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.




Saturday, March 28, 2009

News From The Week!

Wow...what an exciting and busy week for the Thompson clan! I know pictures tell a thousand words, but let me quickly sum up our prosperous week!



First...yes, Tyler was not about to let brother get all of the glory with his new tooth, so just a few days later, UP pops Tyler's first tooth! It's hilarious because Parker's tooth is on the bottom left and Tyler's is on bottom right. It's just amazing to feel his little jagged tooth as he chews desperately on my finger. We, of course, got GREAT photos of his new tooth - see below!



Friday the boys had their first Optometry appointments. They were tested for far and near -sidedness and for basic vision issues. This was different than their Opthamology appointments where they were tested for ROP. The eye appointment was the SECOND longest appointment we've had with the boys - first being our five hour Pulmonology appointment in December. This appointment was four hours long! Well, we checked in and found that we had to do a New Patient Evaluation for each of the boys. The waiting room was packed so John stayed with the boys down an empty hallway and kept them busy while I filled out paperwork and waited to be called. When we were finally summoned, we were escorted to a little eye exam room in which our stroller and the four of us barely fit. We were asked a heap of questions by a medical assistant who then took a bright, shiny light and looked into the boys eyes - they did not like it. Then a resident came in with a medical student and did the same - boys continued to not like it. THEN the Opthamologist came in and again, did the same - boys...still not fans. THEN...whew, she told us their eyes needed to be dilated! After all of this? HOLY - so I asked, "I'll assume you'll need us to wait another 15-20 minutes after the drops are in for dilation?" The answer was "No...at least 30 minutes!" Yippeee...easy with two 9 month olds who are already irritated! Luckily the 'dilation gal' was the same one that took care of the boys at their previous eye appointments. She came in and quickly moved us to a BIG room where we could wait with the boys for the dilation to set in. She dilated their eyes and we turned out the light to comfort them and help them relax a little. The boys fell asleep so we put them in the stroller so our arms could relax and then before we knew it, both John and I were asleep in our chairs! About 30 minutes later the resident came in, took one look at all of us and quickly asked, "Do you want me to come back later? I can let you get some more rest!" Such a sweet gesture, but does he really think we want to continue sleeping in the eye exam room? Is he crazy? Then he added, "I guess this is what having twins looks like, huh?" If he only knew! He proceeded to check both boys and then the Opthamologist came in and re-checked the boys. We didn't ask for two opinions but got them anyway, ha ha! Bottom line: the boys eyes are fabulous and she doesn't need to see them back for another year. If the boys eyes are still good in a year, they'll be "released" and checked only if the Pediatrician refers. Whew...what a relief! John hit the nail on the head when he told the doctor, "You're the first doctor to tell us to come back in a year. You can't imagine how that makes us feel!"

Tuesday was our GI appointment with the Gastroenterologist. The boys gained almost an ounce per day since their last visit, right on target. Tyler weighs 16 lbs, 10 oz and Parker is 15 lbs, 6 oz. They are just growing like weeds! The GI was extremely pleased with their weight gain and didn't make any changes or recommendations until the boys visit the feeding specialist. Tyler has an appointment during John's Spring break, but Parker hadn't been referred yet because his newest feeding "issue" wasn't extreme until just recently. Parker decided that he didn't want to drink more than around 70 ml's at a time. This doesn't give him the over 550 ml's daily he needs to grow so we've been forced to feed him while he sleeps. Yes, he will sleep-feed without issue, but put a bottle in his mouth when he's awake and half the time he just fights. Hopefully we can get Parker into the specialist soon because it's exhausting waiting for him to fall asleep so we can feed him. Not to mention what it does to the daily schedule - grrrr... Overall, the GI was very pleased and the boys are growing in great strides!

Enjoy the pics of our busy but positive week below!

Tyler Has A Tooth!


Tyler is sporting his new 'tongue out' pose.
Okay...can you see his new tooth?

Darn! My finger's in the way...


Can you see it now?
...still in the way!


Conclusion: We will NEVER get pictures of baby teeth (while still in baby mouths that is)!

Opto Update


Parker: "What's Optometry? Sounds like fun!"

This statement (and picture) was taken PRIOR to his appointment of course!


On the way home from Opto we did what we normally do when Parker's sleeping...


Tyler is exhausted from the strenuous eye exam - poor little dude!


Still irritated from the dilation of his eyes, Tyler decides to go "pirate" on us for the rest of the day.


GI Update


Waiting to be called for their GI check up!


Parker looking cute and innocent!



Tyler looking cute and innocent!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Parker has a tooth!

Well, we knew the boys were working on getting their teeth because they've both been terrible drool and chew monsters lately. And they've both been whining monsters as well (not nearly as fun). Tonight Parker was outrageously cranky - I assumed it was lack of sleep. We had a BIG day at the GI's this morning and neither 'bubbie' had good naps today - good reason to cry "just because". Out of curiosity, I felt around Parker's gums just to see if anything new had happened since I was in there last and what did I find? I found a sharp little edge that made me go "no way...it CAN'T be!" Sure enough, I tipped Parker back into the light and there it was...the shiny, jagged, white edge of his tooth! It's sitting in the front/bottom of his mouth and looking very cute, I might add! Well, of course mom and dad had to get a picture...daddy's pictures of Parker's mouth are to be desired, but you get the point. I think we'll have to get video to capture the moment more completely.

Here are pics below...I will update on today's GI appointment later, when it's not so late. 5am came a little too early for us today - gggrrrr...

Pictures to Prove It?



"What...is something happening here?"






Mommy and daddy trying to get a good picture of Park's tooth



Can you see it?
Yes, as clear as mud!
Ha ha!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Sleeping Bubbies

So John calls the boys 'bubbies'..."how are my bubbies today?"..."what's wrong bubby?" Not sure where he got it, all I know is that I've picked it up - "look at mommy's sweet bubbies!" Grrr...how dare he influence my nickname compulsions! Anyway, I couldn't resist a couple of darling sleeping pictures of the BUBBIES!


Sweet Tyler

A sleeping Parker with Katie Garland, home on Spring Break.
Look Helen, no "stranger danger" here, whats the problem? hee hee...

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Irish Tyler



Tyler was less than thrilled to amuse mommy today in his St. Patricks attire!


"That's a shamrock?"

Tyler: "Not funny mommy!"


"Still not funny!"


Irish Parker



Parker: "Top 'O the mornin' to ya!"



"I think green is my color, don't you?"




"I love how 'Irish' tastes - yummo!"

Monday, March 9, 2009

Parker Explores His Feet!

Like I mentioned last week, Parker has really been into grabbing and chewing his feet. Here's a little example of Parker action on the changing table...it's all about the feet!


"What...it's all about access to my feet right now!"


"Yeah, that sock looks good!"

"Yummo - tastes delic!"


"I bet you'd like some of this, wouldn't you?"






Prunes...yummo!







Parker: "Do I really have to do this again?"



So we continue to explore Stage 1 baby foods. The boys are really not into eating food yet, but they do seem to tolerate prunes nicely. Sweetpotatoes are also a favorite. Of course, "favorite" means they eat a full 2 teaspoons rather than 1 teaspoon - I know, pretty sad!


"Sure I like it better, can't you tell?"



Tyler: The "buzzy bee" is flying into the bee hive! Buzzzz...!"


Tyler opens up wide!


"Yummo! I think prunes are pretty good and I like the bees!"



Daddy Home!



Daddy was gone for three days at a conference and BOY was he missed!





"We love our daddy!"


I think Mommy missed daddy the most though - especially at night!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Parker Unleashed

So the boys are learning new tricks all the time - too stinkin' fun! But sometimes they pull out "old" tricks that I forget about - like today when I realized that I forgot to seat belt Tyler into his bouncy chair! I'm not sure where he thought he was going, but BOTH of the boys look guilty.



"What? We didn't do it!"











John is out of town for a few days so I've called in reinforcements to keep me company and give me a helping hand - especially at night when the boys need to go down for the night. My friend and co-worker Helen came over tonight, normally a BIG help, right? Well tonight presented a little challenge - something happened that has NEVER happened before. Parker took one look at Helen and began the biggest "wing ding" I'd ever seen. He hysterically cried and cried and cried...I tried to soothe him but then he'd look at Helen and just "roar". It was the oddest thing I'd EVER seen! He's NEVER done that! His poor little face was beat red and I had to hold him and try to calm him down until he finally fell asleep for the night.

So I'd tell Helen to NEVER come over again except Tyler actually LIKED Helen and cuddled with her. Whew...wouldn't want Helen to get a complex! Here are pictures as proof! ;o) Thanks Helen...really!


"Mommy! Heeeelp meeee!"

"I don't know what brother is crying about, but this chick seems okay to me!"

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Thumb Fun!

Well, the boys have new "tricks" - Tyler rediscovered his thumb and Parker has discovered, for the first time, his feet!

Both boys sucked their thumbs in-utero but stopped after they were born. I'm assuming because of the intubation and feeding tubes - not a lot of room for anything else! The boys have been chewing on everything and putting their entire hands in their mouths - to the point where they've choked themselves. They sucked their thumbs for a short while after we left the NICU but we don't think the thumb was big enough to soothe them. Well, the other night when John was rocking Tyler to sleep, he began sucking away. So of course we had to disturb him and get a shot! I guess it's big enough to be a contender in the mouth! Too stinkin' cute!

I thought I had a picture of Parker's new obsession - his feet! Every time we lay him down, he immediately grabs his feet. It started a couple of weeks ago and he's now obsessed with them! So now I pretend to eat them and he cracks up! It's so cute!

What fun to experience these growth-related milestones. I wish we could say that their reflux has improved and they go all day without having choking episodes or throw ups, but we can't. The good news is that our last GI appointment was favorable - they both gained a good amount of weight. Tyler is now 15 lbs. 3 oz. and Parker is 14 lbs. 3 0z. - yep, an entire pound difference! Parker is still maintaining and gaining via bottle feeding - what a relief! Tyler is taking three bottles daily, but can't quite finish them so we are forced to gavage the difference. Then he is gavaged overnight to get the rest of the food. His reflux is just too extreme for the little guy to eat more. I am also continuing their once daily attempts to feed them purees. Neither of them is crazy about the baby food and eat very little. Tonight was organic apples and they tolerated it. I just bought prunes, peaches, peas and squash - we'll see if any of these will be a turning-point for the boys. I'm waiting....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Tomorrow is the beginning of weekly therapy. It'll be interesting to find out how the boys are doing physically and mentally. I'm not sure of the skills in which the boys will be graded, nor the sort of exercises the therapist will do, but I'm open to learning! I look forward to getting the boys on regular program that I can implement throughout the week. We already do some "exercises", but I'd like to be shown a program that will incorporate more diversity. My rounds of "ride a bike", "pull yourself up", "punch it out", and "kick your legs" aren't quite cutting it! Ha ha...but at least I'm trying!

Below are just a couple of quick shots of Tyler sucking his thumb! You can see in the first photo that Tyler's face has red marks above the tape. That's from taping the same spot over and over again. This time we decided to tape under his ear so we could give his poor little face a rest! Unfortunately Tyler's other nostril doesn't allow the NG tube to go through. We think he may have a deviated septum - not sure. So now we're forced to use the same nostril over and over again for feeding. Grrrr....

Not good pics below, but enjoy anyway! ;o)



"Num num...I think my thumb grew because it tastes so much better now!"

"Hey, I'm sucking in peace! Can you leave me alone?"