Corbin and Quinn

Boo!

2011-10-31T21:18:00.000-05:00

Hello and goodbye October- where does the time go?? You always hear it passes too quickly...and having children makes you realize how true that is.

Corbin and Quinn are doing great. They are three and big! Halloween always makes me think back to the NICU. Quinn was recovering from surgery and didn't even get to wear his Halloween onesie...Corb was kickin' it in his open crib alone. Again - where does the time go?

Below are pics from the boys' Halloween. They had a blast. The neighborhood was full of kids and I think they liked handing out candy just as much as getting it - although at about 8:00 Quinn said he wanted to go trick-or-treating again. :) The Fall has been awesome so far...but, again - time is flying by TOO fast!

Beside the cool pumpkins that we (really, Daddy) carved.

Corbin was Frankenstein and Quinn was a bat - and he kept telling us "I'm a nice, friendly bat":)...Mr. Sensitive...

Brotherly Love :)

Camping in the Outdoors!

2011-06-24T15:54:00.001-05:00

The Brunin boys camped outside for the first time last night! They had a lot of fun and found out that s'mores are really good! :) They loved helping Daddy gather sticks for the fire and helping out with everything. All three boys and Annie stayed out ALL NIGHT!! They had to be woken up in the morning so Daddy could make it to work. It's safe to say that there will probably be a few other camp outs this summer and fall...

Daddy keeping the fire going while the boys enjoy their s'mores

Here's the tent (in Corb's defense here...he does have a lot of chigger bites around his middle :))!

Mmmmmmm....

Loving it!!

The boys getting ready to head out for the night...

Three sleepy heads :)

Summer!

2011-06-06T14:03:00.000-05:00

Corbin and Quinn's summer is off to a great start! They are spending a lot of time outside and in the pool. The boys are already really good at sleeping in since Mom doesn't have to go to work - which is great! Below are assorted pics from the end of May and start of June. They have gotten some good cousin play time!

Two boys and their dog...

Corbin found a frog at Grandma and Grandpa Martin's...Quinn is checking it out here...

Corbin was telling the frog to "say cheese"!

Corbin and Atticus watching a movie on Atti's DVD player

The boys chillin' and watching a Royals game - and Annie :)

Vivian, Corbin, Atticus and Quinn watching a movie

Corbin, Quinn and Leo enjoying some pool time

Gone Fishin'

2011-06-01T07:53:00.000-05:00

Corbin (in green), Quinn and Daddy loading up their tackle boxes.

Over the holiday weekend the boys went on their first fishing expedition! Uncle Greg got them fishing poles for their birthday (Quinn picked the Batman pole, Corbin Spiderman), and they have been so excited to go fishing when "summer comes"! They spent Saturday playing with their fishing poles and they were more than ready to head to Grandma and Grandpa's pond on Sunday. Their Uncle Ryan, Aunt Michelle and cousins Vivian and Atticus also went fishing.

About 10 minutes into the adventure Corbin got a bite and reeled it in all on his own! Then, not even 5 minutes later, Quinn was reeling his own catch in! Corbin was all about holding the fish and throwing it back in all by himself. Quinn, on the other hand, wasn't too sure about the fish. He tried to hold it and immediately dropped it...he decided he only wanted to look at the fish. It was a lot of fun - hopefully this summer will include a lot more fishing trips!

Quinn and Daddy taking time out to pose

Uncle Ryan, Atticus, Aunt 'Chelle and Vivian fishing

Corbin is checking out his big catch!

The boys are looking at Quinn's fish...you can see by Quinn's expression he's not so sure about it...

Quinn touching his fish...

Corbin and Atticus - Corbin is throwing Quinn's fish back into the pond.

Pizza Party

2011-05-21T22:07:00.000-05:00

Daddy was out of town last weekend...so the boys and Mommy had a pizza party. Quinn and Corbin liked making their own pizzas and did a great job! More olives probably went straight into their mouths than onto their pizzas :). Mom and the boys had a lot of fun, but were very happy when Dad made it home safely.

Corbin is working on finishing his pizza...Quinn is cheesing with the cheese hanging out of his mouth. :)

and...Easter

2011-05-17T21:12:00.000-05:00

Corbin and Quinn had a great Easter! Below are assorted pics...they got to spend time with all of their Grandparents, Great-grandparents, Aunts, Uncles (except Uncle Greg), Great-Aunts and Uncles, and all of their first and second cousins. It was a beautiful day and the boys loved every minute.

Corbin with some of the eggs he found at Grandma Aggie's and Grandpa John's.

Teamwork (C blue, Q green)!

Corbin with his little cousin Leo :)

Q taking a break from the hunting (proud to say that blue candy stain DID come out of his white sweater!;))...

C checking out one of Grandpa John's cows...

Q decided he was freaked by the cows that morning...

Quinn roaming Grandpa Joe's farm...plenty of tractors to check out

Corb playing with the swing at Grandma Roberta and Grandpa Joe's

Where did April go??

2011-05-13T20:39:00.000-05:00

What happened to the month of April? Wow! Since we are a little behind...thought I'd catch up with Easter. Below are pictures of our Easter egg dyeing...the boys loved it! Will get pics of Easter up soon...

Getting ready to dye eggs...

Quinn getting to work...

Corbin cheesin' with one of his creations :)

NICU Reunion!

2011-04-12T21:31:00.002-05:00

We had the big NICU reunion was last weekend. It was a good time! We told the boys we were going to a party and Corbin looked at me and said "Yah, Mommy...we go to your birthday parrtyyy!". Quinn then replied with "I don't want to sing the birthday song" (he cried at the last party we were at during the song!!). So, before we went we showed Corbin and Quinn some pictures of them with the nurses when they were in the hospital. They still just knew we were going to a party and cake was probably going to be involved. :) It was fun and emotional to see so many of the people that had such a huge impact on all of our lives. We can never thank any of them enough...

Corbin (yellow) and Quinn with two of their wonderful, amazing, caring nurses from the NICU.

Corb with Baby Jay! Quinn was a bit freaked and wouldn't get in the pic.:)

At home relaxing after the shin-dig. Daddy walked in and caught the boys turning their buckets, that were full of treats from the party, into some hats!

Camping, Kites and Cookouts

2011-04-12T21:13:00.000-05:00

Quinn and Corbin are lovin' the warmer weather. A couple of weekends ago Daddy camped with the boys for the first time. Now, for the first time they camped in the basement, but it was still an adventure! Quinn made it all night in the tent with Daddy, but Corbin woke up at some point and had Daddy take him up to sleep in the comfy bed with Mommy. The boys loved the tent. When Daddy first asked them if they wanted to go camping that morning, Corbin yelled "Yeah! And we can go fishing!!". Quinn followed with "FISHING, yes!" We had to explain no fishing at this campout, but this summer they wold be able to. One of their favorite songs is "Fishing in the Dark".:)

We had the Sweany's over for a cookout the next day. The boys loved hanging out with their daughter Alaina. Quinn seemed to be especially liking her...he followed her everywhere and did everything she did. Chances are they may be trouble together when they're older! ;) That weekend was the first kite-flying. Corbin and Quinn were pumped about the Batman kites. It was fun for all!

Corbin (brown) and Quinn (green) have discovered golf. They even watched some of "The Masters" with Daddy.:)

Kite flying...(C in brown, Q blue)

Goofing off the in the tent with Alaina!

Corbin and Alaina did quite a bit of twirling and falling down in the tent...

Spring Fever

2011-03-29T21:52:00.001-05:00

Corbin and Quinn got to enjoy a week of spring break at home a couple of weeks back. The weather was great and they got a lot of outside play time! They also got together with different friends over the break and had a lot of fun. The first thing out of their mouths most mornings was "Mommy, I want to go outside"...really, first thing sometimes even before they were out of bed! The boys are ready for weather to be warmer for good!

Quinn and Corb just had their 2 1/2 year check-ups...and all was great! We never would have thought 2 1/2 years ago that both boys would be above average for height and weight. Crazy! They are growing like weeds. They also cracked their pediatrician up with all of the funny things they said...C and Q are always great for entertainment.

Loadin' up for a wagon ride (C in blue, Q orange)

Corbin is trying out the monkey bars...they are loving their swing set these days

Quinn having a convo with Daddy as he's getting pushed...

Cutie-patootie Corbin...

Cutie-patootie Quinn having deep thoughts :)

Here comes Corbin!

Quinn, too!!!!!!!

Enjoying an afternoon snack...

Cheesing it up (C in red, Q gray)

Playing with their Uncle Ryan and cousin Atticus :)

Play Time!

2011-02-19T08:11:00.000-06:00

Corbin and Quinn had their friend Lydia over to play yesterday. It was a fun morning! Thanks for playing, Lydia!

Lydia was right at home...she let the boys know who was boss :)

She loved the little wagon and the boys loved giving her rides

Quinn and Lydia were pretty cute...Quinn would lean in and whisper to her and Lydia would sweetly say "yah" back - too cute! She didn't even mind that Quinn kept patting and petting her little head.:)

Valentine's Treats

2011-02-13T20:44:00.000-06:00

Corbin and Quinn are having a Valentine's Day party at Daycare tomorrow, so we had to make Valentine's and treats this weekend! Saturday the boys colored and put stickers all over some homemade Valentine's. Today I tried a recipe for "whoopie pies" and the boys (including Daddy) approved.

Happy Valentine's Day! :)

Corbin is always ready for dessert!

Quinn even liked his sweet treat tonight!

Podiatrist!?

2011-02-02T21:04:00.000-06:00

So, it was snow day number two here...and Corbin had a pinkie toe that was, well, not looking good. Daddy and I had been debating "no, it's getting better", "well, it looks worse"...bottom line was we had no idea what was going on! Whenever we would call attention to it, Corbin would say "Ouchie, my pinkie toe hurts" or "Oh, don't touch my toe"...he's pretty good at the drama! :) I called the pediatrician's office and due to the weather it was closed. Daddy had gone to a podiatrist before so we called and they got us in. Not sure what the main underlying problem is (i.e., hangnail, etc) but he took one look and said it was infected. So, Corb is on big time antibiotics and doing great. Quinn got to spend that time with his Great-Aunt Lori and Barbara so he was in Heaven!

We have a third snow day at home tomorrow and intend to enjoy every minute. Below are a couple of pics from today (neither of which were taken at the podiatrist's office!!). :)

Quinn thought he was pretty funny getting in the basket with his stuffed animals.

Corbin felt like doing some puzzles today...

Snow Days!

2011-01-31T21:30:00.005-06:00

As another snow day approaches...I realize I haven't posted since we last had a few in the beginning of January! Corbin and Quinn are pretty darn good at snow days. Lounging around in PJs, playing, reading books, maybe catching a movie...somewhere in there getting dressed...Mommy likes them, too! During the last snow days Corb and Quinn were also a little under the weather, so the lounging was very important. This time they are feeling much better, so hopefully cabin fever won't set in! They really enjoy just hanging out at home, so it should be a lot of fun. :)

Here the boys were being introduced to "Toy Story"...good day to have a little movie time.

Corbin is definitely good at the whole lounging thing...he wasn't feeling too great, either.

Here's leftie Quinn drawing some beautiful artwork - the popular art form of the day was a school bus or a dog.

Corbin and Quinn enjoy chasing each other through their tunnels and ball pit. :)

Too cool (Quinn)....with dino PJ's, a KU hat on backwards and a homemade bead necklace...watch out!

Play-Doh Time!!

Corbin is usually pretty picky about his artwork...

Very Merry

2011-01-04T20:56:00.001-06:00

Christmas was great! Corbin and Quinn had a lot of fun and loved spending time with all of their family. The night before Christmas Eve was spent at Grandpa and Grandma Brunin's, Christmas Eve was spent between Grandma and Grandpa Brunin's, a stop at Grandpa John and Grandma Aggie's and then the evening at Grandpa Joe and Grandma Roberta's. Below are some pics-

Quinn checking out Uncle Greg's present...

Corbin was very good about helping people open presents...here he's helping his Grandpa Brunin. :)

Here is Corbin taking a break from the festivities at Grandpa John's and Grandma Aggie's - he's coloring with his Great-Aunt Lori.

Both boys enjoying treats and hanging out with their cousins...

Christmas morning the boys woke up to see Santa had left them shiny, new tricycles. They proceeded to open the rest of their presents while sitting on the trikes. After some playing, the family headed to Grandma and Grandpa Martin's house. They had a lot of fun the rest of the day playing with their cousins and just relaxing. We are very lucky and blessed to have so much family to spend time with...it was a wonderful holiday!

Atticus, Quinn and Corbin chillin' on Grandma and Grandpa's bed with their pillow pets.

All of the cousins (except baby Leo!) checking out Atticus's new portable DVD player...they are mesmerized!

Annie update....

2011-01-04T20:09:00.000-06:00

Well, the third child in the Brunin family has not been featured recently. Annie, the wonderful Lab, is doing well. She loves the boys and loves to nap with them (on the floor...there's no big doggie in the toddler beds). She does have a torn ACL :(. Right now she is getting pain medication and is not supposed to be going on walks or running a lot. We hope to get her surgery done soon. Below is a picture of Annie with Corbin. The blanket draped over Annie is Corb's "soft blankie".

Santa!

2010-12-14T20:18:00.000-06:00

The boys visited Santa last week! They loved looking at his workshop while we waited in line. There were elves on the roof as well as one sticking out feet-first from a window. Corbin was a little obsessed with the "stuck elf". When they first sat on Santa's lap, Corbin proceeded to look at him and tell him "The elf is stuck!". Quinn was fairly quiet and wasn't quite sure what to do. It made for some funny pictures that I'm sure they'll laugh at some day!

Quinn was watching the kids in line and Corbin was, well, holding his candy cane not sure what to do!

Deck the halls!

2010-12-13T21:24:00.004-06:00

The Christmas Season is definitely in full swing at the Brunin house! Corbin and Quinn are loving it! The three most requested Christmas carols are...Silent Night, Jingle Bells and Rudolph. The boys are getting pretty good at singing the tunes themselves!

The poor Christmas tree is not holding up so well this year. Quinn and Corbin enjoy touching the lights, talking about the ornaments, pointing out the Jayhawks and generally just messing with it! We did put "Baby Jesus" and the nativity up high...so no injuries to report there. :)

Posing by the tree...it's difficult to get a good pic with both silly boys being still!

Here are the stockings....

Time flies...

2010-12-07T21:05:00.005-06:00

Wow - time does fly when you're having fun! Corbin and Quinn have been having a great fall. They loved the pumpkin patch, playing outside, and dressing up for Halloween. Corbin dressed up as the Cowardly Lion and Quinn was the Scarecrow. Once they understood the whole saying "trick or treat" and getting candy thing - they thought it was great! On Halloween night they handed out treats at home and loved doing that as well.

Both boys are talking a mile a minute and amazing Mom and Dad every day. They say some of the funniest things! The conversations they have with each other are some of the funniest...especially when they are in bed, supposedly going to sleep. Corbin usually does the "ABCs" and Quinn chimes in when he's not talking to their dog, Annie.

The boys have been helping Mom and Dad with Christmas decorations. This time of year has been a lot of fun so far! Corbin and Quinn are really enjoying everything this time of year brings…they love to point out all of the Christmas lights we see, telling us the colors, and they are getting into the Christmas music too. Hopefully Dad and Mom will stay on the ball and get pics of all of the holiday hub-bub posted soon! Below are pics from Halloween and Corbin and Quinn enjoying the last of the nice weather (playing with trucks and tractors, of course!). The blog isn't cooperating tonight…so hopefully more pics will be loaded soon.

Quinn with one of his tractors...

Corbin with a dump truck...

Long time...

2010-07-23T22:27:00.007-05:00

Well, it has been a LONG time since Dad and Mom have updated everyone on Corbin and Quinn. The boys are moving and grooving and are non-stop gabbers. Everyday is an adventure! They love to play outside, go swimming and play with their cousins and friends.

Corbin and Quinn went on their first family road trip this summer! Dad, Mom and the boys went down to Houston, TX to visit their Uncle Greg. The boys were great in the car and had a lot of fun at the Houston zoo, at the beach in Galveston and playing with their Uncle Greg and Katie.

Corbin and Quinn are actually getting ready to move into a new house...it will be interesting to see how they react! Below are an assortment of recent pics!

Let the road trip begin!

We finally made it to the hotel for some good wiggle and play time!

Corbin and Quinn loved the zoo..here they are checking out the bear...

...and here with the giraffes.

The petting zoo was a hit!

Playing at the beach in Galveston....

Corbin loved it!

Hanging out at home!

Quinn looooves his doggie

Corb is always a fan of the sweet treats!

Pool time!!

Sharing the hose after the sprinkler time was done...

Summer days

2009-07-28T12:15:00.007-05:00

Corbin and Quinn have been busy playing, growing and changing. Below are some pictures of what they have been doing this summer. It is very hard for Dad and Mom to believe they are almost one! What a difference a year makes!! :)

Here are the boys playing with their good friend Alli.

She was born 3 days after the boys and they have had

a lot of fun this summer!

Below are pics from the Fourth of July.

The first is Quinn hanging out with his Uncle Ryan,

the other two are attempts at a family picture.

Here are the boys playing with Annie. Annie has been

very sweet and patient with all of the exploring and

tugging Corbin and Quinn like to do!

The boys love to stand now...

Ah, yes....teething there has been a lot of that

going on this summer! Sometimes books are better for

chewing than for reading!

Corbin and Quinn have gotten their "big boy" cart seats. They

enjoyed exploring them before they were put in the car.

Corbin and Quinn are getting more independent with finger foods.

This is more fun and messy for everyone!

The boys love to be outside...but of course then they need to

go in and cool off with a nice snack! :)

Weekend with the cousins

2009-06-16T13:51:00.003-05:00

The boys got to spend all of last weekend hanging out with their cousins Vivian and Atticus. They had a lot of fun!

Annie has been feeling neglected again, so she is the first picture. The following three have Corbin in them, then the two together and then the last three have Quinn pictured. Their cousins are shown throughout! :)

Swimming and Surgery

2009-06-09T14:48:00.004-05:00

The boys went swimming for the first time a couple of weekends ago! They were both OK with the baby pool, and Corbin was a little more cautious with the big pool but Quinn loved it and started kicking right away! Their three-year-old cousin Atticus was a lot of help and plans on teaching the boys how to swim as they get bigger.

Corbin had his surgery on June 2nd, and everything went well. Even though he hadn't eaten since the night before, he was smiling at all of the nurses and enjoyed playing in a toy car until it was his turn for surgery. Daddy commented that he should be a model for baby hospital gowns because he looked so cute!

Corbin is the first pic below and then Quinn. Their cousin Atticus is with them in the fourth pic down (Quinn on the left, Corbin right) and then Corbin is in the crab and Quinn is in the turtle.

Update

2009-05-27T21:45:00.004-05:00

The boys are doing more and more each day as they become more independent. Here are some pictures from the last few weeks.

Corbin is scheduled to have his hypospadias surgery next Tuesday, June 2nd (your thoughts are greatly appreciated).

First illness & getting bigger!

2009-05-04T21:56:00.002-05:00

Soon after Easter, the boys each got a double ear infection. They each had a cold and cough that was hanging on and after another trip to the doctor, they got diagnosed with Bronchiolitis. This mainly entailed coughing and a LOT of saline and nose suctioning - which was not fun for anyone. It ran it's course in a couple of weeks and both boys are now back to themselves.

The pictures below are of the boys sitting and playing. Both continue to get better and more independent with sitting everyday - even without the boppy pillow. Quinn is first, then Corbin.

Taking a stroll in the country

2009-05-04T21:51:00.003-05:00

The boys got to try out their new jogging stroller out in the country at their Grandma and Grandpa Martin's for the first time. They seemed to like it...but getting over the cattle guards was a little more bumpy than the city sidewalks they are used to :)!

Easter!!

2009-05-04T21:44:00.005-05:00

The boys had a great first Easter...although they were both coming down with colds before the day even began (more on that later!). They made it to three Great-grandparents' houses and met lots and lots, but not all, of their second cousins and Great-Aunts and Uncles. It is safe to say that at the end of the day, everyone was worn out (dad and mom included).

Below are pictures of the boys with their Great-Grandma Martin, then with cousins Vivian, Atticus and Grandma, and then with dad and mom.

Broadening horizons

2009-03-30T21:16:00.005-05:00

The NICU follow-up went well last week. Corbin weighed in at 18 lb 13 oz and Quinn was 17 lb 6 oz. They are doing a nice job of gaining weight! :) Dad and mom also asked the doctor if the boys could go to the big family get-togethers on Easter...he said yes! Actually he told dad and mom to "go and enjoy yourself, take normal hand washing precautions, but relax and enjoy yourselves!"...it's like he knows dad and mom well or something! Everyone is very excited that the boys finally get to go to holiday get-togethers with extended family.

Dad and mom also asked when the boys could venture out more. The doctor said that once the weather stays consistently warmer, the boys could get a larger look at the world around them. Yes, Corbin and Quinn there is more out there than doc's offices, Grandparents' houses and walks! Of course, dad and mom have to stay aware of people with colds and such, but there is more freedom on the horizon! :)

Below are a few of the pictures that mom's long-time (back to good ol' Emmett days) friend Julie Hutley took. She is a wonderful photographer who is also great with the boys. First some duo shots, then two of Corb and two of Quinn.

Jump, jump & yum, yum

2009-03-25T12:58:00.005-05:00

The Brunin boys have been busy! They have been loving their jumperoos. Corbin was obsessed with the blue frog that he couldn't reach at first (as you can see from the bottom picture). At times Quinn prefers to watch his brother play instead of jump around himself...he loves to smile at and watch his big brother.

Corbin and Quinn have also started to eat cereal and veggies. They weren't so sure about it at the beginning, but are now doing well. The boys seem to like sweet potatoes and squash the most so far. Corbin really likes to rub his food all over while Quinn just wants his thumb every once in a while.

Now, you may ask - why are they just now starting cereal when they are 7 months old? Well, their milestones for the first two years of like, or until they catch up to their birth age, are adjusted to their true due-date. So, chronologically they are 7 months old, but their adjusted age is actually 4 months. Although it seems that developmentally they fall somewhere in between (according to the docs). Make sense? Dad and Mom get confused at times, too!

Now for the pics...the first five are of Quinn. The first two are when he first tried squash, ending the feeding with his thumb. The next five are of Corbin with the first two being pictures of when he first tried sweet potatoes. The boys have another NICU follow-up tomorrow, so dad and mom are going to try to get on and post the big boys' updated weights along with their newest pictures (taken by a professional!!).

Movin' and groovin'

2009-02-18T14:26:00.002-06:00

Corbin and Quinn took their first outside walk when the weather was so nice a couple of weeks ago. Quinn enjoyed looking around and smiled at mommy the whole time until he fell asleep. Corbin was a little bit more unsure and wanted mommy within his sight at all times - but he also managed to catch a good snooze. The boys as well as mom just enjoyed getting some fresh air together during the week without it meaning they were on the way to a doctor's appointment! The groovy stocking caps the boys wore are from their Great-Aunt Lori and wonderful friend Barbara. :)

The other pics are of the boys in their new p.j.s (also from Great-Aunt Lori and wonderful friend Barbara). Mom and Dad think they look like big boys in them! As you may be able to tell, the pictures were taken after eating and bathing and the boys were ready for some shut-eye.

Corbin would also like to report that he is now rolling over...but unlike his brother who laughs when he does it, it tends to startle Corbin. They are two different boys for sure!

Soooooo big

2009-02-04T14:45:00.007-06:00

The Brunin boys had a NICU follow-up last week...at that time Corbin weighed 14 lb 5 oz and Quinn was 13lb 9oz! They are definitely growing! Quinn is rolling over and cracking himself up when he does it. Corbin isn't all about the tummy time. He will lift his head and then he is pretty much done. When he gets a start from the half-way point he does well with rolling over - he just still wants the extra help! They are both really batting at their toys now and like it when the toys on their bouncers light up and move.

Both Corbin and Quinn have discovered their thumbs and prefer those over binkies. They have also made the move into their cribs. They are sleeping in separate cribs because they move so much! When mom and dad go in in the morning they are each usually side-ways.

The first three pictures below are of Corbin, the next three Quinn (included are pictures of the first night in their cribs) and the last are the boys together. Mom and Dad are going to try to update with pictures more often!!

Update

2009-01-21T20:29:00.004-06:00

Corbin and Quinn are doing well! They continue to grow and do new things every day. Corbin is somewhere in the 13 lb range and Quinn the 12 lb. They are both quite talkative now and are not afraid to be heard. Needless to say, the Brunin household is not a quiet place most of the time! Both boys are giggling at Mom and Dad and their smiles light up the room.

Here are pictures form the last few weeks. You will have to look at the first two with your head tilted...the person who posted this is a little sleep deprived. :) The order is Quinn, Corbin, Quinn, Corbin. In the next picture, the boys' cousin Vivian is reading them a book, and the other two are just the duo hanging out. You will notice that they still support the Jayhawks!

'Tis the season (3 months old)

2008-12-05T21:00:00.003-06:00

The Brunin family has a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. Corbin and Quinn are enjoying being at home together. Both are gaining weight nicely (Corbin at last check was 8lb 11 oz and Quinn was 8 lb 2 oz) and are up to eating 5 oz. Dad and Mom love having their boys at home finally.

Below are assorted pictures from the weeks that have passed. As you can see from one of the pictures, Annie has officially met Corbin and Quinn. She isn't so sure about all of the crying and noises, but is hanging around the boys more and adjusting. The last pics are of the boys in one of their "first Christmas" outfits. Mom had them wear the reindeer outfits the night Rudolph was on television, and Mom may have been the only one who really enjoyed it! Quinn has the binkie in.

Home sweet home (10 weeks, 5 days old)

2008-11-15T21:50:00.006-06:00

Quinn got to join Corbin at home today!!!! The NICU extended stay is finally over!!! The hospital will not be missed, but the wonderful nurses, therapists and doctors will be. They cannot be thanked enough for the loving care they gave to the boys.

Mom and Dad are looking forward to staying at home and taking care of both boys from this point on.

Hopefully more pictures will be added from time to time, but for the most part the posting will be much more infrequent. Here's a slew of pics from today, along with two movies from the homecoming.

Getting closer (10 weeks, 3 days old)

2008-11-13T18:14:00.003-06:00

Both boys are over 6 pounds! Last time each were weighed, they both actually weighed 6 lb 2 oz.

Quinn is now up to full feeds! He is currently taking 6 of his eight feedings by bottle and doing a nice job with it. He is back to his old self now and loves being cuddled every chance he can get. Hopefully he will be home with his brother soon.

Corbin is enjoying being at home. He had his first pediatrician appointment this week and all went well. He is eating well and gaining weight nicely.

We will try to get more pictures up soon!

Tug of war (9 weeks, 5 days old)

2008-11-08T20:51:00.003-06:00

With Mom and Dad now juggling the boys being in different places, unless there is big news, new postings will only be every few days...

Corbin is adjusting well to being at home. So far things have been calm, and as long as he is fed on time, he's been a peaceful baby (knock on wood). Mom and Dad have a hard time not holding him when they're home!

Quinn is still getting his 15 mL's of food every 3 hours, with the occasional feeding being by bottle. The immediate goal is for his stomach to keep normalizing so that his feeds can increase in size. When this happens, his IV fluids will be lowered and eventually stopped (which will help reduce his puffiness) and he can start working more on bottle feeds as well.

Here's Corbin fighting off sleep, while Quinn had no problem giving in to a nap.

Two boys in two places (9 weeks, 3 days old)

2008-11-06T20:54:00.005-06:00

Corbin enjoyed his first full day at home today. He had a pretty peaceful time, and didn't even fuss during his first bath. He is already used to the schedule of feedings every 3 hours.

Quinn started getting feeds again this afternoon, in doses of 10 mL's every 3 hours through his nasal tube. The doctors said that his stomach looks and sounds good. Hopefully a good bowel movement will help him get back on routine for his feedings.

Pictures: Corbin snuggling on the couch and Quinn with his binkie.

Bittersweet homecoming (9 weeks, 2 days old)

2008-11-06T06:11:00.002-06:00

Corbin arrived at home around 6:30 Wednesday evening. All of the nurses said that he looked very handsome and ready for the world! He didn't mind his first car ride and snoozed the whole way home.

Quinn is still working on getting back on feedings. He took a few feeds on Wednesday, but his stomach still showed signs that it just wasn't ready for digestion again. The nurses inserted a PICC line (long-term IV) because all of his IV's were only lasting a day or so before they went bad. This will be a safer way for him to keep getting his nutrients through his IV while he works on feeds. Hopefully tomorrow he'll get another shot at eating.

Here's Corbin ready to leave and Quinn relaxing.

50% voting to go home, 50% electing to stay put (9 weeks, 1 day old)

2008-11-04T22:00:00.003-06:00

Corbin is officially going home on Wednesday! He flew through his car seat test with no problems and is eating like a big boy. He should be hanging out at home by tomorrow late afternoon.

Quinn is finally getting to eat again. He took 5 mL's by bottle this afternoon - he sucked it down in the same frantic manner he had before surgery. If all goes well, the doctor said his feeds will get increased by 5 mL's each day. Some of his feedings will still be through his NG tube for the time being.

Here's Corbin is his first pair of sweats, and his late Halloween shirt. Quinn was workin' on his binkie as usual while he took in the scenery.

Big news and no changes (9 weeks old)

2008-11-03T23:41:00.002-06:00

Mom and Dad found out today that Corbin will probably get to go home this week! He is now eating a minimum of 40 mL's each feed, but can eat more if he wants. He has taken 44 and 43 mL's with bottles so far. He will go through the "car seat test" soon, to make sure he handles sitting in it for a period of time. Mom and Dad are going to be spending the night with Corbin in a parent room for a trial run on their own. He also got his two month shots today along with the RSV vaccination - he really wasn't so excited about them.

Unfortunately, Quinn is still not getting to eat. An x-ray of his abdomen was done, and it showed that a portion of his bowel was dilated. This is most likely from his bowels not moving. All that can be done for this is waiting for it to move through. An abdominal ultrasound was also done but results will not be known until tomorrow. The doctor said that he wants to be very cautious and although it is frustrating, Mom and Dad know he is not sick and it could be worse. Another x-ray will be done in the morning.

No pics today...hopefully there will be time for some tomorrow!

Feast and famine (8 weeks, 6 days old)

2008-11-02T22:34:00.003-06:00

Last night, Corbin pulled his nasal feeding tube clear out. His night nurse said that he was awake for every feeding, so he continued to get bottles every feed. Today he took all of his feedings by nursing or bottle. If he can keep up at this pace and keep gaining weight, he shouldn't need a feeding tube any more! Mom and Dad aren't getting too excited yet...things can change quickly.

Quinn is still getting all of his nutrition through his IV. His third IV in five days fell out and the best place left to put one in was in his scalp. Needless to say, he's had better evenings. Also, the doctor decided to consult with the surgeon tomorrow to see if any more tests are needed before Quinn starts getting feeds again. He is acting like himself and his abdomen looks good.

Here is Corbin then Quinn snoozing this afternoon.

Two months old (8 weeks, 5 days old)

2008-11-01T23:29:00.007-05:00

Quinn started to show signs of his old self today as he started squirming around more and pulling on things. The breathing tube was taken out this afternoon and it was quickly replaced with a binkie. He is still getting all of his nutrients from his IV and his swelling from the surgery has started to decrease, although he is still puffy. Mom and Dad got to hold him again today which made everyone feel better. His squeaks and cries are much more hoarse today because of the breathing tube. The cultures are still negative and the doctor's concern over them is decreasing each day. Overall, he's doing well and rooting around looking for milk.

Corbin took all 6 of his by mouth feedings today! It seems the light bulb may have clicked on like the nurses have been telling Mom and Dad that it would. Hopefully tomorrow he'll get bumped up to 7 of 8 feedings by mouth. Corbin is also starting to get the schedule down and is letting everyone know when it's time for his next feeding.

Here's Corbin full after a feeding and Quinn snoozing.

Below are updates from the last few days:

Recovery and feeding time (Friday - 8 weeks, 4 days old)

2008-11-01T23:22:00.002-05:00

Quinn continued to recover from surgery today. The surgeon checked up on him and said that everything looked good. His morphine was decreased to help him wake up more, and the settings continued to be turned down on the ventilator. It was decided in the afternoon that he deserved another evening of rest and recovery while the meds wore off.

Corbin, sensing that he needed attention, decided to start eating like a big boy. He took all 5 of his feedings by mouth very well - so well that he was bumped up to 6 oral feedings (out of 8 total) for the next day!

Mom and Dad spent another night in a parent room to be close to the boys.

Surgery day (Thursday - 8 weeks, 3 days old)

2008-11-01T23:13:00.004-05:00

Mom and Dad got their kisses in early this morning before Quinn was taken for surgery at 7:00 AM. The procedure went smoothly after the anesthesia kicked in and his breathing tube was in place. Both hernias were repaired as expected. The surgeon did note that there was some greenish-colored fluid around his intestines, but it did not look new. Cultures were taken and so far everything has been negative. Quinn returned to the NICU around 10:30, still on the ventilator. He was "snowed" all day from the anesthesia and morphine, so they decided he was too out of it to breathe on his own.

Corbin wasn't sure what to do with all of the extra room in the crib, but he seemed to manage. He got 2 times the hugs and cuddles while brother was gone to surgery.

Surgery eve (Wednesday - 8 weeks, 2 days old)

2008-11-01T23:04:00.002-05:00

Both boys received blood transfusions today because their hematocrit levels were low. Corbin and Quinn both worked on feedings, but Quinn's feedings were stopped around midnight for his surgery. Mom and Dad were also updated on all of the details for Quinn's surgery.

Two 5-pounders (8 weeks, 1 day old)

2008-10-28T23:03:00.006-05:00

Both boys have now reached 5 pounds! Quinn just hit 5 lbs 0 oz tonight, while Corbin is up to 5 lbs 4 oz. Everyone has decided that Quinn is gaining weight slower than Corbin because he typically gets less than Corbin when he eats, and he probably burns more energy with his manic eating tactics! No other big news tonight.

Mom and Dad are probably staying in the hospital both tomorrow and Thursday night due to Quinn's surgery, so this may be the last new posting until Friday night.

That being said, here are 3 pictures of the pair with their pumpkin hats back on, followed by a short video in which both little men managed to give a good 'bearing down' for the camera turning their faces red! Corbin is on the right in the first two pictures, and then he is on the left in the last picture and in the movie.

Two very different peas in a pod (8 weeks old)

2008-10-27T22:33:00.004-05:00

Corbin and Quinn are still working on feedings. Corbin is very relaxed about the whole thing - he takes his time and usually does a nice job. In fact, he no longer uses oxygen when eating. Quinn, on the other hand, is very frantic. He roots like there is no tomorrow and needs to be paced so that he remembers to stop and catch his breath. He is still on oxygen when eating by mouth. There are times when he paces himself, but he needs to be watched closely. Both are doing a nice job for their age, they are just going at different rates. Each of the boys has his own personality, which comes through in how they approach feeding!

No pictures today - there will be more tomorrow!

Weight watchers (7 weeks, 6 days old)

2008-10-26T23:27:00.007-05:00

Corbin and Quinn are still working on oral feedings. Not much else is new at this point. The head surgeon did take a peek at Quinn today, and said that yes the surgery is still on for Thursday AM, but he wasn't concerned by what he observed.

Today's measurements are...
Corbin: 5 lbs, 2 oz & 17-3/4" long
Quinn: 4 lbs, 15 oz & 17-1/2" long

Here are two pictures of Dad holding Corbin followed by two of Mom holding Quinn. Both boys were very content after their evening feedings!

Pumpkin heads (7 weeks, 5 days old)

2008-10-25T22:44:00.005-05:00

Both boys made strides with bottle feedings today. Corbin has taken his entire feeding by bottle in 4 of his last 5 attempts! Quinn also took one whole feed by bottle last night! Today though, Quinn decided to make things difficult by planting his tongue on the roof of his mouth during his last two feeds. Mom and Dad and the nurses know what to watch for with him now, so it hopefully won't be a problem any longer.

Here are the two boys snoozing side by side after their evening feedings. Quinn's on the left side.

Got milk? (7 weeks, 4 days old)

2008-10-24T22:03:00.006-05:00

Corbin and Quinn are both still doing well with nursing and bottle feedings. Corbin took his first whole feeding (32 mL's) from a bottle today! Quinn didn't do as well with the bottle, but did well with nursing.

The only change today is that the nurse discovered that Quinn has at least one, and possibly two, hernias. One of the surgeons verified it, and he is scheduled for surgery next Thursday. Mom and Dad are nervous about it, but it sounds like it's a routine procedure for male preemies. More details should be given early next week.

Still "parkin" in the big crib (7 weeks, 3 days old)

2008-10-23T22:54:00.005-05:00

Today was another day that the boys worked on feedings and enjoyed each other's company in the same crib. Oral feedings are still every other feed (every 6 hours), and everything else is also still unchanged at this point. Hopefully Corbin and Quinn will continue to improve at the suck-swallow-breathe motions and reflexes.

Quinn is on the left, Corbin on the right.

Roommates (7 weeks, 2 days old)

2008-10-23T01:18:00.004-05:00

The awesome nurses finally found a crib so Corbin and Quinn are now roommates! They are getting to co-bed and everyone is very excited. If either one has trouble with reflux on the flat bed, then they may have to be moved back to separate quarters - but hopefully all will be ok!

There was more feeding work done today. During the session with the feeding team, the boys worked on bottles again. At that time Corbin took 15 mL's and Quinn took 24 mL's! Tonight Corbin took 20 and Quinn took 10 mL's. Dad got to feed Quinn for the first time and was pretty pumped. The boys still have to wear oxygen when feeding but are beginning to pace themselves more. Like everything else it seems like a slow process, but is going well.

Here are pics of Corbin and Quinn bunking together for the first time!

Open-air exposure (7 weeks, 1 day old)

2008-10-21T23:06:00.005-05:00

Corbin and Quinn are finally hanging out in open cribs! They're in separate cribs for now, but hopefully at some point a larger crib will become available for them to share. Mom and Dad enjoyed hearing all of the little squeaks and chatter that they constantly make.

Both little guys also improved on their bottle feeding trial today. Corbin took 19 mL's and Quinn took 10 mL's. Quinn is still having some breathing and heart rate spells (Corbin hardly has any spells anymore, knock on wood), which make Mom and Dad worry. The nurses keep reassuring them that it's "just a preemie thing" that he will grow out of sooner or later.

Pictures: Corbin, Quinn, then a group shot.

Title #50 (7 weeks old)

2008-10-20T23:45:00.006-05:00

Today was yet another good day for the boys. They both did well on their feedings, and Quinn even started to show signs of pacing himself while during oral feeds for the first time. Mom is crashing at the hospital again because she will be getting up to nurse at 2 AM on Tuesday morning. Not really anything else changed today. The feeding team will be trying bottles with the boys again tomorrow.

For the promised photos, as they appear...Corbin showing some chest in the morning sunlight, Quinn content as can be with his binkie, Corbin stuck in a 'squatting' position as it became obvious that he is now way too long for his first outfit (!), and last but not least Quinn saying his prayers after a good feeding with Mom.

Sleepover (6 weeks, 6 days old)

2008-10-20T08:52:00.000-05:00

Sunday night Mom and Dad both crashed in the parent room so that Mom could help out with feedings at 2 AM. Both boys had good days and are still working hard on oral feedings. Corbin is holding steady at 4 lbs 11 oz and Quinn is catching up at 4 lbs 9 oz.

Sorry, still no new pictures. Hopefully by tomorrow!

Same old song and dance (6 weeks, 5 days old)

2008-10-18T23:07:00.003-05:00

Another good day for Corbin and Quinn. They each had 3 nursing attempts with Mom today and will have 4 tomorrow. Mom is spending the night at KUMed tomorrow night because of the timing of the feedings. As they keep progressing on bottle feeding and/or nursing, Mom (and Dad sometimes) will spend quite a few nights in a parent room for those late night and early morning feedings.

The nurses are starting to hint at the boys being ready to share an open crib, but the doctor would still like to wait until they're a little older. Mom and Dad are ready for that day to come (when the boys are ready, of course)!

More pictures tomorrow.

Workin' for the weekend (6 weeks, 4 days old)

2008-10-17T21:25:00.005-05:00

Today was another decent day for the boys. They are now getting to work on breastfeeding 3 times a day. Corbin seems to be having fewer spells overall, but the number of spells Quinn is having isn't worrying the docs. They are also still both doing a good job keeping up their own temperatures.

Here's Corbin napping away and Quinn trying to get a handle on his pacifier.

Binkie time (6 weeks, 3 days old)

2008-10-16T22:51:00.003-05:00

Corbin and Quinn had a fairly quiet day. Quinn didn't seem to have as much reflux today, and the doctors reassured Mom and Dad that it's nothing to worry about. The speech path suggested giving the boys some oxygen support while they work on oral feedings. This way they don't have to work as hard breathing while they're working on coordinating all movements for feeding. It worked well this afternoon.

Corbin is up to 4 lbs 9 oz and Quinn is up to 4 lbs 7 oz! From the pics below, it looks like both boys might end up liking their pacifiers - whether Mom and Dad like it or not!

Nausea, heartburn, indigestion... (6 weeks, 2 days old)

2008-10-15T23:03:00.008-05:00

Today was a mixed bag. Both boys got taken off their caffeine, which is a good thing. Corbin had a pretty quiet day. He took 7 mL's by bottle with the speech path. Quinn seems to be having a lot of trouble with reflux. He has been dropping his heart rate and they believe it is because he is trying to swallow the reflux and not breathing consistently. The doctors said they would keep a close eye on him. Hopefully it is reflux and it gets better.

Here are a couple pics of each of the guys. Corbin seems to be out-growing his outfit and Quinn's actually seems to fit!

Group photo (6 weeks, 1 day old)

2008-10-14T23:00:00.004-05:00

As of tonight, Corbin is weighing in at 4 lbs 7 oz, while Quinn is 4 lbs 5 oz. Corbin still seems to carry all of his extra ounces in his cheeks and Quinn is storing his around his midsection. They each took a few more ounces by bottle today. Their eyes were checked since it had been 2 weeks since the last checkup, and nothing new or abnormal was found. As usual in the NICU, no news is good news.

Here are Corbin and Quinn during their afternoon naps. For the group photo after their baths, Corbin was sawing logs and Quinn was about half awake.

Knock on wood (6 weeks old)

2008-10-13T21:14:00.002-05:00

Corbin and Quinn continued to breathe without assistance today. They also did more practicing with eating by mouth. There is no other new news today - just more eating and growing. Mom forgot the camera again, but will be sure to remember it tomorrow.

Double double chins (5 weeks, 6 days old)

2008-10-12T21:10:00.004-05:00

This morning the doctors removed the boys' nasal cannulas. They are keeping things close for the next 24 hours in case they need help breathing again, but the hope is that they'll both be breathing on their own from here on!

Corbin and Quinn both had extended periods (7 or 8 minutes) of sucking and swallowing while working on breastfeeding. Mom and Dad got to successfully burp the boys for the first time afterwards!

Here are pictures of Corbin and Quinn showing off their newly developed double chins. Corbin seems to be further along in the chubby cheeks area, though!

Heavyweights (5 weeks, 5 days old)

2008-10-11T23:19:00.003-05:00

Today was (thankfully) another day with not much new news. Both boys had a little reflux and spitting up throughout the day, but nothing too major. The biggest news was that when they were weighed tonight, Corbin was 4 lbs 4 oz, and Quinn was 4 lbs 1 oz!!

Hopefully more pictures tomorrow...

Bottles up (5 weeks, 4 days old)

2008-10-11T00:22:00.005-05:00

Today both little guys were able to take 3 mL's of food by bottle, with help from the speech pathologist. It's a slow process making sure that they breathe while eating, so the speech path controls how much milk they get from the bottle. Nonetheless, it's neat to see and a good start.

Everything else remains the same while they keep growing and getting stronger. Here's two pictures of Corbin followed by two of Quinn.

Chuggin' along (5 weeks, 3 days old)

2008-10-09T23:08:00.004-05:00

More of the same today. More work on gearing up the feeding reflexes. Both little guys are still getting 32 mL's of food through their NG tubes every 3 hours. No changes were made today by the doctors.

Here's Corbin being snuggled by Mom, then Corbin wide awake after his bath. Next is Quinn sucking on his pacifier while Dad was holding him, and lastly is Quinn snoozing after the pacifier work.

Little men at work (5 weeks, 2 days old)

2008-10-08T23:01:00.003-05:00

Corbin and Quinn continued to work on eating by mouth today. It was mainly more getting familiar with it and experimenting for them. They are making small gains with feeding and everyday there is something new that they are able to do. Corbin and Quinn, as always, amaze their Dad and Mom.

Quinn is also up to full feeds through his NG tube, which is 32 mL's (like Corbin). Dad and Mom and the nurses like to joke about how the boys are in competition with each other. There are no pics today...but will be more tomorrow.

Suck, swallow, breathe (5 weeks, 1 day old)

2008-10-07T23:30:00.005-05:00

Corbin and Quinn continue to experiment with eating by mouth. Quinn took 1 mL by bottle today! Both boys began work on getting familiar with breastfeeding, too. They each did a great job. Their vitals (respiration rate, heart rate and oxygen saturation) all remained within normal limits during the trials, which is important. Just like with everything else, this will happen in baby steps but the boys had a good start.

The first and last picture are what each of the boys are known for in the NICU: Corbin for his crazy, fuzzy hair and Quinn for wiggling so much he managed to get himself halfway out of his clothes. The middle pics are the guys in their matching outfits (and neither were looking happy about it).

Clothes for all (5 weeks old)

2008-10-06T22:37:00.002-05:00

Last night, Quinn was given the all clear to wear his first outfit. So now both little guys are working on keeping their temperatures up on their own in the isolettes.

Today the feeding team evaluated the boys. A speech-language pathologist worked with both of them to determine their readiness for bottle and/or breast feeding. Quinn showed off a little bit more than Corbin, but they both did a good job for their age. An oral stimulation program was given to help progress towards feeding. They're at the age when the suck-swallow-breathe reflex starts to develop and become coordinated.

Corbin is up to 3 lbs 13.5 oz and he is 17 inches long. Quinn is 3 lbs 9.5 oz and 16.5 inches long. Here's Quinn fully dressed, followed by Dad having quality time with both boys.

Keep on keepin' on (4 weeks, 6 days old)

2008-10-05T20:52:00.006-05:00

Corbin is going strong at 32 mL's of food and Quinn moved up to 30 mL's today. As of Saturday night, Corbin was 3 lbs 10.5 oz and Quinn was 3 lbs 8 oz. Corbin is still holding his temperature while wearing clothes and being swaddled. Quinn's color looked better today since the blood transfusion yesterday.

Here's Corbin kangarooing with Mom and Quinn hanging out with Dad.

Status quo (4 weeks, 5 days old)

2008-10-04T23:23:00.003-05:00

Corbin moved up to 32 mL's today and Quinn moved up to 28 mL's. Both guys had decent days, and Quinn received a blood transfusion in the afternoon.

Here's Corbin's latest outfit, and Quinn was puckering for the camera.

All dressed up (4 weeks, 4 days old)

2008-10-04T00:18:00.005-05:00

Corbin moved up on his feedings today to 30 mL's - one whole ounce! Quinn is still doing well with his 26 mL feedings. Both are still getting some help with a little extra oxygen most of the time.

Corbin got to wear clothes for the first time in his little life tonight. The nurses said that he will be able to continue to wear clothes if he keeps his body temperature up with less assistance. We will see how it goes! Hopefully Quinn will get to sport an outfit sometime soon as well.

Create your own title (4 weeks, 3 days old)

2008-10-02T23:39:00.005-05:00

Corbin and Quinn continue to get the same amount of food as they have been. The blood transfusion Corbin received seems to be helping with his breathing spells. The nurses and doctors are watching Quinn to see if he may need another transfusion as well. Corbin is currently weighing in at 3lb 9oz and Quinn is at 3lb 4.5oz.

In the pics below, Corbin is enjoying his pacifier (he still has the IV in his little hand from the blood transfusion) and Quinn has wiggled himself into an uncomfortable looking, booty in the air, position.

One month old (4 weeks, 2 days old)

2008-10-01T21:32:00.004-05:00

Corbin is now getting 28 mL's and Quinn is getting 26 mL's, both through their NG tubes (feeding tubes through their noses). Corbin got a blood transfusion today because some of his lab results were low. This is typical for preemies until they can produce enough red blood cells on their own. Their caffeine doses were doubled today since they have gained weight. The caffeine helps them maintain breathing by keeping them from entering a deep sleep and forgetting to breathe.

Mom and Dad got to hold the boys tonight and they put them side by side to compare their faces up close. They seem to have similar mouths and chins, but their noses and eyes are definitely different.

Hopefully things keep chugging along and they continue eating and getting stronger!

Eat eat eat all day long (4 weeks, 1 day old)

2008-09-30T22:57:00.006-05:00

The boys are still eating well. Corbin is at 25 mL's and Quinn is at 23 mL's, still every 3 hours. Everything else seems to be just as it has been for the past few days.

Here is Corbin all sprawled out under a warm blanket after his bath, and here is Quinn sucking on his thumb while he was getting fed and Mom was holding him. She could even hear him because he was sucking so vigorously!

Eat 'em up (4 weeks old)

2008-09-29T22:24:00.004-05:00

Corbin and Quinn continue to work on digesting food. Corbin is still getting 22 mL's of food through his NG tube with 4 extra calories added in. Quinn is getting 18 mL's with 2 calories added and will move up to 20 mL's at midnight if all goes as planned. Quinn has now had his picc line removed as well. Both boys are starting to suck on pacifiers while getting fed more often, and doing better with it (remembering to breathe at the same time).

Sunday fun day (3 weeks, 6 days old)

2008-09-28T22:16:00.009-05:00

No changes today...still working on eating and breathing. Below are pictures from today and tonight's activities, which included some pacifier action.

Breathing is important (3 weeks, 5 days old)

2008-09-27T23:29:00.003-05:00

The boys had a decent day in the eating department, but they both had a few spells where they forgot to breathe (typical for preemies, difficult to take for Mom and Dad). Quinn also spit up a few times and the nurses thought it was reflux. They did an x-ray on his abdomen, and everything looked normal. The doctors decided to hold the amount of his feedings at 16 mL's (still 2 more than yesterday). He is also off of TPN, but due to his spells today he is getting a little extra oxygen. Corbin's feeds are at 22 mL's and they are adding calories to his feedings rather than increasing the amount.

Hopefully Corbin and Quinn have a quiet and relaxing night.

Yum yum (3 weeks, 4 days old)

2008-09-26T21:11:00.009-05:00

More eating today. At last check, Corbin was up to 20 mL's and Quinn was at 14 mL's, both with the chance to move up more at midnight. Corbin's picc line (long term IV) was removed as they decided that he's getting enough nutrients in his feedings (consisting of vitamins and breast milk). Quinn will keep getting some TPN until he gets larger feeds. Other than that, it was a fairly calm day.

Corbin is showing off his dimple and Quinn is checking out the scenery.

Packing on the pounds (3 weeks, 3 days old)

2008-09-25T22:01:00.005-05:00

Both Brunin boys are now tipping the scales at three pounds! They also continue to move up on their feeds. Corbin is up to 16 mL's every three hours and off the TPN (baby Gatorade) and Quinn is up to10 mL's . If they continue to tolerate their feeds, they will move up two more mL's at midnight. Hopefully they will keep packing on the pounds!

Below are pictures of the boys (Corbin, then Quinn) in positions that they wiggled themselves into. All of the nurses in the unit know the boys for their wiggling and how they manage to roll out of the positions they are put in. There have been several occasions when the nurses have found them in the corner or pushed up against the glass. Corbin and Quinn (and Mom and Dad) are still loving their awesome nurses!

Back up the mountain (3 weeks, 2 days old)

2008-09-24T19:54:00.006-05:00

Just as quickly as things can take a step backwards in the NICU, they can also take a positive jump...

Corbin had his heart scan today, which revealed that his PDA is closed! He remains on the cannula tonight, but is doing well breathing on room air. His feeds are up to 14 mL's and he hasn't spit up anymore since yesterday. He overall seems more stable than yesterday.

Quinn is up to 6.5 mL's of food. If he continues to tolerate this amount, he'll start moving up again on his feeds as well. He is now also on room air with his cannula a majority of the time.

Here are two pictures of Corbin followed by two of Quinn.

Long day (3 weeks, 1 day old)

2008-09-23T20:48:00.008-05:00

The crazy, unpredictable NICU ride took another turn today. Corbin was not breathing like himself - there were several times when his oxygen rate dropped, and this is not typical for him. The nurse and doctor decided to put him on a nasal cannula (like what Quinn has) to help him breath more easily, and it seemed to be doing it's job. The doctor said it could be caused by reflux (since he is going up on feeds) or he could be getting sick. Mom was worried about his PDA having something to do with it, so they are giving him another heart scan tomorrow. The doctor and nurses said they do not believe it is playing a part, but the doctor wanted the scan to "put a rest to the PDA"...Mom and Dad liked that idea. They are also keeping his feeds at 12 mL's for now. On a lighter, brighter note - Corbin got a bath last night and had a great, fuzzy, Billy Idol-inspired hair-do today! Unfortunately Mom forgot the camera for pictures.

Quinn had a fairly quiet day. They are keeping his feedings at 5 mL's until he begins digesting it more consistently. He did get quality time with Mom, which did everyone some good.

Both little guys are still missing their Daddy, who continues to try his hardest to get well. More pictures tomorrow...

The feeding continues... (3 weeks old)

2008-09-22T22:21:00.004-05:00

Both boys are still getting feedings. Corbin is up to 12 mL's and Quinn is at 5 every three hours. If both boys continue to tolerate their food, they will continue to move on up - cross your fingers! The doctors are watching their bellies very closely to make sure everything is being digested properly. Everytime the nurses check their tummies for residuals, Mom and Dad are very nervous!

Mom got some one-on-one time with each little man again today. Dad had to stay away from the hospital because of a cold, so Mom had to deliver messages from him to Corbin and Quinn. It seemed to be much harder on Daddy than the boys.

Here were Corbin and Quinn's mid-afternoon napping positions for today.

Little bit by little bit (2 weeks, 6 days old)

2008-09-21T22:17:00.003-05:00

Corbin and Quinn are still working on digesting more food. Corbin is getting 10 mL's and tolerating it for now. Quinn, on the other hand, is getting 3 mL's and not having the same luck digesting it. Hopefully both boys' tummies will cooperate and they can start putting on more weight. Speaking of weight, both little guys are now above their birth weights! Corbin is up to 2 lb 13 oz and Quinn is 2 lb 12 oz. Every little bit counts!

Not much else to report today and, of course, there will be more pictures of the guys tomorrow!

Comfy cozy (2 weeks, 5 days)

2008-09-20T23:46:00.005-05:00

It was a lazy Saturday for the boys. Corbin is still getting his feedings, and they were increased to 9 mL's (almost 2 teaspoons) every 3 hours. Quinn's tummy had another day of rest. They hope to try to start feeding him again tomorrow.

Mom and Dad got to hold the boys this evening and they were both completely relaxed while they were being cuddled. They both fussed when they got put back in their beds, which made Mom and Dad sad. They were quick to settle down once they both got tucked back in, though.

In the pictures below, Corbin just had to have a leg out to get more comfortable, and Quinn was playing peek-a-boo.

Feels like slow motion (2 weeks, 4 days)

2008-09-18T23:19:00.012-05:00

The boys are still taking their time digesting their feedings. They are both still getting fed, but not increasing the amount very much. Corbin was held by Mommy today, but Quinn wasn't behaving so he was kept inside. Both little guys overall had decent days.

Corbin was sucking on his arm during this picture, and Quinn was zonked out in his.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Heim family. We love you guys.

Rub down (2 weeks, 3 days)

2008-09-18T23:19:00.007-05:00

This morning Quinn decided to grab all of the attention again. He was acting out of character (aka - he was calm), and he didn't take his feeding well. So, after stoppiong his feedings to let his tummy calm down and giving him a blood transfusion, he looked better and was acting more like himself. The rest of the day was quiet for him. Hopefully he will start feedings again tomorrow morning.

Corbin got his food all day, but they stopped increasing the amount of his feedings because he was having residuals (leftovers in his tummy). He had a quiet day otherwise.

Both guys got their first baby lotion rub down today, but neither one enjoyed it. Corbin didn't seem to care one way or the other when the nurse slicked his hair back afterwards.

Mom and Dad brought in the other pair of KU caps tonight, courtesy of Melanie. They'll eventually grow into them!

Slow and steady wins the race (2 weeks, 2 days old)

2008-09-17T21:23:00.002-05:00

More of the same today. Quinn is going up on his feedings faster than Corbin. Corbin did have a good blowout in his diaper, which helped him digest more food today. They turned the pressure down again on Quinn's cannula and he was still doing ok tonight. Both guys spent time out of their beds being held, which is becoming a daily occurance.

More pictures tomorrow!

Hello brother (2 weeks, 1 day old)

2008-09-16T23:13:00.007-05:00

Today was the first time that the boys have been side by side since they were born. Mom got to cuddle with both of them at the same time this afternoon - it was enjoyed by all!

Corbin and Quinn continue to get feedings and increase them little by little. Quinn is still taking them better than Corbin, but both are making progress. The doctor decided not to check Corbin's PDA today due to the fact that even if it's still there, it's not causing any problems. They turned down the pressure on Quinn's cannula and will continue to do so as he gets closer to breathing on his own.

Tonight was bath time for both boys and Mom and Dad got to help out. Neither boys enjoyed the sponge baths too terribly much, but they both liked being held by Mom and Dad afterwards. They were pretty tuckered out and were still snoozing when Mom and Dad said their goodnights.

Baby steps (2 weeks old)

2008-09-15T22:52:00.003-05:00

Not much news today. Both little guys kept getting feedings and gained a little weight. Quinn seemed to take them better than Corbin, which could be because he is burning more calories fussing around. Corbin had another day under the lights, and he should be off of them tomorrow.

This definitely feels like Monday to the folks, so they're off to bed.

Feeding frenzy (1 week, 6 days old)

2008-09-14T22:19:00.006-05:00

Corbin and Quinn are both eating again!

Quinn is also back on the nasal cannula so his mouth is free. He used that freedom to be very vocal today, like he was prior to being sick. Besides his tantrums and little wails, he had a good day. It was nice for Mom and Dad to be able to hear him again.

Corbin got another day under the lights because he was jaundiced again. They said that regular bowel movements and feedings will help with this. He was calm and relaxed when Mom and Dad were visiting today.

Both boys have added about 3/4 of an inch to their height since birth. Their weights are still a few ounces under their birth weight, but they're working on bulking up. Here are both boys catching some Z's, Corbin then Quinn.

Don't forget Annie (1 week, 5 days old)

2008-09-13T23:06:00.004-05:00

When Mom and Dad arrived today both boys were snoozing. The twins had a good day, and Quinn has begun feedings again. The doctors hope to take him off of the breathing tube tomorrow if he remains stable. It's obvious by his flailing and pulling at the tubes that he's ready for a change, too.

Corbin is still just on IV fluids, but they hope to start feedings tomorrow if he has a good night. He caused a ruckus today by managing to actually pee out of a window of his bed onto a doctor's face! Luckily she has a sense of humor, but she did say that it was a first for her in the NICU.

These photos were both taken when the boys were making the most of the rainy weather. Also, Annie has been whining about how attention has been shifted from her to the boys, so a picture of her is included today.

No news is good news sometimes (1 week, 4 days old)

2008-09-12T22:48:00.000-05:00

Today was uneventful, which is not a bad thing. Both boys continued to hang out and remain stable. Mom and Dad got to sit beside each other and hold the boys at the same time, which is the closest the boys have been since they were in Mommy's tummy. Not much more to report today - they hope to start feedings for both guys tomorrow. Until next time...

Team spirit (1 week, 3 days old)

2008-09-11T23:24:00.000-05:00

Quinn remained stable today. They turned down the pressure on his breathing tube a little and he took it well. All of his test results still haven't came back, so he is still on antibiotics. The nurse said that he got fiesty when she changed his diaper this evening, which to Mom and Dad sounds like the Quinn of last week.

Corbin was getting feedings all day, but decided to steal all of the attention this evening by spitting up quite a bit. They decided to stop his feedings until morning and see how he acts the rest of the night. He is still breathing on his own and looked peaceful once his tummy was empty. His heart scan today still showed a PDA, but it is still shrinking so they will check on it again in a few days.

Both boys wanted some KU gear for the football game Friday night. Luckily, Mom and Dad had 2 colors of KU stocking caps to choose from, and these white ones are from Grandma and Grandpa Martin. Corbin, then Quinn.

Two steps forward, one step back (1 week, 2 days old)

2008-09-10T22:44:00.000-05:00

Today a phone call came from the NICU at 6 AM, so Mom and Dad were wide awake in a second. The doctor decided that Quinn needed more of a break after a tough night of breathing, so he was put back on the breathing tube (no extra oxygen though). He has been stable all day and continues to receive antibiotics while they wait for more lab results. The nurses said that not all setbacks ever have a conclusive reason to them, and the doctor said that the average premature baby has 4 infections before they go home. Whatever this may be, they caught it early and are doing everything they can so that Quinn can put all of his energy to getting over this speedbump. Dad was still able to hold him tonight for about an hour, which made everyone feel better.

Corbin started getting feedings in his tummy today and he seems to be taking them well so far. He is still breathing on his own and with everything off of his face he seems to be experimenting with facial expressions and opening his eyes. All else went smoothly for him today. He gets another heart scan tomorrow to recheck the PDA. Mom was able to snuggle with Corbin this afternoon and got to hear lots of little squeaks from him.

Hopefully more pictures tomorrow!

Ups and downs (1 week, 1 day old)

2008-09-09T23:01:00.000-05:00

The rollercoaster took some turns today.

Mom and Dad walked into the NICU this afternoon to find Corbin snoozing all by himself, with no breathing aids at all. For the first time, his head was free of tubes and tape. Mom and Dad were both nervous but excited at the change. The doctors warned that he may lapse back to some type of nasal tube if he gets tired, but they felt he was ready to breath on his own. As of 10 PM, so far so good.

Quinn, on the other hand, decided to act up today. He had a pattern of spitting up after his feeding within the last 24 hours, which included a lowered pulse and acting out of the norm. So, although these are common symptoms for preemies, they immediately started antibiotics, ran tests, took x-rays, and stopped his feedings. The x-rays were normal, labs are still being processed, he is back on IV fluids, and he's still using the same nose tube. His night nurse from the last few nights said that tonight he has a better color to him than last night. If everything turns out ok with tests and if he remains stable, they'll start feeding him again in a few days.

Here's two pictures of Corbin, but Quinn said no pics today - he was worn out.

Lucky 7 (7 days old)

2008-09-08T22:11:00.000-05:00

By the end of today, the boys were worn out. Corbin had a heart scan and a head ultrasound while Quinn only had a head ultrasound. They both acted pretty well for having cold ultrasound gel all over their hair (Quinn still had a gel-mohawk when Daddy got there after work). Both ultrasounds showed no signs of brain bleeding, which is great news! Corbin's heart scan showed that the PDA has gotten much smaller. The doctor is hopeful that it will close up the rest of the way on its own, so they are going to start treating him like it's gone now. They will do another scan in a few days to see if it's changed.

Quinn's feedings keep going up, and he may soon be off of all IV fluids. Corbin will keep getting all of his nutrients from his IV until the PDA is gone. The nurse calls their IV fluids "baby Gatorade" with all of the electrolytes and vitamins it has.

As things keep moving along, the Brunin family would like to again thank everyone for all of their support, thoughts, and prayers. More pictures tomorrow!

Cuddle time (6 days old)

2008-09-07T20:35:00.000-05:00

Today Dad and Mom got to cuddle with the boys. The nurses said they were doing well enough to be held for an hour each. This was a big event and Dad and Mom didn't want to let them go.

Corbin gets his heart checked tomorrow to see if the PDA has gotten smaller or has gone away. Both boys are also getting a routine ultrasound done on their brain (this is typical at one week for preemies). The doctor says that Corbin is doing very well, especially considering his PDA and that Quinn is "flying and not waiting on anyone" with his increased feedings.

The first two pictures are of Corbin, the last two of Quinn.

Diaper duty (5 days old)

2008-09-06T20:35:00.000-05:00

Today Mom and Dad were visting just in time to help out with some of the nurses' chores. Mom took both the boys' temperatures under their arms and also changed their little diapers. Corbin didn't mind it too much, but Quinn still just doesn't like to be messed with.

Quinn is getting more food during each feeding in his tummy and Corbin got his last dose of medicine for the PDA around 8:00 tonight. They'll re-scan his heart in the next day or two to see if the meds did their job. Corbin also stopped his tanning sessions today around noon because his bilirubin was down.

Here's pictures of Corbin holding Mommy's finger and of Quinn fussing during his changing.

TGIF (4 days old)

2008-09-05T21:06:00.000-05:00

Today, both little guys remained stable. Corbin had another heart scan, and they discovered that the hole in his heart (called a PDA) has gotten larger. So, they are starting him on meds to help shrink it. The doctor still wasn't concerned, and told Mom and Dad that their worry level should be at a "2" on a scale of 1 to 10. They said that for the size of the PDA, he is doing very well, and it helps that they discovered it early. If not for the PDA, they said that Corbin would be on the same breathing system as Quinn.

Quinn was taken off of phototherapy this morning, and his feedings were increased. He is showing signs of being more independent than Corbin...Dad held Quinn and he cried and cried, but when Mom held Corbin he stopped crying.

Overall things are still good, and Mom and Dad are settling back into life at home rather than the hospital. The NICU is quickly becoming their second home, though. Corbin is pictured first, Quinn second.

On their own (3 days old)

2008-09-04T22:52:00.001-05:00

Today was another big day for the twins. The tanning process continued throughout the day, but more importantly, for the first day of their young lives, their folks weren't right next door thinking about them. Mom and Dad headed home around 3:30 PM with mixed feelings - elated to be finally heading home after a solid month in the hospital, but at the same time heart-broken to be leaving the boys behind. Thankfully, they are in the constant care of the NICU nurses and doctors, who have already proved just how awesome they all are!

Quinn was upgraded to a cannula nasal tube, which is about the smallest nasal tube there is before breathing on your own. Corbin still has on the more nose-piecey breathing apparatus. Everything is still very stable with both little guys. Corbin was placed stomach-down for part of his tan, and the nurses even had the gall to take off his diaper to get a tan on his mini rear end (no pictures of that!).

Mom still has quite the head and back ache from delivery, but it is getting better with each day. A month of bedrest does horrible things to muscle mass! Hopefully a few days or R&R at home will help to ease the pain and tension in her back.