From 5 lbs to 50 in Just 5 Years

The Boys were born 8 weeks premature, healthy and breathing on their own. Weighing in at a respectable 4lbs - 15oz and 4lbs - 11 oz, they measured 17 3/4" tall and just barely made the tail end of the "typical" growth charts despite being diagnosed with Down syndrome.


My "Big Guy" in the NICU at 3 days old. That's my hand on his chest and my thumb on his thigh to give you an idea of just how small he was.... THEN!


My "Little Guy" in the NICU at 3 days old -- the day before his C-Dificil and NEC infections kicked in... a fight he fought valiantly and WON! That's his lower leg and big toe at the right side of the picture.


Here they are FINALLY together again at -4 days old (that's 8 weeks post birth but still 4 days before their actual due date) at home after 2- and 6-week stays in the NICU. Can you imagine... this picture was taken the day their Early Intervention therapies started! As you can see, both of them fit easily in the hanging bassinet of our little Graco Pack-n-Play.



BUT NOT ANYMORE!



That's us a few weeks ago at their school Winter Festival. Notice my hand doesn't even cover SpongeBob's Square Pants never mind covering my "Big Guy's" entire torso from neck to thigh the way it did when he was born! Just shy of 5 years old, they're 43" tall and weigh in at 50+ lbs each (with a lb or 2 difference between them at any given time). Yeah, they're fully on the "typical" growth chart now!

A day late and a pound over. For more Special Exposure Wednesdays see 5 Minutes For Special Needs!