HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY TO KRAIG AND KYLE!!!!!!

Here it is...their story.



In June 2004, we found out we were pregnant. Unexpected and unplanned, but we were excited as well. In July 2004, we found out we were expecting identical twins. To say we were surprised is an understatement-we were shocked, overwhelmed and more than just a little excited. The fear came later. At this time, it appeared that they were in the same sack, monoamniotic, which has a very high mortality rate. In September 2004, we had a second ultrasound in which we found out they were in separate sacks, and shared a placenta. And they were boys. I was so relieved. I naively thought we were out of the danger zone. In October, I started getting more uncomfortable, walking became more labored, sleep was nearly impossible to get. I thought it was normal twin pregnancy stuff-not having ever been pregnant with twins before. My goal was to make it to 32 weeks, which would have been December 18. By the end of October, I was miserable. I looked 9 months pregnant and I was only 25 weeks, my stomach was so tight it hurt to even shower or dress. My back and stomach hurt no matter what position I tried to sit or lay down in. My hips and legs often went numb from the weight of the pregnancy. On November 2, 2004, I spent 9 hours in labor and delivery observation for what I now know was the beginnings of labor. I was sent home, only to return the next morning when my water broke. I spent the night in the hospital, had a biophysical profile ultrasound that indicated both babies were fine, and my first and only consult with a high risk doctor. The next morning (November 4, 2004), my second sack of water broke, and flooded the room. I was then prepped and taken to emergency c-section. Kyle Gregory was delivered first at 628am, (weighing 1 lb 3 oz and 12 inches long) and was not breathing. Kraig Stewart was next at 632am and weighing just 1 pound 13 ounces and 12.5 inches long. He was taken immediately to the NICU where he spent the next 11 weeks-the longest 11 weeks of my life. Kyle was crushed when my water broke. I found out much later that Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome was suspected which accounts for the 15 pounds of water that filled the room.





Kraig spent 79 days in the NICU and overcame many obstacles and endured many procedures common for premature infants--daily blood tests, numerous x-rays, infections treated with IV antibiotics, central line IVs, blood transfusions, apnea/bradycardia spells, oxygen administration, and several resuscitation efforts. We visited every day, often more than once a day and called every couple of hours. The NICU nurses came to know me as Kraig's mom...and still call me that. He came home in January 2005 on oxygen, underwent laser eye surgery at 12 weeks of age (the week after he came home) for retinopathy of prematurity, and continues to be monitored bi-annually by a pediatric ophthalmologist and annually by a retina specialist. He has a partially detached retina as a result of the ROP, and has what looks like and is treated like lazy eye. There have been some muscle changes noticed, which may require more surgery on his eye. He now wears glasses for nearsightedness, also a result of the ROP. He had a bout of RSV in April 2005, but only spent one night in the hospital. He was completely weaned from the oxygen in August 2005. He is still very very susceptible to respiratory infections, however. He began receiving physical therapy in May 2005, occupational therapy in December 2005, and speech therapy in May 2006. All have been discontinued due to his 3rd birthday when he aged out of the early intervention system. He now attends special needs preschool held at the local elementary school, where he receives his therapies. He is actually only on consult, which means he does not receive direct therapy services-but they continue to monitor him. For a time, we suspected he has some sensory integration issues (SID) and even had him tested for obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD)-he was actually diagnosed with pervasive development disorder, which accounts for some of the sensory issues and his stubborn resistance to change and needing order--we affectionately call him Ocie. He is now 5-he loves to sing, he loves his tv shows (Sprout TV, Noggin, and PBS), he loves to be outside. He even plays in the sand, which is not something I ever thought I would see He likes to play any kind of ball...especially bask-e-ball and fit-ball and sucker. And he loves animals...we often watch the animal planet as well.

He is a true blessing to our family and spoiled to the core-but we wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Pictures from the birthday activities to come later....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTOPHER!!!

Christopher is 14 today!!!!  Oh my, where does the time go!



Christopher doesn't really like cake, so he asked for a cookie...my mom baked and decorated it for him. 

Kraig however, thought he should have cake too.....

Make a wish....

The birthday boy....

And at 14, he is now the tallest person in the house.

Home Depot

We discovered the coolest activity...Home Depot holds Kid's Workshops the 1st Sat of each month......totally completely FREE.  All we have to do is show up.  Today was Kraig's first one...he got a cool apron, a kit to make the bank, and a tack pin when he finished.  Way way cool.  We really only asked about it because it was a fire house...and anyone that knows Kraig knows how much he LOVES firemen, firetrucks, firehouses.  But this is a monthly thing, so we'll probably keep going.

Assembly...

Hammer....

Glue....

Decorate....

Make it stay....

The proud carpenter!!!

The cool apron....the tack pin has a picture of the firehouse bank he made...apparently they give one each month for the completed item.  A couple of other kids had like 6 pins on their aprons.

And the bank...he has already started putting money in it...saving for the trip to Washington...he plans to pay his own way to go snowboarding!

Marshmallow creations

Kraig spent almost a full hour (maybe a bit more) playing with marshmallows and toothpicks....apparently at school, they made men out of marshmallows...so he asked (begged) me to buy him some marshmallows at the store last night....and this is how he spent Saturday morning. 

Mallorie Dianne Hall...

September 1st was what would have been my niece Mallorie's 8th birthday.  She was born Sept 1, 2001....she would have hopefully been baptized this year.  She died two short months after she was born....



We released balloons for her birthday and watched them float to her in Heaven. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL....until we meet again!

Random

Laying on the bed/futon with Christopher.....

Looking quite comfy......

And then he falls asleep....

Kraig is fascinated with guns....probably in direct proportion to my dislike of toy guns.  So he resorts to creating his own....

Point.....

Aim....

SHOOT!!!

The gun(s) grow each time there is an empty paper towel and/or toilet paper roll. 

And then he falls asleep watching the boomy show (aka Lock and Load).....poor little thing just went until he could go no more!!

My mom is the nursery leader for the youth leaders during the mid week youth meetings...Kraig gets to go with her.  Often he is the only boy....

Looks a little star struck, doesn't he....look at those pretty girls!

Living with Kraig....

A peek into a day in the life of Kraig. 



Early on we noticed some very strong behaviors in Kraig--always wanting things put away, "assigned" seats in the living room and at the dinner table, only Grandma could have the phone or tv remote, etc.  I took him for his annual check up a couple of years ago, and jokingly asked the Dr. if 2 year olds could be tested for OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).  She asked why, I shared the above behaviors with her, and she NOT jokingly said yes to the testing and gave me a couple of numbers.  Below is an example of the evidence of those behaviors. 

Notice how the tools are lined up?  This was for Daddy's "check up"....last year at school they brought home doctor dress up stuff....and Dr. Kraig(see below)

comes to visit every once in a while. I don't want  any check up that includes a hatchet and a crowbar!

Back to a day with Kraig.....his life is all about order and conistency.  He rides the bus to school....he will hesitate getting on the bus if it is a different bus or if his regular driver and assistant are not there.  We still have assigned seating in the living room and at the table...except when he gets a wild hair and rearranges us.  He seldom (and by seldom I mean the number I can count on one hand) falls asleep on his own....he is very very clingy.  He is not social...he will  not speak to strangers, and it takes a very very long time for him to warm up to others.  It has taken 2 years for him to respond to some of the adults at church, and he sees them every week. 



As for the testing for OCD....he was diagnosed with Pervasive Development Disorder....which is in the autistic spectrum.  From what I've read, it basically is a catch all...he does not exhibit enough behaviors and/or those he does exhibit are not severe enough to be one of the other 4 disorders in the autistic spectrum.   



Aside from the obvious...this is another reason he is spoiled absolutely, positively ROTTEN!



Life with Kraig can be challenging, but he is a total joy to have in our home and I feel truly blessed to have been chosen to be his mom.