Had a pretty busy day!

I went to Aili's baby shower today (my brother's GF). I was so nervous about going because I had never driven on Loop 820 before and meeting new people makes me nervous. But, I am happy to report that Loop 820 isn't too bad! Just have to pay attention because you could be driving along and then end up on 121 or something. Going back was a little tricky because I thought the exit I needed was on the right but ended up being on the left. And a jerk in a huge truck wouldn't let me get over. But, I finally did and got home ok.

The people at the shower were very nice (I mean besides my family, they're usually nice sometimes heh heh) ! They thought the boys were cute and of course I agree!

I find it amusing though that when people find out I have twins, they always say "I couldn't handle it!" YES you can. You wouldn't have a choice. I mean, what do they think I do all day? Roll up in a ball and cry in the corner? Or that I don't get any sleep. Heck yeah I do! They usually sleep through the night, fortunately. They wake up around 5ish am to nurse, but all I do is nurse them lying down and go back to sleep (one at a time BTW LOL )

I really enjoy being a twin mom. Seriously. They are so cute and I love watching them interact together. It makes all the crying and hard stuff all worth it.

Next weekend is Easter! I NEED to go to Target. Aili got a lot of cute outfits from there (she's having a boy), so I think I'm gonna go there and check it out. Walmarts selection for infant boys isn't that great. They have like one rack of somewhat dressy clothes. And the ones that they DO have are cotton. I got them a cute cotton outfit and mom thought I was nuts because you had to iron them LOL (ME?? Iron?? I guess that's why I should stay away from cotton bwahahaha!)

And one last thing before I go..I got my hair cut really short. I got tired of the boys pulling on it and yanking chunks out.


Anyway, I better go to bed...

Just a few things..

I can't believe it's been over a week since grandma passed. It's still hard to comprehend that she's gone. She was such a HUGE part of our lives. She was an amazing woman, and I'm glad she was my grandma..

I went to my bf'ing moms group this past Tuesday. The past week or so, Ronin has been only gaining 3 oz (normal weight gain is 4-7 oz a week). I finally figured out it was the reflux. He had been on Zantac but it didn't seem to be working anymore. So, I called the Dr and got him a script for Prilosec. Wow, what a HUGE difference. Before, he'd only nurse for a few minutes, pull off and cry. He'd also arch his back (which what clued me in). But now, he nurses for longer and a lot more frequently. I weighed him this past Tuesday and he gained TEN ounces!! I felt SO bad but at the same time, felt better that I got what he needed. Mellanie (the LC that runs the group) said she could totally see a difference (that was before I told her how much he had gained). But at least I know it's not my milk supply (as evidenced by Ryker, who BTW, weighs 16 lbs)

Also, both boys are rolling both ways. Ronin more than Ryker. Ronin is rolling ALL over the place. I have a blanket on the floor for them to do whatever. Next thing I know, Ronin's under the swing! Ryker still has trouble going from tummy to back, even though he can do it. He'll roll on his tummy and then cry. Poor guy.


One more thing, then I gotta go..For some reason, the boys haven't been sleeping as well as I'd like them to! With Ryker it's getting him to sleep. I usually nurse him to sleep and he'll go down with no problem. But lately, he's been crying when I put him down. What he'll do is roll onto his tummy and then cry. So, I'll roll him back over, and pop the paci back in his mouth. Then he'll do it again. Rinse and repeat. Finally, he will go to sleep after about 1 1/2 hours.

Then Ronin, I'll get him to sleep, I'll put himdown and then I'll see his little head pop up. He keeps waking up every few hours to nurse. I don't know what the deal with that is.

It's been a very crappy week.

I am very sad to report that my Grandma passed away on the morning of March 21. I am just devestated. She was more of a grandma, she helped raised us since we were babies. I even lived with her right before Bill and I got married. I called her every day to see how she was doing and just to chat with her. That was our daily ritual, me calling her. I loved it. It was the closest I could get since I couldn't see her as often as I wanted to.

Tuesday, I went to my bf'ing mom's group. Mom called and said that grandma probably wouldn't make it through the night. So I got everyone home and in bed and went to the hospital. Grandma was there but asleep, and her breathing was labored. Wed, around 3am, she passed away.


Friday was the viewing/rosary.Saturday was the funeral. It was so surreal seeing her in the casket. I went up to the casket and just touched her. I just can't believe she's gone. One of the hardest parts was them closing the casket. We're never going to see her again. Ever.

Friday, the kids and I spent the night at mom's. Lisa, Eddie and Stephan were there too. And I'm glad we were all there. I think we needed each other.

It's just been so difficult. I knew she was sick but I didn't realize how sick she really was. I think I was in denial. "Oh, she'll pull through, she'll be fine". I just can't believe it. I mean, I JUST saw her the Friday before last!! I am glad I went to see her that day. She got to see the boys and Kalynn.

I will always miss her..

Last night was a lot better!! The boys slept through til about 6am!! I hope those past few days was just a fluke.

So, I have a thought about children's shows...

Where are the parents!!! OK, for example..Dora..Why in the world does her parents go off by herself in the wilderness? With a monkey??? Umm...Hello? Don't monkeys carry around disease? Same thing with Diego!! Diego's in the jungle by himself with talking animals and stuff.

Max and Ruby: Where are their parents? How come Max doesn't speak a lot? I think he has a speech delay. And he doesn't listen to Ruby, his sister. It's sad but this show drives me nuts. For instance, Ruby is in "Bunny Scouts" and she's selling cookies. Max keeps getting into them, despite Ruby telling him no. And she lets him get away with it!!

Maisy: Is she full grown? Is she a kid? Where are her parents? And that talking crocodile? I think something is wrong..

But then again..these are talking animals..I just think too much heehee


Let's see...I did clean up our bathroom..So, our room and bathroom is clean. Just gotta clean the other bathroom, kitchen and the livingroom..

The rest of the week was better. Everyone was healthy! Just sucked that most of the spring break was spent with sickies. But we're all feeling better. I still have a lingering cough, but other than that I feel SO much better.

Friday, we went to see my grandma in the nursing home. Then my mom and Lisa watched the kiddos while Bill and I went out to dinner by ourselves. A QUIET dinner. It was nice even though the server was a dork.

Saturday, didn't do a darn thing.

Today (Sunday), we went with our friends Brandon and Karla's to dinner at Babe's Chicken House. It was tasty. After that went over there and the girl's played outside. Journey has this Power Wheels and it was so funny watching them trying to drive it. Karla and I kept saying "No! Stop! Reverse! Reverse! Turn the wheel!" LOL They live on a huge property so they had plenty of room to "drive" around. We have decided that they will not be allowed to drive when they're older.

This week is going to be a little bit busy. Sometime this week, I plan on getting the kid's pics done. Tuesday is my BF'ing Mom's group. Thursday, a friend is coming to Dallas from WI. She's the gal who makes Kalynn's korker bows. She's staying with us on Friday. So, I am cleaning up our house.

I cleaned up our bedroom. Bill joked and said "Wow, what's this stuff I'm stepping on? Carpet!?" Yeah, it was that bad. But it's better. Gotta clean the rest of the house, but I'll do a little bit every day.

I should be going to bed but I can't sleep. The past few nights for the past week, the boys have been waking up. Karla thinks it may be teething, so if they wake up, I'm going to give them some Tylenol and see if that works. Anyway, I better get to bed while the gettin's good.

me again. Can't sleep. My fever is breaking so I'm really hot and sweaty. Can't sleep when I'm hot and sweaty.

A lot of my message board friends think that the boys and Kalynn look a lot alike. I was like "wha?? I don't see it!" Well, I came across a picture of Kalynn when she was about 6 months old. HOLY CRAP! They DO look like her! I think in the next few days, I'm going to put a babyt picture of Kalynn and then a picture of the boys.

OK, gonna go watch me some Judge shows. I love how they try to blatantly lie. Cracks me up.

Grrreeat, Kalynn's running a little bit of a fever..Looks like this spring break is officially shot.

So I wanted to vent. I was totally horrified at Super Nanny the other day. Part of it was about extended breastfeeding (bf'ing past 12 months). She acted like if you choose to BF past 12 months that somehow the child is going to be psychologically harmed and forever clingy and dependent. "How do I put this nicely. She's hanging off your breeeeast" Umm..what???? Ok, first off, you cannot force a child to BF. Plus, the AAP says to continue BF'ing as long as both parties mutually want. Plus, the kid was 14 months!!! It's not like she was 14 years!! And yes, there are still benefits to nursing past a year-nutrients, immunities. booby milk doesn't turn to water after a year. It is hard to hear the criticisms. It's like everyone's "Yay for bf'ing!!" but when you get past a certain point, it's "You're still doing THAT! tsk tsk!"


For those who are interested...links about the benefits of nursing past a year
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html
http://parenting.ivillage.com/tp/tpweaning/0,,3x5j,00.html
http://breastfeeding.hypermart.net/nursetoddler.html
http://www.nursingbaby.com/nursing/extnurse.htm

This spring break has sucked eggs.

Bill got sick Thursday. Which meant I had no help, and had the kids all day by myself Thursday evening, and Friday. Bill had gone to the Dr on Thursday and the idiot Dr said that he had a sinus infection, didn't bother doing a flu swab, just sent him on his way with an RX for antibiotics, and said that he wasn't contagious.

Saturday went to my mom's house, then to my sister Allie's house so she could go register for her shower. Kalynn was SO cranky, so we had to go home afterwards. Kalynn was running a little bit of a fever.

Sunday morning, I wake up with a 102.1 temp fever. Bill was feeling better so he took care of babies. Of course I had to feed them, but other than that I could rest. Monday went to the Dr and did a flu swab. No flu thank goodness. Just an icky virus. I was running a 102 fever Sunday and Monday, and a 101 yesterday and so far today.

ECI came out yesterday to evaluate the boys' development. I had been worried that Ryker was behind, even for adjusted age. Yeah, I was right. He's 5 months and for fine and gross motor skills, he's at almost 3 months. His muscles are also stiff. Apparently, babies are supposed to be a little floppy, but he's not. Ronin is right on target for 5 months.

Kalynn's at her neuropsych appt, so I'm here by myself with the boys.

Anyway, I better go. Ryker's cranky and I think my Tylenol is wearing off, getting chills.

Thought this was pretty funny. Especially "Lesson 2". It goes with my favorite saying "You're always the perfect parent before you have kids" :D

Lesson 1

1. Go to the grocery store.

2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.

3. Go home.

4. Pick up the paper.

Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...

1. Methods of discipline.

2. Lack of patience.

3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.

Allowing their children to run wild.

Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior. Enjoy it, because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3

To discover how the nights will feel...

1. Walk around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly.

2. At 10PM, put the bag down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.

3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.

4. Set the alarm for 3AM.

5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink.

6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.

7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.

8. Sing songs in the dark until 4AM.

Get up. Make breakfast. Keep this up for 5 years.

Look cheerful.

Lesson 4

Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.

2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.

Then rub them on the clean walls.

Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6

1. Take an egg carton. Using a pair of scissors and a jar of paint, turn it into an alligator.

2. Now take the tube from a roll of toilet paper. Using only Scotch tape and a piece of aluminum foil, turn it into an attractive Christmas candle.

3. Last, take a milk carton, a ping-pong ball, and an empty packet of Cocoa Puffs.

Make an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower.

Lesson 7

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.

2. Get a dime. Stick it in the cassette player.

3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat.

4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

There. Perfect.

Lesson 8

1. Get ready to go out.

2. Wait outside the bathroom for half an hour.

3. Go out the front door.

4. Come in again.Go out.

5. Come back in.

6. Go out again.

7. Walk down the front path.

8. Walk back up it.

9. Walk down it again.

10. Walk very slowly down the road for five minutes.

11. Stop, inspect minutely, and ask at least 6 questions about every cigarette butt, piece of used chewing gum, dirty tissue, and dead insect along the way.

12. Retrace your steps.

13. Scream that you have had as much as you can stand until the neighbors come out and stare at you.

Give up and go back into the house.

You are now just about ready to try taking a small child for a walk.

Lesson 9

Repeat everything at least (if not more than) five times.

Lesson 10

Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full- grown goat is excellent).

If you intend to have more than one child, take more than one goat.

Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys.

Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 11

1. Hollow out a melon.

2. Make a small hole in the side.

3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.

4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.

5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.

Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine- month old baby.

Lesson 12

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street, Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV for at least five years.

Lesson 13

Move to the tropics. Find or make a compost pile. Dig down about halfway and stick your nose in it. Do this 3-5 times a day for at least two years.

Lesson 14

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying "mommy" repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each "mommy"; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years.

You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 15

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the "mommy" tape made from Lesson 14 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

Lesson 16

Go into the living room, sit on your favorite chair. Pee & poop on the chair, get up and run around the room continuing to pee. Change yourself, clean up your mess. do this for 16 to seventeen times each day for a week. Then, stop having accidents for one to two weeks. Then on the third week begin peeing around the house again, cleaning up after each accident. Do this for about six months. You are now ready for potty training your two (to three) year old. If you want to know what its like to potty train and have a newborn, add in a 10-15 pound bag of potatoes. Carry it around as you pick up all the pee & poop. GOOD LUCK!!!

Morning!

So, I went to the Babies Sake meeting. I'm glad I went. It's nice to have the support. I met a lot of nice people there. There was a girl there who's baby was 4 days older than the boys! Plus, I got a recommendation for a pedi, since I'm switching. I'll probably call her in a few days to make their 6 month appt. It was just nice talking to other breastfeeding mothers, and just be able to nurse the babies without having to worry about who's looking or whatever.

The AMOM meeting will be there in the next couple of months. I was thinking the other day, I know some moms want their babies to take a bottle so they can do stuff (which there isn't anything wrong with that, happy mommy=happy baby). But for me, I'm ok with them not taking a bottle. I figure, that they're only babies for such a short amount of time, that I don't mind. Although sometimes I do wish I could have a night alone, but I'd still have to pump, so it's not worth it. Plus, the boys will be eating solids here pretty soon and going further between nursing sessions.

But anyway, not much else is going on. Next week Bill and Kalynn are on spring break. She has a neuropsych appt during that week. I wonder if we could take a road trip (yes, I know, I'm crazy, especially after that first one we took). I dunno. I just hate staying in the house. Heck, I may just go to Walmart just to get out of the house today.

So, I'm reconsidering on going to the AMOM meeting..They're still nursing 2-3 hours and won't take a bottle. I'll probalby go in the next couple of months, by then, they would've started solids and could go longer without nursing. I'll probably just go to the Babies' Sake meeting. At least I can take them with me and I can nurse them there.



As I mentioned yesterday, I got an Exersaucer. I put Ronin in it and he LOVED it!!! Here are some pics:

Evening!!

ECI (Early Child Intervention) came out and saw the boys. I've been concerned about Ryker, he seems to not be doing things even at his adjusted age. I actually know the intake coordinator. She came out when Kalynn started ECI. And I always see her around town. Her and the nutritionist, and a nurse came out. Ronin is 13 lbs and Ryker is 15 lbs. Next week they are going to do the actual evaluation to see where they're at. The ladies just thought they were so cute!! AND Ryker laughed for the FIRST time!! He thought the ECI lady was hillarious! It was too cute.

Kalynn and I went to the park for a bit. She is so friendly! Another little girl arrived and she immediately started to play with her. The little girl and Kalynn had a blast! When we had to leave, Kalynn gave the little girl a hug. It was too sweet. And Kalynn has been doing SO much better at home. She still can smart talk and other stuff, but it's A LOT better than it was before. She's so sweet with her brothers, she loves to talk to them, and play with them. And she's good at changing diapers! I let her help me change a diaper and wow, I was super impressed! Sad thing is that I didn't learn how to change a diaper until she came along.

After the park, we went to Walmart. It's Kalynn's turn for snack this week. And then I decided to get an Exersaucer. I think Ronin is ready for it, so I just got one.

I can't believe the boys are going to be 5 months on Friday! It's crazy how the first year goes by so fast. It makes me sad. They are my last babies..no more babies for us..for good. Bill saw them snip my tubes. Even though we aren't going to have any kiddos, it's still sad. It's like the end of an era. that part of my life is over. I'm actually surprised I'm feeling this way.

Bill and I need a date night desperately. We haven't had a lot of alone time since the boys were born. Bill and I went out to dinner one time when the boys were 2 weeks old. It was hard to get any alone time with Kalynn,and now it's REALLY hard with the boys. In fact, I think our last date where we had the entire night to ourselves when I wasn't on bedrest was July 7, which is our anniversary. It's just been difficult, having just one newborn can put a lot of stress on a marriage. But things are getting better. It's just been hard.

Tomorrow, I plan on going to the Arlington Mom's of Multiples meeting. It'll be nice to talk to other moms of multiples. I just hope that they aren't into Babywise (horrible book), which a lot of twin moms seem to love. You MUST put them on a schedule, you can't BF them on demand!! Yadda yadda. We're doing fine thanks.

Anyway, I better get to bed.

Pics

Evening!!

This weekend was pretty good. Saturday went to go visit my mom and my grandmother who's in the hospital. We had to make the visit short due to cranky children.

Today I spent most of the day cleaning. ECI is coming out tomorrow and I won't have time to clean it during the day. Most of the house is clean, hopefully, it'll stay that way. Seems like when I clean, it gets dirty in 5 seconds flat and all the hours I put into it went to waste.

Ronin was SOOO cute yesterday! Ronin has been giggling, and I was playing with him last night. I was saying "Uh GUH!" and Ronin thought it was hilarious!! It was SOOO adorable!!

Anyway, dinner is ready and I am hungry.. Adios.

yay!! We got a new laptop!! It's nothing fancy, just basic. Plus, it comes with a rebate. Hooray!! Uggh, I'm so glad I don't have to put up with that horrible grinding noise when I tried to boot up the old computer. Don't have to worry about having to reinstall everything!

We ended up not going out with B&K because K's sister is in town. Maybe another time.

Not much else is going on!

I hate this piece of crap computer. It keeps screwing up. It'll start making this grinding noise and if you don't turn it off as soon as it starts, it erases everything. Then I have to do the "quick restart" which involves destroying the hard drive and reinstalling everything, including Windows. That takes hours. If I do catch it in time, it still takes hours because it'll do that when I start the computer. I turn it off, and try again. No luck. I did this from noon til about 3:30 (not right after the other LOL)

Anyway, the week as pretty good. Today was Story Time at the Library..We'll probably go to our friend Brandon and Karla's house, go to dinner and hang out with them for a bit. Hopefully, since Kalynn's taking a nap, she'll be well behaved.

Anyway, I need to get some laundry done.