Welcome to Tyler and Parker Thompson's Blog

Tyler and Parker Thompson arrived on June 23, 2008 at only 26 weeks and 4 days old, weighing 1 pound 6 ounces (Parker) and 1 pound 10 ounces (Tyler). Parker spent 129 days (home 10/30/08) in the NICU, while brother Tyler spent 143 (home 11/13/08). We are thrilled to have our family complete with both boys home!

This blog was created by John (the daddy) to inform family and friends (and now new acquaintances) of the twins progression. Below is the blog archive dating back to the week Heather (the mommy) was admitted to the hospital. We try to post weekly updates, but on occasion the week gets the best of us.




Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Free Again!

So, we didn't have our "pow wow" with the docs today, but it is scheduled for tomorrow. Hopefully we have more information regarding a "plan" for the boys.
Tyler was again CPAP-free today! He has been sooo irritated with the CPAP he just hasn't gotten good sleep and fights the device. He was taken off today and put on high flow cannula to see if his agitation would subside. Guess what? It did...here's Tyler sound asleep and loving his CPAP-free face!
When I came in today Tyler was sleeping sideways in his crib. Nurse Cathy didn't want to disturb him because he was getting such good sleep. What a cutie!

As you can see, Tyler has no intentions of going back on CPAP...


...and to make sure he is holding onto the high flow cannula tubing.

"They can't make me go back!"


"Yes daddy, I will do my best to stay on the high flow cannula and not go back to the CPAP. I promise daddy!"

Playtime for Parker



Parker was so awake today! It was fun watching him look around, grabbing into the air, kicking his little legs. He makes the cutest coooing noises and squeaks now. And even though he has bouts of gas now and again, I SWEAR he's smiled at me more than once!


Kick those legs...just like Michael Phelps!




"You know, I could start talking if they'd just take this feeding tube out! Don't they know that?"
Grammie and Parky had some wonderful snuggle time today!

Monday, September 29, 2008

Nuttin' Much

Not much to say - the boys are pretty much the same. This is why we've requested a meeting with Pulmonology and the docs, which will hopefully happen tomorrow. We just haven't seen progression this last week, which is fine, but we'd like to know if there is a "master plan" for the boys somewhere. Tyler is still irritated as ever at his CPAP, we'd really like to see him get off that thing! And Parker's hernia is getting larger daily and we know he will need surgery soon, which means he'll have to be re-intubated. We aren't looking forward to it, but know it has to happen...soon? So, should our "pow wow" take place tomorrow we'll have much more to say (assuming we get answers that extend beyond "wait and grow").
Today was a holding day for the boys. They are really getting used to being held and Parker is even demanding it now! Rut ro...we're creating a snuggle monster! BOTH boys are now eating (well with an ng tube) 60 ml's - and Tyler has finally HIT the 7lb. mark! Woo hooo big boy! Parker is getting there at 6lbs, 8oz. This is a very good sign and DOES show progress, so there is some movement at least!
The nurses keep mentioning that the boys will soon need to learn how to eat. They have to master the suck, swallow and breathe technique that is natural for full-term babies, but is lost with micro preemies. Some babies will pick it up quickly, while others will struggle, only to extend their hospital stay. As soon as they move to a low flow cannula they will begin "practicing". I can't wait! All for now.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

First Tub Bath for Parker

Well, it seems as though we've had a "stall" in progress with the boys. They seem to be fine "hanging out" EXACTLY where they are - Parker still on high flow cannula needing around 25% oxygen (he did go back up to a pressure level of 5) and Tyler remaining on CPAP needing around 30% oxygen with a pressure level of 6. Tyler seems to be pretty agitated with his CPAP and fights with it. We're hoping to meet with the Pulmonologist and doctors this week to discuss a plan for the little guys. They just haven't been progressing in the respiratory area at all lately. We did have a good weekend with the boys by giving them baths in a real baby bathtub! Below are pics of Parker's first tub bath! Gotta love it!

"This is torture! Leave my head alone, I like a flaky scalp!"


"What are they doing to me?"

"Wait a minute...maybe this isn't so bad!"

"Yep, I think I like this bath thing...not bad! Ahhhh!"

After Bath




"There's nothing better than cuddling up in a warm blanky with mommy after a bath!"


"I'm exhausted after All that clean business!"

Thursday, September 25, 2008

zero

September 25th

In my opinion the number zero has always gotten a bad rap. People always view it as the bottom of the barrel.......the lowest you can go.......well let's start with the math geek explanation of how wrong this is......okay..... I'll admit.....as a math teacher, if I give a kid a zero on a test we're looking down the hopeless end of a pretty dark and dismal tunnel.....it doesn't get a lot worse....BUT....outside of the world of tests, zero is not the bottom.....it's not the lowest you can go......come on, don't any of you out there remember negative numbers?!?!?!? You see, as a well trained Chico State math geek (okay no wise cracks about my Alma mater!!! I'll have you know that CSU Chico is a fine academic institution.....it just happens to have the best of both worlds.....not only did I receive a quality education, but I got to witness the riots up close and personal as well.....now, where else can you get a well rounded education like that!!!....but once again I digress...) as a well educated Chico State math geek, I've always seen the number zero as being exactly in the middle....positive numbers on one side and negative numbers on the other.....you see, you all have just been raised to be prejudice.....that's right.....you're all negative number haters!!!!!....completely ignoring the entire other half of the number line.....you oughta be ashamed of yourselves!!!!perpetuating such a numerically biased view of the world......what did the left side of the number line ever do to you!!! huh!!!.....nothing that's what.....but yet you still see the world in such a prejudicial myopic way......no wonder we're on the verge of this contries second great depression......if only you'd acknowledge the negative numbers you'd understand how our government has spent so much more money than we actually have!!!....uh...oh......I crossed that line......it political.....quick.....back to the nonsensical, non threatening world of confusing yet cute tangents that resemble incoherent rants!!!!.....whew......catasrophe avoided!!! Even in every day speech the number zero gets a bad rap....."you're such a zero" would be a stinging barb that would wound someone to the core......and then there's the really random quote from Eddie Murphy's Delirious that almost no one will get..."Mr. Murphy, would you like to do the next problem on the board?? Uh...no thanks, man....I'll take the zero" Acne, chicken pox, mumps and even ring worm all manifest themselves in the form of a zero.....it's a conspiracy I tell you!!! Poor little zero....well I'm here to present the absolutely positive news of the day....and it is......da da da da da da da da da....that's my drum roll, for those of you who haven't been with us since the beginning......today, my son's are zero days old!!!!!! That's right...as of today the boys are zero days old......that means that today is there original due date!!! I know I know, some of you daily readers are protesting right now....your saying that I'm cheating.....I'm repeating a blog.....we've already been down that path.......you're looking back right now at the blog entry entitled "came and went" and screaming "John's a fraud...I knew it....this whole thing is a hoax.....there is no Parker and there is no Tyler......I've been duped.....there is no great pumpkin Charlie Brown.....I missed it.....I sat here all night in this stupid pumpkin patch with you waiting for the Great Pumpkin and he never came!!!! AHHHHHH how could I be sooo stupid!!!" Well, while I can't prove the existence of the Great Pumpkin....or the lock ness monster....or Big Foot for that matter, I can assure you that you have not been duped by the myth of our little heroes.....I can assure you that the past 94 days of your "sitting in the pumpkin patch" have not been in vein....alas our little heroes are, in fact, real!!! You see the previous entry entitled "came and went" referenced the original date that the boys were supposed to be brought into this world.....you see, our doctor decided long ago that, at 38 weeks, if the boys were still chillin' in the mommy incubator, that she would take them both by C-Section...........we all know how jinxed that prediction was now don't we. You see, that was their 38 week, take em early cuz their twins date......that was supposed to be the date that we brought them into the world......HOWEVER, today is their actual due date.....the 40 week gestation due date......today is the day they were supposed to be fully cooked brownies ready to gobble up......SO WHAT??? SO WHAT you might be inquiring.....no offense taken if you are actually thinking that.....cuz....honestly.....I would be too.....in fact I'd be sitting there reading this blithering rant saying to myself not only so what but also "what the hell is the point" and " I can't believe I'm still reading this" and "where the hell is Heather with the great pics and quick reads that we've come to love in this idiots absence.....but no, I'm still reading" Yeah, I might be saying that too.....but I'm not.....cuz I'm writing it.....so why the big deal?? Here's why (finally....I know). You see my two little soldiers are doing well these days....yipee....yes, tyler is back on CPAP, but Heather and I are both okay with that as we have tremendous faith that it is a small setback that is surmountable.....you see both boys are at least past the half way mark to coming home......we may even be lucky enough to be spending Halloween with them at home...we'll see....we are just pretty darn pleased with their progress lately and the fact that we get to hold them so much more than before......here's the kicker though.....we still don't know how significant any neurological or physiological damage has been done......and we won't for some time. There are theories and vague guesses, but we simply won't know until later when they begin making/missing certain benchmarks like rolling over, walking etc. You see there are certain general time frames that they should be doing specific things......it's these time lines that make today so incredibly important. You see (I use that phrase a lot don't I.....hmmmmm) these benchmarks are based, not on their actual age from birth, but rather from their adjusted age based on their due date. This makes today critical. For example, on December 23rd they will technically be six months old, but as far as where they should be developmentally they will only be three months old......and for anyone who has ever had kids, you know that the difference between a three month old and a six month old is monumental to say the least. Now do you see why today is such a critical day??? I know, I know, I could have gotten my point across in a much much shorter amount of time and words......but then you wouldn't miss Heather's blogs quite as much :):):) Today, the age of my boys is zero.......and that to me is a very positive thing.....to me, zero, means that my boys have survived the first three months of a tumultuous hard fought life that could've ended in tragedy at any moment.....to me zero means that they are beginning to not only survive, but that they are also beginning to thrive......to me zero means that life begins with new hope, new laughs and new optimism......to me.....at least for today......zero is a very happy very positive number!!!!!!

Good Growing

So below you'll see some funny pictures of the boys in new outfits! Yes, I couldn't wait to put them in their cute new attire because they are soooo adorable, but also because the boys are outgrowing their preemie clothes! Yes, that's right, the boys are moving into newborn clothes! Last night John and I went through their many preemie outfits and donated 15 to the NICU. So everyone who's given us preemie clothes should be happy to know that other parents are going to enjoy finding their baby boys sporting DARLING outfits (with the name "Thompson" written in the collar - ha ha). I remember the first time I saw the boys in clothes - it was MAJOR! It made them look more like babies and less like patients. That was huge for me!

So, that leads us to the boys weights - now both over 6lbs! Parker hit 6 pounds, 1 ounce tonight, while Tyler stays in the lead at 6 pounds, 10 ounces. Their feeds also went up to 55 cc's for Tyler and 50 cc's for Parker. The fact that the boys can digest this amount of milk is a fabulous sign of good health!

Today was eye exam day - boo hoo! And like every eye exam day, the boys were wasted. The good news is that their test results were PERFECT! The stage 1 & 2 ROP in Parker's eyes resolved itself. Neither of the boys will need surgery! Yipppeeee! What a relief for us!

Of course with every celebration in the NICU comes a reality check. Tyler was put back on CPAP tonight. Poor little dude was just working too hard on his cannula and just couldn't get his respiratory rate to stay in the normal range. We're hoping that with a few days rest on the CPAP he will build the strength needed to remain on cannula. Once again that pesky CPAP barrier will impede my snuggling, but I realize it's for health's sake.

Now go get into the fall spirit and enjoy the pics below!

Great Pumpkin



It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!
"No sillies...it's just me Tyler!"





"Okay, so is this supposed to be funny? I don't get it!"

Friendly Ghost



"Now I'm a scary ghost!"

"Are you scared yet?"



"Hum...maybe I'm just a friendly ghost!"

"I think I've just discovered my fingers!"

Black Cat


"I'm a scary black cat!"


"All of this dress up makes me sleepy..."


"...nice Parker kitty!"

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Only the Facts

Not much to report, it's a good thing mommy's blogging tonight! Same cannula, same pressures, same oxygen levels, same 'ol, same 'ol! Not bad, it beats a step back for sure.

Parky was a bit cranky today, but once we had a good hold and patted out some gas, he was much better! In fact, he's actually doing very well on the cannula with only needing around 25-30% oxygen on 4 liters pressure. With oxygen and pressure needs like that, he'll be on low flow cannula in no time! As soon as that happens we start moving toward feeding. I heard it sometimes takes weeks for babies, especially those who've been on oxygen for a while, to learn how to "nipple". And some babies who've been intubated a long time (Parker) can have issues swallowing. So the sooner we can get Parky on board, the sooner he can have hernia surgery and then come home! It's all so connected!

Tyler went up to 5 liters on his cannula yesterday because he seemed to be struggling too much with 4 liters of pressure. Today he was on the same with his respiration periodically ringing high and oxygen in the mid to high 30's. The doctors said they'll consider putting him back on CPAP if his oxygen requirements increase into the 50's. I think Tyler is being a considerate brother and realizes that if he does too well, then he could come home before Parker, and he doesn't want that!

Overall it was a good day with my little lovies!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Sleepy Heads



Wow! Daddy and Parker had a rough day - they were exhausted! Don't they both look comfy?
So the boys were still on the high flow cannula when we arrived today and both had their pressures turned down from 5 to 4. Parker was handling it great, but Tyler was struggling a bit and breathing REALLY hard. Before we left they turned Tyler's pressure back up to 5.


A little hand holding was in order. Parker is an official "snuggle bug".

Anti Sleepy Head


Tyler was trying so hard to breathe tonight he wasn't settling down. He was wide awake and just looking around the entire time we were with him. Poor little guy!
This could mean a trip back down "CPAP lane". We'll see how it goes tomorrow!


And then to boot, Tyler scratched his face (see the right cheek). I think it's time for a nail clipping!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

NO CPAP!

See our happy and content little boys?
See our CPAP-FREE little boys?
See mommy and daddy's happy faces? (well, didn't get a picture of that, but I think you can invision this sight)


Yes, it happened! Arriving today to see BOTH boys off the pesky CPAP device was divine indeed!


Here's Parky enjoying his first time on the cannula. It's so nice to finally see his entire face and head! There's our little guy!

Experiencing the "calm" of the boys was thrilling. They seemed so comfortable and suddenly so much like newborn babies.

We are hoping they can stay on the cannula and not return to CPAP. Their first blood gas test was positive, showing acceptable levels of CO2 so far!
Keep it up boys...it's a good thing, really!

Here's Tyler remembering that he was once on the cannula. "Hey, I think I like this!"

The Faces of Parky


If you're happy and you know it...
...scream "No CPAP"!


"Wow, I feel so FREE!"


"Party in my crib!"

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Mobile for Tyler



I LOVE my mobile!

I watch the birdie, monkey and froggie go by...

...and I can hear the rainforest, or sometimes even beautiful music...

...and it makes me so relaxed, I sleep!

Mobile Time for Parker



Hey, what's that thing hanging over my bed?
Maybe if I reach out I can touch it!
Rats! Can't get it!

Daddy will console...it's okay little guy!