Saturday, July 08, 2006

One week old!

As of this morning at about 9:30 am EST Thomas and Michael had been part of our family for one week. It is hard to believe that it has only been a week, as they seem to have been with us for so much longer.

It seems that when we go to the hospital each evening, Thomas is usually sleeping and we get to watch the nurse feed, change and weigh Michael, but we miss Thomas nightly routine, so I guess we need to get to the hospital earlier in the evening so we can see Thomas while he is awake.

Last night it was so nice to see the boys off of the photo therapy lights. It was wonderful to see Michael with his eyes open and watch him as he fell asleep for the evening. Thomas on the other hand was already asleep.

Thomas is now weighing in at 3 lbs 4 ounces and eating 27 cc's every three hours. When we talked to the nurse this morning she said that Thomas was having spells in his sleep. The spells she is referring to is when his heart rate or breathing slows down in his sleep, sometimes they come out of these spells on their own, or other times a nurse might have to touch them to wake them a little. Earlier in the week, the nurse was not too concerned about the spells as they are fairly normal is babies this young.

The nurse told us last night that today Michael would have his IV removed today and that he is finishing up his antibiotics. Michael is weighing in at 3 lbs 8 ounces and eating 26 cc's every three hours. He was having trouble having a bowel movement, but when the nurses went to help him out, he had a major bowel movement.

Both of the boys are eating as much breastmilk as I am bringing in. I guess that since the amounts of their feedings are increasing, I had better get busy and make more milk.

In other news David and Crystal went to Washington DC today. They were planning on going to Ford's Theater, the Aquarium and the National Zoo. They have lofty plans for the day, we will see what they all accomplish.

Friday, July 07, 2006

Technical difficulties

I know that David promised that bath time pictures would be posted yesterday, but I was having technical difficulties with the computer and was unable to post them. The technical problems have been resolved and I will be posting the bath pictures soon.

Now for the information that you all are waiting for. I came home from the hospital on Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday night I was pretty exhausted from getting out of the hospital and getting settled again at home. It sure was nice to breath fresh air. It had almost been a week since I had been outside of the hospital walls. I am doing much better. Everyday I am getting stronger and feeling less pain. I am trying to rest as much as possible, so that when the boys come home from the hospital, I will be as close to full strength as possible.

Now for an update on the boys. As of last night both boys weigh about 3 pounds 6 ounces. They seem to take turns gaining weight. One night we will get a report that Thomas stayed the same, but Michael gained an ounce, and then the next night we will hear the opposite. The important thing is that they are both gaining weight. They are also both getting more and more to eat everyday. Yesterday Thomas had his IV removed, so now all of his nutrition is coming from formula or breast milk.

This morning when I called the hospital to receive an update on the boys, I was told that they both were taken off of the photo therapy lights. It will be so nice to go to the hospital and see the boys in regular lights and their eyes uncovered. Thomas is eating 23 cc of formula or breast milk every three hours and Michael is eating 20 cc of breast milk for formula every three hours (for those of you not familiar with cc's there are 30 cc's in one ounce). Michael started eating after his brother, but he is quickly trying to catch up. Michael's breathing is also improving. He is no longer using the C PAP machine, and is just receiving oxygen. They are also slowing decreasing the amount of oxygen that he is getting, until he is able to breathe room air. All the nurses are very positive about the progress the boys are making. We have not heard anything about when to expect the boys to be coming home, we are just taking it day by day.

I would like to thank all of our friends and family who have kept us in your thoughts and prayers. I know that all of your thoughts and prayers have helped the delivery to be successful, to aid in my speedy recovery and the progress of Thomas and Michael. We really appreciate all the thoughts and prayers, we could not do this with out all of your love and support. I would also like to thank David's sister Crystal who has been out visiting us for the past couple of weeks, she has been a tremendous help. Before I went into the hospital she was a great help getting the house ready for when the babies were to arrive, little did we know they would be making their entrance so soon. During the last week, she has been so much help. She was able to take care of things at the house, while David was staying at the hospital with me. She ran errands for us, brought things to the hospital and got her wish to see the babies before going back to Kansas. She also learned how to drive in Winchester, which can be tricky. Since I have been home from the hospital she has been doing things around the house, so I can rest and taking me where I need to go, since I can't drive. David and I really appreciate all that she has done to help us.

David and I usually go to visit the boys in the evening after dinner. We will try to provide updates about the boys, either when we get home that night or I will do it the next morning.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Bathtime!

Tonight, upon my nightly visit of the twins, I arrived at just the right moment to observe Michael's first bath!

Such a treat, such a surprise!

Thomas was done and dry prior to my arrival, so Michael was left to bathe. He squirmed a little, moved this way and that. But poor Michael couldn't escape from the drops.

Water around and shampoo too. Oh what will poor Michael do?

Finally a towel, a dry body for him. Now he's quiet and ready for bed!

Both Thomas and Michael are doing great these days. Both have been eating their formula and now mother has been producing enough milk to begin their gourmet diet. Thomas is eating 15 cc's and Michael is at 12 cc's. They will also still be on the photogenic therapy for at least one more day. They have both gained weight. All's looking well in the Dillner camp at Winchester Medical Center. Jenny will visit tomorrow and she will also post the pictures that I took during my nightly visit with the Twins. Be sure to check back tomorrow, as the bath pictures will be posted!

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Improvement is Good

The boys are doing great. Thomas has gained one ounce since yesterday and now weighs over three pounds! He has been feeding on formula very well. I believe they have fed him up to eleven cc's of Enfamil formula. His heart rate and breathing is consistant and enduring. He did have some photogenic therapy again today, but that will hopefully end, at least for awhile, tomorrow.

Michael is also progressing although not as fast as Thomas. The fluid he swallowed during labor has kept him behind his brother. He has been rotating between the CPAP machine and oxygen assistance. He has been breathing much better, and he has also been feeding on formula like his brother. Michael was able to be held by Jenny and I today. I think that helped soothe him a little. He can be a little fiesty, especially when it comes to his breathing assistance. He just doesn't want it in his nose and I can't say that I don't blame him.

Jenny will be released from the hospital tomorrow. She has been improving in health today. She had her best day today, which meant that she got to spend a little more time with the boys. She was really looking forward to spending some time with them. She has been doing great with all of this. I have no doubts that she will be an excellent mother for these boys!

Jenny and I would like to thank every one for the gift cards. We received them in the mail from my sister yesterday. We will be going to Target and Wal-Mart in the next few days to purchase some of the items that we are going to need when the boys come home. I know for sure that one thing we will be getting is a stroller that is compatible with our two car seats. Thank you all and we love you all!

Independence Day

Jenny has been consistently improving in her health. She may even come home today, but we will have to see. She has been up and walking around and that helps move things around in her bowels and also helps her regain her strength. As of last night she hadn't eaten much, so the doctor put her back on an IV to get her some nutrition. This will help her be able to walk around more, which will improve her strength. Once she gets her strength back up, she will be able to eat more. It's really a circle of improvement. She's been doing much better from day-to-day, and I know she would like to be 100% again.

The twins are doing just fine too. I posted an audio update last night talking about the photogenic lights that they are under right now. This helps break down their extra red blood cells. The nurse told us that most babies experience this condition, but they often get assistance from the sun itself. We did take a couple of pictures of the guys under these lights, but they don't give it any justice. It makes them look more like radioactive babies than anything.

We will post more pictures once I return from the hospital today. If all is well, I will be accompanied by Jenny too. I need to get ready to go for a visit now. Everyone have a safe and wonderful Independence Day!

One more thing... If you would like to call Jenny at the hospital the number for her room directly is 540-536-1449. She enjoys talking to people and appreciates the love and support.

Monday, July 03, 2006

Audio Update

this is an audio post - click to play

Holding Thomas

Last night Jenny and I finally got to hold one of our babies. Thomas has been doing well enough that the nurse let us hold him for a bit during our nightly visit. Thomas did quite well for being held. In fact, I think he enjoyed it. After Jenny held him for awhile, I held him and rocked him to sleep. Jenny got to stay a little longer than the last time she saw them because this time she was feeling much better.

Michael has been put back on the CPAP machine. This machine pushed air into his lungs to help keep them inflated. Doing this prevents him from expending too much of his energy to keep them inflated. He needs his energy to help him get better. Hopefully in the next day or so he will be able to start feeding.

Thomas has been doing real well. As I mentioned above, we got to hold him for the first time last night. He has also been feeding on the bottle and holding it down. The nurses were checking him every two hours to make sure that he continues to digest the food properly.

There all fighters and continue to get better with each day. It won't be long and we will be able to take them home. The boys are looking forward to that as much as we are.

Saturday, July 01, 2006

First Viewings

This afternoon we got to finally see the babies. Crystal and I got to see them after supper, and then Jenny and I got to see them before I left for the night. This was Jenny first time seeing them since their birth and I think she really enjoyed it.

Both guys are improving in health. Tomorrow we may get to hold both of them, but the nurse said that more than likely Michael will need some more time before he is ready to be held. They will both grasp your finger if you put it in their palm. They both have hair. Thomas has what looks to be Dad's hair, while Michael looks to have Mom's.

They are so tiny and small, but the nurses say that should begin to develop fat and fill in their skin a little more. As time goes on, they will become more and more healthy. We look forward to the day when we can take them home with us.

We will post more pictures to the website tomorrow, so be sure to check back often for the lastest news!

Contacting Us

If you would like to talk to Jenny or David, please call the Winchester Medical Center at 540-536-8000. This is the number for the hospital, so you will have to ask to speak with Jennifer Dillner. If you would like to send a card, please send it to 4th Floor, Maternity Ward at the Winchester Medical Center.

You can also leave us a voice message on either of our cell phones. Jenny's is 540-409-1177 and David's is 540-409-1166. Our home address is located at the bottom of this website.

We thank everyone for their love and support. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Meet the Dillner Boys

Thomas David Dillner



Michael James Dillner




David and Jennifer Dillner announce the arrival of their newest additions to their family. Thomas David Dillner was born at 9:32 am EST and Michael James Dillner was born at 9:33 am EST at the Winchester Medical Center in Winchester, Virginia. Thomas weighs 3 pounds, 15 ounces and Michael weighs 3 pounds, 8 ounces. Both are spending some time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit until they are ready to go home. Usually, the actual due is used to estimate when the babies will be able to go home, but each baby is different, so it could be sooner. The boys' original due date was August 13, 2006.

Both boys are doing well, and their vitals signs are good. Michael had some difficultly breathing at first, but he has been doing much better since delivery. The heart rates are great and breathing is pretty stable. The medical staff is watching over them to make sure that they continue to improve.

Jenny is also doing well recovering. She has started to eat a liquid diet and may start eating solid foods tomorrow morning. She hasn't seen the babies yet, but is eager to hold them. She did an excellent job in the operation. The doctor says that they will probably keep her for another couple of days to monitor her progress.

David and Jenny would like to especially thank the doctors, nurses and medical staff that helped bring Thomas and Michael into the world. They did a great job to ease our worries, and they continue to do a great job assisting the twins development. Hopefully we will be able to take them home sooner because of their hard work.

Be sure to check out the Dillner Gallery for more pictures of the boys!

David Announces the Births

this is an audio post - click to play

Friday, June 30, 2006

Poll #2


What will the Dillner twin combination be?
2 Girls
2 Boys
1 Girl, 1 Boy
  
Free polls from Pollhost.com

The Real Deal

Well folks, the moment you've all been waiting for has finally arrived! The Dillner Twins are being prepared for an early delivery in order to help Jenny decrease her blood pressure and swelling. The nurses have been taking great care of Jenny and the twins as they get set for entry into this world.

At this point, we don't know when the delivery will be scheduled. This morning one of our doctor's informed us that it could be either Saturday or Sunday night. They have been conducting stress tests on the babies and everything seems to be going fine. They have given Jenny some steroid injections to help prepare the babies' lungs for breathing post-birth. They have also changed Jenny's blood thinner prescription to make it easier for the doctors to regulate this during the process. She was put on the thinners due to a blood clot that was detected in April.

Everything is going fine. The doctors, nurses and hospital staff have been great and continue to give Jenny and the twins the care they need to succeed. The team is preparing to go, so check back often for updates. I will try to keep this site updated throughout the process.

Monday, June 26, 2006

Preparation

Everything is fine at the Dillner residence these days. Jenny and the Twins are doing well, as they prepare for the home stretch. Before you know it, the Twins will be born! I actually did the math in the shower this morning. We have six weeks until we are due (August 13th is our due date), but twins typically come early. The doctors have told us that they want the twins to stay in until Week 37 which is only five short weeks away!

Crystal, David's youngest sister, has come to visit David and Jenny. She's been helping them prepare the house for the expectant twins. She has been a tremendous help doing the jobs that Jenny can't do and David doesn't want to do. David's planning on taking her to Washington, D.C. to see some sites as well as some other locations before she heads back to Kansas on July 13th. While she would like to see the twins, she will probably miss them.

David just returned from a local government managers conference in Virginia Beach. It was a great conference, and the beach was great. He only wishes that Jenny could have come with him, but he did bring her some salt water taffy nonetheless. The conference was a great opportunity to network with other managers and learn a few things on the side. David will not be attending the ICMA conference in San Antonio this year because the twins will keep him busy for awhile.

David and Jenny would love to hear from you. If you would like to give them a ring, simply call (540) 409-1166. Once the twins are born, David will post a message on his phone with the most up-to-date information, including their Apgar scores. Be sure to check this site or call to find out the latest information.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

31 week check up and ultrasound


Today David and I went for our 31 week check up and ultrasound. All is continuing to go well. Both of the babies weigh about 3 pounds 8 ounces. They are able to determine the babies weight due to the different measurements that are taken, such as head size and belly size among other things. One of the twins is breach, butt first on my left side. The other twin is hiding behind its brother or sister, with its head on my right side and butt on the left side. We only got one decent picture of the twins from the ultrasound, it has both of their heads in it. You can see it posted here or in the photo gallery. For all of those wondering, we do not know the sex of the babies. We want to be surprised when they are born. We go back to the doctor in another two weeks. Both babies are very active. They always seem to be most active when David is not around. He had a city council meeting last night, I think they knew he was gone and they were keeping me company.

In other news, tonight David and his friend Andy are going to bottle our third batch of beer. It will be ready for consumption in about 3-4 weeks.

David's youngest sister Crystal is coming out to visit us for about three weeks. She will arrive on June 19th. She is going to help us get the house ready for the twins. She will help me with things that I can not do on my own, such as lifting and bending over all the time.

Friday, June 09, 2006

Check out the photo gallery

More pictures have just been added to the photo gallery, including the most recent front and side views of Jenny, so you can get an idea of how big she is. Pictures from the Apple Blossom Festival and our latest attempt at brewing brew. Check back next week for more ultrasound pictures and pictures from the 90th running of the Indy 500.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

One Year Anniversary

It is hard to believe but on May 28th David and I celebrated our one year anniversary. When I look back over this past year, it is amazing to see how many things can change in such a short time. During that year we have began our new life together, moved across the country, began new jobs, we were blessed with being pregnant with twins and explored a new part of the country, seeing many sights that we would not have seen in the Midwest. We are both in agreement that it was a very good year and we are looking forward to many many more good years to come.

We had come up with a wonderful way to celebrate our anniversary, but unfortunately it did not work out as we had planned. We thought it would be wonderful to meet our families in Indianapolis and go to the Indy 500, or at least the boys would go to the race. The trip would be a great anniversary present to ourselves, since we both enjoy racing and it would be great to see our families. Tickets were bought, hotel reservations made and the trip was a go. I had decided not to go to the race, but spend time with our mothers instead. As it ended up, I was unable to make the trip due to the blood clot in my leg, the doctors did not want me traveling that far. I sent David on the trip anyways, as I knew he was so excited and it did not seem fair for our families to make the trip and we not be there, since we had the idea for the trip. David and our families had a wonderful weekend. I enjoyed a relaxing weekend at home, I was also able to finish up many of my projects at work.

I can't say that is the way I had envisioned us spending our first anniversary, but it all worked out for the best. David enjoyed himself and I got needed rest. David will have to create a post about race. We will also get pictures from the race on to the photo gallery soon. Everyone who went to the race had a great time, I believe that plans are in the works for going again next year, but this time I get to go to the race and the grandmas can babysit the twins.

29 Week Checkup

Last week David and I went for our 29 week check up. All is continuing to go well. I check out fine, both of the babies heart rated were good, 138 and 150 beats per minute. On June 14th we will go for another ultrasound.

We are continuing our childbirth prep classes. We only have one more left to go, plus we are going to go to a breastfeeding class.

I do apologize for not updating the photo gallery with pictures of me as the pregnancy progresses, but our computer is having difficulty recognizing the camera on the USB drive. I am continuing to get bigger. Many people at work commented on the fact that I am all baby. If you see me from behind, besides the pregnant walk, you would not know I was pregnant. Most of the weight I am gaining is in the belly.

Friday I finished school for the year. David and I still have to go finish cleaning out my office, but otherwise I am done teaching for the summer. I am enjoying being able to rest when I need to and sleep in. I am slowly but surly working on getting the house ready for the twins arrival. After the ultrasound I will update you again on the growth of the babies.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

27 week checkup

Today we went for our 27 week check up. The doctor told us that the ultra sound looked good, the babies measurements were good and all is well. Both of the babies heartbeats sounded strong. For those of you who are trying to determine the sex of babies by the number of beats per minute, I am sorry to say that today we did not get an accurate beat per minute rate. We could hear one of the babies kicking as the doctor was listening to its heartbeat. Today's appointment was rather long and drawn as I had to have some labs completed. We checked to see if I was at risk for gestational diabetes and general blood work. All lab results came fine. The doctor said that everything is going well. We hope and pray that the rest of the pregnancy will continue to go well. We will start going to the doctor every two weeks now. We will try to update you after each doctor's visit.

In other news, I have learned how to update the website. That is good news for all of avid readers, as I will try to be a little more consistent in keeping you all up to date with the goings on in Winchester.

All is going well for David at work. He recently took charge over a project that had become stalemated. The project entails creating a walking/biking pedestrian train around the city, called the Green Circle. From my understanding this project has been in the works for a while and not much was happening with it. So the City Manager approached David about this project and through a series of meetings and planning sessions, it was decided that David was now going to take charge of this project. It is to be his main project for the summer. Some of the other projects he was working on have been split up among other city employees. David is very excited about taking charge of this project. Many employees at the City were also very excited about David taking it over, they feel that now something can get accomplished with the Green Circle.

I am waiting, some days more patiently than others for the end of the school year. Our last day of work is June 2nd. I think I can make until then. The past few weeks have been very busy, with writing IEP's and trying to tie all the lose ends together before leaving for the summer. I am looking forward to having the summer to relax. Most people that I talk to sympathize about being very pregnant during the hot summer. I on the other hand am looking forward to the chance to relax, when I need to, take things at a much slower pace and if it is too hot, I will sit in my recliner in my house with the AC on and my feet up. Our plans for the summer are to get the house ready for the babies and enjoy some of the local festivals and attractions.

I have decided not to return to Daniel Morgan next school year. I am going to stay home with the babies instead. David and I are searching the web for things that I can do from home to bring some income. I am looking forward to being able to stay at home with our babies and watch them grow.

Friday, May 12, 2006

Ultrasound at 26 weeks















On Wednesday May 10th, David and I went for our second ultrasound. I think we enjoyed this ultrasound more than the previous one. We were prepared to see two babies!! During the ultrasound we learned that both babies weighed about 2 pounds each. Twin A is breech on my left side. Twin B is transverse, or laying across my stomach, with his or her feet close to the head of twin A. In fact during the ultrasound we could see the head of twin a, and the foot of twin B, it appeared as though twin B was kicking twin A. The hospital has new technology that allows you to see the baby in 3d images. The nurses are learning how to use this technology, so we let them play for a little bit. It was pretty cool to see the baby in 3d. Since we had to go to the hospital for the ultrasound, we will learn more about the results when we go to the doctors on the 16th. After that appointment we will be sure to update you again. The remainder of ultrasound pictures have been added to the photo gallery, including the 3d images. The 3d images can be difficult to see. I had problems seeing the profile of twin A for a couple of days, so don't feel bad if you can't see the profile.

I am still continuing to feel well, or as well as you can feel carrying twins. I am very tired by the end of the day. My leg is doing much better, I no longer have any pain from the blood clot, when I walk longer distances. I am counting down the days until school is over. We only have about 3 weeks of school left. I am looking forward to the lazy days of summer.