Picture update

Having twins at home has drastically cut down my time for blogging, so here is a little glimpse of our first few weeks at home

First trip to the doctor

Anderson wanted to join us at the dinner table and he was being thoughtful about his responses to our questions.  I think we were discussing raising the debt ceiling at this point.

Anderson's favorite way to sleep

Carter's favorite way to sleep

Multitasking (holding both boys, checking email and eating a sandwich); Ty's mom was so impressed she needed to capture it on film

First family walk

The boys love the 105 degree weather

3 month birthday photo shoot

This was their celebration for getting to take their 3 month picture at home!

Then they decided they didn't like each other

Anderson's few days as the only child at home

Anderson really loved having 2 parents and 2 grandmas ready to cater to his every whim.  We tried to tell him that we won't be able to get to his crying as quickly once Carter got home, but he wasn't interested in this information.  Here are a few pics of his few days as an "only child"

Snuggling with Emily

Meeting Bama (Ty's mom) for the first time (He appears quite comfortable with her)

Telling Bama a story - he talks with his hands pretty often

Annoyed with Daddy for interrupting his story

 Thanks for the great outfit Kyle and Anna!

Watching TV with Daddy, looking about as interested in Shark Week as Mommy is

Home Sweet Home

After 10 weeks and 6 days, 1 blood transfusion, 1 surgery, a few tanks of oxygen, 456 minutes of hand washing (we scrubbed in for 3 minutes before we could see the boys each time), and countless terrifying phone calls from the hospital, our sweet little boys are finally home.

Carter was cleared for release on Saturday.  He passed both his sleep study and car seat test with flying colors.  He wasn't eating incredibly well, but the doctor believed he would eat better at home and as his anesthesia continued to wear off.  We brought his little brother back to the hospital with us so we all could come home together.  Here are some pics from his last day in the hospital and first days at home:

Anderson came to see his brother

Daddy telling Carter that he's coming home with him

The nurses referred to them as Team Grandma

Carter is ready to go

Both boys ready for the car ride home

Home sweet home!

Grandma Jean made some signs for them

Sleeping together again

First baths together at home

Nice and clean

And here's one for Carter

Sweet Carter is also doing well.  He didn't have a great weekend of feeding, so he was not able to room in with us on Monday night with his brother.  Carter was transferred to a hospital downtown on Tuesday afternoon for his hernia surgery.  He did very well and the hernias were fairly easy to repair according to his surgeon.  He rested for awhile at the new hospital and then plans were made to transfer him back to the hospital near us.  This was wonderful news, as we loved the doctors and nurses at the hospital near us, it was much closer to our house and the hospital would allow us to come back and visit Carter with Anderson.  He arrived back at the original hospital last night around 8pm and has been doing great.

His feeding tube had been removed for the surgery and the plan is to not have to put it back in!  He has been taking all of his feedings by mouth today and has done very well.  He is currently taking a little Tylenol for pain, but seems to be recovering well.  If he can continue to take all of his feedings, the doctor will think about discharging him in the next few days!!!

I met with a gastroenterologist at the hospital downtown to discuss his liver and direct billirubin levels.  The doctor reviewed his chart and was not too concerned about his liver.  He thinks the levels are fine and will continue to drop.  Carter will remain on medicine for this and will be followed up in about a month.

Here are some pictures of Carter and his transport:

Hanging out with Mom before leaving

Being strapped in for the ride

Pretty unconcerned about the trip (Mom and Dad were pretty emotional)

Carter's entourage

Look at all the machines on this thing!  They typically transport pretty sick babies, so they need all of this equipment.  The transport team loved being able to just ride with a healthy baby.

Getting in the ambulance

His limo leaving the hospital

A post entirely about Anderson

Later in life, it may become important to the boys that I wrote about each of them separately.  So here is a post entirely about Anderson.  Anderson continued to do well on his feedings, and he began taking all feedings by mouth last Saturday.  On Sunday evening, the nurses did his sleep study, where he was monitored for 10 hours to assess any changes in heart rate or oxygen saturation level.  Then he did a 1 hour car seat exam where he was strapped into his seat and was again monitored for heart rate and oxygen level changes.  He passed both, so Ty and I were able to room in with him on Monday evening.  We essentially just stayed in a room in the hospital all alone with Anderson and had a nurse check in periodically to see how we were doing.  No one really got much sleep, but Anderson did well enough that we were able to bring him home on Tuesday.  Here are some pictures of his last few days at the hospital and first few days at home:

Anderson without any monitors

Bedtime story with Mom

He got really into it at this point

Final feeding at the hospital with Grandma Jean; getting discharge directions from Kyra, their primary nurse

Ready to go home!!!

Sweet little baby feet

First trip outside (it was 108 degrees)

Grandma and Anderson taking a nap

First visitors, Annie and Austin

Since he's been home, Anderson has been doing great.  He has been eating very well and actually sleeping a fair amount.  I took him to the pediatrician today and he weighs 6lbs, 14oz and is 19.25 inches long.  We are loving hanging out with him, changing diapers without worrying about getting the wires in the poop, and taking naps with him.  We can't wait for his brother to join him.