2 months old

Today the boys had an appointment and had to get shots. Well we got to the appointment a little early because we had other things to do and most the time you get called in a first come basis even with an appointment. That was not the case today. We didn't get called til after our appointment time and then we waited even longer. This was not a good thing as I had to feed the boys early because I had to drop Erick off at work so by this time they think they are starving. This was made worse by the fact that they had to be in just a diaper and they dont like being undressed. By the time the Dr came in the boys were so loud that she had to yell to tell me their stats.



Owen: weight-10lb 3oz (22%), length-21.25in (2%), head-15.5in (12%)
Ethan: weight-10lb 6oz (25%), length-21in (2%), head-15in (12%)

The Dr left and we were once again left waiting and not being allowed to feed the boys. We had to wait for the nurse to come back to give the boys their shots but because one of the vaccines was oral they couldn't eat yet. At this point we have been in the office for almost 2 hrs. My mom was with us to help me but she had to go to the bathroom. So I am sitting in the little room with 2 very hungry upset little boys all by myself.

Finally the nurse comes in. I hold Ethan so she can give him the oral one... he spit it on her and me. Then I have to hold him down while he gets his 3 shots. He screamed and there was nothing I could do because the nurse need me to hold Owen to follow the same process. When both boys are done they are laying on the table and I give them the bottle. It was instant calm. This however was short lived because the nurse needed the room so we had to go. My only option was to pack them up and move to the waiting room (where my mom is because she couldn't get back in). When finally given the chance to really eat the boys scarfed the bottles and pass out.

Sense the appointment the boys have not been the same. They are not really napping/sleeping. They don't want to be held. Owen isn't hungry. Needless to say it has not been easy. It is 10pm now and they are in bed now. Im hoping they have better night then they did day.

***Follow up from yesterday***

I did make it to social security again today but by the time I got there his card request had been processed and sent. So my only choice is to wait 2 weeks to see if it shows up here (how could it they put the wrong street #, forgot my apt # and put the wrong zip). If it doesnt come then I get to request it again. If the card makes it back to them they will call me and I can pick it up at the office.

Today's happenings

I have a few things I need to talk about that have happened in the past 24hrs or so. Most of which is good news.

We started an improved bedtime routine. Now the boys get play time, bath, massage, book, bottle, swaddle, then bed. Here is how it really goes. Erick plays with the boys while I prep the bath. When it is almost ready he cleans butts (most the time someone is poopy at this time) and gets the first baby nude. As I am washing whoever is first Erick is getting the other one ready. When washed I bring the wet baby wrapped in a towel to the living room and take the other one. Erick begins to dry, massage, lotion, and dress that baby. When I am done washing the other one I join them. We finish about the same time so while sitting on the floor I pass the baby I have off to Erick who reads them a book. I get up and go make bottles. When the book is over they eat, swaddle then go down. This seems to run smoothly maybe a little to smoothly. Both nights we have done this the boys have fallen asleep in our laps eating.

Last night we tried this new thing. We decided to let the sleeping baby lie. The boys were in bed by 730. We sat up and finished things that needed to be done. The boys had been eating again at about 10 or 1030. We waited to hear them stir and heard nothing. 11pm nothing. Finally at 1130 we decided to just go to bed. We were finally woken up at 1220. yes that's right nearly 5 hrs. So I get up not even a min later Erick has to get up because Ethan decided he didn't want to sleep in he wanted fed too. So they go back down 330 Ethan decided he is hungry. We let Owen sleep. hahah he fooled us 10 min into Ethan's bottle Owen was up and hungry. They go back down. 713 comes and both boys are hungry. That's right we were going to let the sleeping baby sleep and they decided that they wanted up too.

By the time the 713 bottle was empty the boys were awake and we started our busy day. First was Owen's heart appointment. We got there a little early and the place was empty (same place I had my NST done) but we still had to wait. When we get to a room I strip Owen he is measured and weighed (not releasing this info til tomorrow when I tell you about them getting shots). The Dr comes in and listens to his heart and says it will be about 15 min til we can get the u/s done. That 15 min turned into almost 40. The guy comes in to get us and tells us to bring everything because we are going to switch rooms after the u/s. So we pack everything and go into the room with the machine. I hold Owen while they get the pictures they need. By this time though the appointment has run into bottle time and he is no longer holding still or being quiet. They finally get the needed pics and we gather everything again and move rooms again. Once in our third room I got Owen dressed and made bottles. About the time the bottle were made the dr came in. Are you ready for this? I dont think you are. So the dr saw me put mylicon... just kidding ...INNOCENT... It is already closing and working itself out. There is no need for a follow up or anything. Ok really the dr did see me with the mylicon and started this whole discussion about how and why it worked. Then we left.

From the Dr we had to go straighten out Ethan's social security number. We find the office and it is full. We get our number and sit down. The boys are still hungry so we start to feed them the bottle made at the Drs. I just get Owen eating and my number is called. CRAP I don't want to stop him but i need to do this. I hand him off to Erick who starts to feed him. I leave everyone at the seats and take the stuff needed to get Ethan's card. I just get to the window when I hear Ethan crying to eat too. Poor Erick. I try to hurry the lady. i get the print out and rush back to the seat. Erick has Owen in his lap and is hunched over feeding Ethan in his car seat. I take Owen and we decide to sit there and feed the boys then finish our errands.

After finding lunch for ourselves we dropped off some papers at the school for a friend. I love taking the boys to the school they get oohed and ahhed over. Then we went and opened savings accounts for the boys. After that it was off to target then home.

Whew what a day!!!

EDIT: Erick was just putting away the paperwork form SSA and noticed that the lady that entered our info wrong. Wrong address #, apartment # missing and wrong zip. Guess I get to go back to social security tomorrow. crap I know its my fault for not checking it while I was there but I needed to help feed my babies.

feeling inspired

For the last 10 months I have been part of an amazing group of women on a chat board for moms of multiples (MoMs). Well over the last month or so the MoMs board has been gripped by a very sad story. One of the MoMs found out that she was going to lose both her daughters that it was only a matter of time. Well a few days ago that time was up. In a matter of less then 24 hrs both her girls passed. Today she posted the most beautiful blog and makes me see that she is one of the strongest women I have had the chance to get to know. Her post brought me to tears (http://www.sweetgirlies.blogspot.com/). It has also inspired me.

Motherhood has its ups and downs. Some days are way easier then others. Nothing anyone says or does can ever prepare you for the joys and sorrows it brings. Today I choose to focus on the joys in honor of Brooks girls.

I love how you snuggle in when I hold you
I love how you sigh when you are content
I love the smiles I got yesterday when I got you up from your naps
I love that sometimes only my touch will do
I love watching you grow
I love seeing all your firsts
I love how hard you try to do new things
I love the little noises you make when you eat
I love the time we get together when I hold you after you have eaten
I love when you hold my hand/finger
I love when you spy on me

My boys I love you more then anything in the world. I love you more than I ever knew one person could love another. You are my pride and joys. I look forward more then anything to watching you grow into wonderful men.

Moms hold your baby tight tonight and let them know how much you love them. Life is short and you never know what twists it will take.

Life happens

I have been so caught up with the boys that I have been a bad blogger. We went on our first overnight trip with the boys and let me say they did great but it was hard on me. They stuck to their schedule which was wonderful but unwanted input and advice can get overwhelming at times. I dont understand how people can poopoo the wishes of the parents or even blatantly ignore them. BUT that is another story for another time.

Our little trip took us to my MILs house so that Erick's grandma could meet the boys on her 89th birthday. She was so happy to get to meet them and hold them. Over the weekend the boys also met Erick's aunt and uncle. I really missed our small apartment because we stayed on the second floor about as far in the house as we could have gotten from the kitchen. Going down stairs holding a baby while half awake at 3 am is not something I enjoyed and is something that is enough to wake you from any amount of drowsyness when you get to a landing and think you are missing a stair. That is how we spent our Valentines day feeding babies and visiting family away from home. Romantic right? To add to the romance Erick got me exactly one thing for Valentines day. Are you ready for this? He got me NOTHING. No card...No note... No chocolates... No not one little thing.







In addition to the family the boys met while we were away we stopped at my grandpas and the boys met more family. All this meeting family has made me realize one thing. When babies are around you you have no personal space. People touch you and them and sit as close to you as they can. It doesnt matter what you are doing. They want to see and touch the baby so they will.

The boys have a lot going on this week too. Thursday is Owens heart check and Friday the boys get their first round of shots. I cant wait to find out how much they weigh. It finally looks like Ethan is going to be bigger then Owen for the first time sense birth.

To sleep for chance to dream

Well it is 11:38pm and rather than being in my nice warm bed I am on here writing. A few min ago when I noticed that it was after 11:30 I figured that at this point I might as well stay up because by the time I get into bed and comfy it will be time for the boys to get up and eat. This is getting easier and easier which is strange because last night I got about 2.5 hrs and the night before though was more still wasnt 8 hrs.

So the whole sit the boys up for an hour after eating doesnt work. They are just as likely to spit up if we hold them for an hour and put them down as they are if we hold them for 30 min and put them down. So now we are trying mixing formulas if that doesnt work we will add rice cereal to the bottles. Today it wasnt formula coming up but chunky water ... yum.

The boys are getting stronger and more vocal. Again Owen rolled over while no one was in the room. Of course the little stinker wont do it when we are looking. They both are holding heads up and looking around for short bits. They also squawk in conversation. It is so funny to watch Chloe's reaction when she yells at them and they yell back.

Things are still in the air for a lot of things with the boys but I wouldnt trade it for the world. Yeah some days are tiring and I want nothing more than to take a nap but when you look in those little eyes you just melt. Owen has this big pouty lip that would make you hand over your life savings if that is what he wanted and Ethan has this little half smile that makes up for all the tears and vomit.

back to square one

I think I talked before about how Ethan almost didn't come home with us because he wasn't gaining weight and was spitting/choking. We were told that it was a mild case of reflux and it would go away. Well over the last week it has gotten worse. Not only that but Owen had started displaying the same symptoms. After a few cases of formula coming out little tiny noses and lots of grunts and back arching i got lucky and the Drs office called on Friday (as I was picking up the phone to call them). I was lucky and they got me in today.

The boys appointment went a little less than stellar. After getting weighed in (Owen-8lb 10oz and Ethan-8lb 5oz) the Dr came in. She examined them and felt tummies. We talked about what had been happening. She told me they both have reflux but she doesn't want to put them on the meds because of the side effects and they are still gaining so its not a threat just a nuisance. She gave me a paper to read. She wants to keep the boys on the same formula because of the extra calories so for now we have to try cutting the boys intake back down to 2oz at a time and bring it back to every 3 hrs (the same schedule we were on when we came home 5 weeks ago). On top of that we have to now hold the boys in a completely vertical position for an hour after every feeding (there goes my sleep). If that doesnt work then we can switch formulas or thicken (trying to avoid this because Owen is already on Karo syrup for constipation). We go back in three weeks for 2 month shots and she will check them again and decide what to do from there. Because we were there she took the time to listen to Owen's heart again and I was instructed for no reason should I risk missing his cardio appointment (um yeah way to make a mom worry more). So to say the least this is going to be interesting feeding, holding and diapering is going to take 1.5-2 hrs to do both babies that gives me 1-1.5 hrs between feedings to do what I need to do (eat, sleep, shower, or household cleaning). I hope this works... please let this work because this is still better then the screaming and the formula out the nose.