The Tale of Two Preemies: September 2012

Monday, September 17, 2012

Tall Tales

Tate has been busy telling stories lately. Most of his stories involve his "cousin" J. She is his second or third cousin (however that works), and he sees her at school, but doesn't really know her very well. Anywho, he always has stories about what J has or the time he was at J's house. Before J, it was stories about going to his friend's house, which he's never done. Sometimes his friend lives in China, sometimes wherever we happen to be driving. I'm just not sure how far to let it go. Yesterday on the way home from church he was telling me about when he goes to his "other" dad's house. At that, I nicely told him he doesn't have another dad. I'm really just at a loss. Is this normal? Do I just let it go? Do I tell him over and over again that it's not true? I'm just not sure how to handle this. I can't help but laugh a little, but I have a feeling Pat won't think the "other" dad business is quite as funny. Any advice out there bloggy land?

For your viewing pleasure, since I haven't posted pics in a while.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

New Found Freedom

I realize it has been a long time since I updated. What can I say? Things have been BUSY!

Tate is now in his 3rd week of preschool. He loves school and being a "big" kid. He did have a little incident the first day of school. He called another kid a baby and refused to apologize. He even stomped his foot, used his angry arms, and yelled at his teacher that "my mom is going to come get me!" Needless to say, we had to have a little chat at home about that. He's got it in his head that he is the only one who turned 4, and everyone else is still little. He did surprise his teacher with his outburst. I tried to warn her that Tate is NOT his brother and she got to finally see it first hand!

Tate's first day of preschool

I am enjoying my "free" days. I've had a couple of days now when I just get to stay home with Shelby. It is amazing what you can get done when the only kid you have around naps!

Shelby is growing like a weed. I can't believe how fast these 5 months have flown by. She's not moving, per se. She scoots herself by kicking her legs and rolls side to side, but hasn't gone over yet. She's such a happy girl. She's full of smiles and laughs. Yesterday she went from a sit to this position. She couldn't figure out how to get her leg out from underneath her, but she was perfectly content to be like this:

Once she figures this rolling thing out, her brothers better beware!

Cole's Story

Cole was born at 30 weeks 3 days, much to our surprise, in 2006. I went in to the hospital because I wasn't feeling well and was afraid I'd get dehydrated. I ended up being air lifted to a larger hospital where Cole was born 24 hours later. He weighed in at 4 lbs. 2 oz. and was 17" long. He had some developmental delays, mostly due to acid reflux. He also had positional plagiocephaly and was in a remolding helmet for 6 weeks. At 14 months he underwent a cardiac catheter procedure to close his PDA. At 25 months he tripped getting out of his kiddie pool and broke his femur. He was in a cast from his hips to his toes for 4 long weeks. He also broke his shoulder at age 5 1/2. His latest medical drama has been a cyst in his left ear. He's had his adenoids removed and another surgery to remove the cyst. He'll have a second surgery in August. He's been through the ringer, but you'd never know it. He just rolls with the punches. He's 100% farm boy. He wants to know how everything works and why. He loves the farm. Farming is definitely in his blood.

Tate's Story

Tate was born at 34 weeks 2 days in 2008. Since I had a previous premature delivery, I was on high alert for another one. It didn't help. We had ultrasound after ultrasound and everything looked great. Tate, however, was not patient. I was admitted to the hospital with preterm labor. He held off for a couple of days, but was still born early. He weighed 5 and a half pounds and was 19" long. Fortunately he had no problems and was released from the hospital 3 days after he was born. He was born the middle child. He desperately wants to do what his big brother does, but has his own interests and wants Cole do to those with him. He's my trouble-maker, fit-thrower, and snuggle bug.