I know I said my last post was the end of this blog. I just heard some sad news though and wanted to post some of my favorite song lyrics as a special goodbye letter to an amazing woman.
All I can hope for is a light to see
When I search in the dark for my soul
And when my soul comes to rescue me
I rest my resistance
Fall piece by piece into peace
And slip like the water
Back into the sea.
Okay, now for real, TFH is closed.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
One year well child
The babies had their one year visit with the doctor this morning. First of all, as second time parents, we completely downplayed the colds they have. They both have double ear infections. That's four infected ears if you are keeping count. I think the first time around you get so scared about every little cough and fever. After you've had a child and been sent home after being told your kid has a viral infection and to just let it run its course, you kind of start ignoring the middle step of taking your kid to the doctor. I usually assume things are viral and as long as it doesn't seem serious (e.g. Clara's re-hospitalization last February), we just kind of leave the doctor's office out of the loop. We also happen to have exceptionally happy babies and although they've been a little out of sorts and cranky, they haven't been behaving badly enough that we would have thought they were in that much discomfort. Anyway, antibiotics will begin today.
Onto statistics:
Evelyn is 30th in weight, 60th in height, and still >90th in head. She actually lost weight again - this time we're assuming it's because she's been sick. Her head is still large (obviously), but we have now had three data points where we've seen a regular growth curve. So, although it's huge, it's no longer growing outside a regular trajectory. That was the first indication of concern before. The problem wasn't that her head was big (hello, have you met Big Head Greg) but that it had been regular sized and then got big. It went outside the regular growth curve.
Clara is 3rd in weight, 45th in height, and 75th in head. She's still a tiny little girl, but doc denied the need to start fattening her up. We talked a bit about her head. I think she still has a preemie shaped head (long and thin) and doc agreed. He's hoping that as she starts walking it will round itself out. He said even if it were craniosynostosis (premature skull suture closing that leads to a funky shaped head and other issues I'm not in the mood to go into) we wouldn't really do anything about it anyway. Since she is otherwise symptom free, we just watch.
He felt both their head and said their fontanels were nice and soft (compared to bulging and hard as Evelyn's has been in the past). We got approval to move them to cow's milk which is a ridiculously huuuuuuge saving for us every month. We also talked about their sensitive skin (continue and increase hydrocortisone as needed) and night waking. They aren't wanting milk in the middle of the night, but they do usually wake up 1-2 times at night. It may not sound like a big deal, but neither Greg nor I have gotten a full night's sleep in a year - so, you know, it kind of is a big deal. I often have a difficult time getting back to sleep and am anxious for them to knock it off and stay asleep. With a single baby, the solution would be fairly obvious. You would just let them cry it out. With two babies, though, it's trickier because they will eventually wake the other one up with their screaming. Doc suggested placing 10 pacifiers around the crib so they can reach out and find one when they wake up. We'll give that a shot.
They also passed their lead and anemia tests. Who-hoo!
In other developmental news, Clara has now on several occasions taken a step. She's never strung more than one step together to be considered walking, but she's so close. You can see it in her eyes that she wants to walk. She just needs to get past being a little scared. Evelyn isn't quite ready yet and isn't making those same connections. She's also got more trunk weakness than Clara which usually puts her a month or so behind. I'm still hoping they'll both beat Alex's first steps. He waited until he was 14 months. I know Clara will beat him. Evelyn will be around the same time.
We've got Evelyn's first homecoming around the corner (Jan 21st) with Clara's following on February 1st. I'm planning to get them each a little cake and a present so they can celebrate their own day. Before I went on maternity leave I was talking to a women at work who is a twin. She and her brother aren't particularly close and she said having a twin always just meant to her that she had to share her birthday with someone. It was more of an annoyance than anything. Certainly I hope the girls will be close (not creepy twin language close), but the homecoming days give them a chance to be celebrated as individuals as well.
And, with that, take care. Assuming no new medical news, I'm calling Third Floor Home closed. Thanks for following the journey of my sweet little momo twins.
Onto statistics:
Evelyn is 30th in weight, 60th in height, and still >90th in head. She actually lost weight again - this time we're assuming it's because she's been sick. Her head is still large (obviously), but we have now had three data points where we've seen a regular growth curve. So, although it's huge, it's no longer growing outside a regular trajectory. That was the first indication of concern before. The problem wasn't that her head was big (hello, have you met Big Head Greg) but that it had been regular sized and then got big. It went outside the regular growth curve.
Clara is 3rd in weight, 45th in height, and 75th in head. She's still a tiny little girl, but doc denied the need to start fattening her up. We talked a bit about her head. I think she still has a preemie shaped head (long and thin) and doc agreed. He's hoping that as she starts walking it will round itself out. He said even if it were craniosynostosis (premature skull suture closing that leads to a funky shaped head and other issues I'm not in the mood to go into) we wouldn't really do anything about it anyway. Since she is otherwise symptom free, we just watch.
He felt both their head and said their fontanels were nice and soft (compared to bulging and hard as Evelyn's has been in the past). We got approval to move them to cow's milk which is a ridiculously huuuuuuge saving for us every month. We also talked about their sensitive skin (continue and increase hydrocortisone as needed) and night waking. They aren't wanting milk in the middle of the night, but they do usually wake up 1-2 times at night. It may not sound like a big deal, but neither Greg nor I have gotten a full night's sleep in a year - so, you know, it kind of is a big deal. I often have a difficult time getting back to sleep and am anxious for them to knock it off and stay asleep. With a single baby, the solution would be fairly obvious. You would just let them cry it out. With two babies, though, it's trickier because they will eventually wake the other one up with their screaming. Doc suggested placing 10 pacifiers around the crib so they can reach out and find one when they wake up. We'll give that a shot.
They also passed their lead and anemia tests. Who-hoo!
In other developmental news, Clara has now on several occasions taken a step. She's never strung more than one step together to be considered walking, but she's so close. You can see it in her eyes that she wants to walk. She just needs to get past being a little scared. Evelyn isn't quite ready yet and isn't making those same connections. She's also got more trunk weakness than Clara which usually puts her a month or so behind. I'm still hoping they'll both beat Alex's first steps. He waited until he was 14 months. I know Clara will beat him. Evelyn will be around the same time.
We've got Evelyn's first homecoming around the corner (Jan 21st) with Clara's following on February 1st. I'm planning to get them each a little cake and a present so they can celebrate their own day. Before I went on maternity leave I was talking to a women at work who is a twin. She and her brother aren't particularly close and she said having a twin always just meant to her that she had to share her birthday with someone. It was more of an annoyance than anything. Certainly I hope the girls will be close (not creepy twin language close), but the homecoming days give them a chance to be celebrated as individuals as well.
And, with that, take care. Assuming no new medical news, I'm calling Third Floor Home closed. Thanks for following the journey of my sweet little momo twins.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Bald spots
There are lots of things I know how to do. Unfortunately, using an electric razor to cut my son's hair is not one of them. I'm scared to "fix" the problem in fear it will result in complete baldness.
It looks okay from about 8 feet away....
Also, today I've got two people who need good thoughts and prayers. Freezerbuns - who is getting ready to be the mother of twins today and Vote for Anderson's grandma (one seriously kind-hearted, determined lady) who's battling some major complications in the hospital.
Take care,
Kris
It looks okay from about 8 feet away....
Also, today I've got two people who need good thoughts and prayers. Freezerbuns - who is getting ready to be the mother of twins today and Vote for Anderson's grandma (one seriously kind-hearted, determined lady) who's battling some major complications in the hospital.
Take care,
Kris
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
1st Birthday!
It's hard to believe, but those baby girls turned 1 on Saturday. What a year!
A year ago, weighing a combined 7 lbs 3 ounces, born 8 weeks and 1 day early, and with pages and pages of health concerns and diagnoses, they looked like this:
Now, weighing a combined 38 lbs, catching up developmentally, and physically healthy, they look like this:
One more thing - my last post had a typo. Alex is 50th percentile in weight, not 5th.
A year ago, weighing a combined 7 lbs 3 ounces, born 8 weeks and 1 day early, and with pages and pages of health concerns and diagnoses, they looked like this:
Now, weighing a combined 38 lbs, catching up developmentally, and physically healthy, they look like this:
One more thing - my last post had a typo. Alex is 50th percentile in weight, not 5th.
Take care,
Kris
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Well child visit
Alex had his 4 year well child visit yesterday. The girls tagged along to get their second dose of synagis. 2 hours later....we finally got out of the doctor's office.
Highlights: 1) Alex is 5th percentile in weight and 25th in height, 2) His belly is still distended. Not sure why. No suggestions were given to us except trying to give him more fruit, 3) We got some toileting tips for nighttime. Apparently most kids are completely dry by now. Who knew?? 4) Clara and Evelyn are back down to a 3 lb weight difference - Clara is 17 lbs, 3 ounces and Evelyn is 20 lbs, 4 ounces. I think Evelyn lost some weight with her increased mobility. Greg thinks the last reading was inaccurately high. I guess it doesn't really matter.
That's it. Not a very exciting visit.
Highlights: 1) Alex is 5th percentile in weight and 25th in height, 2) His belly is still distended. Not sure why. No suggestions were given to us except trying to give him more fruit, 3) We got some toileting tips for nighttime. Apparently most kids are completely dry by now. Who knew?? 4) Clara and Evelyn are back down to a 3 lb weight difference - Clara is 17 lbs, 3 ounces and Evelyn is 20 lbs, 4 ounces. I think Evelyn lost some weight with her increased mobility. Greg thinks the last reading was inaccurately high. I guess it doesn't really matter.
That's it. Not a very exciting visit.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
4 year old transitions
I have a Masters degree. Yet I have conversations with statements like this, "Big boys don't poop on the floor. The next time you poop on the floor, I am taking all of your swords away and throwing them in the trash...forever."
He's been acting out a bit this week (as should be obvious by the aforementioned 'poop on the floor' incident). Greg and I are trying to remain patient and realize that he's had a big week - he changed schools and misses his friends, teachers, and routines very much. We're hoping things will smooth out pretty soon. He's behaving fine at his new school and only seems to be taking it out on us. Yay us!
He's been acting out a bit this week (as should be obvious by the aforementioned 'poop on the floor' incident). Greg and I are trying to remain patient and realize that he's had a big week - he changed schools and misses his friends, teachers, and routines very much. We're hoping things will smooth out pretty soon. He's behaving fine at his new school and only seems to be taking it out on us. Yay us!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Cruising, clapping, pointing, playing
Both girls are inefficiently, clumsily, and grudgingly cruising. They are not happy about it or good at it, but they are working it out and getting it done thanks to their therapist who is much pushier than I am. I tend to fold as soon as they start crying. They are also very sneaky with both me and the therapist. They have these long spider monkey arms and they can stretch and reach at least 4 inches further than you think they can. They like to stretch as far out as possible to reach for something to avoid cruising.
Clara is also a big fan of clapping and she enjoys the fun game of "Where's Mama's nose?" Evelyn is abstaining at this time from game playing. But both she and Clara like to dance. Especially when you sing "Wiggle it" by 2 in a Room to them.
Evelyn is finally crawling a regular crawl. She first did a bunch of dragging I referred to (in a totally non-politically correct way) her "zombie stroke" crawl. Then she would kind of crawl but with her right foot trying to stand during the crawl. It's hard to explain. Anyway, she's finally crawling for real now.
Both girls just started to point (Yay! Score one against ASD). They mostly point at Alex because he is clearly the funniest thing in the house. Greg and I don't even come close to making the babies laugh as hard as he does. He's also really started to play with the babies and he and Clara are even starting to fight over toys. So, we're dealing with two main fighting groups - Evelyn vs. Clara and Alex vs. Clara. You'll note that Clara is involved in both groups. She's a little stinker. She's super curious and adventurous and loves to push limits and steal. Evelyn is pretty good about not stealing toys but, man, she's a big bully. Clara is full of scratches. Evelyn uses brute force to get what she wants - she scratches, pulls, and pushes to get what she needs.
I think that's it. I'm kind of tired of blogging so I may do one or two more and then call it quits after their birthday next weekend. I really, really hope I don't have need to start up again. I hope the girls just continue to catch up developmentally. I hope Clara's lungs continue to heal and stay strong. I hope the fluid on Evelyn's brain absorbs. I hope they equal out in size. I hope we can live our lives crisis-free for many, many years to come. We're exhausted. I need a freaking nap.
Take care,
Kris
Clara is also a big fan of clapping and she enjoys the fun game of "Where's Mama's nose?" Evelyn is abstaining at this time from game playing. But both she and Clara like to dance. Especially when you sing "Wiggle it" by 2 in a Room to them.
Evelyn is finally crawling a regular crawl. She first did a bunch of dragging I referred to (in a totally non-politically correct way) her "zombie stroke" crawl. Then she would kind of crawl but with her right foot trying to stand during the crawl. It's hard to explain. Anyway, she's finally crawling for real now.
Both girls just started to point (Yay! Score one against ASD). They mostly point at Alex because he is clearly the funniest thing in the house. Greg and I don't even come close to making the babies laugh as hard as he does. He's also really started to play with the babies and he and Clara are even starting to fight over toys. So, we're dealing with two main fighting groups - Evelyn vs. Clara and Alex vs. Clara. You'll note that Clara is involved in both groups. She's a little stinker. She's super curious and adventurous and loves to push limits and steal. Evelyn is pretty good about not stealing toys but, man, she's a big bully. Clara is full of scratches. Evelyn uses brute force to get what she wants - she scratches, pulls, and pushes to get what she needs.
I think that's it. I'm kind of tired of blogging so I may do one or two more and then call it quits after their birthday next weekend. I really, really hope I don't have need to start up again. I hope the girls just continue to catch up developmentally. I hope Clara's lungs continue to heal and stay strong. I hope the fluid on Evelyn's brain absorbs. I hope they equal out in size. I hope we can live our lives crisis-free for many, many years to come. We're exhausted. I need a freaking nap.
Take care,
Kris
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