Linkers

I've been posting so much about the babies that I haven't updated much about Link's life. He is loving living at Grandmas and gets into EVERYTHING! I have been pleasantly surprised with how good he has done with the babies. He doesn't ever go too close to them or touch them but he will talk about them all day (ie: "Why my baby crying?" "Why my other baby crying?" "He needs his pacifier." "Why my baby cute?" "Where my other baby" "Why my babies sleeping?"). He still loves letters and numbers. He has a journal that he writes in all the time and I love seeing what he comes up with to write down! He has never really been into movies until now- he found "Word World" and asks to watch it everyday! He loves playing basketball with Russ who has been teaching him how basketball points work (foul shot=1, dunk=2, layup=2, 3 point line=3). Russ put tape lines around his hoop so they can keep score!

I saw a pin on Pinterest using craft foam circles in the bathtub (the foam sticks to the tub when it gets wet). I knew what Link would love much more than circles... numbers and letters!

Link has discovered scissors and spends a good amount of time each day cutting paper.

 We took link to the store for a present and he wanted a new calculator. He is comparing the iphone and his new one in this picture.

We've been so excited to go outside again!

Mother's Day card. (He told me to buckle up)

Sock bubbles! Link LOVED this!

He loves playing games now- especially Candy Land and Uno!

(I love mom. I love you. Be kind Link. No sleeping dada wake up.)

He loves to make up silly words! 

He LOVES his dad!

He brings me scissors and paper everyday and makes me cut out the alphabet.

He LOVES water right now! He will get water from the fridge and pour it into bowls all over the house. We were so excited for summer so that he could play with water OUTSIDE!

He borrowed "Flying Lion" from his Grandma and he takes it with him everywhere. ("I'm just hangin out with Flying Lion.")

Green Volcanoes

Link and 'his babies'

Link had his annual checkup at Primary Childrens. Everything continues to look good with his heart. He was fascinated with the letters all over the walls. We had to stay and look at all the letters for quite some time. 

We love this page! It has family names with a random 'shark'!

He loves playing with all the baby stuff!

Bubbles!

Whitney

He wanted magnets to make numbers out of them but didn't have enough so he got his broom and swept the magnets and pictures down til he had enough.

He's been quite the handful lately but we love our Linkers!

McKay's Surgery

McKay had his surgery yesterday. He ended up having a hernia on both the left and right sides (so two incisions plus one through his belly button- poor thing!). He was such a trooper. They had him and a parent (Russ- he is an AMAZING husband and father!!) stay the night because of his age/weight. He did great and came home today.

Our Memorial Day...

McKay woke up at 5:30 am screaming like he was in pain. I took him to his pediatrician who found a hernia (apparently that is common is premies and twins). He told me that we needed to take him to the Primary Children's Emergency Room and possibly have surgery to get it fixed. We took McKay to Primary Children's and for the next six hours did blood work, vitals, ultrasounds, more blood work, etc. (and they wouldn't let him eat in case he had surgery- poor kid!).

Ultrasound

EKG (His potassium levels were high because of his kidneys. High potassium is bad for your heart so they did an EKG to check the electrical activity of his heart. The EKG looked good.)

When he finally was able to eat!

 It was determined that McKay had a hernia on his lower left intestines and possibly one on his right. He needs surgery but Primary's was only doing emergency surgeries that day because it was a holiday. So we have his surgery scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, May 29th.

Home Sweet Home

Kooper and McKay are both at home and doing great! I am now just trying to keep up with TWO babies! (I am so grateful for my mom because most days it takes both of us to keep up with the boys!)

 Kooper

 McKay

* I was recently reading Neal A Maxwell's talk from October 1997. He had been going through cancer treatments and said "I have been mercifully granted what might be called a 'delay en route.' Whether short or long, it is a wonderful blessing from the Lord! I have thereby learned, however, that there is another side of the "Why me?" question, since some are not granted a 'delay en route' at all. Whichever side of that question, what is needed is mortal submission, even when there is no immediate divine explanation. Thus we are to press forward, whatever the length of the near horizon, while rejoicing in what awaits us on the far horizon."

I was struck by his statement because I too feel like I am on the other side of the 'Why me?' question. Why me? Why am I so blessed to have three boys who are alive and well? Why am I blessed to live when there is advanced medical capabilities that has made it possible for my boys to enjoy healthy lives when they were born with imperfections that could have been fatal not too long ago? Spending time in hospitals, especially children's hospitals, helps me to focus on what is most important in life and makes me even more grateful for my blessings, health, and children. I am so grateful to continue my journey of motherhood with these two special babies.

McKay

SURGERY:
McKay's surgery went well. His catheter was removed the next day and he has had great wet diapers ever since! He has continued to improve and has started to take full feeds again which means he gets to come home... tomorrow!!

KIDNEYS:
We were finally able to talk with a Nephrologist (kidney doctor). He told us that McKay's kidneys are functioning at about 38% (which isn't as low as it sounds because newborn kidneys usually function at around 45-50%). His Creatinine levels (which help determine kidney function) continue to go down (which is good). His blood pressure is high (kidneys help regulate blood pressure) so he will come home on a medicine to keep his blood pressure down. He also has high phosphorus levels so we have to mix calcium carbonate (similar to TUMS) in his milk. This will bind with the calcium so his body doesn't obsorb as much phosphorus (who knew?!). He will continue to be monitored throughout his life by the Nephrologists at Primary Children's.

We are so glad that he is doing so well and that he gets to finally come home!!

The Boys

Wow! It's been quite the whirlwind the last couple days! I went in to the hospital to visit the boys yesterday morning (Monday, May 6th) and they informed me that Kooper was coming home THAT DAY and that McKay was going to Primary's THAT DAY! So we did discharge stuff all day and brought Kooper home! We then went and visited McKay at Primary's.

Here's Kooper all ready to come home!

Here's McKay all ready to go to Primary's in the ambulance.

McKay is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow (Wednesday, May 8th). If all goes well, he should be able to come home in a few days!

At first, we couldn't tell if they were truly identical twins but they look more and more alike every day! 

 McKay

 Kooper

Two steps back...

McKay has had a rough couple days. On Thursday he started acting strange (moaning/whimpering, pale, lethargic) and he had air in his catheter which was concerning. Labs, x-ray, ultrasound, and a dye test were done and they found air in his bladder. The Dr's explained that one of the only explanations for air in the bladder would be a bacteria (like E. Coli) so it was assumed he had a bladder infection. He was put on strong antibiotics, put back on oxygen, got an IV for the antibiotics and fluid, and stopped his feeds.  Yesterday he was alert enough to want to try eating so they let him have a little food. Today he is feeling better (still a little more sleepy than usual) and he is back on full feeds! Primary's is still not ready for him so we are going to try to get him better from this infection and keep increasing his feeds.

Kooper keeps working on increasing his oral feeds. He was off oxygen for 48 hours then he started de-stating after his feeds so every so often he needs a little oxygen to keep him going.

*I'll try to post more pictures soon!!

Quick update

Sorry we haven't updated for a while! We've been busy running back and forth to the hospital. The boys are both still in the NICU but doing good. They are both off the ventilator. They are on and off oxygen and just working on increasing their oral feeds (they can do about half of their feeds orally). Kooper can come home when he can do all his feeds orally (whether that's one week or three weeks is all up to him!) McKay hasn't been transferred to Primary's yet. We are so grateful that both boys are still together at one hospital.

Thank you again for all your comments, texts, phone calls, and especially your prayers!