Merry Christmas!!!

I just wanted to wish everyone Merry Christmas before I leave for TN tomorrow and post this new pic. Isn't it adorable?? Natti is on the left and Maggie on the right.
God bless all of you and your families and I pray you have the Merriest Christmas!!!

Nothing new really...

The urologist office called on Monday and Maggie has another UTI. My suspicion is that she never got rid of the last one she had and probably won't get rid of this one at least not for long either. Not with urine just sitting in her kidney and not draining. So I decided to go ahead with the next scan in January but I do want a long term plan from the doc after that.

Monday night was the Mother/Daughter Christmas tea at church. We left Dad with the twins alone for the first time!!! and according to him the last time!! He says I can do it but I have to have Bri's help too. He said "how do you do it by yourself?" My reply of course, "I don't have a choice!" There is no other option so suck it up!!! and get it done!!!

On the way to the tea Bri and I were listening to Christmas music and singing along when I looked in the mirror she was grinning from ear to ear and I asked what she was smiling about. She told me nothing 3 times and finally the last time I said come on tell me what you are smiling about and she said "I just you love you that's all!" Awwwwwwwww..... Made my day!!! I just love that kid too!! All evening she kept telling me "Mommy you are so pretty and I love you so much"!! I guess she needed some one on one Mommy time. For so long it was me and her and then her world got turned upside down. We had a great time and Dad took a pic by the tree before we left. I just got all my hair cut off! It makes my head look huge, hee, hee! Or maybe my head was already huge. I gotta get this weight off!! Maybe after the winter when we can come out of hibernation!!!

Thanks for your replies Laura, Kim and Stacy!! Your support really helps me along.

The dreaded day was as bad as I feared...

What a horribly long day! 1st we arrived at 7:30am and had to wait forever just to get registered. Both girls were getting grumpy because it was time to eat and we were told not to feed them after 4am because they were going to be sedated. Almost two hours after our arrival they called us back to get their IV's and catherization only to be told that they were too young to sedate. O.K. I am seriously aggravated at this point. They decide to catherize each one and then put in their IV's. It took two tries to get in Natalie's and I am not a happy Mom. Maggie's cath went pretty smoothly. IV's were a nightmare. They stuck poor Natalie 3 times before getting a vein!!!! I was pissed! After two tries on Maggie I told them to get somebody that could hit a vein on the first try. We ended up taking her to pre-op and this really nice, competent, male nurse hit it on the first try. By this time the girls were so upset they wouldn't eat. The first test was the nuclear scan. They filled the girls with IV fluids and dye and put them into a machine, looked kind of like an MRI machine and they could watch what was happening with the fluids in their kidneys. Then they put lasix into the IV to make them pass the fluids. They next test was to flush saline and dye into the catheter's and watch it. By the time we got to that department both of their catheters were out and they had to be catherized again!!!! I think the nurse we had first thing that morning was pretty incompetent!! Then we were off to the urologists office for the results. In a nutshell the tests showed that both kidneys on both girls are functioning just as they should. The problem is that there is a blockage in the ureters that go from the kidneys to the bladder. Natalie's is draining, albeit slowly, but they think with time it will open up and be completely normal. They just want to watch it for now. She is scheduled for another renal US January 5th. Maggie's bad side is not draining at all or only dripping and they can't even see it. So her kidney is staying full of urine all the time. They still think that she will outgrow it. Worse case scenario is surgery to remove the blocked portion of the ureter and reattach it. But they won't do that until they have to. She is scheduled for a renal US and another Nuclear Scan on January 5th. They promised me that they will sedate her this time!!! We finally arrive home after 3pm, very long day!
The more I think about it though, I am going to call the doc back on Monday. 1 month!!! How much can possibly change in one month? What will they do if there is no change? Is it really worth putting my baby thru that trauma again so soon? The US's are no big deal and pain free, but I can't stand all that poking and the drugs they will have to pump into Maggie for the scan. If they aren't going to do anything else no matter what the results then why not wait 2 months or 3?
Anywho, not really bad news but not great news. We are happy to know that the kidneys are functioning well. Please continue to keep our sweeties in your prayers. This is not over. Thank you all that are praying for them and thanks for all of your email and comments.
Thanks Laura and Kim!!
I think everybody is finally asleep and I am going to bed too, afterall, it is midnight!!

Need your prayers...

The kidney tests are Thursday morning. We are just ready to get it over with. Please pray that all goes smoothly.
Here are a few more pics! Maggie is showing off her usual personality and Natalie's face says it all..."Can you please make her be quiet!!". Big sis watching TV with Natti B on her chest. Aren't they so sweet??

Happy turkey day!!

We have so much to be thankful for this year!! I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Recovering nicely....

according to the pediatrician! He changed their breating treatment meds thinking the albuterol may be why they aren't sleeping well. Also, he did say to give them some benadryl tonight. They have been awake pretty much all day so I am hoping with the med changes that they sleep tonight.

Good news! Even thru all this sickness and not eating Maggie has gained weight! She weighs 7.15lbs!!! We are about to break 8 lbs!!! Natalie weighs 9.6, so she didn't gain as much which I knew because she has really not eaten much for a week. If you don't look closely they are really hard to tell apart now.

Keith thanks for the aquaphor suggestion and yes I have tried it. The problem is that the skin is oozy and nothing will stick to it. I bought some more stuff tonight with a higher zinc concentration in it. The doc suggested it. We shall see. They also cut back her antibiotic so maybe her stomach will calm down. And I am putting rice back in her bottles again for the reflux and it kind of constipates her. Surely she will plug up soon!!

RSV!!!

Laura does it really get better??? I don't even know what sleep is anymore!

The girls are recovering from RSV. They were admitted to the hospital last Saturday. Maggie also had a UTI. They were so sick. They were released on Tuesday but still were very sick little girls. They are just now starting to get back to their full eating schedule. The antibiotics Maggie is on for her UTI have given her severe diareaha(sp?). Her little butt is raw. I have coated it in everything but nothing seems to help when she constantly has poop on. They go back to the pediatrician today for a recheck and I am hoping they have some suggestions. Just in the last 24 hours I can tell that they are feeling much better but they still are not sleeping much. They doze and cat nap. No real sleep. Which means I get no sleep. I am starting to have a hard time dealing with it too. I just so want my life back to normal. I love these babies so much but my God this is so hard........ Sorry I am just feeling a little sorry for myself. I just wanted to give you all an update. Please pray for healthy babies the rest of the winter and for my sanity!! I'm not joking!

Busy, busy, busy.....

I know it has been a while but I have been very busy and sleep deprived!! I had a terrible scare with Maggie last Thursday. She projectile vomited across the room and it came out her nose and she wasn't breathing for what seemed like forever! I kept trying to clear her mouth and stimulate her and it just kept coming out of her nose. Yes, I panicked!!! I was screaming and crying for her to breath and about to call 911 but I knew it would be too late by the time they arrived. She did finally catch her breath. I cried for hours that day. I took her to the doc because they wanted to make sure that she didn't aspirate any into her lungs and thank goodness she was clear. They said I did all the right things and gave me a few more pointers for if it happens again. They added rice cereal to her bottles for a thickener and it does seem to be helping if we can get her to eat it. She just isn't even interested in food at all. I really worry about this wee one. I have never been so scared in my life. I just pray that her reflux gets better soon and that she gets an appetite. It takes forever just to get 2.5 ozs. in her. You have to coax her the whole way. But in 8 days she did gain 10 ozs. So the docs aren't too concerned at this point. They go for their 2 month check up on Wednesday and I am anxious to see how much she gains in 6 days.

Natti B we don't have to worry about her eating!!! She lives for food!!! I bet she weighs close to 10 lbs. by Wednesday. She is so filled out and chunky and cuddly!! I should know, she spends a lot of time in bed with me!!!! She likes to be close to me. Hey, whatever it takes for sleep!!!

I have new pics but they aren't downloaded right now. I will try to post them soon.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. I ask that you please continue to pray for their kidney issue. They go on 11-30 for the tests to diagnose them. It will be an all day event and we are not looking forward to it. Also, please remember Maggie especially in yours prayers. Pray that the poor baby learns to love food soon!!!

Love you all,
The Reinle 6!

Big & Little

I had to add this one too. It is too cute! All my girls. Maggie on the left and Natalie on the right and big Sister Bri in the middle and proud as a peacock!!

My darlings...

Here are some new pics of the most beautiful babies you have ever seen!

Natalie is on the left and Maggie on the right.

Here is Miss Natalie! Natti B I have been calling her. We did an unofficial weighing technique.....weigh big sis and then hand her a baby! He! He! Natti B weighed in at a whopping 8.4lbs!!!!!
She is getting to be a little butterball. Eats like her Momma and Daddy! Ha!
She is absolutely a joy. She is our snuggly one. Loves to cuddle and sleep with Mommy. That is when we get our best sleep.

And this is our tiny one, Miss Maggie. Her unofficial weight is 6.4lbs. So basically she hasn't gained any since last week. She is so tiny and sweet. I can't stand to hear her cry. It is just so pitiful. I call her Little Bit. Chet reminded me that I called Bri Little Bit too. Until Brianna was about 5 she was very small. Even though she weighed almost 8.3 when she was born. Maggie is our thinker. She just studies everything. We always wonder what she is thinking.

We are all doing well. I have switched to every 3 hours feeding. They actually go about 4.5 or 5 hours at night but feeding every 3 during the day gets in an extra feeding in 24 hours. It seems to be working better because they are eating more in 24 hours and I am getting more sleep. I have to work real hard to get Maggie to eat at all but she is getting a few more ounces in a 24 hour period now. She is just not interested in eating. I hope this changes soon. I can't dress them alike because they aren't wearing the same size now. Maggie is pretty much still in preemie and Natalie is in newborn and 0-3 mths.
Tomorrow is my postpartum check up and Wednesday they go to the pediatrician for the 2nd Hep B shot. I am dreading that.
Gotta go shower before feeding time again!

Monday's Appointments...

Their eyes look perfect! The doc says it looks like they are going to have blue eyes! They have to go back in May for a recheck and then again around 3 years old.

The urology appointment didn't really tell us much. Everything could have been discussed over the phone. They have to have two more invasive test. They will be catherized and have to have an IV to inject radioactive dye through. They are looking to see if there is a blockage in the ureters from the kidneys to the bladder and if there is reflux into the kidneys. We will know more after these tests. They will have to stay on antibiotics for years probably to prevent UTI's. That will more than likely be the only treatment until they are at least two years old "if" they do anything then. So basically this is still a wait and see situation. No really bad news but not really good news either. We are dreading the tests. They are supposed to call us back with an appointment date.

Oh we did get a little good news. Maggie is weighing in over 6lbs now! I guess the prevacid is helping her little tummy. She isn't vomiting like she was before. Natalie is over 7lbs!!!

I will try to post some new pics this weekend.

Thank you God!!!

Maggie's echocardiagram and EKG were perfect. Her blood pressure was good. The cardiologist says she still has a "tiny hole" in her heart but he expects it to close up just fine. It could take anywhere from 1 to 3 years. He does want to recheck her in 6 months to make sure all is continuing well but he said that he thinks she has a perfectly normal newborn heart!!!

THANK YOU FATHER GOD!!!!!!

Thank you all for your prayers!!!!!!!
Thanks for your help today Angelique!!

2 appointments down this week...

We had the US's yesterday and I won't even get into what a fiasco that turned out to be! I could see myself that there was no change in their kidney status but they wouldn't tell us anything.
Today we saw the pediatrician and confirmed my fears that Maggie hasn't gained any weight this week. Doc agreed that it is probably reflux causing some of her problem and put her on prevacid. Poor thing projectile vomited this afternoon and it came out of her nose and she was choking and screaming and I cried with her. It just breaks my heart to see her in pain and not able to eat good. I pray this medicine helps.
Natalie is up to 6.12lbs! I knew she was getting close to 7 lbs. She seems so much bigger than Maggie but it is only a pound. Amazing what a difference one little pound makes.
Doc did say that the hydronephrosis was confirmed by US and something about dilated ureters in Maggie, I don't really understand and didn't ask a lot of ?'s because I would rather discuss it with the urologist on Monday. She did say that this does not mean that they will have to have a kidney removed. As long as the diseased kidney isn't causing problems there is no reason to remove it. That is a relief because I thought surgery was inevitable. Still I will feel better after talking w/the urologist. Please pray about this.
Maggie is still scheduled to see the cardiologist on Friday to check her blood pressure and the little heart defect. Hopefully it is closing up on it's own like it is supposed to. Poor thing has enough to deal with.
They are at risk for RSV and will be getting the shots this winter. They cost approximately $20,000!!!!!!!!!!!! Please pray that insurance will cover most of this cost. We are covered by my insurance, but since I am not going back to work will be picking up Chet's co. insurance. I am so afraid they won't want to cover much on the girls because they will say it is pre-existing. I guess we will know soon enough. If it isn't one worry it is another.
Thanks Kim and Stacy for your comments. Stacy I hope your little one is doing o.k.
Sorry to be long winded.......more pics later.

New Pics!

They both had a bath Saturday night and we all got a little sleep!! Woo! Hoo!! How many times a day can I bath them?? Ha! Ha! Anything for some sleep!!! Bri had to have her baby in the pic too. She has been heating up it's bottle, feeding and burping it everytime I do the girls! Yes, I am as tired as I look!! Don't Mag and Nat look adorable in their little hats?? Thanks Angelique!! This week starts all of our appointments. We have their renal US's on Tuesday, Pediatrician on Wednesday, and Maggie sees the cardiologist on Friday. Busy week! Next week is almost the same! Oh well, this is the new normal for us. But we sure are lovin all these girls!!

Hospital Pic Link!

I don't have any new pics to post. We have been too busy to take pics! Ha! Ha! And yes, we are seriously sleep deprived!!!!!! But I know it will pass quickly and it is all worth it.
Here is the link to the hospital pic. I hope it works.
http://www.growingfamily.com/webnursery/babypage_view.asp?URLID=3Y2H7D5E1Z

We are Finally ALL HOME!!!

Can you believe it? Finally, almost a month after they were born everybody is home. Natalie did come home on Saturday and things have been pretty smooth but wow what a difference adding another makes. Last night was a long night. Chet took the first feeding although I did get up for a few minutes. Somebody was kind of fussy all night. They sound just alike. So until I got up to look I couldn't tell who it was fussing. They took turns. I am exhausted this morning! But thrilled we are all home. We have a busy few weeks ahead of us. They have about 8 or 9 doctors appointments between the two of them. I don't know how we are going to pull that off. I am supposed to have a recheck this week also but I don't see it happening. I just want to stay home with them for a few days and rest and get to know each other. We only took a couple of pics last night when we first got home but I will post more later.
Thanks for your comments, emails and especially your prayers!
MAGGIE IS ON THE LEFT AND NATALIE IS ON THE RIGHT.

Rough Week...

I don't have time to reply personally to all of your emails right now but I want to thank you all who sent them to me.

I ended up in the hospital Tuesday. I was there visiting the girls and was leaving to take a break and by the time I got to my car I was out of it. I sat in my car for 3 hours going in and out of conciousness before Chet called and all I could do was cry. He finally figured out where I was and got the emergency room personal to come and get me. I had a fever of 103.7! I was full of infection because of the mastitis and dehydrated. They admitted me and pumped me full of IV fluids and antibiotics and thank God, lots of good drugs! I have never in my life been in so much pain! I was pretty much out of it for about two days. My girls were supposed to come home Thursday but the docs were so good to work with us and kept them until today. My doc wasn't going to release me until today but I begged to come home yesterday afternoon and he relented with strict orders and precautions. I am feeling much better. Still having a lot of breast pain and trying to dry up this milk!! No more nursing for me, I am done with it. It about killed me, literally. I envy those that can do it but I gave it my best shot and my docs even agreed it was time to stop. Thank God my Mom is here or I don't know what we would have done. She has been a big help this week.

And best of all..........my girls come home today!!!!!! I will post pics as soon as I can and a link to the hospital nurseryweb so you can see their pics taken at the hospital.
Scratch that, the doc just called and Maggie lost weight for the 2nd day in a row and can't come home today. I am crushed.
I'll update as soon as I can. Please continue to remember us in your prayers and thank you all so much that are praying for us.

2 weeks old...

Good news!
Maggie was checked out by a cardiologist and had an echocardiagram. It looks like she has a small Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). It is the most common heart problem in preemie's. Before birth there is a passageway from one blood vessel to another instead of through the lungs. The passageway should close soon after birth but with preemie's often takes longer and with some babies requires surgery. Maggie's should close on it's own with time. They think this could be the cause of the high blood pressure. Today though, her BP has been significantly lower all day! Yay! Hopefully we have crossed that hurdle too.

Both girls have been eating by bottle almost every feed for the last 24 hours and are doing very well. The wonderful nurse/lactation consultant caring for the girls today helped me nurse both girls successfully this afternoon. It was great! The mastitis has had me down all week. I have been very sick! I still don't have much energy but feel much better than I did.

As of last night, Natalie weighs 5.1 and Maggie 5.4!! If they don't get to come home soon they won't get to wear any of the preemie clothes we have for them! The nurse did say today that she bets they will be home within a week. I pray she is right.

After I nursed both girls today I held them both next to one another. Maggie was fussy and as soon as Natalie was next to her she quieted down. She kept looking at Natalie like "Hey, I know you!" We didn't have the camera with us!!! Darn!! They do look different when you look at them side by side but I think it is just that Natalie has a more narrow head, just a preemie look. Maggie is rounder in the head and face and just looks like a little baby. If you have seen many preemie babies then you know what I mean. I bet they really start to look alike in the next couple of weeks since they are getting so close in weight. I will take some more pics this week and post them.

Thank you all for your prayers!! and don't stop yet!!

We need your prayers....

Yesterday while at the hospital I started chilling really bad and then spiked a temp of 103! I felt like I had been hit by a train. Turns out I have mastitis(a breast infection). The docs insist that I stay home and in bed for a day or so. I am taking an anibiotic. Please pray that this clears up quickly and that I have a better milk supply afterward.

My favorite NICU doc called this morning to insist I stay home and in bed and keep pumping for my girls. But she also delivered a little bad and scary news. Maggie has been having intermittent high blood pressure. She says she isn't too worried about it yet and will keep a close watch on it but that if it continues they will call in a cardiologist and get her on some medication because they don't want her heart working so hard. Her heart sounds fine and it is probably just a preemie issue but Chet and I are scared to death nonetheless. Please continue to pray for our precious girls and for Mom and Dad's sanity. We are both sick with worry.

There is a little good news...both girls took their bottles pretty good yesterday. Maggie took all but 10 cc's and Natalie took about 25 cc's. That is much better than they have been doing!

Thank you and I will update as soon as there is any new news.

Quick Update!

Natalie lost her umbilical cord!! A real bellybutton!! Maggie's will be off soon if not today. Maggie is in an open bassinet and holding her temp well. I have been bottle feeding the last few days and I think the girls are finally figuring it out. I can't wait to see how they do today. Natalie is back to her birthweight and Maggie is only 2 ozs. away from hers. The docs up their milk amounts a little every day. They are both on the prilosec now but still spitting up quite a bit. Hopefully it will get better in a few more days. That's about all there is to tell right now. Please continue to pray for out girls!