Tobie here: Well, we made it through the first year. I’m sure a lot of you are surprised that we didn’t reflect on this last year and get all mushy. We did. A lot. Too much. We barbecued at our house with family and the day was spectacular. I can’t say that we didn’t shed tears of joy and sadness. We did. A lot. Maybe that’s why we didn’t post any blog entries about our feelings. There were too many for words. So Eric’s parents were here to join us in the birthday celebrations. They offered to stay home with the babies Sunday night to give Eric and I the opportunity to go out. We were so drained that we went for ice cream and were home within 10 minutes. Wow!
With this new year we now have all our therapies at home. So nice! We now have therapy four days a week. Today our new speech therapist came to our house to work with both Paige and Cole. She seems great so I’m thrilled. We went through all our issues and I thought she’d run for the door, but I’m really encouraged after discussing P & C’s food issues with her. She is not going to work on bottle issues with Cole at all. We are going to continue with his same nipple and formula (thanks Stephanie for the nipples) and move him forward to the sippy cup and baby food instead. He actually took about ten sips of whole milk from his sippy cup for her today. That is progress!
Paige also was evaluated for feeding issues. She was seen by the ENT for the last time this afternoon. The camara was shoved up her nose and down her throat to look at her vocal cords. Guess what??!! Her vocal cord is not paralyzed! Yippee! It was moving–sluggish according to Dr. McHottie–but that means that she does not have permanent paralysis, it was only temporarily paralyzed. He said her vocal cord could totally heal 100% or it could remain mostly healed and the other side will compensate. Either way he said she should be able to tolerate a normal diet sans thickener. Wow! I was thinking okay…Cole’s lungs will heal, Paige’s vocal cord will heal, Cole will get over his feeding issues, if only Paige’s eyes would heal. In my dream world this would happen and the two of them would come out of this whole experience relatively unscathed. Well, all in all, good encouraging news today. We’ll worry about tomorrow tomorrow.
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Kudos to you!
I’m so glad you got to share the birthday with family!
And Paige’s news is SPECTACULAR! (As is the fact that all therapies will be at home - only makes sense with RSV risk, and I’m sure you’re liking not having to lug them around as your belly is growing more and more.)
I like your dream world… and I’m glad that you still have one. With all of the hurdles/obstacles/red tape/etc, the fact that you can still dream says many many wonderful things about you. It’s simply amazing to feel so confident that most of these issues are temporary (feeding, lungs, vocal cord), when you think of where they were just a year ago. Amazing.
Let me be the first commenter to say what a great way to get 2007 started. Just goes to show what endless worrying & fretting work after all!
Also that tried & battle-tested axim of hope for the best & prepare for the worst. The worst may yet come (maybe not now, maybe in 20 years), but the best can & did happen.
I find myselfhaving to remind myself of that often.
Of course, are you sure you were seeing straight & litening with full attention with Dr. McHottie?
Yay! I am so happy to hear the good news. 2007 is already becoming a great year.
Tobie. Great news! Having the therapist come to the house is, I’m sure, a huge relief. Kids feel more secure being at home and all. Just great news! And the pics are too cute.
Shannon
That is great news! I hope it will be the first of many good things in 2007. Good luck with the therapies, I know you will be busy, but I know the kids will continue to thrive.
Congratulations on all the wonderful news! Sounds like year 2 is starting out to be a lot easier and hopefully a lot less stressful than year 1. I wish you and those babies a healthy, happy second year! (And a happy and healthy first year to He Who Shall Not Be Named!)