We've been bad about taking pictures this week. This will be the second post without any pictures and I promise to work harder to take more soon.
One of the big challenges we are going to have over the next 5-6 months is keeping Brandon and Katelyn healthy. We need to keep both of them out of public places and fairly isolated during this time. While this is a common recommendation for many newborns during the winter months, it’s especially important for these two little ones.
They both have a weakened immune system and very damaged lungs (that hopefully will get better over time). A common cold could put them back in the hospital and even has the potential to be fatal. We have seen what a standard infection can do to them and it is pretty scary. We all wash our hands often and we have a lot of antibacterial lotion all over the house. The boys know it as “magic soap”.
One of the most difficult things is to explain this to everyone is that they need to keep their distance. We often have to fend off strangers. It is pretty amazing how much attention a baby can attract when we take her somewhere like a doctor’s appointment or anywhere public. Everyone wants to see and even strangers want to touch the blankets and some even want to hold her hand. We are working on ways to tactfully ask them to stay away without sounding mean.
It's even harder with family and friends. Brandon and Katelyn are both so cute and we really want to show them off but we know it is much wiser to wait. It’s even harder to find a way to tell a good friend or neighbor to keep their distance. We’ve been considering making a sing to put on her car seat that says “Danger: Keep Away” but I’m not sure how effective it will be. We noticed that a common tactic used by the nurses in the hospital was to write notes as if they are from the baby when they want to leave directions for everyone else. This way it seems a little friendlier than the nurses telling them to stay away or not to wake them when they are sleeping. We might try that too and see if it works.
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I remember how hard it was to keep those preemie babies away from germs. You become so aware of it - you have to.
It's worth it. Don't let up. We were so careful at first, and then it's natural to ease up a little bit, especially when you have seen so much improvement. That's what we did, and our boys had to be hospitalized for RSV when they were a year old.
We would love to have Derek and Blake come and play again with our boys (would it be harder now that we are not on the way to the hospital?). Just know we are still happy to help. We have just had one cold after another and I would feel awful if you caught it from us. I know how careful you have to be. We will give you a call when we are healthy at our house.
So glad Brandon is closer to home and that you have a plan for getting him home soon. Those babies will probably fit in a stocking - I'm sure having them both home for Christmas is the best present you could receive.
Whitney
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