18 Month Well-Check

We just got home from an active morning out... the boys finally had their 18 month well-check at the doctor's office (we're only almost a month late!) followed by some grocery shopping. At the WC the boys needed just one shot (Hep A) and Tyler took it like a man. He cried out a bit during the initial poke, but didn't even shed a tear! Next time they get shots they'll be 4.

Signs the boys are growing up:

This was the first WC that we didn't have to strip the boys down!

They were old enough to be given lolly pops by the nurse (and boy oh boy did they love those! I so wish I'd had my camera with me).

They no longer get weighed on the baby scale, but stand on the same scale I stand on when I go to the doctor's office.

We didn't need to use the Choo Choo or double stroller and instead let the boys walk from the car to the doctor's office.

The boys are big enough now that we have been told to move from infant Tylenol and Motrin to Children's Tylenol and Motrin.

On to the stats!!

Jackson: 31 inches tall and 26 pounds
Tyler: 31 inches tall and 26 pounds
Chase: 31 inches tall and 28 pounds

Notice something odd about those? Jackson and Tyler weigh the same! That's never happened before. When Jackson was sick a few weeks ago and not eating, he dropped almost 2 pounds of weight and he has yet to regain it. The boys are all in the 75th percentile in height (gee, I wonder where they got that from!) and about the 35% for weight.

Oh and the really exciting news? Flu and RSV season has cleared out for the most part and we're now free to bring the boys back to church! Hooray!! We'll be there as a family tomorrow night, and I can't wait!

*I was skeptical of the boys' heights yesterday afternoon, so decided to remeasure Jackson while he was standing next to Nick. Lo and behold he's actually more like 31" (if not more), not 29".

Semi-Lock Down

It's that wonderful time of year again.... Cold, Flu and RSV season. Yipee! Last year we were under strict orders to keep the boys home with the exception of doctor's appointments. Due to their prematurity (and yet not preemie enough to qualify for the RSV Synagis shots) they would have had a really rough time recovering from RSV and likely would have ended up in the hospital.

This year is slightly different in that the boys are quite a bit bigger and are very healthy, so would have an easier time fighting off RSV should they contract it. That doesn't mean it would be as easy for them as it would be for a full-term toddler, but it wouldn't likely be as devastating. Taking this into consideration we aren't going under full lock down like last winter, but we are taking some precautions.

For the bulk of cold and flu season we will not be bringing the boys to church. Two weeks of being home with sick kiddos was enough for me this month. No more plastic food sharing for my boys (that's what happened last time they were in the nursery)! We also ask that anyone that comes over is healthy - that's a no brainer though really.

Thankfully for the sanity of this mommy, I have been told it will be ok to take the boys to the store or the mall as long as I keep them away from excessive germs (so no playing on giant plastic fruit at the mall). I'm so glad I have the option this winter to load the boys up in the Choo Choo at Target or the mall. I think it will do wonders for my attitude!

Halloween and 2 Months Old!

Originally posted 10.31.07

Sorry for the delay in the update! The boys have seemed extra "needy" lately and it's been tough to get much computer time. The boys turned 2 months last Saturday - hard to believe its been that long already!

On Friday they had their 2 month check up, which included the first round of vaccination shots. They brought in 3 nurses to do the shots and Nick and I held the legs on two of the boys. One of the nurses counted to three and they all stuck the boys at the same time. The boys cried during the 3 shots but as soon as the nurses or Nick picked them up they calmed right down. Thankfuly this appointment wasn't too difficult for Nick or me either, probably due to all the things we saw done to the boys while they were in the NICU. Unfortunately our insurance company denied our doctor's request to give the boys the RSV prevention shots this winter. The shots run about $1500 per shot and they have to be given every 28 days from now through April, so insurance companies are stingy about who qualifies (we don't because the boys weren't born prior to 32 weeks, don't have lung problems and don't have older siblings). Needless to say, with prices like those we're opting to not pay for those shots ourselves! Instead, we'll have to be extra careful this winter.

All three boys are gaining weight very well! They've all at least doubled their birth weights. Jackson is now the heaviest (he passed Chase!) at 8 pounds 13 oz, Tyler weighs in at 7 pounds 15 oz and Chase is 8 pounds 7 oz. The doctor was pleased with their growth and gave Nick and I premission to drop some feedings. We're easing them into it, but right now we're only get up once per night with them! Yay for more uninterrupted sleep!

Next Friday we'll be taking Jackson to Children's Mercy Hospital to meet with a surgeon to discuss a plan for his herniated belly button. His belly button is sticking up about an inch (quite freaky looking), but doesn't seem to bother him. The surgeon will decide whether we should wait to see if it heals itself (which I guess they often will) or if we'll do surgery to correct it now. Herniated belly buttons are fairly common I guess, in fact Nick and his brother both had surgeries to fix theirs when they were babies!

Tyler

Jackson, Tyler and Chase

Jackson