"To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art." - La Rochefoucauld

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Jake & Ben, 47 days old

Update/Ben: We have had a few setbacks this week with Benny. Poor little guy can’t catch a break! As I mentioned, he was suppose to come home Saturday but they delayed his homecoming due to some bradycardia spells. He continues to have them and the doctors are perplexed as to why he is still having them. At this point, he really should be outgrowing them but he still is very small and breathing is directly related to muscle mass and fat. Yesterday, he had an echocardiogram to see if there is something wrong with his heart that is causing these breathing spells. Fortunately, the eco. results came back just fine. Nothing seems to be wrong with Ben. He is eating wonderfully, gaining weight, and maintaining his temperature. They are hoping he just needs a little more time. They want him to go at least 24 hours without a bradycardia spell before he goes home. They are going to do another test to see if sending him home on oxygen would help him with his spells. This breaks our heart that he would still have be hooked up to these machines, but hopefully it would only be for a short period of time.

I often wonder if Ben is having a hard time because of the separation. He was ready to go out the door until Jake left. Ever since Jake has been gone, Ben seems to be having these spells again. My doctor was telling me that studies have been done on co-bedding twins and how they often do a lot better when they are together. Hopefully, once Ben gets home and he is back with Jake, he will start thriving again.

Update/Jake: Oh Jake…my little gassy guy!! We spent Sunday night in the emergency room because we thought he was having breathing difficulties. His breathing seemed very labored. He was grunting, groaning, and holding his breathing on and off for 7 hours. It really made us quite nervous and my parents kept telling us he’s just constipated and that these are normal baby sounds…but we wanted to get things checked out for our own piece of mind. Well my parents were right…the diagnosis came back as a severe case of gas and constipation. Yea…we went to the emergency room at 3:00 a.m. for indigestion. I guess being first time parents, you have to learn the hard way. Thank goodness he is ok!

Update/Us: We are a little stressed out over Ben’s current issue. We were so close to being done with the NICU part of this journey. We see it as a minor setback but still worry that something else might be going on with Ben. My gut feeling tells me he is ok and just needs a little more growing time. When we first took the boys off of the cannula, Ben was in the three pound range and Jake was in the five pound range…Ben was still so little. I think it was too soon for him. Again, hopefully time will be the best medicine.

Life with Jake home is great. He is currently cuddled up on my chest as I type on my laptop. Other then his gas issues, he is such a content little guy. I don’t know if it is a preemie thing, but he doesn’t cry much at all. He seems very content.

As I mentioned before, we are living at my parent’s house till our house is ready. At first, we were stressed about not being in our house when the boys came home but I truly believe this is a part of God’s master plan. It has been so nice being at my parent’s house and having the extra help. After the emergency room debacle, my mom let us sleep for five hours straight while she watched Jake. It was so nice. It has also helped having our parents watch Jake while we go back and forth to see Ben.

I know we have already asked for so many prayers…but could you say one more for Ben? I know he is a fighter and will ultimately be just fine. We just have to be patient.

Thank you for your prayers!
Danielle & Kevin

PS) Jake is 6 pounds and Ben is 4 pound 5 ounces.

8 comments:

Kara said...

I am so sorry to hear that Ben is having a few set backs. I know you are ready for him to come home. Have they talked about him coming home on a monitor? I will definitely say prayers for your little guy. I am positive he will be home before you know it.

Also, I am glad Jake is doing well adjusting to life at home. Brynley also is a grunter. She does it constantly and we have learned that it is normal (just gas).

If you need anything, please let me know.

love-Kara

Kara said...

By the way...congrats on Jake and Ben's weight gain. They are gaining weight wonderfully!!!

Anonymous said...

Send us more pictures!n I love seeing Jake and Ben!!!!! Love, Maria

Anonymous said...

Hi Danielle & Kevin, Took our first look at your website and those cute little boys. We are so happy that Jake is home and that both boys are growing. I am sure it is hard not having Ben home, but at least this way you can adjust to having one baby, before you have to juggle the two of them. We think of you often and hope the progress made so far will continue through the next few months.

Anonymous said...

Oh, by the way the photos are great!. It is amazing how good the kids look and such weight gain! We will continue hoping for the best.

Love, Jeri and John Duerr

Amanda K. said...

Hello!!! I am so glad when I hear your updates. Ben will be just fine...it is completely normal when they are that tiny to have brady spells. He just needs to pack a little more weight on. He will be home before you know it. I am so happy to hear about how well Jake is doing (except that gas problem)...we see a lot of that here at the hospital. Well, I can't wait until they are both home. Sounds like motherhood is fitting you well :):) You guys continue to be in my prayers!!! Love ya!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi guys... its me, lynn, the boys pseudo-gramma, friend of Mike G.... I have been anxious for Ben when Jake went home - no medical degree here, but just KNOW Ben knew Jake was not there... Im not being a downer cuz Ben is tuff!!! we saw it already - He's gonna shake that momentary feeling of loss and be home REAL soon... prayers that dont end.....God Bless

Christine said...

You always have our prayers!! Always!! You all are always in our thoughts!! We just love your first family picture!! What a beautiful family!!!
Love you!!! Cannot wait to see you!!!