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 -sided
ness 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!
The boys had their first play date with the Campo Twins! It was just too fun watching the babies bounce around in their activity centers while looking at each other curiously. The pic below is great because it shows the babes up close. Tyler is playing with Logan (or trying to steal froggy) while Parker and Sam play by themselves contently.
Boooooo hooooo! It HAD to happen, but what a SAD time for me! With the boys on an elemental formula and not able to take my breast milk, I stopped pumping a while ago. But I just couldn't bring myself to throw away my months of labor - the left over breast milk that's been stored in the freezer for months. Well, John convinced me that the freezer was more valuable than my denial so he took the final step and tossed the little bottles of dedication. As he dumped the little white gems, I sobbed inside remembering the 3am pumpings and the drives to and from the hospital where I'd "extract" in the backseat - had to make the most of our daily traveling, right? Ugh, what a time!
I tried to donate the milk to a bank but because I wasn't screened ahead of time and didn't freeze the milk using the bank's procedures, it didn't qualify. Too bad - I would've gladly given the milk to someone in need. And to support Salma Hayek, if I were traveling in Africa and came across a starving baby, I too would feed it - if I had the ability. Good for you Salma!
This is typical Parker...bottom lip out, paci stuck on thumb!
...and typical Tyler, smiley with tongue out!
Well, of course I have to talk about this photo of Parker first! His head is so big that every time I take a shirt on or off of him, it sticks on his head! Not Tyler...usually always Parker! So of course it happened again and I just had to crack up when Parker started laughing and smiling as his shirt was still on his head like a nun's habit! These guys are such daily entertainment for me...the best reality show ever!
Happy Easter from "Bunny Boy" Tyler...
Tyler is a little "sitting up" champ! Danielle, our infant development therapist, had Tyler sitting up almost the entire session! He either sat or stood up (with help of course) the entire time. Good job buddy! The last couple of days Tyler has been able to sit up for quite a while without tipping over. The only problem is that he doesn't know how to get "out" of it so he'll sit there and cry when he's done. I tried to show him how he can lean over and lay down but he's not quite getting it. I think he needs more practice!
