Bubbles...bubbles...bubbles
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Head, sholders, knees and toes...we got just about everything checked out this week
We had a busy doctor/therapy week. It is a real blessing to live in Birmingham where we can see so many specialist in such a short distance from our home. We meet so many people that drive hours for their appointment.
Monday: I stopped by the Bell Center to drop off the boys application for summer and beyond. I had the opportunity to meet with Betty Bell and take a tour of the facility. I was very impressed with their facility and programs offered. I can't wait for the boys to get started. On Monday afternoon, Owen, headed to Children's South for a CT-Scan on his brain. One of his doctors wanted to make sure he did not have PVL. We found out today that his scan was clean. Praise God!!!!
Tuesday: Both Nathan and Owen had great visits with their PT, Kristi. She brought them their new gait trainer. Both boys are really enjoying it. Later that morning we were headed to the main Children's Hospital for Owen to see his pulmonologist. He put Owen doubled the strength of Owen's regular inhailer while also adding some steroids and nebulizer treatments every 4 hours. Last week Owen had a barium swallow study that revealed he had grade 4 reflux. Upon hearing that his pulmonologist schedule him for a modified swallow test next week. This test will go through different foods to look at the flap in his throat. The other one was just barium to look at his food going from his stomach to his intestines.
Wednesday: Both Nathan and Owen visited with their PT, Jane. They had good visits and always like seeing Miss Jane (even if Owen does cry some).
Thursday: This morning Nathan and Owen visited with their OT, Andrew. They did a great job, though both seemed a little tired and not fully engaged in their activities. This afternoon Nathan and Owen went to see their ENT and Children's South. Both of them have fluid on their ears and will be getting tubes put in. Also, they will have their voice boxes looked at while they are under for the tubes since both of them were on the ventilator so long and have such quiet voices. Currently they are schedule to have their tubes on May 3rd. Owen will need clearance from his pulmonologist before the surgery, but Nathan should be good to go.
Now, I bet you are wondering where Logan was this entire time...school in the mornings and then CiCi picked him up and he had a great time playing at her house two days this week. She also dropped him off for his swim lesson at Samford for me. Right now Logan and I are drawing garages and watching the Wonder Pets!!!!
Monday: I stopped by the Bell Center to drop off the boys application for summer and beyond. I had the opportunity to meet with Betty Bell and take a tour of the facility. I was very impressed with their facility and programs offered. I can't wait for the boys to get started. On Monday afternoon, Owen, headed to Children's South for a CT-Scan on his brain. One of his doctors wanted to make sure he did not have PVL. We found out today that his scan was clean. Praise God!!!!
Tuesday: Both Nathan and Owen had great visits with their PT, Kristi. She brought them their new gait trainer. Both boys are really enjoying it. Later that morning we were headed to the main Children's Hospital for Owen to see his pulmonologist. He put Owen doubled the strength of Owen's regular inhailer while also adding some steroids and nebulizer treatments every 4 hours. Last week Owen had a barium swallow study that revealed he had grade 4 reflux. Upon hearing that his pulmonologist schedule him for a modified swallow test next week. This test will go through different foods to look at the flap in his throat. The other one was just barium to look at his food going from his stomach to his intestines.
Wednesday: Both Nathan and Owen visited with their PT, Jane. They had good visits and always like seeing Miss Jane (even if Owen does cry some).
Thursday: This morning Nathan and Owen visited with their OT, Andrew. They did a great job, though both seemed a little tired and not fully engaged in their activities. This afternoon Nathan and Owen went to see their ENT and Children's South. Both of them have fluid on their ears and will be getting tubes put in. Also, they will have their voice boxes looked at while they are under for the tubes since both of them were on the ventilator so long and have such quiet voices. Currently they are schedule to have their tubes on May 3rd. Owen will need clearance from his pulmonologist before the surgery, but Nathan should be good to go.
Now, I bet you are wondering where Logan was this entire time...school in the mornings and then CiCi picked him up and he had a great time playing at her house two days this week. She also dropped him off for his swim lesson at Samford for me. Right now Logan and I are drawing garages and watching the Wonder Pets!!!!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Gait trainer
Yesterday, Kristi the boys PT, brought over a gait trainer for Nathan and Owen to use with their walking. Nathan loves to move all over but does not have the strength/stability to walk on his own yet. This apparatus gives him the support he needs to be mobile. Owen enjoys being in it too. He is not moving quite as much as Nathan, yet.
I have some video of Nathan walking in the gait trainer today. Unfortunately I can not get it to upload. Here is a link to the video http://gallery.mac.com/prestonhite/100011 . It is the only video and the one that starts with Nathan. There is one other picture of Logan and Russ (which is cute too).
I have some video of Nathan walking in the gait trainer today. Unfortunately I can not get it to upload. Here is a link to the video http://gallery.mac.com/
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Race Without Limits
This morning was our big family race. The weather was perfect and we were so blessed to have so many friends and family come out to join us. Over 6 months ago we started raising support for UCP. Our team raised over $1200!!!! Thank you so much for your generous donations. We actually were officially recognized over the load speaker at the race a few times for having raised so much! We had a great team of people running with us: Don, Dave, Sarah C, Sarah L, Welles, Susie (NICU nurse), Elizabeth, Maryam (NICU nurse practitioner), Kristi (physical therapist), Logan, Beau, Gracie, Mom, Ranae, Cooper and Russ. Each team member wore a little sign showing they were running in support of Nathan and Owen. Cici, Pawpaw Bill and Papa, as well as Theresa Hayes (Gracie's grandma), also came to cheer on the runners (and get some time with the grandkids). Here are some pictures of our morning.
Lining up at the start of the 8k
Our support signs.
Susie stretching before the race.
Welles, Don and Preston after the race.
Susie, Maryam and Elizabeth running in the race.
Logan stretching before his run.
Starting line pictures.
Logan crossing the finish line.
Gracie crossing the finish line.
Logan, Gracie and Beau after running the fun run.
Cooper after the fun run.
All the family race participants.
Oma and Owen
Preston and Nathan.
Oma, Owen, Ranae, Nathan
Park fun after the race.
Lining up at the start of the 8k
Our support signs.
Susie stretching before the race.
Welles, Don and Preston after the race.
Susie, Maryam and Elizabeth running in the race.
Logan stretching before his run.
Starting line pictures.
Logan crossing the finish line.
Gracie crossing the finish line.
Logan, Gracie and Beau after running the fun run.
Cooper after the fun run.
All the family race participants.
Oma and Owen
Preston and Nathan.
Oma, Owen, Ranae, Nathan
Park fun after the race.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Medical Update
Since it is such long stretches between my posts lately I figured I should get lots of stuff in tonight. We really appreciate all of the prayers that are lifted up for our boys. I know many of you enjoy knowing the medical updates of the boys so you know how to pray for each of them.
The boys are doing well. Owen is 20 pounds and Nathan is 18 pounds. The boys are doing great in therapy. Nathan is starting to walk in a baby walker and will be getting a special walker on Tuesday. He loves being mobile but just does not have the strength to walk on his own right now. He is starting to commando crawl, with a little help. Owen is starting to walk in the walker too, but movement is a little harder for him. He is making great progress. He is not trying to crawl yet because he really hates to be on his tummy. Owen is progressing very well in speech therapy. He has begun saying words like MaMa and DaDa along with lots of vowels and grunts. Nathan will greet everyone with a hi and will say a few vowels too. Both the boys had flat tympanograms last week so they will be seeing an ENT next Thursday to see if they have any fluid or wax build up in their ears. We are wanting to get that cleared up quickly so we can continue with their testing to understand exactly their hearing loss.
Owen especially had a busy week. On Monday he had a barium swallow study at Children's Hospital to get a better understanding of his reflux. Owen was diagnosed with Grade 4 reflux (which is extremely bad reflux). Right now the doctors are working on getting him some new medication that will help him even more than what he is currently taking. We hope that once he gets his reflux under control he will be more comfortable. Today Owen was also seen by a rehab doctor. He diagnosed Owen with Distonic CP (cerebral palsy). Basically what this means for Owen is that he may not have good fluid movement (just like right now). Their case is not severe. They will walk and function close to normal, but it will just take some time to get there.
Thank you so much for praying for the boys. We know it is changing their lives.
The boys are doing well. Owen is 20 pounds and Nathan is 18 pounds. The boys are doing great in therapy. Nathan is starting to walk in a baby walker and will be getting a special walker on Tuesday. He loves being mobile but just does not have the strength to walk on his own right now. He is starting to commando crawl, with a little help. Owen is starting to walk in the walker too, but movement is a little harder for him. He is making great progress. He is not trying to crawl yet because he really hates to be on his tummy. Owen is progressing very well in speech therapy. He has begun saying words like MaMa and DaDa along with lots of vowels and grunts. Nathan will greet everyone with a hi and will say a few vowels too. Both the boys had flat tympanograms last week so they will be seeing an ENT next Thursday to see if they have any fluid or wax build up in their ears. We are wanting to get that cleared up quickly so we can continue with their testing to understand exactly their hearing loss.
Owen especially had a busy week. On Monday he had a barium swallow study at Children's Hospital to get a better understanding of his reflux. Owen was diagnosed with Grade 4 reflux (which is extremely bad reflux). Right now the doctors are working on getting him some new medication that will help him even more than what he is currently taking. We hope that once he gets his reflux under control he will be more comfortable. Today Owen was also seen by a rehab doctor. He diagnosed Owen with Distonic CP (cerebral palsy). Basically what this means for Owen is that he may not have good fluid movement (just like right now). Their case is not severe. They will walk and function close to normal, but it will just take some time to get there.
Thank you so much for praying for the boys. We know it is changing their lives.
Hanging with our first friend Mason
On Thursday morning the boys first friend Mason came for a visit. He brought his Mom, Olivia, and we had the best time with them. Mason was born at 24 weeks, just like Nathan and Owen. He was born just two days before Nathan and Owen and we were together the entire time in the NICU. The boys had so much fun playing together. The Mommies had a wonderful time catching up with each other. We are planning to do this again soon!!!!
First T-ball Game
Last Saturday Logan had his first T-ball game. His team is the White Socks. Everyone on their team gets a chance to hit the ball and run on the bases. Logan did very well and hit the ball off the tee on the first try. He had a lot of fun playing t-ball. He has games every Saturday through Memorial Day Weekend.
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