Merry Christmas

Well, we have been slacking since our last post, so here is all the updates for the last few months.

I have gone back to work, and the boys have started daycare. They seem to love it, and have not cried once when I have dropped them off. They are very tired in the evenings now and we have moved bedtime to 7:00.

Kyle had his eye exam to find out what prescription he will need in glasses, but of course he did not cooperate for the doctor, and now has to go back in February where they will sedate him. That is not going to be fun.

We had the NICU Follow-up appointment at Mount Sinai in November, and they are pretty happy with their development. They would like to hear them talking a little bit more and have put a requisition in for a speech therapist, but this could take up to a year to get an appointment. They are babbling more, but pretty much they say dada. Christopher has started clapping and if you ask him to cough, he will let out a tiny cough. Kyle will meow like a cat when you ask him what a kitty says.

Christmas was very hectic. We had our families to our house since it is baby proofed already. The boys really could care less about presents but that will change by next year I am sure. They of course were spoiled by all.

I will post pictures of Christmas soon.

Fall Update

The boys will be 1 year old on Nov.1 (corrected) and on Nov. 10 they will have been home from the hospital for a year.

They are crawling very fast now and pulling themselves up to standing. We have a physiotherapist that comes in once a week to show us some exercises and check that they are developing o.k.

Their latest weights were Kyle 18 lbs 13 ounces, and Christopher 18 lbs 6 ounces

Kyle soaking up the sun on Thanksgiving weekend

Christopher

Christopher and Kyle

Good Eats

Just a quick post today. The boys are doing very well. Their original due date (November 1) is coming up in a month. Both boys are crawling well, pulling themselves up to get into trouble and enjoying their swimming lessons.

Kyle had a bout of roseola last week. He had a slight fever for several days and then red spots appeared on his body. They looked like chicken pox but no blisters appeared. The doctor said it is caused by a virus and we had to wait it out. By the end of the week Kylee was no longer grumpy and the spots had disappeared. Whew!

Here's a short snip of the boys practicing for their Thanksgiving meal.



Enjoy your turkey!

Summer Updates

I am sorry I have not posted much this summer, but now we are back from the cottage so here are some updates on the boys.

2 weeks ago we went to Sick Kids for their eye appointments. Since the boys are big now, they have changed the way they examine them (thank goodness). Christopher does not have to go back for a year. Kyle is very near sighted and has to go back in November. He is probably going to need glasses.

Today the Physiotherapist came to evaluate the boys. When they went to the NICU follow-up, the doctors had concerns about their stiffness in legs (hence not using exersaucers and jolly jumpers). He thinks they are developing perfectly normal. He will be coming every week for 12 weeks.

Kyle asleep during lunch

Christopher ends up in the weirdest places


The boys having their first tubby together

August Videos

Once we got rid of the excersaucers last month, we have seen a big improvement in their motor skills. The boys learned to explore by rolling, then crawling backwards. Christopher was the first to crawl forward a few steps.

Here Christopher goes for the bait. Both boys love to eat Cheerios and recognize the container we store them in.



A week or so later Kyle got the front crawling idea as well. Here he shows off his sitting skills for the camera. You can hear him say "dada" but unfortunately he says that to anything. It's nothing personal Daddy.



Up at the cottage last weekend, we erected a play yard so that the boys could enjoy the deck down by the lake. Without it they would be crawling in different directions off the mat and into trouble. We do remember to put toys and occasionally people in there to entertain them! ;-)



Both boys enjoy having stories read to them. Kyle gets very excited when his favourite book is read.



Christopher decides to take some time away from exploring and discover what is causing the ruckus. Oh look! It's Mr. Brown Can Moo!

Fun Growing Up

Kyle and Christopher get a little bored after enough sitting around after lunch. Rather than crying to complain, Kyle wants to chat instead.



Christopher enjoys a final ride in his excersaucer. We've had to stop using them as the doctors tell us they have delayed the boys' crawling and sitting by overdeveloping their leg muscles.
One last blast boys!

Happy 1st Birthday

On Friday the boys turned 1. I still can't believe it was a year ago I had these beautiful boys that were so tiny. We went to the doctor on their birthday and Kyle now weighs 17 lbs 12 ounces, and Christopher is 17 lbs 4 ounces.

We had a little party for them on Saturday. Although they were not able to eat any cake, and did not really know what was going on, everybody else had fun.

Thanks to everyone who showed up or sent cards and gifts.

Kyle and Christopher playing with their new work bench.

Hot Hot Hot!

I am trying to catch up since we have spent the past few weeks up at the cottage and I had enough stuff to take up, I did not take my computer.

Mike had a weeks vacation and was able to spend the week up north with us. Adam also came up and spent some time with the boys. It was a very hot week and we had fans going the entire time.

Christopher enjoying the pool

Kyle taking the golf cart for a spin

Happy Canada Day!

O.k., so I am a little late, but here are the boys in their Canada Day gear.

Kyle and Christopher

Summer Time

This past week the boys and I were at the cottage. The weather was not that great, but when it did heat up, we cooled down in the turtle pool.

Big Changes!

On Sunday we went to the Mount Sinai preemie picnic at High Park. We met up with a few other graduates and a couple of our nurses.

On another note, Christopher has started sitting up on his own. He has been doing this for about a week now with only a few falls. (I will post a picture of this soon)

Also, today Kyle's first tooth appeared. I noticed it while he was chewing on my neck. Once it starts to show, I will also post a picture.

The preemie picnic


Christopher playing with nurse Tina


Kyle and me at the picnic

Big boys....

Here are a couple of pictures taken today.

Christopher

Kyle

Pedals for Preemies

This past Saturday we walked 5 km in High Park to raise money for the Linden Fund. The Linden Funds purpose is to provide medical equipment as well as assist in the mental, physical and emotional development of infants and their families.
After the walk they had a BBQ, where we met up with some of the doctors and nurses from Mount Sinai.
It was a great day and we can't wait to do it again next year.

May 24th at the cottage

Sorry for the delay in posts, but we have been quite busy this past week.

Last weekend we made our first trip up to the cottage. We went up early on Thursday afternoon after the boys doctors appointment. They did quite well for being in a different environment. Luckily the weather cooperated for us and we spent most of the time outdoors.

Christopher hanging at the cottage
Kyle testing out the 62 degree waters


As of last Thursday the boys weights are;
Kyle = 16 lbs 4 ounces
Christopher 15 lbs 14 ounces

Sunny days

This past weekend Mike and Adam were working on the veggie garden, so the boys and I sat on the deck and watched the men work.

Kyle
Christopher

Swimming Lessons

Tonight was family night at swimming lessons. That just means that your family members are allowed in the pool area to take pictures for the last 5 minutes of class.

Mike and Christopher
Kyle and me

Raising Money for Little Eyes

Mount Sinai asked to use "our story" to help raise awareness of their need to purchase machines to test for ROP. It has been posted on MSH website.
http://www.mshfoundation.ca/Page.aspx?pid=1338

First Cold!

Kyle has his first Cold. He started coughing last Thursday and on Friday it worsened. It seemed to be all in his chest, so today I took him to the doctor. The doctor is not worried and as long as he does not get a fever or start to wheeze he should be just fine. We have had a few bad nights with him, but other than that he is a wonderful patient. We are just waiting for Christopher to get it now.

Today we went to the park, and the boys went on the swings for the first time.

Eating and Eating and Eating...

The boys went for their monthly doctors appointment on Friday and their weights are now...
Kyle - 14 lbs 14 ounces
Christopher - 14 lbs 9 ounces

The past week the boys have been eating like crazy. They are drinking 5 ounces every 2 hours during the day. I am not sure if they are having a growing spurt or if it is a new medication they are on for their kidney stones, but it seems all I do is feed them, so this morning I gave them a little cereal.


Look out Kyle, it looks like Christopher is catching up.

Swimming Lessons!

Tonight the boys started their swimming lessons. I was totally expecting them to cry through the entire lesson, but they yet again lived up to what we keep telling everyone. We have very well behaved boys. They even smiled a little when they were "jumping" into the pool.

Their bathing suits were a little big around the waist, but we managed to make it through without them falling off.

Christopher warming up

Kyle chillin'

Happy Easter

Nephrology Appointment

On Monday we had an Nephrology appointment at Sick Kids. The results are in; Christopher's kidney stones have not changed. Kyle's have decreased in numbers, but what are left have grown in size. The doctor has prescribed medication for both boys that hopefully will help disintegrate the stones.
The boys were weighed - Kyle 14 lbs 7 ounces, Christopher 14 lbs.

Christopher asleep in his Rainforest Jumparoo,


Kyle playing and showing off his chubby legs,

Hearing Tests

Last week the boys had their last RSV shot. They had 6 in total. We are extremely happy neither one of them has gotten sick (so far). They do qualify for the shots next year only if they need oxygen or inhalers over the next 6 months, but we are not expecting that.

Today they went for their second hearing test. The first one was done in the hospital before they were discharged. For the test they need to be asleep. The hospital recommends they come hungry and tired. That way they can be fed right before the test and fall asleep. We have very good boys and they follow orders well. Kyle woke up a little before his test was over, but the audiologist was happy with the result.

Kyle and Christopher getting ready for a walk

4 Month Checkup

Their weights are in and each boy gained another pound this month.
Kyle is now 14 pounds and Christopher made it to 13 pounds 6 3/4 ounces.

Kyle plays for 5 minutes in the ExerSaucer. All the developmental people said to stay away from it, but it's nice to have dinner together once in a while.

Christopher balances well for his first time in the Bumbo.


Two very handsome boys!

Daddy plays to a captive audience.

One of THOSE mothers....

So, now I am officially "one of those mothers". You know them. The ones that run to the doctors every time there is a sneeze or a cough. Well, Christopher had diarrhea over the weekend and on Monday it still was not gone so I called the pediatrician and made an appointment. So I lugged both boys into the doctors office just to find out he is probably teething.
I guess after going through what we went through the first 4 months of their lives, we can let this one go.

Kyle and Christopher enjoying tummy time ;-)

Neonatal Follow-up

On March 1st, the boys were 4 months old corrected. Some of you may ask "what does "corrected" mean"? The corrected age is the date the boys were due (November 1st). Everything developmentally goes by this date until they hit 2 years of age. Then it goes back to their actual birth date of July 16th.

Today we went to Sick Kids Hospital for our neonatal follow-up appointment. This is where they exam the boys to ensure they are developing properly for a 4 month old. We received good news and they are perfect for 4 month old preemies. They gave us some very good exercises for us to work with the boys. The most important thing they stressed was tummy time....which both boys love...not. They were also weighed and they are both over 13 lbs now.

The fighting for toys has already started;

Sitting up tall!

This is just a quick post to update you on the boys weights....

Christopher is 12 lbs 4 ounces


Kyle is 12 lbs 11 ounces

Bath Time!

The boys are really starting to enjoy bath time.

Christopher

Kyle
They both went last week for their eye check-ups and both passed with flying colours....and do not have to go back for 6 months. Yahoo....those appointments take more out of me than them.