Home Sweet Home

Well we never thought the day would really ever come but it has. We are planning to take the girls home on Wednesday morning after "rooming in" Tuesday night at the hospital with them. Karsyn was ready a few days ago but I thought since it was so close we will just wait and have them come home together! Karsyn is now eating so great, sometimes up to 80 or more cc's. Kennedy is also doing so great,she will come home on oxygen and heart monitors. Karsyn weighs 6lbs 8oz and Kennedy is a wopping 3lbs 13oz, maybe she will hit the 4lb mark before Wednesday!!! Anyway I will probably post some more stuff when they are actually home but we just wanted to thank everyone for all their support. This has been a very trying time for us and we are so glad to start the next adventure, raising twins! We would love to have visitors, but please just remember how delicate these girls are and if you or anyone you have been around is sick please wait to come until you or they are feeling better! Hopefully with everyone's cooperation we will be able to make it through this first year with the least amount of sickness as possible. Thanks everyone,we love you all!

Karsyn

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Looking back on the last 100 days!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Day 100!

Well it has officially been 100 days since the girls have been in the NICU, what a ride. It shouldn't be too much longer now before the they get to come home with us. Kennedy is still eating like a champion. They have her still eating every three hours but she can eat however much she wants. Whatever she doesn't drink they won't give her through her tube anymore, because she doesn't have the tube anymore if you can see! She is still on about .5 liters on her oxygen flow but only 25-30%, which means she is close on that too because she has to be on .1 at the most before they will let her come home. As for Karsyn, we are starting to make some progress on the feeds as well. The nurses and doctors thought that she may be tongue tied so they had an ENT doctor come in and look and he thought she was too. So he clipped the little flappy thingy, which they said is pretty painless, and hoped that would help her eat. They also decided that we needed to challenge her a little bit and because she is about 6lbs 6oz she can now too eat every three hours still, but she can decide how much she wants to have. This was just yesterday so we will give them both a few days on this and then if they do well with it, continue to gain weight, they will let them be totally ad lib which means they will let them wake up on their own and eat whatever they want, just like normal newborn!!! So that's the news, they are still in the crib together and seem to like it together. Kennedy is still the really really fiesty one and Karsyn seems pretty laid back and mellow, although they say she definately has her moments. We will keep you updated but hopefully it won't be much longer, maybe this next week!!!

As for Logan, she is going into the doctor herself today because,well her 3 year well baby check, and also because she seems to have either croup or bronchitits. She woke up yesterday and had a really barky cough and a slight fever so I called the doctor,since she needed to have her 3 year check up anyway, to schedule an appointment. The doctor wasn't in yesterday so we scheduled for today which was fine because he cough and fever went away. It was gone all day until about 4:00 I went to the grocery store and she fell asleep in my arms at the register. Thank goodness I had been talking to an old friend, Kristy Mortensen's, mom and she helped me with putting my stuff on the belt and then bagging it. You know that is the stupid thing about Wal Mart, they don't ever offer to help even when they see I have a 30 lb toddler, dead weight, in my arms and I am trying to do it myself. Anyway she slept for about 2 more hours and it came time for Kurt and I to go to the hospital so I called my dad and he came down here to watch her while we went. By this time she had started burning up again and could barely breathe, my dad just about took her to the doctor while we were gone because she was having such a hard time breathing. Anyway, I wouldn't have known this because when we walked in she had just gotten up seconds ago and was playing like she wasn't sick at all. We still had her sleep in our bed,just in case, and about 3:30am she woke up really sick again. Anyway, I have her an appointment this afternoon so we will see how she feels and what the doctor says. Maybe I won't be seeing the twins today because I don't want to take anything up to them or have whoever is babysitting Logan get sick.

Together again!

Well when KURT and his parents went to see the babies last night they came into a SURPRISE...the girls were sharing a crib for the first time in their lives, 3 MONTHS and 3 DAYS OLD. I unfortunately missed this MILESTONE because I have spent the last few days stuck in my bed unable to function. After talking to different people I guess I have MASTITIS, an infection in my right boob (TMI I know). I have to admit, I can't remember ever being this sick pretty much my whole life, I literally didn't get out of BED almost all day Saturday. I am starting ANTIBIOTICS and hopefully will be able to get feeling better soon. Since what I have isn't contagious at least I can go see the babies right!! Anyway Kurt said that the GIRLS are doing really well, especially KENNEDY who is taking most of her feedings with a BOTTLE. I think we starved her for so long when she was sick she is ready to eat. KENNEDY is down to 1.5 liters on her oxygen and about 30%(if that means anything to some of you), but that is AMAZING considering where she was even one week ago. That proves how strong our little Kennedy is and that she ISN’T THE TYPE TO GIVE UP. Now the weird part will be is if Kennedy comes home before KARSYN who just doesn't seem to want to eat. We will see but it looks like it shouldn't be much longer before we get to BRING THE GIRLS HOME!

Hey everyone the rollercoaster is on its way up!

I know I already posted a million things today but I can't leave this out. Everyone in the NICU at Ogden Regional has been amazing. I feel like I have made about 40 new friends,and that many mommies for the girls, that once this is over I will truly miss. As you all know Kennedy and Karsyn are now 3 months and the nurses, RT's , and doctors all put together a special little party for us and the girls. The best part of tonight was that big sister Logan was allowed to go in and see her sisters for the very first time! She was so excited and was so good the whole time we were in there. As you can see in the pictures, Logan instantly fell in love with her sisters. Karsyn started to wake up to her sister Logan's voice that she hadn't heard for a while, but I know she remembered! Logan also spent a little time with Kennedy and so did mom. I was able to hold Kennedy for the first time in a while(since she has been sick). You can also see the funny get-up that Kennedy is wearing now, this is a C-PAP which helps her keep her lungs expanded since she decided to take out her vent early this morning. Because she seemed to be holding her own without the vent, Dr Simmons decided to change her to this and see how she does. Bless Dr Simmons for coming in at 2:00am this morning and staying until around 5:00am until Kennedy was OK again. Dr Simmons and Kennedy have such a strong bond and I can just see how much he loves her, has done so much for her and us. All the doctors have but, even when Dr Simmons is off he is calling to see how his girls are doing and even said he had a hard time sleeping because he was thinking about Kennedy while she was so sick. We have gotten to know so many people from the hospital and will in no way be able to repay them for all their love, time and devotion to our babies lives. They would not be here with us today if it weren't for these nurses, doctors, and RT's. Anyway, I just wanted to post a few pictures of today because all our friends at the NICU made it such a special one. We took so many pictures I decided to just put it in a slide show. They even bought Logan a bunch of birthday gifts, cake, ice cream, cupcakes,and then matching outfits for Karsyn and Kennedy! Thanks again and we love you all with all our hearts.

Oh PS yes Karysn is off of her oxygen all together!!! She has been doing room air trials the last week or so on her own but need the oxygen once in a while but now she is just fine without it. Kennedy also took her 2cc's of milk that she is eating right now through a bottle because she is showing that she is really interested and that she was,she gulped it right up! Hopefully when she feels better and her bowels start kicking into gear again she will do great with the bottle- Karsyn will have to take notes from her little sister. Karsyn can show Kennedy how to breathe and Kennedy can show Karsyn how to eat! What a pair. Thanks again to all the staff at ORMC NICU, you are like family right now and when we ever get these girls home we will miss you guys so much.

HAPPY 3 months Karsyn and Kennedy

Along with celebrating Logan's 3rd birthday, Karsyn and Kennedy turned 3 months old yesterday! We are going to do a little party for them today because it was Logan's day yesterday. Just a little update, Kennedy is starting to feel a little better. I didn't see them at all yesterday so I would spend the day with Logan but the doctor called me last night and said that Kennedy was doing well and that he took out her chest tube...so far so good. He has been able to get her vent setting to come down a little and hopefully we will be able to get her off of it soon. Karsyn is doing good also and still just needs to decide she wants to drink out of the bottle. Thanks to everyone for all the love and support through the first 3 rough months of these girls lives, one day they will know of all the love they got while they were fighting for their lives in the hospital.

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY LOGAN!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN!!! Well Logan turned 3 yesterday and I think she had a really fun day. Mom, Dad, Makinlee, Hailey, and Logan started out with going to the Aquatic Center and swam and played outside in the water! Logan loved the outside spouts, once she got wet she just couldn't stop running around. This girl doesn't care if it is freezing cold she just keeps going and going. Then later that night she had some family and friends come over for her princess party. Her friends Peyton, Harlee, Preslie, Makinlee, and Karlee were all there and before we opened presents we made crowns to match their pretty dresses! She also had some princes there, Jake, Zach, ZJ and Gavin...they weren't as interested in decorating their swords though. Logan got lots, I mean lots, of fun stuff and she can't wait until she can play with all of it! Thanks to everyone for coming and supporting Logan she has such great family and friend support and we don't know what we would do without you all!

Happy Father's Day

OK,I know this is really late but I wanted to wish Kurt a happy Father's Day...late. We did, of course, celebrate on Sunday but I never had time to tell everyone that follows our blog how great Kurt is. Kurt is the best dad and husband anyone could ask for. He is always putting his family first, no matter what. I always knew Kurt would be a great dad because he has such a great example to look up to, his dad, and has proved my initial thoughts to be right. If Logan could write she would tell you all that she loves her daddy very much and pretty much every morning when she wakes up the first thing she asks is if daddy is home. Then again when we come home at night from running around she asks if he will be home. This is probably because all Logan and Kurt do is play, play, play! He looks at life like many people could only wish to do...fun! Even when we go up the hospital to see his little girls he tries to play with them by tickling them, talking to them, and I know he can't wait to get them home so he can love them to pieces. Most of you that know Kurt is one of the most talented people ever, he can literally do anything. Not only does he play, and excel, at every sport he plays, he can fix anything, he takes pride in how he looks (maybe a little too much, if any of you have seen his closet or ever watched him get dressed two or three times day), but he draws and paints amazingly. Although he is rough and tough he is still one of the most sensitive people I know, he would never hurt anyone and hardly ever puts himself first. PS he is the snuggler and cuddler in our relationship! If he wasn't always putting his family first he would be involved in even more. Anything I want done,whether it is around the house or just to run an errand he is always willing to do it! I know most of the time I don't deserve Kurt as a husband, and I ask a lot of him, but I want him to know that I appreciate him so much and love him even more. I wouldn't be the same person without him and know that I will be happy as long as he is by my side! I love you honey and know that your little girls love you more than they can show you! Happy Father's Day Kurt!

Friday the 13th

This is of course our little Karsyn...just hit 6lbs!

Okay, I totally don't have any weird superstitions it just sounded good and we needed something to blame all the crap on in life! As you all know our little Kennedy is fighting for her life still and is doing a dang good job of it. Last night Kurt and I went up to see her as usual while Logan was playing at her friend Harlee and Preslie's house...thanks Trent and Jen! When we got there we fed Karsyn just like we always do and then the radiology tech came in to do yet another chest x-ray on Kennedy to see how her lungs were doing. The next thing we know the nurse is on the phone with the doctor and she is telling him that she has a pneumothorax , that is pretty much a hole in her right lung. The doctor asked how Kennedy was going and she said fine, he again asked are you sure, how is she doing...the nurse again said that she was doing fine and that she would see him in a minute because he was on his way in. The nurse then started to explain while showing us the x-ray that with the hole in her lung and all the pressure the vent is sending into it the space outside the lung is just chuck full of air. Pretty much they said that she was surviving on one lung, and a crappy lung at that. The doctor and nurses said in all their years this was the biggest "pneumo" they have ever seen and they couldn't believe she was still fighting. We pretty much have the strongest baby on the planet. Needless to say the doctor stuck a needle in her chest to bring out the air but is would just fill back up so he had to put a chest tube in that will constantly bring the air out as we are forcing it in. As of today she is still hanging in there and has been able to come down on some of her settings but is still very sick and is doped up on morphine, a sedative, and a paralizer so that she can just relax, be in less or no pain, and start healing. The hole should heal on its own but once it does she will still have a long way to go to recover! I know that our Heavenly Father is holding on tight to our baby Kennedy and is helping her get through this and can only pray that he will stay with her until she gets better. We are so proud of Kennedy and only wish that we could have as much fight and fire as she does and hope that she will continue to fight because we love her so much and can't imagine our life without her. Plus isn't everyone interested where she is going to devote all that energy and drive to once she is out of that place!!!

I know this is long but there is some good news. Earlier that same day when I was there with the girls, we got to bring Karysn over to Kennedy's bed and we put them together for a few minutes and let them just lay together. This was one of the neatest things we have been able to do for these girls so far. We only wish that Daddy could have been there with us but love and appreciate him so much for working so hard to support us. We love you daddy and know that it is very hard for you to go to work everyday and only be able to spend a little time at night with the girls. We can only hope that soon we will be able to be a family...at our own house!

Out of Isolation

I know everyone wants to keep up with how Kennedy is doing so here goes. She started off the day a little better-so we thought, and actually was able to come out of isolation. I was there at the time and was able to carry her from one bed, out about 10 steps, to her new bed. In the meantime she found a way to turn the darkest purple color imaginable waiting to be hooked back up to the vent. Anyway we got her all settled in to her bed and then I left. Around 6:00 the doctor called me at home and said the Kennedy was not doing well and they couldn't get her sats to come back up (her oxygen levels)and he has done everything he can, she was already on 100% oxygen. He said the only other thing they can try is to give her steroids again and see if that will help. So he got her started on that and when Kurt and I went up a few hours later all the nurses and doctor were just hanging out watching what she was going to do. She seemed to be doing OK, although he had to give her a sedative and also a medication to paralyze her so that she would stay calm...sad. Anyway the doctor went home to get some sleep and we stayed a little while, fed Karsyn, and then grandpa Chuck gave Kennedy a blessing. All we can hope now is that the steroids help and that we don't get any calls throughout the night. Thanks again to everyone for all the prayers!

Quick Update

Just a quick update...Kennedy hasn't had any huge meltdowns in the last 24 hours, which is good. She is still very sick and right now they are just trying to keep her comfortable by using a little sedatives. She has come down on her vent settings a little today but is still requiring a lot of help to expand her lungs. Karsyn has taken her last 3 bottles in full, yea!!! Hopefully Kennedy will continue to fight and Karsyn will continue to drink her bottles and maybe get to come home soon. The only other thing is that Kennedy's last culture results for the infections she had should come back tomorrow or Thursday and maybe the poor girl can come out of isolation and maybe see her sister before she goes home. That's it, not much updates I guess! Thanks for all the prayers!

Good News...Bad News...

Well there is good news and bad news. First the good news is that Kurt and I were able to go to Park City over this weekend and had a lot of fun. We left Friday night after visiting the girls at the hospital and came home Sunday afternoon. Logan was able to spend the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Lindsay…thanks guys! Kurt and I decided we wanted to do the zipline because we have both already done the alpine slide. I must admit I thought that I would be a lot more scared, no thanks to the screaming lady that went right before us. It really wasn’t that bad, mostly just the anticipation of them opening the gates to let you go! Other than that we pretty much just spent too much money shopping and eating, what else is there to do!

OK, as for the bad news, I really don’t want to even write about this but I feel like I need to let all those who are following the twins what is going on and I don’t have time, or energy to call everyone. Lets be honest, I rarely make it through talking about it right now without balling my guts out. Sunday night when Kurt and I went to the hospital for our nightly visit after our weekend away we rang the doorbell to the NICU just like normal. We rang a few times before someone finally came, the charge nurse answered and said that Kennedy has taken a “turn for the worse” and they are working on her right now and the doctor was on her way. I guess earlier in the day they drew a “blood gas”, which without going into “medical terminology 101” that is a test to show how well she is breathing in the oxygen and then exhaling out the carbon dioxide. They both have been getting these tests done daily since they were born but this time Kennedy’s was way up, over a 100 (if that means anything to anyone). They had to reintubate her, which took forever because she is so feisty and strong. The nurses, doctor, and respitory therapist said that they couldn’t believe how strong this 4 lb baby was, and that she actually was biting them when they would put their fingers in her mouth. Once they finally got her hooked back up they had to sedate her and actually started her on a paralizer because they didn’t want her to pull out her ventilator again. The doctors are not sure why she has crashed so hard all of a sudden other than she has crap for lungs. She, as you know, is getting over two different bacteria and that I think has just made her very weak. Right now they are running all sorts of tests and have her on a book of medications to help her get better but she is very very sick. Last night when Kurt and I were there she had to be resuscitated a few times and the doctor said that some babies bodies going through this will just shut down. We are just praying that she isn’t one of those and hope that she shows us that fire that she has had throughout this whole time. Anyway, I know that was really long but even that was just skimming the surface of the problems poor Kennedy has been having over the last 24 hours and continues to have. Karsyn is just still learning to take the bottle and now takes usually about half of her bottle twice a day!

Who am I???

OK, you may think this is Karsyn because she actually has clothes on, but no, it is Kennedy. It is kinda a dark picture because, as you know, she is in isolation and we can't bring our camera in the room or we won't get it back so this is taken through a window. She is wearing clothes now because she is finally in an open crib, just like Karsyn. Kennedy is 4lbs 3oz now and is big enough and feeling a little better so she can control her own temperature now,yeah!!!
This is a picture that Kurt snuck in of me when I was in all my gear to visit Kennedy in isolation. Don't worry the nurse told him he could swing open the door, which i was sitting right in front of and take a picture real quick. This was also the first time since Kennedy has gotten sick that we have been able to hold her, she did well! The good news about Kennedy is that the first culture they took to check the bacteria she has came back negative, the bad part is that it may be a false negative because she is still on antibiotics, we will see.
Doesn't Karsyn look like such a big girl. She is now 5lbs 10 oz, wow! Again all she needs to do to come home is eat. She is getting better and better each day and hopefully she won't be too much longer.
We are all working with Karsyn to figure out the bottle and Kurt and I are going to Park City for the weekend so maybe when we come back she will have figured it out! We love you Karsyn!

Logan's Earings

OK, I know these aren't the best pictures but Logan didn't want to cooperate with me to get a cute picture of her new additions. We went to the mall on Monday just to get a few things and decided to get her ears pierced. Once I mentioned it she just couldn't get it out of her mind even when I told her it might hurt a little. She did so good though, she barely flinched and never cried. She is so tough and is very good about letting us clean and turn them every night before she goes to bed. Good job Logan, you look so cute!!!