They're eating and we're sleeping!

I am so excited about this update because I have so much good news to share! What a difference a month can make! Before I start on the babies I want to update on you on the complaint I filed with the State of Arizona Medical Board about the doctor who told me at 17 weeks, I should consider terminating two of the three babies. Well, I got a letter that after investigation they do not think he violated any medical codes, so I guess that is that. I am a little disappointed, but it is kind of what I figured would happen. At least I can say I did what I could, now time to move forward.

On with the good news! I will start with Mickey. If you have been following along, you know that when we brought Mickey home from the NICU he was aspirating his food, so we had to give him large amounts of rice cereal in his formula so that it did not go into his lungs. He also had a really bad reflux problem so it was like pulling teeth to get him to eat the thickened food and then he would spit it all up. I am not talking a little baby spit up. I am talking, large amounts of projectile spit up that would result in showers or baths for both of us, carpet and couch cleanings, etc. Well, Mickey had a repeat swallow study done earlier this month. This is where they give him different consistencies of liquid to drink to see if it goes in his lungs and I am THRILLED to say he is no longer aspirating and they told us we could wean him down off the rice cereal completely. Not only that, but he rarely spits up ever anymore. His reflux has most definitely improved significantly. In addition to that, in meeting with the physical therapists, his torticollis is not nearly as bad as they thought. Its actually hard to even give an accurate diagnosis of this at all. He has full range of motion in his neck and holds his head up pretty centered. We are watching it, but not as concerned as before.

Georgia just rolled over for the first time yesterday! She is the last of the babies to do this and we are so proud! She is also sucking her thumb all the time. I am not to happy about this one, but on a positive note, at least she is self soothing.

Jolynne was developing a problem with reflux as well so we got the OK to add some rice to her formula and help keep it down. We have accomplished several things with adding the rice: she is able to keep her food down, she is gaining weight and catching up to her brother and sister, and we have been able to take her Imodium medication to one time a day from three times a day. Jo has also really mellowed out over the last month. She seems happier, less anxious and able to just sit back, relax and enjoy being a baby.

All the babies are smiling and cooing and kicking. They love looking at themselves in the mirror! They are doing so well! They sit up and watch cartoons or us and they have started to really notice the dogs and each other! AND, I cannot forget to mention that last night all three slept through the night for the first time! We have been putting them to bed around 8pm and they will sleep about 6 hours until about 2am, we feed them and they sleep again until about 6 or 7 am. But last night, they slept through that 2am feeding, so hooray! Lets hope this continues. Its actually been pretty weird since we have been putting them to bed at 8pm. Tommy and I actually have a couple hours at the end of the day to wind down and do our own thing instead of rushing off to bed as soon as they go down.  I feel like my little angels are really turning a corner.

The most fun we are having lately is trying to introduce the babies to eating with a spoon. We are starting with rice cereal for now until they figure out what this is all about. We have only been trying for less than a week and its been entertaining to say the least. I have included pictures to help illustrate this adventure!

Day 1 - A Complete Disaster! All three babies screamed through the whole thing!

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After

  

Day 2 - A little better. Mickey did the best. Jolynne was not crying, but she could not really keep any food in her mouth either, then she feel asleep after a couple minutes sitting up. Georgia just screamed again!

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After

  

Day 3 - Mickey did well again, I think he likes it. Georgia did ok too. She was eating the food, but then sticking her fingers in her mouth and getting it everywhere. Jolynne just cried and then she fell asleep again. Georgia fell asleep too.

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After

  

Day 4 - I missed this feeding but Mickey is a pro compared to his sisters. They all did a little better this time.

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After

Its a work in progress. Advice welcome!