New year, new adventure

Just when you think you're at a nice steady pace, the troubles of micro preemies become loud and clear.

Yesterday was the boys 18 month well visit. We've had a rough couple of months with physical therapy. We've had 4 different therapists since October. Some better than others. We're finally happy with who we were matched with and I've seen lots of changes in the boys. Addison crawls. He's almost crawling on his hands and knees. He pulls to standing, climbs over things, and is sitting unassisted (as long as you prop him into the sitting position first). He eats table food but prefers to dissolve the food in his mouth instead of chewing it. He has started to clap and does "so big" (puts his hands up in the air when someone says so big).

Riley, on the other hand, does not sit unassisted. Just this week he's regularly able to sit with his hands propping him. He almost never puts weight on his legs/feet. He'll push up and down on my lap as a game but will not pull himself up or put his legs down while in the exersaucer. He's still army crawling but does get up on his hands and knees and rock.

So, I brought it up to the pediatrician and I asked when it switches from "there's nothing wrong and they'll "catch up" to is there something wrong and that's why they're so delayed?" He said there's always been something "wrong" and now it's just a question if it's something neurologically or just a side effect of being born so small. He's referring us to a developmental pediatrician at the Hershey Medical Center. Apparently it could be some time before we're able to get in because there's not many developmental peds. around. I guess once we're seen there we'll get more information towards a diagnosis or cause for their developmental delays. It will allow us to have more targeted therapies and possibly more therapy. We've also been referred for a cranial ultrasound to be sure there's no extra fluid or swelling in the brain. He doesn't think that's likely but since their soft spots are still open, he wants to be sure everything is ok.

Enough about all of that. Christmas was a lot of fun. The boys got very spoiled but didn't have any interest in tearing off wrapping paper. They got lots of toys (almost all with a therapy purpose in mind) and they're enjoying them every day. We only had one sick visit in December and it was just for wheezing and chest congestion. They were both healthy for Christmas and we enjoyed a weekend of friends and family.

Addison now weighs 18 pounds even and Riley weighs 16lb. 10oz. At our doctors visit just 2 weeks before the well visit, they were 17lb. 8oz. and 15lb. 12oz. with their clothes on. They've had a pretty big growth spurt over the past month or so. Part of the reason for the weight gain is because of our awesome speech therapist. She has them eating almost all table foods. I only use their baby food to mix with regular foods. We're going to now start weaning down their formula and switching to part milk/part formula and we're going to try to decrease the number of bottles they're taking in hopes of increasing the amount of meals and snacks. Riley is my big eater. He loves to eat all types of food and he chews everything with no issues. He's also the first one to have a molar come in. He drinks perfectly from a sippy cup too! Addison needs some work. He loves food and will shovel handfuls of food into his mouth but then he lets it dissolve before he starts to chew. He'll eat any and all table foods and so far but doesn't really do well with the sippy cup. He knows what to do but he prefers to dump it on the tray and then play with it.

All of the kids loved their Christmas Eve pajamas!

Addison plays so much in the exersaucer

And Addison has discovered how much fun it is to splash in the dogs water dish

This is about as involved they got in opening presents

Riley didn't want anything to do with wrapping paper

But he sure liked playing in the new ball pit!

Addison liked it too! He sat like this for about a half hour.

I have lots of stuff to share

The holidays have kind of taken all of our free time and I've got so much to share, hopefully I remember all of it!
We're still fighting with germs. I had the boys back to the pediatrician 2 days ago. They've been coughing and wheezing for more than a week and although their runny noses went away, the wheezing is hanging around despite regular breathing treatments. The doctor took a nasal swab and sent it to the lab to be cultured but we haven't heard back yet. In the meantime, we're just sticking with the breathing treatments.
The therapies are going so well! Their speech therapist has them eating so many new foods. Addison can't get enough. He will grab anything and everything out of your hand and eat it. Riley will eat all types of different foods but prefers to be fed. Riley is drinking from a sippy cup though. He drinks so nice and neat while Addison prefers to bang the cup on the high chair tray and dump the juice on his head. Lately, the boys have been enjoying bananas, banana bread, cheese curls, and chocolate chip cookies. While that may not sound like the healthiest diet, they're eating a variety of textures and flavors and not having any trouble changing between the different foods. That's a huge plus! Since the boys have been sick, we haven't been pushing them too hard. After the holidays, they're due for their quarterly review and we're going to re-evaluate their goals. As of now, our plans are to start adding in actual meals (and reducing the amount of bottles) and to start adding language into their sessions.
Physical therapy is wonderful. She comes Saturday mornings and this past weekend, Addison was standing with just his hands on the exercise ball. They're both up on their hands and knees and rocking back and forth. Addison is almost always found pulling up on something. He easily pulls up on his knees and occasionally will get his feet under him. Riley is really getting around now. He's no longer getting his arm stuck under his body and he crawls all over the place.
Occupational therapy is also going well. Addison plays give and take. They're both holding their bottles and banging 2 toys together. Addison will put things into a container and then take them out. Riley takes things out of a container but hasn't started to put them back in.
They've both had a growth spurt over the past 2 weeks. There were a few night where they were drinking bottles non-stop. They went through a container of formula that normally lasts us about 3 days, in just over 24 hours...twice! We spent a small fortune on formula last week. When we were at the doctor on Monday, Addison weighed 17lbs. 12oz. and Riley was 15lb. 12oz. When we were at the doctor last month, Riley was only 14lbs. 10oz. (which was not much more than what he weighed at his 15 month check-up). They're both getting lots of teeth. Today, Riley got his first molar on the bottom left side. These poor boys have had their gums swollen for days now. They both have all 4 front top teeth. Riley just had his last of the bottom 4 pop through last week. Addison has 3 of his bottom front and no molars yet. They'll be in soon enough.
I'll write more about this when I have time but if you look over on the right side of the blog, you'll see a purple box for the 2010 March for Babies. Last year, Ian and I raised just shy of $600 in about a month. The fundraiser officially kicks off in January but we're able to start raising money now. The walk is April 25th, 2010 and I set a goal of $1,000 in donations for team Macomber Miracles. If you're local, consider joining my team and helping to raise money. If you're not local, or able to join the team, please consider making a donation to my team. No amount is too small and any amount is very much appreciated. The March of Dimes has done so much to benefit premature and sick infants and I'm excited to be able to participate again this year.

This is our 2009 family Christmas picture. Ian is holding Riley.

Addison enjoys some puff snacks.

Riley being a ham :)