tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31971640021556356882024-03-07T19:46:57.170-08:00The Twinja ChroniclesThis is the story of our Twinjas (Ninja Twins) and their fight for life.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-54118850648336136822007-06-17T20:06:00.000-07:002007-06-17T20:10:08.115-07:00Weekly updates -> move to new blog!We've started a new blog for Masinja, and now that he's home, this chapter of our lives is closed. It's a chapter we will never forget, but one that must be put away, and the focus put on the future. Masinja's new blog can be found here:<br /><br /><a href="http://i-kfc.blogspot.com/">i-kfc.blogspot.com</a><br /><br />It will be a weekly blog, so tune in every Sunday for updates... We know he has a lot of people cheering for him, so we'll continue as long as people want to hear about his progress.<br /><br />That's all for the Chronicles.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-48218488275900678952007-06-10T00:27:00.000-07:002007-06-10T00:32:28.279-07:00Daily Update - 9 June 2007Yea, I'm 21 weeks old today, and I get to celebrate it by actually coming HOME!<br /><br />Masinja finished his 140+ day ninternship today. He's finally home with us and it feels awesome and weird all at the same time. We've gotten so used to visiting him at the hospital that we can't really believe he's home. <br /><br />This will be the last daily update. I will go to weekly updates on his progress. Spending time on the computer will play second fiddle to my boy. I didn't get much sleep with him in the hospital, and I feel like I'll probably get even less now that he's home. <br /><br />That's all for today. <br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-50307044070060458752007-06-08T20:50:00.000-07:002007-06-08T20:53:39.772-07:00Daily Update - 8 June 2007Day 14 Post-Op.<br /><br />Masinja is supposed to come home tomorrow! He's having a sleep study done, and if everything looks good, he should be on his way home. Nothing is ever concrete, so we're still waiting with anticipation, but it's happy anticipation versus scared anticipation. It's nice to feel good stress for the first time in a long time.<br /><br />We'll definitely let everyone know if he comes home tomorrow.<br /><br />That's pretty much all for today. <br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-62330552235978443402007-06-08T20:48:00.000-07:002007-06-08T20:50:14.926-07:00Daily Update - 7 June 2007Day 13 Post-Op.<br /><br />Masinja had his CAT scan today, and everything looked good. There weren't any changes from his last ultrasound, so he's doing well in that department. It looks like he's even closer to coming home now.<br /><br />We'll let you know as soon as we get a "date", but it won't be concrete until he's actually leaving, so we have to contain the excitement.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-74610589987427226802007-06-06T21:08:00.001-07:002007-06-06T21:10:46.518-07:00Daily Update - 6 June 2007Day 12 Post-Op.<br /><br />Masinja didn't have his CAT scan again today. His doc has a family emergency, so we're not sure when she'll be back to do the scan, and hopefully do his discharge paperwork shortly thereafter. We'll circle the wagons until then and wait. Patience is a virtue, and I'll keep telling myself that, and maybe I might believe it one of these days.<br /><br />Otherwise, everything is still normal and boring.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-77809668342638555402007-06-06T21:04:00.000-07:002007-06-06T21:07:16.946-07:00Daily Update - 5 June 2007Day 11 Post-Op.<br /><br />Masinja didn't have his CAT scan today. His doc went home over the weekend, and hasn't returned yet. Maybe tomorrow.<br /><br />Other than that, it was pretty boring. He's still eating well, and his G.I. tract seems to be in good working order, so we wait in the holding pattern, again.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-47284955375738595272007-06-05T10:29:00.000-07:002007-06-05T10:32:06.295-07:00Daily Update - 4 June 2007Day 10 Post-Op.<br /><br />We had our NICU discharge class today. It's getting really close to Masinja coming home. We won't be able to take him out very much, as his immune system will be a little weaker than a normal baby's, so it'll probably be a couple of weeks before we can take him to church and such.<br /><br />We'll let you know when he's discharged and home. We still don't know an exact date, so we'll keep playing it by ear. He still requires his CAT scan, which should be tomorrow, so we'll see.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-5933850666658183532007-06-05T10:27:00.000-07:002007-06-05T10:29:20.829-07:00Daily Update - 3 Jun 2007Day 9 Post-Op.<br /><br />Nothing exciting today. Masinja continues to get stronger and eat more. He's getting pretty upset when he doesn't eat on time. He's also starting to want to be held more. He's been hanging around T.M.M. too much lately. <br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-21855470052159490832007-06-02T21:34:00.000-07:002007-06-02T21:40:56.612-07:00Daily Update - 2 June 2007Day 8 Post-Op.<br /><br />Yea, I'm 20 weeks old today!<br /><br />Masinja had a pretty boring day. He ate, slept, then ate and slept some more. He's getting really grumpy when you don't hold him enough, so we're holding him as much as possible.<br /><br />T.M.M. and I gave him a bath tonight, and he's way too big for the bathtub they have. They need to get bigger ones for the larger babies that are in the unit.<br /><br />Masinja's supposed to move to a different room for babies that are ready to be discharged. We think he'll go over tomorrow. We can't wait for him to come home!<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-21213509664554456242007-06-02T06:52:00.001-07:002007-06-02T06:57:15.225-07:00Daily Update - 1 June 2007Day 7 Post-Op.<br /><br />Masinja's CAT scan is scheduled for Tuesday, 5 Jun. After that, the doc has no reason to keep him in the NICU anymore. He's already back up to 30z (90cc) at each feeding and thriving. It's almost surreal to us that he's actually ready to come home. <br /><br />We have his discharge class on Monday, so we get to learn the baby CPR and good things like that. I think the reality of him coming home will hit us even more after that class. It's been so hard to walk by that sign-up sheet and watch other babies go home week after week, but it's also been nice, because they don't have to stay in the NICU anymore, either.<br /><br />I guess I'm going to have to start a new blog when he comes home. Don't know what I'll call it yet, but we'll see. <br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-21859830898913620172007-05-31T16:55:00.000-07:002007-05-31T16:57:22.378-07:00Daily Update - 31 May 2007Day 6 Post-Op.<br /><br />Masinja is pretty much on his way home next week. The doc said that after his CAT scan next week, he'll be ready. Words that we've been waiting to hear for what seems like forever. Right now he's spent 131 days in the NICU, so now we're actually on a countdown! We don't know the exact date yet, but we'll have it for you ASAP.<br /><br />We'll let you know how the CAT scan goes next week.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-45397840454437854752007-05-31T16:53:00.000-07:002007-05-31T16:55:05.654-07:00Daily Update - 30 May 2007Day 5 Post-Op.<br /><br />Yea, Masinja's eating! He started out at 15ccs and will work up every other feeding. He should be a lot happier, at least you'd think, but now we're just teasing him, because he got used to having almost 3oz (90ccs) every feeding. He'll get back there, just need to have some patience.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-82942498815875236822007-05-29T22:15:00.000-07:002007-05-31T16:52:53.504-07:00Daily Update - 29 May 2007Day 4 Post-Op<br /><br />Masinja had a bowel movement today! That means he's probably going to start eating again tomorrow. They'll start him out slow, and probably just go with pedialyte at first, so we'll see how it goes.<br /><br />He's still pretty cranky, but you'd be cranky if you couldn't eat for 4 days.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-1272601328563397972007-05-29T12:17:00.001-07:002007-05-31T16:51:33.277-07:00Daily Update - 28 May 2007Day 3 Post-Op<br /><br /><br />Today was a little better for Masinja. He slept pretty well into the morning, so the nurse and doc didn't bother him until he woke up. He was still pretty hungry, and sucking on his pacifier like crazy, but he was pretty well otherwise. He didn't require any sedatives, so that was a plus, too.<br /><br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-54829366262209077552007-05-28T10:44:00.000-07:002007-05-28T10:58:33.581-07:00Daily Update - 27 May 2007Day 2 Post-Op.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Masinja</span> had an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ok</span> day. He's getting really hungry and showing his dissatisfaction with being unable to eat. It's a little heartbreaking to see him so upset. I held his hands and pacifier for about an hour last night trying to calm him down, so he would go to sleep. They ended up having to give him a sedative, because he was so unhappy. We're really hoping that he can start eating before the 7 days pass. <br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-43025700548122145532007-05-27T15:14:00.000-07:002007-05-27T15:16:08.485-07:00Daily Update - 26 May 2007Yea, I'm 19 weeks old today!<br /><br />Masinja is doing well. It's 1 day post-Op and he's managing his pain, with the help of Tylenol and a few other good friends. He's more unhappy at the fact that he can't eat than anything else right now.<br /><br />The surgeon looked at him and said everything looked good, so he's making solid progress so far. He's even having good bowel sounds, so maybe his plumbing will be ready sooner than later. We'll see.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-2655549105728567832007-05-27T15:10:00.000-07:002007-05-27T15:13:51.833-07:00Daily Update - 25 May 2007Masinja's surgery went really well today. It lasted about 2 hours and he got his belly, hernia, and circumcision all done while he was under. The doc said he performed well. He was intubated for the surgery, but came off around 8pm, and has been doing fine since.<br /><br />He's pretty uncomfortable right now, but they're giving him pretty good meds, so he'll sleep pretty well. He's going to be mad when he realizes he can't eat for several days.<br /><br />The doc made a comment that this should be his "last adventure" in the NICU, and that coming home is hopefully right around the corner. We'll see how that comes to fruition after his CAT scan next week.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-64091093117333955102007-05-27T14:26:00.001-07:002007-05-27T15:10:14.247-07:00Daily Update - 24 May 2007Masinja is still doing well off his oxygen support. He's still scheduled for surgery tomorrow, so all looks well with that. He will probably be intubated for the surgery to make sure he does alright and doesn't have any problems. <br /><br />He's supposed to eat his last bottle of milk at 0200 tomorrow morning, and then a little pedialyte at 0500 and then he's fasting for 5 to 7 days. He'll probably be a very unhappy camper when he's not able to eat for a few days, but he will be fine in the long run.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-18567948260202353052007-05-24T21:05:00.000-07:002007-05-24T21:07:37.253-07:00Daily Update - 23 May 2007Great news! Masinja no longer requires oxygen support! The nasal cannula has been removed, and all we see now is his normal baby face.<br /><br />His surgery is scheduled for Friday afternoon. We're ready for him to be put back together, so he can actually be more comfortable, and get that much closer to actually coming home. It will be nice to hear him down the hall, instead of down the street.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-3824804073875392962007-05-23T17:18:00.001-07:002007-05-23T17:24:32.772-07:00Daily Update - 22 May 2007Masinja had a pretty boring day. T.M.M. attempted to breastfeed him, and he latched on for a few minutes. She'll try again tomorrow and see if he takes to it more. Otherwise, he's doing fine. He weighed in at 6lb, 11oz tonight, so he's definitely putting on some weight.<br /><br />The surgeon is still scheduled to come see him tomorrow, so we'll see what he says about the surgery, and let you know when it will be.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-20914627155532933062007-05-23T17:16:00.000-07:002007-05-23T17:21:38.669-07:00Daily Update - 21 May 2007Masinja did well today. He's eating ad lib, but his window has been stretched out to 4 hours from 3, so he eats when he wants, but every 4 hours at a minimum. <br /><br />The surgeon is supposed to come look at him Wednesday to decide when he's going to do the surgery. Hopefully it will be this week.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-54761774713495609882007-05-20T21:05:00.000-07:002007-05-20T21:08:18.792-07:00Daily Update - 20 May 2007Yea, I'm 4 months old today!<br /><br />Today was pretty boring, which is good. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Masinja</span> seemed to be a little more gassy than usual, but we think that's because T.M.M. was sneaking some broccoli in on the side. It's nothing a little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Maalox</span> can't fix, so he'll be good.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-63124279054316199242007-05-20T13:50:00.000-07:002007-05-20T13:57:20.212-07:00Daily Update - 19 May 2007Yea, I'm 18 weeks old today!<br /><br />Masinja had a good/bad day today. Well, he got a little excited during his afternoon feeding and decided that he was going to eat and breathe at the same time. Needless to say, he choked a little bit, but instead of coughing (like a normal reflex), he held his breath. I think he has a thing for turning blue and making us freak out. Anyway, he ended up being fine, and finished his bottle.<br /><br />The day did get better though. Masinja decided he was hungry during his evening feeding, and decided to plow through 80cc of milk in 12 minutes.<br /><br />We also got to give him a bath in his very own bathtub. He was really happy the whole time he was in the water, so we're hoping that bath time won't be a problem for him once we get him home. He seemed pretty content, so we'll see how he does on his next bath night.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-28641022000371422992007-05-19T16:57:00.000-07:002007-05-19T20:07:06.726-07:00Daily Update - 18 May 2007Masinja had a good day today. He's eating 80cc bottles pretty consistently, so that is good. He's getting more and more vocal, so he actually has some noise to go with the funny faces he makes. Other than that, it was a pretty boring day.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197164002155635688.post-19353280771909838462007-05-17T21:52:00.000-07:002007-05-19T16:57:50.499-07:00Daily Update - 17 May 2007Well, Masinja was moved to his new room today, and he seems to like it pretty well. It's different now that he has his own room. The nurses are all learning a new comm system, so it's been entertaining at times watching them try to use their "Star Trek" like devices.<br /><br />Masinja ate well today. He actually took 80ccs tonight. He's getting closer to 3oz every day. He also managed to make a mess of his ostomy bag, so that was interesting cleaning him and remaking his crib. He was an unhappy camper, but we got him settled back down, fed him, and then all was well.<br /><br />That's all for today.<br /><br />Peace,<br />T.M.Twinja Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514577592075610733noreply@blogger.com