Milestones and Hurdles

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Monday, April 21, 2008

We're Past Our Due Date Now!

Hello friends and family!

The boys would have been born Saturday... can you believe it? To celebrate, my sweet friends and family threw me a shower in Tyler (since we didn't have one before). It was only my second time home since I spend every moment I can with Ford and Hayden. They received lots of great presents that they are just going to love when they get home.



Speaking of home, we were hoping to be there by our due date, but Ford and Hayden still need a little time. They are both coming along, but home will have to wait a little while longer.

Hayden is getting closer. He did almost 24 hours off the oxygen yesterday and today... only going on it during feeds. He had to go back on this morning, but he is getting there. The doctor says he is close since he's eating so much better. It could be days instead of weeks before he is home, probably on a little oxygen, but we can handle that.



As for Ford, he is still doing good on his bubble c-pap. He doesn't like the contraption, but he needs it so his lungs stay nice and expanded. His next step is high flow oxygen and hopefully that will also be as easy of a transition. Ford is probably a month or 2 away from coming home and that sure will be hard on us to see him have to stay while Hayden is home... but we will work it out. The important thing is Ford is doing a lot better and we have a lot to be thankful for... in time he too will be home and we will be one big happy family. I CAN'T WAIT!

We love you all... appreciate your prayers and couldn't do this day in and day out without you all and of course our Lord! He keeps us strong and we know that is why Ford and Hayden have come through the dark times.
Love,
Dana, Trey, Ford and Hayden

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Ford's Still Bubbling... Hayden's Still Progressing

I just wanted to give you a quick update... Ford is still on his bubble c-pap and off the ventilator. That makes my heart so happy to say that. Every time I see him now it brings happy tears to my eyes. He seems so comfortable and is breathing good. We are praying once his steroid therapy ends tomorrow, he will still be doing great.

Hayden is still fighting a little UTI infection and we are hoping it will be gone soon. He is still learning to eat and doing really great sometimes. Hopefully soon he will be off his oxygen and eating like a champ.

It's been a long couple of days, months really... so we are going to get some rest and be back at the hospital bright and early!
We appreciate your prayers for the boys and we hope you'll keep them coming.
Sincerely,
Dana, Trey, Ford and Hayden

Monday, April 7, 2008

Ford and Hayden... almost 3 months old!
















Our Handsome Little, but Growing Hayden and Ford!
Our twins will be 3 months tomorrow. It is hard to believe that we have been parents to our little miracles for that many months now. It has been a beautiful yet bumpy and emotional journey.

Both boys continue to benefit from your prayers and from their wonderful doctors at Cook in Fort Worth. Ford is once again facing the tougher challenges, but we have faith the Lord will see him through. It is not for certain yet, but the doctors may try him off the ventilator again tomorrow depending on how his evening goes. We had to try him on some steroids for his lungs... there are risks, but the benefits seem to outweigh those at this point. We hope one round will do the trick, but we are comforted that he still is not supposed to be born yet so we have a little time. He is still dealing with some kidney and UTI issues, but we were happy with his renal sonogram today that seems to have revealed one kidney stone was gone. No telling how much pain our little Ford has been in with his kidney stones. My heart hurts for him everyday. We're hoping the 3rd time is the charm for Ford and that he will thrive off the ventilator... we are not giving up on that this time around and surely could use some prayers his way... that trumps science every time.
Ford has been smiling through his kidney stones... and though he is on the vent... he still loves to be held by his mommy and daddy. He loves his music. Both boys have CD players from their gram and lots of great, relaxing music to snooz the night.... and day away.


Mr. Hayden has been our rock... having a good day when Ford is struggling a little more. He is only on a 1/16th of a liter of oxygen... that's not much. He is also learning how to bottle feed still. It's hard work for preemies... really hard. Well, our rock gave us a tiny scare on Saturday night. He started to develop a fever. They watched it overnight and then it spiked again. As a precaution... the doctor put him on antibiotics because one indicator of infection was elevated. Fortunately his CBC was normal... and they continue to watch for growth in his culture. Today he seems better. His temperature has normalized and he was smiling and snuggling with his proud parents today. Oh yes, Hayden also has kidney issues, but no stones yet and we pray a change in his diet will keep them at bay. We hope you will keep him on your prayer list as well... so he can get of his oxygen and the feeding will click soon. It will be hard to take him home without Ford... we think he is stalling so that won't have to happen. We just want what is best for Ford and Hayden.

As for us, we have been overwhelmed with new obstacles this past week. I have shed lots of tears. We are tired, we are weary, but we are more convinced now than ever that our boys are going to have a wonderful life with us. They are God's little miracles for us, how blessed are we EVERY single day to have them in our lives. Yes, our first few months of their lives have been crazy, but it is more than worth it for Ford and Hayden... they are so precious and what we have waited our whole lives for!!! I tell the boys that every day... that we had to pull out all the stops to get them here and keep them here.

A nurse in the NICU gave me a wonderful scripture the other day... and it couldn't have come at a more perfect time. I really believe God spoke to her... to help me! She isn't a nurse who has ever taken care of the boys, yet she told me... she prays for them everyday, but something came over her the other night that she needed to give me this bible verse she came across in her bible study. This is the verse and it hasn't left my mind, heart or lips since... He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11
I believe that is Ford and Hayden's destiny and soon.

Thank you for loving us and taking care of us from afar. I have to say everyone has been so good to us... my KLTV family, whom I miss... and Trey's Eiche-Mapes family who he doesn't get to see as much as he'd like. Just know that our goal is to get back to all of you, but for now... the boys need us and our love to get better and more than that we need them. It's hard enough being away from them each night... that is all this mommy can take.
Thank you for your prayers,
Dana, Trey, Ford and Hayden

Friday, April 4, 2008

Brief update on the boys...

Let me first apologize to all, for the lack of updates. We have had some exhausting; long days and nights this past week. In saying that, our boys are still putting up an inspiring fight. I will be able to give a much more detailed posting in the morning, but we wanted to go ahead and spread the message that our boys are still getting bigger and stronger. We were told some deflating news about each of them this week. Both Ford and Hayden now have a slight Kidney issue that we pray will resolve soon. We pray that just the changing of their diet will break up the blockage and buildup. As mentioned, we will post a longer update in the morning, when the energy level is much higher.
We thank you all so much for your love, prayers, support and concern. It has been a true blessing to witness how great our God is. We do ask that you continue to pray that both boys resolve the kidney buildup and that Ford comes off the Vent soon and Hayden continues to improve on the whole suck, swallow, breathe when eating. There will be more pics and details in the morning.
We hope that all have a blessed day and continue to slow down and focus on the important things in life.

Picture Worth A Thousand Words

Picture Worth A Thousand Words

Proud Parents

Proud Parents

Proud Mommy

Proud Mommy

Proud Papa

Proud Papa

Pics of Ford

Pics of Ford

Pics of Hayden

Pics of Hayden