Hmm...Wanna Guess Who Had a Hard Day?

Not a single tear, no whining, no complaints, as a matter of fact...we had to REMIND them to give us a kiss as we dropped them off at their first day of preschool today!! Being the cautious mommy that I am, I packed their backpacks with TWO sets of clothes this morning and I'm happy to report that BOTH sets came back (yes, mom, we told our teacher we needed to go potty). HOORAY!!




Okay, so I will admit, I'm SUPER proud of them...and I'll also admit that both DrillSgt. and I had a hard time with it all today. We both complained of feeling nauseous, of tightness in our chests, and of slightly watery eyes (which magically disappeared as soon as we walked in to pick them up). We wondered if we should call and check in on them, we had a difficult time knowing what to do without them (let's just say the laundry basket is finally empty), and the house was so quiet I had to turn on the music. We said we'd pick them up at 4pm and then ended up getting there at 3:30 (it's just down the street from our house---LOL!!) I'm seriously glad that they handled it well, and I'm really happy that we started a few weeks early and I didn't have to worry about their first day at preschool AND my first day back at work.

Secretly, I'm also happy that they were both ready to come home too!

LongRifle said, "Come on mom, let's go home!"

One Door Closes...another opens.

May 28th was not just DrillSgt's birthday, it was also the last day of group AND Bright Start (support program for high risk infants) for Da'Gorgeouses. These wonderful ladies were with us almost every step of the way starting the month we brought Pistol and LongRifle home from the NICU. Marisa, the lovely lady holding Pistol on the far right, came to the house to work with them EVERY week (except the 6 week summer vacation). Teacher MaryAnn, seen here holding LongRifle, came to our house that first year to teach Grammy and I infant massage and she ran the get ready for preschool group they've been a part of these last few months.

I cannot speak highly enough about Bright Start. It is a wonderful program and the people we worked with were EXCEPTIONAL people. I really appreciated getting to know them, having that extra set of unbiased eyes watching over the girls making sure they met their developmental milestones, but most of all I appreciated the genuine love and affection they all showered my girls with. Just look at how happy Da'Gorgeouses are sitting there with all those wonderful women. I know we'll keep in touch, after all, I still have their cell numbers programmed in my phone! LOL!!

Only Because I Know...

some of you might have been waiting...LOL!!

I made their tutus, bought their crowns & wands, bought their
leotards & added the bits of flair. Their birthday party was a hit,
all the people that loved them & were able to attend did, food was
wonderful, company was great, bounce house was well used, and both
Pistol and LongRifle were EXHAUSTED by the time we put them to bed!

Thanks to all that made it & to those of you that wished my very special Princesses
a very Happy 3rd Birthday and were with us in spirit!
We love and appreciate each and every one of you,
thank you for being a part of our lives!

Another Milestone?!

We may have found a part-time daycare for next year! Hooray!! Da'Gorgeouses loved it and even CRIED because we were leaving---I have no idea why they're so social?! Grammy & I met with the director this morning and then had a small tour of the facilities. She was very thorough and gave me the breakdown, days, times, prices, curriculum, nap & even bible studies time. Sounds heavenly & a place Da'Gorgeouses would benefit from. They'd spend the rest of my full-time work schedule with Grammy & Welo if/when he retires. They really do need some type of social interaction with other kids their age, the whole learning to share, take turns and interact with others besides just themselves and all of the adults in their environment. Okay, excuse me while I go cry now!

Another First...

Yeah, I know Da'Gorgeouses are 2 years 8 months and yes, today was their first haircut. If you look back at the pics from earlier last year, you'll see that they were still pretty short haired even back in March. So now that they finally have some hair we decided to take them in for a little trim.

Pistol volunteered to go first (after they watched me get my hair trimmed). She loved the whole thing, especially watching it all in the mirror. As a matter of fact, when it was time for her sister's turn she said, "No, I'm not done yet!" LOL! I had to practically drag her off of the chair!




LongRifle was feeling a bit under the weather today, but she sat there just fine and had her hair cut. She's still running a high temp 103. You can see it in her little eyes.





And special thanks to the lovely Ms. J for being so patient and doing such a wonderful job with Da'Gorgeouses first hair cut!

Mid-January Update

So the 3 day work week went well (for the first week). Da'Gorgeouses seem to have adjusted quickly to having mamá & papá back to work after our 3 week vacation. I think they handled it way better than I did--LOL!! My new students seem to have adjusted to the transition well too, I suppose it helps that I let them know I was willing to pressure them in order to have them be successful, all said with a huge smile of course!

Da'Gorgeouses vocabulary and sentence composition seems to have EXPLODED over the last 2 weeks of our vacation. They just seem to have made a major leap in the complexity of their sentences. I'm not quite sure what caused it, but it seems to have happened rather suddenly. That I know of we haven't been doing anything differently, but the change is quite evident. Pistol was talking about how her and LongRifle were princesses. I told her that they were Mamá's princesses, and Daddy's too of course, and she came back at me with, "Yes, sissy and I belong to both of you. We're your princesses and Daddy's princesses!" Ummm, yeah, that's right! Then while we were out holiday shopping we were at a stoplight and LongRifle spots the flags on the car dealer ship, you know the ones that say CARS on them? Well I hear her sounding something out. Cuh-Ah, Cu-Ah, CAT! So I think, huh, what?! Then I say, "that was close baby, you're right, it's Cuh-Ah-R, CAR." Hmmm....I'm starting to think they might be trying to read so they can avoid potty training---LOL!!

On another good note, we had our ITP (Individual Transitional Plan) meeting this past week and they will no longer qualify for services once they turn 3. I guess they thought I was going to be upset about that, but why?! They helped us when we needed it most and were a few more sets of objective eyes to make sure Da'Gorgeouses didn't slip through the cracks along the way. I'm eternally grateful for the help and the great friendships we've made along the way!

Twice Blessed...

I've written before about how much I love Da'Gorgeouses pediatrician Dr. Sid. Well, here's another example why. She told me to call and schedule and appointment for their flu shots as soon as they were better. I did but the front desk people said the earliest I could get them in was November 25th, I explained that Dr. Sid had said she wanted them in as soon as possible and the lady responded that the best she could do was November 21st. Since I had no other option I went ahead and took that one. I then told my mom (RN/Grammy) the situation and she suggested that I call and ask to speak to Dr. Sid personally (she works with her) so I did since I had some questions about the medication anyway. So I call but she's gone for the day and won't be able to call me back until Thursday, no rush right, after all anytime BEFORE the 21st would be great. Thursday my mom works so she leaves her a brief note explaining the situation and leaves her my cell number. Dr. Sid called and personally left me a message on voicemail saying I could bring them in Friday at 4:30---WOOHOOO!! But then, get this, yesterday afternoon she has her staff call us because there's been a cancellation and she wants to get the girls in for their flu shots before they can get sick again. Doesn't she ROCK?!!!

So I wake the girls from their nap, call DrillSgt. and tell him to meet me down there ASAP and explain why. We get there, I take the girls down, explain that they're going to be getting a flu shot like Mommy & Daddy and that it might hurt a little. I also give them each a small package of fruit snacks and tell them they can open and eat them RIGHT after they get their shot (btw, Dr. Sid administers the shots herself). Wouldn't you know it worked like a charm? They winced a little bit, said, "I got a shot!" and then proceeded to eat their fruit snacks. They even gave Dr. Sid a big hug and said thank you on their way out, no problem---even DrillSgt. was shocked. She smiled and told me "You are very blessed!" Don't I know it, I'm not only blessed, I'm TWICE blessed!!

WARNING!

Okay, so fair warning this is going to be a proud mama brag post. I'm still working off of DrillSgt's. laptop so please bear with me. (Boy do I miss my desktop).

Anyway, we took Da'Gorgeouses to the HRIC to be evaluated. All premature babies, or babies born with difficulties are eligible for this evaluation. They bring in a team of specialists (well, specialists in working with preemies and high risk infants). We were evaluated by a nurse (she measured head circumference, weight, height, and pulse) her name was Kimberly and they really took a liking to her. I think it helped that she took them to see the fish tank and brought them some crayons to keep them entertained. Next the social worker Margie came in. We saw her last year too. She asked questions regarding our family unit and whether we had any questions or concerns regarding their development, growth or health. She asked if DrillSgt. and I made sure to take time for ourselves and as a couple, stating too often parents of premature infants or children with special needs can sometimes find themselves consumed by taking care of and only focusing on their children and sometimes neglecting their own needs and the needs of continuing to focus and pay attention to their relationship as a couple. We told her that we had learned that lesson, and DrillSgt. told her that usually I'm the one that let's him know we're going out on a date. She just laughed and asked if that was because I needed it more. He laughed and said, "No, it's because it's her parents that take care of the girls and so she's the one that asks them!"

After Margie left Kathy came in. Kathy was the nurse that took care of Da'Gorgeouses a lot towards the very end. Mostly I think they ended up in the same room with her, she wasn't assigned to them. However, she has a wonderful personality and we really made a connection with her. Anyway, she had been in and out of the room during Kim's assessment and kind of listened in on what the girls were saying. She was quite surprised at how much they were talking and the things they were saying, she even said, "Okay, I guess I don't have to assess them, they're doing fine." I just laughed and she said, "Seriously, I don't even know how to assess them!" When she finally came in she asked them a bunch of questions, asked them to do specific things, they could do most of them---they couldn't draw a stick figure person, or build a bridge. After she was finished assessing them, she said, "Wow, seriously they're really smart! I have a nephew who's 3, he was born full term and doesn't speak as clearly as they do. They're even using complete sentences, changing and using the terms I, you, and me correctly. They know the sounds the letters make, even out of sequence. They can count to twenty (and actually if you give them the next number like 30 they follow the pattern up to 39, then you have to give them 40 and they'll continue--she was super shocked when we told her that!). They've got to be the smartest kids I've ever assessed!" Okay, that totally made me smile from the inside out. Even now when I think about it, it just lifts me up, and I feel like I'm walking on air---lol! It's just made it all worthwhile and reinforced the decision we've made as a family for me to stay home these last 2 years. So when all was said and done, Kathy told us that they were scoring at the 3 year old level and above (particularly in the verbal area), and that they were scoring at the 3 year old level in physical abilities also. That was good news for us, because we have been concerned with their gross motor skills, but they've really improved in that area since DrillSgt. has been taking them out to the playground and we've been working on coloring, drawing, using scissors, glue, etc (fine motor skills) at home. So HOORAY!!

Last, but not least, Camela came in. Camela was the main nurse in charge on Pistol's NICU transport team the day Da'Gorgeouses were born. She really kept an eye on both girls during their stay, although after transport she never worked one on one with them again (which was a good thing because they put nurses with her expertise with the babies that are really struggling). Since then she's become a Nurse Practitioner and does the final stage of the assessment then makes the decision on what's to happen now. Well, she came in, listened to their heart, lungs, bowels, checked ears, eyes, etc., reviewed all of the results from the others and said, "They're doing wonderful, this is what we're always happy to see, a textbook example. They've done extremely well these 23 weekers, so we're releasing them from the program, this is the last time we'll be seeing them! We hope you'll continue to stay in touch and inform us of their development, and that you'll continue to attend the Preemie Picnic (which btw, is next Saturday). "

What a relief, what a miracle, what a blessing we've had. Writing all of this down and reliving all the emotions from the very start...well, it has me crying all over again. Crying tears of joy that is. How fortunate and blessed I am to have 2 such beautiful, happy, and amazing little girls that really came into this world nothing but a small flicker of a flame, so delicate and fragile. Things could have turned out much differently of this I am truly aware, but by God's good grace, He blessed us with two flames that now shine brightly!

Another Unexpected Ending...

Since today was Tuesday and we are in August, and the last calendar I was given said Da'Gorgeouses had Walking Group today I figured that was our plan for the morning, still, I thought I'd call and make sure...good thing I did. Seems that Da'Gorgeouses have both graduated from Walking Therapy group (which is really a good thing, although quite abrupt & unexpected ). I spoke with the PT (physical therapist) and she assured me that although their organization portion of the group was a bit chaotic, she really did feel that Da'Gorgeouses were going to continue to develop the proper walking skills and were in fact, caught up even despite their prematurity. I'm happy to know that the "experts" are telling me the girls are fine, but I still worry (that's my job right?!). I suppose if it's not their motor skill development, it would be something else. I specifically asked her about the toe walking/running they do, she told me that her full-term son still does that. "Don't worry" she said, "I forget where, but I read somewhere that research showed that toe-walkers turn out to be better readers." LOL!! Maybe that's because their parents were overprotective, kept them indoors and in order to keep them busy they read to them a lot!!

I have noticed the improvement though. They are so much more confident. Pistol & LongRifle will sometimes both struggle to walk "by myself" and not hold our hands. Pistol even climbed one of the steps to our home (it's a big, uneven step) and did just fine. She did however, wait for help with the 2nd one (I think she realized it was going to be a long way down with a painful result if she misjudged). I think now that I'm going to be working a couple of days a week, I'll lay out a more defined schedule for us, that will probably help ALL of us stay on track. Also, if we could get them into some playgroup/pre-school even one day a week, with kids in their age group I'm sure that will help them develop those skills even further. I need to check in to that!

Speaking of work, my first training day is tomorrow!! Hooray!!