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!