I can’t believe my babies are almost 20 months old. Three more days they will be twenty months old. Only 4 months from being 2! They will still always be my babies… Just like the book, I will love you forever; By: Robert N. Munsch. I was also thinking about 4th of July last year we were in Strawberry, AZ. at my best friend’s cabin. Lots of fun with a whole house full of (non-parents) and me and the twins. Everyone had a great time to get away from the heat and relax. They couldn’t really do a lot there compared to now (granted they were 6 months old and 3 months old adjusted). I think Kirra was crawling around, maybe, maybe not. I know Baili just got her g-tube surgery and was on tube feedings all day long. We were just glad the n g tube was out!!!!!!!!!!! Baili’s g-tube was done every three hours, it took an hour to feed and then if she vomited it up we had to start all over again. Basically she ate every two hours if she didn’t vomit, every hour if she did. Poor girl. They were on baby food only vegetables Baili wasn’t eating or drinking. She was on full time food therapy. Now Baili eats everything in sight. She has graduated from food therapy. They were still the happiest babies around last yr at this time. Kirra loved baby food, still does. I still wonder why? We had to break it from Kirra like a bottle. I still give it to her in the morning and for dessert. She sees a jar come out and starts smiling saying, yes, yes, yes. Maybe she will eat baby food as a kid? Who knows? As long as she mixes it in, I don’t mind. It’s healthy.
BAILI -
Baili is still doing PT- Physical Therapy, OT- Occupational Therapy, SP- Speech Therapy, DSI- Developmental Specialist Interventionist all weekly for an hour a piece at home. We started all this from the NICU. Takes a long time to get it so it’s taken time but we are very blessed she has it. She also for fun is doing additional DSI twice a month with Parenting AZ at home. Baili is progressing every week. She can now go from all fours to a sitting position. Not sure if that is a good thing because now she just gets off from the crawling position. She is behind but we pray each day she will catch up. She says, Mama, Dada, WOW, wooohhh, and lots of chabber. We don’t think she knows what those words mean but she certainly is trying. She talks all day long we just can’t get what she is saying yet. She points, waves, claps, and shakes her head. Wow, she sure loves to shake her head all over the place and look up and laugh. She thinks it is HILARIOUS, then she laughs crazy loud belly laugh and does it all over again!! Kirra will copy her just to get some attention. Baili is still working on getting more food and milk during the day until she will be off the g-tube. Since she has constipation problems she is on medicine twice a day for that. She also has some over the counter medicine too we use. When I say constipation problems I mean let’s go stay in PHX Children’s hospital for a month for it. Most of April we did that and contracted RSV and the flu while we were there. Well why not???? She is on reflex medicine at night through the gtube as well. She still takes 500 ml a night through her gtube of formula. She lately is drinking 20 ounces of whole milk and formula at night only. Thinking back she used to puke all day, not puke, projectile vomit water fountains all day long. She now NEVER pukes unless sick. God we are so blessed she is doing so well!!!
I remember last February she started to suck for the first time ever!! Now she drinks sippy cups like nobody’s business. Things change with Baili daily. Like her hair used to stick up like she was electrocuted. Now she has beautiful hair! Baili loves music, sounds, and sings, anything with music. She loves to be held and hugged and DANCE. She would hug all day if she were allowed. She is like a bear and clings to you like she has never been held before or been away from her momma for years. She just loves people and love. She is a great baby and she was put on this planet to make people happy. I know that sounds funny but she is an old soul. She is always happy, content, chill, and a lovely baby. We love you Baili girl and you will catch up on “Baili time.” Baili currently is 20 pounds and give or take some ounces on a good day. Last 18 month appt Baili was is in the 7th percentile in height, 7th percentile in head circumference, and 10th percentile in weight. She is petite, and a preemie. She only wears size 2 shoes. In “baby world” that is usually 3-6 months!! Some babies are born with that size! Some of this size stuff is being a preemie but some is genetic. Not from me. I am tall with large feet. She definitely got Josh’s side on height and feet, and well being tiny. The women in his family are short and petite. I say that’s a good thing, what girl wants to be all big?? Plus her clothes fit for a long, long time. Overall in the last 20 months Baili has gained over 20 pounds and has been through unbelievable amounts of doctors and tests and has spent over 3 million dollars on my insurance, I am not kidding either. I would say seeing a neurologist for babies or children is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Since she was fine that was wonderful. Still seeing the other children in there, man, I couldn’t work there is all I have to say. She is our ANGEL our MIRACLE and her daddy and I love her to DEATH and I am sure everyone else that is in her life feels the same. She is a kind spirit and well just LOVELY.
One person said to me once it is hard having a preemie, but one great thing about having a preemie, you have a baby for a long long long time. She is my baby girl.
Kirra-
Kirra is my twin A, first one born, and first to see the world. She didn’t cry at her birth and I wasn’t allowed to see her. She didn’t make a sound. They were afraid she wasn’t breathing and well that’s more important than seeing me. They didn’t tell me anything at the time, just rushed her away. She was 3 pounds, 3 ounces. The NICU rushed her away within mili seconds with Josh in tow. They were on the way to admit in the NICU at 3 months early. I mean RUNNING down the halls. I didn’t see it. Nor do I think I could watch that anyway. Plus I had another baby to deliver, I was busy. I am told an “admit” is not something to watch. They do every test under the sun. Tubes everywhere, well they are just trying to save a life. If anyone has been through the NICU they know what I am talking about. Kirra was in the NICU for a little over 9 1/2 weeks. Baili was for 13 1/2 weeks and counting almost 14. The NICU sucked. IF there is a word for a NICU but they saved my children’s lives. They nursed them to live. I am so thankful. Despite all odds Kirra did great. She went through her ups and downs just like a roller coaster ride. I remember when she was supposed to leave and then she forgot to breathe the night before all night. Then they kept her for another 4 days. She mainly breathed on her own. She was on the lights. She was on the incubator, the open crib, the body temperature thing, the meds, all that. I don’t want to scare or bored you with. Despite everything Kirra is our survivor. She was called a grower and sleeper there. She had to grow and feed to get out and she did. No meds, no problems, just get healthier. She had the swallow problems and we had to give her thicker feeds - every bottle was like honey consistency if you can imagine pouring honey down your throat. Or like thick oatmeal or it would drip into her lungs. She finally graduated into normal drinks at 13 months old! 13 months!
Now today – Kirra talks, walks, runs, plays, she caught up completely at 6 months according to all the doctors. She has been the one we haven’t worried about. She crawled on time, walks, runs, plays, talks, sight is good, hearing is good, weight is good. She is thinner than most but hey tall and thin sounds good to me! Her last stats were 90% for height, 98% for head circumference and 35% for weight. Dr. Jim says she is on the thinner side but that could be just her. She is fine and 100% like any normal 20 month old. She loves life, she loves all people. She is a mommy’s and daddy’s girl. She loves me, as I do her. We are attached at the hip. She is throwing out new words like nobody’s business. You say it, she will repeat it. She knows what she likes to eat and what she doesn’t. I have a three level home and she goes up and down those stairs since last November, so basically she does what she wants throughout her house. She wipes the floors like Mommy and cleans. She LOVES her baby BaBa. She calls Baili, BaBa. She pats her on the back and kisses and hugs her constantly. She shares and talks to BaBa too. Even though Baili doesn’t talk back they have this twin talk that I can’t understand. She is in love with her twin, and I mean it when I say, she shares the same soul with Baili. They literally are one – their parts are better together than apart. They are whole together they have empty parts when not together if that makes sense. They are better together than apart. One reason why Kirra is not in preschool yet she cannot be away from her sister. She teaches Baili all the time. Kirra is running, swimming like a 3 yr old now. =)) and loves life.
She does cry when away from me. She is very aware if she doesn’t know you and can be very shy. She has constipation too. I think it is a preemie thing. She gets enemas and miralax daily… Why can’t I have a baby who just poops??? My Kirra angel is so sweet and gentle and very careful. She has always been so careful and cautious. I think she is just very aware. She has always passed every test with flying colors. We are so lucky. At times, I am like hurry up Kirra already. We expect her to get it and get it fast because that’s how Kirra works. Sometimes I tell myself to slow down and let her learn slowly. However Kirra is very fast and all over the place most of the time. She is so funny, so sweet, and such a great toddler!!! I love you Kirra, you will always be the leader and the oldest sibling. Baili needs Kirra as Kirra needs her. I know Baili will always look up to Kirra in many ways. Last night Kirra learned how to put her shoes on by herself and was so happy. Granted the wrong feet but she got the Velcro on very nice. She is my other best friend besides Baili and I couldn’t live without her. I love you Kir Bear!
Over the last 20 months with having preemies, twins, all that, it has been life changing. I have grown up tremendously for the better and enjoying the little things like the roses outside because now my kids stop me and want to smell them. I can’t wait to take them to the beach in CALI in October!! They have seen it in WA. but I can’t wait for them to feel it on their toes….
Both girls are doing great.
