Our Journey with Conjoined Twins
Abby & Erin
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Romans 8:28
First of all we want to wish each and every one of you a very merry Christmas, and a very happy New Year!!! We cannot believe that the holidays are here but are loving every single second of it!!
This past month has been one of LOTS of adjustments. We have feed changes, med schedule changes, sleep habit changes, and so much more. It's like bringing home a new baby times two, plus add in all the weird medical stuff and your in for quite the transition. We had all the girls therapy evaluations done this past month and will start up therapy in the beginning of January. Needless to say that having two kids who require 3 types of therapies, means we will be there every day of the week. It's a little overwhelming to think about but I know we will get the hang of it and figure out the new schedule once we are doing it. The girls are growing in leaps and bounds! They are doing new things every day. Erin is crazy and gets where she wants to go by rolling. If you turn around for just 10 seconds she gets to the other side of the room. The other day I found her under the Christmas tree pulling the lights off. So that is a fun new things to get used to. Abby is soooo close to fulling rolling over. She can roll from her back to her belly but can't get her arm out from underneath. Once she figures that out she will be on the move! She also has just in the past few days become so much more vocal! She used to be very quiet and would only make noise when she was upset, but she has started to babble and make noise when she wants attention which is a huge improvement for her. It is so wonderful to see them at home and getting comfortable. Riley and I are also doing well. It has been difficult to adjust I am not going to lie. We didn't realize how hard it would be to get back up on our feet after getting home. We are realizing his job doesn't pay enough for us to live on so living with my parents is seeming to be the only option for the moment. We so badly want to get into our own space and let the girls have their own space. Right now all four of us are in one room. And let me tell you...it's tight. Don't get me wrong we are so grateful but it's still so difficult as new parents to share your space with not only your new kids, but also your parents (inlaws) and siblings (sister-in-laws). We are not ones to ask for help but in this season of our lives we have to. We need to figure out a way to be able to get into a two bedroom apartment and still have enough money to buy food and pay for utilities and we just can't. If you all could help us get on our feet we would be forever grateful. Our gofundme account says we have "x amount of dollars" when in reality that was what sustained us throughout the past year and now we are struggling. The money that was already donated covered all the time that Riley had to take off of work, it covered my lunch at the hospital every day, it covered parking at the hospital everyday. There were a lot of expenses we didn't realize we would have. And we are so grateful for those who donated and helped us through that time. But right now we need help. We need to get on our feet and give these girls what they deserve. If you feel in your heart that you want to help us we would be ever so grateful, but please don't feel obligated. This is the most humbling thing to have to do. You want to think that you can do it all on your own, but there is no book to go by for this kind of thing. And in this season of giving we know God is going to take care of us. Things are different than I expected them to be being back in the "normal" world. I am so so grateful for the girls and that they are healthy and growing and thriving! But that doesn't mean it still doesn't hurt my heart some days. The other day my mom sister and I took the girls to see some lights that blink to Christmas music. It was so fun to see the girls watching the lights and kicking their feet and smiling. I was really enjoying myself. We were seeing lots of other families doing the same thing when I heard the mom behind us talking about her little guy who was bopping around us. I heard her say how old he was and found out he was the same exact age as the girls. My heart sank a bit. Since I have been home I haven't really had any one to compare the girls to. You don't ask a random stranger in the store how old their kid is so you can see if they're the same age as your children unless you've been chatting with them for a little bit. So to hear her say that and then watch her son made my heart sink just a little bit. He was so happy and full of life. Running around, dancing, chasing his sister, and calling his mama. He looked eons older than the girls, when in reality they are the same age. It hurt my heart because of all the things the girls could be doing and what they're missing. I know they're happy and that they don't know what they're missing but my mama heart knows. There are days I still wonder if they'll ever walk, or fully talk. We just don't know. I can't let myself go there because there is nothing I can do to change it, but I really hope that they have all the opportunities as any of their peers. I know it will get easier the longer we are home and the more used to having "medically complex" kids I get. Being in Philly everyone has medically complex kids, so everyone understands. Here it's just different and not the easiest. Our days are different than most. They consist of multiple trips to the pharmacy a month, tons of syringe washing, lots of formula mixing, lots of puking, lots of fussiness, sleepless night because of giving medications, and and endless cycle of beeps from the feed pumps. We wouldn't trade our girls for the world, but we are still adjusting and getting used to our normal. God has given us two miracles. And this Christmas season we look back to where we were last year and see how far we come and are so so grateful. We still have many challenges ahead but are willing to take them head on if it means making a life for our girls!! We are so grateful for each and every one of you! And pray that you are richly blessed this new year!
9 Comments
Cindy L Stoehr Reven
12/23/2017 04:26:58 pm
Years to come you will look back on this and treasure your girls on all their accomplishments it just may had taken them a bit longer to make their milestones but you can't compare Children with other children. I have a special needs son it took him longer to walk, talk. Toilet train, he's 24 and still can't tie his shoes, most times csnt wipe his bum, but he's who he is and we do the best for him that we can. He's come a long way and he's not done. Your girls will amaze you will all their twinkle in their eyes. Their hugs and kisses for you and all their milestones in their time limit and no one else. Love those babies and remember to breath and you and your husband take time for yourself even if it's a short walk around the block while grandma and grandpa have the girls. Talk to each other be there for each other don't loose yourself. Happy Holidays. ❤❤
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ashlee walker
10/26/2020 04:33:04 pm
LOVE SPELL TO BRING BACK EX LOVER AND RESTORE BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS
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Dawn Kirk
12/23/2017 04:43:26 pm
Hang in there! You guys are amazing and doing a fine job getting these girlies what they need! You're going to have emotional swings as you are around more children, no matter their age. You can't help but compare! It's okay to feel like you got the short stick sometimes, but you have to look back and remind yourself where you all started and where you are now...and where you're headed too! Don't be too hard on yourselves. Breathe and try to be patient...remember the tortoise won the race!! Merry Christmas to you all!! Wishing you a healthy and happy 2018!!! 🎄😍😍❤️
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12/23/2017 05:19:29 pm
I wouldn’t worry about that little boy being so far ahead of Erin and Abby. First off he didn’t spend the first 14–16 months of his life in the hospital. He didn’t have how ever many surgeries like they did. More importantly he sure as heck didn’t spend the first 10 1/2 months of his life attached to another human being. I would say they are miles ahead of him. Even if you don’t think so I guarantee by kindergarten you won’t see a difference.
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Montana Momma
12/23/2017 05:53:36 pm
God Bless you all this Christmas Season! NOT being ugly or mean but with the girls getting SSDI and the government housing programs available is there anything in your local area with openings? PLEASE check every avenue possible out there, you and your family deserve every benefit available far more than many that get benefits. Merry Christmas!
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Darcy
12/23/2017 09:20:56 pm
I have heard before that if you get money from another source - like gofundme - the govt says it's income and gives you less in aid. Less housing assistance, less food stamps. Usually govt housing has long wait lists. My city had a 2 year wait - and that was just to get on the waiting list. It's difficult to decide whether to ask for money & hope it comes but in the mean time I would start applying for anything & everything! There's got to be a disability office locally to ask.
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Anne Sousa
12/24/2017 10:03:06 am
I am so blessed that you are home with a strong and loving supportive family. Part of being a normal mother is looking at what other children who are the same age as yours and comparing. The girls are growing by leaps and bounds. The leaping and bounding will all occur. It is a good thing that you both like structure and following directions. I am sure you have a boatload of each. Every time I see a new post or photo of your family I think "To Life" . Praying for you all with joy in my heart.
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ashlee walker
10/26/2020 04:33:30 pm
LOVE SPELL TO BRING BACK EX LOVER AND RESTORE BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS
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Isabella Lucas
11/10/2022 05:05:13 am
My ex-husband and I had always managed to stay friendly after our divorce in February 2017. But I always wanted to get back together with him, All it took was a visit to this spell casters website last December, because my dream was to start a new year with my husband, and live happily with him.. This spell caster requested a specific love spell for me and my husband, and I accepted it. And this powerful spell caster began to work his magic. And 48 hours after this spell caster worked for me, my husband called me back for us to be together again, and he was remorseful for all his wrong deeds. My spell is working because guess what: My “husband” is back and we are making preparations on how to go to court and withdraw our divorce papers ASAP. This is nothing short of a miracle. Thank you Dr Emu for your powerful spells. Words are not enough.
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AuthorMy name is Heather Delaney. I married the love of my life Riley on 10/02/15 and we now have two beautiful girls Abby & Erin, who are conjoined twins, that were born 07/24/16. We are trusting that God is going to work all this out for his good! Archives
March 2021
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