Not Quite A Christmas Miracle… But we’ll Take It!!!

Okay, we decided to start off this entry with the above photo for several reasons. Besides the fact that it documents the twins' first time on Santa’s lap together - and that their collective reactions (horror by Braelyn and speechlessness by Gwendolyn) is quite priceless - there’s one other reason we led with it… Simply put, we have a feeling the remainder of this entry will leave everyone with a large smile as opposed to a Braelynesque frown.

Why’s that, you ask. On Friday, we got a call from Gwendolyn’s Pulmonologist. Honestly, when we picked up the phone, our heart sank a little. You see, Gwen’s been doing so well and then we had last weekend’s hospital stay. Obviously, that turned out not to be very serious but we guess that when you are coming off a first year like Gwendolyn had, you are a little gun shy. Sometimes it feels as though just when you allow yourself to feel good about things, someone from the medical community calls to rain on your parade.

(Please skip these next two paragraphs if you already feel caught up on Gwendolyn’s breathing saga) As many of you remember, dating as far back to her stay in October 2009, the CMH Pulmonologists have been reviewing Gwen’s case. Early on it was hinted that she need a tracheotomy and then, after her jaw extension procedure seemed to clear her breathing issues, there was a new set of concerns. A pair of sleep studies brought up conflicting types of apnea (between central, or based in the brain, and obstructive, or due to a physical issue). Exasperated, Mom and Dad expressed concern over the Sleep Study’s validity because Gwendolyn is such a creature of habit that when her norm is altered, such as sleeping in a strange crib and hooked up to so many monitors that they required her to be wrapped up like a mummy with medical tape, she tends to throw fits.

And so, after some digging, the Pulmonologist agreed to try something unique for Gwendolyn. Instead of a one-night Sleep Study where Gwendolyn’s in a strange environment and not able to be comfortable, we were told to hook her up to an at-home apnea monitor for a month-long study. The call from the Pulmonologist on Friday was to discuss the results of that at-home study.

Now, back to the present time. Gwen’s Pulmonologist called to say that she averaged less than an apnea an hour during the course of her at-home study. Since the danger zone is five an hour, she significantly undershot that total. Ergo, for the first time since the early spring, Gwendolyn is now sleeping untethered to any monitoring devices. She’ll have a follow up visit in about six months, then possibly another Sleep Study or two as she matures and gets less upset over a chance in scenery. Still, this was an extremely happy update.

In theory, Gwen’s not going to have much to medically update here again until March (or so we hope). That’s when she’s got a full docket of follow-up tests such as a check of the slightly enlarged ventricle in her brain and another Swallow Study to see how she’s advanced with ingesting liquids.

Still, for once it’s nice to focus on something other than hospitals and doctors. In fact, the girls are going to join Daddy in cheering on the Chiefs this weekend for their big showdown with the Chargers and staying bundled up as the mercury continues to fall.

Looks to us like the girls really are in the pigskin spirit, don’t you think?

The Castellanos did spend the vast majority of Saturday frantically purchasing holiday gifts and dodging the blustery winds. (It’s amazing how much a weekend December hospital stay throws off your Holiday prep plans!) We started to put up our holiday decorations… That is until Braelyn found a box with several glass ornaments. (We know… sometimes you don’t REALLY think through something until after the fact and then you are like “WHAT were we thinking!?!?!? Let's just say lesson learned.)

After cleaning up the carnage, Mom and Dad halted that endeavor and decided that it was time to baby-proof the tree. Wooden ornaments here we come!!!

Okay, that’s all we’ve got for now… We need to run to the holiday store. We'll be sure to check back in again soon!!!