We're getting so big!

Makenzie Grace at 5 weeks old

Makayla Faith looking cross eyed at 5 weeks old

Makayla Faith 7 weeks old

 

Makenzie Grace 7 weeks old

  

Update on Makayla's Appointment

Today was one of the hardest things that Carl and I have had to deal with as parents so far. As you know we had to take Makayla to Duke ENT for some issues with her breathing. The Dr came in and we went over her history, she asked a bunch of questions, and then told us she was going to stick a tiny camera down her nose and throat...I was thinking what?!?! She isn't even 7 weeks old! The Dr said "were going to spray some numbing spray in her nose that will last 15 minutes and she shouldn't feel a thing"...boy was she wrong! The Dr sprayed some nasty spray up her tiny little nostrils and Makayla did NOT like it at all. Then she got a nurse to come in the room to hold her head down while I held her...Carl immediately said can I hold her head instead? Thankfully the Dr said yes so Carl held onto her head, I was holding her as tight as I could and then the Dr stuck the camera in her nose that went down in her throat. Immediately screams came whaling from Makayla...it was horrifying to say the least!!! I have never ever seen or heard her or any baby that little so upset! It was the worst feeling watching her in so much discomfort and I couldn't do anything but cry too! Carl could not even look at her it was so bad he just watched the screen. It only took a few minutes for her to get all of the pictures and diagnose her, but it seemed like it took an eternity. After she was done Makayla's wheezing and gasping became even worse than its ever been, but the Dr said that was perfectly normal and to just give it time. Time?! Are you kidding?! My sweet little girl was miserable and struggling to breathe!!! It took FOREVER to get her calm and to slow down her breathing and she has been so miserable and pathetic ever since. Needless to say they did figure out the problem. She has a congenital defect called Laryngomalacia which is one of the most common defects in infants with breathing problems (although I have never heard of anyone with it). We were given a new stronger prescription for her reflux that is suppose to help with this as well, and we were sent home with a list of things to do that should help to settle down the symptoms. Fortunately this is a defect that should resolve itself and go away by the time she is 18 months or so which is awesome. If it does not resolve itself then we would discuss surgery at that time, but for now we will do all that we can to settle things down. Because I am no Dr and am horrible at explaining things to make it easier on myself and to avoid having to answer a million questions about it I am going to copy and paste from cincinnatichildrens.org about Laryngomalacia below. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers today...they mean a lot to us! Please keep them coming for our sweet little girls and us as you will see below we have a long way to go with this.

Laryngomalacia (Infantile)

Related Services

• Otolaryngology

Laryngomalacia is best described as floppy tissue (epiglottis and arytenoid cartilages) above the vocal cords that falls into the airway when a child breaths in.

• Laryngomalacia is the most frequent cause of noisy breathing (stridor) in infants and children.
• Laryngomalacia is the most common congenital anomaly (birth defect) of the voice box (larynx).
• The cause of laryngomalacia and the reason why the tissue is floppy is unknown. The part of the nervous system that gives tone to the airway is most likely underdeveloped.

Diagnosis of Laryngomalacia

Diagnosis of laryngomalacia is suggested by a typical history and is confirmed by clinical examination and flexible laryngoscopy (see diagnostic studies).

Signs and Symptoms of Laryngomalacia

Infants with laryngomalacia have intermittent noisy breathing when breathing in (inspiratory stridor) becomes worse with agitation, crying, excitement, feeding or position / sleeping in the supine (on the back) position. These symptoms are often present at birth and are usually apparent within the first 10 days of life. However, noisy breathing (stridor) of infantile laryngomalacia may be present in babies up to one year of age.

Symptoms will often increase or get worse over the first few months after diagnosis, usually between 4-8 months of age. Most children with laryngomalacia outgrow the noisy breathing (stridor) by 12-18 months of age.

Other symptoms that can be associated with laryngomalacia include:

• Poor weight gain
• Difficulty with feeding
• Regurgitation of food (vomiting or spitting up)
• Choking on food
• Apnea (stops breathing)
• Chest and / or neck retractions (chest and / or neck sinking in with each breath)
• Turning blue (cyanosis)
• Gastroesophageal reflux (spitting up of acid from the stomach)

Prayers needed for the girls

Well my suspisions were correct...both girls have reflux :( We started them on Zantac this past week and are praying that it works!!! I HATE to see them in pain...it just breaks my heart! We were hoping to avoid the medication route and were given some things to try differently over the last few weeks with feedings, but after we came home from vacation it was evident that they needed to go on the meds asap. At first we were just having problems with Makenzie and reflux and then all of the sudden it hit Makayla like a mack truck within a week. Its crazy how they can be perfectly fine to then miserable and projectile vomiting :(

Then this past Tuesday I woke up to a terrifying noise...Makayla was wheezing and struggling to breathe. Long story short we got her to the pediatrician and after examining her the Dr said "well the good news is its not asthma" (we were concerned this was the issue because Carl suffers from asthma and it runs in his family) so I am like ok well if thats the good news whats the bad news...she proceeded to say "I honestly think this could be just really bad reflux but because she snores and has grunted since day 1 I think we need to get her to a specialist to rule out some sort of congenital defects". I think she saw the panic look on my face because she then went on to say she would be willing to put money its just her reflux so don't worry...clearly this is easy for her to say and NOT easy for me to do. The Dr also said we should see some improvement from the meds, but this is not the case yet so either the Zantac is not working or it could be something else going on. It is so scary watching and hearing her struggle to breathe and not being able to do anything!!! Needless to say we go to the specialist at Duke Monday morning and could use some prayers please!

I know I have been slack about posting anything lately, but trust me when I say I have my hands full so please excuse me but I will update as soon as I can about this when I know something. Just please keep us in your prayers! Thank you all!

One of Makenzie's nicknames has been "Squeaker" since day 1 and in this short video you will see or should I say hear why...Makayla is just modeling for her daddy ;)

**Please excuse the videographer...hopefully" the video taping does not make you sea sick**

Newborn Photoshoot Video

Here is a video of some of the pictures taken from the newborn photoshoot when the girls were about two weeks old by the talented Tonya Mae Photography. Enjoy :)

Fun fact Friday's (a few days late that is)

Sorry its a few days late, but it has been a busy time for us. We are preparing for our first vacation with the girls, along with lots of visitors, and the regular daily activities I have not had the time to post anything. Anyhow here is the past weeks fun facts...

• Our girls are chunky monkeys that LOVE to eat!!! It does not matter if its a bottle or me they just want to eat which is such a wonderful thing! At last weeks Dr's appointment Makayla weighed in at 7lb 8oz and Makenzie weighed in at 7lb 6oz. Makenzie gained almost a pound in 12 days!!! They are GROWING as I type this! Slow down little girls its going by way to fast!!!

What a pro already!

• The girls turned 1 month old on Thursday!!! How did this happen already?! As much as I want them to stay little forever I fall more in love every day with them and love to watch how they change and learn more and more each day

Look at those rolls on those legs...and those cheeks and chins?! I just wanna eat them up!!!

• Makayla has found her voice for sure! They have both always had these sweet little cries, but Makayla's sweet cry is now a loud needy cry...like come pay attention to me now cry!!! Makenzie still has her sweet almost pathetic cry and I love it!
• Watching them be able to see more and more each day is so amazing to me...I LOVE to watch them as they see new stuff for the first time and try and focus and figure it out...I just wish I knew what the heck they are thinking!

Makayla Faith 1 month old

Makenzie Grace 1 month old

Video of the girls being wheeled into the special care nursery

1 month ago today our sweet girls were born! Here is one of the many videos from that preicous day!!! This is when the girls were first wheeled into the special care nursery. As you can tell daddy was very excited and very nervous (even getting the girls names mixed up and confused). I can't blame him though this was minutes after they were born and it was all so nerve racking and all types of crazy emotions.

4 Weeks

On the girls four week birthday we finally tried bottles. I have to admit I have heard so many horror stories of things not going well with the bottle that I was a little afraid that they would hate them and we were going to have all types of troubles and I would NEVER be able to leave the girls for more than a few hours, BUT to my surprise it went pretty well (hoping and praying this will continue and just keep getting better)!!! PTL! Carl started out with Makayla and she took to it like the champ that she is when it comes to feeding (in fact everytime Carl brings me Makayla to feed her he always says "the Champ is here" so that has become one of her many nicknames).
 

Then came Makenzie...it took her a little longer to figure it out, but she quickly got the hang of it and drank almost 3 ounces.
 

Makayla did not like me giving her a bottle (I did not try with Makenzie yet), but that was no surprise so that is going to be something we will work on in the future. For now daddy can do the bottle feedings and I'll stick to the breastfeeding and pumping.
             
The girls swinging (Makayla not so happy she just wanted to be held)
 
Typical picture of Makenzie cooperating and Makayla not so much

 
Makayla Faith

 
Makenzie Grace

3 Week Old Picture

July 19, 2011

Fun fact Friday's

Well since I have been super slack about blogging since the girls were born I have decided that every Friday I am going to post at least two facts about the girls for the week along with at least two pictures for the week in honor of my double blessings. This way I can keep better track of things/memories (which is part of the reason I began to blog) and you guys can learn something about the girls and see how adorable they are all at the same time!
So here are two quick facts for the week:

• I have two of the gassiest (is that even a word) girls in the world!!!! No kidding they can fart louder than any grown man I know and blow out a diaper 10 times a day!!! Makayla already stinks...I thought breastfeeding babies and infants did not stink?! Either way we love these girls and their gas ;)
• Makayla is going bald...Carl is convinced it is his fault for the way he washes her hair. I know this happens to babies all the time, but she literally looks like an old man just balding on the top...it is too cute!
• We finally tried pacifiers for the first time...the jury is still out on this one. After trying a few they chose their favorite, but sometimes they love it/want it and sometimes they could care less.

Here are pictures of the girls first real baths this week!!!