16 Months

Winston and Jordan are at a really fun age. They are taking it all in and learning so much. Winston says more words right now than Jordan. Jordan still grunts a lot to communicate. They both know some sign language, and that is the cutest thing. They both love Christmas music. We have to listen to that everywhere we go. Winston really likes Polka music too.

Yesterday we saw Jordan's dermatologist and plastic surgeon. Her dermatologist is very pleased with her. She is off of all her medication for the hemangioma. He said it should continue to fade each year of her life. His only concern is when she turns 3 or 4 and other children start noticing. He does not want that to interfere with her self esteem, so we talked about doing some laser treatments on her when she has plastic surgery. It is up to us to make that decision.

Her plastic surgeon said we need to wait a few more months before he starts any reconstruction. He will fix her lip first. He said the recovery time for that is pretty quick. He talked to us about repairing her nose. That is going to be a big deal (my words, not his). He is still not sure when he will do this. Most doctors wait until children are between 5 and 8. I don't think he is going to wait that long but does want her to grow some more. He is going to have to take tissue from her forehead to help with the reconstruction. He said that whole process will take 2-3 months. She won't be in the hospital that long. He just has to do it in steps. I don't think I was ready to hear all of that yesterday but I guess I need time to prepare for this procedure. I have to leave it in God's hands and be thankful that her face can be fixed.

We live by faith, and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Hospital Visit

Jordan had another case of croup and another trip to the ER. She started having labored breathing this past Friday. Saturday it continued to get worse throughout the day. I thought we could manage this at home, but by 7:00 she was fighting to get air. She was given many breathing treatments at the hospital and was admitted for observations. She was released on Monday. Her breathing was fair. When we got home, she had another episode. We were able to calm her down and get her to sleep. She is a little better today but still breathing heavier than she should.

While we were in the hospital, Jordan could leave

the room as long as she wore a mask.

Winston got to spend quality time with his daddy.

Thanksgiving

There are so many things to be thankful for. Jordan and Winston are most thankful for their food! They LOVE to eat.

15 Months

Halloween Pictures

It has been a while since I posted. All I can say is...twins! They keep us so busy. Here are some pictures of the twins carving a pumpkin and from Halloween. The only big news I can think of is that Jordan got her ears pierced. She only cried for about 30 seconds. I thought I was going to pass out!

14 Months

Winston's tubes are in place, and they are looking good. However, he is fighting a sinus infection now. Is this ever going to end? At least his ears can drain. Jordan is doing okay. We still have very restless nights occasionally (last night was one of them). It's very strange. She sits up, lays down, flips, flops, cries and is uncomfortable all night long. We don't know what causes it, and thank the Lord, its not every night. She is totally off her bottle now, and that has helped her be a better sleeper. I can't believe I have two toddlers. Since they started walking, somethings have been a lot easier.

October

We have been spending a lot of time outdoors. Jordan and Winston love it and the weather has been great! Jordan has to walk around with one of Brandy's dog bones in her hand. She won't give it to her until we are ready to go inside.

This is our monkey. He was mad because I was on the opposite side of the gate. He did this again later that day and started crying because he was stuck and couldn't get down.

Having Fun

Winston was in a place he knew he shouldn't be!

Jordan was giving Grandpa's dog a kiss.

Winston is talking on the phone.

They both love to talk on the phone.

We were on the way home the other day and

Shannon rolled down the windows.

Jordan thought that was the greatest thing.

I think Winston liked it too, but he didn't crack a smile.

13 Months

September News

School has started and we are trying to adjust to our new schedule. We have established a pretty good morning and nighttime routine. Our problem is sleeping through the nights. Jordan never has two nights that are the same. Some nights she is restless all night, and other nights it may be for a few hours. Winston gets up at least once during the night but is a much better sleeper than Jordan.

They have both started walking. Jordan actually has been walking for about three weeks, and Winston has finally mastered it this week. Jordan is an angel during the day. She smiles all the time and has the cutest personality. Winston LOVES the outside. It amazes me that he can walk over rocks and other things that you would think would hurt his little tender feet.

Jordan saw her plastic surgeon last month. He thinks that by 18 months she will be ready to have surgery on her lip. He is not ready to do her nose yet because of the extensive loss that occurred. I guess he wants her to grow a little more. He said that when a hemangioma stops growing, it fills with fat. He thinks the bulge around her eye will do this and not flatten out. They will probably have to go in and fix that too. I am so thankful that Jordan’s face can be repaired but am a little nervous about what is ahead.

And last, Winston will be getting tubes on September 24. He developed another bad ear infection two weeks ago. He has now had an ear infection every month since April.

I think that is all of the updates for now.

One Year

Birthday Party

Summer Update

Winston is very busy. He loves to explore everything. He knows what "no-no" means but ignores you when you tell him. He started playing catch with us and loves to look at books. Jordan started giving kisses and thinks it is funny. When you tell her no, she listens. She wrinkles her nose at you. Jordan doesn't get to play with things long because Winston takes them away from her. She has started to fight back though. They are both close to walking.

Winston had to fight another ear infection in July. He is a candidate for tubes, but we are going to try to get through the summer and see what happens. Jordan's hemangioma is still looking good, but we have discovered a new problem. After she got her tubes, we thought things would get better at night. Our nights are not better. We now believe her Propranolol is causing her restless nights. Her dermatologist reduced her dosage and told us to give her Melatonin. She is a little better. I just pray that the hemangioma doesn't flare up again.

Looking Cool!

Jordan got these glasses from her cousin Sydney. I put them on her, and she loved them! She wore them until Winston pulled them off.

Winston loves the lawnmower. When I took him off, he screamed. I will have to remind him, when he gets older, how much he liked it when he was one.

Eleven Months

Wow, eleven months! They are growing fast. Jordan got her tubes last month and we still haven't seen a big difference in her sleeping problems at night. I took her to the pediatrician and she said her eardrums are still inflamed and to start her back on the ear drops. We have seen a little improvement. Winston had another ear infection last week and may be getting tubes next. When I take Jordan to the ENT on Thursday, I am going to ask some questions about Winston and his ears.

They have really been good during the day. They haven't started walking yet but are very close. Winston loves to climb on things and makes the cutest faces when you tell him "no". Jordan tries to do everything Winston does. Here are their eleventh month pictures. I finally got Winston to smile. Jordan is always Miss Photogenic.

Our First Vacation

We took the twins on their first vacation to Con Can. Jordan loved the water and loved to sit in her tube and splash around. Winston was not so sure about that cold water and didn't like to sit in his tube. It rained some while we were their, but we had a good time.

Ten Months

Summer is Here