Future Polo Models of America

OK, so I confess there are some mornings during "play time" when I spend an unnecessary amount of time on photo shoots. Wouldn't you with boys as cute as Duncan and Jackson? So this morning, when there was a little chill in the air (have been waiting for this "chill" to bust out the fall clothes for awhile!), I figured it was high time these boys got to wear the preciously knitted sweaters you see in the below pics. A colleague of mine from Olentangy Schools, Carol Trimble, created these masterpieces on her own! Don't they look like something straight out of a Polo catalogue? Thanks, Carol. The boys LOVE their new sweaters!

Our Princes

I wish I could remember who bought us these cute "muscle" (also known as "wife beater" - but that's horrible to think my babies wearing!) tanks. But they are a RIOT! We had fun this past Saturday going to Polaris with Grandma shopping in these outfits.

I need to take more picture of these dudes naked. How great are their little chests (notice how fantastic Duncan's scar looks - almost non-existent)

We played for awhile today in our Bumbos (those stinkin halarious chairs). I love this shot because it captures Duncan peering over at Grinning Jackson with his one eye as if to say, "What the heck are you laughing at?"


One eyed Prince
Sometimes Jackson helps me with laundry

Nystagmus

Duncan recently had an eye appointment (last Wed) which revealed that his vision is quite a bit delayed (not related to the cataract) and on top of that, he has a condition called nystagmus (the eyes jerk back and forth). Our eye doctor recommended that we meet with a neurologist to rule out any type of brain injury or cancer that may explain the nystagmus. So we met with a neurologist on Friday. He confirmed the nystagmus and ordered a CT scan of Duncan's brain, neck, chest and abdomen. This occurred Monday morning at Children's. We received word that the worst fears are behind us. Duncan's scan contains no evidence of neuroblastoma (that scary cancer) or brain damage of any kind. Although we do not know at this point what explains the nystagmus, it seems pretty clear that Duncan has it. His eye doctor said that when Duncan is 6 months of age, more information can be gathered about where he falls on the spectrum of severity, from altering his life very little to altering his life very much. We will be sure to report on what we know at the time.

No news to report on Jackson. He keeps growing and smiling. Two things he does best!

With all the pertinent info out of the way, I want to explain that Scott and I are doing OK. We are a bit strung out, as you can imagine, with new "complications" popping up surrounding Duncan. One cannot help but wonder if Duncan's complications are all somehow connected to his heart troubles. As always, though, we try to stay positive and faithful.

Picture of the Week - projectile pee pee

So when you've had an exhausting week and your feet (and emotions) are dragging a bit, there's one thing SURE to cheer you up: A wee wee projecting pee pee! Scott and I have a variety of ways to bath our babies. (1) Quick sink baths, (2) they join me one at a time while I'm showering (Gotta grab hold of one leg pretty firmly! This is a lazy way to clean babies, but it works!), (3) and (heaven forbid) real baths in the tub. Jackson was given a quicky sink bath last night. As you can tell, that may have been his last, because he is clearly outgrowing the sink! I asked Scott to bust out the camera so that we could record his plumpness, only to realize a stream was flowing from his little privates. I asked, "Did you get that on camera?" And sure enough, you can see it in action. We laughed and laughed.

Some other good ones:

I think this "future all star player" thought I was going to drop the camera on him! Look at that fear!

Smiley Mommy and (always) Concerned Jackson

Duncan is getting some definite meat on his bones... pudgy cheeks, but still a dimple!

Grandpa and Jackson
Play-time






Scott is in Michigan at the present moment, celebrating the union of two of our dear friends, Naveen and Kristin. I am totally ticked I cannot join him at the wedding. It will be one heck of a good time! But a 6 hour drive seemed a bit unreasonable with two little ones. I have an army of help to keep me sane here at the homestead. Dear KK is having a "slumber party" with me tonight (at least that's how I described her invite for an overnight stay when I was enlisting her help!), and our cousin, Heather, will be offering her services Saturday night. She has even volunteered to do ALL the overnight feedings so that I can get a full night's rest. What an angel! Plus, there are all sorts of people visiting with me Sat and Sun to make the time pass. I am so lucky.

Clean Bill of Health

We had a routine heart appointment on Friday. Scott and I had been a bit concerned about Duncan's resistance to completing his designated amount of milk. But Dr. Cua said that all the heart information (EKG and echocardiogram) looked really good. The stint that was placed during his last cath is doing the job it is supposed to (keeping that part of the arch of the aorta unrestricted) and his heart is "squeezing well." All good news!!! If all continues to go well, Dr. Cua said we can expect the second surgery to hapen between 5 and 6 months of age - which would be November-ish.

As for his weight: Duncan is 9 lbs 4 ozs. We have NO idea about Jackson's weight, but I would guess he's nearing the 12 lb. mark.

I was feeling icky all last week and can finally say that I have successfully knocked whatever bug I had... and now Scott came home with a soar throat today. Yikes. We can't seem to stay healthy... yet the little tikes with the most vulnerable immune systems are pulling through just great (so far!)!

And now, the main reason I know most of our regular blog-checkers keep up with this site... THE PICTURES:

Jackson and his gummy grin... does it get any better than this?
The Winter sleepers came out last week with that Fall chill in the air
Little brother "looking up" to big brother
Prince Duncan
Daddy with Duncan peering over the shoulder

A new batch

A flirtatious grin, wouldn't you say?

Duncan
Jackson

Look at those bright eyed beauties!

Look at that big head! It's a miracle he [Jackson] can lift it up!

Duncan chillin in the bouncy with his matching socks

Anita lovin on those boys. She could "eat them up!"

Two Peas in an Overstuffed Chair

I had just finished my hour long run tonight (I REPEAT... HOUR LONG RUN) with my good buddy friend Theresa (who will join me/us in running the half in October)... and hopped in the shower. When Scott heard me open the bathroom door upstairs he yelled, "You gotta come see this. Come down now while they're so cute!" So I ran down stairs to catch this little moment: Scott had placed Duncan and Jackson side by side in our huge chair. I had to have a photo shoot!

I LOVE this little moment with Dad and Jackson

Runnin for Duncan

We recently sent this email out. If you are interested, take a read. If you think anyone else would be interested, pass along this information. THANKS!

Friends and Family,

Over the past few months, Scott and I have been learning how to parent a child with congenitial heart disease. Duncan has hypoplastic left heart syndrome and has completed the first of three surgies. Luckily, things have been going well and he continues to get stronger. He and his twin brother, Jackson, just turned 3 months! The precious moments we have with Duncan today are a result of the Heart Center at Childrens Hospital.

It is with that sentiment that we are asking for your help and generosity. Scott and I have decided to run the Columbus 1/2 marathon and we want to run with Duncan in mind and of families who will use the Heart Center in the future.

We are asking those closest to us to donate money to the Columbus Childrens Heart Center. We thought the following commitment levels made sense:

$1 per mile =$26.20
$2 per mile = 52.40
$3 per mile = $78.60
$4 per mile = $104.80
$5 per mile = $131.00

Some of you may be able to do more, some less. We hope you find yourself at one of these levels. We have talked with Columbus Childrens Foundation and they gave us the following link:

https://giving.columbuschildrens.com/NETCOMMUNITY/SSLPage.aspx?&pid=184&srcid=183&page=90

Simply fill out their online form and type "Duncan Arthur" in the tribute space. This will help us determine how much we have raised and it allows us to send our appreciation!

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers over the past three months. We have felt them! Please check our blog with updates! www.arthuradventure.blogspot.com.

Scott and Tricia

Success

Success on two fronts today:

#1: Jackson performed his first trick today: rolled from his tummy to his back! I laid him on a blanket on the floor on his tummy and went to change Duncan's diaper. When I returned he was on his back. I thought I may have miscalculated his position before, so I flipped him back on his belly for observation. Sure enough, I saw it with my own two eyes - 3 MORE TIMES! It wasn't just a fluke!

#2: Duncan drank like a champ today when we tried nursing. He acted like he'd been doing it for years... so natural! You should see them both going at the same time. It's so amazing! I am a lucky girl to have both breast feeding again.

Breast Milk BACK IN THE PICTURE!

The appointment with Dr. Boyle, Duncan's GI doctor, went well yesterday. He is comfortable with the idea of reintroducing breast milk to Duncan 2 times per day and using that other formula the other feedings. The idea is to both ease Duncan in to a new substance in his tummy and also to gradually increase my milk supply so both boys get what they need. Eventually, if all goes well and no icky blood in Duncan's stools, we'll work our way up to feeding him exclusively with breast milk. YEY!

This afternoon is the first trial run. I am OFF dairy products while Duncan is breast feeding, so I needed to wait a day to get yesterday's cereal out of my system. Duncan has only attempted nursing once when he was about a month old. The other milk he received from me was pumped and eaten through a bottle. So we'll see how well he likes THE REAL DEAL. Hope he knows what to do!

3 months and growing!

It's hard to believe, but Duncan and Jackson are three months old! Wow. Not a day goes by, as all my mother friends explained to me would happen, that I don't LOVE the particular stage they are in. It's both excitingto see what's in store for the next day and sad to know the present stage will end soon.

The newest things: They both coo like crazy. They both give those gummy grins when you act like a fool in front of them. They both have particular pacifiers that they enjoy greatly. They both still LOVE being swaddled. They both can make it about 6 hours at night before waking up starved (sure beats 3 hours, but we're working on 8!!!).

Duncan is big on jamming his knuckles in his mouth - both when he is hungry and when he is not. He fights daytime sleep like it's the enemy, not wanting to miss much (still sleeping well at night though). He is a cuddly son of a gun, sometimes resisting a nap until someone agrees to allow their shoulder to be his pillow. He always had one hand up near his face (kinda like when he was attempting to jam himself down the birth canal that way - that is, until Dr. Paul "manipulated" his position. Thank GOD for the epidurral!).

Jackson holds his head up like it's his job (Duncan still working in that area). He always positions his eyebrows like he is bearing the weight of the world - so pensive and concerned. He just began yesterday the start of a belly giggle - not just a coo but an all out chuckle. He is pretty self satisfying, cool to hang out by himself and watch his surroundings. He LOVES sleep and could nap on a rock if you laid him there. When laid on his back, you'd think he were practicing to be a cyclist with his legs going round and round. As you can tell, I'm in love.


In other news, tomorrow is a big day for Duncan - his GI doc meets with us to discuss what is next for his diet. Currently, he is still drinking that specialized formula, Neocate. Our prayer is that Dr. Boyle will recommend reintroducing breast milk in hopes that either A) he outgrew what we think was a food allergy (obtained through my breast milk) or B) we can whittle away at my diet until we determine what the allergy specifically is and I will avoid those foods. Both Scott and I are eager for him to get breast milk again. The Neocate smells and seemingly tastes disgusting. Duncan sucks away at the start of his bottle, but eventually makes faces to indicate his disgust. But we also are pulling for the change, because the Neocate is a royal PAIN to prepare (require sterile water) and bottle duty gets old too. Wouldn't it be great to breast feed them at the SAME time?!?!?! Talk about efficiency! With all my new spare time obtained from consolidating to one instead of two separate feedings, I might decide to run for congress, or plant a rose garden, or actually START their baby books.

Enjoy the below bear shots. Isn't the progression neat? The shots are taken at 1 , 2 and 3 months.

















Duncan

Jackson