbelievable to me that in just a few short weeks, they'll be turning THREE!! Where in the world did all of that time go? They'll be transitioning from in home therapy to BCIU therapy which is a preschool type setting. They'll be bussed to school and have classmates and all of that fun stuff. I'm terrified for them to head out on a bus without me but I'm making sure they stay together so they'll at least have each other.
Now that it's been nice outside, we're spending a lot more time outside and they twins love it! We planted a garden and they sat forever just playing in the dirt. You know, like normal toddlers should do! And, we were out a few weeks ago and you'll never know how good it felt when someone came up and said "how old are they, about 2 or 2 and a half?" For a stranger to guess their age and be so close felt amazing. I don't get people asking if they're 1 or why they're not walking. I think they might soon not be able to pass for "under 2" when we go out and I'll have to start paying for them. haha.
So, they're getting a baby brother. Poor Leah will be so outnumbered but I'm excited for another boy. Unfortunately, this pregnancy has been tough. I've been getting progesterone shots every week to help my uterus from contracting and just this past week, I had my first cervical length ultrasound which ended up with me being in the hospital for 2 days to be monitored. No contractions but my cervix is short and soft and so I've already had my 2 rounds of steroid shots for the baby's lungs and I'm all but on bed rest. No lifting, no driving, no working, etc. As much as it sucks to have another difficult pregnancy, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to avoid another preterm birth. When I was in the hospital, they wheeled me past the NICU and I just started crying. I don't want to have to do another blog for another micro-preemie. And, hopefully I won't have to.

Addison
Riley

Being cute

Easter egg hunt, Riley in grey and Addison in blue.

It's been a while

I never seem to have enough time to sit and update and I end up needing to set aside an hour (like now) to update months worth of news. Hopefully I can finish this before the big kids get home from school.

So, my last update was in October. I can't believe it's really been this long.

Halloween and Thanksgiving, the kids spent with their dad. I heard it was wonderful but aside from that, I don't have much to talk about.

Christmas was wonderful. The twins were finally able to open their own presents and they loved all of the excitement.

Addison helped the big kids decorate the tree

Addison was so proud of himself for getting stuff out of his stocking

Yes, Riley really was that excited to get Mickey keys

Aww :)

Addison is now walking like a champ. He's even running! He climbs, talks, and acts just like a toddler. He has a vocabulary of probably 50 or so words. He loves books, Mickey, Sesame Street, balls, and food.

Riley has recently (like within the past 3 weeks) started walking a lot more. At first, we called it a Frankenstein walk. He would keep his legs stiff and his arms straight out in front of him. Over the past week or so, he's become a lot more comfortable and is starting to walk more "normal". He has a much smaller vocabulary but he is able to communicate fairly well. He also loves books, Mickey, and bubbles!

They both love being outside and it's finally starting to be nice again. They're still getting all 3 therapies every week but as of their 3rd birthday, they won't get in home therapy anymore. They'll start to go to a preschool to help get them ready for real school. Just thinking about my babies going to school shocks me.

A friend of mine is an extremely talented photographer and we were lucky enough to be able to have family pictures taken by him in the fall. He did an amazing job and these are only a few of my favorites.

Addison

Addison on the left, being a goofball

So, in a nutshell, they've gone from way behind babies, to toddlers in what seems like no time at all. They're in 2T clothes and are comparable in size to some other 2 year olds we've met. Do they have more catching up to do? Of course. But, they're progressing every day.

And...can I say without jinxing us....NO hospital visits this winter! It's March 1st and we've avoided the doctor and the hospital all winter long! Heck, I didn't even take out the nebulizer. They did catch colds but they eventually got over them. Sick season isn't over yet but I think we've made it through the worst part.

And, lastly, this is probably the biggest news to report. Addison and Riley are going to be big brothers! I met a wonderful guy at the end of the summer and, after the shock wore off, we're happy to be expecting baby in the fall.

One more thing before the kids walk in the door. For the 3rd year in a row, team Macomber Miracles is walking in the March of Dimes March for Babies. There's a box on the right hand side of the blog that you can click and donate directly to our team. This is the one big thing I do every year and I feel like it's a very small way to give back and give thanks to the many people who have helped my boys not only survive, but thrive. Without research that the March of Dimes has done and funded, my twins may not be alive today. Our walk isn't until May so there's plenty of time to donate! Remember, no amount is too small. Every donation is needed and very, very much appreciated!

Look at what Addison can do!

He's been walking more than crawling today. I think we may have turned a corner in his progress. He's been taking steps for a few weeks now but now he's actually walking to and from things and across rooms and down hallways. :) He's made me so proud lately!

Riley is also taking 2-3 steps at a time. He is so proud of himself when he stands up and takes a few steps and then he gets so frustrated when he falls. I have no doubt though, that as soon as Addison is running away from him, that Riley will have no choice but to start to walk so that he can keep up with his brother.

It's been way too long

Life has been crazy. Football, school, work, therapy, and everything else that suddenly pops up. I've got so much to share and hopefully the boys will nap long enough for me to be able to type everything.

Addison is WALKING! He's not walking all of the time but he can get halfway across the living room. He runs toys through the house and he wants so badly to just go but he can't. He loves playing hide and seek and he loves chasing Leah around the kitchen.

Addison had a broken collar bone back in August. He took a tumble off my bed at 3am and that was all it took. He healed perfectly with almost no discomfort and is good as new.

He weighs about 26lbs. He says a bunch of "words" now. baba, cat, dog, bus, car, and night night. Recently he's become obsessed with vehicles. Every time he hears a car or truck drive down the road, he drops what he's doing and points to the door and says car or bus.

Riley is also running toys through the house and he can stand independently but he's still not strong enough to take steps. Riley loves animals. He goes crazy over the cats. He's about 24lbs. now.

We've had a super busy summer. The kids all got to go to Dewey Beach for a few days in August. The boys LOVED the ocean. They loved everything about it.

They're enjoyed spending time outside this summer. They don't mind the grass at all and actually really like going in it.

They've both got 8 molars and they have no problem eating anything. They're off of formula but still having a few bottles of milk every day.

They're such beautiful children. They have such distinct personalities and when they're together, they're a hilarious duo. They've developed their own way of communicating between each other and they continue to amaze me every day.

They're still getting all of their therapies once a week and the therapists continue to be happy with their progress (even when they're not feeling like cooperating).

Addison at the beach

Addison's first time in the ocean

Riley's first time in the ocean

Riley at the condo

Lots and lots of updating to do

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend! It has been a very busy couple of months for us. Lots of changes are happening and I guess the biggest one is that Ian and I are no longer together. We decided, back in March, that we just weren't good for each other and so we've remained friends and have a great co-parenting relationship. I've started working nights and weekend so pretty much all of my time without the kids, is spent at work. Skylar just finished 3rd grade and Leah graduated from preschool.

The boys are doing so well!! Addison is now about 23lbs. and Riley is almost 22lbs. Addison is so close to walking. He'll walk across the whole house just holding onto one of my fingers. He easily walks toys across rooms and can stand up on his own without holding onto anything. Riley is starting to walk while only holding my hands but he is just a little too wobbly. He can walk a toy across the room but it's not pretty.

They're both climbing onto furniture. They love to climb onto the couch and play. Addison stands up, with his arms straight up into the air, and then falls down on the couch. He thinks it's the funniest thing (and it is pretty darn funny). They're both easily going up the stairs. Addison crawls all the way up the steps in only a minute or two. They don't know how to get down from the furniture or stairs but we're working on that.

Their therapies are going really well too. Ian usually has them during their physical therapy sessions and he tells me that the therapist is really happy with their progress. They're doing great with occupational therapy. Speech is where I think they're making the most progress right now. They can sign "more" "eat" and "please". They're starting to try and say the words "cat", "dog", "baba (for bottle)", and "baby". They're saying "mama", "mom", "out", and they're babbling with a lot of new sounds. They follow directions wonderfully. If I ask them if they're hungry, they'll crawl to their high chairs and try and climb into them. If I tell them it's time for a new diaper, they go to where I change their diapers. I can ask them where something is and they'll either crawl and look for it, or point to it. If Addison wants something, he'll crawl to it and point. We're finally able to have some basic communication between us and it's made things a lot easier.

They're eating basically any food that you put in front of them....and they eat a lot. A normal breakfast for them is 2 scrambled eggs with cheese and milk added, either a half or whole banana, and usually some crackers or toast. We're slowly working on getting them off formula (and bottles all together). When I weaned them at 13 months and switched them to formula, if I had thought for even a second that they would still be drinking formula a year later, I would have tried to stick it out and continue nursing.

They're definitely toddlers now. 2 weeks ago, they were still somewhat babies...but they're 100% toddlers now and many people have commented on it. They each have their own personality and like and dislikes. Addison will definitely be the ring leader and Riley will be the one to watch Addison to make sure it's ok before he does it. Addison gets this sneaky grin on his face and he gives the funniest expressions. He knows when he's not supposed to do something and he'll turn his head over and down but look at you out of the corner of his eyes. Riley is my love bug. He loves to snuggle and be rocked to sleep.

They give each other high five's and shake hands. They love to give hugs and kisses. They make car motor sounds when they play with their trucks. It's hard to believe that they're 2 already. It has been so fun to see them grow and become individuals AND brothers.

Riley enjoying cake that the neighbor made

Addison didn't waste time picking it apart

Both of them sleeping together is a rare sight

Addison being a goof