MY SANTA BABIES

WHAT?

There are moments and sometimes days when I wonder where is my mind. I have to take care of something as soon as it pops in my head or make a note or it doesn't get done.
2 of my not so proud moments lately are:
- letting the kids play in the hose and forgetting to check if it ever got turned off. This happened friday afternoon. We then left for the weekend, only for me to remember to check the hose Monday afternoon. And, yes it was running full blast! Take a guess at that water bill... yikes! Sorry Jed!
- thinking this lady who was wondering the WalMart parking lot stole my wallet. Nope, I left it in the store. So overwhelmed by the time I realized that it wasn't stolen, that the lady I spoke to at WalMart met at my car to bring me my wallet so I didn't have to bring all 4 of my kids in with me. What was I doing with4 kids in WalMart, I don't know... I think I may be crazy!
- ever since I started staying at home, I have felt a little awkward trying to talk with other adults. I don't know any current events or pop culture. I feel like I don't know what to talk about if it doesn't involve kids or kid stuff. I think my brain is at complete mush right now, I don't even know what I am talking about now. Sorry about this post, this may not make any sense and I am not going to read it over, I am going to bed.
So, good night and disregard this post if it makes no sense!
Blessings!
Megan

2 MONTHS INTO LIFE!

These past 2 months have flown by. Our days are just filled with so much activity, at the end of each day, I couldn't even tell you what we have done.
Paige is loving preschool - I am so glad for a 9am start. I don't have it all together enough to get her to school by 8. I have also found out that I need a calendar. I forgot about her 1st ever picture day and let her dress herself (she always picks amazing outfits) and, didn't even get her hair brushed that day:) She wants to know how to spell everything and tells us what letter every word starts with.
Camden loves to ride his bike. He asks 50 million times a day if we want to watch him ride his bike. He has been helping Jed gather sticks for fires in our family room. Many times a day he checks the wood pile to make sure the wood is still covered. He only wants to wear bootball shorts (mesh basketball shorts). The few times he has had to wear pants this year because of weather, he has taken them off as soon as we get inside.
Cora now weighs 9lb 8oz. (Paige was 9lb 2oz and Camden 9lb 14oz at birth). She is a laid back, happy girl. She gives us more and more smiles every day. She is really great at holding her head up and looking around at everything. She is still on her apnea monitor, but will hopefully be off of it in another week or 2. She has been diagnosed with a rare skin disorder, hystiocytosis. We are praising God that her diagnosis is good and she only has it on her skin and not internally so no treatment or long term effects.
Kale now weighs 10lb. He can go from happy, smily Kale to really, really mad Kale in just a few seconds. He seems to be a few days ahead of Cora in everything right now. He still has brown hair and we think he will probably have brown eyes as well. No health issues at all for him.
I hear a baby calling me... more to post later!

SWANY LIFE!

ALL 6 TOGETHER WHERE WE BELONG

The week+ that we spent split between home and 2 hospitals was probably harder on me than anyone else in our family. It feels so good to all be together even though we are just crazy busy.
My days are consumed with nursing, diapers, board games and barbies with Paige, watching Camden ride his bike, more nursing, making snacks, cleaning up spilled milk, laundry, and the occasional brushing of my own teeth! My mom left yesterday morning and we have been doing well, but super super busy. The days are just funny with all that is going on. We did make one outing to visit Great Grandma and Grandpa Kocher, otherwise haven't ventured further than the stroller will take us.

Paige and Camden are both in love with Cora and Kale and want to hold and help do everything. Paige makes me promise daily that we will not have any more babies because she never wants me to stay in the hospital again.

HOME!!!

For the first time, all SIX Swanson's will be under the same roof!!! Megan texted me the cutest pictures of Kale & Cora together and I wish I could post them on here....but I can't upload from my phone :(

Cora has to come home with a monitor so Jed & Megan had to be trained in both CPR & how to use the monitor in order to come home. Cora had a sleep study done 5 days ago that was just read today. She failed the sleep study, but for the last couple of days she hasn't needed any oxygen or HR drops so hopefully she will not be on the monitor for long.

Kale got to come home Saturday afternoon.

I am sure that Jed & Megan are relieved not to have to be traveling back & forth between hospitals & home are now able to begin this wonderful new chapter of their lives!




Posted by: Randie

HOME IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER

I love posting such great news!! It won't be too much longer before Jed, Megan, Paige, Camden, Cora & Kale are all at home under the same roof!

Cora was able to start taking bottles last night, she has finished every single one and just this morning after finishing her bottle she was looking for more. She will also lose her feeding tube and IV later today!

Kale is continuing to finish all of his bottles which means no more feeding tube, also no more bili light.

Posted by: Randie

UPDATES....

Great news today!!!

Kale got his IV line removed, he is also off his pulseox. There is a possibility of using the bililite on him tonight. He also nursed once today and at his evening feeding tonight he drank his entire bottle....42 ml's!!!! That is such awesome news! He has to continue to eat his entire bottle for two whole days and then he will get to go home. Kale is now weighing 5 lbs 7 oz.

Cora was not able to try the bottle today as her respirations were still a little high, they need to be consistently under 60 for her to be able to try it. She did get 8 ml's at each feeding today through a tube in her nose and did well with that. She is now weighing 5 lbs.

Continue to pray for those little babies, we know your prayers are working - the proof is in this post!!

Posted by: Randie

THREE CHEERS FOR CORA!!

Little Miss Cora has been successfully weaned off oxygen and has eaten THREE times today (just since this afternoon I believe)!! She is being fed through a tube in her nose and doctors are hopeful that she'll be able to try a bottle tomorrow.



Posted by: Randie

UPDATES!

Wonderful news!

Kale is now eating from the bottle, each time he eats he takes more milk which is a great sign! His IV line should be removed today, they had to place it in his head as all of the other spots in his hands/feet have closed up. Still no talk of a tentative release date, he has to continue to increase his milk intake and keep it down as well as pass a 90 minute car seat test (sit in the car seat w/o any of his monitors going off).

Cora is still on oxygen and they are going to try to get her off of that today. She is showing signs that she wants to eat, the doctor wants to start feeding her today. I am hoping to have some pictures to post of Cora soon.

Megan is heading back to BroMenn today and Jed will be taking Megan's place at OSF. Thank you to everyone for all the support and prayers, I know that Megan & Jed appreciate it.

Posted by Randie

PICTURES!!

Megan & Jed's friend, Heather Kaeb took these photos. Paige & Camden spent Friday night w/ the Kaeb's and then went to see Mommy, Daddy & babies Saturday morning. Dannon & Heather also went to see Kale & Jed at OSF on Sunday, so Heather snapped a few pics while she was there. Enjoy!!

The kids were wiped out after waiting to hear about the arrival of their new brother & sister.

Seeing Kale & Cora for the first time!

Kale

IT'S A........

BOY & GIRL!!!! Hi everyone, this is Randie, Megan's sister-in-law, I am posting for Megan today.

The twins arrived Friday evening around 9:15. Megan wasn't feeling good and went to the hospital where they informed her that she was in labor and that they would be prepping the OR for her c-section. Cora Marie came out first, weighing 5 lbs 5 oz and 17 1/2 inches long, Kale James came out minutes later weighing 5 lbs 13 oz and 17 3/4 inches long. They were born around 9:15 pm. Both babies were having some breathing issues due to being born early, (35 weeks, 1 day).

Kale was transferred to the Children's Hospital in Peoria on Saturday morning. Jed stayed with him until this morning (Monday). I am happy to report that he is now off of oxygen and doing really well. Megan is there with him now and is able to hold him as much as she wants.

Cora remains at BroMenn, Jed is with her. She is doing great and is expected to come off of her oxygen today.

I will post more information soon. Hopefully I'll be able to post that they will be coming home in my next post.

Kale James

Cora Marie

PAIGE 4YRS 5MO

CAMDEN 2YRS 4MO

PREGNANT PICS - 34 WEEKS