I am going to officially stop posting on this blog and let my wife take over on family updates. Please see her recently created blog at:
http://sevensillyeaters.blogspot.com/
Thank you all for reading!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
6.5 Months (3.5 Corrected)
Gabe had a tough week. He had been quite irritable and not eating or sleeping well for the last couple weeks or more and the swelling of fluid around the shunt as it ran along Gabe's skull kept growing. Last Wednesday, Dr. Riva-Cambrin, Gabe's neurosurgeon, decided that he needed to redo Gabe's shunt. It was scheduled for the following Thursday, which would have been tomorrow.
Early on the swelling around the shunt looked like a sausage-shaped protrusion running along the side of his head. By Sunday, it looked like you could fit half a dozen sausages in the swelling. It was so bad it pushed his ear out. And the pocket was very tight indicating great pressure in the skull. In addition, Gabe's irritibility and eating issues continued to get worse. So after consulting with the resident neurosurgeon on call we brought Gabe to the ER at Primary Children's.
After a brief evaluation, the neurosurgery team decided that the situation was not emergent and they scheduled the operation for Monday. However, Gabe was admitted to Primary Children's so they could keep an eye on him in case his situation deteriorated.
The surgery took about 2 hours and Dr. Riva-Cambrin said it went well. The surgeon first placed a new shunt on the opposite side of the first one. He mentioned that usually he can just "dig through the skull with his knife" but that Gabe's skull was thick (6mm) and he had to "break out the drill". When the new shunt was placed he noticed that there was pressure in the skull which was relieved immediately.
Dr. Riva-Cambrin then completely removed the old shunt and did some repair work so the old hole would not continue to leak into the swollen pocket under Gabe's scalp. Dr. Riva-Cambrin evaluated the shunt after the surgery and found that it was blocked with "gunk"---that gunk being old blood and tissue from Gabe's original en utero brain injury. Dr. Riva-Cambrin mentioned that when he placed the original shunt, the CS fluid was yellowy, but now it was "crystal clear" as it should be. So he is confident that the new shunt will not get blocked. The new shunt does not have a programmable valve and will has a statistically less chance of getting blocked.
Gabe was in a lot of pain following the surgery and was drugged heavily to alleviate it. He did not want to eat very much for 48 hours following the surgery. But he has now turned a corner, his pain is visibly reduced, and he is starting to eat well. We are about to take him home.
Early on the swelling around the shunt looked like a sausage-shaped protrusion running along the side of his head. By Sunday, it looked like you could fit half a dozen sausages in the swelling. It was so bad it pushed his ear out. And the pocket was very tight indicating great pressure in the skull. In addition, Gabe's irritibility and eating issues continued to get worse. So after consulting with the resident neurosurgeon on call we brought Gabe to the ER at Primary Children's.
After a brief evaluation, the neurosurgery team decided that the situation was not emergent and they scheduled the operation for Monday. However, Gabe was admitted to Primary Children's so they could keep an eye on him in case his situation deteriorated.
The surgery took about 2 hours and Dr. Riva-Cambrin said it went well. The surgeon first placed a new shunt on the opposite side of the first one. He mentioned that usually he can just "dig through the skull with his knife" but that Gabe's skull was thick (6mm) and he had to "break out the drill". When the new shunt was placed he noticed that there was pressure in the skull which was relieved immediately.
Dr. Riva-Cambrin then completely removed the old shunt and did some repair work so the old hole would not continue to leak into the swollen pocket under Gabe's scalp. Dr. Riva-Cambrin evaluated the shunt after the surgery and found that it was blocked with "gunk"---that gunk being old blood and tissue from Gabe's original en utero brain injury. Dr. Riva-Cambrin mentioned that when he placed the original shunt, the CS fluid was yellowy, but now it was "crystal clear" as it should be. So he is confident that the new shunt will not get blocked. The new shunt does not have a programmable valve and will has a statistically less chance of getting blocked.
Gabe was in a lot of pain following the surgery and was drugged heavily to alleviate it. He did not want to eat very much for 48 hours following the surgery. But he has now turned a corner, his pain is visibly reduced, and he is starting to eat well. We are about to take him home.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
6 Months (3 Months Corrected)
We took the twins to the 6 month pediatrician visit today.
Zeke has now passed Gabe in both weight and head size at 13 lbs and 42 cm, respectively. Uncorrected, Zeke is in the 25% for weight and in the 75% for head size. In general, Zeke is doing very well. He is very interactive now. He smiles frequently and is now grabbing and playing with small toys on occasion. He is eating well and waking up two time every night to feed.
Gabe is 12 lbs, 11 oz.and his head is 41.3 cm, which puts him in the same percentiles as his twin. Gabe is showing delayed development in a few areas, but is progressing.
Zeke has now passed Gabe in both weight and head size at 13 lbs and 42 cm, respectively. Uncorrected, Zeke is in the 25% for weight and in the 75% for head size. In general, Zeke is doing very well. He is very interactive now. He smiles frequently and is now grabbing and playing with small toys on occasion. He is eating well and waking up two time every night to feed.
Gabe is 12 lbs, 11 oz.and his head is 41.3 cm, which puts him in the same percentiles as his twin. Gabe is showing delayed development in a few areas, but is progressing.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
18 Weeks, 2 Days (Corrected: 5 Weeks)
Well, it sure has been a while since I've posted. With twins, the times when our hands are not full are rather limited. . .
Gabe now weighs over 10 lbs. A couple weeks ago his shunt pressure valve was adjusted down to 60mmHg. This is almost a third of the pressure he started with. Dr. Riva-Cambrin made the adjustment in order to provide a lower pressure path for the fluid to drain down the tube rather than around the tube. Fluid is still pooling in Gabe's scalp and it is about the size of a finger. After our report to the doctor this week, he wants to reduce the pressure down to 30mmHg---the lowest setting---this Wed to fix this pooling fluid problem. Right now we have his head wrapped to keep it from filling with fluid.
Many people have asked about Gabe's development, given his PVL. We have been pleasantly surprised at the positive signs that Gabe is showing. He moves all his limbs, grabs fingers and objects with his hands, lifts his head when he is on his tummy, and puts weight on his feet.
Zeke is almost 9 lbs and is doing great. He is starting to give us the occasional social smile. Right now, Eliza and Isabella are fighting over who gets to hold him. They have both been great helpers these last few weeks.
Gabe now weighs over 10 lbs. A couple weeks ago his shunt pressure valve was adjusted down to 60mmHg. This is almost a third of the pressure he started with. Dr. Riva-Cambrin made the adjustment in order to provide a lower pressure path for the fluid to drain down the tube rather than around the tube. Fluid is still pooling in Gabe's scalp and it is about the size of a finger. After our report to the doctor this week, he wants to reduce the pressure down to 30mmHg---the lowest setting---this Wed to fix this pooling fluid problem. Right now we have his head wrapped to keep it from filling with fluid.
Many people have asked about Gabe's development, given his PVL. We have been pleasantly surprised at the positive signs that Gabe is showing. He moves all his limbs, grabs fingers and objects with his hands, lifts his head when he is on his tummy, and puts weight on his feet.
Zeke is almost 9 lbs and is doing great. He is starting to give us the occasional social smile. Right now, Eliza and Isabella are fighting over who gets to hold him. They have both been great helpers these last few weeks.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
13 Weeks, 6 Days (Corrected Age: 1 Week)
Yesterday we took Gabe to see the eye doctor and we are happy to report that his eyes "look great" according to the doctor. This means that his eyes are fully vascularized and Gabe does not need any more follow up visits to check for ROP. He will still get a normal eye follow up exam in a few months---just no more need for the two week check.
We also took Gabe to see his neurosurgeon, Dr. Riva-Cambrin. Gabe's head is down to the 97th percentile in size. This is great news. The doctor was pleased with how Gabe's shunt looks. The only exception is that there is a slight build up of fluid in two places: right where the ventricular catheter comes to the top of the skull near the fontanel and near the pressure valve a couple inches above his ear. We learned that the fluid is in fact cerebral-spinal fluid that is leaking out of his ventricles and instead of going down the tube is going around the tube. The doctor instructed us to have Gabe sleep at a 45 degree angle for a couple days to help the fluid drain in the right pathway.
On the home front, things are wonderful having the twins home. It is especially nice from my perspective getting to help feed them and spend so much time with them at this age. They are adorable and they joy of having a newborn is simply doubled with twins.
Our skills are improving at handling to babies: the other night I successfully held both boys while standing up and rocking them and feeding one a bottle. If you think about it, it's pretty tricky.
We also took Gabe to see his neurosurgeon, Dr. Riva-Cambrin. Gabe's head is down to the 97th percentile in size. This is great news. The doctor was pleased with how Gabe's shunt looks. The only exception is that there is a slight build up of fluid in two places: right where the ventricular catheter comes to the top of the skull near the fontanel and near the pressure valve a couple inches above his ear. We learned that the fluid is in fact cerebral-spinal fluid that is leaking out of his ventricles and instead of going down the tube is going around the tube. The doctor instructed us to have Gabe sleep at a 45 degree angle for a couple days to help the fluid drain in the right pathway.
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| Note Gabe's fluid build-up bulging around his shunt. |
Our skills are improving at handling to babies: the other night I successfully held both boys while standing up and rocking them and feeding one a bottle. If you think about it, it's pretty tricky.
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| Three of the most beautiful things on this earth. |
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| Two sleeping twins is a real treat! |
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| No, this is not done with smoke and mirrors. |
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| Airing out their derrieres. Darn those pesky rashes. |
Sunday, May 29, 2011
12 Weeks, 2 Days (Gestational Age: 40 Weeks)
Today is our original due date! So it was great timing to finally get Gabe home yesterday. His discharge weight was 3.53kg (7lbs, 12 oz). He does not have a monitor nor oxygen and the only drug he is on is for reflux. This last week in the hospital weaning him from caffeine and a monitor was definitely worth it!
This crazy ordeal began on Jan.27 when Nanette's water broke and ended on May 28---four long months. I told Nanette as we drove away from Primary Children's that this was the end of all our troubles (with the implied meaning of it being the front end).
Last night it was my shift to watch and feed the twins. I could tell by how much they slept that they both really, really love me and enjoy being awake around me. I am a novice at tandem feeding, tandem burping, tandem diaper changing, and tandem rocking. Some of those tasks just simply require two hands for one baby. I suppose it's too late for evolution to kick in and grow parents of twins an extra arm and hand. . .
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| Sick Nathan and Bella hold Gabe. |
Last night it was my shift to watch and feed the twins. I could tell by how much they slept that they both really, really love me and enjoy being awake around me. I am a novice at tandem feeding, tandem burping, tandem diaper changing, and tandem rocking. Some of those tasks just simply require two hands for one baby. I suppose it's too late for evolution to kick in and grow parents of twins an extra arm and hand. . .
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| My first tandem feeding experience. Note that Sam has a binky in each hand---just in case. |
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