Cardiology Appointment for Kennedy (sorry no pictures)

Well another doctor appointment for the poor girl. Today we went to Primary Children's Hospital for another follow up appointment on Kennedy's "heart somethings"! I left the girls home with grandma Laurie, who I know wasn't feeling so good herself so thank you, and just Kennedy and I headed down to SLC. They planned on, and we prepped for, doing the echocardiogram sedated but I told them that I would like to try without so that she wouldn't have to go through all that! When we got there, they weighed her and did an EKG, then we talked to the doctor before doing the echo. It was pretty funny to see everyone react to her being only 8 lbs because you would think at Primary's they would see a bunch of kids like her. The doctor kept saying, "this is weirding me out, and freaking me out" that she is over 8 months and "I am looking at an 8 lb baby still. He said that he thought she would be a bunch bigger since the last time we saw him...4 months ago. I was kinda laughing because he kept going on and on, even asking me if I was really sure that I was producing milk because he didn't understand how she wasn't growing and why nobody was concerned about it. I told him that from where she has been, I think that all her other doctors know that she can only grow so fast and they can't do much about it. After he kinda got over it and realized that we were only here to see him about her heart things, we got down to business! By this point Kennedy was starving and tired so we decided that she was going to have to be sedated but that they could use an oral sedative, instead of doing an IV so I decided that would be fine. She did really well through the procedure...asleep, but then woke up halfway through and they had to stop. The doctor said that they got all they needed to and didn't need to resedate her. She was pretty out of it coming off the sedation and sat and kinda cried for a while, half asleep and half awake and probably really hungry by this point since she hadn't eaten since about 10:00 this morning and it was now about 3:30! We then talked to the doctor again who said that nothing has changed and the little "somethings" were the same and he has no idea what they could be. At this point he thinks that maybe they are just part of her anatomy and maybe they will just always be there. We are just going to check again in one year unless she starts having any problems associated with the heart. After the doctor left they took her upstairs to a recovery room while she slept off the last of the sedative while I sat and talked the ear off of a nurse that had to sit in the room with us until she woke up. We woke her up about 45 minutes later and she was so happy, but a little hungry so I fed her and we were discharged to go home! It is a pretty big relief to know that this is something we can not really worry about right now, since she has plenty already going on! What a little angel to have to go through so much and is still such a good baby! Everyone just kept saying how darling she was and a few people actually went and got other people to come and see how cute she was! She just smiles and growls (for those of you who have heard this noise from her know what I am talking about) at everyone and is just such a crowd pleaser! Maybe she will be a talker, I don't know where she would get that from! Anyway another doctor to put on the back burner for right now. Now off to VEGAS baby!!!! We leave for my sister Lacey's house in Henderson tomorrow morning for Thanksgiving and the weekend so I wanted to get this posted before I left! REMEMBER EVERYONE THAT I WILL BE GOING PRIVATE SOON AND NEED EVERYONE'S EMAIL ADDRESSES! If you don't have a blog, and you want to follow ours still, I still need your email address to send you an invite and then at that time you will have to set up a google account in order to still get on and read the blog. Sorry for the inconvenience, but I just don't want my whole family's info all over the internet! If you don't have an account set up (which is totally free by the way) then you can email me your email instead of leaving a comment @ chelseylindsay@yahoo.com! Thanks everyone! Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

Going Private

ATTENTION ALL FRIENDS, FAMILY, NURSES, DOCTORS, BLOGGING BUDDIES, AND ANYONE ELSE WHO CARES!!!!
OK everyone, it is time to go private. I, like everyone else, don't really want to but I feel like it is time. You know the drill, leave your email address for me if you would like to continue to check in on us. I know, having the girls and their situation , there are a lot of people who I may not know very well that still like to check our blog so feel free to leave me your email too, as long as you are not just some weird, creepy blog stocker, you are welcome!!!

8 Months Old...a pretty long post!

Well the girls are now officially 8 months old, I can't believe it! I just wanted to post a few pictures of the girls while also updating on how they are doing. We took the girls to the follow up clinic that they have set up for those infants born early like Karsyn and Kennedy on Monday. In this clinic they see how the girls are developing in every area...literally. I dropped Logan off at my mom's for Hailey to watch her while I took the girls, along with my mom because I can't go anywhere without her, especially that long. (Thanks Hailey, I know that I wouldn't make it without you here!) Anyway, the first doctor we saw was neurology. He tested their neurological development. He thought both girls were doing really well, looking at how they would grasp toys, their reflexes, and their overall response to what he was showing them. Next we got them weighed and stuff and then went to an occupational therapist who also got down on the floor with the girls and looked at how they would grasp for toys, lay on their tummys, and their overall muscle tone too! He thought that they both looked really good and said that Karsyn was probably like a 4-5 month old and Kennedy a 3-4 month old, mostly because Kennedy is still only 8 lbs she is limited physically on what she can do. He said because Kennedy was so sick in the hospital, she put developing on the back burner and just concentrated on surviving...that makes total sense! He didn't think that they needed any special help and that it would just take time for them to catch up, he couldn't see anything that was a red flag to any developmental problems or limitations. We then saw the eye doctor and they checked both their eyes and said so far so good. Next was a pediatrician who went through, I guess everything a new pediatrician would, checking their ears, hips, feeding, and a bunch more. He was just the nicest little old guy and you could tell he just loved kids. He was just so amazed with what all both these girls have been through, how well they are doing and what fighters they are! Next was the nutritionist and she just went over what they should be drinking at this point and how they were doing on cereal and stuff like that. Last we saw a social worker who just gave us some advice on raising these babies with special needs, including getting out once in a while. I just wanted to thank everyone who allows that to happen for us!

All doctors and nurses skip this post!

I just wanted to post a few pictures of Karsyn and I on Sunday because she came to church with me for the first time besides their blessing day. Logan was at Grandpa and Grandma Lindsay's house so I didn't have a church buddy and decided that I would take Karysn with me. We made it through the first two hours and then she decided Relief Society wasn't for her, we left at the beginning when she wouldn't stop crying! I miss getting to get them all dressed up in their dreses and bows to take them out, like I could with Logan.

A little break

This is Karysn...if you can't tell! We have been starting the girls on cereal and Karsyn is really starting to like it. The other night when my visiting teachers were over and Kurt was feeding her, he fed her so much that I swear she was cereal drunk for like the next hour! It doesn't seem to help her sleep any better at night, I guess right now they both are going through a waking up phase...sucks for me!

I just thought I would post a few pictures of Kennedy in her helmet from the last few days as she is getting used to it. This was a few days ago when we were trying to feed the girls their cereal...a fun thing! Anyway this look that Kennedy is giving us in every single picture...yes that duh look, is all she would do the whole time we were taking pictures. The pictures are not that cute but, at the time, in person, it was so cute. The title of the blog was "A little break" because I took Kennedy back in again for another adjustment on her helmet. I am supposed to watch for any red marks on her head that may be causing too much pressure. Last night after we took off her helmet, since she wears it all day now, I noticed some spots above her ear and then one spot on the back of her head on the side that was really red and actually started to break the skin. I called the orthotics guy and he said to bring her in again today. He shaved off what was hopefully causing the problems and said that she will need to keep it off for the rest of the weekend so that the sore will heal...darn! I am kidding, she is starting to get used to wearing it I think and if we can fix those problem spots she will be OK with it. We also had the girls in yesterday at their doctor's office for the first of their RSV shots. They also weighed them and Karsyn is 11 lbs 3 oz, which is so great, it is more than I expected!!! Kennedy, however, is 7 lbs 13 oz, which I thought for sure she would be in the 8 lbs by now...darn it! They will go in every 4 weeks until the end of March to get these RSV shots and hopefully it will help to protect them this winter from RSV. Let's see, not much else going on these days, I need to start writing down some of the funny stuff Logan says because she is saying the funniest stuff these days!

The day came

As you can see Karsyn is amused by Kennedy's new addition!
Well the day finally really came that our poor Kennedy has a new piece of plastic to add to her head. Kennedy got her reconstructive helmet yesterday, I don't know who hates it more, me or her. As usual the second the guy put it on her I started to cry, I am pretty sure every time that I have went to these appointments, which has been several times between the two places, I get a little emotional. My heart just aches for this little angel that has had to endure so much in her short little life. I just wish that I could take away her pain, and her annoyances (aka her oxygen, heart monitor, and now this stupid helmet). I really thought that I would be glad that we decided, or I should say, told from everyone that I would be glad I did it, and that I really needed to. But I still am not to that point. The first day she had to wear it on one hour and then off one hour, not wearing it for her naps and to sleep at night. When we would take it off we were supposed to watch for pressure spot, which she had. Today she had to do on two hours and then off one hour still not wearing it to sleep. Tomorrow we will wear it on four hours and off one, and start wearing it for her naps and at night. I think that places that left pressure marks are getting better so hopefully it will just take her head some time to get used to it. We also go back to the orthodics place to have them look and make sure it fitting right and not causing her any pain, or putting too much pressure on her head.
Every time I put the stupid thing on, I feel like crying but I am really trying to get over it and be strong for Kennedy. (PS, don't tell me that it will be worth it and I am doing the right thing because right now I still don't want to hear it because it is easy for everyone else to say that, they don't have to see her little eyes look at you so sad through the shadow of it and see her try to keep her head up with it on). OK, I am sorry to be rude, I don't mean it, I just really hope the next 3-4 months go by fast, or she gets used to it like everyone keeps saying she will. Anyway, do you all want me to tell you how I really feel!!!
I have some better pictures that I will have to get posted, but here she is!
You would think with all they can do in medicine now, they could come up with something better than this huge ugly thing. I am sorry that this post has been so negative, but that is how I feel. I just can't stand seeing her so unhappy, but can you blame her! I really do things will get better so hopefully I will be able to post some more positive things to come and we can all get used to how it will be for the next few months.

What we have been up to!

Well as you can see, Logan has discovered the fun in an onion! When I was cooking the other night, as usual, Logan wanted to help. I started to cut up an onion and went to put it in the pan on the stove and Logan decided to find out what the onion is all about! She was so excited that it had layers and layers that she could take apart but as you can see she also discovered that they make your eyes water and burn. I don't think she knew why her eyes were doing this but she got a tissue and started to rub her eyes and they were pretty red. When I turned around to see her eyes water, I could not help but laugh. She had no idea why I was laughing at her and she proceeded to tell me all about the onions layers, all while dabbing her eyes with her tissue! Oh the innocence of kids.
I was trying to get an up close picture of her eyes all watery and red, this is what I got.
Logan dissecting the onion, yes in her panties. She changes her clothes so many times in a day, in and out of all her dress up dresses and stuff, she half the time ends up just in her panties and loves it.

I also wanted to throw is a few last pictures of Halloween night, since we have had a bunch of pictures already of the fun Halloween we had this year. Here is Hailey and Wyatt, this time all dressed up as a Cat and a pumpkin.
Friends Peyton and Gavin, Makinlee and Logan all ready to go Trick-or-Treating in our neighborhood! Oh and Cody, all decked out in the pink Prince costume...I love it Cody!
Here is Kennedy in her costume, except for her halo because it was pretty annoying for her to have on her head...so instead a pretty flower for my pretty girl!
Our little Karsyn, eating her costume as usual.
We really wanted a family picture, since we have none, but here is as far as we got! I love my girls so much and don't know what I would do without any of them.
I have posted so much about Halloween this year, I can't remember if I already posted about the pumpkins we carved or not so...here they are. We had our friends the Fosters over to carve and paint pumpkins. I carved the top one, Kurt did the middle one, and I also did the bottom one. Below these ones are all the little ones that the kids had so much fun painting.

Our little Dorothy, ready to Trick-or-Treat!