Five Months

Update on Jordan

Good news! Jordan's cyst on her adrenal gland is gone. This was unrelated to her hemangioma, and one less thing to worry about. The hemangioma is still fading. Last month her doctors were very concerned about the puffiness around her right eye. She was not able to open that eye fully. Dr. Levey increased her propranolol and that seemed to help. The puffiness is still there but she can open that eye. We also decreased her steroid. That has helped some, but she is still extremely fussy. It is hard getting her to sleep, especially at nights. I started working full time now and am exhausted when I get home. We will go back to the dermatologist on Tuesday. I am hoping he will decrease the steroid again.

Winston has found his voice. Instead of crying now to get your attention, he screams. He is doing fine otherwise and sleeping better at night. I have finally found time to update and hope that it doesn't take this long next time.

Baptism

Christmas

Opening Presents

4 Months

I know that I am a little behind in posting pictures, but here are their 4 month pictures on December 13.

Almost 4 Months

The Five Grandchildren on Mom's Side of the Family

Getting Ready for the Cold Weather

Look What St. Nick Brought!

Too Cute!

Happy Halloween

Pictures

I finally have some pictures to share. Jordan and Winston are both doing so much better. Jordan's lip is looking better every day. Her scab by her eye is gone. We have been able to keep her nose clean with a few saline drops and a suction pump. She is very swollen from the medicines she is on. They say that will go away once she is off of them. Winston is not crying all day anymore, and that has been great. They are both sleeping better at night. I still don't get a lot of sleep but some is better than none.

Back From the Hospital

We had another trip to the hospital. Jordan got off of her steroids, and the hemangioma started to flare back up. Her nose now is one big hole. She lost the part between her two nostrils. The hemangioma was wrapped around the tip of her nose and that is one part that flared up. We took her to the ER at Dell Children's Hospital in Austin on Tuesday night. They went in and cleaned her nose. The doctors said the damage is done, but they don't think it will continue to get worse. We put her back on the steroid and things already look better again. I guess the two medicines that she is on have to work together.

It has been really hard watching your baby's lip and nose disappear. Winston stayed with my sister. It was also hard being away from him for so long. We are all home again. I would say things are getting better, but Jordan stayed up ALL night last night. Winston was very restless. My prayer is that Jordan heals quickly and that we are all able to rest at night.

The Latest...

Jordan passed her MRI and MRA. We are so relieved. The doctors say that her brain is just fine. The hemangioma is on her face. They did find it in her cheeks, behind her right eye and in her nose. We are giving her a fantastic medication with little side effects. Since we started the meds, we have seen great results. The hemangioma has stopped growing. She has a scab around her eye where it ruptured, but that has started to heal. Her lip is also starting to heal. We are still not sure if she will need plastic surgery on that. Because the growth was in her nose, I am having to clean that several times a day. She gets large blood clots in it. It is not very pleasant for any of us. I think they are getting smaller though. I am just so happy she will not remember any of this.

Winston has colic and cries a lot during the day. He has a very loud high-pitched scream. It is hard to ignore. I told him he is lucky he is so cute. They are both not sleeping well at night, and I am running on little to no sleep each day. This week I really broke down. Everyone keeps telling me things will get better. I haven't seen the light at the end of the tunnel but decided I better put one there. I am trying to stay focused on that. I will have to go back to work on Oct. 12. I am not sure how all of that will be, but I can only focus on today. I have not downloaded any pictures lately because they just won't let me. As soon as I do, I will post them.

Prayers Needed

Jordan's hemangioma continues to grow. We are waiting to have an MRI and an MRA done on her. She will have this done on Monday and will have to be sedated. I am a little nervous about that. They are checking to make sure the blood vessels are not entwined in her brain. If they are not, she will be able to start a new medication. This medication will stop the growth of the hemangioma and help it to disappear. The patients that have used this have seen results in the first week. She has developed another problem and we are not sure if it is due to the hemangioma. She is having trouble breathing and that has been quite scary at times. So please keep her in your prayers. She has gone through so much.

Update

I am so proud of Winston!!! He slept for 4 1/2 hours last night without waking up to eat (twice). Now if I could get Jordan do that for at least 2 hours, that would be nice. Yesterday we went to a pediatric dermatologist in Houston. Jordan was first diagnosed with having Port Wine Stain on her face. It is a birthmark that will not go away without laser treatment. When we saw the specialist yesterday, she said it was not Port Wine Stain. She said it was a hemangioma. She explained that it grows during the first 6-9 months of life and then it starts to go away. We have already seen parts of it fade but other parts have gotten thicker. She will have to take some meds to slow the growing down. We were so happy to hear that it will go away. She said it should be gone by the time she is five. WOW!!! God is good.

Twins Together Again

Update

We are finally home. Winston and Jordan are adjusting to their new surroundings. It was a long night. We hope tonight is better. Winston has been a trooper through all of this. He has been out to eat three times and has stayed in the Ronald McDonald house. Jordan has had many procedures done on her and has aced them all. We are so blessed. The doctors are telling us that she has a birthmark on her face that is not causing any other problems. They said that we should try to have it removed in the first year of her life. We have many follow-up procedures on her but know that God is taking care of her. I have not had time to download any pictures. I am in need of some sleep. As soon as I can, I will post pictures. We continue to ask for prayers for Jordan and Winston.

God is So Good!!!!

Look what He blessed us with.


Winston Douglas 7 lbs 9 oz 19 1/2 inches long

Jordan Renee 6 lbs 13 oz 19 1/2 inches long

Almost There!!!

I went to my last doctor visit today before the babies come. He said I was still dilated to around a 2. He talked to me about the c-section, and I got a little nervous. We will go in around 6 am and the c-section will be at 7:30 on Thursday. I will get to stay in the hospital until at least Sunday. I am glad about that. I will post pictures of the babies as soon as I can. I can't believe it is finally time!!!

Week 36

I can not believe I have made it to 36 weeks, and I am still going. Yesterday I was dilated to a 2. We are still scheduled for Thursday, August 13. After we got home from the doctor, I told Shannon to take me back because I hurt all over. He wouldn't. I feel a little better today but will not be far from the bed and the recliner. I know for most of you the week will go fast, but I am counting every second. I will see my doctor on Monday and then Thursday is the big day. I will keep you all posted.

Week 35

I thought for sure I would be dilated some today but no such luck. My doctor has scheduled my c-section for August 13 at 7:30 am. I think I am going to have two big healthy babies. That is great! I just pray that I will last that long. I am SO uncomfortable.

Week 34

I thought my doctor might set up a time to have these babies, but no such luck. I am not dilated and my blood pressure is good. He asked me if I was at the crying stage yet of being miserable. I told him yes!!! I am so uncomfortable. He said we will keep going for at least another three weeks unless I go into labor on my own. I wanted to cry then.

Now, I am asking for your prayers. At the last ultrasound, they found a small cyst on Jordan's adrenal gland. My doctor said he did not want me to worry about this. He said he had to tell me because he wants me to know what he knows. They won't do anything until she is born and then the pediatrician will check things out. My prayer is that the cyst won't be there when she is born. It is hard not to worry, but in my heart I know she is going to be okay. We live by faith, and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Nursery

Here are some pictures of the nursery.

Ultrasound Number 4

The babies are definitely growing according to our ultrasound yesterday. It is very hard to see what is going on. My tech said she was having a hard time telling who was who. She looked around for a while, and then she had them figured out. Based on the measurements taken, he is 5lbs 10 oz and she is 4 lbs 8 oz. That is over 10 lbs of baby! They are still breech. I can tell because their heads are right by my ribs. This picture is pretty neat. You can see both of their heads. The hand and the foot belong to Baby B (boy).

33 Weeks

I am getting really big now. I can't sleep at night because I am so miserable. My doctor said that is preparing me for when the twins arrive. I agreed. No other changes this week. I will post the ultrasound results after Friday. We will see how much they have grown in three weeks.

Church Shower

I had another great shower at The Remnant Church. What a wonderful group of ladies! They help me remember that God is in charge of this pregnancy. Their support is greatly appreciated.

32 Weeks

I made it to 32 weeks. My doctor said that I had grown a lot in the last week. I measured full term today. He will no longer stop labor, and he said I could be worthless at home. Shannon is going on his last fishing trip (for a while) this next week. He is hoping that the babies stay put until after the 18th. I don't know how much more I can handle, but I am hoping they stay put until at least the last week in July. Only God knows when they will arrive, and that will be in His perfect timing.

31 Weeks

My doctor's appointment was short and sweet today. My doctor said that since the boys measurements were a little bigger than the girls, we will have another ultrasound done on July 17. He wants to make sure she keeps growing. He is not at all worried. He is just doing a good job monitoring them. They are still breech. More than likely, I will have a cesarean. I am feeling pretty miserable, but I know it will be worth it when I see those precious angels.

Shower Pictures

Here are a few shower pictures from Saturday. I had a lot of fun!!! God is pouring out his blessings, and we are so thankful.