Quarantine

We are still keeping the babies quarantined to our house.  With the first 3 months of their life being the most critical and it being the most dangerous if they were to get a fever, we made the decision that we weren't going to expose them to anything other than going to their doctor appointments.  Because they are preemies, they missed out on the vitamins and minerals that babies get in utero during the last few months of pregnancy, so their immune system isn't as strong and they are more susceptible to catching something.   Anybody that comes to our house and is around the babies is required to have their T-DAP vaccination and flu shot. When Tony comes home from work, he promptly changes his clothes before handling the babies.  When I go to the store, I come home and change my clothes.

A person doesn't have to have the Whooping Cough to be a carrier of it and pass it on.  People generally don't know they have come down with the flu for another day or two after contracting it.  The RSV virus stays alive for up to 6 hours after contact, which is why we change our clothes after being out in public.  I just read on Facebook this morning that two of my friends have babies that were just diagnosed with RSV. The thing is, if Ayden and Rylee were to contract any of these things at their young premature age, it's not that they would just get sick.  Those things could actually kill them.  They could die. Nope, we aren't taking any chances.

We have hand sanitizer available in our living room and in the nursery.  We have had a few visitors wear face masks if they have been sick, but feel fine and think they are over it.  If anybody has a cold, they simply don't come over.  Did you know that if a baby gets a fever during their first 3 months of life, that they are usually admitted to the hospital for all sorts of testing?  Yeah, we aren't taking that chance.

I am sure that there are plenty of people that may think we are being excessive, maybe ridiculously so, but you know what?  We don't care.  We have waited for our babies for more than a decade and we aren't going to risk them getting sick during this critical 3 month period.  We love to have visitors and have welcomed anybody that has wanted to come over and hold the babies.  We just ask that they are current on their T-DAP, have a flu shot, and have no sickie symptoms.  

There has not been a single family member or friend that has questioned us (at least not to our face!  haha). I'm sure there are plenty of people that don't understand, but everyone has just accepted that this is the way it is.  They have either gotten their shots or are choosing to wait until March 24th, the day after the babies' 3 month birthday.  

That means I am house bound during the week, but Tony takes over on the weekends so I do get out.  I have escaped to go grocery shopping and to return some baby shower gifts.  This last weekend I got to go see my nieces and nephews, and watched my oldest niece play in her basketball game.

Loving my time with Nathanial (2), Steven (4 next month), and Eliana (8)

Making funny faces

I'm looking forward to being able to take the babies out and about.  My nephew Steven's 4th birthday party is coming up in early April and I can't wait to introduce and show off our babies to everyone!  I can't wait to take the babies to watch softball games at the local high school where I've coached the last 20 years.  I'm excited to be able to watch the team, because I know that there will be lots of people wanting to hold the babies and I'll be able to focus on the game.

We've kept ourselves pretty isolated so far, but we only have 24 more days.  24 more days and it will be the day after their 3 month birthday.  24 more days to go and we can introduce our babies to the world.  24 more days and they will have reached what our pediatrician has called the "safe zone," where those illnesses aren't quite so life threatening.