tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9957126845208811572024-03-05T09:50:57.719-08:00Sisters Brinleigh & MaeleighThis blog is for the twin girls of Dustin and Carrie Jenkins. Born July 10th 2011 at around 24 weeks. They were born at IMC. We lost Maeleigh on July 15th. Brinleigh is now at Primary Children's Medical Center in their NICU. Brinleigh got to go home on December 9th.Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12642824920622778262noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-18423172704710307872012-04-21T14:28:00.000-07:002012-05-02T14:36:18.424-07:00Come on summer!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFf0D6p-ZujLMAsD_z92tUi9s_ZMxbnU913RKKkqv9keZ0RWB7Jj4LRJlFeeDNqh79usKT2Nw6w0lGsgj1UsE5sewW1U8U9iZ98YegGXuZaxsC4AHywAw50feoScvXCsg4wYQf2IiilmE/s640/blogger-image-1978691006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFf0D6p-ZujLMAsD_z92tUi9s_ZMxbnU913RKKkqv9keZ0RWB7Jj4LRJlFeeDNqh79usKT2Nw6w0lGsgj1UsE5sewW1U8U9iZ98YegGXuZaxsC4AHywAw50feoScvXCsg4wYQf2IiilmE/s640/blogger-image-1978691006.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bY8T3zSW8MLMU9Yt1iKtKLpkfbp3TKbTH4GA-meiPOOxFRtLp49hbFXns6tM2zhgfMhcPcs6aAd8imMdKD8lG-PbmJrEyZU5Fqc2hEz5yylMBDjCL806Nells0WigFMkKhLX5ZshS5s/s640/blogger-image-1759878835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bY8T3zSW8MLMU9Yt1iKtKLpkfbp3TKbTH4GA-meiPOOxFRtLp49hbFXns6tM2zhgfMhcPcs6aAd8imMdKD8lG-PbmJrEyZU5Fqc2hEz5yylMBDjCL806Nells0WigFMkKhLX5ZshS5s/s640/blogger-image-1759878835.jpg" /></a>This Girl is ready for Summer now!! We got Brin some <span style="background-color: lime;"><span style="background-color: white; color: lime;"><em><strong>CUTE</strong></em></span> </span>shades, hoping that maybe she will like going outside more if she can open her eyes. :) She sure thought she was pretty stylish with these on, what do you think!?! *<span style="color: lime;"><u><em><strong>Adorable</strong></em></u></span> if you were to ask me!! *Love the al-fal-fa too! ;)</div>
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Ok WARM WEATHER we are so ready! (never thought I would say that out loud). Cold/Flu season PLEASE go away!</div>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-14407721081477551142012-04-09T20:19:00.001-07:002012-05-02T10:20:26.982-07:00April Pediatrician visit...We headed in to the pediatricians office again this month. Brinleigh got her synagis shot for April! :( I hate seeing her get those shots, and she doesn't like getting them, she always has a blue spell. She calms a bit quicker now though. ;) as sad as it is to see her get it, they are wonderful to help protect her lungs during the rsv season. It's been a later start this year, it's usually winding down at this time but they said it's not this year. It's lingering and could go into may and June. :( let's hope not!<br />
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Brinleigh is doing wonderful with her weight gain still! She weighed in at 13lbs 10oz. She's still not on the charts for her "age" but when you adjust her age she does hit the charts and is about the 25th percentile.<br />
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We talked about starting solids, but decided to hold off. We will have to talk with her kidney doctor as well when starting solids due to her stones, she may have to have a specific diet. Along with her Sensitive tummy and intestines and since she's gaining weight why rock the boat just yet! Maybe next month we will revisit this again.<br />
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But overall she moving in the correct direction! ;-)Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-84298100883267860532012-04-09T20:05:00.001-07:002012-04-09T20:05:44.057-07:00Happy Easter!!Brinleigh's first Easter!! Our day was wonderful!! The Easter bunny brought her a basket with a few goodies. She looked adorable in her little dress I couldn't stop taking pictures!! She is such a little diva, I love it! She cracked me up, I put her next to her basket for a few pics, And when she noticed she just kept kicking it. ;) I also a pic of her adorable pouty face, she has that face down!!<br />
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I Love this little girl!<br />
<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfWy9A7NOtojiP2CpZSuNiMTYZeYH14p1D-egcTcVlvr6CRdx5ejwJELZjRmtQrWltRqt7ALydJqanN3zlZngsW5RGtocXTk70www8EQ4I4FsU4Zp5eDdZut3V0FFgI-8KpUoLrllWbA/s640/blogger-image-417186324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfWy9A7NOtojiP2CpZSuNiMTYZeYH14p1D-egcTcVlvr6CRdx5ejwJELZjRmtQrWltRqt7ALydJqanN3zlZngsW5RGtocXTk70www8EQ4I4FsU4Zp5eDdZut3V0FFgI-8KpUoLrllWbA/s640/blogger-image-417186324.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikmUtLyyj-UpjyKAR6WSTYKTPuYyXMS-rls2jM9Ld-sc0Jo6M8Xe2M7s_337YZ2b2-zQVHawiAItpUcC8yHdpmUi-LSXfs_9j29YLEyuRm5cZdUzJyJZvjKkbsQPfMRm9ifpWPeZbijI/s640/blogger-image-499740043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikmUtLyyj-UpjyKAR6WSTYKTPuYyXMS-rls2jM9Ld-sc0Jo6M8Xe2M7s_337YZ2b2-zQVHawiAItpUcC8yHdpmUi-LSXfs_9j29YLEyuRm5cZdUzJyJZvjKkbsQPfMRm9ifpWPeZbijI/s640/blogger-image-499740043.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3xLeJz6JVWp-sVuYx_8OWPdjKmsrh7_yMsXWY4fE2izDKQdJCvo3z52Bi5hLnedyL2Q7Cyy8j4gYaSjpI9hmlpM699NnLsx0eYNtdadD5avu4ri-ZXWFeOfW-1oou16o8Hh15gRjD5Y/s640/blogger-image-1809407102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3xLeJz6JVWp-sVuYx_8OWPdjKmsrh7_yMsXWY4fE2izDKQdJCvo3z52Bi5hLnedyL2Q7Cyy8j4gYaSjpI9hmlpM699NnLsx0eYNtdadD5avu4ri-ZXWFeOfW-1oou16o8Hh15gRjD5Y/s640/blogger-image-1809407102.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BM2VyZ6-x0Bb3vOhr9iAOKs5IcKmjThAbRTx7xtWnua9k13J3VRCWaGnbSIMvDwD78Hy5M2P5zpbWjIeGqyFwR1Pv5OmBUS-wjvGGqm_deMh1LqS0fsrxin5NpGhLASxYnFvFUxtcwo/s640/blogger-image--1686208677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BM2VyZ6-x0Bb3vOhr9iAOKs5IcKmjThAbRTx7xtWnua9k13J3VRCWaGnbSIMvDwD78Hy5M2P5zpbWjIeGqyFwR1Pv5OmBUS-wjvGGqm_deMh1LqS0fsrxin5NpGhLASxYnFvFUxtcwo/s640/blogger-image--1686208677.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMClq8rBriePzT3q63vfKfj5q-KqwT01wveq6veJDX8YgzSuBqKYVZj7PaFkgNx7-XDmZsIjlcNGvJdYi1E4rs3CMxDhQaKe9qsoJizO9pG0ro9t8DHe8hx3D92p2eC1svIN3WqAbzJs/s640/blogger-image--1231001261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMClq8rBriePzT3q63vfKfj5q-KqwT01wveq6veJDX8YgzSuBqKYVZj7PaFkgNx7-XDmZsIjlcNGvJdYi1E4rs3CMxDhQaKe9qsoJizO9pG0ro9t8DHe8hx3D92p2eC1svIN3WqAbzJs/s640/blogger-image--1231001261.jpg" /></a></div>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-12562202071800358642012-03-26T10:12:00.005-07:002012-05-02T10:13:26.212-07:00Specialty Care Doctor/ Rehab & Pediatrican appt<div>Today we went to our first appointment with the specialty care doctor. We went over EVERY single thing with Brinleigh. I really like this Doctor!! I love it when the doctor knows what they are getting into. He knew the In's and Outs of Brinleigh's Nicu stay, the follow ups we have done and what we still need to follow up on. He was so thorough. He was very happy with where she was at! She must have known to impress him. Usually people have to try hard to get smiles out of her. Well he rolls up looks at her and she just starts grinning!! He loved it. He then took her and said wow, I think she's doing great, but she does need more tummy time, she needs to pull her head up. So once again, we need to push her with the tummy! She is so protective of her tummy, I don't know if it's because of the reflux, or if it takes away one of her main senses, cause she can't see anything but the ground! But we are determined to work on this more than what we are.. He said an hour a day minimum. Alright Brin let's do it. So we will go back to see him in a few months to make sure she hits her next developmental milestones, which are rolling over and sitting up. :) He then asked if I had any questions for him... and I said yes!</div><div>I then asked do you know much about CMV? He replies, yes, but I don't think it's relevent to you or will help you but, what's up? So I said well at a previous appointment I was told to be concerned about it. He said well to be honest she is not a CMV looking baby. Babies that are born with major CMV problems you see them right away! They usually don't just randomly pop up. So yes keep it in mind, but don't get consumed by it, and don't read online, it will just scare you.</div><div> </div> I also asked him how he felt about her head shape, he said I think it looks great, you don't have anything to worry about right now. Most babies aren't on there head as long as Brinleigh but tummy time and just well plain old time will help that. The more she's up the less she's in her head.<br />
It was really reassuring!! And this dr. Was a great resource and very open! This was a good appointment.Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-69084611246154088762012-03-17T13:23:00.000-07:002012-05-02T13:32:37.156-07:00St. Patricks Day<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: lime; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Happy St. Patricks Day! </strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Hope you all wore your green so that you weren't pinched... Brinleigh and I sure did!</strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzkKS11ketkGySq2JAcX8czPC4CH7-gUoNN73x5Pb5iiTUfSCUhCdxilldwWDR0Gf2xo4j4O9zBY6qiG496yn7ws8r7_0_mQyuFZjoIs3m2ZSLS50TNIYnc3r7v5XTImYxn1Da_aZC0I/s640/blogger-image-2113482103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzkKS11ketkGySq2JAcX8czPC4CH7-gUoNN73x5Pb5iiTUfSCUhCdxilldwWDR0Gf2xo4j4O9zBY6qiG496yn7ws8r7_0_mQyuFZjoIs3m2ZSLS50TNIYnc3r7v5XTImYxn1Da_aZC0I/s640/blogger-image-2113482103.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqp9DGWLzsWwdYnfM6J2-h723UebNUBRjYBQXCr9KUsibi-MZAr5GPrFHBpKwoWmP_TpnHBkXxzx7SYdoxGuWzcK6Imzs5KMBd5_SpTuTlYB8Fs0TzkwaiwoJnUI1egocYCVZlWDasvQ/s640/blogger-image-635043831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqp9DGWLzsWwdYnfM6J2-h723UebNUBRjYBQXCr9KUsibi-MZAr5GPrFHBpKwoWmP_TpnHBkXxzx7SYdoxGuWzcK6Imzs5KMBd5_SpTuTlYB8Fs0TzkwaiwoJnUI1egocYCVZlWDasvQ/s640/blogger-image-635043831.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGJENwsz3P7XUvt59RckBsWizY0hEJA-EwtUzVTUcMplONGA331dOVZNofjxOxXIFBp74byiXU7hwn6Q0anUy-Bn004CCJWMzbbSfrXRCeMOmUFWkxsgVfN79KpdvrbyBpKTAjjyL-C8/s640/blogger-image--1048196671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGJENwsz3P7XUvt59RckBsWizY0hEJA-EwtUzVTUcMplONGA331dOVZNofjxOxXIFBp74byiXU7hwn6Q0anUy-Bn004CCJWMzbbSfrXRCeMOmUFWkxsgVfN79KpdvrbyBpKTAjjyL-C8/s640/blogger-image--1048196671.jpg" /></a></div>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-44485911900700184022012-03-06T14:07:00.000-08:002012-05-02T14:14:56.519-07:00Cardiology<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-LmqA2FmqBl6fA7tCplFCJdNhaNppUVy9F7o5uxUzYHNbmrePIfTRWaWecX2oRPx67gUnFyQhCPInh8yK13l0u5_FOtdNxjvpQSKWbJ2fS_3_AQdMMNXB_fqthIIXt0I8z5PPgYOhyphenhyphenw/s640/blogger-image-972770895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-LmqA2FmqBl6fA7tCplFCJdNhaNppUVy9F7o5uxUzYHNbmrePIfTRWaWecX2oRPx67gUnFyQhCPInh8yK13l0u5_FOtdNxjvpQSKWbJ2fS_3_AQdMMNXB_fqthIIXt0I8z5PPgYOhyphenhyphenw/s640/blogger-image-972770895.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Guess what.... Oh that's right, we are OFF to the DOCTORS again...</span></div>
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Today we went to see the Cardiologist, a follow up for her heart. Brinleigh has a small whole between the top two chambers of her heart, it's called an ASD. She also had a tiny amount of Hypertension when in the hospital. With having an ASD, she may be just fine with it and it may never cause any significant problems, or it may need to be fixed in the future only time will tell. </div>
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At this appointment Brinleigh had an x-ray along with an EKG. She did awesome! She just laid there while they put wires and electrodes all over her body. An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a test that checks for problems with the electrical activity of your heart. Her EKG looked good, didn't show signs of hypertension or that the ASD was making her heart work harder. But they will keep following her to watch it closely. We will go back for another evalutation in a few months. And if needed they will do an Echo, but they would prefer not to unless really necessary, since Brinleigh would have to be sedated and that comes with risks. I'm glad at this point we didn't need to do one. It's really scary, all the unknowns, but we just have to rely on the professionals that they will watch her carefully and know what's best. I hope that she will never be effected by it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWC_MWhIHe9dU9-EYigbvJeyvowGn9VLS_eDPuxww-GGXzvnTRjCzTWxAKgIjDHhUQ_yyn6bwGjMhI3sldwen0iKCI0PctRj3hUNbL61aYwEXIDFPL_3aQ5_vpps3L8eFlEgJtYb-6lE/s640/blogger-image-682632774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWC_MWhIHe9dU9-EYigbvJeyvowGn9VLS_eDPuxww-GGXzvnTRjCzTWxAKgIjDHhUQ_yyn6bwGjMhI3sldwen0iKCI0PctRj3hUNbL61aYwEXIDFPL_3aQ5_vpps3L8eFlEgJtYb-6lE/s640/blogger-image-682632774.jpg" /></a></div>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-68879368081105602452012-03-06T11:26:00.001-08:002012-03-26T09:59:01.135-07:00Nephrology & Optomology<div>Today we had two appointments, Nephrology & Optomology.<br /><br />First up was the Nephrologist (Kidney Doctor) first off they weighed cute little BrinBoo she was now 12 lbs 6oz. Then then put a urine bag on her so they could test her calcium levels again.. they then examined her and tried getting her blood pressure, it never works out. She was really well behaved and extremely happy. She was jabbering it up. When the doctor was looking her over, she says, she is hard of hearing, is that right? I responded yes, she is. the Dr then said wow, I'm surprised at how vocial she is then, most the time they are really quiet. I really hope that Brin never stops her jabbering! I love her being so vocal, it makes me so happy! So, her urine came back looking so much better than the last time, she still did have some calcium crystals in her urine, but not as much as the previous time. She said that if Brin does start crying out and acting in pain that she could be passing stones. :( but to call. But as of now they weren't going to do a ultrasound or any bloodwork since she has been happy and her urine was better than before. So hopefully that means things are looking up in this area! Let's keep improving girl!</div><div> </div><div>Next up the Eye Doctor...Off we rushed from one appt to the next. First off they see if she will follow these black and white pictures around. Well at this point Brinleigh is hungry and tired, and didn't want to be cooperate. I know that she will follow things but she wasn't doing it for them. So next they decide they will dialate her eyes (hate this) So they put the drops in her eyes and off we went to wait. So I was able to sneak in a feeding and she zonked right out!! Which actually made the rest of the appointment a sinch. The doctor comes in and says that one of the things they have to watch for with babies that have ROP and laser surgery is that they can't see things close up, so that's one of the things they will be looking for. Along with other things of course.</div><div>So he pry's open her little eyes and takes a looky... YAY - No need for glasses at this point! He said that everything looks good! She's not far/near sided, her retina is attached and all posterior pole structures are perfectly normal! The size of her optic nerves are perfectly normal in appearance. And she fixes on things and follows them, and her eyes are in good alignment. Oh yay, what a relief! We will again have a follow up appointment to make sure they keep developing in the right direction and nothing changes.</div><div> </div><div>So overall these appointments were a success and had good news!! </div><div>Urine showing some improvement!</div><div>Eyes lookin' good!</div><div> </div><div>Brinleigh did soo good, with having a morning filled with appointments! We got home and had a little photoshoot, her faces cracked me up!!! She's full of it! :)</div><div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align: center; clear: both;" class="separator"><a style="margin-right: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4atlyWVJzPyg0xYKhyphenhyphenb6l_dyK06bpT2bJnDsg_KP5Bu7k0aP4vQS9j5XnaKtz7qJwyE02IOnmbhRTdbuKMEBGNsmOgE5bBGp-20bYJChDPhDI7Yfg_H-PzB-RKGiUMxf0ERj4ucw09k/s640/blogger-image-1598874209.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4atlyWVJzPyg0xYKhyphenhyphenb6l_dyK06bpT2bJnDsg_KP5Bu7k0aP4vQS9j5XnaKtz7qJwyE02IOnmbhRTdbuKMEBGNsmOgE5bBGp-20bYJChDPhDI7Yfg_H-PzB-RKGiUMxf0ERj4ucw09k/s640/blogger-image-1598874209.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; clear: both;" class="separator"><a style="margin-right: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp636vMGsKX4ET5Dw4sxt9Qx2gfijuiApEM6lpgdFaYTiAw-OFjpt6qbr7IpWkT5gQzpUHO2ShZZgRkwSRcG_BxEhxECDWHAclXhLDXlwZtTSsZFz-QCzreSLzS41yT_djWiPl1sdxDzo/s640/blogger-image-1497419081.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp636vMGsKX4ET5Dw4sxt9Qx2gfijuiApEM6lpgdFaYTiAw-OFjpt6qbr7IpWkT5gQzpUHO2ShZZgRkwSRcG_BxEhxECDWHAclXhLDXlwZtTSsZFz-QCzreSLzS41yT_djWiPl1sdxDzo/s640/blogger-image-1497419081.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; clear: both;" class="separator"><a style="margin-right: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWttZohVaCDOOFqgMDACGhW9h0si92mi9d6Y8S6nENFWuBCTYTPZ-2afJSEBZMKLrIszKUIjE8_03qYthZNzG83H1wK5J7KQM9cLT8b_UP6nuLId2BTnD57iHUXe7mtt5fZe4eJ2QYPI/s640/blogger-image--77437261.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWttZohVaCDOOFqgMDACGhW9h0si92mi9d6Y8S6nENFWuBCTYTPZ-2afJSEBZMKLrIszKUIjE8_03qYthZNzG83H1wK5J7KQM9cLT8b_UP6nuLId2BTnD57iHUXe7mtt5fZe4eJ2QYPI/s640/blogger-image--77437261.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; clear: both;" class="separator">HAHA, these make me laugh!!</div>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-55198982574666368332012-03-06T10:05:00.000-08:002012-03-26T10:07:13.189-07:00Brin's jabbering....Here's a little video of Brinleigh after her appointments jabbering... I love it!!<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzR7MudhlHgXwQc6g1fvNFZv3xJgrUgoFIPpC7gVg363IfHe95UHovj-hMiF6oVPYz4UwZOWov1lGQtoDuZjw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-63719539800916875242012-02-23T23:41:00.001-08:002012-03-21T11:22:29.235-07:00NFP - Neonatal Follow UP<div>The state does a Neonatal Follow up program for infants that spend an extended period of time in the NICU and have special needs and attention. This Thursday it was Brinleigh's 3 month follow up. You go and meet with the different specialists to make sure all her needs are being met.</div><div> </div><div>Her appointment was at 8:30 am.... Off we go.</div><div> </div><div>First off we met with the RN: The basics - Get her down to a dry diaper....</div><div>Weight - 11 lbs 14 oz. (wahoo)</div><div>Height - 21.5 inches (yay)</div><div>I was dying laughing cause she totally peed all over when she was on the scale! She was swimming in it! Clean up in room 1. haha.... first station we were happy, she had gained 14 oz since her last appointment and grown! We will take it!</div><div> </div><div>-Dietician</div><div>So from the time of leaving the nicu they would have liked to haved seen her gain at least 20, she was a little under she was at 19.5. Dang girl pretty good if you were to ask me! We went over her eating, or should I say drinking, haha, and she was happy with her progress! We had the little plateau about a month in a half back when taking out all her fortification, but since has picked back up and gaining really well! She is on a upward climb and nothing needed to be changed! Yay (cause you would be fighting me to change anything there)</div><div> </div><div>-Audiologist</div><div>This one was pretty funny to me...</div><div>We met with the Audiologist next and she asks me, so do you have any concerns, my response was No, I think we are ok (while thinking Yes but we are working on it now... so no). She then proceeds to ask me the following questions. </div><div>1) "Does she react to your voice?" - Well, No </div><div>2) "Does she turn and look if she hears loud noises?" - No </div><div>3) "Did she have Menigitis?" No </div><div>4) "Did she have anything else like CMV?" Yes, she has CMV</div><div>5) "Why did they test for that?" -Cause her hearing loss.... "Wait WHAT?" </div><div>The lady had no clue Brinleigh was deaf! I then proceed to tell her that she has had two ABR's done and didn't pass either, and that's why they then tested her for CMV. She sees an audiologist, she has hearing aides. She then says well sounds like there isn't anything I can do. She just laughed and said I wondered how you weren't concered if you answered no to those questions. I said because I already know why. It was funny! :)</div><div> </div><div>- Pediatrican</div><div>Next up the Pediatrican... at this point we had waited in between specialists for awhile, and Brinleigh had fallen asleep. The Dr says well I will let her sleep cause her next appointment she will have to perform... She then asks me to lay her down, I do, she then pulls out the (name ?) thing they test there reflexes with on her knee and knocks on her Brinleigh's knee, and BOOM the devil was awaken. Brinleigh screams, and she does so much that she has a lovely blue spell. The doctor then asks if this is normal... Well it was when she was in the hospital, but they have totally mellowed out. She only has them when she's extremely upset! Which you just took her by surprise and pissed her off! She then proceeded to say that sometimes heart problems can cause that, so we should follow up on that. Other than that things were good on that end.</div><div> </div><div>-OT/PT</div><div>Next up the therapist! Brinleigh had fallen back to sleep after her "moment" and we waited a WHILE for this one, but it ended up being ok, cause she got a good nap in.</div><div>We enter and time to wake her up, I tell him I hope she does ok, she can be difficult when we wake her. Well she woke up happy as could be. He says you know I have 3 boys and kids are great at making us parents look like liars, I just laughed, it's so true. We then proceeded with her evaluation, he laid her on the floor and she did GREAT. She followed all the toys from side to side, she got excited when a new one was in her line of sight, she used both legs & arms. She brought her hands midline and to her mouth! She was right at the 3-4 month level! He did suggest more tummy time, to get her moving along in the right direction, and showed us a few other ways to do tummy time, that's one we will need to work on. He was really happy with her and what he saw! He also voted her the most adorable and Best dressed baby of the day!! ;-)</div><div> </div><div>So overall, it seems like we are heading in the upward right direction!! Wahoo!</div>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-58980381104321544162012-02-14T23:30:00.000-08:002012-02-19T14:38:03.731-08:00Be Mine!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkMnaKEWz5XWZJ9saxBmn0v-bUN9mpWWcVWWJm9xSLtxgsaYoh4Zyk7epPlhKhMFaHx-uPlLBBqCy1_9ufoBvPrwWL2WNQbUuU_TrImoRxizRyxn66ymtpi7tdcy9v-_Nxt8xcDSrRhU/s1600/Canon+1+229.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710979583196137090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkMnaKEWz5XWZJ9saxBmn0v-bUN9mpWWcVWWJm9xSLtxgsaYoh4Zyk7epPlhKhMFaHx-uPlLBBqCy1_9ufoBvPrwWL2WNQbUuU_TrImoRxizRyxn66ymtpi7tdcy9v-_Nxt8xcDSrRhU/s320/Canon+1+229.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#660000;">Happy Valentines Day!!! </span></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKQqR4DSAu8RsKIkz-0XM7qBma4FysBS_FyB2omZqiLkUKvAO6LFh6_DM0FFsDsMpU8BsTh9cmvHvfup6IKEaKN5hvgHgiaoQgF52Kwo9XnASYQnKiLWF5bfTXn2ueGwLKouUYD_PJvI/s640/blogger-image-893198249.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKQqR4DSAu8RsKIkz-0XM7qBma4FysBS_FyB2omZqiLkUKvAO6LFh6_DM0FFsDsMpU8BsTh9cmvHvfup6IKEaKN5hvgHgiaoQgF52Kwo9XnASYQnKiLWF5bfTXn2ueGwLKouUYD_PJvI/s640/blogger-image-893198249.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tLrvFaDEMlI55BrlXkWYCsVdfKSyhziS1LEIGJpHB2beTcSW3Wo6tqnUWuo-8F7a3cafzSKIsWjKZUtR9uopgYRgVI91A7uWhUs6s6SZYXkf8O3o1911pEUhGKpDlUGbhdz0ZOLGw2g/s640/blogger-image--933202264.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tLrvFaDEMlI55BrlXkWYCsVdfKSyhziS1LEIGJpHB2beTcSW3Wo6tqnUWuo-8F7a3cafzSKIsWjKZUtR9uopgYRgVI91A7uWhUs6s6SZYXkf8O3o1911pEUhGKpDlUGbhdz0ZOLGw2g/s640/blogger-image--933202264.jpg" /></a></div>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-76651731698034429072012-02-09T23:40:00.000-08:002012-02-19T14:05:18.536-08:00Speech Therapist meeting...Today we met with a speech therapist, another person that we will need to work with for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Brinleigh</span>. The appointment was a consultation whether she will be accepted for therapy and the therapist is another person that has to give approval for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Brinleigh</span> to be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">eligible</span> for Cochlear implants. We had three pamphlets of questions to go through to see where <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Brinleigh</span> falls developmentally. For a 7 month old she is behind, but when you correct her age to 3 months (which she should be) she is still a tad behind on somethings, right on with others, and maybe even ahead on a few things as well (such a mix). We will get the exact results when we goes through and "grades" them. But according to what we went through she did qualify for both, therapy & in her opinion <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Cochlear's</span>, so she will send her referral in to the Cochlear team.<br /><br />I was actually a little worked up after this appointment that I had to wait to make a post or anything about it, cause originally it would have all been negative, angry & emotional. Now that I have soaked it all in, I just have to remember to take things in and not let them get us down. It's just hard when all the time you are told that your child is behind. It wears on you, but I just have to take a step back and realized we are working on it all the time!! Her other therapists have always said that she is improving, yes behind but that's why we work with her all the time!! We are doing everything that we can to help her. She did spend 5 long months fighting to just be here, and I have to remember just how far she has come! Yes we still have a long road ahead of us and there is work to be done!<br /><br />We will continue to fight with Brinleigh each and every day to encourage her, push her, and help her in any way we can! She is the most important part of our family! And are so blessed to have her! Love you Brinleigh Boo!Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-5841124123530570642012-02-08T23:05:00.000-08:002012-02-19T13:39:33.638-08:00Happy Birthday to DADDY...Happy birthday daddy!! So another year older for the old man. We feel like lucky girls in our house to have him in our lives!! We love you DUST!!<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710957828669754578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6CPOXd6I_QnZmZcb5SqwGU9Dzo1v2BryzUlGNxbAKG_zzqFKp-zHYMKMsg5Z2dc4vxmGuOBYTFXRXydrd7VNvaJdtmotoH9Pgg8xBDXP_yBVwlcNcy1Tl7voMSfj6y9wwMr-qfXeMs4/s320/Canon+1+215.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"></p>We were able to spend the entire day together! Daddy took off work so that he could go to my next audiology appointment. This time at the audiologist Daddy and I got to go into the booth for the first time. So in the booth there are speakers on each side, with a tv screen above them. The audiologist would say my name on one side to see if I would react to it. Then daddy would turn me towards the side it was coming from and then it would be re-enforced with a cartoon on the tv. I was really happy today and did cooperate with it. I was thrilled with the tv screens and was really alert. This was a big training time for me, cause if I can hear these amplified noises they are teaching me how to react to them. It's a process we all have to learn ;) I also got my new right ear mold and it fits much better, actually stays in. So this time we did the left ear. It was a successful appointment. We have to keep the hearing aides in as much as possible!!<br />After the appointment we all headed home and enjoyed having daddy home to cuddle with!<br /><br />Once again Happy Birthday to Dustin, the first birthday as a daddy!! <br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucpGqzVtD4OkgWFuB7SLHCgzMOMN9g10VRYO_iTi5h4MI7g1Gy1E13CY7nteISZJgNMn9hmFu35p54YHVBHM33nO4FYZQKqsrn4hpxVc0kAGcyEVQSJJjdMyewcInxdz10YFXJiY2ihI/s640/blogger-image-2001743642.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucpGqzVtD4OkgWFuB7SLHCgzMOMN9g10VRYO_iTi5h4MI7g1Gy1E13CY7nteISZJgNMn9hmFu35p54YHVBHM33nO4FYZQKqsrn4hpxVc0kAGcyEVQSJJjdMyewcInxdz10YFXJiY2ihI/s640/blogger-image-2001743642.jpg" /></a></div>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-15486290715298080382012-02-05T23:36:00.000-08:002012-02-19T13:37:39.949-08:00Superbowl!!Ok, we all know the outcome of the superbowl but we here in the Jenkins house were cheering for the Patriots! I told Dustin to dress our Brinleigh, this is what she came out in... he said her outfit was picked to be patriots colors! ;-) haha... Dust always said he couldn't wait to watch a game with her.. Well the wish came true! Daddy daughter snuggle time! <br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiN7jC0NantxmNZHgZHOSUBkH25pL-OEhRFbL5YhS435FMQ2s23DnldwuUvqrrdGVejV-V867XYcDHQIQHbOpBG2YvNyBWzLhaXvEpIcv6F83dZru0Zyr8WwCEjfo-un6AQ_9XAn8O9A/s640/blogger-image--1024995148.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiN7jC0NantxmNZHgZHOSUBkH25pL-OEhRFbL5YhS435FMQ2s23DnldwuUvqrrdGVejV-V867XYcDHQIQHbOpBG2YvNyBWzLhaXvEpIcv6F83dZru0Zyr8WwCEjfo-un6AQ_9XAn8O9A/s640/blogger-image--1024995148.jpg" /></a></div>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-72288628809280832902012-02-04T14:05:00.000-08:002012-02-19T14:26:45.135-08:00Brinleigh's First visit to Maeleigh...We took Brinleigh to Maeleigh's grave this past weekend for the first time. I have wanted to take her so many times but didn't know if I could handle it to be honest. I always breakdown when I am there.<br />And it was emotional just like I knew it would be. It's so hard to have one of my precious baby girls in my arms snuggling her so tighly and the other I could only imagine how that would feel to be doing at that exact moment. I miss her so much every single day, and still don't understand why she had to go. But I know that she is in a beautiful place, looking down on us and helping us to be strong and push through the hard times. I really feel so lucky and blessed to have had the moments I did with her, from carrying her in my tummy to the heart breaking moments of holding her tiny fragile body as she passed. She really was our ANGEL from the beginning.<br /><br />I love you little miss Maeleigh, I dream of you often and miss you every second of every day!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710972865240128226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTE077d90J1bJ-dC67GClt-MFE8XgVsHbYlmSGPCVBWwQpTSz0qI085SH4HqR8btr_DgrjhXa5-aPtVVKSdJILmUqhTIn8Ny0SybAd0m2Mf0vWkuFaUxZbjDa4tNFoCTj1b3LL0GZK2E/s320/Canon+1+199.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710972872601530962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMle8_ow0cqi7JOw0LcwEb_6qcshBlGLRnLl5-8fykJlICCiPPwHzl1IsWx6ahoLh3pWy9KjgFVorTO6KoWGbnyq4Wi6y1qu0Znk3Yh9amMVdQtmePByjS7BKIQyneEqQIEglpHrOGWi0/s320/Canon+1+201.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8e08PepCsar6YwgP6jn25WXvBbvy6ES_OThEmWIt273bw0kPLci42U4V3zXfsfxfr9NV7L0C2Nm83WeMYcUEI2R8_wVEebeEVEHyBC-03bU0uxvCWjyvoaa4Hotczy_mXoDZuHM8rpc/s1600/Canon+1+205.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710972881477088946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8e08PepCsar6YwgP6jn25WXvBbvy6ES_OThEmWIt273bw0kPLci42U4V3zXfsfxfr9NV7L0C2Nm83WeMYcUEI2R8_wVEebeEVEHyBC-03bU0uxvCWjyvoaa4Hotczy_mXoDZuHM8rpc/s320/Canon+1+205.JPG" /></a>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-38074408204285208492012-02-02T21:05:00.001-08:002012-02-02T21:26:30.332-08:00Did she gain!?!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">Today we went to the pediatrician...</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">The big question was is she gaining weight?</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">Well the verdict is in... She did gain some.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><strong><em>She is now exactly 11 Pounds!</em></strong> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">She gained 9 ounces since her last appointment about 2 weeks ago. The Dr. was ok with it! So that's good. She is now eating 4 ounces each feeding and eating every 3 hrs during the day. We are all just happy she's back on the upward climb without having to add any extras. She also got her next months Synagis shot! Oh the poor girl! </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">She was really good at the doctors today. She didn't cry when weighed, she didn't cry when he was examining her... BUT BOY did she freak when she got that dang shot!! She turned blue, and I think passed out, she was just exhausted afterwards and had a little glaze in her eyes. It takes her sometime to regain her oxygen levels after that! :( The Dr. always asks how her spells are... and I always say stick around for these shots and you can experience them! But really those are the main times she has her major spells now! We hope that can improve.... They are freaky! </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiIclYkcir9YmaxRmk0cEFihy9lbZmLxtZl6D72WZD9eTSU19XBxhMQqcftf2hWRMBQipv-LNo7nBN6fnyn8wkwf7rEI-XT9DRvtpiWwqa31hlEmSkNbn0-y69D5Y9Co_Mdtt8AgfC1U/s640/blogger-image--682768765.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiIclYkcir9YmaxRmk0cEFihy9lbZmLxtZl6D72WZD9eTSU19XBxhMQqcftf2hWRMBQipv-LNo7nBN6fnyn8wkwf7rEI-XT9DRvtpiWwqa31hlEmSkNbn0-y69D5Y9Co_Mdtt8AgfC1U/s640/blogger-image--682768765.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4lBzdJWdt1V6elT7q4p0Uv1Mg0qaVYrlVmx6yJKEqzhoG3BbxEucWsJddSHFwxz-gI5LcNiguEEXiL7vlPFkEiQiGay9HlqryGIelp2bZorAHqPaFP9ydhDAiP2TMJccYhcgImOOr6o/s640/blogger-image-1697421136.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4lBzdJWdt1V6elT7q4p0Uv1Mg0qaVYrlVmx6yJKEqzhoG3BbxEucWsJddSHFwxz-gI5LcNiguEEXiL7vlPFkEiQiGay9HlqryGIelp2bZorAHqPaFP9ydhDAiP2TMJccYhcgImOOr6o/s640/blogger-image-1697421136.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">Overall it was a positive visit. Weight gain check, lungs sounded clear check, ears good check, another protective synagis shot check!</div>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-63611310656029145882012-02-01T12:46:00.000-08:002012-02-02T21:03:57.642-08:00Learning the little things...<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">Today we have our weekly visit from OT/PT Early Intervention. We worked with Brinleigh on the floor FLAT on her back and on her sides. She tolerated it really well, and was happy for us! We are to try laying on her sides and stretching her hips and legs while we play. Brinleigh is always starting to show interest in a few toys! The gal today states "I'm just loving this right now, She's such a different baby!"</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">It's true! :) She has come such a long way, and improving all the time!<a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsr62tfVWjldDU-nLkhQRtbRqFBJjaAcfIvhwoDDzq4Dy6uHxwFV1948zsHpTTTr5-sPwE_LHweP9pvVDxmhSNjZAwn15fOysEDNfuEGd-r7bKYVTM_L_YyX9BZeCrjD2mGOO9FDMwcQ/s640/blogger-image--71956011.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsr62tfVWjldDU-nLkhQRtbRqFBJjaAcfIvhwoDDzq4Dy6uHxwFV1948zsHpTTTr5-sPwE_LHweP9pvVDxmhSNjZAwn15fOysEDNfuEGd-r7bKYVTM_L_YyX9BZeCrjD2mGOO9FDMwcQ/s640/blogger-image--71956011.jpg" /></a></div><br />I had to put these cute pictures up, I just can't get enough of her smile! Her jammies say it all "best gift EVER"<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnBFNNL2NfS9m40z3xkSuI6y0zI4vv50QNULRoGHDR1_gVQ0qG7xUmGs8MLDMwYwv8-H7qdL8rBO1Nr69IywQWkqaj9CED4ulCp0_DRqiROA9JfLsVzDMI3iHfKNIPJanEjFG-TVnpAw/s640/blogger-image--1636885548.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnBFNNL2NfS9m40z3xkSuI6y0zI4vv50QNULRoGHDR1_gVQ0qG7xUmGs8MLDMwYwv8-H7qdL8rBO1Nr69IywQWkqaj9CED4ulCp0_DRqiROA9JfLsVzDMI3iHfKNIPJanEjFG-TVnpAw/s640/blogger-image--1636885548.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">Here's an interesting detail we learned today:</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">At birth, the human brain contains about 100 billion cells not yet connected into functioning networks.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">By age Three, the childs brain has formed 1,000 billion connections!!! (WOW)</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">Brain connections formed during the early years of life become the foundation for the childs thinking and learning. The development of these connections is shaped by the childs early experiences.</div>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-72798853301012429032012-01-31T10:36:00.000-08:002012-01-31T12:41:14.201-08:00Bath time!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">Brinleigh loves her bath time... Well at least until she has to get out and gets cold then she gets ticked!! We had fun splashing and lounging in the warm tub this morning! She got an extra morning bath cause she puked all over herself, and ya that's a stinky girl ;) lol Thought i'd share a few pics. <a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3T6eNRpOaIA60Zgi2ANo_sYrPYqVRpvRAa-MwwnEDZabOTEASX3ITlAqHlH0gdESdkmKCDwzL1gwvevw_lbG7tJKfAzVsfjNDIX_FomX1AKP_B_bpZWfQfxvWdbj8T9KzrVRmS6mGZJI/s640/blogger-image--665989189.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3T6eNRpOaIA60Zgi2ANo_sYrPYqVRpvRAa-MwwnEDZabOTEASX3ITlAqHlH0gdESdkmKCDwzL1gwvevw_lbG7tJKfAzVsfjNDIX_FomX1AKP_B_bpZWfQfxvWdbj8T9KzrVRmS6mGZJI/s640/blogger-image--665989189.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisboNQBuVwLsY110tbsJYyqNPucigF92WikcfhVtwQePNFb0WGf2s-O6JG8pMUyiG0V6mJUhMm8npSb-fSr-6BNmf_eKgLxpQwJWBlFDlIvhrocz_NlL24Cndqfi8hudhFg_W-K6BcRUQ/s640/blogger-image-726206936.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisboNQBuVwLsY110tbsJYyqNPucigF92WikcfhVtwQePNFb0WGf2s-O6JG8pMUyiG0V6mJUhMm8npSb-fSr-6BNmf_eKgLxpQwJWBlFDlIvhrocz_NlL24Cndqfi8hudhFg_W-K6BcRUQ/s640/blogger-image-726206936.jpg" /></a></div>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-3050511877205108162012-01-30T12:14:00.000-08:002012-01-31T12:36:03.391-08:00Professional hats off...Today I had the orientation team back over, and today they told me there personal stories growing up deaf. It's really interesting to hear. And they are both happy with where they are in life and the type of communication they have. It was good to hear. I would tell about there stories, but I don't know its my place to share. But they both didn't let being deaf hold them back in anyway. Now it's time for us to make our decision. I think I know what I want, it's just a matter of what's best for Brinleigh. I think it will come to us. I just have to believe that she can reach ALL goals that we set for her. I know we will be there to help her and push her to accomplish everything. I spoke with a gal today, that has gone through the cochlear process for her little girl as well. She said that it's one of the hardest things they have done, and it takes a ton of work to have them learn and work they way they should. But it's been the biggest blessing for her little girl. She was a few years behind in her speech development, and within 1 year of having her cochlears she has improved 2 full years! That's amazing! So uplifting to hear such wonderful stories about others that have had success.Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-87742653636757184602012-01-29T20:37:00.000-08:002012-01-30T21:11:53.259-08:00Smiles & JibberishBrinleigh is changing so much all the time! She is really starting to smile and jabber. She has found her voice lately, and we think it's so adorable! We can't get enough of it! It just melts my heart to hear, it really is music to my ears!! During the day when Brinleigh is awake she has to be entertained, she wants your FULL attention! And she will demand it, Are we in for it or what?? :) Another thing she has been sleeping really well, she has been sleeping anywhere from 6-10 hrs a night this past week, it's been amazing, I don't want to jinx it! I hope it stays that way, cause I have to admit, that I need my sleep too. She hasn't been waking up screaming her head off either, I find her just talking to herself staring at the ceiling fan. That's the best feeling having her wake up calm and happy to see me! Brinleigh was taking Melatonin in order to sleep at night, and we haven't had to use this week. She was falling asleep before we were giving it to her, so I wasn't waking her to do so. :) We are moving in the right direction, I just love her daily improvements and seeing her learn new things!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcC0gW6muk_W5-ay2yFOMExTFw_UPFjceSeM-alNf9rXryVGRYt7NuXpO9OadNNME70h4sXHTl68dJkB38rhqDOGlAyF0kn_U_n2-Pxu376JfUjE-bnYcfsS4ySKBDwYRMH9Zyoq1YQXg/s640/blogger-image-30368439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcC0gW6muk_W5-ay2yFOMExTFw_UPFjceSeM-alNf9rXryVGRYt7NuXpO9OadNNME70h4sXHTl68dJkB38rhqDOGlAyF0kn_U_n2-Pxu376JfUjE-bnYcfsS4ySKBDwYRMH9Zyoq1YQXg/s640/blogger-image-30368439.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6h4x4RWgkughxu_uybERMx3ABTPOZ-uiVoq08d8wQh2N58XZMCc40-NnBOfs5vnHLGaK499MZZ5Kiba6ztNCsc6QyNrtmHW5KUHNFOac7XEb3_RIX9ycKyAJ-wUcxJhFLmHg6O4-MOI/s640/blogger-image--559422426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6h4x4RWgkughxu_uybERMx3ABTPOZ-uiVoq08d8wQh2N58XZMCc40-NnBOfs5vnHLGaK499MZZ5Kiba6ztNCsc6QyNrtmHW5KUHNFOac7XEb3_RIX9ycKyAJ-wUcxJhFLmHg6O4-MOI/s640/blogger-image--559422426.jpg" /></a></div>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-27873489901002699392012-01-25T18:22:00.000-08:002012-01-30T20:37:31.793-08:00ASL or LSL!?!Today I left Brinleigh for the first time with My Mom (Brinleigh's Grandma), she came and spent a few hours with her so that I could go visit the preschools of ASL & LSL. It's the next step of our orientation and picking which route we would like to go for Brinleigh's language. First off I went to JMS, which is the school they teach ASL at and they focus on sign language. The other school, was Milcreek which they teach LSL, and focus on Listening spoken language, all kids there have amplification to help them be able to hear. It was amazing! I was really good to see the two different schools and the kids in them. We haven't fully made a decision yet, but after seeing the LSL school, it makes me really happy and excited to see these little kids that have profound hearing loss that are talking just like you and me. I have never actually seen a person with Cochlear implants. It was a good thing for me to experience and see. As I left I felt lots of different emotions. I felt really hopeful!<br /><br />It's so really touch for me to know which direction to go. I really hope that Brinleigh will be able to pick up talking. But I don't want to limit her by not giving her all the options out there. Is so hard making life changing decisions.... How do you do it?Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-44608023791769889622012-01-23T17:54:00.000-08:002012-01-29T18:22:46.480-08:00Immunizations YUCKY!Brinleigh's immunizations made for not the greatest weekend. Brinleigh went from sleeping really well to not sleeping at all. Which then in turn meant no sleep for mommy! We had a few bad nights, friday I think we slept two hours. Our poor girl had a fever and just didn't feel good. I hate those dang shots. Saturday night she slept a bit longer, but last night we were up from 3 am on... UGH.<br /><br />OT/PT came to visit this morning. Brinleigh was up and not as happy with this visit. They worked with her shoulders and putting her in different positions for her hips. She tolerated it ok, for the first 15 mins and then she was done. So it was a shorter session. She just wanted to eat, and then was out for a bit (guess she realized she needed some sleep).<br /><br />The rest of the day was much better than the weekend, I think she was feeling better!! I hope that we can both get some sleep tonight!! And get back on a better nightly sleep schedule.Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-21284037089593143022012-01-22T17:29:00.000-08:002012-01-22T17:35:54.739-08:00Stick that tongue out....Another clip of our Brinleigh, She is really funny with her tongue. She will watch us stick our tongue out......and she does it too! CUTE CUTE CUTE!!!<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzzOzJRSyl6bj7Jriz6YEf60IJtJaihqG_yLb0jAxTi3ZDSzpk4jS9sGoflaTl1iDp564iu7PiB4iuHjA3eXw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-82221761446669793602012-01-22T17:02:00.000-08:002012-01-22T17:29:33.406-08:00WigglesBrinleigh is starting to really love her projector, she lays there and just kicks her legs and flings her arms around like crazy! It is so fun to watch her! It Puts BIG grins on our faces!! Daddy and Mommy are thrilled with her, this video is a little dark and long. But hope you enjoy it as much as we do!! I can watch her for hours! :)<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dycyZDCRq0zCRFn-n9NFNq5jU3fWu5K_qv2pIuMPQ3NxuFePj6pltW6umfl5PpSQTxnArd7jG2u0BOqmZZokA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-17520295013786019572012-01-20T16:37:00.000-08:002012-01-22T17:02:26.857-08:00Pediatrician Visit....Friday January 20th we had our next visit to the Pediatrician, this was her 6 month check up.<br /><br />Brinleigh's stats:<br />Weight 10lb 7oz<br />Height 20.1 inches<br />Head 14.5 inches<br /><br />So when she is compared to other 6 month old babies, she is around the 1% percentile for all catergories... Discouraging a tad. But the Dr. reassured me that I shouldn't be watching the curve of other babies her age, cause really she should only be 2.5 months old. So we just have to watch Brinleigh's curve and make sure that she's on the upward climb for her.<br /><br />Prior to this appointment she was on an upward climb with her weight, but she has plateaued a bit. She only had gained an ounce in two weeks. The Dr. wasn't to concered at right this moment, considering that she was on 90 Calories a bottle with the rice cereal, and now she is just on breastmilk that they consider being only 20 calories. So he just encouraged us to make sure that we are offering her more and as much as she wants. Just to make sure that she is getting enough and is content. And we will go back in two weeks and see how she's doing. They really don't want to fortify her cause of her Kidney stones, makes it a bit tricky. So I hope that she is just adjusting to the change of no rice cereal, and will start gaining on breastmilk.<br /><br />Since leaving the hospital she has grown in length about 1 inch....so we hope she starts getting a bit longer too. She is working on it. :)<br /><br />Also, since at this appointment she is 6 months it was time for her next set of immunizations. Oh the POOR GIRl! Its so sad to see your baby poked, I have seen it may times but it never gets easier. Now, that she is 6 months old she was able to get a flu shot as well. When the nurses came in to give her shots, the nurse comments and says "oh I remember her, she stops breathing!" I said yep that's HER. So they gave her the shots, and the she was screaming, the nurse says, oh at least she isn't holding her breath, right at that moment, Brinleigh started turning Blue and not breathing. Way to freak us all out Brin ~ So not cool! She definately lets you know if she likes something or not. Our little spitfire! I hope she does ok the next few days. Last time she has a fever for a few days andwas so grumpy... a long weekend we may have up ahead.<br /><br />I sure hope that she starts putting some weight on again.... Come on grow baby grow!!!Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-995712684520881157.post-41937531705270354172012-01-17T16:16:00.000-08:002012-01-22T16:37:36.111-08:00Search for a Reason?So Tuesday January 17th we started the day again with our visit from OT/PT. They are really happy still with Brinleigh's progress. It was a quick visit this week so we didn't do much. They came late and we needed to be to PCMC for her next appointment. So maybe next week we will get more out of there visit.<br /><br />We then went to PCMC to see ENT/ Genetics for Brinleigh's hearing loss. We met with the first doctor that was really interested in finding out why she lost her hearing. CMV is a virus that we discovered Brinleigh has, they tested her for it after discovering her loss. The doctor seems to think that may be the leading cause. :( So he is sending for her newborn blood screen that they store, so they can see if she had it at birth or if it's something she contracted. We may then be able to get some more answers. He did state that it may answer some questions or it may not. So Another waiting game to see what comes from this.... There isn't anything that can be done about it now, the damage is done. But it's really heart wrenching knowing that if they caught the virus sooner, we could have helped her. Let's just hope that there isn't anything else that it has or will affect. A bit scary! Ok, REALLY SCARY!<br />The second doctor we saw was for Genetics, to look into her hearing that way. We went through our family tree's a little bit. He didn't seem to think her being deaf has to do with genetics at this point. There isn't anyone deaf or with bilateral hearing loss in our families.<br /><br />She has a few factors that were against her:<br />Extreme Prematurity<br />Being on a Ventilator<br />Medications<br />CMV Virus<br />8% of babies that spend time in the NICU end up with hearing loss, for unknown reasons (according to the genetics doc.)<br /><br />But we are to start with the Newborn blood and see where it leads us... it's hard, I want to know but I also feel a little frustrated that maybe something could have been done to change her outcome, and I hate that feeling. It makes me angry & sad, but now we are faced with this challenge and are doing our best to help her and be supportive.Dustin & Carrie Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573236179703749165noreply@blogger.com0