owen's "gotcha day"

Owen. My crazy, little Owie,

You've been home now for one full year. And since your first "Gotcha Day" on March 17, 2008, you have changed our lives with your fearless spirit and mischievous smile.

When you were only a few hours old, you defied medical odds and showed the doctors that you were ready for this world. "How could it be that this baby is doing so well?"
No one understood, but boy, were we grateful.

Strength was something you possessed from the very beginning, even when you were a mere two and a half pounds. The meaning of your name - young warrior - fits you perfectly. In fact, if we could bottle your determination and sell it, we could probably afford to pay all of your sister's medical bills.

What is wonderful about you is that your strength comes from your good attitude. Lover of meal time and long afternoon naps, of eskimo kisses and daddy zerberts, of crawling on the grass and climbing on dining room chairs; lover of grandparents and big dogs, of crib jumping and obstacle courses, of playing in the dishwasher and chewing on windowsills - you are unique and oh so loveable. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you will continue to engage everyone with your friendly personality. It's as if you smile and say, "Come with me! We're sure to have fun along the way."

The video camera shakes with giggles when I am filming you; the way you laugh - with zero reservation or control - makes my heart happy; the way you want to do everything you're told NOT to do makes me worry about the one cabinet door in the kitchen that still isn't latched.

And all of that is why we adore you; why we are proud of you; and why we couldn't imagine our home without you. (Though it probably would be a little less messy.)

Congratulations, Owen, on your one-year-at-home anniversary. We're glad we gotcha.

- Mom and Dad

Celebrating outside.


Beanie trying to get some face time with the camera.


Owen's "Gotcha Day" cake.


Yummy! This is WAY better than the pea soup you just tried to feed me!

march for babies 2009

Last year, we were humbled by the generous support that we received from our friends and family to walk in the March of Dimes, March for Babies. So, this time around, we decided to set a bigger goal, and ask that you not only sponsor our team with your donation, but that you also consider giving your time.

In addition to our monetary goal of $5,000, our other goal this year is to recruit 112 walkers to join our family team, Two Early.

112??? Are you serious?

After the longest months of our lives, we finally had BOTH Owen and Eliot home - after 112 days.

This year, as we watch in awe how our twins have progressed since their scary roller coaster journey through the NICU, we want to celebrate the 112 days of fighting and thriving by having one person represent each of their days in the hospital.

Join our team, Two Early, so you can help the March of Dimes continue its fight. Walk with us on April 25th and support babies around the country - those born prematurely or with a birth defect; babies who didn't survive; and healthy, full-term babies, as well.

There's a place for everyone. So, put on your sneaks, and grab your spouse, partner, friends, neighbors, kids, and walk with us - five miles around the beautiful city of Atlanta. When you arrive back at Centennial Park, there will be music, dancing, food, and games and toys for the kids. It is one huge celebration.

To be a part of Team Two Early, email me for more information, visit our team site, or simply click the purple banner to the right to sign up or donate. If you can't join us for the walk, please consider sponsoring our team with a donation. Every dollar makes a difference.

Thank you so much for your support.

snow day!

HUGE news

Well, I hope you're sitting down because this is the biggest news ever. I mean it. This is HUGE.

Eliot said her first word on Friday. That's right. Her first perfect, beautiful word with a VERY clear voice.

Now, for those of you who are just catching on to the Eliot Axt saga, you probably think that a 14-month old baby should have babbled long ago, but . . . to put it mildly, sweet baby girl has had "issues" with her throat.

No one can forget Eliot's dramatic heart surgery in January '08 that saved her life, but paralyzed her left vocal cord. (God those days were rough.) We had already researched a procedure to pump her paralyzed cord full of collagen to give her a voice before she went to kindergarten in four years. FOUR years!!??!

Add to this a severe case of acid reflux that causes Elie to spit up over twenty times a day and gives her a constant swollen, sore throat. Here is a baby who completely gave up eating and using her voice because, quite simply, it just hurt. She has never muttered anything even remotely close to a comprehensible word. Ever.

Plus, there was talk - ironically, just last week - that there might be a neurological problem behind Elie's lack of talking. Possibly her brain wasn't able to process that her mouth and breath needed to work simultaneously. "Imagine watching someone run and having no idea where to start." That's how the therapist explained it to me.

So, not only is Elie crawling all over the house AND talking now, her reflux also seems to be calming down a bit (I am knocking on wood as I write this because I SO want it to be true, and not just me making up PollyAnna scenarios in my head). Could it be? Could it be that things are starting to come together for Elie Mak? Please, please, please.

I've got a clip to share of Eliot saying ma-ma. She is also saying ba-ba (her grandfather's name), but I haven't caught that on tape yet. But, you know what? Only having one word - this word - her first word - caught forever on tape . . . well, forgive me for being selfish, but ma-ma is just fine with me.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

and, she crawls

I went away for a long weekend, and left the twins home with Mike. Before I left, Eliot was very close to crawling. But now, after a rigorous three-day Daddy Boot Camp, I am thrilled to say that Eliot is full-fledged MOBILE.

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valentine's day

Valentine's Day 2008 in the NICU


Valentine's Day 2009 at home (UNBELIEVABLE, right?)


Eliot and daddy time.


Elie after I told her that daddy was actually MY Valentine.


Elie proving me wrong. Look at the "nah nee nah nee nah nah" on her face. She is trouble, this one.


Owen just happy to be here, and thrilled that he still has one strawberry cereal bar left. It is Valentine's Day, after all.


Me escaping momentarily from dear Saint Valentine (and the two fourteen-month olds that ran me around like crazy all day).

tupperware party

Owen is hosting a Tupperware Party to earn extra money for strawberry cereal bars. Please let me know if you would like to place an order.

clap, dance, peek

Sorry the blog has been all about "home movies" lately, but the twins are doing so many cute things right now, I can barely see straight.

This clip features Eliot, and it's got it all: clapping, dancing, and the cutest peek-a-boo in the history of the world.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

new wheels

Since Owen is now crawling everywhere, we bought this walker so Eliot could be mobile, too.



BUT sweet Elie doesn't quite understand that the walker has wheels, so she just sits in it, and plays with the keyboard.

And then there is Owen - who figured out in three seconds that he could roll ALL over the house, chase the dogs, AND run over mommy's ankles - all with one new toy.

Cool.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

bed head

El El Bean woke up with the best bed head yesterday, after her g-tube leaked in her crib, and she rolled around in it all night.

I gave her a bath shortly after these pictures, I swear.

first word

Owen said ma-ma. Okay, fine. He said da-da. He says da-da ALL day long . . .

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

promise

I will always love 2008 for so many reasons:
first smiles;
first hugs;
first eskimo kisses (Owie is the best at these!);
first sits and stands and rolls over.

But already, 2009 has so much promise. Owen is now crawling all over the house, which has opened up a new world of chaos that I was completely unprepared for. Though not mobile quite yet, Elie has made great strides in the past few weeks. She is finally putting her feet on the ground and standing up. (For whatever reason, Eliot had great sensitivity in her feet, and would pick up her legs as soon as you picked her up. I think it was because her little heels were pricked a million times in the hospital for blood draws.)

And . . . drumroll . . . Elie is actually opening her mouth for food. OPENING her mouth! That is something she has never done - not in a year. I don't think she is ingesting much, as her swallow is still very awkward, but come on! Swallowing has to be the next step, right?

Here are some pics of the beginning of our wonderful new year . . .

here crawls owen!

Look what the little man started doing on Christmas Eve (nine months adjusted).

Lock up your refrigerators. At 24 pounds, this kid goes for food first.

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christmas 2008

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

the 17th

I will never forget it. Ever. The doctor walked in solemnly on the morning of December 17 (after I had slept through at least twelve hours of contractions), and told me the babies might have to be born today. I went blank.

They sent me down to triage to start an IV of Magnesium Sulfate - a drug used to slow down the system, mainly my uterus. I had been "magged" for four days the week prior. "It worked last week; it will work again." The OB returned after only ten minutes, not acting hopeful. She looked sad, and she said she was sorry.

The doctor discontinued the Mag, and a nurse scrubbed the epidural site. They gave me another IV. I think it was my ninth in two weeks. I complained; I complained about a freakin' IV. Mike and I asked for a minute alone, and we escaped into the bathroom. We held hands and cried, and I remember watching tears fall into the sink.

They wheeled me into the OR, and it was silent. They asked Mike to step outside while they pinned me down to a bed like high school students preparing to dissect a frog. No one said a word. I didn't even know they had made the cut.

Owen entered the world first, with an indignant cry. Eliot fought off the rude intrusion, but cried within seconds. I asked the doctor whose babies were crying, and she said they were mine. "My babies can cry?"

The NICU delivery team held my tiny, new twins in front of me, and I kissed one of them. I don't even know which one I kissed. They were rushed to intensive care, where they would remain for the next few months. I begged for them to fight.

I was wheeled into recovery with a bunch of women who all had their babies. I listened to them ogle all over their new bundles, while I wondered if mine were still alive. I sent Mike to check. I sent Mike to check if our children were still alive. Why should anyone ever have to do that?

Lying groggy and sore from surgery, I was in the middle of the worst moment of my entire life. And, to make it worse, I had to watch and listen to other mothers basking in their best. I doubt it could ever get more depressing than that.

When we made it to our post-natal room later that morning, Mike and I stared at the ceiling. "Should I call our parents?" he asked.
"No," I said. "I don't want anyone to know." What . . . did I think I was going to hide it?

That morning Owen defied all odds by breathing on his own, and we felt a sense of hope. That evening, Eliot's breathing started to struggle, and we were once again consumed with fear. (This was the beginning of a long series of emotional "up and downs.")

Around 5am on the morning of December 18th, I woke up in a panic. "Call the NICU nurse," I said shaking. "Please call to check." We both held our breath as we knew Mike wasn't calling to "check" on the twins, he was calling to see if Eliot had made it through the night.

When Mike told me Elie was doing "okay," I smiled. It was one of the first smiles I remember after giving birth, and it didn't happen until almost 24 hours later. The nurse just said that Eliot was doing "okay." And I was so happy. "Okay" was so much better than what I had prepared myself for.

The first few days after the 17th are blurry. I know I prayed a lot, and hoped a lot, and wanted - so badly - to be celebrating the birth of my children. But last year, it just wasn't so. We had too many mountains to climb.

But TODAY. Today is a different day and a different story. Today is Owen and Eliot's birthday. And we will gladly smile and celebrate it by putting cupcakes in our hair instead of in our mouth (nice, Owen); by eating our birthday party hats (nice, Elie Mak); and by ripping open wrapping paper, only to ignore the new toy for the giant empty box in which it came.

And while tomorrow will undoubtedly bring Eliot's stubborn refusal to swallow pureed peaches, and Owen's mind-splitting, loud scream, we still have today. And THIS December 17th is a great day. Today my babies are one, and one is so much fun. Happy Birthday to my strong, amazing miracles.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

1st birthday party

Happy Birthday to two . . . Happy Birthday to two . . .

What a great party. Four grandparents, four cousins, two aunts, one uncle, and a mom and a dad . . . Add to the mix "almost one-year old" twins, and, well, Mike and I are tired.

The twins had so much fun; I'll post some video footage later. They turn one this Wednesday. ONE. I can't believe we all made it through the first year; surely the Axt family is due for a little less drama in 2009 (can I get an AMEN?).

Are there calories in that hat? If so, give that girl another!


Owen on his new rocking horse.


Elie Mak playing at her new music table.




Celebrating with cousins!

play date II

Another play date with our good NICU friends, and look how all of the babies have grown!

May 2008



December 2008

ignore

So, Owen has entered the "screaming" phase. Screaming for attention, screaming for the dogs, screaming for food. I read in one of my "what do do with baby" books that parents should try to ignore screaming.

Ignore? No problem. I was a middle school teacher. I can ignore anything.

Except when the anything sounds like this . . .

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tortilla

So, Eliot doesn't eat, right? Right.

BUT, she is making some progress with putting new foods in her mouth. Behold the flour tortilla . . .

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giving thanks

We have so much to be thankful for this year.