Eh, what's up doc?

It was a lot easier updating the blog when the kids were in an isolette and we could post our entries at the hospital. We don't want to go back to those days, but having them both at home has cut into to our time to do anything. Showering is no longer a daily activity, so you can imagine where the blog falls on the daily priority list. However, it is something we want to continue so this week we will try to have more posts. There might be more pictures and less text, but that's probably more interesting anyway.

Last Thursday was our first follow-up appointment with the neonatologists at Kosair since Clara left the hospital. We were we anxious to see how the kids were progressing, but were also excited to go back to the hospital. The doctors have adamantly told us not to take the kids out to public or crowded places unless absolutely necessary. Therefore, a trip to the hospital to see the people we've gotten to know so well over the past four months constituted our biggest family social outing to date. Chris not only dressed up the kids in cute outfits, she also took a shower and put on some makeup. Sure, we started getting ready to leave at about seven o'clock Wednesday night to be on time for our appointment Thursday morning, but it was worth it. (And yes, we were still a little late).

The report on Clara and Wilson was mostly positive. Both kids gained weight - Clara gained a pound since leaving the hospital and weighed 6 lbs, 3 ozs and Wilson almost hit the 7 lb mark by weighing in at 6lbs, 15.5 ozs. We're convinced if he hadn't had a blow out in his diaper early Thursday morning he would have made it to 7lbs. Wilson received a good bill of health and the doctors think his reflux issues will subside in due time. This is good because it still kind of freaks us out when he stops breathing while he's eating and we have to bend him over our leg to make sure he doesn't choke. Wilson also has an umbilical hernia, but that is pretty typical in preemies and should go away as he gets older.

Wilson's umbilical hernia might as well be a dorsal fin,
but it wasn't big enough to get him to 7lbs.  

Clara also received glowing reviews and the doctors were impressed by her progress since leaving the NICU. Not only have we kept her alive, she is actually doing well under our care . . . perhaps the biggest miracle of all. Other than continuing to need breathing treatments, Clara's only other pressing concern is she most likely has an inguinal hernia. This is different than an umbilical hernia and will likely require surgery. We will consult with a surgeon soon and probably have Clara's hernia repaired before the end of the year. It's not an ideal situation, but will hopefully be a routine procedure.

The breathing treatments continue

After the official doctor's appointment, Morgan went to work and Chris extended her hall pass away from the home by visiting a few of the other doctors and nurses at Kosair. It was wonderful to see how excited everyone was by their progress. One of the doctors went so far as to get her iphone, take pictures, and text them to another doc who was on vacation. We continue to be impressed by the amazing miracle workers in the neonatal intensive care unit at Kosair and will probably annoy Clara and Wilson by taking them back for visits for many years to come.  

Now that we've had them both home for two weeks, we're starting to pick up little things about their personalities that we didn't notice in the NICU. We'll have more on that tomorrow but it's 1:52 a.m., Clara and Wilson are now both asleep and we are going to try to join them. Thanks for continuing to read the blog and encouraging us to keep posting. Having them in the NICU was very difficult and we couldn't wait to leave, but having them home presents new challenges as well. It is very uplifting to know we still have so many friends and family sending us prayers and well-wishes. For tonight, th-th-th-th-that's all folks!