Hi everyone. My name is Renee and I am mom to my Fab Four (or since they are teens now the Fearsome Foursome!LOL). My qyad squad consists of Katie, Nick, Robert and Rachel born on Leap Year Day 1992. Robert is my CP kid- he has spastic CP, is wheelchair bound, uses a communication device (Vanguard) to talk and is an absolute JOY! He attends regular high school with a full time aide and out of my 4 kids he is my honor student. Would love to meet other parents who have multiples with one or more having "special needs". We use a lot of humour to deal with all the molehills (and sometimes larger hills) but unless you have a special needs child you cannot understand the joy they can bring to life. It is a pleasure for me to hook back up with the forum again- it has been a longggggggggg time. I look forward to meeting you all

Renee

Hi Renee

I am newer to the board, my triplets are now 5 1/2 months old. But my daughter Emily has a chromosome disorder that could be severely disabling. We don't know what her future holds, but she will have special needs.
How has your son's condition affected his siblings, how do they handle it? How did you handle one being so different - like people asking questions? Sorry if these questiuons sound insensitive, this is all very raw for me right now.
Nice to "meet" you, and your son and all of your kids sound awesome!

Aimee
Mommy to Drew 12/13/03
and
Carter, Brenna, & Emily
8/18/07 @ 33w4d

Hi Renee,
Hearing about your son gives me hope! My trio will be 3 in April. Austin is Fine and is my little question asker, Braedon is deaf with a cochlear implant and has CP in his legs and uses a walker - he is our little engineer, and Caysen is deaf with a cochlear implant, has paralized vocal cords and is non-verbal with spastic quadriplegic CP - he is our heart and such a joy. Caysen will be getting his first wheel chair (manual of course) on Monday. I am currently getting my special ed. credential so that I can homeschool the boys. It is great to meet someone else out there who understands what it's like. I hope, as a veteran mom, you will let me pick your brain if necessary. Please e-mail me if you get the chance.Welcome back to the TC.


Deborah Mom to BBB Born at 25 Weeks 1 Day 04/21/05
Austin 1 pound 8 ounces
Braedon 1 pound 11 ounces
Caysen 1 pound 13 ounces

http://loveourabc.blogspot.com

http://lilypie.com>http://b3.lily

:-) Hey there, I have 7 children. Ages are 16, 14, 7, 4, and 3 y.o. triplet identical girls. Just this year when they were three, we got a diagnosis of C.P. It has been a huge battle to get walking aids and such here in Australia. But we are on the road to success.
We live in a remote town with limited services, but are prepared to travel the 100kms necessary to the next big town. Every three mths we visit specialists which is a 640km return trip by car.

One of the triplets has no speech and we are looking at Boardmaker(communication aid), the other triplet has had Botox therapy in her calves and hamstrings to increase movement.

I just thought I would touch base with someone that understands this illness. It would be great to chat to you.

I am in 7th heaven - Triple the Load!!!

HI everyone-
I have three boys who just turned two in January. Two have CP and one is typical. My son Aidan has a left side hemiparisis and started walking independently on his 2nd birthday! Whoo-hoo! He wears an orthotic leg brace and it really helped to facilitate the walking. My son Chase has spastic quad, in addition to the problems he faced in the nicu (grade 4 ivh, two shunts and menigitis) he had a stroke in April of last year due to a shunt malfunction. He is doing better and better each month and rolled for the first time ever last month. He is also my heart and such a joy- happy happy happy! It is so nice to meet you all and hear your stories!
We were suppose to get botox next week but there has been a lot of recent stories on the dangers for kids with CP. Does anyone have any thoughts on this/advice?
Heidi
BBB born at 27 weeks

Hi there, My daughter (3 year old) had botox therapy recently in her hamstrings and right thumb. She has Diplegia Cerebral Palsy, was born with Hydrocephalus, had a Grade 4 Haemorrhage on the brain. Has a VP shunt inserted, but bears no value now as it was put in early as a preventive measure. Since having the botox therapy which only takes 1 hour to perform, she has now been able to stand more and get more movement in her limbs. I do believe here in Australia, that this is being used as a successful method for some children with Cerebral Palsy. I would recommend talking to your doctor who is to perform this, and if he is a Professor in the Cancer Unit of your hospital, I would expect he is used to this therapy. Go in with an open mind, because I can guarantee you, it works! It is a short procedure and is done under General Anaesthetic. I hope this gives you some encouragement. Would love to here from you regarding your views.

Identical GGG born at 26 weeks - I had Polyhydramnios - too much fluid in one sac, and twin to twin transfusion between two of the girls. Amniohydramnios is too little fluid in the sac and is also a condition many multiple pregnancies face.

I am in 7th heaven - Triple the Load!!!

It is so wonderful to meet all of the parents posting here! Thanks for you sharing all of your stories. Sometimes I feel like I'm in the battle alone and my triplet mommy dream was shattered, other days I am full of energy, grateful and know that my triplet dreams were just rearranged. I am so encouraged by meeting others. I've only got to meet one other mom in person who has a child requiring multiple needs. Nice to know there are others out there who "get it!"

Deborah Mom to BBB Born at 25 Weeks 1 Day 04/21/05
Austin 1 pound 8 ounces
Braedon 1 pound 11 ounces
Caysen 1 pound 13 ounces

http://loveourabc.blogspot.com

http://lilypie.com>http://b3.lily

Deborah-
I could of wrote the same exact post as you above. I too feel "sorry" for myself when days are tough and I wonder what could of been if I had carried my boys longer. Other days I am resiliant and strong and try to charge ahead fighting for my boys each step of the way. They amaze me everyday and I don't take one single achievement that they accomplish for granted. I am so grateful that they have blessed my life so much and like you said I just have to rearrange my triplet life! I am always here to talk!
Heidi Mom to Aidan, BRady and Chase

My were born at 26.5 weeks. My fraternal suffered a grade III and IV brain bleed about two days after birth. He had a reservoir placed then removed de to infection. On 4/2 he had a VP shunt placed. My surviving ID twin had IUGR and no fluid. He has pulmonary hypertension, CLD, and an atrial septic defect. on 4/2 he had a trach placed. He is still in the NICU and is improving. They are planning on putting him on the cpap soon. Due to having no fluid he has contractors of all his joints but due to his pt he can use them. He has splint on his wrist because it was a little droopy after he was taken off of all his seditives and paralytics. I have hope that although my boys have many issues that they won't be affected by them in the future. My cp prone baby enjoys moving alot he just has issues with eye contact.

Our little angel
^Alex Joseph^ (11-4/11-5)
Brennan Matthew
Christian Jacob

"
Big brother Justin 8