Still miss Aiden every day, but boy are the twins growing up fast.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
I'm Bad. Here's the crew two years later
Still miss Aiden every day, but boy are the twins growing up fast.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Bittersweet Day
Today should be a happy day. We have made the final payment on Aiden's medical expenses. It still seems crazy that a hospital can tell you your son has died and then proceed to hand you a bill for many thousands of dollars. Anyway, for nearly the past two years I have been making payments on Aiden's medical bills. Today I received the final bill, meaning the expenses are paid in full. This would generally be something you celebrate. However, in this situation it means I will no longer receive a monthly bill with Aiden's name on it. As much as I hate bills, it was always comforting to receive mail from someone else acknowledging Aiden's life.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
We're still here....just a little busy.
Sorry it has been so long since my last post. Turns out twins are about four times the work of a single baby. :-)
It's hard to believe the twins will be three months old tomorrow. Anya is still a little peanut with a scream of a banshee. Zach is turning into a bit of a bruiser. Lately he's been taking four ounces every two hour.
Other than the lack of sleep everyone is doing well. I will try to be more diligent about posting on a regular basis.
It's hard to believe the twins will be three months old tomorrow. Anya is still a little peanut with a scream of a banshee. Zach is turning into a bit of a bruiser. Lately he's been taking four ounces every two hour.
Other than the lack of sleep everyone is doing well. I will try to be more diligent about posting on a regular basis.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Doing well
The doctors are very pleased with the progress. Feeding tubes are gone and they both are nursing and bottle feeding quite well. Also their weights are up and they have been apnea free since arriving. So if this progress continues they should be released early next week. Sure would be nice if they came home Christmas day.
Friday, December 21, 2007
One step closer to home.
Well the babies just arrived here in Nashua. The transfer via ambulance went smoothly and the babies seem to be adjusting to their new environment. The plan now is to get them off their feeding tubes, show some weight gain and to go several days without any signs of apnea. The doctors says they should be home before New Years.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Weather delay
Due to this wonderful New England winter weather the transfer has been delayed till friday morning.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
New plan
Turns out the NICUs at the hospitals in Concord and Manchester are all full. However it seems that the Southern NH hospital in Nashua NH can take the kids. The plan is for the transfer to happen tomorrow. Nashua is still a good hour plus from home, but we have a greater support system in that area versus Lebanon NH.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Joy & Frustration
I am sitting in a hotel in Lebanon NH where the current temp is -13. Yes 13 degrees BELOW zero, though it's not the cold that is on my mind. The emotions are very mixed. It is a joy and a true blessing that the twins have finally arrived. However there is a great deal of frustration in the poor communications we're experiencing with the people in the intensive care nursery. Let me explain.
Sat 12/8 5pm We arrive in Concord NH where Kathy is having contractions.
Sat 12/8 8pm Kathy is transported by ambulance to Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon NH.
Wed 12/12 11am The babies arrive.
Fri 12/14 10am We ask about having the babies moved to a hospital closer to home. The 3+ hour round trip to Dartmouth is getting old quickly. We are told that could happen on Monday.
Sat 12/15 4pm Kathy is discharged as a maternity patient however they allow Kathy to "room as guest" in the birthing pavilion. Since Kathy's accommodations are set I head home for the weekend with Nick.
Sat 12/15 9pm Kathy is told by a nurse in the ICN that there is an opening at David's House (similar to the Ronald McDonald Houses) and that she should move there because she maybe asked to leave the birthing pavilion. She told that if she doesn't take it immediately then it will go to someone else. This all takes place while breast feeding Anya and she is moved without being able to feed Zach.
Sat 12/15 10am I get the a phone call from Kathy who is crying and terrible upset about being moved away from the babies.
Sun 12/16 4am Nick & I hop in the truck for a ride to Lebanon to be with Kathy. A noreaster storm is coming through the area so we pack a bag just in case we need to stay.
Sun 12/16 8am After having breakfast together we decide it's best for us Kathy, Nick & I to head home to ride out the storm. We figure we'll be back to see the babies on Monday and hopefully take them home on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Sunday 12/16 12pm I check in on the kids and am told all is well. I also called Concord to find out the status of the transfer request. They tell me they have not received any request for a transfer.
Sunday 12/16 7pm I speak with the nurse who is caring for the kids. She said they are doing feeding well and both have had their IVs removed. I asked that she reiterate our desire to have the kids moved to Concord so they will be closer to home.
Monday 12/17 6am I call to check on the twins and again I'm told they did great through the night. No issues to report. I am also told we should know about the transfer request after 11am.
Mon 12/17 1pm The three of us head out on our family "vacation". The plan is to spend the day at the hospital with the babies then spend the night at a nearby hotel (with a pool!!). When the babies were born we were told they would spend a week to ten day in the ICN before they could go home. The criteria for discharge was the needed to breath on their own, maintain their body temp in an open bassinet, breast or bottle feed and have 7 straight days without any apnea. As the babies had met all these goals, except the apnea which they only needed 2 more days apnea free, we figured they would be coming home on Wednesday. The finish line was in sight.
Mon 12/17 2:30pm We are greeted by nurse Ratchet who asks us if this is the first time visiting the babies!!
Monday 12/17 3pm We are told by the discharge nurse that Concord cannot take the babies as they are full. Also she tells us that Zach had an episode of apnea on the 15th and Anya had an episode on the 16th, so the soonest they could go home would be next Sunday! WTF?
Tue 12/18 5am Kathy heads over to feed the kids. Nick sleeps in at the hotel while I sit at the desk venting my frustrations! I can't wait to have everyone safe and well at home.
Sat 12/8 5pm We arrive in Concord NH where Kathy is having contractions.
Sat 12/8 8pm Kathy is transported by ambulance to Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon NH.
Wed 12/12 11am The babies arrive.
Fri 12/14 10am We ask about having the babies moved to a hospital closer to home. The 3+ hour round trip to Dartmouth is getting old quickly. We are told that could happen on Monday.
Sat 12/15 4pm Kathy is discharged as a maternity patient however they allow Kathy to "room as guest" in the birthing pavilion. Since Kathy's accommodations are set I head home for the weekend with Nick.
Sat 12/15 9pm Kathy is told by a nurse in the ICN that there is an opening at David's House (similar to the Ronald McDonald Houses) and that she should move there because she maybe asked to leave the birthing pavilion. She told that if she doesn't take it immediately then it will go to someone else. This all takes place while breast feeding Anya and she is moved without being able to feed Zach.
Sat 12/15 10am I get the a phone call from Kathy who is crying and terrible upset about being moved away from the babies.
Sun 12/16 4am Nick & I hop in the truck for a ride to Lebanon to be with Kathy. A noreaster storm is coming through the area so we pack a bag just in case we need to stay.
Sun 12/16 8am After having breakfast together we decide it's best for us Kathy, Nick & I to head home to ride out the storm. We figure we'll be back to see the babies on Monday and hopefully take them home on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Sunday 12/16 12pm I check in on the kids and am told all is well. I also called Concord to find out the status of the transfer request. They tell me they have not received any request for a transfer.
Sunday 12/16 7pm I speak with the nurse who is caring for the kids. She said they are doing feeding well and both have had their IVs removed. I asked that she reiterate our desire to have the kids moved to Concord so they will be closer to home.
Monday 12/17 6am I call to check on the twins and again I'm told they did great through the night. No issues to report. I am also told we should know about the transfer request after 11am.
Mon 12/17 1pm The three of us head out on our family "vacation". The plan is to spend the day at the hospital with the babies then spend the night at a nearby hotel (with a pool!!). When the babies were born we were told they would spend a week to ten day in the ICN before they could go home. The criteria for discharge was the needed to breath on their own, maintain their body temp in an open bassinet, breast or bottle feed and have 7 straight days without any apnea. As the babies had met all these goals, except the apnea which they only needed 2 more days apnea free, we figured they would be coming home on Wednesday. The finish line was in sight.
Mon 12/17 2:30pm We are greeted by nurse Ratchet who asks us if this is the first time visiting the babies!!
Monday 12/17 3pm We are told by the discharge nurse that Concord cannot take the babies as they are full. Also she tells us that Zach had an episode of apnea on the 15th and Anya had an episode on the 16th, so the soonest they could go home would be next Sunday! WTF?
Tue 12/18 5am Kathy heads over to feed the kids. Nick sleeps in at the hotel while I sit at the desk venting my frustrations! I can't wait to have everyone safe and well at home.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
They're Here!!
Born today at 11:06am was Anya Eve Arenstam. She as 4lbs 8 oz and 16 1/2" long.
She was closely followed by her younger brother at 11:07am. Zachary Aiden Arenstam was 5lbs 5oz and 17 3/4" long
She was closely followed by her younger brother at 11:07am. Zachary Aiden Arenstam was 5lbs 5oz and 17 3/4" long
Today's the day!!
The doctors just checked Kathy and things are changing so they are scheduling the delivery for sometime today! Since the babies will be less than 35 weeks they will have to spent a period of time in the Intensive Care Nursery. Hopefully not too long.
Still no arrivals
I'm sitting in the hospital room here in Dartmouth on Wednesday at 6:30am and still no babies. Kathy is still having contractions but no change in the cervix, which is what they are waiting for.
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