Milestones and Hurdles

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Monday, January 19, 2009

Sleepy and... Not So Sleepy Boys

Here are two very sleepy Boys and check it out... Hayden Has Some Bananas on His Nose!


Aren't they sweet? This was after some fine cuisine of sweet potatoes and oatmeal and a little formula to wash it down with last week.

We had a very busy week last week with both of their occupational therapists coming to work with them. The first time since the holidays. They worked on crawling exercises, as well as exercised to help them learn how to sit up on their own. I have to tell you... Ford is not a huge fan of the crawling, but he does like to stand, but he is quite unsteady on his feet so it is actually more like us holding him up! No problem. Hayden is still trying to crawl and getting better every day. I can say as of today, he crawls all over the living room, but still backwards. He did do a lot of rocking back and forth so... I'll keep you posted!

On Friday, we visited the pulmonologist for their RSV shots. He is just so pleased with their progress and said their lungs sounded good and that they seem to be managing their lung disease well. Next year, if all goes well... Ford and Hayden won't have to get the RSV shots. Exciting news. We have a ton of doctors appointments coming up in February. The urologist, pediatrician, nephrologist, eye doc and they pulmonologist again. We are going to be logging some serious miles to Fort Worth. I also have some doctors appointments. Doesn't sound like a lot of fun does it. Just pray they all go well for all of us. That's the most we can ask for. We have been so blessed so far.

Under the advice of the pulmonologist, we continue to keep the boys fairly secluded from the rest of the world and it seems to be working. April... I can't wait for it to get here, but even better is that the boys have stayed quite healthy and being closed up in doors is worth it... if the end result is 2 healthy boys.

The boys are eating really good. They are eating about 3 organic Gerber meals a day, plus formula about every 4 hours or so. We are trying to catch them up still. They are 9 months adjusted age today and I am wondering... Where are their teeth. I can seem them beneath the gums, but none have broken through yet. I look forward to seeing what they look like with chompers.

The past couple of evenings, I have been brave enough to let them sleep without their heart and apnea monitors. The Dr. says they don't need them, but kept the prescription because of RSV season and the uncertainties of it all. I slept okay and still I worry. I look forward to breathing a little in the future when they are just two rambunctious boys without and major medical issues.

Well, so far so good on my resolution to be a better blogger since getting the computer situation handled.

I hope you have all been well thus far in the new year. You are all such a blessing to me. It's nice to know there are so many people out there who care. Hopefully we can all get through this recession unscathed and better for the journey it takes our country on. I have faith it will all be okay. I do ask they you say a prayer for our friends, The Fenders. They have twin sons born at 30 or 31 weeks. One is home now, but the other still needs time. Just pray his recovery is a speedy one so they can all be together for the first time. It is so hard to leave one at the hospital. We did it for a month and the guilt is unimaginable. They are strong and so are their boys!

Now for some weekend photos of the boys playing....

Hayden Trying to Crawl and Play......... Ford Playing and Curious about the FLASH!

I hope you enjoyed the photos. I will keep you posted on what the boys are up to this week. It is always eventful.
Love,
The Hugheys
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Thursday, January 15, 2009

Our Birthday Photos, Aren't We Handsome???


The Happy Birthday Boys 1/8/09!
Today... We're 1 year 1 week old!
Adjusted... almost 9 months... We should have been born April 19th!


Hayden and Ford Celebrating the Big "1"

It was such a fun day for the whole family to celebrate with the twins.
They have come so far and continue to do so each and every day.
This week, they are both still working on crawling, working on getting some teeth (lots of drooling & lots of teething & a little fussy), working on growing taller and chunkier and working on more babbling sounds... still not much "mama" to speak of :) ... but we have buh~buh, bluh~bluh, guh, ahhhh, oooo, eeeee, ahhhhh, dada DOWN PAT!

The occupational therapists came to work with them... they are quite impressed! Also we have a pulmonologist appointment Friday for more RSV shots. Poor fellas!
Hayden has woken up coughing a couple of mornings, but we give him a treatment then he's done for the day... don't think he's sick, maybe it's the weather! No fever, not acting different, who knows???
Their mommy is thankful because I was able to go get a massage this week, It was Fantastic and much needed.
Also, the boys are going to be the ambassadors for the Tyler March of Dimes this year, which is such an honor so I am hoping many people will get behind the organization and 2 of their fundraisers this year. The organization does so much to help save babies who went through similar situations as the boys. They help preemies and babies with birth defects. They've done so much research that has paved the way for preemies to flourish who were born at 25 weeks... not so long ago it was a different situation. Thank Goodness for the March of Dimes. I will add a link to their page soon so you can learn more if you'd like.
Thanks for all of the birthday wishes over the past week. I wish you could hear the boys they are talking right now... pretty much as loud as they can. MUSIC TO MY EARS!! LOVE IT!!!


Oh Man, that FLASH is bright!!!

Seriously Cute Outfits Calls for Serious Cute Boys!

Our Bday Cakes & We're ready for Cake!!!!!
Thanks for your love and prayers as always!
More to come....
The Hugheys
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Thursday, January 8, 2009

Oh, What a Night!

Tonight was Ford and Hayden's First Birthday Bash with the family. It was just a small gathering of Grandparents, Aunt, Uncle, cousin and 2 close friends. We are trying to keep them healthy so... we are going to have a birthday party when they SHOULD have been born in April. Too much cold, flu and RSV out there right now.
Their cousin Patton even made them a Birthday sign!!!! So Sweet!


We have received so many wonderful email, texts and calls today wishing the boys Happy B-Day. KLTV even came out tonight and took video of the boys "trying to figure out what to do with their cake," opening presents, playing with the family and just being boys, 1 year-old boys now. It was so nice to have Layron Livingston here and to finally meet my boys... he was great with them.
I think they enjoyed their birthday and I know we did. What a milestone. We were glowing all day long today at what they have overcome and what is to come for Ford and Hayden.






They were good little birthday boys. We took lots of pics and I will add a few tonight and more tomorrow...
Here are just a few thoughts of how Hayden and Ford have changed our lives.....

It has been a big day in the Hughey household today 1/8/08.... Can you believe it that Ford and Hayden are celebrating their first birthday? A year ago last night was the scariest moment of my life... I was going into labor and really praying that my precious little ones would not be born so soon at 25 weeks, but God had a different plan. It was a bumpy, curvy and scary path to say the least in the beginning for Ford and Hayden, not to mention us... but we made it through the journey God had planned for us. Over the past year, I have tried to learn how to be appreciative of the journey no matter how tumultuous it may be. And boy have we been blessed 200-fold! Ford and Hayden are beyond our wildest dreams. They are the light in our lives and from the response I have gotten over the past year on our blog and to my work email... they have touched the hearts of East Texans to people overseas I have never met who prayed for my Ford and Hayden. Just the other night, Trey and I were at Hobby Lobby getting some family photos framed and a nice woman stopped Trey and said how are the boys, I would recognize them anywhere... and she didn't even see me... that's how special they've become to so many people. It really is great to know and witness the inspiration that they have been to so many families about what the power of prayer can do in our lives. I always knew down deep it was powerful, but I lived it this past year... and it has changed my life. Many of you are parents and you know what I mean about your children changing your world... showing you a love that goes deeper than anything you have ever known. I am so thrilled I can finally know that love... being a mommy is my greatest joy! I just wanted you to know also that I updated the blog tonight with some new photos and will add more tomorrow in a Birthday Blog. Thank you doesn't suffice what you all mean to me and what countless others mean to me that I can't give a personal thank you to, but hopefully they know...



Have a wonderful 2009, I know we plan on doing the same with Ford and Hayden!Love and Blessings~Dana, Trey, Ford and Hayden Hughey

Monday, January 5, 2009

Computer Situation Squared Away... Can Blog-away!



I CAN FINALLY UPDATE YOU ON "THE HUGHEY BOYS"!!!!!!
Well, as many of you parents may understand.... We uploaded so many pictures to our computer that we ran out of space and our computer was running VERY slow! We now have a hard drive back up and are back in business.



I just uploaded a TON of Holiday pictures of Ford and Hayden that I hope you will love. It has been so busy during the holidays that we didn't buy the new hard drive until Dec. 31... and then it took a bit to transfer files, blah blah blah... I am probably boring you with that!

Now to the Good Stuff. Thursday, this Thursday, Ford and Hayden turn 1! Can you believe it has been a year since you all started praying for our miracle twins. I prefer to relish the present and not dwell too much on the past, but appreciate what the Good Lord has brought us through.


I am sure I will forget something today about all the boys have been up to, so I will try to blog more this week as I remember.
As you'll notice from the pictures, the boys are sitting up alone completely on their own and side-sitting and even trying to crawl. I know for a 1 year old that seems a little late, but really they are only 8 1/2 months old adjusted so... the occupational therapists say they are really a little ahead of schedule.

















We have graduated to NEW, BIGGER TOYS! For Christmas, it looks like Toys R Us moved to the Hughey House. We do have 2 so I expected more toys than most, but WOW... We are so fortunate the grandparents, aunts , uncles and friends spoil them so! I suppose we should be included in that as well, but being practical we did buy them lots of 12 months clothes so they could be warm for winter... AND stylish!


The boys just LOVED Christmas morning. Not that they really understood it of course, but they loved unwrapping their presents and playing with their new toys. I have to tell you it was a JOY to watch. It gave a new meaning to a Reason for The Season. We completely understand how blessed we have been this year and Christmas morning was a culmination of so many answered prayers... What a gift for a parent to watch the sheer joy on the children's faces... now I know what our parents always talked about. I could have received zero presents and been more fulfilled than any other Christmas on record.
It did take a while for Ford and Hayden to open their presents, but we just let them... enjoy! My mom and grandfather came over to see the Merry Madness and of course loved every second of it. Gram filled their stockings to the rim and flooded the Christmas tree with presents.









Then after some cleaning up, it was off to the Hughey Lakehouse for some more First Christmas Memories with Ford and Hayden.

They cleaned up their as well... more Toys, more fun for the boys. Trey's parents also gave us a video recorder to capture Christmas morning with and many future memories so I can't wait to share those as well, when I figure it out. The boys love big groups even though they have to stay germ free so all the aunts, uncles and grandparents were very careful with them... and sanitized so the boys would stay healthy... That was our main Christmas goal! We had an amazing time merging 3 families together, Mine, Trey's and John's (Trey's sisters' husband's parents-- our extended family Jean and Ronnie were there too! Yea!) SO many sweet gifts, great food and drink and "the very best" company anyone could ask for on Christmas Day.

Since then, we've been enjoying watching the boys play with their toys. Let's see... they have new guitars, a ball, cars, trucks, a wagon, cell phone, remote, kid pda's... the list goes on and on. You'll see them playing with them in the pictures.







Mom and Dad even had a chance to get out for a Christmas party a couple weeks before Christmas. I think that was our 3rd or 4th date/night out since I went into the hospital last November. We were able to enjoy our friends who we don't get to see very often and it was a really needed time for these two hardworking parents. Twins don't leave much downtime, but we love it and wouldn't have it any other way... we just need to recharge our batteries every now and then.

New Year's was spent home with our boys, Ryan Seacrest and a toast of Champagne at midnight! They were asleep of course, but we toasted to our many blessings and all the wonderful things that are in store for Ford and Hayden during 2009!

We've battled a few colds and ear infections since last I blogged, but my tough little men have fought through them and continue to grow and get stronger every day. Hayden still struggles with wheezing, but we are hoping it gets better.

Ford still has one surgery, we think, left to come, but we are praying the Urologist will not have to operate. I am crazy nuts about germs... never was a germ freak before, but now I am... We really just want them to stay away from RSV, more colds, and the flu... that would be so amazing. The pulmonologist says in April we can even start to have play dates so I can relieve some of this cabin fever, can't wait!

Today, Hayden started crawling backwards. Craziest thing! He still can't go forwards, but I feel that is not too far behind. Ford is leaning forward a lot like he is going to crawl and rocking back and forth, but just hasn't started to take off yet... It's coming!
Thanks for sticking with us through 2008... I promise to be better in 2009 about keeping you posted. The computer is all set, I am all set... now, I just have to see if the boys will give me time... they prefer I play with them... so I do a lot of singing and dancing for them. A mom's job is never done, hehe!
Happy 2009, all our love and prayers,

Dana~Trey~Ford~Hayden... They Hugheys

Merry Christmas from The Hugheys!




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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