11.20.09
Slow Down! (revisited)
Okay, so I am just now getting a chance to revisit this train of thought. And even since then, new things have developed (of course!).
Today Lucas sat by himself for a minute or two. I was able to grab the camera and snap several pics before he fell. What a big boy!
I'm sitting!
Kyla worked on trying to crawl again today. She’s got the legs part down, now if she could just coordinate the arms. 
A lot of times she goes up on her tip toes and Mom says she looks like she’s doing yoga. LOL
Yoga anyone?
Things haven’t been all roses, of course. Babies generally have their good and bad moments. While N and I know we are the luckiest parents in the world, we’re also exhausted. The last few weeks have been really tough. For awhile they were really consistent in their sleep patterns and even though I wasn’t keen on the time they liked to wake up, I was getting used to it. Then they went nuts. They started waking up at 4 AM and not going back to sleep. And the naps have been hit or miss. The last few days they’ve taken turns with their naps. Yesterday they went back and forth taking 10-20 minute cat naps. Today they both napped longer, but never at the same time. I’m exhausted.
But, on Monday N had a followup with his neurosurgeon. He asked if it would be possible to increase his weight limit (for lifting) from 15 lbs to 20 lbs because the kids are 16 and 18 lbs. The doctor said it was fine with him, as long as PT says it’s okay. He starts PT on Monday morning. So hopefully he’ll be able to help a lot more! Of course, he’s kind of picked them up a few times this week anyway, but mostly Kyla, since she’s the lighter one. He says he’s been a little sore from it, but I’m sure PT will help ease that.
Monday we had a play date with two other sets of twins and their moms. Kyla and Lucas were the oldest kids there! LOL We met at KA’s house. We sat and talked while their babies slept, and mine played. Their babies were SO tiny and I couldn’t even remember Kyla and Lucas being that small! I ended up going back through old pictures just to see how tiny they used to be. It’s amazing how much they’ve changed. Look at this picture from when we first brought them home!
So tiny!
How can so much change in just 5 months? I wish I could slow it down!
09.11.09
3 Months
I know. I’m horrible. I allowed their three month “birthday” go by without a post. My only excuse is that I’m TIRED!!!
Since I got out of the hospital the twins have decided that sleep is overrated and I really don’t need any. :/ They had been doing really well, only waking me once (to eat) before morning. Not anymore! Last night I got to bed at 10:30 (had to work on grading papers once they were in bed) and Lucas woke me at 11:30. I couldn’t get him to go back to sleep, so I took him to the guest room and laid down with him there. I may have dosed a little, but mostly he was too squirmy to sleep at all. Finally, at 2 I fed him. Just as he was finishing, his sister woke up. N took her, thank goodness. I finally got him down around 3:30 and went back to bed. He woke again at 5:30. N was in the guest room with Kyla at this point. I got a bottle together and he ate ONE ounce before falling back to sleep. Then Kyla woke up. I offered N the remaining 3 oz for her. I tried to get up to take Lucas to his room and he started to stir. So I stayed in the chair, falling asleep until 7:30. N and Kyla were clearly awake, but I still didn’t want to be. I tried puttin Lucas down in his crib and it seemed to work. Until I went back to bed and put my head on the pillow. I gave up and jut got up. I’m SO tired!
But that’s not what I got on to blog about. Really I just wanted to show off. On Wednesday I took my MIL with me to get their portraits made. They turned out really well, despite the fussy mood Lucas was in. Thank goodness for the “kid” (okay, not really a kid, but he looked really young and made me feel old) helping the photographer. He kept Kyla laughing and even got a fer smiles out of Lucas. Here they are. (And family, don’t worry. I have prints for you. Just give me a chance to get them separated and in the mail.)
Kyla - 3 Months
Lucas - 3 months
Kyla & Lucas - 3 months
And the obligatory “naked” picture (I promise, they had diapers on! lol). They may hate me for it, but I love their smiles in this one!
Kyla & Lucas
09.02.09
One night down, two to go
Well, I survived the first night (and apparently so did N). Sadly, I think I was awakened as much, if not more, than if I’d been home with the babies. Granted, I didn’t have to get out of bed, but still. Is it really necessary to wake a patient 4 times for vitals, 1 time for an EKG, and 1 time for blood? Are these so important when you’re on a freaking heart monitor 24 hours?? And why the middle of the night for blood? It’s never made sense to me. *sigh*
Other than being bored and missing my babies, I’m doing fine. Interestingly, I have the same room and same nurse as the last time I was here! LOL I really like my nurse. She helped me (emotionally) a lot the last time I was here. I’m glad she got to meet the babies yesterday. Last night she said she wouldn’t be here today, but she’d be back Thursday. Then she walked in this morning! Apparently they called her in and she decided that since she liked her patients yesterday she’d come on in. I told her she just wanted to see me some more.
The food in this hospital tends to be a step up from most hospitals. But last night I chose poorly. It was bland and I had to force myself to eat it all so that I wouldn’t be starving by morning (no one to go get me an alternative). I’m hoping someone might bring me food for lunch, but we’ll see. Last night I’d gotten the pasta salad that I loved last time I was here and it was awful. I’m hoping my other favorites haven’t gone downhill. But at least breakfast was still good. They have Southwestern Eggs Benedict. It’s an English muffin, “low sodium” ham, scrambled eggs (I’d prefer over easy, but it’s still good), topped with sour cream and salsa. Yum!
I was told I can shower. Woo hoo! So I think I’ll call in my tech and see about getting that done. Then maybe it’s time for some laps around the floor or maybe some reading? This is going by SOOO slowly! I miss my babies!!! (hopefully they will come by at some point today if N can get them out the door)
08.04.09
Fabulous news!
Where do I begin… First of all, I’m excited to report that LD and family are on their way to the airport as I type. They will be at Disney World until Sunday. I’m so excited for them and cannot wait to hear all about their trip! Last night at dinner I gave the whole family two assignments:
- When they return they must each tell me their favorite thing and I want details (“I liked the rides” will not do. ).
- They must have the best time of their lives!!!!!
I guess you just can’t take the teacher out of me…
Speaking of… That leads me to my next bit of news. If you’ve been reading along from the beginning (or really just the last 8 months) you will know some of this. But I know some just started reading, so I’ll give a little background.
As soon as we knew we were planning to get pregnant N and I discussed my work situation. I wanted very much to stay home for at least the first two years, but he was worried about $$. So we came to a compromise and decided I’d go to part time and work the days he doesn’t (he only works 3 days a week, 12 hour shifts). It seemed perfect until my district did away with all part time positions. 
So we decided I would stay home and take substitute jobs on the days he is home, even though it wouldn’t be as much money….
Then in April I ran into a former professor of mine and we talked about the possibility of me being a TA for one of her online classes. But when I emailed her she said she only had an on campus position available and to try back in June. I emailed her in June and never heard back. So I applied to become a sub in two local school districts.
Well, yesterday I got a phone call from a number I didn’t recognize… It was that professor! She asked if I’d gotten her email in response to mine (I didn’t). I had not responded, so she looked me up in the alumni files and found my number. She needs an online TA for the Fall semester and offered the job to me!! So now I’ll be able to work from home at hours that are convenient for me and N!
I know it won’t be easy, but I’m so excited to have a more regular paycheck and not have to sub every day N is not. I may still do some subbing, depending on how things go, but now it’s not as imperative if I don’t. 
Speaking of N and his job (okay, so that’s a loose connection, but I had to segue somehow!)… When N works the next day, I take care of the babies every time they wake up in the night. It’s not a great idea for him to be exhausted while taking care of patients. When he will be home, he takes over for me around 4 am and lets me sleep in. For some reason the last couple of weeks he’s had to go in to work a lot more than usual (mandatory staff meetings), so he wasn’t able to do that for me much. Plus, I had them all day by myself. Needless to say, I was beyond exhausted. Well, he finally had a couple of days off in a row and without my even saying anything (I don’t think I had to. My mood and FaceBook statuses said it all!) he offered to take the baby monitor into the guest room and he would take care of the kids the whole night, allowing me the first full night’s sleep I’ve had since February! I slept for 7 whole hours! It was FABULOUS!!!!! And it really rejuvenated me. When I talked to Mom on the phone yesterday (before I’d even gotten the job phone call) she said it was the first time in a long time I’d sounded chipper. LOL It’s amazing what a little sleep can do! AND… N offered to do it again this week, despite his having seen “every hour of the night” because the twins tag teamed him all night long (he hasn’t figured out a comfortable way to feed them at the same time, which is the only thing that finally saved me from having those kind of nights). I have such a wonderful husband! <3
And now for the biggest news of all… Kyla rolled over!!!!!! Okay, I know it was an accident and it probably won't happen again for some time, but it makes me so proud anyway. After all, the fact that it happened at all indicates that her neck muscles are strong because she was able to pick up her head high enough to lose her balance and roll over. It happened Sunday while Dad and his wife were here, so I have witnesses.
So if you see me in the next few days, you'll probably see a big ol' smile on my face. Enjoy it while it lasts! LOL
07.30.09
Blessed quiet
I hope I’m not jinxing it, but WOW! Mom had a swing sent to us and it arrived on Tuesday.
(Okay, so I did jinx it. As soon as I typed that Lucas woke up and Kyla soon followed. But after bottles, diaper changes, and some cuddling, both are back to sleep.)
Anyway, as I was saying… The swing has worked out well. Lucas will sit in it when he’s awake (but not every time) and stays asleep in it for much longer than in the bouncy seat. I put him in it when I needed to take my shower. He was awake, but not fussy. By the time I got out of the shower he was asleep and stayed that way while I comforted Kyla (she did not sleep through my shower), washed bottles, folded laundry/started a new load, and even through me eating lunch! I was amazed! I think the only reason he woke up is because he was hungry. He didn’t want to go back in the swing after eating, but that’s okay. He’s sleeping on my chest at the moment. (Boy am I getting good at the one-handed typing!)
I wish I could say Kyla’s been as easy today. Starting yesterday she became my fussy one. As a matter of fact, here she goes again! BRB!
Okay, Lucas is back in the swing and Kyla is on me… No rest for Mommy!
Anyway, as I was saying, Kyla has been very needy the last couple of days. I just can’t figure out what is wrong. And if you don’t take care of it (whatever “it” is) right away she goes into her screaming-bloody-murder phase. Some time I’m going to have to get a video of that to torture her with when she’s a teenager.
In the mean time, I did take quick pics of the calm before I started to type the first time:
Lucas in his swing
Calm Kyla (don't let her fool you!)
07.22.09
Catching up
It’s been a few days since I last updated on how our new family is doing. It’s been quite hectic around here and I think this is the first stretch of calm I’ve seen in quite some time. I know I should go take a nap, but I’m afraid that the minute my head hits the pillow, someone will wake up. I swear they have some sort of radar that says “If Mommy’s head hits the pillow, puts food in her mouth, or steps into the shower, then someone must scream. And if there’s someone here to help, both must comply.”
The first month I felt like I was actually capable of doing this alone when N is at work. Now I’m admitting defeat and call in help any chance I can get. I think they were lulling me into a false sense of security before. Either that, or that first bit is when they are “easy” because the mother is USUALLY recovering from delivery, so I had half the stress at that time? I don’t know. All I do know is that the more time they spend awake, the more stressed I’m getting. Granted, I love when they’re awake and happy, but it’s hard to keep them both that way when you’re the only one here. So anyone who wants to come over to help out, please give me a call!
Despite being severely sleep deprived, I can’t help but look at their adorable faces and fall in love over and over again. I mean, who can resist this:
Or this:
Not to mention this:
Oh, and as for my heart stuff, I just got off the phone with my cardiologist. Apparently my MUGA scan showed arrhythmia and a lower heart function (which could be a false reading because of the arrhythmia). This may be consistent with what she heard (but my defibrillator did not read) at my appointment. So now she wants me to come by tomorrow to have a 48 hour holter monitor put on (it’s not like I have time to shower anyway). Once we look at the results of that she wants us to see if it matches what the ICD recorded. So we’re still investigating. But at least I’m feeling like I’m not completely crazy! (though my cardiologist says she won’t sign off on anything stating my sanity. :p )
Off to play games with N and cuddle with a baby or two!
06.24.09
Baby update!
In all the madness involving the A/C I forgot to give a baby update. They had their 2 week checkup on Monday. Kyla is now 4 oz over her birth weight (6 lbs 6 oz) and Lucas is 1 oz over his (6 lbs 14 oz). The pediatrician says that weight is the best indicator of how they’re doing, so our babies are doing great!
Lucas’s arm is healing, but it still pains him if he’s not tightly swaddled. I don’t remember if I posted about his orthopedist appointment last Thursday or not (sorry if I didn’t). The orthopedist said he’s healing just as he should and then he took off the splint he’d had on since his birthday and put him in a makeshift sling. Only problem is, that sling does not stay put well and frequently ends up around Lucas’s neck. :/ So most of the time we leave it off and just wrap him like a burrito. I was worried about doing that last night in the heat, but he was screaming and screaming until I wrapped him up, then silence. It’s amazing what a good swaddle can do (worked on Kyla this morning too!).
Today is N’s first day back at work since the twins were born. I know he’s going to be checking in frequently throughout the day. Especially since last night and this morning they were both crying manically at the same time. I had hoped to let N sleep and not need to help so he might be a bit more rested for work. The babies had other plans. Sorry N! However, this morning I dealt with the dual crying like a champ. Got one changed and settled, then the other. Now they’re both sleeping beside me. I’m sure they’ll be waking soon to eat, but I already have their bottles ready, so it shouldn’t be too bad (knock on wood).
With the A/C out, I can’t stay here in the heat of the day, so I’m trying to figure out where I will go. I can’t decide if I want to go where I’ll have help, or go where I can be alone and get the hang of taking care of them by myself. I guess we’ll see how frazzled I get between now and when I leave!
02.09.09
Interesting Realizations
Okay, so I’ve figured out two things…
First involves the IUD I had put in one week ago. In the brochure it says that it works by preventing implantation, or something like that. But that’s a total lie. No, I believe the IUD works like this: It keeps you bleeding so long and so profusely you’ll never even THINK about having sex again… That’s how it’s 99.4% effective. 
The second is about the inducing lactation. I’ve realized that I will probably have to go back to waking up in the middle of the night to pump. This morning when I woke up my breasts were sore. Not unbearably painful, but uncomfortable for sure. I don’t think I was engorged or anything. I don’t make enough for that. But I’ve noticed that I get a little more sore the longer I go without pumping. I guess this is a good thing. Things continue to go well. Each day I seem to get a little bit more. I’m so excited that this is going so well. I just hope I’m not too exhausted by the time the babies arrive.
Oh, wait. I think I came up with one more thing I realized… Registering is hard. N and I went to Babies R Us today to try and get a start on our registry, and I think we put about 10 items on it. We couldn’t decide on anything. Well, we were okay on some of the small things. But when we start thinking about the big stuff, we just can’t seem to settle on anything. Not too surprising, considering the fact that it took us over a year and a half before we finally got the TV we’d been talking about getting… Blah.
Time to pump and head for bed.
12.06.08
Checking in…
It’s been almost a week since my last post, so I figured I ought to check in. Especially after all of the comments people made at work about me not posting over Thanksgiving!
This past week was Book Fair at school, so I’ve come home exhausted every day. Last night I started to fall asleep on the couch around 8 o’clock, so I went to bed at 8:30 (takes awhile to go through my night time ritual). I slept until 7:30! 
I got 11 hours of sleep!
Today is a busy day too. I’m meeting coworkers for our Pay It Forward plan (long story) at 10, then we are going to visit friends that we haven’t seen in 7 years at 5. At least tomorrow is pretty unplanned (though we are hoping to see my BIL play hockey tomorrow night).
Anyway, there’s not much new to report about the babies. LD took her last shot of PIO on Thursday, which made for a wonderful birthday present (her birthday was yesterday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LD!!!). We don’t have another appointment until 12/16. I know we’re all anxious to see the babies again.
My aide at school has apparently been telling everyone about the twins. I had a parent say something to me about the twins and I said “How did you find out about that?” She said “Your aide told me. She’s very excited.” Nervously I asked “You do know I’m not pregnant, right?” She did. Whew! I don’t know why, but I’m very nervous about parent reactions. I haven’t had any negative reactions from anyone I know so far, but I’m worried that once kids start finding out and talking about it at home there might be some negativity from people who just don’t understand. I’m probably overreacting, but what you say to students is not always what makes it home to parents, you know. Who knows what they’ll say! I’ve been avoiding talking about it with any students, but I’m sure I won’t be able to hide it from them for long!
As for my surgery, I still don’t know anything. I’m still waiting to hear when and where it will be. I thought that Monday would be my last day of IV antibiotics, but when I went to see the Dr. on Thursday and told him I’d be having another surgery before the end of the month he said he might keep me on them until after that just to reduce the risk of infection setting in again. While I’m happy to take the precaution, I’m really ready to take a shower without my arm wrapped in plastic! Of course, the other advantage to keeping the PICC line in would be that they wouldn’t have to poke me again at the hospital. They can use the PICC line for both IV and blood draws! I sure like that idea.
09.29.08
Back to the grindstone
I went back to work today and I just got home. I’m about to fall asleep as I type this, I’m so tired! But I’m doing much better than I was on Friday! It really wasn’t until I got home that I crashed. I did leave a little early, though. I have been WAY more sore today than I have been. I think it’s from being upright for more of the day. I’d been feeling pretty good over the weekend, but I spent most of that time laying on the couch reading. I think gravity has been my enemy today. Oh, well.
I’m sorry to say I still have no update on my ICD saga. I tried calling Dr. D’s office and I asked if there was any new information. All I got was a “No.” Not a “Let me see if I can find out something for you.” Not a “I’m sorry.” Just “No.” I was very put out and it took about all I had to not sit in my office and cry. Of course, it probably didn’t help that I’d also just had a horrible time with kindergarten and felt like my brain had forgotten how to teach or something. I’m SO hoping my brain decides to come with me to work tomorrow. I’ve got WAY more classes to deal with tomorrow and it would help if my brain attended.
WARNING: the following may be TMI!
Today marks the second day of stim meds. I’m assuming it’s related, but I got a little bit of brown spotting today, like at the end of AF. I’d thought AF was good and gone, but I guess there was just a little left or something. I’m not too worried, though. If it continues I’ll contact Ronda or I’ll mention it tomorrow when I go in for my blood work.
