Helmets, baby food and glasses

Rachel got her cranial shaping helmet (starband) a week and a half ago. She wears it 23 hours a day and is adjusting to it ok. Rachel will be wearing this helmet for about 4-5 months. As long as that is, I am focusing on the outcome - a round head. We decided to get Haley a cranial shaping helmet as well. We want her to have a round head as well so we decided this was the time to get it. If we didn't get it now, there was no turning back. Haley should get her helmet in a couple of weeks.

Of course we got Rachel a pink helmet





Getting the girls to eat more by mouth has been challenging. Rachel is very slowly accepting tastes of baby foods. We work with her everyday, but its going to take a lot of time and patience. She still requires the use of her g-tube to be fed. As for Haley, she is doing ok with the baby foods. She is still a little hesitant when we feed her, but she is catching on and getting better each day. She is still not consistent with her bottle, so we are still having to use the feeding tube off and on.
The girls sure do get messy with their baby food feedings. Gotta love sweet potatoes!





Another challenge we have is trying to keep Haley's glasses on her face! She likes to pull them down and put them in her mouth and chew on them. The frames on her glasses have little teeth marks where she chews. We know when she is quiet, she is chewing on her glasses. We just keep putting her glasses back on in hopes they will stay on longer than a couple of seconds.

Rachel and Haley's 1st Birthday Party

Rachel and Haley's 1st birthday party was great and everyone had a good time. It was so nice to have our family and friends celebrate this wonderful milestone with us. The girls did so well and loved being the center of attention. We know the girls enjoyed their party because after it was over they were so exhausted and took a long nap.

Happy First Birthday!

Happy 1st Birthday Rachel and Haley! I can't believe a year has gone by! Rachel and Haley have gone through so much the past year, but they are thriving and growing. They have come so far. We are so blessed! They are miracles and we are so happy they are here with us. It has been quite a year! I still remember well the day they were born. It was frightening seeing how early they were born, but it was meant to be. On this day we remember our sweet angels - Ashlyn, Dallin, Kaitlyn and Braden. I know they are cheering Rachel and Haley on. Rachel and Haley are doing well despite their very early arrival a year ago. They are fighters. We love them so very much!

Haley (baby A) born at 7:30pm August 4, 2009
1 pound 1.03 oz and 10 3/4 inches



Haley - 1 year later
14 pounds 10 oz, 24 inches



Rachel (baby E) born at 7:31pm August 4, 2009
1 pound 1.2 oz and 11 inches



Rachel - 1 year later
16 pounds 3 oz, 25 1/2 inches



Cute Birthday Girls



Since their birthday landed on a Wednesday and most of our family could not make it to their party till the weekend, we decided to have their first party this Saturday August 7. We look forward to their first birthday party. More to come on that...

Their journey began a year ago and it continues on... We look forward to many more wonderful birthdays.

Family Pictures

As usual things around the Stansel household has been busy. The girls are now getting some type of therapy everyday (OT, PT and Speech). We have been working on the things the therapists suggest everyday. They girls are still not sitting unsupported or crawling, but that will happen eventually. They will sit up, crawl and walk one day. It will just take some time. Even though they are almost 1 year old they are adjusted for prematurity to about 8 months old. We have also been working on getting the girls to eat baby foods. They are very slowly getting the hang of it, but its going to take more time. Rachel does have some oral aversion since she was not allowed to eat anything for awhile. Haley is doing OK with the bottle feeds, but she is not consistent. She knows how to do it and has done it, but she has a mind of her own and doesn't always want to cooperate.

So we decided to purchase the cranial remolding helmet for Rachel. Despite the denial of the helmet due to it not being medically necessary, we wanted to get the helmet to improve Rachel's head shape. The helmet will be totally worth it and I look forward to the end results when she is done wearing it. I appreciate every one's advise on getting the helmet covered by insurance. We will work on it and see what happens, but Rachel needs the helmet now and that is why we are going to buy it initially. At this time we are waiting for the helmet to be made. She will most likely get it next week just in time for her birthday. I can hardly believe Rachel and Haley are going to be one on August 4!

We had family pictures taken about 6 weeks ago by Christina McKinney photography. I wanted to share some of them with everyone. Again thank you Christina for the lovely pictures!

The Girls Blessing

This Blog post is a bit late, but you know what they say better late than never. I (Thomas) had the privilege and sacred honor of blessing my beautiful little girls on June 6, 2010. It was an awesome day. It was obviously my first time to ever give a child a name and blessing. It was one of the most spiritual days of my life. The Spirit was so strong that day as I held each girl in my arms and placed our hands on their heads. I had an extremely difficult time holding back the tears. I didn't think I would ever get through it. I don't remember everything I was prompted to say, but I do remember the feelings that overcame me. I know that Rachel and Haley are here for a distinct purpose. I know that they continue to bless Amanda and I. They looked so pure that day dressed in their beautiful white dresses. Most of my Family was able to attend except my older Brother Mike and his Family in Idaho Falls, Idaho. We do wish they could of been able to be there with the family. I was so grateful to have my best friend Jason come and stand in the circle. He made the sacrifice to come all the way from Dallas. I couldn't ask for a better friend. He is a true friend, I love and appreciate him. Amanda had her Mom and Dad come in from Austin as well. We wish her Brother Darren and his family could of made it to complete her side of the family. After the blessing of the girls our families got together and had a nice meal and cake.

Pictures courtesy of Christina Mckinney Photography - Thanks Christina!

Family picture the day the girls were blessed



Rachel and Haley





Haley in her blessing dress



Rachel in her blessing dress



Big Family picture



The cake was so delicious! We used the same cake maker that made our wedding cake.

The latest happenings

Despite it being a while since we last blogged, all is ok. Its amazing how busy we get each day. The girls keep us busy! The girls are doing good though they are both recovering from their first colds. I'm surprised the girls had not gotten sick with a cold sooner. We are glad that they have gotten a little older and stronger before getting sick with their first colds. They are getting better.

Both Rachel and Haley need a shaping helmet due to the back of their heads being so flat. Rachel's is more severe than Haley's. Both the girls laid on their back for so long in the NICU that the back of their heads became flat. We are having problems getting the shaping helmets covered by insurance and don't expect it to be covered no matter how hard we fight it. Those helmets are so expensive ($1600 each, that's with a discount). We are trying to figure out a way to afford to get at least one for Rachel since her's is more severe.

At the girl's last doctor's appointment, Rachel weighed 15 pounds 8oz and Haley weighed 14 pounds 6oz. They are growing!

Rachel now has 2 bottom teeth!



Haley is always trying to get her glasses off her face. Her glasses have a stretchy band on the back so its hard for her to get them completely off. I love this picture of her asleep with her glasses on the side of her face.



Rachel just loves her toy links. She fell asleep in the swing still holding them.

11 months old and Happy first 4th of July

The girls had a great first 4th of July and I can't believe they are 11 months old!!! We are getting closer to their 1st birthday. I can't believe it was just a year ago I was admitted to the hospital with all 6 babies still safely inside me. Time sure has flown by! For the 4th of July weekend, we traveled to Austin. We visited with Grandma and Grandpa Benedict (my parents) as well as Thomas's sister MaryAnn and her husband Mark their children (the girls cousins). We enjoyed eating good food, having fun with family and watching fireworks. Rachel was asleep during the fireworks show because she consistently goes to bed at 8pm. Haley got to enjoy them, well she may have not been able to see them, but she could hear them. She wasn't scared of the loud fireworks at all. She is such a trooper. We and the girls had a great 4th of July together.

The girls looking cute after church.



The girls with their cousins (Ryan, Nathan, Kate and Lindsey)



The girls in their 4th of July outfits.



A couple of pictures of the fireworks we saw.