For Daddy

We love you and miss you Daddy! We can't wait to spend a long weekend with you!

Love,

Jack and Sophie

Post-Op

We had Sophie's Post-Op appointment yesterday, and it went really well. They took the stiches and drains out, and although Sophie screamed her "angry" cry, she didn't scream her "hurt" cry. It was all over pretty quickly. Sophie is allowed to resume baths on Wed (thank God, because she is starting to smell stinky!) and will have a follow up appointment in two months. She will have an ultrasound and reflux test. Hopefully at these test we won't see anymore reflux, or other problems. And then we can breathe a sigh of relief! So that is what are prayers are focused on right now. A healthy Sophie!

For My Record

Just too keep track of what the twins are up to, here a few little tidbits I'd like to record. Jack got his upper teeth last week, and Sophie had one bottom tooth break through, but you can't see it very well, because it is not sticking out too far. Sophie has learned to "kiss," although she isn't technically kissing, she is making the noise. We say "kiss kiss" and make kissy noises, and she makes kissy noises back by clucking her tongue. Too cute!

Home at Last

We were discharged at about 3 PM today and got home at about 4 PM. Sophie and Jack (as well as Mom and Dad) were happy to be home!

Recovery Day Two

Here is Sophie yesterday (one day after surgery) and today (two days after surgery). She did start to get happier the day after surgery, but when we took the pictures she was tired and ready for bed.

They took her catheter out this morning and her IV out around 12 today. Hopefully we are going home soon. She is now free and scooting around the floor.

Second Night at Hospital

Sophie is spending a second night at the hospital with Mom. Jack and I are at home. Sophie is likely to be coming home tomorrow.

She did not start eating a lot until later today, so the doctor decided she should stay over another night.

By this evening she was giggling and playing and smiling. Her throat has gotten a lot better. She has not slept much unless she is being held. She has not expressed much interest in nursing, but has drank some water, ate some fruit and ate some crackers and puffs.

She is apprehensive of all nurses, cleaning ladies, doctors and hospital equipment managers...She screams when they approach and screaches bloody murder if they touch her. When they back off they all make comments like, "I know you don't like me" or "Okay, okay, I'm leaving." She scowls at them until the door closes. The nurses leave, but the door takes like 10 seconds to close and she does not look away until it latches shut. I think the cleaning lady was a bit offended.

It is back to the hospital by 7 AM for Jack and I. Hopefully Sophie will get to go home early in the day.

Successful Surgery

Sophie's surgery went as planned and was a success.

We got to Penn State - Milton Hershey Hospital at 6 AM and filled out forms and went from waiting area to waiting area until we got to the pre-op area. Here they gave Sophie a Valium-like medicine to loosen her up for anesthesia and surgery prep. It was a bit comical to see her get a bit "stoned" and she giggled and smiled a lot. When we passed her off to the doctors and kissed her goodbye it was about 730 AM. This was a bit easier then I had imagined because she was in such a happy mood.

Then we waited. Jack kept us occupied at first, but he eventually became a nuisance as he was breaking out of makeshift cages that we made in the waiting area out of chairs, tables and strollers. He also seemed to learn to run away from us today as he would giggle and swiftly crawl away from us.

We finally got the call from the doctor around 12 (we were expecting to hear by 10-1030, so we had started pacing). He said that everything went as planned and that they snipped, sowed and reattached ureters on both sides and she should be okay after this...

We waited till about 1 until we could go to a recovery area. Here Sophie was still asleep, sucking on her Lovie (pink bunny with the ears that Sophie always chews on). The doctor was giving a report on the phone to another doctor and I overheard, "She woke up shortly after the operation and was still groggy, but she started to cry and get upset, but then she put this pink bunny ear in her mouth and she seemed to use it as a pacifier. She was fine then and she went to sleep."

She began to open her eyes as they carted her to the children's ward. In our room at the children's ward, Amy and I consoled her while Jack kept making a go at pulling on her catheter.

She is pretty immobile, I think it is painful to move (they did cut through muscle on her abdomen). She has an IV on her arm and as I mention is still hooked up to a catheter. Her voice is very hoarse and I believe her throat hurts a lot from having a breathing tube in during surgery. She spits out any and all fluids. It is heart wrenching to hear her weak, hoarse attempt to cry. She is very groggy and only started to become more alert around 5 PM. She was still dozing in and out at about 6PM.

Both sets of grandparents came from about 4PM to 530PM.

Since Jack was pretty set on being difficult, we decided that I would go home with him (the original plan was to all stay at the hospital). This was a pretty tough decision because we have never even attempted to put Jack to bed without nursing him first. And have not ever attempted waking him in the morning without immediately nursing him.

I left the hospital at about 615 PM with Jack. We got home at about 650PM and he was asleep in his crib by 7PM.

The doctor is not 100% sure if Sophie will be coming home tomorrow. We will keep you posted.

Surgery

Sophie's surgery is tomorrow, and we could use all of the prayers you could send our way! We are really praying that this would fix Sophie's reflux problem, as well as all of the other problems. It would be a blessing to not have to give her anymore medication. Also, please pray for Matt, Jack, and I, and that we would have a successful night in the hospital. I will update on Sophie as soon as I can!

Twins

Big Week

Jack has gotten his top two teeth this week, but they aren't fully in yet. Sophie is still toothless. She did however learn to push herself to sitting yesterday, as well as pull herself to standing. She is still working on these things, and doesn't get them everytime, but I am so happy that she is doing them at all! They are so darn busy all the time!

First "Official" Steps

Jack took his first official steps today! He crawled over to me, stood up on my knees and then let go. I moved back some, and he stepped once to the side, and then took two steps forward. Later, he pulled himself up on the coffee table, and walked five very slow and deliberate steps away from it. I can't believe my little man is a walker. How exciting! We don't have video yet, but here are some pictures of him standing while not holding onto anything, which I also find amazing. I would probably find anything they amazing though, which is why I'm their mommy!

Sophie's a Cutie, Jack's a Monkey

Here is Sophie clapping and waving. She is so cute.

Unfortunately, the video was interupted by Jack's most successful climbing attempt yet.

Sophie really seems to come out of her shell when it is just our family spending time together. Otherwise, she is very reserved.

Jack @ Ten Months and a Couple of Days

Jack is our crazy, silly, wacky boy. He changes everyday it seems. Just today he took four steps in between Matt and I. We were very impressed! He has also started to play peek-a-boo, which is one of his favorite games. He played with Grandpa Perini last week, hiding around the coffee table. He also played with Sophie, popping up from behind the play table. He gets the biggest smile on his face. He has also learned to clap. He will stand up, push away from whatever he is holding onto, and clap. Matt and I make a huge deal out of it, so he is learning to be proud of himself. I can't believe that one of my kids is so close to walking! Eeek! (As my grandmother would say!) Jack will eat pretty much anything. He isn't too picky. He even eats his veggies! He spends most of his laughing, and avoiding sleep. He's way too busy for sleep, and can't be bothered with it. As soon as he wakes up in his crib, the first thing he does is yell at Sophie to get her awake. A few days ago I caught them both on thier tummies, laughing and babbling at each other. As soon as I walked in the room, Jack quickly sat up as if to say, "We weren't doing anything." I wonder what they were plotting? He adores his sister, and sometimes too much. He will crawl up to her, and in atempt to be close to her, he will sit on her. She doesn't like this very much. Just like Sophie, he is starting to look, and act more like a toddler everyday. I can't believe they are almost a year! Here are some pictures of Jack from the last month.

Sophie @ Ten Months and a Couple of Days

Everyday Sophie keeps me on my toes. One minute she wants to be held, and cuddled, and the next she wants to be moving around exploring. She is very opinionated, and she knows what she likes and doesn't like. When we were in New York, she was deathly afraid of her cousin Delaney's doll. Here at home, she is terribly afraid of a rocking horse that we have. When she hears its little legs rocking, she screams. She is too funny. Sophie's favorite foods by far are watermelon, puffs, and cherrios. Some days that is all I can get her to eat! She likes to feed herself more than letting someone else hold the spoon. She is scooting all over the place, and it is starting to look more like a crawl. She adores Jack, and he can make her laugh just by looking at her! I think she may have gone through a growth spurt this week, because she has been eating TONS of food! She is starting to look more lanky, and I am finally seeing some of that "toddler" look that we had be seeing in Jack for a while. She is also becoming more friendly and willing to let strangers hold her. She has to bring her lovey with her, but she is OK as long as she can see Matt or I. She is growing up! Here are some pictures of Sophie from the last month.

(OK, I am a mean Mommy. I really should have taken the puff off instead of taking a picture!)

Jack and The Hippo

Jack walking with his hippo walker.

Sophie's Scoot

Sophie has chosen to "scoot" around instead of crawling. I wonder if she thinks it is more "lady like"?