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!