TOGETHER AGAIN

Yesterday Prentiss was given blood because he was anemic and it was thought some of his symptoms could be related to this. He had a "rough" day, but then slowly began to improve. The nurse told "little Mama" she could actually, visually see the gradual change come over him. Well, guess what!! he got to come home today.....so tonight will be the first night they are together.
It is so awesome to see them together, side by side. As you will see they are dressed totally different, even different colored pacifiers. "Little Mama" is concerned by dressing the same she will mix up and give the medications to Luke. It is difficult to distinguish between the two.

Tomorrow Prentiss will see the cardiologist and we are expecting great things. He is doing much better. He is eating and sleeping and waking up as he should. Then they both go to the neonatologist tomorrow for 2 day check up. It will be a "family" trip with both grandmothers and Uncle J. helping out. "Our first outing" HA!!! Doesn't it look like they are trying to "hold hands" in the picture!! HA!!!

I heard on the radio today when things happen to us it so no "surprise" to GOD.....He already knew and HE IS IN CONTROL!! THANK YOU GOD!

I do not have the words to express the gratitude I feel that we have so many people praying for our babies. There are people all over the world praying. I thank you and pray GOD will return His blessing to you double fold.

I will keep you posted on the cardiology visit.

Hugs to all!

Luke is going home

Luke is going home today!! Yipee! Little Mama and Dad had a "room-in" last night so that he could go home today. They also allowed Prentiss to stay
in as well. NOTE: they were taking pictures AND...."this is Luke, no THIS is Luke"....better get out the nail polish folks!!!

Another neonatologist was on-call this morning and he said Prentiss was anemic and needed a transfusion, thus some of his symptoms may be related to that rather than the heart. The "talk" yesterday was air-lift to Arkansas Children's Hosp or have surgery at Univ of MS Med Center. Now the talk is wait and see, treat with meds. Will potentially go home tomorrow on meds and see the cardiologist in a couple of days. At that point, I'm sure another decision will have to be made.

Just now received a call from Dad, they just received a call from doctors Luke has a heart murmer also...don't know at this point what kind. More later.

Latest news

Update....Prentiss has been placed on Lasix, Captopril, and digoxin. Cardiologist wants to operate, Neonatologist wants to wait until he is 6 mos. The plan at present is to have him on the meds for 72 hrs. and if the meds are working then the surgery will be postponed until his is older and the heart muscles will not be damaged by waiting....however, if they are not working then will have to go ahead with surgery to prevent permanent damage to heart muscle.
That is all we know at this point.

Happy Birthday MOM

Happy Birthday Mom !!! I love you!!!I I have THE BEST MOM ever.....
A mom who is loving, self sacrificing, loves the Lord, long suffering, gives beyond measure.
Yes, that is my Mom and I am greatful the God has allowed me to still have her.
Happy Birthday Mom, I hope and prayer this will be your best year ever!!!!

Prentiss returns to NICU

It has been a few days since I last made an entry. As I mentioned in my last entry Prentiss came home on Tuesday about 6pm. He was not feeding well and was difficult to awaken. This morning he had to be taken back to the hospital to be seen by neonatologist. A heart echo was done and it revealed his PDA has reopened resulting in enlarged heart and pulmonary edema. Dr. said it was like an adult having congestive heart failure. He was started on Lasix and possible digoxin tonight. Depending on his condition tonight he would possibly be transferred to NICU at the University Med Center. Luke is doing well, still choking a little when he takes his bottle. Prentiss is back in NICU with Luke.We said they wanted to be together, but we didn't want it like this. We are believing God to intervene and make him whole. We do not understand reasons for things that happen, but I DO KNOW that GOD IS IN CONTROL.
Please continue to prayer for our little ones.

I do hope that everyone had a blessed and happy MERRY CHRISTMAS.

It's Official

Yes, it's official Mom and Dad are "rooming in" at the hospital tonight with Prentiss so that he can be discharged home tomorrow. I'm sure they won't get much sleep tonight...HA!
(first of many, right?) We are excited, but sad too that Luke will have to stay. We are told he had a "good" day today. So we thank GOD for his healing power and blessing on our family.
Soli Deo Gloria (to God alone the Glory)

Which one am I ?

I took these pictures yesterday...I should have labeled them at that point, but did not. Now, I can't say which is which!! Oh brother, where is the nail polish???

Good news!! Prentiss will go home Tues or Wed. He advanced to a crib...no more looking those plastic to see his cute little face. He weighs 5 lbs 3 oz today. Mom and Dad will have a "sleep in" at the hospital the night before his discharge to see how they manage....Dad is a little nervous I think because they are so little. They were told to hold back visitors and "little munchkins" from visiting when they get home since it is RSV season. We are sad that Luke won't be home for Christmas but we don't want him coming home before he is ready. Those bicycles will just have to wait!!HA!!!! Still trying to load that video, unable to yet....maybe I will get some "help" from my computer friends!! Later.

Please pray for little Luke he had a couple of apneas spells (stops breathing) last night requiring oxygen. According to the doctors every time he does that "buys" him seven more days.
Luke weighed 4lbs 11oz Prentiss weighed 5lbs 2oz. last night. Dr. also told us Prentiss still has the PDA and ASD and will have another echo. We are trying to be encouraged this morning.

Look Mom, No tubes

We were such good boys today the doctor said we could pull our tubes out...and poof they are gone. We are enjoying sucking on our own bottles and want more with each feeding. We are anxious to know when can we go home?? We promise to be extra good!!! *we can hardly wait to get home and play tricks on our Mom and Dad, "I'm Prentiss...no I'm Prentiss...no I'm Luke" tee hee..* wink* It is going to be so much fun....Do you know which one I am???

Prentiss 5lbs 1oz
Luke 4lbs 8 oz

Update, as promised

A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
And while she held him, she sang: I'll love you forever, I'll like you always, As long as I'm living my baby you'll be.

(excert from Love You Forever by Robert Munsch) A must read!!!!

Today Prentiss weighs in at 4 lbs 15oz. Luke weighs 4lbs 7oz. They are doing well, learning to suck, swallow, and breath at the same time. It is so amazing watching this process. Doctors told us not to get our hopes up for discharge by Christmas. Maybe by the end of week Prentiss will be out of isolette and into a crib...hope,hope. Today family members had to take a CPR class in preparation for discharge. We are getting closer........yeah!!!!

Best Little Brother Award

This star award goes to my little brother!!!!!!!!!!!!

I absolutely have THE BEST LITTLE BROTHER. Hey, little brother that is what I believe no matter what ETHEL says !!HA!! He has been sick with the crud and he called me tonight to check on me. Well, I told him I had had computer problems (because he had noticied I had not blogged and of course he doesn't read it anyway)......so....he asked if I had tried to restore system. I had not thought about that.....so....I did it and OMG...guess what IT WORKED!!!! By the way, his line of work is computers with a large company that all of us lady well know......

So now I can update you on the babies, tell a few jokes, and just in general feed my habit!!!!

YES.....;) Tune in tomorrow for that update.

You Go PaPaw

Today someone sent me this e-mail. I couldn't resist posting. Sorry "papaws", I guess with age comes alittle liberation. Love it.

Dad at the Mall ****

I took my dad to the mall the other day to buy some new shoes (he is 92). We decided to grab a bite at the food court. I noticed he was watching a teenager sitting next to him. The teenager had spiked hair in all different colors: green, red, orange, and blue. My dad kept staring at him. The teenager would look and find him staring every time. When the teenager had had enough, he sarcastically asked, 'What's the matter old man, never done anything wild in your life?' Knowing my Dad, I quickly swallowed my food so that I would not choke on his response, knowing he would have a good one, and in classic style he did not bat an eye in his response. 'Got drunk once, and had sex with a peacock. I was just wondering if you were my son.'

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, It's about learning to dance

in the rain.

I would have loved to have seen that teenagers face! I bet he didn't expect that one!!HA!!!!

It's dead

Ok, now friend you've got me hooked on this bloggin thing and now my computer has "kicked the bucket". What's a girl to do?? I borrowed a computer to make this entry today. Needless to say I will spend the day shopping for another....she says MAC....I say PC.....what do my bloggin friends say? HELP.........oh...I'm having withdrawals and its NOT GOOD..............later

Looky, Looky Santa has come

Can you believe I walked into the room and look what I found. Not only is there one, but there is another one on the way. Yes, two John Deere bikes. I am totally innocent to this one....you can blame this one on Pappy. Can you see we are so "in trouble" and wrapped around some little fingers......






I am on my way to the hospital to see those "little fellows". Todays weights: Luke is 4lbs 3oz and Prentiss is 4lbs 10oz....will let you know how they are today after my visit.....Have a great day.

Happy Birthday, lil brother!

Happy Birthday, Lil brother!! I lite the candles on your cake and the smoke alarm went off!! tee-hee ): Hope you are feeling better today. Did yo wifey get you yesterday with a snowball? She sure wanted to!! Wish I was there to give you your birthday day present, so since I'm not I guess I have to keep it myself. HA!! I know you say you don' t read my blog, but I know better!! HA!!!! HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Burrrrrrrrr, baby it's cold outside

Baby, it's cold outside. I know the bloggin world is buzzin this morning. MS is having a "snow storm". It is pretty outside with everything white with snow. As I sit here I have begun to hear a slight pitter-patter on the windows...ugh,oh...now it is sleeting...little pellets of ice which makes our snow so dangerous. The overpass get frozen mixed with crazy drivers and a little "road rage" and you've got a deadly combination. No, Ethel I'm not talking about myself....just in general.





I was glad to have put out some bird food yesterday. Look at the pretty red birds. There were so many I couldn't count. There were also doves on the ground.
I love to watch the birds. I have been running from window to window watching the snow and birds. Glad I was alone, that would be a sight to see....tee-hee!!

Progress report on the boys. Luke weighs in at 4lbs 3oz and Prentiss weighs in at 4lbs 90z. As you know, Prentiss has had a rough couple of days. Poor baby was "stuck" so many times trying to get another IV started. They finally started in his scalp. He is having another echo today. We were told by the nurses in NICU yesterday they did not need to be touched or stimulated in anyway....since they have had episodes of decreased heart rates and oxygen sats. So, YaYa will love them from a distance and pray for them. Mom is having a difficult time not being able to hold them., but she wants what is best for them. Please remember to continue to pray for them.

Hope all you fellow Mississippians out there enjoy the snow for the day....next week is suppose to be "hot" weather again.....true MS weather.....cold then hot then back to cold!!!!!

Decorations

Last night I decided I better drag out the tree and ornaments since I have one more day off work. So, up in the attic I went and passed the boxes down to Pappy. Wah--Lahh....the tree was up and decorated. Last year I purchased a pre-lite tree which made the job much easier.
I also went with a small tree. The family was not as happy with the smaller tree, but it was either this or nothing.....
as you can see it is "skinny" and tall....unlike me!!HA!!

I tried several times to capture the entire tree then finally gave up. I have 2 sock monkeys under the tree for "our 2 little monkeys" HA!! Usually every year the family gathers and the tree is decorated while we "watch" the movie "Christmas Vacation". Our other favorite Christmas movies are "Miracle on 34th Street" and "It's a Wonderful Life". This year we were so scattered it did not happen....next year will be better with "lots of little helping hands".

Improving

Prentiss has completed his IV medication for the PDA and will have another echo today. Doctor says the PDA "sound much better". God's hand is at work. He has now gained to 4lbs 8oz. This morning "little Mama" was allowed to give him his first bottle. He took one oz and tolerated it well. We are so pleased.







Ok, so we can't leave the "sheriff" out. Luke has gained to 3lbs 11oz...yeah!! He had a sonogram of his head yesterday "through the soft spot" and it was normal. Yes, God does have His hand on these little ones. The more Luke gains, the more he looks like Prentiss. We may be "in trouble" HA!






A few posts back I mentioned I was working on an apron. Yes, I did finish it and will try to post a picture. "My model" is unavailable so I will do the best I can. It turned out better than I thought.

It's back to work next week, didn't get all my projects completed...but hey! I did get to the hosp everyday to see "our little men" !!! That is what counts.....the projects can just wait a little longer.
Ooops!! Did I say "my model" was unavailable??? Pappy thought he could model just was well as anyone else.....so there you have it!!! His new career has been launched!!!!
Let me know what you think!!!!!!

Report

Today the doctors gave the following report: Prentiss has a Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) He also has a atrial septal defect (ASD). Tonight they started an IV and will be giving him medication for the PDA and will repeat the ECHO test on Sunday. It was not known at this time the plan for treatment of the ASD. We are trusing God for complete healing. Mom and Dad got to hold them tonight before leaving the hospital. I think it did Mom and Dad as much good as the babies for them to be held. They are holding up well under all the stress. I know that is because God is giving them the strength. Will continue to keep you updated. Thank you for all your prayers.

Walking by Faith

Did you catch that little smile? Today we were told by his nurse that they "heard" something when listening to his heart. He had a heart echo. We will learn results tomorrow. We are trusting God for this childs health. Please continue to pray with us for their health and well being.


Now Prentiss is checkin out his mother. Just look at that innocent face. God Bless it.


Now he says I am really tired of this and would like to go back to bed! How would you like to be stared at all the time?? HA!!!

Will let you know tomorrow what we learn. Thanks for all your prayers.

"New Sheriff" in town

Little Mom got to hold Luke briefly today. She let ME hold him for a few minutes. It was awesome. He now weighs 3Lbs 5oz. He pulled his feeding tube out again today. He is such a "little busy person". He is now on "low flow oxygen". He was just looking at us....like "what are you lookin at people, I want to do my own thang"!! I am told he already has a temper, but his brother Prentiss has a bigger temper according to his nurse!! HA!!.
I didn't get to spend time with Prentiss today because Dad just got off work and came in....so I had to go out....only 2 visitors at a time.....so until next time.......

How'd I Do That??

Oh Boy, how'd I do that?? Remember Urkel?? well, that was me last night, scratching my head and wondering how I got back to my original blog?? HA!! I was just tryin to get a little Christmas going on here, you know what I mean??? And what was so bad??? I was trying to get Ethel to go along with me!! ha!!! I called her and said, "don't do it Ethel"!! She made a statement on a previous blog that read....you can't teach an old dog new tricks....I think I agree. HA!!!

I was suppose to be on vacation this week...was going to San Antonio, TX but those babies changed my plans. So, I will try to get caught up on some of my sewing projects (in between going to the hospital) HA!! tee hee....wonder how much I will get done?? I am trying to make an apron with Amy Butler newest fabrics and am anxious to get started. Will let you know how that goes....later

P.S. Happy Birthday, Connie!! FYI 50's not so bad!!!!