Hello friends!
This page will pick up where the care pages left off. (https://www.carepages.com/carepages/gregorytwins)
We are getting ready to start off a new year and I decided it was time to start a new page for Thomas and Julia. This page represents a new chapter for us as a family. We are no longer living in the NICU and we have started our life at home as "The Gregory Family."
Christmas was great for Thomas and Julia. (Pictures are below)
Life since we have come home has been great! Being able to stay home with Thomas and Julia has been wonderful! I am able to watch them grow every day. I am able to be there and really bond with them. Julia is currently off her oxygen, but she is having some feeding issues. We are going to try oxygen during her feedings to see if that helps with stamina. She is 9 lbs 2 oz, far from that 1 lb 5 oz baby that I delivered over 6 months ago. Thomas is doing great! He is currently 12 lbs 9 oz, which is hard to believe since he started life at 1 lb 14 oz.
Thomas and Julia currently get their Synagis antibody shots once a month to help them in the event that they get RSV. This shot does not prevent RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) it just minimizes the severity of RSV in the event Thomas or Julia contracted it. RSV is a very common virus that leads to mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and older healthy children. It can become very dangerous in young babies and preemies and require hospitalization and can result in death.
They both have a multitude of doctors appointments. They still suffer from reflux and still see the Pediatric Gastroenterologist (GI) to help control it. They still take Prevacid, Mylanta and Carafate to help control the symptoms, since there is no cure for reflux. Thomas gets Enfamil A.R. in his breastmilk for calories and to help thicken up his milk so it is easier to keep down. Julia still gets Neosure in her breastmilk for calories. Both Thomas and Julia still see the Pulminologist (lung doctor) to make sure that their lungs are growing as they should. Julia still takes Pulmicort to help her lungs grow. Thomas and Julia are both still on apnea monitors to make sure that they don't have heart rate drops. Since they reflux and their beds are elevated, we will probably keep the monitors for a while longer. Julia still in on her pulse oximeter to monitor her O2 levels. She will keep it for 6 weeks after we discontiue the use of oxygen. We do go monthly to the pediatrician for weight checks and to make sure that they are doing okay. So far so good! Thomas still takes his sodium phosphate for his renal function.
Thomas and Julia have both been accepted to the Missouri First Steps program. This wonderful program will provide us with in-home therapies. Starting after the first of the year, Thomas and Julia will each receive 2 Physical Therapy sessions and 2 Special Instruction sessions (Developmental Therapy) each month. Hopefully this will help them get stronger.
Both Thomas and Julia are doing great at holding up their heads. They are both able to roll from their tummy to their side, but not yet to their back. They are both smiling and laughing and talking. They are so wonderful and are such miracles!
I will start posting updates here, so please check back often!
