Parker with Monitor and Tyler with Song

Tyler immitates words and actions wonderfully. Here is Tyler with the Developmental Therapist acting out a song. Look at how well he "snaps" when she gets to that part of the song. Although you may not see it, he is actually acting the entire song!

Okay smarty pants Parker, how do you know that the cord plugs into the monitor? I'm not sure how Parker "got" this, but here he is trying to plug in the monitor (he unfortunately has the wrong cord). I think his brain is on overdrive sometimes!

Bubbie GI Update!

Cousin Alyssa from Southern CA visited during her spring break! The boys loved their cousin and wished they could have played with her ALL day!

I love this picture of Alyssa and Tyler - she cracks him up!

Grammie was a bit nervous with Parker standing on the back of the couch!

GI Update:

Today the boys had a very important appointment with our GI. This was the appointment to kick off their feeding trials! The last couple of months John and I have been packing calories into the boys to prepare for this challenge. Well, it worked! The boys are now 33” long and weigh 26 pounds, 8 ounces (Parker) and 26 pounds, 4 ounces. They are above 50 percentiles for weight to length. Yep, those G-tubes are doing the job!

The GI was pleased with their growth and gave us the green light to begin food trials with Parker. Tyler continues to have signs of reflux and is back on Nexium three-times daily. He also continues to throw up daily during some of his feeds. We made an appointment to have another endoscopy in a couple of weeks to look for unresolved ulcers or something else that could be causing issue with Tyler’s system. So we will remain at “status quo” with Tyler for now and begin trials after his medical issues are resolved. In the words of Winnie the Pooh, “Oh Bother!”

Parker’s food trial should be interesting. Our plan consists of discontinuing his formula gavage at midnight, then beginning a day of solids when he wakes up in the morning. He will ONLY get what he eats/drinks throughout the day (3 meals and 2 snacks) until late evening. I will also gavage water after each meal to ensure he remains hydrated. At the end of the day we will gavage one bolus of formula (100 cc’s) and put him on the pump to receive formula from 8pm to midnight. The plan is pretty aggressive and Parker will more than likely lose weight. BUT we’re hoping that he will begin to make the connection to eating and feeling full/better. Hopefully he will try more varied foods and practice his eating skills to decrease his choking. Right now he tends to choke on crackers/cookies or bites of food that he fails to fully chew. The OT and Feeding Therapist are working on improving his lateral chew. I have to remind him to chew, chew, chew, while he’s eating. I’m sure an audio tape of our eating sessions would amuse many!

So basically my life went from busy to busier! How is that possible? I will not just have ONE food tornado in my house, but FIVE? Doh! I look forward to warm weather when I can sit Parker in a little pool and feed him! Perfect right? He can get as messy as he likes and I’ll just hose him down! ;o)

All About Parker

A few weeks ago I posted an entry showing Tyler wearing a variety of masks. It's true, Tyler already has a great imagination and will be fun for future "dress up" play! His personality reflects the "Tigger" name we've given him.

Parker, on the other hand, is a little complex. He's become MUCH more vocal and physical lately, but often times I still find him in quiet moments. Over the past couple of months my posting has become quite sporadic, but I've actually capture some great moments with both boys. Here's a little montage of Parker, complete with a fun video at the end! Enjoy!

He gets excited over things that surprise him, like this electric toothbrush.

He likes helping daddy, like here he's "helping" to fix his horse "Mocha".

He loves looking out the front window and watching children, cars and big trucks go by. Sometimes he's there for quite a while, just watching, thinking.

And the backyard is the same - looking out the window, watching the trees sway back and forth.

He loves it best when daddy is out in back barbecuing or working - he'll stand at the window, mesmerized!

And then there's reading. His love for books hasn't weaned, which I love!

His "what do you want?" look hasn't weaned either...humf!

Sweet moments like the time John took the boys for a wagon ride and Parker fell asleep, just makes my mommy heart melt. We just love this guy and ALL of his special gifts!

Here's the "after shot" of daddy trying to wake Parker up from his deep wagon ride sleep. Sorry buddy, you have to wake up so you can go to bed in two hours! Yes, that's the way it works!

No Throwing Rocks!

The word "no" is becoming more and more popular in the Thompson household. I thought it was funny when people would say, "My child's first word was 'no'!" I can usually guide the boys out of their "no" action and into something else without issue. Well...times are changing! They are so active and head strong now that if I don't begin setting boundaries, they will tear this place up!

One of the hardest times to discipline is when the boys are playing in the backyard. I want them to run around and explore, but we have some areas that we need keep blocked off because of dangerous items. Until we get some adequate fencing we've put up folding tables and chairs to block areas of the backyard. Yes, it looks so pretty!

Parker is pretty good at responding to our requests and rarely "bucks the system". Tyler, on the other hand, does certain things to intentionally get a rise out of us. No kidding! He looks at us to make sure we're seeing him and goes directly for the "thing" we don't want him to do. What? Are you kidding me? Doh!

Well, today was a NEW world for mommy! I couldn't believe my eyes. There is a little retaining wall in the backyard that is filled with pebbles. The boys began grabbing hand fulls of rock and throwing them on the ground. John and I have been ON the boys about this area and set up one of the barricades along this wall to prevent them from getting up there and throwing rocks. This afternoon while we were in the backyard playing, I went in the house to quickly get the boy's water gavage [I've actually been trying to gavage and feed them outside when possible to make our day a little more fun]. When I came back outside I couldn't believe what I saw. BOTH boys on the retaining wall, throwing rocks and belly laughing like no one's business! What the...? I didn't know whether to laugh or be terrified that this is a future vision of the boys. BOTH working together to be naughty! AHHHH!

So what did I do? I secretly video taped them of course! ;o) What is a mommy to do? I am in trouble with these two, that's for sure!

Funny Video!

I posted this on my Facebook page, but since some of you aren't on it, I thought I'd post this here. It shows Parker and Tyler walking around on Easter. My cousin Katie is in the background and makes a comment that the boys have figured out where the steps are in her house (there are two specific areas that are "blind" zones for babies, those with visual impairments and those who've had too much to drink). Just then Tyler takes a spill on the steps! All caught on video - too funny!

Enjoy!

Happy Easter!

Getting a family picture is tricky these days! YOU try getting two 21 month year olds to remain still for 5 seconds! We had a wonderful Easter with our family - lots of laughter and running around! HAPPY 2010 EASTER TO ALL OF YOU!

Bunnie Bubbies!

Therapist Kim decided to do a project with the boys this week - making bunny hats!

Notice how Parker is letting her do his project for him...hum...not looking good...

Tyler is obviously into the project, not a surprise! Again, Parker could care less.

Measure Tyler's head...

....put on the bunny ears...

....and hop, I mean scream, right!

Sorry, Tyler prefers the more authentic-looking bunny mask!

And Parker...measuring his head for fit...or not...

....distract him as we slyly put the bunny ears on his head...

....and they are off!

Parker: "Mommy, how many times do we have to go over this? NO hats, masks, wash clothes, fingers adorning your spit, or anything else you might put on my face or head!"

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!