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.




Sunday, November 29, 2009

Baby Girl?

Hey...who's that baby girl taking a sink bath?


It's just Parker! And NO, I'm not ready to cut his hair yet!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

A Balancing Act

I'm not quite sure where it started, but at some "desperate" time at home with the boys, I decided to introduce them to object balancing. I must have been having one of those long, "what time is it...no, it can't be" days when I started putting toys on top of my head. The reaction was amazing - the boys thought mommy was the BEST. Their eyes twinkled with excitement as their mommy threw toys and other household objects on her head. After a number of items were displayed, I realized the boys LOVED it most when the balanced items fell from my head, down to the ground. So that became the fun new game - mommy puts stuff on her head, they fall off, boys laugh - perfect time killer! So after a number of laughs and toys later, Tyler grabbed the bowl that had just fallen off my head and reached up to put it on his own head. What a smart boy! I (OF COURSE) encouraged this action and months later, he and Parker are now expert balancers. And because I think it's hilarious, I've captured a number of moments on film. Here are a just a few things the boys can balance on their heads. Enjoy the silliness!


Tyler is very serious about his koosh!

Parker knows he can beat this number '2' block!

Tyler: Come on amateur, you can do better than that bowl - you're beyond this!


Parker: Bubbles are a must and the mustache is a bonus!



Tyler: More of a cute picture than good example of balancing.


Parker: Cups, spoons and other kitchen items are favorites during sink baths!


Tyler: Cut out pumpkin from OT


Tyler: paci - not used to suck on, but good for throwing, chewing and of course, balancing on head.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Anniversary and Eating!

Friday, November 13th was quite an exciting and busy day - in fact, it was sooo busy, I didn't have an opportunity to post a "Happy Anniversary" to Tyler Johnathon Thompson! November 13, 2008, Tyler was discharged from the NICU after 143 days of care. I remember how excited John and I were to finally get Tyler home. Parker had been home since the 30th of October and it was so difficult to leave Parker to visit Tyler - and leave Tyler to go home. The hesitation in Tyler's discharge was based on his inability to fully sustain the required minimum volume from the bottle. We basically convinced the doctors that we'd be able to manage a tight feeding schedule with him at home. Which we did...but for those who've been reading this blog since last year, you know that it was just the beginning of Tyler's eating issues. Little did we know! Now our big boy is running around the house, screaming at the top of his lungs, and harassing his brother. I'm not sure we EVER could've imagined this scene just 12 months ago.

Before you view the fun pictures of Tyler's homecoming, I have to share other great news from Friday. Our case worker from our insurance company called Friday afternoon to tell me that our feeding specialist was approved! I have been working on this for over 3 months and it's finally happening! This feeding therapist can make or break a child's ability to eat. Her techniques will not only assist in battling Tyler's gag reflex and throw up spells caused by food in his mouth, but reduce our timetable for getting both boys 100% oral. It sounds like I'm putting a lot of eggs in this basket, but I have faith in her and her approach. I know this makes more work for me, but I also know the challenge will be worth it in the long run!

Lastly, the boys had an assessment by CA Alta Regional Center on Friday. The good news is that the boys will continue to receive developmental and occupational therapies for at least 6 more months until their next assessment. Both therapies have been great not only for the boys, but me as well. Their approach to teaching the boys has been useful in my daily interaction with the boys as well. And they really enjoy the developmental therapist, Danielle, who's been with the boys for almost a year now.

So as you could imagine, November 13th was quite a day for progress in Thompson house! The only hitch in the excitement was Tyler's poor raw rear caused by his antibiotics. Poor Ty is pooping out a runny, orangey colored stool that obviously holds acidic qualities because his rump is just red and he cries and cries as we're cleaning him and applying gobs of Aquaphor. We heard that Aquaphor and Gold Bond baby powder work wonders in combination. We're going to try that tonight and see how it all looks tomorrow. We're not sure if the medications are helping with his ulcers and probably won't notice anything for a while. We look forward to seeing improvement and an ulcer-free endoscopy in 3 months.

Below are pictures of little Tyler on November 13, 2008, his day of discharge. Enjoy!


I think the doctors projected that we'd have difficulty with Tyler's eating so they plumped him up before discharge. Before he left that day he had a hearing test - looks like he's sleeping through it!

Tyler in his Cowboys going home outfit!


In the car...on the way home!



Brothers are together again! Parker was wearing matching attire in honor of brother's homecoming. It's hard to believe the boys were so tiny when they came home. The co-sleeper was perfect for them - they shared this bed for months before growing into their own cribs.


Yep, I knew it was just the beginning - you can see it in my face. Holy...I have two of them now! Well, it didn't take long to figure out how to carry two babies at one time...argh...and now two toddlers! Work those arms! I was in an exhausted fog for much of their first year, but I do remember being excited and over-joyed that they were both finally home! I just love my Bubbies!


Thursday, November 12, 2009

Biopsy Results

We finally heard back from our doctor regarding Tyler’s endoscopy biopsy results. The poor little guy has duodenal ulcers. What we thought were pictures of Tyler’s esophagus were actually pictures of his small intestine. Here’s some information I found about duodenal ulcers:

A duodenal ulcer is a raw area in the lining in the upper part of the small intestine (duodenum), where it connects to the stomach. Tyler has multiple ulcers, so the spots were actually lesions, or erosion of the area.

Normally duodenal ulcers are caused by family history, having a Helicobacter pylori infection, using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen, and the use of cigarettes and alcohol. We’ve been trying to get Tyler to kick his addiction to cigarettes, but it’s been tough. And now he’ll have to lay off the alcohol as well. No, actually Tyler has the pylori infection. The doctor said he could’ve picked up these bacteria a long time ago, but it just didn’t “present” until he finally started having terrible ulcer pains.

Treatment will consist of a new medicine regimen that I’ll incorporate into their already scheduled out day. Tyler will also go back on his Nexium as well. He’ll be taking a medicine that forms a protective barrier over the site of the ulcers, Nexium to reduce the amount of acid the stomach makes, and two antibiotics to treat H. pylori.

The online medical sites stress that to prevent the duodenal ulcers from reoccurring, lifestyle changes are recommended so I’ll be switching out Tyler’s morning coffee gavage to decaf!

We hope to see improvement in a couple of weeks. He’ll have a follow up endoscopy in about 3 months to see if the ulcers have been eradicated! I am glad that his problem isn’t allergy related – I feel good about being able to continue with his feeding therapy and knowing that I don’t have to be concerned about food types.

Whew…one more hurdle to tackle! We can do this…I know we can!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

They call him the Streak!

Something strange is happening in the Thompson house - an aversion to clothes has commenced and I'm not sure why. Of course I have to document this strange occurrence and further investigate the "why" (and tuck the photos away for future embarrassment of two Thompson boys). Here's my latest proof of the nakedness running amuk:

Hmmmm...I see Tyler in front, Parker behind him, the play farm on the right -but what's that ON the farm? Could that be Parker's diaper? Then what's covering Parker's parts...oh, his hand! Well, that'll absorb just fine, won't it? NOT!


I'd recognize this bare naked tooshie anywhere! Could Tyler BE any happier right now? And yes, that's his diaper toward the upper right. And yes, he's running away from me - after all, I just might put that horrid diaper back on him!


Okay, this has gone too far! Who "pantsed" Raggedy Ann? Just take a guess - you have a 50/50 chance of getting this one right!



Thursday, November 5, 2009

Mystery Diagnosis

I just talked to the GI and she said Tyler's biopsy has not come back from the endoscopy he had Friday. When I asked about his allergy panel she said it was negative - showing NO signs of allergies. What? Are you kidding? So I asked her what she thought was wrong with Tyler (he's constantly in pain when he is being gavaged) - she said we'll have to wait until Monday or Tuesday and see what the biopsy produces.

So the big question is: what are the white spots up and down his esophagus that she thought could be allergy related?

Our heads are spinning right now and I'm trying not to go to a dark place. Argh!

So now we get to take the boys to the Pediatrician in a few minutes so they can get their first of five RSV shots and hopefully 2nd round flu shot. I'm not sure if they'll be able to have the flu shot because they just had the H1N1 shot on Monday, we'll see!

I hope we get some useful information on Monday or Tuesday. I'll let everyone know!

Gut wrenching feeling...

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Happy Halloween from Pooh and Tigger

Our first official Halloween was SUCH a blast! I say first official because last year John and I were just too overwhelmed to celebrate. Parker had just come home from the NICU the day prior and Tyler was still in the NICU beginning his non-eating journey. It seems like forever ago and because that period of my life is so foggy, I don't even remember Halloween in 2008.
But Halloween 2009 will be forever ingrained in my mind. Our little Pooh and Tigger experienced their first Halloween celebration! John and I drove the Bubbies around to family and friends and then found ourselves at home handing out candy and trying the keep the Bubbies from escaping out the front door. Finally John took Tyler outside to see the various costumes and people running around the neighborhood and we realized that he was in his element. Tyler ran around with wild curiosity, acting as though he'd eaten a bag full of candy. No sugar high needed for Tyler Thompson - his excitement is al natural. Next year is going to be even more wild and fun with these two.
You know, these are the moments I dreamed of and it makes me teary just thinking about how dreams can come true!

Parker Pooh and Tigger Ty say "Happy Halloween!"


Here are the Bubbies on their way out to some Halloween festivities. They had nice, newly-painted noses and whiskers that got more and more faded as the day went on. Reapply you say? HA! I put Tyler's on while he was sleeping and Parker was just tortured, so double torture in one day just wasn't an option. But I think our little Pooh and Tig are looking pretty cute, not to mention daddy too!


At the Rosie household, the Bubbies came adorning party hats to celebrate Aunt Teresa's birthday. Two trailblazing ladies were born on October 31st: Teresa Rose and Juliette Gordon Low!


Parker's head is just sooo big that "normal" size hats just don't fit. His Pooh hood was too small and wouldn't stay on his head. But that was the least of his worries - his HUGE belly was his concern. Poor Parker just couldn't walk very well. But he looked good - ha ha!




Tyler displaying his "Happy Birthday Aunt Teresa" hat.



Tyler LOVED Halloween - the visits to family and friends, seeing everyone dressed up in costume, being in costume himself - he just ran around all day and night. Today the Bubbies are pretty wiped out! We're trying to recover and get on schedule from Halloween and day light savings time. Overall I'd say the Thompson clan had a successful first official Halloween!


Halloween Video

This is the funniest video! OBVIOUSLY Parker was thrilled with his costume, not! It was just the belly actually - he couldn't walk with that HUGE Pooh belly! I think he was mad at me because he wouldn't look at me for a while - torturing mommy for his brown nose and Pooh belly! Isn't that what kids are for...to dress up in funny costumes and be amused?

Here's just random footage of Park and Ty in costumes. I didn't get much footage of them - just too much excitement!