Little Hams

Both boys are smiling often now when focusing on your face (and they're not hungry). They've learned to do that after a few weeks of playing our self-created game of "nose, eyes, mouth, ears" in which we touch the body part, say its name, repeat with our faces and end with a smile. Kyle cheats sometimes by smiling at the beginning of the game right after the first touch of his nose.

We're also just starting to use some basic sign language to communicate with the boys (when we remember). It's a little more useful than just sticking my tongue out at them. By the way, if they do that to you, it's because they like you! ;-)

First, Brothers in Arms


A happy Kyle

Little Sweethearts (Christopher on the left)

Nap Time with Furry Friends

Sorry Uncle Dave, the next generation "appreciates" exotic animals.


Yes, this was a staged shot with adult supervision. No, the boys don't sleep with stuffed animals. No sheep were injured in this photo.

Life on the Play Mat

Kyle is very laid back, happier and perhaps a little more patient than Christopher. He enjoys watching the moving stuffed mobiles above the swing, sometimes talking and cooing at them. That would make Christopher our ADD-prone child with his shorter attention span. He seems to be a bit more active than Kyle with his arms and legs swinging often. Christopher was a kicker when he was still in the womb and will probably be running while Kyle is still crawling. Both of our babies are very well behaved and content - we're certainly not complaining!

Christopher delivers a face slap to Kyle a la The Three Stooges (no children were injured during the shooting of these photos)

Boys First Christmas

Merry Christmas!

The boys celebrated their first Christmas up in Bracebridge. The boys and I went up early on Wednesday after their 3rd RSV shot, and Mike met us up there on Thursday.

Santa was good to them, but also Grandma and Grandpa Mortimer, Auntie Leigh Ann, and Grandma and Grandpa Parsons. These boys are going to be the best dressed boys around.

Kyle and Christopher sporting their Christmas threads.


The Christmas Tree exploding after Santa showed up.

Kyle givin' high fives.


Christopher having a chat with Grandma.


Kyle just laughing.

Winter Olympics - The Torch Cometh to Keswick

On Friday Christopher and Kyle went to their first parade. The Olympic torch was coming through Keswick, so I bundled them up and off we went. It was a balmy -2C with light winds.

We saw Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Dora and the One Man band. We were standing right near where the torch was passed off from one bearer to another. The boys of course slept through the entire thing.

Christopher has the blue strap attached to his soother


The Torch in Keswick

6 Weeks

Since I have never posted to this blog, I thought now is the best time....better late than never.

First off, I would like to thank my mom who helped out the first week I was alone with the boys. She made dinner, cleaned the bathrooms and vacuumed my entire house, along with helping with the boys.
Also, thanks to Mike's mom for coming the second week. Mike had to go away on business and she came and helped with the boys. She changed diapers, made food and let me get some extra needed sleep in the mornings.

The boys are now 6 weeks old corrected and growing fast. As of last Friday Christopher was 9 lbs 1 ounce, and Kyle is 9 lbs 10 ounces. They are starting to look more and more alike.
We have been keeping very busy with doctor appointments. Christopher had his eye exam 2 weeks ago, and again they saw more improvements. He has to go back this coming Tuesday for another check up.
They both went to the Haematologist to check their white blood count (it was down when we were discharged from the hospital). So off we went to Sick Kids yesterday. After long line ups for registration and to get blood taken (thanks to my mom who stood in line for us) the results were in and Chris's blood count is normal and Kyle is increasing. We have to get blood taken in 3 months, but we can go to Markham Stouffville hospital for that.
They have also received their second RSV shot.

As for sleeping, Kyle has been going 5 hours at night, and Christopher has just started doing the same, so I am up only once in the night.

Everyone tells me we are so lucky that we have such good babies and we think we are lucky too.


Skyping with an unspecified grandmother


Kyle talking to Mommy


Christopher chilling by the beach

Shots and Walks

Today the boys had their second series of monthly RSV shots. In preparation for the shot they were first weighed at the Newmarket RSV clinic. Christopher made it to 8 pounds and Kyle stayed 9 ounces ahead at 8 lbs 9 oz. Aren't we're growing big?

We try to go out every day with Mommy for walks in the stroller.

Daddy had to look closely to see which baby was which. Can you tell?

Home Updates

It's been a busy time since we brought Christopher and Kyle home last Tuesday evening. We're taking shifts at night looking after the boys as they are fed every 3 to 4 hours. This gives Mommy and Daddy about 5 hours of continuous sleep each day. Not quite sure yet how things will work out when I go back to work next week. Feeding and changing two at the same time is no easy feat without plenty of crying and frustration (mostly on part of the babies). Usually one wakes up, is changed, fed and put back to bed before it's the other's turn.

The boys had their follow-up eye appointments Tuesday at Sick Kids. I sure don't miss travelling downtown any more! Kyle's eyes looked so much better that his next appt. is in 3 months. Christopher's eyes are several notches better than last week so he'll be examined again in 2 weeks. We also visited our new pediatrician who took some baseline measurements last Thursday. Kyle weighed 7lbs 14 oz and Christopher was 7lbs 3 oz. Mount Sinai has given us instructions to add preemie formula to the breast milk as well as meds, vitamins and iron to keep the boys healthy and growing.

So far we've been restricting visits to family only. We had a bit if a scare when one visitor came down with flu-like symptoms just 2 days after seeing the boys. Fortunately everyone seem to be fine so far.

Thanks to everyone out there for your wishes and kind thoughts. They are deeply appreciated.

And now, pictures from home!

Together at last - first day at home.

Christopher on Mommy's lap - I love his eyes!

It's a jungle out there

Don't look now but I think the big people are watching us

These bouncy chairs might be a bit large right now......

Kyle and proud big brother Adam

Kyle - does this count as smiling?

Just chilling after another tough day

We're home!!!

We made our way out of Mount Sinai Tuesday night after saying a rather tearful goodbye to the nurses and staff. The boys took the drive well and we were home before 8 PM.
Spending Monday night at the hospital with both boys in the same crib at the foot of our bed was difficult. Not wanting or needing to repeat that experience again we opted to leave the hospital the next day.

Full Term and Good News!

Sunday marked week 40, the normal due date for a full term baby. The boys have been in the hospital for almost 4 months now. The caring staff at Mount Sinai have helped make the hospital seem like our home away from home. We can't say thank you enough for their concern and hard work. The least we can do is bring Kyle and Christopher to their annual picnic in June to show them the work they do is all worth while!

Both boys received their initial RSV shots today. They cried a little when they were injected in their chubby little legs. But the short term pain each month means that there is a much reduced chance that they will catch a severe case this winter. Preemies are especially vulnerable to the RSV virus, which can lead to severe illness, breathing problems, or even death. Understandably we won't be traveling much outside the house until spring.

Christopher's eyes haven't changed according to yesterday's test. He will get his last test next Monday. Since he has a milder case of ROP, it's possible that his eyes will heal on their own.

Christine and I will be getting the H1N1 vaccine at a parent's clinic on Thursday. It would be terrible if we did not and caused someone else to catch it and pass it on to their children. I know I never want to have to see our boys struggling to breathe on a respirator ever, ever again.

And now for the good news. We're planning to bring both boys home next Tuesday! We can't wait! Thank you all for your support and kind words that have helped us through this difficult time.

Big Spooky Halloween Special

We went to see our little pumpkins on dark and scary Halloween night. OK, maybe it was daylight and downtown Toronto was not particularly scary. At least some of the nurses dressed up last night for the occasion.

The exciting news is that Kyle is tubeless just like his brother. His NG tube has been removed now that he is feeding so well. Poor guy has a little red mark under his right cheek from the tape.

We arranged to have the boys together in the same bed for a photo op. Actually, we just moved Christopher ourselves. Kyle had been awake for a while and was starting to get sleepy. Christopher had just been fed and was still pretty active. Gotta like the seasonal threads!

Christopher getting used to the bouncy chair


A different view: big bed, small baby


Kyle has a tiny red dot on his hand and that tape mark


Brothers chillin' out (Kyle on the left)



I just had to show you their feet!

15 Weeks

Christopher is still breathing well without supplemental oxygen. He is strong enough now that his NG feeding tube was removed. When Mommy is not available Christopher is drinking entirely by bottle. He sat in the bouncy chair for over an hour yesterday and didn't complain this time.

Look Ma! No tubes! And I'm really handsome.


Kyle was taken off low flow and was breathing on his own again yesterday. He did have a desat during feeding so he might have to go back on low flow if he gets too tired. Kyle was sitting in the car seat for 2 hours yesterday and had no breathing problems.

Last night I had the privilege of bottle feeding Kyle. He guzzled half of his 60 ml dinner and I was able to get a burp out of him. That reminded me it's been a long time since I burped Adam! When we weren't able to relieve his gas during the second half we called in the professionals and within 15 seconds his primary nurse, Sonya, had him burped.

Daddy vaguely remembers where the bottle goes....


Another shot of both boys. They never seem to be awake at the same time!


Yesterday Mount Sinai stopped allowing visitors to see the babies due to H1N1 fears. Even Adam can't come this weekend. :-(