Busy Busy

The McNeil clan has been very busy lately.  Both Zack and I went back to work last week and it has been interesting juggling our time at work and at home.  Luckily we are both blessed with jobs with some flexibility.  Zack's position as a business instructor at Longview and my position as a field instructor at UMKC make it possible to work from home some and we have also asked one of our fabulous NICU nurses from Overland Park Regional Medical Center to help us out with the girls on her days off.  God definitely had a plan for us this fall.  It has been pretty amazing how things have fallen into place so that we can both work and not feel as if we have to sacrifice our family time. 

Ava went back to Children's Mercy yesterday for a vent clinic appointment and a PT appointment.  She had some wheezing yesterday so the neonatologist decided not to make any changes to her vent settings yesterday but we are suppose to call her in a couple days when the wheezing subsides and then she will tell us what changes to make.  For now we are giving her additional breathing treatments as she needs them.  The wheezing isn't a major concern but just something we don't want to take any chances with.  The cause could be allergies, weather, etc. and we realize she may occasionally have this.  Her weight was 15 lbs. 1 oz. and we are trying to transition some of her feeds to Enfacare for more needed nutrients rather than always fortifying with Beneprotein. 

Reese is still rocking on all fours but not crawling yet.  The more I think about it the more I wonder if I'm ready for her to crawl.  It's a whole new ball game when they start crawling.  We definitely have some baby-proofing to do around our house!  She is still receiving physical therapy through Infant/Toddler Services of Johnson County, as is Ava.  It's great to have them come to our home instead of loading up for an appointment. 

Upcoming appointments include another vent clinic appt. and OT on Sept. 13 for Ava.  Reese heads back to the doctor for her 9 month check-up on Sept. 30.  Until then...we'll continue to stay busy!

Still enjoying her thumb!

Ava is doing great with this new excersice that our physical therapist showed us!

Reading books on a sunny afternoon!

How can you resist that smile?  Daddy is awesome at getting the girls to smile!

Reese doesn't see her physical therapy stretches as work as long as daddy is entertaining her!

Rockstar...

Our little Ava is a Rockstar.  Yep, that's exactly what one of the neonatologists called her today at her vent clinic appointment.  Once again she was weaned on her vent settings and has done well on them since being home this afternoon and evening.  For those of you following the numbers...her rate went from 30 to 28, her pressure control moved from 34 to 32, and her pressure support went from 31 to 29.  We are so thankful for every little move down.  Her weight was 14 lbs. 5 oz. which was a great weight gain from last time.  She also went to an OT and a PT appointment today.  We were given some things to work on with Ava at home to improve her oral and motor skills.  After a long day with three appointments at Children's Mercy Hospital, she was pretty pooped.  We've got a two-week break until our next vent clinic and PT appointments...Thank goodness!

Pooped...see what I mean!

Reese got to spend the day with Nana and Pappy.  She is getting extremely close to crawling.  She gets up on all fours and rocks back and forth but hasn't gotten the hang of moving her hands and knees yet.  Other than that, she has been enjoying the days with sissy...watching nursery rhymes, reading books, having tummy time, and of course eating and napping! 

Miss Ava has officially found her thumb!

Reading books and occasionally chewing them too!

Such a big girl on all fours!

Good Doctor Reports for Reese

Well since the last time I made a post Reese has been to the pediatrician and the orthopeidic specialist.  Both visits went very well.  Reese weighed 13 pounds 2.5 ounces and is now getting cereal twice a day.  She officially has thunder thighs and we are all proud of them!  The news from the orthopeidic was good too.  At this point they hope that her legs (knees and feet) will naturally correct themselves and move more inward as she starts crawling and walking.  We will go back 3-4 months after she starts walking so until then we will keep doing the leg exercises we have been doing. 

Ava is doing more turning to her side and doing really well on her belly.  She is pushing up more and more but still needs a little assistance getting all the way over to her tummy.  Darn tubes and wires!  She heads back to Children's Mercy on Monday for a marathon of appointments including the vent clinic, OT, and PT.  We will definitely fill you all in on how those go. 

In the meantime, enjoy the pictures of our precious girls. 

Our first experience watching a DVD of nursery rhymes.

Needless to say...the girls were enthralled. 

Ava taking a break from tummy time.

Ava REALLY taking a break from tummy time.

No matter where we lay Reese in her pack n play...she always finds a corner to bury her head.

Reese loving her play mat.

Fun times with Grammy.  Thank you to our special twin neighbor boys for handing down their toys!   

Trying to keep our hands to ourselves...

Over the last few days the girls have gotten a little more touchy with each other.  Or should I say curious?  Reese thought Ava's feet were pretty fun to play with but we aren't so sure Ava liked it based on the way she was pulling on Reese's shirt!  It appears that Reese didn't want her sister to have to sit in her chair alone either. 

Ava and Reese also got to enjoy some time with their Auntie Amber, Uncle Chad, and Cousin Brandon over the weekend.  It had been a long time since they had seen the girls and actually the first time Brandon had seen the girls in person since he was too young to go into the NICU.  How fun!

And finally, the girls got their first chance at brushing their teeth...or gums rather!  Ava seemed to like it but Reese wasn't too sure.