OVERDUE UPDATE

By now you may have figured out that we have been too busy (and too tired!) to publish any new posts the last three days. It has been wonderful to have Andrew home and not have to run back and forth to the hospital each day. However, we will soon be doing that again for a short time when Andrew has his surgery. This has been a very busy, tiring, hectic, and eventful week so far. Caring for twins is hard enough but when one has complications that needs extra attention it is an added stress. Andrew takes 4 different medications and has the nephrostomy tube that required special care. In addition to that he has had doctor's appointments every day this week. Even though we're not looking forward to seeing him go through surgery again we will be glad when his kidney is repaired, he no longer has the nephrostomy tube and he is back home feeling better. This phase won't be forever. Here's a rundown of this last week. (PICTURE: Binky Brothers - Aaron on the left, Andrew on the right)

TUESDAY 5/27- Steve stayed home from work to lend a hand before Grandma Rawlings came Wed & Thurs from St. George to help out. The twins had a check up with the pediatrician and to get their first set of vaccines. We were impressed at how quickly the nurse gave them. Two shots each in less than 2 seconds! They were resting peacefully one second and the next they were red in the face and screaming. Both Andrew and Aaron were able to be calmed rather quickly after we picked them up and held them close. So far only Andrew seemed to be fussy the next day but has Aaron hasn't seemed to how any reaction to the shots.

WEDNESDAY 5/28- It was a big help to have Grandma Rawlings come from St. George for a couple of days. We only wish she could've stayed longer but we welcome her back anytime! Steve returned to work so Grandma came with me and the twins to an appointment with Dr. Kogut, the surgeon who performed Andrew's TEF surgery. We had called her Tuesday evening about 9:30pm because during feedings the previous two days Andrew had been very fussy. He would begin his feedings calmly and suck down the first ounce or two in about 10 minutes. Then (usually after burping him) he would pull back, arch his back, stretch his neck, and cry. Sometimes he would want more but than after swallowing a time or two he would repeat the same thing. Eventually he wanted nothing to do with the bottle and would be inconsolable. His cry would be one of pain. We couldn't figure it out but if this continued much longer he could become dehydrated because he was far below his normal feedings. When we described this to the surgeon she said she would order and esophogram (barium swallow test) for the next days with a follow up in her office. She said it sounded like acid reflux, which is very common with those who have TEF. Sure enough it was. It's not a surprise but we were hoping he wouldn't have to deal with that. Fortunately, Andrew's food is going down smoothly and the surgery site is healing nicely. Andrew is now taking two medicines for his acid reflux which seem to be helping. (PICTURE: Aaron sacked out in his crib)

THURSDAY 5/29- Today appointments were scheduled for Andrew to have a renal ultrasound and then to take the results to the urologist for her to examine. His right kidney continues to look good and everything is in place for him to have his surgery next Tuesday, June 3. This time he will be at Sunrise, which is a hospital across town. His recovery should include about 3-4 days in the hospital. We won't know until the surgery whether or not the surgeon can actually perform the repair and put in the stint. Andrew will first have a urogram done through MRI to determine what his left uriter looks like and where the blockage is. Depending on the results of the test the surgery will go forward with the repair of the kidney and the removal of the nephostomy tube. We are anxious for this tube to be removed. There have been several times where we have accidentally tugged on it when picking Andrew up and he makes sure we know about it!

FRIDAY 5/30- Today I had to take Andrew across town to the hospital for pre-op lab work and registration. We are grateful to our friend, Barbara, who watched Aaron while we were gone. There were 3 blood tests that the doctor needed and only two were able to be done. He has been poked so many times and had so many IV's put it that it's next to impossible to draw blood from him. He SCREAMED so hard that after the blood was drawn he couldn't even take his bottle because he was so worked up. It took a while to calm him down. I couldn't help crying myself as I watched them do this to him and the pain it caused him. The nurse had to draw blood from three different places and still didn't get enough blood to complete all three tests. Andrew eventually calmed down and slept the entire way home. (PICTURE: Andrew taking in one of his pacifier moments)

Aaron has been a great sport through all this. It's hard for me to have to give so much attention to Andrew right now and not feel like I'm neglecting Aaron. We enjoy having the twins together and comparing differences and similarities in their ears, faces, hands, sizes, etc. We are gradually learning their different personalities and to recognize their cries. They are slowly beginning to hold their heads up and look at us for longer periods of time when we talk to and smile at them.

We love our little boys and are so grateful for them!! Even though it is tiring and hard we wouldn't have things any other way.