Preemies born before 32 weeks need to have a follow up retinal exam after they leave the NICU to check to see if they are developing properly since they did not get to develop fully in utero. Any extended time spent on oxygen can cause problems as well. Since Jonah and Silas were born the day of the cutoff their doctors wanted them to get checked just in case. I was a little worried about Jonah because he took longer to really open his eyes and start looking around, he's more of a kinesthetic tactile little guy than Silas. Both of them got a good report today for which we are very thankful!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
News From Home
We talked to Quincho today. The water on our side of town had been off for 5 days and he didn't realize that he was supposed to turn off our pump. Jimmy had told him to if that happened, but he forgot. We figured it was burned up and that Jimmy would have to replace it again once we returned. Today Quincho said that it started working again. I'm not sure how that is possible, but we're are thankful! But, we traded one problem for another. In Petén you have to pay your electric bill in person and you cannot pay in advance. Jimmy was able to pay in September when he was there, but a friend of ours was suppose to pay for October and November. He is trustworthy with the money, but he just hasn't done it yet, he probably lost our bill number. If you wait too long they will cut the line to our house and then we have to wait 2 weeks+ for someone to come hook it back up. Please pray that this friend will go ahead and fulfill this favor! It would not be fun to be finally home with 2 babies and not have power.
Please continue to pray for Quincho. He is rebuilding his life and plans on buying land when we return. He is not getting support from his family. Some of them look to him as their meal ticket (since he is working for the Gringos) even though they could support themselves. Pray that God will encourage him and send him some strong Christian friends.
Labels:
Power/Water
Monday, December 28, 2009
Christmas Morning
We pray that all of you had a wonderful Christmas. We are really enjoying the time with Jimmy's family!
Here are the boys on Christmas morning in their Christmas PJ's and their hats that were in their stockings. Our family is so blessed!
I must add that Jimmy's family are KU basketball fans, but both of his brothers are at Kansas State, so that explains Silas' hat.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
A Last Minute Idea
Ever since Jim and I got married our dads have become friends. Both of them love us very much, but I think it was their common interest in coffee and spoiling their dogs that ultimately made them click. I guess it should be described more as a rivalry than a friendship, since they are constantly talking smack about who roast the better coffee or owns the better dog. Whosever house we stay at we serve as spies for the other side sending them fuel to rib the other about.
My dad is more of a music guy than a sports guy, but somehow Jimmy got him into the Dinsmore fantasy football league this year. I must stop here and interject that Jimmy is in first place as they go into the playoffs! Anyway, since Larry was flying down to FL to drive us back to KS my dad had the idea of taking him and Jimmy to the Jaguar/Colts game. I was shocked my dad wanted to go to an NFL game, but I guess it was the company!
My dad ended up enjoying it so much that he plans on taking my mom there next year! She is much more into football than he is.
Special Moments
Silas and Jonah got to meet so many people before they left FL even though they couldn't go too many places yet. They met almost all their aunts, uncles, and cousins that live in Jax. I have such a great family! I am so thankful that our boys have that too.
Here is one of the many moments they spent with their Great Grandma Wootton (my mom's mom)!
Here the boys are visiting their Great Grandma Carswell. She had surgery the day the boys came home from the NICU, so we visited her in a rehab facility. I think Jonah looks a whole lot like her and my dad.
Becca came by to see them several times and brought presents almost every time... she is already spoiling them! She will be like family to them if she ends up working in Petén.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
On the Way to KS
Silas and Jonah had to say goodbye to their Papa and Grandma Kiki this morning. This broke my heart. I feel horrible taking away their only grandchildren from them. They are very supportive of us and what God has given us to do in Guatemala, but it's still hard to say goodbye... harder now.
We are going to spend the next 4 weeks in KS before we head back to Guatemala around the 17th. The boys have one more doctors' appointment and this will also give them some time to put a little more weight on before heading off to the jungle.
We are obviously a little sleep deprived like normal parents of newborns, so Jimmy's dad decided to fly to FL and help drive us all to KS. This is very helpful and much safer for everyone on the road! It's a 20 hour trip plus all the stops to feed them.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Seven Pounders
We love Jonah and Silas' pediatrician. He was so helpful today. He is a friend of my dad's. He is such a nice guy. I felt like we got extra special care, but he probably treats all his patients that nicely. He spent so much time with us going over questions. He hand wrote out a list of issues we might have in the first year and what medications to look for and the doses. He also gave us his personal number to call if we ever have an emergency and need some immediate info. This was such a blessing and made me feel a lot better about taking my little ones to the jungle!
The boys have been off bottles since Friday and the nursing is going great! This is such a blessing. I was having a lot of anxiety over this since there are 2 of them and they had been on bottles for so long in the NICU. God just brought the right people in my path to help me with this and offer encouragement. I know this is the best thing for our boys. Anyway this is a HUGE praise and one of the most rewarding things that I fought for in my life!
Jonah is 21.4 in and 7 lbs 2 oz and Silas is 20.4 in 7 lbs.
The boys got their 2 month shots today. They didn't make too much of a ruckus. Jonah actually took it better than Silas.
Silas Before:
Labels:
Health Issues,
Jonah,
Silas
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The People You Meet!
We love being around the Proctors. They are so passionate about what they are doing and it's contagious! I love seeing them interact with each other and hope our family turns out like that. They have personally invested in us with their time, friendship and encouragement. They haven't missed a single milestone in our ministry. They wanted to meet our boys, so we got to eat lunch with them yesterday.
Christmas Photos
One of the girls that was on the mission team that opened the door in New Horizon took some Christmas photos for us. We wanted one for our Christmas update with the boys. She was very patient. It was tough to get 2 wobbly necked babies to look pleasant at the same time, they kept making faces! We had fun!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Family Date
Last week we decided to go out as a family of 4 for the first time. We went to a small restaurant close by for a late lunch. It was nice and quiet. The boys didn't make a peep other than a little gas... boys are so fun! We are getting the hang of this!
CRAZY ITEM OF THE DAY: Not sure how this happens. Silas likes to save it all for Daddy!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Our New Life
My mind is so sporadic I am having trouble forming a post. I think the being away from home for over 3 months is getting to me more than the 90 minute sleep incriminates. My need to have everything at a specific angle in its specific place is not being met! I feel like we have stuff everywhere. I cannot wait to put all the babies' things away in their dresser drawers and get back to my organized life. I keep thinking about our ministry and how I want to still be a part of it and how I am going to deal with everyone touching my tiny babies at first! We both are thinking about New Horizon and wonder how God is going to work that out. Our life in Guatemala will be forever different when we get back... the unknown is making me impatient.
Here is our family of 4! Jonah is grabbing at his brother!
This was their first time in their little play yard. Jonah rolled over to hug is brother.
The boys went to their first doctor's appointment and got a great report. The NICU conditioned us to measure everything, so we went to the doctor with a notebook of all their feedings and diapers. Their pediatrician is a musician friend of my dad and I had met him before too. We are thankful once again for the awesome folks God brings into our life. He told us to chill out and just be parents! We got rid of the notebook!
The boys are eating very well now. They sleep anywhere from 3-4 hours. Hopefully we can get them completely off the bottle feedings soon which means less pumping and that will add to our sleep time.
I will leave you with some photos of them flashing their dimples!
Silas
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