all about anyways?
Collin and Cyrus are my twin boys who were born over three months premature (25 weeks gestation), both under 2 pounds at birth, and three days apart. This blog is a journal of my experiences and their adventures & challenges in the NICU and now at home. I add entries weekly (now that they are home) with their situation, updates, fun events, and of course pictures. Blog Intro & Boys birth info
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Thursday, November 06, 2008
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They grow up so fast!I just had to share these... The boys are in a public school preschol program for children with disabilites, and one of the perks is that we get school pictures taken. :) How can you not love these faces?
Its just the best picture of Collin I could have hoped for!
Cyrus is probably saying "Cheese!" :) Adorable! |
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Thursday, October 30, 2008
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...Three Days Later (Four Years Ago)I have been stuck in bed at the hospital, not even allowed to move onto my side for fear of how it may jostle Cyrus' placenta and I have been miserable. The medication has kept me just short of lucid and sometimes I would participate in conversation and sometimes I would blurt out bits of what I was dreaming. My husband and I had finally picked out names for both boys, Collin (meaning lion cub) Leander (meaning bravery) to give the little guy strength. Cyrus (meaning sun) Theodore (gift of God). So there, one thing down, and the NICU could replace Collin's label from Swain, Boy A to Collin Leander. My daughter and nieces had come by with a pumpkin they made for me and the babies in their Halloween costumes. I was sad that I was missing Halloween with them. However I was determined to make this last... but my body had other plans for me yet again. The doctor came in after dinner and told me that my fever was not going down, and as a result of birthing Collin but not his sac, I had developed an infection. This no longer made me Cyrus' safest place to be. So at least this time I was able to prepare for the cesarian, my family was there, even my brother left his 10 year class reunion to make it. Shivering from the fever and terrified (for those who didn't know, I had planned on having a home bathtub birth, so having a c-section was on my list of NOT to-do's) I was wheeled into the OR. Ewwww, epidurals are frightening! But got that overwith, wearing my bright green fuzzy socks, I was prepped and ready to go. I kept crying, for this had really been the moment when I realized my beloved pregnancy was over and my kids did not have the beginning I had dreamed of. They asked me if I wanted drugs to help me relax, but I told them to wait until Cyrus was out, then load up on the drugs! It was so much easier than what I had been through a few days ago. My husband watched the birth with morbid excitement, keeping me up on every step. I asked what X feeling was and he would describe what they were doing; I was interested but had no desire to see for myself. Then the sound of Cyrus' cry filled the room. He was here! This time I had my glasses, and he was in better health so they gave us a minute to look at him and gently touch his tiny fingers before taking him to the NICU. The NICU, this would be my children's home for the next four months. Cyrus Theodore born at 9:48 PM, 1 lb. 15 oz. and 13 inches long. I was not quite half way through my pregnancy and it was already over. I missed out on a lot that I still grieve over, but the alternative would not have given me these amazing boys. Wow. I dont even have toddlers anymore, really, they are little boys now. When did that happen? I am blessed with these two miracles that overcame their 20% survival odds and still manage to impress us with their personalities and abilities. Happy Birthday to the strongest people I know!
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Monday, October 27, 2008
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This Day Four Years AgoRight about now I was just taken from one hospital in an ambulance to another where they were more equipped to handle "a woman in my condition." In labor 3 1/2 months early, only 25 weeks along, I was freaking out about what was going to happen to my babies. I had only discovered a few weeks earlier that I was even having twins. Now the doctors were doing whatever they could to keep my boys from being born. The contractions were already starting to race one another and I felt terrified and out of control. Little did I know that Collin was determined to arrive in only a few short hours. It was hazy, as they were pumping my veins with steroids and this magnesium crap that made me feel horrible, but I was only partially aware that the pain I was going through was labor... I was having a baby. The nurse had been checking me regularly to see how far along I had dilated, the last time she had checked I was about a 5. I had been in so much pain that I was doing anything I could to try to minimize it... I didnt realize I was pushing (remember no birthing or lamaze classes yet, they were scheduled for next month). The nurse came by again, mumbled something in a terrifying voice and took off. Not two minutes later I was in the OR being prepped for emergency cesarean. What did she see that freaked her out? Collin's feet. Well, the doctor realized that it was safer to just birth the child than to try to go the c-section route and told me to push.. and after two pushes Collin was born! My husband did not even get into the OR in time it happened so fast. So I got a blurry look at my son from about ten feet away (I didnt have my glasses on) and then he was rushed off to the NICU and I back to my room. Collin didnt have a name yet, and wouldnt for another 36 hours or so, but he was out in the world, and Cyrus was taking the opportunity to stretch out in my belly for as long as possible. My doctor told me the longest separation between twins he had ever seen was five weeks, not knowing then that Cyrus only had three more days before it was his turn to make a grand entrance, we were hoping for as long as possible... Collin was born at 3:51 PM a mere 1 lb. 12 oz. and 13 1/4 inches long. So here I was, having just had a baby, and I was still pregnant. Yeah, tell me about it.
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Friday, July 11, 2008
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Not so little anymore!Cyrus recovered well from his surgery and was back to his normal rough housing self in two days. Now we are enjoying big milestones like potty training, trying to move into big boy beds, eating meals without any restraints to keep them seated, and learning to play tee ball. Cyrus is the ultimate charmer and all the ladies, young and old, adore him. Collin keeps more to himself but has of late become quite a mommy-holic. They are blossoming into little boys and so smart and SO curious... its amazing. When I think about what they have been through and how far we have come I am reminded of how true it is when I tell people that they are miracles. It could have been so much worse... so much worse. Collin is doing well with his Dynavox and using sign language, although the signing is really for just using with family bc he has trouble making signs and there fore they are almost always modified in some way. But the important part is that he is communicating, being understood. Overall, we are doing very well! Crazy as ever, but it is getting to be more fun as they get older.
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008
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And we were doing so well...Yeah, I would like to think that I was just giving a happy little update. I really have been meaning to start up again, I probably have no one left who checks up on this ancient thing. :P Ok, so here is the thing... Cyrus is having surgery in the morning. Apparently a side effect of having a shunt is hernias, and Cyrus' previous hernia has come back. *sigh* The upside is that it is a day surgery thing, in and out in about four hours, and he is old enough that they dont have to spray that valuim stuff up his nose, he will get to drink it like a big boy. I am just frustrated that we are dealing with another surgery. Between both boys we are still averaging two a year, Collin having had his eye surgery back in November and Cyrus' shunt revision a year ago March. But as to their overall health, they are doing good these days. :) I will let everyone know how it goes, so I will just post a cute pic or two. Thanks everyone for still hanging out and thinking about us. :)
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email me guestbook - subscribe Name: Kelly Country: United States State: Texas Metro: Dallas Gender: Female Interests: So much has changed since I updated this last. Collin and Cyrus are now in a preschool program for children with disabilities for three hours a day. Its great for them and I love the time off too. :) |