We left home at 4am on Tuesday, July 29 and arrived at Vanderbilt University Hospital at 6am. We checked into the ER and immediately went back into a room. They drew blood and at that point we had to make sure the cross-match was good. We got news around lunch time that all was good to go for a 230pm surgery time. At 530 I found out all went well and I was able to see her in the recovery room around 8pm. They had no clue when they would be able to get her a room, so I went ahead and drove home from Nashville around 830pm.
The kidney is functioning and everything looks good! I talked to mom several times today and the doctors are happy with the results. Of course, she will have to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of her life and there's always the chance that it just won't stick around for long. We just have to pray for the best outcome.
We hope to see her home this weekend!!!!
While I was in the surgery waiting area, I was sitting a little too far away from the monitors with patient updates, so I looked around and tried to find the best spot with the most tolerable people. I found a spot that was next to a group of a couple of adults with a couple of teen girls. I figured that was my best option because there were... well, quite a variety of strange and obnoxious people there. Anyway... I decided to sit near them. I was there for just a couple of minutes when I realized, from their dialogue that they were waiting on a patient who was also getting a transplant. It turns out, Debra A (the patient) was getting a kidney and a pancreas. From what we could piece together, it is very likely she was getting her organs from the same donor as my mother's!
All my mother was told about the donor was that it was a 25 year old brain dead male from Memphis. My aunt seems to think (from looking at the news from that area) that she knows who the donor was.
Back to the other ladies at the hospital... they were a blessing to me. They were very conversational, which made it a lot easier for me to sit there in the waiting room. Debra's daughter was an older teen, still in school, and I left my email address with her so I can get an update after she goes home. Again, they were so kind to me. They watched my stuff while I went to use the bathroom and use the vending machines. It was wonderful. They also offered me food and like I said, were just a blessing to have there.
So, this long wait is over for now. I just pray that the kidney remains functioning for a very, very long time and that the worries of if/when/where a kidney would come, and the stresses of dialysis are finally over with for good!
Keep mom in your thoughts and prayers!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
We have a Kidney!
Mom got the call from Vanderbilt tonight. They have a kidney from a 25 year old male from Memphis. They were performing the extraction operation on the man this evening at 9:30 p.m. and as long as the kidney is viable, we will be going to Vandy in the morning. Once we get there at 6 a.m., they will have to do another compatibility test, which is standard. If all goes well, she will be in surgery tomorrow afternoon!
Tim will be at home with the girls while I am in Nashville. I will be coming home after mom is out of recovery, hopefully tomorrow evening. She will be there for a few days as long as all goes well.
Please pray that all goes well. This has been a long time coming and I really hope we don't get there and find disappointment or worse. Hopefully I will be able to post an update in a couple of days!!!!
Tim will be at home with the girls while I am in Nashville. I will be coming home after mom is out of recovery, hopefully tomorrow evening. She will be there for a few days as long as all goes well.
Please pray that all goes well. This has been a long time coming and I really hope we don't get there and find disappointment or worse. Hopefully I will be able to post an update in a couple of days!!!!
Tired... Television... and other junk
I'm so tired it hurts. Literally. I catch up on sleep (or come really close to it) on the weekends, but then the week rolls around and I am already exhausted by Monday morning.
Last night the girls went to bed (upstairs) early enough for Tim and me to work on stuff that needed attention. It was great. I knew the girls would need a bottle around 11:30pm, so I stayed downstairs. So, both girls get fed, but it took forever for me to take Lauren back upstairs after she ate because she was really restless and took some time after her bottle to settle down. I was in the bed for all of ten minutes when she started fussing again, and then Katie started. Both ended up back downstairs with a bottle. I got them back upstairs after a LOT of spitting up, fussing and crying. I actually slept, but only for an hour (75 minutes at best). So, since about 1pm Sunday, I've had a full HOUR of sleep. It is now 10am on Monday. So yeah, I hurt. My legs hurt, my muscles, my joints, my neck, my head, my eyes, my knees. Okay, I hurt from head to toe. Can't wait for Tim to come home and let me sleep for a while!
On to TV. I saw the most despicable crap on television the other night on Comedy Central. First, the Gong Show (current - not a rerun of the old ones). A woman came on stage with a name I'd rather not have on my blog -- but let's just say her "talent" was the ability to make noises with parts of her body normally associated with intimate relations. She basically bent over and put a microphone to her nether-region and made very crude and disgusting noises. I could NOT believe what I was seeing! I would have to say that takes the cake in the most disgusting crap I've ever seen on reality television...
Side note --- it wasn't me that turned it to that show!
Then, after the Gong Show, it was another reality show - Reality Bites Back. This was also a totally despicable show. From what I saw, there really was no point to the show other than crap to air for shock value.
Have I gotten that old? So old that I am disgusted with today's antics on television and movies? I mention movies because I watched Superbad and Knocked Up over the past week or so and the language used was worse than the crap we were saying in high school. Granted, that was 14 years ago, but has it really changed that much? Really? I mean, I had a real potty mouth before my kids were born. I was amused by things that don't really amuse me now. I enjoyed talking about things that would make me blush now... and I CAN accept the fact that those kinds of things come with age. But between the crap on TV and the language - I am shocked! Am I becoming hardened and prude? I sure hope not.
Last night the girls went to bed (upstairs) early enough for Tim and me to work on stuff that needed attention. It was great. I knew the girls would need a bottle around 11:30pm, so I stayed downstairs. So, both girls get fed, but it took forever for me to take Lauren back upstairs after she ate because she was really restless and took some time after her bottle to settle down. I was in the bed for all of ten minutes when she started fussing again, and then Katie started. Both ended up back downstairs with a bottle. I got them back upstairs after a LOT of spitting up, fussing and crying. I actually slept, but only for an hour (75 minutes at best). So, since about 1pm Sunday, I've had a full HOUR of sleep. It is now 10am on Monday. So yeah, I hurt. My legs hurt, my muscles, my joints, my neck, my head, my eyes, my knees. Okay, I hurt from head to toe. Can't wait for Tim to come home and let me sleep for a while!
On to TV. I saw the most despicable crap on television the other night on Comedy Central. First, the Gong Show (current - not a rerun of the old ones). A woman came on stage with a name I'd rather not have on my blog -- but let's just say her "talent" was the ability to make noises with parts of her body normally associated with intimate relations. She basically bent over and put a microphone to her nether-region and made very crude and disgusting noises. I could NOT believe what I was seeing! I would have to say that takes the cake in the most disgusting crap I've ever seen on reality television...
Side note --- it wasn't me that turned it to that show!
Then, after the Gong Show, it was another reality show - Reality Bites Back. This was also a totally despicable show. From what I saw, there really was no point to the show other than crap to air for shock value.
Have I gotten that old? So old that I am disgusted with today's antics on television and movies? I mention movies because I watched Superbad and Knocked Up over the past week or so and the language used was worse than the crap we were saying in high school. Granted, that was 14 years ago, but has it really changed that much? Really? I mean, I had a real potty mouth before my kids were born. I was amused by things that don't really amuse me now. I enjoyed talking about things that would make me blush now... and I CAN accept the fact that those kinds of things come with age. But between the crap on TV and the language - I am shocked! Am I becoming hardened and prude? I sure hope not.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
A Towle Family Update
School starts in less than two weeks! That's right, TJ will be heading off to Kindergarten on August 6th. I am SO happy because he's gotten so bored at home. I am also sad to see my baby go off to school! What a huge change this year! He's gone from being my only child to having twin sisters and now going off to school. He's taking it all very well, though and I am SO proud of him!
The girls are doing well, too. The reflux is still bothersome, as we have a projectile spit-up about once every other day (usually more). However, the medicine seems to be working as the acid doesn't seem to bug them like it did before.
As always, the kids are growing like weeds. TJ seems to get bigger every time I look at him, and I KNOW the girls are getting bigger and bigger. In fact, I think Katie has outgrown Lauren by a long-shot. Just looking at her, I can tell she is bigger.
Just look at this picture of Katie! She barely looks like that tiny little 5 pounder from 7 weeks ago! I can't believe how big she's gotten in such a short amount of time!
Because they were premature, we have to wait longer for milestones to come our way. For example, smiles, coos and even eye contact come about a month after they normally would with full term babies. That's the part that really bites! For a parent, it feels like forever! Plus, we have to wait that much longer before they start sleeping in longer stretches at night, too.
As for our night time, sleep hasn't really come any easier for me, although we finally found a way for them to sleep in their cribs without much spit-up at all. First we did the inclined sleep positioner... the Babies R Us brand. It sucks, royally. Basically, it is a sleep positioner that has an incline to it. No matter what I did, they either scootched down or worked their way up, ended with their head back on off the positioner. They were still spitting up on them, too. Then I tried letting them sleep in the Boppy pillows in their bed (as seen in many of their pics, including the one above). It worked for one night, maybe two. Then Lauren's Angel Care Monitor kept going off because it couldn't detect her breathing while we used the pillow. So then it was back to them sleeping in the Boppy Bouncy Seats. This was miserable for me because I was spending my nights downstairs in the living room, sleeping on a sofa that was becoming over-used and less supportive. Plus they were still sleeping very restlessly and I couldn't sleep even if I tried!
Then I noticed how the girls slept best on their tummy. So, I did my homework and found that despite the "Back to Sleep" campaign to help prevent SIDS, it was common for reflux babies to sleep better (and more soundly) on their tummy. Thank God (and Raney, who is letting us use them), we have Angel Care monitors. The monitors are sensitive enough to tell if a baby is breathing while laying on a mattress. The sensor is under the mattress. We've been using these for about 5 to 7 nights now and WOW, what a difference! The girls actually sleep at night without excessive grunting, without spitting up like mad, and more soundly. Although I do believe sleeping on their back is the best position for the prevention of SIDS, I know the girls are getting better rest at night on their tummy. So, each night I put my faith in those monitors to work like they are supposed to! Even after testing them, I am still paranoid --- but certainly not as much as I was with TJ when he was a baby!
Here's a cute pic of Lauren in her attempts to coo. She is trying very hard to "talk" to us and it's just a matter of time before she starts cooing up a storm.
Considering how much she looks like TJ as a baby, and how feisty she seems to be compared to her siblings, I have a feeling she will be a big talker once she figures out how to make noise.
Katie is much more quiet and observes more than she participates. She and Lauren are very different, both in looks, disposition and personality. For example, Lauren fusses about everything. She seems to have a bit of colic and gets frustrated really easily when it comes to having a diaper change or even when she is trying to coo and doesn't succeed. Katie doesn't fuss as much. In fact, Katie only fusses when she is hungry and occasionally when she has a bath.
Both of the girls are doing really well with learning to hold their head up. Lauren is very determined to learn new things (cooing, holding her head up) and I can't wait to get some pictures of her doing it. Right now she only does it when she is laying on our shoulder/chest. Katie is also testing this skill and will be doing it in no time!
And as many of you know, I am not the kind of mom that subscribes to the belief that "wearing" your child is best. This form of attachment parenting isn't really my cup of tea. In fact, I am really quite the opposite of attachment parenting (Dr. Sears would be devastated!). I believe children need their own space, their own beds, their own time and shouldn't be raised to depend SO much on their parents. I think co-sleeping is a huge parenting blunder, but hey - I won't judge you for it. But as a mom of twins, I face some really different parenting issues. For example, when one of the girls cry, I can't always run and pick her up. Sometimes I have to let one of them (or sometimes both) lay and cry for a while when getting bottles ready, etc. It sucks and I hate it. And then between 14 diaper changes a day (at least) and 14 bottles a day, I have little to no time to do things like blog (which is why this took me three days to finally type and post), clean, shower or even eat sometimes. And occasionally I have a baby that needs to be held when I have other things to do... that I need to do. So, I bartered with Kyna Woollery of Micah & Co. for a sling (she got advertising on my websites in exchange).
Again, I am not a baby wearer, but I won't deny a child her time to be held. Especially since my time is split between two babies. I sometimes feel like I don't have enough time to be with each child. So this allows me to be with one child (and sometimes with one and carrying the other) when I have things I have to do (like type... as I have Katie in a sling right now, sleeping since she was unhappy in her bouncy seat). I really like to sling. I am still getting used to it, and learning how to wear it correctly, but for the most part, it has been an excellent product! And even though I am not a baby wearing, I do enjoy wearing them on occasion!
I also have some new Photobucket pictures to share... not too many, though. There's the two included above and then just a couple more:
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/JediMommy/20080727kids/
And there's an event some of you might be interested in. My HAMOM group (Huntsville Area Mothers of Multiples) is having a sale for children's clothing, accessories and products. Here's some info about it:
Presented by Huntsville Area Mothers’ of Multiples
A Second Time Around Sale!
Clothes for Infants, Toddlers & above
Singletons or Multiples
Toys, Baby Furniture, Equipment & Accessories
Maternity Wear
FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 5:30PM-9PM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 8AM-12PM
YOUNG NAK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
WHITESBURG DRIVE, SOUTH
Portions of fundraiser to benefit COTA & Melissa George Foundation
PLEASE share this with mothers in and around the Huntsville area! I plan on selling a good bit of TJ's fall/winter wardrobe from the past 5 years! I have TONS of stuff from his infancy and through his third year!
The girls are doing well, too. The reflux is still bothersome, as we have a projectile spit-up about once every other day (usually more). However, the medicine seems to be working as the acid doesn't seem to bug them like it did before.
As always, the kids are growing like weeds. TJ seems to get bigger every time I look at him, and I KNOW the girls are getting bigger and bigger. In fact, I think Katie has outgrown Lauren by a long-shot. Just looking at her, I can tell she is bigger.
Just look at this picture of Katie! She barely looks like that tiny little 5 pounder from 7 weeks ago! I can't believe how big she's gotten in such a short amount of time!Because they were premature, we have to wait longer for milestones to come our way. For example, smiles, coos and even eye contact come about a month after they normally would with full term babies. That's the part that really bites! For a parent, it feels like forever! Plus, we have to wait that much longer before they start sleeping in longer stretches at night, too.
As for our night time, sleep hasn't really come any easier for me, although we finally found a way for them to sleep in their cribs without much spit-up at all. First we did the inclined sleep positioner... the Babies R Us brand. It sucks, royally. Basically, it is a sleep positioner that has an incline to it. No matter what I did, they either scootched down or worked their way up, ended with their head back on off the positioner. They were still spitting up on them, too. Then I tried letting them sleep in the Boppy pillows in their bed (as seen in many of their pics, including the one above). It worked for one night, maybe two. Then Lauren's Angel Care Monitor kept going off because it couldn't detect her breathing while we used the pillow. So then it was back to them sleeping in the Boppy Bouncy Seats. This was miserable for me because I was spending my nights downstairs in the living room, sleeping on a sofa that was becoming over-used and less supportive. Plus they were still sleeping very restlessly and I couldn't sleep even if I tried!
Then I noticed how the girls slept best on their tummy. So, I did my homework and found that despite the "Back to Sleep" campaign to help prevent SIDS, it was common for reflux babies to sleep better (and more soundly) on their tummy. Thank God (and Raney, who is letting us use them), we have Angel Care monitors. The monitors are sensitive enough to tell if a baby is breathing while laying on a mattress. The sensor is under the mattress. We've been using these for about 5 to 7 nights now and WOW, what a difference! The girls actually sleep at night without excessive grunting, without spitting up like mad, and more soundly. Although I do believe sleeping on their back is the best position for the prevention of SIDS, I know the girls are getting better rest at night on their tummy. So, each night I put my faith in those monitors to work like they are supposed to! Even after testing them, I am still paranoid --- but certainly not as much as I was with TJ when he was a baby!
Here's a cute pic of Lauren in her attempts to coo. She is trying very hard to "talk" to us and it's just a matter of time before she starts cooing up a storm.Considering how much she looks like TJ as a baby, and how feisty she seems to be compared to her siblings, I have a feeling she will be a big talker once she figures out how to make noise.
Katie is much more quiet and observes more than she participates. She and Lauren are very different, both in looks, disposition and personality. For example, Lauren fusses about everything. She seems to have a bit of colic and gets frustrated really easily when it comes to having a diaper change or even when she is trying to coo and doesn't succeed. Katie doesn't fuss as much. In fact, Katie only fusses when she is hungry and occasionally when she has a bath.
Both of the girls are doing really well with learning to hold their head up. Lauren is very determined to learn new things (cooing, holding her head up) and I can't wait to get some pictures of her doing it. Right now she only does it when she is laying on our shoulder/chest. Katie is also testing this skill and will be doing it in no time!
And as many of you know, I am not the kind of mom that subscribes to the belief that "wearing" your child is best. This form of attachment parenting isn't really my cup of tea. In fact, I am really quite the opposite of attachment parenting (Dr. Sears would be devastated!). I believe children need their own space, their own beds, their own time and shouldn't be raised to depend SO much on their parents. I think co-sleeping is a huge parenting blunder, but hey - I won't judge you for it. But as a mom of twins, I face some really different parenting issues. For example, when one of the girls cry, I can't always run and pick her up. Sometimes I have to let one of them (or sometimes both) lay and cry for a while when getting bottles ready, etc. It sucks and I hate it. And then between 14 diaper changes a day (at least) and 14 bottles a day, I have little to no time to do things like blog (which is why this took me three days to finally type and post), clean, shower or even eat sometimes. And occasionally I have a baby that needs to be held when I have other things to do... that I need to do. So, I bartered with Kyna Woollery of Micah & Co. for a sling (she got advertising on my websites in exchange).
Again, I am not a baby wearer, but I won't deny a child her time to be held. Especially since my time is split between two babies. I sometimes feel like I don't have enough time to be with each child. So this allows me to be with one child (and sometimes with one and carrying the other) when I have things I have to do (like type... as I have Katie in a sling right now, sleeping since she was unhappy in her bouncy seat). I really like to sling. I am still getting used to it, and learning how to wear it correctly, but for the most part, it has been an excellent product! And even though I am not a baby wearing, I do enjoy wearing them on occasion!
I also have some new Photobucket pictures to share... not too many, though. There's the two included above and then just a couple more:
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/JediMommy/20080727kids/
And there's an event some of you might be interested in. My HAMOM group (Huntsville Area Mothers of Multiples) is having a sale for children's clothing, accessories and products. Here's some info about it:
Presented by Huntsville Area Mothers’ of Multiples
A Second Time Around Sale!
Clothes for Infants, Toddlers & above
Singletons or Multiples
Toys, Baby Furniture, Equipment & Accessories
Maternity Wear
FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 5:30PM-9PM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 8AM-12PM
YOUNG NAK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
WHITESBURG DRIVE, SOUTH
Portions of fundraiser to benefit COTA & Melissa George Foundation
PLEASE share this with mothers in and around the Huntsville area! I plan on selling a good bit of TJ's fall/winter wardrobe from the past 5 years! I have TONS of stuff from his infancy and through his third year!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
"It's Genius - NOT Penis!"
Earlier in the week, TJ said "Patrick, your penis is showing!" and swears that SpongeBob says this on TV. Yes, we've been having a debate about it. I keep telling TJ that they do NOT say "penis" on SpongeBob! He insists they do!
So, today we had it on SpongeBob and sure enough, the scene comes up and I have to give TJ some credit because it DOES sound like "penis" and Patrick even replies with "Really!?" (or something to that effect) and covers his crotchal-area. SpongeBob is indeed saying to Patrick that his "genius is showing" and I even had to rewind the TiVo several times to catch it. But I still have to insist to TJ that penis does not equal genius!!!
On another note, after a long day of being covered it spit-up (I had it on my shirt, my pants, the floor, the sofa...), Tim came home and after dinner I was all set to sleep for a while. Right now, since the girls are still pretty restless at night and spitting up when laying down, I pretty much stay up all night with them. It sucks and I hope that once they get a little better, it will help (along with continued reflux meds).
So, it was about 630pm when I laid down, Tim agreeing to wake me up at 1130pm if I wasn't already up. Ahhh, surely I could squeeze at least 4 hours out of that, right? NOT A CHANCE! First, I woke up at 8pm thinking I had overslept. Looked at the clock, and went back to sleep. Then at 930pm I was wide awake. This sucks. I got a couple of hours last night, maybe 90 minutes (at best) on the sofa before TJ/Tim got up, and that's it since yesterday. Yet I still can't sleep. I even downed a beer to help me relax a little, in hopes of being able to sleep for a while. Nope. It just plain sucks. Given the opportunity to sleep, I can't.
Thankfully Tim said he would get up at 330am (or sometime after) to let me get some rest before he goes to work. I prefer he sleep as much as possible (he was probably well asleep before 1130pm) because he is a real bear to deal with and I need him rested so when he gets home from work, I can nap without guilt (my own guilt issues, not imposed by Tim).
I don't know... here I am at almost 1am blogging rather than sleeping. But I know Lauren is due for a bottle anytime now and I am just waiting on her call. I am actually going to let her go as long as possible in hopes of getting her to sleep more at night. The other night she went a full five hours and it was marvelous! If could get Katie and Lauren to do that at the same time, I would be in HEAVEN!
I am actually starting to feel pretty tired right now, but the chance of sleep within the next couple of hours is nil. First I will have to feed Lauren, then if she stays sleepy, I can put her down long enough to doze out and then have Katie wake me up for a feeding. Of course, I was feeding them back to back, but since I am not sleeping anyway, I thought I would go ahead and just let them feed on demand rather than a schedule for right now --- just to see how long they will go between bottles. Of course, with their adjusted age, they are more like 2 week old infants, not like 6 weekers. Believe me, that plays a pretty big role in dealing with preemie infants. I didn't really think of them as Preemies until I realized that at this point in TJ's life (6 weeks), he was smiling and I was getting more feedback from him. Not the girls, though... I still have some time before I will see that on a regular basis.
I think I hear Lauren calling... that would be 3.5 hours this time. Hey, at least it isn't every two hours like it was a few days back! Man, that was hell!
Off I go... and "miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep"
So, today we had it on SpongeBob and sure enough, the scene comes up and I have to give TJ some credit because it DOES sound like "penis" and Patrick even replies with "Really!?" (or something to that effect) and covers his crotchal-area. SpongeBob is indeed saying to Patrick that his "genius is showing" and I even had to rewind the TiVo several times to catch it. But I still have to insist to TJ that penis does not equal genius!!!
On another note, after a long day of being covered it spit-up (I had it on my shirt, my pants, the floor, the sofa...), Tim came home and after dinner I was all set to sleep for a while. Right now, since the girls are still pretty restless at night and spitting up when laying down, I pretty much stay up all night with them. It sucks and I hope that once they get a little better, it will help (along with continued reflux meds).
So, it was about 630pm when I laid down, Tim agreeing to wake me up at 1130pm if I wasn't already up. Ahhh, surely I could squeeze at least 4 hours out of that, right? NOT A CHANCE! First, I woke up at 8pm thinking I had overslept. Looked at the clock, and went back to sleep. Then at 930pm I was wide awake. This sucks. I got a couple of hours last night, maybe 90 minutes (at best) on the sofa before TJ/Tim got up, and that's it since yesterday. Yet I still can't sleep. I even downed a beer to help me relax a little, in hopes of being able to sleep for a while. Nope. It just plain sucks. Given the opportunity to sleep, I can't.
Thankfully Tim said he would get up at 330am (or sometime after) to let me get some rest before he goes to work. I prefer he sleep as much as possible (he was probably well asleep before 1130pm) because he is a real bear to deal with and I need him rested so when he gets home from work, I can nap without guilt (my own guilt issues, not imposed by Tim).
I don't know... here I am at almost 1am blogging rather than sleeping. But I know Lauren is due for a bottle anytime now and I am just waiting on her call. I am actually going to let her go as long as possible in hopes of getting her to sleep more at night. The other night she went a full five hours and it was marvelous! If could get Katie and Lauren to do that at the same time, I would be in HEAVEN!
I am actually starting to feel pretty tired right now, but the chance of sleep within the next couple of hours is nil. First I will have to feed Lauren, then if she stays sleepy, I can put her down long enough to doze out and then have Katie wake me up for a feeding. Of course, I was feeding them back to back, but since I am not sleeping anyway, I thought I would go ahead and just let them feed on demand rather than a schedule for right now --- just to see how long they will go between bottles. Of course, with their adjusted age, they are more like 2 week old infants, not like 6 weekers. Believe me, that plays a pretty big role in dealing with preemie infants. I didn't really think of them as Preemies until I realized that at this point in TJ's life (6 weeks), he was smiling and I was getting more feedback from him. Not the girls, though... I still have some time before I will see that on a regular basis.
I think I hear Lauren calling... that would be 3.5 hours this time. Hey, at least it isn't every two hours like it was a few days back! Man, that was hell!
Off I go... and "miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep"
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Finally - some new pictures
I've uploaded some pictures - finally!
Here's a few of TJ, Katie, Lauren and the Dogs:
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/JediMommy/20080720kids/
Here are pics taken on his actual birthday, 7/15. We went to Chuck E Cheese for dinner that night.
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/JediMommy/200807205thbdayactual/
Here are the pictures taken at the party we had for our friends to come and celebrate TJ's bday and to see the girls - on 7/11 (my actual due date for my twin pregnancy!)
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/JediMommy/20080720friday5thbday/
Here's a few of TJ, Katie, Lauren and the Dogs:
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/JediMommy/20080720kids/
Here are pics taken on his actual birthday, 7/15. We went to Chuck E Cheese for dinner that night.
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/JediMommy/200807205thbdayactual/
Here are the pictures taken at the party we had for our friends to come and celebrate TJ's bday and to see the girls - on 7/11 (my actual due date for my twin pregnancy!)
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/JediMommy/20080720friday5thbday/
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Infant Reflux SUCKS!
I am no stranger to infant reflux. TJ had it and it was one of the main causes of his plagiocephaly and torticollis... he spent SO much time in his bouncy seat because he couldn't lay down flat or his food would come right back up. Now take that frustration and double it. No - quadruple it because not only do the girls have reflux, but the pain they are in causes them to be extremely light and fussy sleepers. Hence the reason why I never sleep at night. In fact, for the most part, the ONLY sleep I get is when Tim is home and letting me sleep.
I slept for a few hours last evening and Tim got me up around 1am. I let him sleep until almost 8am and then I went back to bed and slept until about 1pm. This is why I love the weekends! I actually get to SLEEP! Most week nights Tim comes home and I try to get some sleep from about 7pm until 10pm, sometimes Midnight. Then I am up again until the following evening. It's a lot like being on third shift, I guess. Tonight sucks, though. Tim is doing an activity at work and probably won't be home until midnight. So, when he gets home, he can go to bed and get rest and then HOPEFULLY I can make it until about 6 or 7am and then he will get up and let me sleep again.
Like I said, infant reflux SUCKS. They spend time in their bouncy seats, keeping them more up-right so they won't spit-up. I try to lay them to sleep in their Boppy pillows, and that worked for a week or so, but now Katie complains when she's in that, too. The only time Katie sleeps well is sleeping on her belly on my chest. I WISH I could put them in their cribs, each on their belly - but because of SIDS, I don't do it. We've got Raney's two Angel Care Monitors, and that would work, but I am still too nervous to depend solely on them when sleeping on their belly.
Well, off I go --- I knew I wouldn't get more than 10 minutes on the computer without a fussing baby. Off to clean up more spit-up.
I've got CUTE pics to share soon, too --- will be sure to post them ASAP.
I slept for a few hours last evening and Tim got me up around 1am. I let him sleep until almost 8am and then I went back to bed and slept until about 1pm. This is why I love the weekends! I actually get to SLEEP! Most week nights Tim comes home and I try to get some sleep from about 7pm until 10pm, sometimes Midnight. Then I am up again until the following evening. It's a lot like being on third shift, I guess. Tonight sucks, though. Tim is doing an activity at work and probably won't be home until midnight. So, when he gets home, he can go to bed and get rest and then HOPEFULLY I can make it until about 6 or 7am and then he will get up and let me sleep again.
Like I said, infant reflux SUCKS. They spend time in their bouncy seats, keeping them more up-right so they won't spit-up. I try to lay them to sleep in their Boppy pillows, and that worked for a week or so, but now Katie complains when she's in that, too. The only time Katie sleeps well is sleeping on her belly on my chest. I WISH I could put them in their cribs, each on their belly - but because of SIDS, I don't do it. We've got Raney's two Angel Care Monitors, and that would work, but I am still too nervous to depend solely on them when sleeping on their belly.
Well, off I go --- I knew I wouldn't get more than 10 minutes on the computer without a fussing baby. Off to clean up more spit-up.
I've got CUTE pics to share soon, too --- will be sure to post them ASAP.
Friday, July 18, 2008
TJ's Birthday & One Month Check Up
The girls had their one month check up yesterday - actually at 5+ weeks old. Lauren is still bigger (barely) at 8 lbs. 7 oz, 21 1/2" long and Katherine is 8 lbs. 6 oz and 21" long. I would guess that by their 2nd month appointment, Katie will be bigger than her sister!
I desperately need to post new pictures because as you can image, they look very different as each week passes. Especially Katie - she looks so much more full (chubby) and it really has changed her look.
In the early hours of July 15, TJ's Birthday - Lauren started to coo a little. Later that same day, Katie smiled right at me. LOVE IT! Can wait to get more of both!
TJ's birthday parties were great. On Friday the 11th, he has his "big" friends over (our friends) and it was great fun. He was totally excited by his Nintendo DS and everyone got him a game to go with. He is SET for FUN! Then on his birthday, we went to Chuck E Cheese (just family) and had pizza and played games. We had a LOT of tickets and TJ opted to save them for next time. I had actually saved 200+ tickets from YEARS ago (from before TJ was born) from when Becky won and failed to redeem them. So, we made out with a bunch of tickets, but as you know, you really can't get anything without having thousands! I think we have about 500, so next time perhaps we can get something (crappy) for TJ to enjoy (for all of two minutes before it breaks).
I will be sure to post pics from his birthday and pics of the girls as soon as I can. I haven't had any time to do much of anything other than feed a baby, change a baby, make bottles, do laundry and TRY to sleep when I can (which is a rare event and usually only happens between the hours of 6pm to midnight when Tim is home).
Sleep. Oh how I love sleep. I miss it. I need it. I want it!
I desperately need to post new pictures because as you can image, they look very different as each week passes. Especially Katie - she looks so much more full (chubby) and it really has changed her look.
In the early hours of July 15, TJ's Birthday - Lauren started to coo a little. Later that same day, Katie smiled right at me. LOVE IT! Can wait to get more of both!
TJ's birthday parties were great. On Friday the 11th, he has his "big" friends over (our friends) and it was great fun. He was totally excited by his Nintendo DS and everyone got him a game to go with. He is SET for FUN! Then on his birthday, we went to Chuck E Cheese (just family) and had pizza and played games. We had a LOT of tickets and TJ opted to save them for next time. I had actually saved 200+ tickets from YEARS ago (from before TJ was born) from when Becky won and failed to redeem them. So, we made out with a bunch of tickets, but as you know, you really can't get anything without having thousands! I think we have about 500, so next time perhaps we can get something (crappy) for TJ to enjoy (for all of two minutes before it breaks).
I will be sure to post pics from his birthday and pics of the girls as soon as I can. I haven't had any time to do much of anything other than feed a baby, change a baby, make bottles, do laundry and TRY to sleep when I can (which is a rare event and usually only happens between the hours of 6pm to midnight when Tim is home).
Sleep. Oh how I love sleep. I miss it. I need it. I want it!
Friday, July 11, 2008
It is ONLY 8 am?
Amazing how time creeps by when you are exhausted. Here's a quick peek into the horrible sleep schedule I've had over the past couple of days...
Wednesday - pretty much no sleep all night Tuesday night. Tim came home and I went to bed at about 6:30pm and he let me sleep until about Midnight. YAHOO! So that means I got about 5-6 hours of sleep. Previous nights I was laying down at about the same time, but getting up at 9pm. Then I finally got the girls settled down in their beds but I couldn't fall asleep to save my life. Perhaps I was too tired. So, Thursday I was up from Midnight until about 7:30pm when I went to lay down. Again, Tim let me sleep until Midnight, but once again, I had a horrible time trying to fall asleep. I keep getting these pains in my legs and nerve endings on my feet, arms, lets, back... feels like a needle pricking me. I know it is from exhaustion. My body is just plain tired. So I got up last night and the girls were restless all night long. I didn't even bother taking them upstairs and trying to put them down because it would have been pointless. It would have been pure frustration for me. So, I am all all day...
This evening we are having friends over for TJ's birthday / our Friday night group dinner. Plus today (actually, yesterday) marks the one month date of the girls' birth, so we can actually have the girls out and about AND have friends over. Today, July 11 is my official due date for the twin pregnancy. It's hard to believe it has been that long since I found out I was pregnant. Heck, I can't believe the girls are a month old now! TIME FLIES
Back to the point... we have company tonight and that means no sleep for me. So basically, I will be up most of the evening and the night tonight. Tim and I pretty much tag-team the girls at this point and I will let him go to bed at regular time, try to let him get at least 6 hours of sleep, and then I will wake him up to let me go to bed... unless the girls actually sleep in their beds tonight AND I am actually able to relax enough to fall asleep, too.
Being this exhausted sucks. But even now I have to say that it is easier the second time around than with your first child. I just couldn't handle it with TJ - but because I've BTDT, it makes it a tad bit more bearable.
So, bring on the leaded fuel... I've got a LONG 24 hours coming!
Wednesday - pretty much no sleep all night Tuesday night. Tim came home and I went to bed at about 6:30pm and he let me sleep until about Midnight. YAHOO! So that means I got about 5-6 hours of sleep. Previous nights I was laying down at about the same time, but getting up at 9pm. Then I finally got the girls settled down in their beds but I couldn't fall asleep to save my life. Perhaps I was too tired. So, Thursday I was up from Midnight until about 7:30pm when I went to lay down. Again, Tim let me sleep until Midnight, but once again, I had a horrible time trying to fall asleep. I keep getting these pains in my legs and nerve endings on my feet, arms, lets, back... feels like a needle pricking me. I know it is from exhaustion. My body is just plain tired. So I got up last night and the girls were restless all night long. I didn't even bother taking them upstairs and trying to put them down because it would have been pointless. It would have been pure frustration for me. So, I am all all day...
This evening we are having friends over for TJ's birthday / our Friday night group dinner. Plus today (actually, yesterday) marks the one month date of the girls' birth, so we can actually have the girls out and about AND have friends over. Today, July 11 is my official due date for the twin pregnancy. It's hard to believe it has been that long since I found out I was pregnant. Heck, I can't believe the girls are a month old now! TIME FLIES
Back to the point... we have company tonight and that means no sleep for me. So basically, I will be up most of the evening and the night tonight. Tim and I pretty much tag-team the girls at this point and I will let him go to bed at regular time, try to let him get at least 6 hours of sleep, and then I will wake him up to let me go to bed... unless the girls actually sleep in their beds tonight AND I am actually able to relax enough to fall asleep, too.
Being this exhausted sucks. But even now I have to say that it is easier the second time around than with your first child. I just couldn't handle it with TJ - but because I've BTDT, it makes it a tad bit more bearable.
So, bring on the leaded fuel... I've got a LONG 24 hours coming!
Mom is Obnoxious
That's what TJ said... Mom is Obnoxious. The situation was this... after telling TJ for the hundredth time to stop running around like a nut, I finally told him to go upstairs and calm down for a bit. Granted, he is constantly being told to stop something because he is always at 100% energy level 100% of the time... it really was nothing new for me to tell him to chill and go upstairs.
Now what he didn't quite understand was that since the monitors were on in his sisters' room, I could hear what was going on upstairs. I heard him mumble something that I knew wasn't nice. So, I asked him what he said and he simply denied that he said anything at all. I was pretty calm, too tired to yell or make a fuss - but I did tell him to come and tell me, to my face, exactly what he has said. He came down stairs and proceeded to tell me that he had simply said something like "I love my mommy." Yeah right! I told him he was a little liar (and he's never really lied before, so this actually made me want to laugh, but I kept cool). He then walked over to me with his head down. He started to pat me on the leg and said, "I said mom is obnoxious." I told him that was rude and ugly... yadda, yadda, yadda... and sent him to his room.
TJ is such a good kid for the most part. He is always on high energy and I've come to accept that. He's been a great big brother and adores his little sisters. So, I really try to give him a break. But this little incident taught me a lesson, too. You can't keep them from growing up. They aren't always going to be sweet. Someday he will say something worse. I take it all with a grain of salt. He's only human and is definitely my son. He is hot tempered, thinks he knows EVERYTHING (even at his young age... sheesh, at this rate, what will he be like as a teen), and can't stand to be bossed.
The attitude today was bad, too. Either that or I am just so tired and very intolerant. I threatened him by telling him I would throw away his birthday present (the LEGOs he knows he is getting on Tuesday... not the DS he is getting on Friday), and he fussed and complained (he complains a lot), and when he knew I was serious he did a 180 and started doing everything and anything possible to please his mommy. He helped me cleaned while I gave the girls a bottle and really showed that he wanted to do good.
Gosh, I love the little boy. I adore him. I can't believe in less than a month he is going to be in Kindergarten! I can't believe my little baby is going off to school. I think about it and I want to cry!
Now what he didn't quite understand was that since the monitors were on in his sisters' room, I could hear what was going on upstairs. I heard him mumble something that I knew wasn't nice. So, I asked him what he said and he simply denied that he said anything at all. I was pretty calm, too tired to yell or make a fuss - but I did tell him to come and tell me, to my face, exactly what he has said. He came down stairs and proceeded to tell me that he had simply said something like "I love my mommy." Yeah right! I told him he was a little liar (and he's never really lied before, so this actually made me want to laugh, but I kept cool). He then walked over to me with his head down. He started to pat me on the leg and said, "I said mom is obnoxious." I told him that was rude and ugly... yadda, yadda, yadda... and sent him to his room.
TJ is such a good kid for the most part. He is always on high energy and I've come to accept that. He's been a great big brother and adores his little sisters. So, I really try to give him a break. But this little incident taught me a lesson, too. You can't keep them from growing up. They aren't always going to be sweet. Someday he will say something worse. I take it all with a grain of salt. He's only human and is definitely my son. He is hot tempered, thinks he knows EVERYTHING (even at his young age... sheesh, at this rate, what will he be like as a teen), and can't stand to be bossed.
The attitude today was bad, too. Either that or I am just so tired and very intolerant. I threatened him by telling him I would throw away his birthday present (the LEGOs he knows he is getting on Tuesday... not the DS he is getting on Friday), and he fussed and complained (he complains a lot), and when he knew I was serious he did a 180 and started doing everything and anything possible to please his mommy. He helped me cleaned while I gave the girls a bottle and really showed that he wanted to do good.
Gosh, I love the little boy. I adore him. I can't believe in less than a month he is going to be in Kindergarten! I can't believe my little baby is going off to school. I think about it and I want to cry!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
The ups and downs of shopping with twins
I knew this would happen. I've heard it from countless other mothers of twins. Shopping with them is quite a challenge in navigation among touchy blue-hairs, inquisitive idiots, and rude gawkers. I get it, though. Twins are neat - they are special. Twin girls excite people even more than any other types of twins. Like I said... I get it. But it doesn't mean I have to like it.
When Tim and I went shopping this past weekend, we didn't get any gawkers, sans the pregnant lady and her husband. We made it through the entire trip without anyone stopping us to look at the twins, to ask if they are "natural" and so on. There is only ONE reason why this happened. Tim was the one pushing the cart with the girls. I had the grocery cart. People don't stop to talk to men... just the tired, overly exhausted moms who just want to get back home in time to give another bottle.
To all the strangers out there... to be brutally honest, I don't care about your kids. I don't care about your cousin's pastor's sister's uncle-in-law's twins either. I don't want to share information with you about whether or not they are identical, natural, how old they are, etc. Oh and on another note, don't ask a mother of twins if their children are "natural." ALL children are NATURAL. I do not have "faux" children. They didn't come from a can. They came from my womb and it took an all natural way to have these babies. I like Raney's reply of "No, they aren't natural - they are spawns of the devil" and just leave it at that. That's a great way to communicate here in the good old Bible Belt.
The ups of shopping with twins is the simple fact that I can show off the beauty of our creation. Tim and I did a good job, if I might say so myself! Well, that's just one "up" ... so I should rename this post - The downs and up of shopping with twins. I am sure there is something even more clever to say but my brain is just so tired, that's the best I can do!
When Tim and I went shopping this past weekend, we didn't get any gawkers, sans the pregnant lady and her husband. We made it through the entire trip without anyone stopping us to look at the twins, to ask if they are "natural" and so on. There is only ONE reason why this happened. Tim was the one pushing the cart with the girls. I had the grocery cart. People don't stop to talk to men... just the tired, overly exhausted moms who just want to get back home in time to give another bottle.
To all the strangers out there... to be brutally honest, I don't care about your kids. I don't care about your cousin's pastor's sister's uncle-in-law's twins either. I don't want to share information with you about whether or not they are identical, natural, how old they are, etc. Oh and on another note, don't ask a mother of twins if their children are "natural." ALL children are NATURAL. I do not have "faux" children. They didn't come from a can. They came from my womb and it took an all natural way to have these babies. I like Raney's reply of "No, they aren't natural - they are spawns of the devil" and just leave it at that. That's a great way to communicate here in the good old Bible Belt.
The ups of shopping with twins is the simple fact that I can show off the beauty of our creation. Tim and I did a good job, if I might say so myself! Well, that's just one "up" ... so I should rename this post - The downs and up of shopping with twins. I am sure there is something even more clever to say but my brain is just so tired, that's the best I can do!
Monday, July 7, 2008
The latest at the Towle House
The family is doing well. I loved having Tim home for four days because of the Holiday. I was able to get some much needed rest... which means, I got to sleep more than 2-3 hours in a stretch! It was wonderful!
Our weight check on the girls went well. Lauren had gained 4 ounces, putting her at 7 lbs 3 oz and Katie gained 8 ounces to put her at 6 lbs 11 oz. Both are good (I think) and they go back for their one month check up a little later this month.
I've also uploaded some new pictures to our photobucket account:
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/JediMommy/20080707/
We are having TJ's Big Friend's party on Friday, July 11. I can't wait! It will be nice to see the Friday Night Group again, and for TJ to have a celebration in his honor! We are also going to actually go to Chuck E Cheese on his birthday with just family. He is SO excited! We are getting him a Nintendo DS and he has NO clue about it. I hope he will LOVE IT! I am sure he will, especially when he sees all the games people are getting him. I can't believe my baby is turning five years old! It seems like I gave birth to him just yesterday! Damn, time flies.
Hopefully everyone's gotten their birth announcement. If not, you should get it soon. I will post it online after everyone has had time to get it :)
Our weight check on the girls went well. Lauren had gained 4 ounces, putting her at 7 lbs 3 oz and Katie gained 8 ounces to put her at 6 lbs 11 oz. Both are good (I think) and they go back for their one month check up a little later this month.
I've also uploaded some new pictures to our photobucket account:
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/JediMommy/20080707/
We are having TJ's Big Friend's party on Friday, July 11. I can't wait! It will be nice to see the Friday Night Group again, and for TJ to have a celebration in his honor! We are also going to actually go to Chuck E Cheese on his birthday with just family. He is SO excited! We are getting him a Nintendo DS and he has NO clue about it. I hope he will LOVE IT! I am sure he will, especially when he sees all the games people are getting him. I can't believe my baby is turning five years old! It seems like I gave birth to him just yesterday! Damn, time flies.
Hopefully everyone's gotten their birth announcement. If not, you should get it soon. I will post it online after everyone has had time to get it :)
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Today's Outing!
Well, I got up enough courage to get out of the house with the kids today. Actually, I knew it would have to happen soon because I needed to meet Raney at Costco to order TJ's birthday cake for his "big friend" party on 7/11. Even though we were told not to really expose them to many people before their due date (which was also 7/11), I HAD to get out of the house.
We managed to keep exposure down to a minimum. We didn't run into any crazy strangers wanting to touch the girls. Yes, believe it or not, as I've been told by and read from many mothers of twins and multiples, strangers feel like they have a right to touch your babies. Yes, there is something about twins that attracts the blue-hairs and those touchy-feely strangers. Raney told me that she actually had a blue-hair practically chase after her in a store because she just "had" to see those babies. And yes, they feel like they can touch them too.
I also took the girls and TJ to CAS to see Tim's coworkers. Again, exposure was kept to a minimum. TJ was thrilled to see Keith (from our Friday Night Dinner Group/Tim's co-worker/boss) and give him "taters."
I look forward to getting out with them more and more. Mom can't wait to prance around town with her grandchildren and enjoy the radiance that comes with being a Mimi to multiples +1. I don't blame her. It's a grandma thing!
And the birth announcements DID get mailed today. I have been so tempted to share the announcement with everyone online, but I am holding off. I want it to be a surprise. Not that they are professionally done or anything... but I did them and I think they turned out fairly well for a novice like myself!
As for the girls... we are still dealing with major reflux problems. It SUCKS! I hope to see the liquid Zantac work because not only is it cheaper than the alternative, but the alternative is a solutab and giving that in a syringe after dissolving it SUCKS (we had to do this with TJ for a while).
Okay, Tim's home - time for dinner. More later!
We managed to keep exposure down to a minimum. We didn't run into any crazy strangers wanting to touch the girls. Yes, believe it or not, as I've been told by and read from many mothers of twins and multiples, strangers feel like they have a right to touch your babies. Yes, there is something about twins that attracts the blue-hairs and those touchy-feely strangers. Raney told me that she actually had a blue-hair practically chase after her in a store because she just "had" to see those babies. And yes, they feel like they can touch them too.
I also took the girls and TJ to CAS to see Tim's coworkers. Again, exposure was kept to a minimum. TJ was thrilled to see Keith (from our Friday Night Dinner Group/Tim's co-worker/boss) and give him "taters."
I look forward to getting out with them more and more. Mom can't wait to prance around town with her grandchildren and enjoy the radiance that comes with being a Mimi to multiples +1. I don't blame her. It's a grandma thing!
And the birth announcements DID get mailed today. I have been so tempted to share the announcement with everyone online, but I am holding off. I want it to be a surprise. Not that they are professionally done or anything... but I did them and I think they turned out fairly well for a novice like myself!
As for the girls... we are still dealing with major reflux problems. It SUCKS! I hope to see the liquid Zantac work because not only is it cheaper than the alternative, but the alternative is a solutab and giving that in a syringe after dissolving it SUCKS (we had to do this with TJ for a while).
Okay, Tim's home - time for dinner. More later!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)