Posts
Oh my, am I exhausted. I'm excited to be back in the real world, but wow - what a week! God must realize that I'm close to zombie status and has been helping keep the girls asleep. Last night and the night before, they both only woke up to eat once at night. I'm ever-so-thankful for that small miracle.
My clients are at the airport now, so I can take a deep breath and relax a little bit. And hopefully get some HR stuff taken care of. I still haven't filled out a W2 or health insurance information, or heck, even had my computer or e-mail set up yet. I'm so excited to be back at it!
Breanna and Lillian are doing great. Although, our poor daycare lady has had some hairy moments. One day she even cried when they both woke up hungry at the same time, three times in a row. Poor dear. Hopefully they'll lighten up a little bit with that.
I'm looking forward to the weekend so I can get a little caught up at home. There are piles of clean laundry all over my living room, mail up to the cupboard, and shoes haphasardly kicked off in random places - wherever my tired feet decided that enough was enough. Alas, the tradeoff is worth it. Those big gummy smiles from our babies are becoming more frequent - they just melt my heart.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
The Grind
Hi ho, hi ho. It's back to work I go. And go with a smile. I just returned from the first day of my new routine, and it feels pretty darned good. After a nice long weekend at my folks' house, I feel rejuvinated and ready for the real world again. My parents took baby duty during the nights so I could catch up on sleep, and oh the glory!
DW woke up early on Saturday morning, apparently appreciating the good sleep, and headed into town while the rest of us slept in. Well, most of us, but not my mom, bless her. Anyway, DW was going to look for some new sandals and to check out a specialty wood store he'd recently heard about. At about 11, he called and told me he was on his way to pick me up to test drive a car. I asked what it was and he said a 2007 Camry. My heart leapt! For real? The dealership was willing to give us what we paid for our crappy Chevy, so why not, right? I had to tease DW that he went shopping for sandals and wound up with a new car - certainly not how we'd expected to spend our Saturday. But how exciting!
When we returned home, my dad, sister and brother-in-law picked us up at our dock and we set sail for a couple hours. Talk about relaxation. We stopped at the sandbar and DW made his own little island and even wrote his name on it - then invited us to come visit. It was great to lighten up and get silly again. Family came over in the evening and we had a fun visit. My mom got a real taste of what it's like to care for two infants at once and her eyes were certainly opened. Poor dear. But she did enjoy spending the time with her grandbabies who didn't sleep at all - all day long.
Breanna shocked us all and slept 8 1/2 hours that night, though. We credited it to the "magic sleeping hat" that she wore to bed. On Sunday, my pen pal stopped in and met the girls and we had a really pleasant visit. Then off to my dad's folks' house for introductions. While we were there, about a bajillion of my dad's sisters and their kids and friends and grandkids, etc. stopped in. Talk about chaos - so we got the heck out of there right away. We're still on germ restrictions with the girls and that was just too many people at once.
Once we got home last night, we tried the magic sleeping hat again, but darn, no luck. Back to the usual up every 3-4 hours. At least with me going back to work, DW gets up to help, so it doesn't take so long to tend to everyone and then get back to sleep.
We prepped as much as we could last night for our big day today and it seemed to help. DW came into the bathroom to say goodbye and shoo me out at 7:10, and told me that he had the girls all ready to go, buckled into the car. I appreciated it, but reminded him that the earliest they can be at daycare is 7:30, so we'd have to wait a little bit. I took my makeup bag out to the car and applied it in the driveway in the meantime. Whatever works, right?
Anyway, the day went great for all of us. Our daycare mom said it got hairy a couple times, but it was manageable. I guess her 7-year-old son has a magic touch with Lillian. They put her in the infant seat and he jiggles it just so and she calms right down. And the daycare's helper has a way with Breanna that soothes her, so that's good too.
I really enjoyed being at my new job. The people are so genuinely nice and I think I'm going to like getting back into real client work again. I'll be in an account executive role, so less writing time and more strategy time. It feels like a nice shift back. The agency's biggest client is in town this week for 2007 planning, so it was great to be "on stage" right from the bat. The client guys seem pretty decent, too. Yay! I've officially hit the ground running.
Things really are going great all the way around. Our girls are growing and getting cuter each day (Breanna - 10 lbs., Lillian - 7.5 lbs.). And I have hope that someday we'll get more sleep. Who could ask for more?
DW woke up early on Saturday morning, apparently appreciating the good sleep, and headed into town while the rest of us slept in. Well, most of us, but not my mom, bless her. Anyway, DW was going to look for some new sandals and to check out a specialty wood store he'd recently heard about. At about 11, he called and told me he was on his way to pick me up to test drive a car. I asked what it was and he said a 2007 Camry. My heart leapt! For real? The dealership was willing to give us what we paid for our crappy Chevy, so why not, right? I had to tease DW that he went shopping for sandals and wound up with a new car - certainly not how we'd expected to spend our Saturday. But how exciting!
When we returned home, my dad, sister and brother-in-law picked us up at our dock and we set sail for a couple hours. Talk about relaxation. We stopped at the sandbar and DW made his own little island and even wrote his name on it - then invited us to come visit. It was great to lighten up and get silly again. Family came over in the evening and we had a fun visit. My mom got a real taste of what it's like to care for two infants at once and her eyes were certainly opened. Poor dear. But she did enjoy spending the time with her grandbabies who didn't sleep at all - all day long.
Breanna shocked us all and slept 8 1/2 hours that night, though. We credited it to the "magic sleeping hat" that she wore to bed. On Sunday, my pen pal stopped in and met the girls and we had a really pleasant visit. Then off to my dad's folks' house for introductions. While we were there, about a bajillion of my dad's sisters and their kids and friends and grandkids, etc. stopped in. Talk about chaos - so we got the heck out of there right away. We're still on germ restrictions with the girls and that was just too many people at once.
Once we got home last night, we tried the magic sleeping hat again, but darn, no luck. Back to the usual up every 3-4 hours. At least with me going back to work, DW gets up to help, so it doesn't take so long to tend to everyone and then get back to sleep.
We prepped as much as we could last night for our big day today and it seemed to help. DW came into the bathroom to say goodbye and shoo me out at 7:10, and told me that he had the girls all ready to go, buckled into the car. I appreciated it, but reminded him that the earliest they can be at daycare is 7:30, so we'd have to wait a little bit. I took my makeup bag out to the car and applied it in the driveway in the meantime. Whatever works, right?
Anyway, the day went great for all of us. Our daycare mom said it got hairy a couple times, but it was manageable. I guess her 7-year-old son has a magic touch with Lillian. They put her in the infant seat and he jiggles it just so and she calms right down. And the daycare's helper has a way with Breanna that soothes her, so that's good too.
I really enjoyed being at my new job. The people are so genuinely nice and I think I'm going to like getting back into real client work again. I'll be in an account executive role, so less writing time and more strategy time. It feels like a nice shift back. The agency's biggest client is in town this week for 2007 planning, so it was great to be "on stage" right from the bat. The client guys seem pretty decent, too. Yay! I've officially hit the ground running.
Things really are going great all the way around. Our girls are growing and getting cuter each day (Breanna - 10 lbs., Lillian - 7.5 lbs.). And I have hope that someday we'll get more sleep. Who could ask for more?
Thursday, July 20, 2006
How do you spell relief?
D-A-Y-C-A-R-E!
DW and I have been going back and forth on when to start our trial run with daycare. I'd planned for today and tomorrow mornings - just to see how long it would take to get out the door and drop off the girls and head to work. DW thought we needed this whole week.
He spent most of Saturday and all of Sunday at home with us, and got his first real taste of how crazy it really can be. It seems like the girls are getting more and more in sync with each other, which means they often wake up at the exact same moment - starving. Because they're still so little, they need to be held in one arm and fed with the other. DW asked how one handles two at once? "Creatively. And patiently," I explained.
Sometimes I put them both in carseats on the kitchen island and hold a bottle for each of them. Other times, I prop them in the corners of our big recliner. Other times, I give one a binkie and feed the other (this option rarely works, though).
Anyway, once he got a good taste of parenting twins this weekend, he insisted that we do daycare Tues. - Fri. this week - so that I can get a little break before I go back to work. He wanted me to take care of the important stuff, like getting a haircut, canceling one of our phone lines, catching up on some sleep, digging out those boxes of skinny clothes that are in our storage closet - way in the back, and the list goes on. So, it's a been a glorious, although too fast, week.
Off I go now to the Hyundai dealership. I'm going to cross my fingers and hope that they have something I want so I can get rid of this lemon that I bought this spring. Although it's a 2005 and still under a bumper-to-bumper warranty, I've had it in 4 times for major stuff and 2 times for less major stuff. And now I can hear that the wheel bearing hub is bad. Unfortunately, that's a noise that I can now pick out after it happened with my last car. Augh. Cars. Oh well. In this climate, a motorbike just isn't that practical. I'm going back to my little foreign friends and giving up on domestic. Maybe I'll have better luck with my next purchase.
DW and I have been going back and forth on when to start our trial run with daycare. I'd planned for today and tomorrow mornings - just to see how long it would take to get out the door and drop off the girls and head to work. DW thought we needed this whole week.
He spent most of Saturday and all of Sunday at home with us, and got his first real taste of how crazy it really can be. It seems like the girls are getting more and more in sync with each other, which means they often wake up at the exact same moment - starving. Because they're still so little, they need to be held in one arm and fed with the other. DW asked how one handles two at once? "Creatively. And patiently," I explained.
Sometimes I put them both in carseats on the kitchen island and hold a bottle for each of them. Other times, I prop them in the corners of our big recliner. Other times, I give one a binkie and feed the other (this option rarely works, though).
Anyway, once he got a good taste of parenting twins this weekend, he insisted that we do daycare Tues. - Fri. this week - so that I can get a little break before I go back to work. He wanted me to take care of the important stuff, like getting a haircut, canceling one of our phone lines, catching up on some sleep, digging out those boxes of skinny clothes that are in our storage closet - way in the back, and the list goes on. So, it's a been a glorious, although too fast, week.
Off I go now to the Hyundai dealership. I'm going to cross my fingers and hope that they have something I want so I can get rid of this lemon that I bought this spring. Although it's a 2005 and still under a bumper-to-bumper warranty, I've had it in 4 times for major stuff and 2 times for less major stuff. And now I can hear that the wheel bearing hub is bad. Unfortunately, that's a noise that I can now pick out after it happened with my last car. Augh. Cars. Oh well. In this climate, a motorbike just isn't that practical. I'm going back to my little foreign friends and giving up on domestic. Maybe I'll have better luck with my next purchase.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Last full week
As I'm winding down the week, I can't believe that this is my last full one being at home with the girls. Talk about mixed feelings! I've loved this time with them, all the snuggling and seeing their changes. On the other hand, I've started to get a little stir crazy. As DW has been working more and more into the evenings, I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed. Thank goodness for my wonderful sister, who has come to relieve me for a couple hours here and there so I can get out of the house without hauling two babies in a stroller, hoping no one wakes up.
Next Thursday and Friday, we're going to do a test run for mornings with our daycare. I'm planning to drop the girls off at 7:45 or so and leave them for a couple hours. Since mornings are by far my toughest time of day, I figure a couple of trials will be good so I can see just how early I have to get up in order to get to work on time. Plus, then our daycare lady can get a taste of how things go and be able to call me with questions.
Starting the week of the 24th, I start my new job and will be co-hosting my biggest client Monday through Thursday. Holy moly! I don't think it would be too good to have the phone ringing with baby questions. We're starting their planning for the upcoming year, so it should be interesting. What a great way to get to know what's going on right from the start. So, not only do I get to start at what seems to be a pretty nice little company, but also jump in right away. I'm excited! However, this is the first time I've had to be out of the house before 9 a.m. in years, and that alone (not to mention adding babies into the mix) is enough to scare the bejeebers out of me. Deep breaths. More deep breaths.
I'm also excited to get back to work and start earning money again. Since the bell's palsy came on, I haven't worked at all, thus no paychecks. I've been living off of what's in my checking account and been able to do just fine, but as we're getting further into summer, my balance is getting lower and lower and I really don't want to ask for money from DW or dip into my savings account. I haven't had to ask him for any money, and for some reason, I take great pride in that. Maybe because I know that it takes a lot of pressure off of him - not forcing him to support three more people than normal. So far, I've had him pick up one pack of diapers and two grocery trips, so it hasn't been anything much for changes for him. I know he's been trying to save up a bunch of money for some other exciting things, and it's been good so far.
So, here we are. My last week of staying home. As I write through my thoughts on this, my feelings are still mixed. Speaking of, I miss my girls. I'm going to go pick them up and cuddle.
Next Thursday and Friday, we're going to do a test run for mornings with our daycare. I'm planning to drop the girls off at 7:45 or so and leave them for a couple hours. Since mornings are by far my toughest time of day, I figure a couple of trials will be good so I can see just how early I have to get up in order to get to work on time. Plus, then our daycare lady can get a taste of how things go and be able to call me with questions.
Starting the week of the 24th, I start my new job and will be co-hosting my biggest client Monday through Thursday. Holy moly! I don't think it would be too good to have the phone ringing with baby questions. We're starting their planning for the upcoming year, so it should be interesting. What a great way to get to know what's going on right from the start. So, not only do I get to start at what seems to be a pretty nice little company, but also jump in right away. I'm excited! However, this is the first time I've had to be out of the house before 9 a.m. in years, and that alone (not to mention adding babies into the mix) is enough to scare the bejeebers out of me. Deep breaths. More deep breaths.
I'm also excited to get back to work and start earning money again. Since the bell's palsy came on, I haven't worked at all, thus no paychecks. I've been living off of what's in my checking account and been able to do just fine, but as we're getting further into summer, my balance is getting lower and lower and I really don't want to ask for money from DW or dip into my savings account. I haven't had to ask him for any money, and for some reason, I take great pride in that. Maybe because I know that it takes a lot of pressure off of him - not forcing him to support three more people than normal. So far, I've had him pick up one pack of diapers and two grocery trips, so it hasn't been anything much for changes for him. I know he's been trying to save up a bunch of money for some other exciting things, and it's been good so far.
So, here we are. My last week of staying home. As I write through my thoughts on this, my feelings are still mixed. Speaking of, I miss my girls. I'm going to go pick them up and cuddle.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Kissy Lips
Since they were just born, both Breanna and Lillian make kissy lips when they're getting hungry. They purse up their lips and form the perfect little "o". I've been trying like crazy to capture their kissy lips with a camera before they grow up and stop making such sweet faces. I finally got them on film a couple nights ago - probably around 4 a.m. Lillian is in the pink outfit and Breanna is in the blue.
Our middle of the night visits, while exhausting, have also been some of the sweetest moments. I've been making faces at the girls, trying to get them to mimic me. They've been sticking their tongues out back at me, and now they're starting to smile at me. And not just a cute little gassy smile. Full gums smile wide as can be -crinkled eyes and all. It's worth every second of this exhaustion.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Hope
I just returned from a very promising trip to a chiropractor/acupuncturist. We did a very thorough exam yesterday and started treatments for Bell's Palsy today, and lo and behold - my eye started watering right away! Whatever he adjusted to take the pressure off my facial nerve freed up my tears for a little while! I still definitely have symptoms, but that 1/2 hour of tears has given me hope. Who'd have thought that a person would miss crying?
It looks like it will be a pretty low-key weekend ahead. DW is going to work straight through, so it will be just like any other day of me taking care of the girls full time. To my friends who work during the week (pretty much all of you), if anyone is in town this weekend and wants to visit, please look me up. I have nothing planned whatsoever.
Not much else is happening on this front. I'm sleepy and am going to lay down for a little nap. Second time since having both girls home, and long overdue.
It looks like it will be a pretty low-key weekend ahead. DW is going to work straight through, so it will be just like any other day of me taking care of the girls full time. To my friends who work during the week (pretty much all of you), if anyone is in town this weekend and wants to visit, please look me up. I have nothing planned whatsoever.
Not much else is happening on this front. I'm sleepy and am going to lay down for a little nap. Second time since having both girls home, and long overdue.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Two months already?
Our daughters are two months old and I can hardly believe it. In some ways, it's been such a long road that it feels like many many months. In other ways, it seems like they're still newborns. Wow - I've been a mom for two whole months - how lucky am I! They're over 6# and 8# now.
The girls and I have been enjoying our time at home together. We go for walks outside in the double stroller almost every day. The weather has been quite cooperative, so it's been a treat for all of us. Sometimes we wait until DW gets home from work and let him come with us. When he comes with, the dogs get to come, too.
We're not quite sleeping through the night yet, and some nights, not getting much sleep at all. But really, who can complain when the girls are so darn cute? Once Lillian is off the extra calories, she'll hopefully have a little less gas pain, and that will be a treat for all of us.
This past Saturday, we took a field trip to my family's cabin near Detroit Lakes. My Auntie Jeanne and her family were there along with my folks and my sister and brother-in-law. I had been really lonesome for some family time, and it was really a wonderful visit. I think we all had a nice time. The relatives got some baby time, the babies got cuddle time, and I got free time. My dad took DW, my Uncle Beaner and me out for a boat cruise around the lake and let me tell you, it was glorious! I came back refreshed and relaxed like nothing else.
Tonight, we spent our July 4th like townies. We bundled up the girls and walked across the cul-de-sac to watch the local fireworks display from our neighbors' deck. It was really weird not to watch the show reflecting on the lake, but I can't complain. Our neighbors have a 5-month-old daughter, so they're adjusting to their new family status, as well. It was a fun and quick little visit.
In the week ahead, we have doctor appointments. The girls get their first set of immunization shots, poor things, tomorrow afternoon. Then on Thursday, I'm seeing an accupuncturist to see if he can clear up this Bell's Palsy business. I have a feeling I might get a few hours out tomorrow night. My dear friend, Tina, has asked for a revisit to the Cork and Cleaver for a chat over Wednesday night teas. What a lovely idea. With this nice weather, we'll probably be able to enjoy ourselves on the patio. Something quite nice to look forward to.
Friday, June 30, 2006
No Guilt Allowed
It was a good day for me today, much better than the previous two. I knew it would be hard to have two babies at home at once, but I never imagined I'd be one of those moms who wouldn't get in a shower or a meal because she was so overwhelmed. Everything had been going really smoothly until just this week, when breastfeeding has taken over my life. Since getting both girls at home, I've been struggling a bit with breastfeeding. I wanted more than anything to have two breastfed babies, but I finally threw in the towel last night.
I'm convinced that if it was just one baby who hadn't been taught to bottle feed in the NICU for the first month of her life, I could most certainly make it work. However, we're still supplementing the girls with extra calories, thus having to give her a bottle of supplemented breastmilk several times a day. The more they use the bottle, the worse they are at getting their milk fresh from the source. It's a lot more work to breastfeed, so they get lazy and sleepy and don't eat much. Then half an hour later, they're hungry. All week, it's pretty much been the cycle of feed a baby, burp her, put her to sleep. Then repeat those steps with the second baby. As the second baby is finishing up, calm her sister, who has just woken up hungry again. And on and on and on. Meanwhile, I've been famished and frustrated beyond belief - not wanting to cave in and give them formula.
So today, I decided to simply pump the milk and feed them from the bottle exclusively. That way I could see just how much milk was coming out. Sure enough, there's been just enough to keep up, and with each pumping, I got ahead just a little bit. By the time DW got home from work, I had an extra 3 oz. in the fridge. What a much better day for all of us!
I really struggled with this decision, but I'm not sure why. For some reason, there's a lot of guilt here. I talked it over with my ever-supportive DW, and he backs my decision 1oo percent. He pointed out that I need to give myself a break - and take the time to sleep - and not try to get ahead of two babies at once. He reminded me that this way, we'll know the babies are getting enough food, they'll be more content, and I'll have some much-needed freedom (i.e. time to eat lunch, shower, etc.). What a relief that he's ok with this. And when I start feeling guilty, I just remind myself that the girls are still getting that good breastmilk, and that there's really nothing wrong with bottles. After all, I'll be pumping and giving them bottles once I go back to work anyway.
Whew! I must say, making the official decision has done a world of good for my mental health. Our nurse came out to the house to weigh and measure the girls again today, and she and I talked about feeding quite a bit. She also has twins - 9-year-old boys. And she helped me keep this all into perspective. I know that I'm doing the right thing for both the girls and for me.
Breanna and Lillian are growing wonderfully still. Breanna's a whopping 8 lbs., 2 oz. and 20 inches long! Lillian is exactly two pounds lighter and is 18 1/2 inches long. Yay for both of them! They're both sleeping soundly in their crib right now, and DW is in the bed next to them. All three are breathing softly in unison. What a peaceful feeling. On that note, I'm going to join them. Sweet dreams, friends.
I'm convinced that if it was just one baby who hadn't been taught to bottle feed in the NICU for the first month of her life, I could most certainly make it work. However, we're still supplementing the girls with extra calories, thus having to give her a bottle of supplemented breastmilk several times a day. The more they use the bottle, the worse they are at getting their milk fresh from the source. It's a lot more work to breastfeed, so they get lazy and sleepy and don't eat much. Then half an hour later, they're hungry. All week, it's pretty much been the cycle of feed a baby, burp her, put her to sleep. Then repeat those steps with the second baby. As the second baby is finishing up, calm her sister, who has just woken up hungry again. And on and on and on. Meanwhile, I've been famished and frustrated beyond belief - not wanting to cave in and give them formula.
So today, I decided to simply pump the milk and feed them from the bottle exclusively. That way I could see just how much milk was coming out. Sure enough, there's been just enough to keep up, and with each pumping, I got ahead just a little bit. By the time DW got home from work, I had an extra 3 oz. in the fridge. What a much better day for all of us!
I really struggled with this decision, but I'm not sure why. For some reason, there's a lot of guilt here. I talked it over with my ever-supportive DW, and he backs my decision 1oo percent. He pointed out that I need to give myself a break - and take the time to sleep - and not try to get ahead of two babies at once. He reminded me that this way, we'll know the babies are getting enough food, they'll be more content, and I'll have some much-needed freedom (i.e. time to eat lunch, shower, etc.). What a relief that he's ok with this. And when I start feeling guilty, I just remind myself that the girls are still getting that good breastmilk, and that there's really nothing wrong with bottles. After all, I'll be pumping and giving them bottles once I go back to work anyway.
Whew! I must say, making the official decision has done a world of good for my mental health. Our nurse came out to the house to weigh and measure the girls again today, and she and I talked about feeding quite a bit. She also has twins - 9-year-old boys. And she helped me keep this all into perspective. I know that I'm doing the right thing for both the girls and for me.
Breanna and Lillian are growing wonderfully still. Breanna's a whopping 8 lbs., 2 oz. and 20 inches long! Lillian is exactly two pounds lighter and is 18 1/2 inches long. Yay for both of them! They're both sleeping soundly in their crib right now, and DW is in the bed next to them. All three are breathing softly in unison. What a peaceful feeling. On that note, I'm going to join them. Sweet dreams, friends.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Cute Babies
Here's a quick photo. I hate to be a show off, but I can't help it. They are just so darned funny! They make at least 10 million different faces a day.
Modern Living
What would we do without a refrigerator? How did folks in the olden days survive? Unluckily for us, DW and I found out firsthand. On Friday evening, DW poured me a glass of milk and brought it to me while I was feeding one of the girls. It didn't seem as cold as it should have been and so I mentioned it. DW had just opened a can and thought the same thing.
We realized that our refrigerator's lights were on, but nobody was home. Being the handy sort of fellow that he is, DW got out some tools and started investigating. With no luck. He figured it was a bad compressor or else something major. We quickly got out the phone book and started combing the yellow pages. Can you believe that in a community of more than 150,000 people, not a single appliance repair person works weekends? Of course, we're only talking about those who advertise in the phone book, but still.
So, we checked the temp of the refrigerator to see if any of the food would still be ok, but darn it, the temp was 61 degrees. Not being one to chance anything (heck, I throw out salad dressings if the expiration date is in the following month), we pitched almost everything. Some of the freezer items that were in the middle were salvageable, so we were able to transfer them to our deep freeze. Of course, I'd recently been grocery shopping, so there was a lot of waste. Including breast milk (aka liquid gold). How very frustrating. So much for trying to get a little ahead (or even keep up) with the girls' food supply. Thank goodness for coolers for the rest of the weekend.
Maybe it was God's way of telling me that the fridge needed cleaning - what a way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Oh well, at least the refrigerator sparkles now.
This morning, we finally had a repairman out to our house, and thankfully, he was able to fix the bad part quickly and relatively inexpensively. After what I paid for my favorite appliance of all time just three years ago, it had better last longer than just this. Once the repairman left, I hit the grocery store. And it felt great! I wonder how many months it will take me to accumulate all my condiments again. I didn't earn the nickname "Condiments Queen" for nothing, you know.
We realized that our refrigerator's lights were on, but nobody was home. Being the handy sort of fellow that he is, DW got out some tools and started investigating. With no luck. He figured it was a bad compressor or else something major. We quickly got out the phone book and started combing the yellow pages. Can you believe that in a community of more than 150,000 people, not a single appliance repair person works weekends? Of course, we're only talking about those who advertise in the phone book, but still.
So, we checked the temp of the refrigerator to see if any of the food would still be ok, but darn it, the temp was 61 degrees. Not being one to chance anything (heck, I throw out salad dressings if the expiration date is in the following month), we pitched almost everything. Some of the freezer items that were in the middle were salvageable, so we were able to transfer them to our deep freeze. Of course, I'd recently been grocery shopping, so there was a lot of waste. Including breast milk (aka liquid gold). How very frustrating. So much for trying to get a little ahead (or even keep up) with the girls' food supply. Thank goodness for coolers for the rest of the weekend.
Maybe it was God's way of telling me that the fridge needed cleaning - what a way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Oh well, at least the refrigerator sparkles now.
This morning, we finally had a repairman out to our house, and thankfully, he was able to fix the bad part quickly and relatively inexpensively. After what I paid for my favorite appliance of all time just three years ago, it had better last longer than just this. Once the repairman left, I hit the grocery store. And it felt great! I wonder how many months it will take me to accumulate all my condiments again. I didn't earn the nickname "Condiments Queen" for nothing, you know.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Morning Breath and All
This morning, DW went to visit the daycare lady that I found and liked. As he left her house, he called me to let me know that his aunt and uncle from Wisconsin would be stopping by. I asked if they were coming for dinner or just an evening visit, and he explained that they'd be here in about a half hour. !!!! What?
DW said he's coming straight home. I'd just gotten out of bed after diapering and feeding the girls - with my teeth unbrushed and still in jammies. Half hour!?! Apparently it's a family trait that goes further than just his parents. At that point, Lillian had just had a really gross diaper and actually needed a bath - wipes would not be enough. I can only imagine them coming to see our darlings and leaving while muttering about the stench of those stinky kids.
In a flurry, I tidied up the house, put on a pot of coffee, searched for baked goods I could offer (came up empty handed), dressed myself, tried to soothe a crying Breanna who still needed more burping, let the dogs out, changed more diapers, found clean clothes for the girls, started a bath for them, and threw on some lipstick. The doorbell rang as I was just finishing dressing Breanna. Lillian had just been bathed and placed back in the bassinet.
On came my sleepy hostess face. Once everyone was settled in and babies were being admired, I got a glance at my hair in the mirror. Yikes! What a way to start the day. Even though I hate having pop in company, especially now with the girls, we did have a nice visit. DW made it home in time to help dress the girls and play host to his relatives. Whew! Once company left, he had to head back to work. He gave me a nice, long kiss and said that he loves me more than ever, morning breath and all. Thank goodness he realizes what a pain in the butt he and his entertaining can be for me.
Now both girls are napping and I can finally grab some breakfast (it's 2:00!). Thanks to the great little front pack my mom brought for me, Breanna is hanging out with me while I type. Lillian is still too little, but, she'll be big enough soon. What a wonderful tool for bonding!
Have a wonderful weekend, all, and please feel free to call and visit any time!
DW said he's coming straight home. I'd just gotten out of bed after diapering and feeding the girls - with my teeth unbrushed and still in jammies. Half hour!?! Apparently it's a family trait that goes further than just his parents. At that point, Lillian had just had a really gross diaper and actually needed a bath - wipes would not be enough. I can only imagine them coming to see our darlings and leaving while muttering about the stench of those stinky kids.
In a flurry, I tidied up the house, put on a pot of coffee, searched for baked goods I could offer (came up empty handed), dressed myself, tried to soothe a crying Breanna who still needed more burping, let the dogs out, changed more diapers, found clean clothes for the girls, started a bath for them, and threw on some lipstick. The doorbell rang as I was just finishing dressing Breanna. Lillian had just been bathed and placed back in the bassinet.
On came my sleepy hostess face. Once everyone was settled in and babies were being admired, I got a glance at my hair in the mirror. Yikes! What a way to start the day. Even though I hate having pop in company, especially now with the girls, we did have a nice visit. DW made it home in time to help dress the girls and play host to his relatives. Whew! Once company left, he had to head back to work. He gave me a nice, long kiss and said that he loves me more than ever, morning breath and all. Thank goodness he realizes what a pain in the butt he and his entertaining can be for me.
Now both girls are napping and I can finally grab some breakfast (it's 2:00!). Thanks to the great little front pack my mom brought for me, Breanna is hanging out with me while I type. Lillian is still too little, but, she'll be big enough soon. What a wonderful tool for bonding!
Have a wonderful weekend, all, and please feel free to call and visit any time!
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Mom's Night Out
Last night, I finally felt like a real person again. The company that I'm going to work for starting the end of July had a get together at a downtown restaurant. They've had some recent successes worth celebrating, so all the employees and their spouses were invited for a dinner on the town. Even though I had nothing to do with the successes, DW and I were invited to join in the party. I was touched to be included already - it really is a nice group.
On top of being appreciative of the invitation, I'm so glad I had a night out to socialize. My darling sister came to the house to watch Breanna and Lillian for the evening, and DW and I had our "date." For a brief while, I forgot about my Bell's Palsy and forgot about feeding schedules and diapers. It was terrific to just get out and visit about regular stuff for a little while. Of course, it was nice to come home and cuddle our girls, too. It's amazing that I already had started to miss them in just a few short hours.
I'm looking at these short outings as breaking in for daycare. What an adventure it's been to find the right provider! I've been calling all over the place, and weeding out a bunch of people just over the phone. Many providers don't have openings for two infants, but of those who do, the pickings are slim. I'm not looking for a daycare mom with a doctorate, but one who can at least speak decently on the phone. I realize that I sound like a total grammar snob, but come on. I wouldn't want my kids to learn to talk so stupidly.
As of right now, there's really only one that I'm considering. The girls and I went to visit her at her home on Tuesday and had a really good vibe. The one we saw today was not good. The provider seemed nice enough on the phone and even is a former nurse. But, oh my! The house reeked of cat urine. Gross!!
Both girls were weighed today and Lillian has gained an ounce a day for the past week. She's now up to 5 lb., 8 oz. Breanna has gained what seems like a ton - she's now 7lb., 7 oz. No wonder it feels like her car seat is getting heavier! They're doing what they're supposed to and I'm so glad.
On top of being appreciative of the invitation, I'm so glad I had a night out to socialize. My darling sister came to the house to watch Breanna and Lillian for the evening, and DW and I had our "date." For a brief while, I forgot about my Bell's Palsy and forgot about feeding schedules and diapers. It was terrific to just get out and visit about regular stuff for a little while. Of course, it was nice to come home and cuddle our girls, too. It's amazing that I already had started to miss them in just a few short hours.
I'm looking at these short outings as breaking in for daycare. What an adventure it's been to find the right provider! I've been calling all over the place, and weeding out a bunch of people just over the phone. Many providers don't have openings for two infants, but of those who do, the pickings are slim. I'm not looking for a daycare mom with a doctorate, but one who can at least speak decently on the phone. I realize that I sound like a total grammar snob, but come on. I wouldn't want my kids to learn to talk so stupidly.
As of right now, there's really only one that I'm considering. The girls and I went to visit her at her home on Tuesday and had a really good vibe. The one we saw today was not good. The provider seemed nice enough on the phone and even is a former nurse. But, oh my! The house reeked of cat urine. Gross!!
Both girls were weighed today and Lillian has gained an ounce a day for the past week. She's now up to 5 lb., 8 oz. Breanna has gained what seems like a ton - she's now 7lb., 7 oz. No wonder it feels like her car seat is getting heavier! They're doing what they're supposed to and I'm so glad.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Photo Functions
Yay - the photo function on this blog site is back up and running. No time to write now, as babies are both ready to eat again. So, enjoy the snapshot. Lillian is on the left and Breanna on the right, both snuggled into the bassinet.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Handful of Toots
When I woke up this morning and walked into my kitchen, I noticed a note I'd written at 4:00 this morning. In very messy script, it simply said "handful of toots." I chuckled out loud.
Lillian was rather fussy after her 4 a.m. feeding, so after many burping attempts, I held her to my chest and half-danced around the living room. After only a couple of minutes, she passed gas - right in my hand. Without thinking about it, I responded with, "Good girl. Good job, Lillian. Keep tooting."
That was the crucial moment when I realized that I really have become a mom. Cheering someone to fart in your hand. This must be what everyone was talking about when they learned I was expecting twins. They kept saying, "You'll have your hands full." I didn't realize that they meant full of gas. This oh-so-profound thought (at least it seemed so at 4 a.m.) was so important that I wanted to be sure to remember it in the morning.
Anyway, on to less flatulent topics. The public health nurse came over yesterday to weigh and measure the girls, and holy moly! They are getting so big! Lillian has hit that crucial 5-lb. mark. She's 5 lbs., 1 oz. and able to go sight seeing in the car now. Yay! And we haven't nicknamed Big Breanna for nothing - she's a whopping 6 lb., 13 oz. Seeing how heavy she is, I'm absolutely amazed that people squeeze such gigantic beings out of their bodies. No wonder you hear so much about the pain associated with labor.
To celebrate their growing, I think DW and I are going to my family's cabin in DL on Saturday for our first official family outing. From what I hear, it should be a relatively quiet weekend there with just my folks, so that should be perfect.
As much as I'd like to show the girls off to our entire clan, I also am remembering what our doctors said as we were preparing to take Lillian home from the NICU. They warned us to keep their exposure to lots of people at an absolute minimum for a while. Specifically, they said don't take them to the mall, to church, to parties, or anyplace where more than a couple people will be touching, holding, or breathing on them. Until their lungs get a little bigger and stronger, they warned us to be extremely cautious. Simply asking friends to wash hands before holding the girls is not enough.
I have a great photo to post, but darn it, Blogger is still not working well for picture posting. I guess others are having the same problem. Yet another instance of you get what you pay for (Blogger.com is free).
Have a great weekend, all! And don't forget your sunscreen!
Lillian was rather fussy after her 4 a.m. feeding, so after many burping attempts, I held her to my chest and half-danced around the living room. After only a couple of minutes, she passed gas - right in my hand. Without thinking about it, I responded with, "Good girl. Good job, Lillian. Keep tooting."
That was the crucial moment when I realized that I really have become a mom. Cheering someone to fart in your hand. This must be what everyone was talking about when they learned I was expecting twins. They kept saying, "You'll have your hands full." I didn't realize that they meant full of gas. This oh-so-profound thought (at least it seemed so at 4 a.m.) was so important that I wanted to be sure to remember it in the morning.
Anyway, on to less flatulent topics. The public health nurse came over yesterday to weigh and measure the girls, and holy moly! They are getting so big! Lillian has hit that crucial 5-lb. mark. She's 5 lbs., 1 oz. and able to go sight seeing in the car now. Yay! And we haven't nicknamed Big Breanna for nothing - she's a whopping 6 lb., 13 oz. Seeing how heavy she is, I'm absolutely amazed that people squeeze such gigantic beings out of their bodies. No wonder you hear so much about the pain associated with labor.
To celebrate their growing, I think DW and I are going to my family's cabin in DL on Saturday for our first official family outing. From what I hear, it should be a relatively quiet weekend there with just my folks, so that should be perfect.
As much as I'd like to show the girls off to our entire clan, I also am remembering what our doctors said as we were preparing to take Lillian home from the NICU. They warned us to keep their exposure to lots of people at an absolute minimum for a while. Specifically, they said don't take them to the mall, to church, to parties, or anyplace where more than a couple people will be touching, holding, or breathing on them. Until their lungs get a little bigger and stronger, they warned us to be extremely cautious. Simply asking friends to wash hands before holding the girls is not enough.
I have a great photo to post, but darn it, Blogger is still not working well for picture posting. I guess others are having the same problem. Yet another instance of you get what you pay for (Blogger.com is free).
Have a great weekend, all! And don't forget your sunscreen!
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
The Actual Due Date
Well, yesterday was June 12, the day my daughters were technically due. I stumble as I say their "due date" when I look at their sweet faces that I've fallen so in love with for in these last six weeks. What an absolute honor and thrill to be a mom! I'd love to include photos, but the last few days, I haven't been able to post photos and am waiting for the Blogger Help staff to respond to my request for service. Please be patient with me.
After a wonderfully social weekend, we're settling into another busy week. Yesterday I took Breanna and Lillian on a field trip to my OB clinic. I showed them the place where we had so many visits in the past year - this time they got to experience the place outside of the womb. I was a little apprehensive to take them all by myself. What if I couldn't find a decent parking space? What if my arms aren't strong enough to haul both girls in carseats across a huge parking lot? What if the handicap door thing is up too high for me to use my hip to bump it? What if one starts screaming and sets off her sister? What if a toothless stranger gets to close and tries to touch them? It all went off without a hitch and I realized that my arms are strong, but need to get stronger as the girls continue to grow. Everyone we encountered had teeth and no one had any physical contact with them.
My appointment went well and my blood pressure is in a normal place again - yay! I'm one pound less than my pre-pregnancy weight (woo hoo!). Yet, my body is totally not in the same proportions as before. I received the ok to work out, but I'm supposed to ease into things before hitting my ab wheel. So, I've already started salsaing around the house as a way to start working my midsection, and will try situps as soon as I post this entry this afternoon. We'll see how it goes...
Today DW took both girls with him for the first time on his own. Lillian had her 1-week post-NICU checkup. I later asked if DW was a little aprehensive, but he said it was no big deal. Hmpf. Anyway, the appointment went well. Lillian weighed in at 5 lbs., 10 oz.! The nurse noticed a smell and then changed her very messy diaper. Lillian was reweighed and is actually 5 lbs., 1.5 oz. I got a chuckle out of that. Everything looks good according to the doc, so she'll go back in a week for one more checkup and then we'll know we're on the up and up.
While DW and the girls were at the doctor, I was in seeing my eye doctor. He gave me some different drops to try for my eye that's dried out from Bell's Palsy. He also said that I have some muscle damage to that eye, but that once the BP goes away, so should the muscle damage. I'll keep my fingers crossed. I ordered up some clip-on shades so I can be outside more comfortably (that eye doesn't squint, either, dang it). I never thought I'd be "one of those people" who wears clip-ons, but I guess maybe I'm supposed to be humbled some more here. Can you ever be too humbled? I'm starting to wonder.
After a wonderfully social weekend, we're settling into another busy week. Yesterday I took Breanna and Lillian on a field trip to my OB clinic. I showed them the place where we had so many visits in the past year - this time they got to experience the place outside of the womb. I was a little apprehensive to take them all by myself. What if I couldn't find a decent parking space? What if my arms aren't strong enough to haul both girls in carseats across a huge parking lot? What if the handicap door thing is up too high for me to use my hip to bump it? What if one starts screaming and sets off her sister? What if a toothless stranger gets to close and tries to touch them? It all went off without a hitch and I realized that my arms are strong, but need to get stronger as the girls continue to grow. Everyone we encountered had teeth and no one had any physical contact with them.
My appointment went well and my blood pressure is in a normal place again - yay! I'm one pound less than my pre-pregnancy weight (woo hoo!). Yet, my body is totally not in the same proportions as before. I received the ok to work out, but I'm supposed to ease into things before hitting my ab wheel. So, I've already started salsaing around the house as a way to start working my midsection, and will try situps as soon as I post this entry this afternoon. We'll see how it goes...
Today DW took both girls with him for the first time on his own. Lillian had her 1-week post-NICU checkup. I later asked if DW was a little aprehensive, but he said it was no big deal. Hmpf. Anyway, the appointment went well. Lillian weighed in at 5 lbs., 10 oz.! The nurse noticed a smell and then changed her very messy diaper. Lillian was reweighed and is actually 5 lbs., 1.5 oz. I got a chuckle out of that. Everything looks good according to the doc, so she'll go back in a week for one more checkup and then we'll know we're on the up and up.
While DW and the girls were at the doctor, I was in seeing my eye doctor. He gave me some different drops to try for my eye that's dried out from Bell's Palsy. He also said that I have some muscle damage to that eye, but that once the BP goes away, so should the muscle damage. I'll keep my fingers crossed. I ordered up some clip-on shades so I can be outside more comfortably (that eye doesn't squint, either, dang it). I never thought I'd be "one of those people" who wears clip-ons, but I guess maybe I'm supposed to be humbled some more here. Can you ever be too humbled? I'm starting to wonder.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Reflections in the Rain
Now that our sweet girls are both home, I'm trying to get our lives all back onto the road to normalcy. As we're finally starting to get settled in, I'm starting to think back on the chaos that came with the first month of their lives. Wow - no wonder it flew by! And no wonder I'm starting to feel lonesome for my girlfriends. When I was running all the time, I didn't have a free moment to miss my pals, but now that I'm relaxing and enjoying, I realize how much they mean to me and how much I enjoy having them in my lives. Though many are local, my out-of-town friends are also so very dear to me.
Calling all friends: I'm ready for catching up and hearing what's going on in your lives now. Fill me in by phone or come for a visit, please.
Breanna and Lillian are both doing great They're happy little darlings who really seem to like being together. Very content. It's hard to tear myself away from them - I could sit and watch them in awe for hours. In fact, that's often what I do. Where did my former over-achiever, super-productive self disappear to? I think the doctor might have removed that part of me when she did the C-section.
DW and I are learning some good tricks (not glamorous ones, though) - like how to get a good burp from Breanna right away. And how to give Lillian a huge bottle right before bed so she sleeps for more than an hour. And how to get vitamin goo out of cute little preemie outfits.
This weekend, a long-time family friend is going to be in town for her son's hockey tournament. (I almost wrote than an "old friend" was going to be here, but then decided that in case she ever sees this blog, it might be best to refer to her as a "long-time friend" instead.) Anyway, I babysat her kids all the way from junior high until I left for college, and have felt like they're family. I'm really looking forward to seeing their mother and wish that the whole family would be here, too!
Even as the daughters have grown up and finished college (I'm getting so old so quickly!), our families are still close, and DW has come to love them all, too. DW even pushed to name our kids after the daughters in the family - Alison and Brianna. After all, until birth, they were called Baby A and Baby B - a perfect fit for using those names. I told him he had to pick one because that would just be too weird, but that either was fine. When he saw how big Breanna was as she came out, he decided on Breanna because he'd be able to remember "Big Breanna." You can probably guess how it made perfect sense for DW to come up with Little Lillian. I don't want to give them a stigma as they grow up, so I'll refer to them more as "Beautiful Breanna" and "Lovely Lillian."
Calling all friends: I'm ready for catching up and hearing what's going on in your lives now. Fill me in by phone or come for a visit, please.
Breanna and Lillian are both doing great They're happy little darlings who really seem to like being together. Very content. It's hard to tear myself away from them - I could sit and watch them in awe for hours. In fact, that's often what I do. Where did my former over-achiever, super-productive self disappear to? I think the doctor might have removed that part of me when she did the C-section.
DW and I are learning some good tricks (not glamorous ones, though) - like how to get a good burp from Breanna right away. And how to give Lillian a huge bottle right before bed so she sleeps for more than an hour. And how to get vitamin goo out of cute little preemie outfits.
This weekend, a long-time family friend is going to be in town for her son's hockey tournament. (I almost wrote than an "old friend" was going to be here, but then decided that in case she ever sees this blog, it might be best to refer to her as a "long-time friend" instead.) Anyway, I babysat her kids all the way from junior high until I left for college, and have felt like they're family. I'm really looking forward to seeing their mother and wish that the whole family would be here, too!
Even as the daughters have grown up and finished college (I'm getting so old so quickly!), our families are still close, and DW has come to love them all, too. DW even pushed to name our kids after the daughters in the family - Alison and Brianna. After all, until birth, they were called Baby A and Baby B - a perfect fit for using those names. I told him he had to pick one because that would just be too weird, but that either was fine. When he saw how big Breanna was as she came out, he decided on Breanna because he'd be able to remember "Big Breanna." You can probably guess how it made perfect sense for DW to come up with Little Lillian. I don't want to give them a stigma as they grow up, so I'll refer to them more as "Beautiful Breanna" and "Lovely Lillian."
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Home Sweet Home, At Last
Well, we survived our first night with the family all together. Not that we slept much, but we did enjoy rooming in at the hospital. Lillian was up most of the night, hungry, gassy, sassy - a mixture that kept both Dad and Mom awake for the majority of the night. Breanna slept right through everything.
I'm not sure quite what DW and I were expecting to happen when we reintroduced the girls, but I am sure that we expected at least some kind of reaction. Even just a little. But I don't think that Breanna or Lillian noticed that the other was there. When we did put them together, though, they did seem quite content.
Today has gone really well so far. Right before we left the hospital, the girls finally had their photo shoot for the hospital's Bassinet page. Neither was feeling particularly photogenic, so we took what they gave us and that's that. Can't blame the girls after the long night.
As soon as we arrived home, I rushed off to my appointment with the ear/nose/throat doc to chat about my Bell's Palsy. I should have just stayed home and napped. He told me that there's nothing to do but wait for another couple months. If I'm not totally recovered in 60 days, we'll meet again to discuss surgical options, none of which he's sure will help. He basically said that since there's not much known about the condition or its causes or cures, it's just a waiting game for a while. Not what I wanted to hear. I was expecting to have hope for getting my face back to normal before I go back to work. Nothing like starting a new job with a lopsided smile... ugh.
So, no more thinking about the BS with the BP. Back to the girls. It's great to have them home! Here's a picture of them sharing a cuddle in Dad's arms at the hospital last night. Aren't they cute? Breanna is on the left and Lillian's on the right.
I'm not sure quite what DW and I were expecting to happen when we reintroduced the girls, but I am sure that we expected at least some kind of reaction. Even just a little. But I don't think that Breanna or Lillian noticed that the other was there. When we did put them together, though, they did seem quite content.
Today has gone really well so far. Right before we left the hospital, the girls finally had their photo shoot for the hospital's Bassinet page. Neither was feeling particularly photogenic, so we took what they gave us and that's that. Can't blame the girls after the long night.
As soon as we arrived home, I rushed off to my appointment with the ear/nose/throat doc to chat about my Bell's Palsy. I should have just stayed home and napped. He told me that there's nothing to do but wait for another couple months. If I'm not totally recovered in 60 days, we'll meet again to discuss surgical options, none of which he's sure will help. He basically said that since there's not much known about the condition or its causes or cures, it's just a waiting game for a while. Not what I wanted to hear. I was expecting to have hope for getting my face back to normal before I go back to work. Nothing like starting a new job with a lopsided smile... ugh.
So, no more thinking about the BS with the BP. Back to the girls. It's great to have them home! Here's a picture of them sharing a cuddle in Dad's arms at the hospital last night. Aren't they cute? Breanna is on the left and Lillian's on the right.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Little Lillian's Big Weekend
What a wonderful day! Lillian went into her big-girl crib this morning and has maintained her temperature all day! Our evening nurse even wheeled out Lillian's isolette, so now it's official! Lillian is one very big step closer to coming home. She's up to 4 lbs., 6 oz. and is 16 1/2 inches long now. She's catching right up with Breanna - I suspect that soon we won't be able to tell them apart!
If she continues to thrive, DW, Breanna and I will be able to stay over for a room-in night on Tuesday and then take Lillian home on Wednesday. Wow! I can hardly wait to put our two girls together and see how they react. They really haven't spent any time physically together since they were in the womb.
After a hot, sunny day at Battle Lake, DW returned from his fishing contest with no fish, no prizes, and no comfort. He has quite a sunburn. (Too bad he didn't use the sunscreen that I packed for him. Hopefully he'll learn some day.)
We came up to the hospital in the evening so DW and Lillian could be on the telethon for the Children's Miracle Network. The interviewer was a bit on the flaky side (but really nice), but despite the handicap of her, everyone did really well. Lillian's nurse had fed her a multivitamin a couple hours earlier than normal (it ended up being right before she went on air), so of course, as the camera zoomed in on her, she started puking on poor Dad. He maintained his composure like a seasoned veteran, though. He commented that it must have been stage fright. Breanna and I watched it live on TV in the waiting room just outside of the NICU. That was exciting!
After that, we went to our first real family outing. (Church last Sunday doesn't count.) We were invited to a barbecue and bonfire at DW's new friend's house. The hosts had adorable twin boys last spring who spent a long time in the NICU, too. They showed us how great it is to use a video monitor. (We tested it out with Breanna staying in her carseat in the kitchen while we sat outside at the fire.) This will probably be our next purchase.
DW met the dad on a ski trip this past spring and enjoyed sharing the bond of twin parenting. We really enjoyed that fire, as well as the visit. Though I had to wash my hair three times this morning to get the smoke smell out, it was well worth it. I hope we get to know this family more in the months ahead.
Today, we stayed in jammies until close to noon. All of us. And it was great! DW and I haven't had a lazy Sunday since our vacation in February. DW's sister and her family stopped in for a visit - they were in town for a graduation party. They seemed to enjoy meeting Breanna, and the boys seemed to really enjoy terrorizing our dogs. It was nice to see them all, but also nice when the house quieted down again. Tonight, I'm writing from the waiting room at the hospital. I came up to feed Lillian at 8, and DW and Breanna came with so that Dad can spend a little time visiting Lillian. So, I'm out here with Breanna, listening to the wonderful sound of the rain splashing against the windows.
Friends, it's been another great weekend. I hope it's been terrific for you, as well. Enjoy the week ahead! I think summer has officially started!
If she continues to thrive, DW, Breanna and I will be able to stay over for a room-in night on Tuesday and then take Lillian home on Wednesday. Wow! I can hardly wait to put our two girls together and see how they react. They really haven't spent any time physically together since they were in the womb.
After a hot, sunny day at Battle Lake, DW returned from his fishing contest with no fish, no prizes, and no comfort. He has quite a sunburn. (Too bad he didn't use the sunscreen that I packed for him. Hopefully he'll learn some day.)
We came up to the hospital in the evening so DW and Lillian could be on the telethon for the Children's Miracle Network. The interviewer was a bit on the flaky side (but really nice), but despite the handicap of her, everyone did really well. Lillian's nurse had fed her a multivitamin a couple hours earlier than normal (it ended up being right before she went on air), so of course, as the camera zoomed in on her, she started puking on poor Dad. He maintained his composure like a seasoned veteran, though. He commented that it must have been stage fright. Breanna and I watched it live on TV in the waiting room just outside of the NICU. That was exciting!
After that, we went to our first real family outing. (Church last Sunday doesn't count.) We were invited to a barbecue and bonfire at DW's new friend's house. The hosts had adorable twin boys last spring who spent a long time in the NICU, too. They showed us how great it is to use a video monitor. (We tested it out with Breanna staying in her carseat in the kitchen while we sat outside at the fire.) This will probably be our next purchase.
DW met the dad on a ski trip this past spring and enjoyed sharing the bond of twin parenting. We really enjoyed that fire, as well as the visit. Though I had to wash my hair three times this morning to get the smoke smell out, it was well worth it. I hope we get to know this family more in the months ahead.
Today, we stayed in jammies until close to noon. All of us. And it was great! DW and I haven't had a lazy Sunday since our vacation in February. DW's sister and her family stopped in for a visit - they were in town for a graduation party. They seemed to enjoy meeting Breanna, and the boys seemed to really enjoy terrorizing our dogs. It was nice to see them all, but also nice when the house quieted down again. Tonight, I'm writing from the waiting room at the hospital. I came up to feed Lillian at 8, and DW and Breanna came with so that Dad can spend a little time visiting Lillian. So, I'm out here with Breanna, listening to the wonderful sound of the rain splashing against the windows.
Friends, it's been another great weekend. I hope it's been terrific for you, as well. Enjoy the week ahead! I think summer has officially started!
Thursday, June 01, 2006
The Ultimate Toy
I once heard a very rich man refer to his kids as the ultimate toys. Boy, was he right! Parenting is awesome! (Exhausting, but awesome!)
It's so nice to have Breanna at home. She's getting so big and strong and really is just adorable. I often have a hard time setting her down and getting stuff done around here - and some of it just has to be done - like eating and throwing out dirty diapers. Here's a picture of her in the bassinet today, enjoying the beautiful sunshine.
We're getting closer and closer to bringing Lillian home, too. She hit 4 pounds - whoo hoo! She continues to eat really well (even better than Breanna!) and is growing at such a great rate. When Breanna and Lillian were born, there was a discordance of 39%. Now it's in the 20-something percentile. Little Lillian is catching up quickly! We're celebrating the "bigness" of 4 pounds, but in reality, it's still so small! In this picture that my mom took, she's in a preemie diaper. Unreal!
I really do love spending time with these beautiful girls. I can't believe I'm saying it, but I can see changes in them each day. Wow!
My mom left today, and we had a teary goodbye. I really loved having her here, not just as a helper, but as a dear friend. I feel like our bond grew even closer.
This weekend, DW is going to be on the Children's Miracle Network telethon on channel 11. They'll be recording up at the NICU, and he's going to share some of our wonderful experiences with the unit. The nurses encouraged me to go on air, too, but with this Bell's Palsy junk, I'm not ready to go in front of an audience.
It's one thing to hang out with family and friends who know what's happened, but to go on TV, no thanks. It's bad enough getting the stares when I just stop in at the grocery store... On a positive note, I have an appointment with an ENT next week. Hopefully, someone will be able to help speed up this recovery process.
It's so nice to have Breanna at home. She's getting so big and strong and really is just adorable. I often have a hard time setting her down and getting stuff done around here - and some of it just has to be done - like eating and throwing out dirty diapers. Here's a picture of her in the bassinet today, enjoying the beautiful sunshine.
We're getting closer and closer to bringing Lillian home, too. She hit 4 pounds - whoo hoo! She continues to eat really well (even better than Breanna!) and is growing at such a great rate. When Breanna and Lillian were born, there was a discordance of 39%. Now it's in the 20-something percentile. Little Lillian is catching up quickly! We're celebrating the "bigness" of 4 pounds, but in reality, it's still so small! In this picture that my mom took, she's in a preemie diaper. Unreal!
I really do love spending time with these beautiful girls. I can't believe I'm saying it, but I can see changes in them each day. Wow!
My mom left today, and we had a teary goodbye. I really loved having her here, not just as a helper, but as a dear friend. I feel like our bond grew even closer.
This weekend, DW is going to be on the Children's Miracle Network telethon on channel 11. They'll be recording up at the NICU, and he's going to share some of our wonderful experiences with the unit. The nurses encouraged me to go on air, too, but with this Bell's Palsy junk, I'm not ready to go in front of an audience.
It's one thing to hang out with family and friends who know what's happened, but to go on TV, no thanks. It's bad enough getting the stares when I just stop in at the grocery store... On a positive note, I have an appointment with an ENT next week. Hopefully, someone will be able to help speed up this recovery process.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Run, Run, Run!
Boy, it's even getting tough finding a moment to write a few notes in my blog, and that's something I really enjoy. I guess it figures, though, considering that I often find myself not having enough time to eat a meal. Thank goodness trail mix doesn't melt in the car - it's truly kept me going more than once this week.
Both girls are doing fabulously well! Breanna has adjusted nicely to life at home, and is so very good! She wakes me at night when she's hungry by smacking her lips and making little grunting noises. No screaming - yay! Good thing I'm such a light sleeper - or maybe her little noises would eventually turn to hollering. She seems to be getting bigger - and cuter than ever.
She had a big day on Saturday. We broke the germ restriction rule and took her to Mass in the evening and wouldn't you know, the Bishop was there performing services. When I went up for communion, I had Breanna in my arms, and she received a special blessing from the Bishop. How exciting! We knew we'd have to sheild her from any grabby grandmas, but thankfully, no one came close except for when we walked up in the communion line. It felt great to be there - it seems like forever since we've been able to go to church.
We gave her her first "real" bath in the tub the other night, and while she freaked out a little the first time her feet touched the water, she quickly settled right down and seemed to enjoy herself after that. And then she smelled sooooo good! Here's a photo of our clean girl.
Lillian is getting bigger and bigger, and it's wonderful to see her grow. She's been eating more and more each day and putting on the weight. By the time I go in to see her tomorrow, she should be in the big girl crib for the first time. Keep your fingers crossed that she maintains her temperature out in the real world. We might even get her home by the end of the week. Imagine that!
Please keep both girls in your prayers and we'll continue to pray for our family and friends. Blessings to you all!
Both girls are doing fabulously well! Breanna has adjusted nicely to life at home, and is so very good! She wakes me at night when she's hungry by smacking her lips and making little grunting noises. No screaming - yay! Good thing I'm such a light sleeper - or maybe her little noises would eventually turn to hollering. She seems to be getting bigger - and cuter than ever.
She had a big day on Saturday. We broke the germ restriction rule and took her to Mass in the evening and wouldn't you know, the Bishop was there performing services. When I went up for communion, I had Breanna in my arms, and she received a special blessing from the Bishop. How exciting! We knew we'd have to sheild her from any grabby grandmas, but thankfully, no one came close except for when we walked up in the communion line. It felt great to be there - it seems like forever since we've been able to go to church.
We gave her her first "real" bath in the tub the other night, and while she freaked out a little the first time her feet touched the water, she quickly settled right down and seemed to enjoy herself after that. And then she smelled sooooo good! Here's a photo of our clean girl.
Lillian is getting bigger and bigger, and it's wonderful to see her grow. She's been eating more and more each day and putting on the weight. By the time I go in to see her tomorrow, she should be in the big girl crib for the first time. Keep your fingers crossed that she maintains her temperature out in the real world. We might even get her home by the end of the week. Imagine that!
Please keep both girls in your prayers and we'll continue to pray for our family and friends. Blessings to you all!
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