Doctors, Doctors and More Doctors

What a week for visiting doctors! EVERY day is another visit - yes, I said daily and meant daily. Unfortunately our Lovie Tyler decided that he didn't want to eat and started losing weight. We tried everything...nipples, formula, our hold, feeding times, etc. - nothing helped him drink more. When we visited the Pulmonologist on Tuesday the doctor was ready to send us back to the hospital to insert a feeding tube! Holy...! On Wednesday we had a "weight check" with our Pediatrician and found that Tyler lost weight again. As we were chatted with the doctor about our problem getting Tyler to eat, he started fussing like he was hungry. I pulled out a bottle of formula we'd gotten in the NICU (a special kind of formula not available in stores) and started feeding him. That little guy drank the ENTIRE bottle right in front of the doctor (show off). The doctor told us that we could continue trying to get him to take his feeds this week but if he didn't improve we'd have to go back to the hospital. We were on mission "Do Anything To Feed Tyler"! Seeing how easily he drank the formula, we pulled out the remaining "stash" and fed him from that. He drank EVERY bottle without fuss - we couldn't believe it! John immediately went on a quest to find out how to purchase this formula. Low and behold we found it on-line and purchased 3 cases of VERY costly formula. So now we have to two boys on specialty formulas - they are eating better than us right now! Ha ha!

Whew...take a breath because today Tyler gained a BUNCH of weight and keeps eating more and more each time. WAY TO GO BUDDY - someone didn't want to go back to the NICU! We were soooo very stressed over this entire ordeal!

Pulmonology didn't make any changes to Parker's oxygen, he'll remain on 1/8 liter of oxygen, but did discontinue one of his medications (yippee, only 3 medications to track for Parker). Tyler is another story (see a trend here?)! Tyler's oxygen remains the same (3/4 liters) and he too was taken off one medication, but was put on two new medications with breathing treatments! Yep, so now we are giving our big Lovie breathing treatments 4 times daily. He LOVES them - not. Poor guy probably thinks we're picking on him, while brother sleeps soundly in bed.

So we will see the doctor again tomorrow for a follow up for Tyler and for the boys RSV shots! We've been waiting 3 weeks for the Synagis to be authorized by our insurance company and sent to the doctor. It is is vital for the boys to get these shots - it doesn't prevent RSV but will help decrease the symptoms should they contract it. We've been told over and over again by EVERY doctor to remain at home this winter and avoid children, large crowds, and anybody with even a sniffle. It could prevent a hospital stay for the boys. We are taking this seriously and are avoiding visitors, which is sooo hard because so many people have supported us and the boys and I'd LOVE to show them off. That's why I think it's important to try to post pictures as much as we can - a little window into our growing miracles.

Below are some very cute pics of the boys...who are starting to smile! Yes, there are some darling pics of both boys smiling - too stinkin' cute! And in honor of daddy and his crazy obsession with the Cowboys, daddy and boys rutin' for their favorite team! In fact, John is going to Dallas to celebrate his 40th birthday (which is in January - ha ha). Last year for John's birthday, I gave him a trip to Dallas to see the Cowboys at Texas Stadium because this is supposedly the Cowboys last year playing in the stadium. He couldn't have predicted our crazy future, but I am MAKING John go on this trip. Three of the four guys on the trip have JUST had babies so these guys will be drinking and sleeping A LOT the next four days. LUCKY! Don't worry, I'll get my spa day soon enough!

Enjoy some new pics!



Tyler Blue Bear



Parker Blue Bear




One more trip to doctor - we are getting good at this!





The little guys are sooo good in the doctors office - they are just good babies.





Boys just hanging out and waiting to be checked! They weren't interested in the rattles AT ALL - they just stared at the medical equipment on the wall. Go figure...future docs maybe?