Why Things Run Smoothly With Twins.... Kinda

There are rare occasions when I count down the hours until 830pm. Actually it was only one occasion- yesterday - when the worst teething speed happened and made a super cranky baby upset and her sister who doesn't nap, a little cranky too. 

There's a reason why there's only been one occasion where I have looked forward to bedtime. 

It's this guy. 

The girls call him daddy. I call him my best friend & husband. 

Things run pretty smoothly when he's here. 

I never have to wash bottles. 

I never have to make bottles. 

* Now that we only have to make 12 bottles for the whole day-we can make them all at bedtime. They are good for 24 hours and it works so much easier that way. So, while I do my evening pump- he slaves at the sink! 

I never have to take out the trash. 

* This isn't always true. I often pull out another trash bag if the trash seems to be overflowing. If I absolutely HAVE to, ill remove the trash bag and replace it and put it out on the back porch. Only when things are looking bleak. I never walk it to the curb. 

I never have to put pellets in the pellet stove. 

* Granted, the bags weighs 50lbs and I probably make more of a mess than help. Still- I never have to do it. 

I rarely clean the litter box or do laundry. 

* both of these chores were a big no no when I was pregnant. The cat litter was exclusively a no. And my big ol belly wouldn't let me reach to the bottom of the washer. We are never even close to being caught up on laundry. Nonetheless, I basically only have to do the girls laundry. Which face it- is the main priority around here. As long as I have underwear and sweats of any kind. I don't need anything else! ;) 

He is an amazing daddy. 

* seriously. If I get frustrated- he takes whichever baby ( usually E) and puts her to sleep or listens to her scream for a minute. He loves them. They love him. The way get light up when they see him- makes me melt. He makes them laugh, plays with them, changes them, still hasn't got the bow thing down, but that will come. 

I picked an amazing man to marry and be my best friend and he turned out to be one awesome daddy to these two miracles. 

One of my favorite besides the other black and white one on the couch! My heart! 

Operation Crib Takeover!

Bria fell asleep last night drinking her nighttime bottle. I looked at my husband and he said he didn't care. Swing or crib. I'm the type that hates to make decisions and totally needed validation. So we but the dust and put her in her crib. 

We had been practicing her naps in her crib which never lasted more than 40 minutes. Ella is a great napper on the other hand. 

I fully expected Bria to be up as we were crawling into bed at 930! Nope! 

No peep until 330am! Which they were both moving and that's about the time a Ella gets up and can't put herself back to sleep. I was trying to deal with a crying Ella and Bria was having play time in her crib so I put her In the swing to deal with Ella. 

Score! I feel pretty good about that. Now of I can just get them both to sleep through the night. Ella must be going through the 4 month sleep regression since they are just now 5 months but 4 months adjusted. 

On another insanely positive note- Bria is trying out new sounds. The first few times I heard it- it was when she cried only. Last night- she Was playing on the floor saying "mamamamama". I died! Bat sound ever. She would say it a couple times then get so excited with herself she would die laughing outloud and kick her legs like crazy and flail her arms! Seriously couldn't be cuter! 

Weigh In Day!

Thankfully not for this momma. She's having an awful hard time giving up bread and cookies, so it's not looking good! 

For Bria! 

She has never gained a solid 2 pounds per month. Almost always gaining only a measly pound. They were always getting one scoop of neosure with their breastmilk but Ella was gaining weight just fine. At 4 months, we switched Ella to regular 2 oz formula (20 cal) mixed with 3 ounces of breastmilk and Bria had to stay on Neosure, which is normally 22-cal. However, now we have to increase it to 24 cal. They believe she wasn't getting the most hearty part of my breastmilk since I was splitting it between both of them. I make about 37-42 ounces a day (44 yesterday!!!) But they eat at least 60 ounces a day combined. :/ 

So we have to strategically make 24 calories. It's 3 scoops per 5 ounces. So we split it between bottles since we make them all at once. It's super annoying but at this point we have it down to a science. And all of Bria's bottles are the white lid/white bottle Tommie tippies and Ella's bottles are abnormal. Haha! Either short, pink or pink lid! Best way to do it! 

We went into the doctor praying she was at least 1.5 pounds more! She was previously 11.15. 

2 days ago- she was 13.13!!!! 

Almost up two pound! So this is the recipe for success for  little miss B! We do this for another month if she gains again we can try to decrease back down to regular 22 cal neosure. 

We had E weighed for the heck of it and she gained 2 pounds exactly! From 13.2 to 15.2! She always gained a little over previously!! So the regular 29 seems to be doing just fine! 

We are super proud of our little ladies!! 

Bri is pretty much a big girl! Sitting up! *sigh* 

We tried rice cereal on a spoon last night and E loved it! B was too sleepy! 

Love Ella's smile! 

My girls are perfect..

I have /had myself so worried about the next two weeks. I'm honestly more worried to have to out Ella through so much testing. I've read a lot about the helmet and I'm praying it's not that bad. 

The more I watch - I 100% feel Ella has great hearing. She has responded to everything. All noises, small coughs, rings, dings, Bells, music,etc. If she doesn't respond right away she is super focusing and Bria usually doesn't hear  it first off either. I'm not thel east bit concerned. I truly want to cancel the appointment but Andrew does have hearing loss so this is a legitimate concern. 

For her helmet. I've been studying and observing her head. It would depend on the degree and I'm truly hoping she doesn't need it, but my guy tells me otherwise. I've researched a little bit and  am hoping we don't have to go full on helmet and can do the DOC bands. We shall see. 

A comment was made to me though that has bugged me. I was told that I didn't have to take any photos or post any pictures of my baby girl in her helmet. Just take pictures during the one hour it can be off.. I replied why. She didn't have an answer. 

This helmet will be part of her life and part of her journey. I'm not embarrassed going through this. It's not my fault. She's a twin, it's common with multiples and her sister was 2 lbs larger than her. She had no room. I had 11.5 lbs of babies in there. Even out side of the womb. We made her lay on her left side. She changed positions at night, she's too strong to stay on her left and immediately rolls to her right. We positioned toys on her left, the TV, her sister. She still preferred her right. As soon as I noticed something we had her enrolled in birth to 3. She's in PT. We are doing all we can. 

Regardless, my girls are perfect. They were made my God for Andrew and myself and they are teaching me skills I never knew I had. They have also taught me the craziest love I will ever know. Everyone said its a different kind of love and it is. I am insanely blessed no matter what and feel blessed that I have not one, but two babies to worry about! 

If it's not one thing... It's another

I am going to have gray hair by the time I'm 27.. Which is a few months away. 

So we ready have Little miss Ella in birth to 3. Her PT comes twice a month and Dev specialist comes once a month. 

PT came and it was a good session! We discussed how she has improved, her strength. What exercises to do, etc. We talked about her head shape. She said going to see an orthotist wouldn't be a bad idea. She may or may not need a helmet. I'm seriously at odds with this. Is it worth it for just a tiny but if correction to out my precious baby girl through that? 

 I posted the question on my multiples twin group and got a heck of a lot of backlash. Instead of flipping out on them, I left that dumb group and moved on. Lucky for them, because I had a lot of choice words I wanted to say. 

We have that appointment jan 28th. 

Our developmental specialist came yesterday. I had no hesitations about his appointment whatsoever. She's far above and beyond Bria so I wasn't concerned. Until she decided to shake a high pitched rattle next to her ear. She didn't move. 

My husband has hearing loss. We have prayed, or I have at least since Day 1- not to pass on his hearing difficulties with any of our girls. And now this. Now- we ae getting both E and B tested jan 31st. Screw the helmet I'm may more nervous about this one. 

I have never noticed her not listening or responding. So this certainly comes as a shock. I have no words and am still feeling anxiety from it. 

I need to let God handle my worry, which I can easily do when I'm with the girls. When I'm away from them, like now, it consumes me. 

We need lots and lots of prayers. I'm hoping the hearing is due to wax build up and nothing else. I just feel so bad for Ella...

They are too perfect for anything to be wrong! 

5 Months.. Hello Big Girls!

Seriously. People warn you that it goes by fast and Yadda Yadda, but it does! Wahhhhhhh! 

My sweet babies, my 4 and 6lb newborns. Sigh. 

My little Elliephant, Ella Faith,

You are getting so big! You are officially (kind of) in size 2 diapers and in 3-6 month sleepers and we are transitioning your clothes as well!! I can't wait to see how much you weigh! You are a solid rock of muscle and daddy swears you will be our ball player!  Lately you have been on the move! I can't take my eyes off of you for a single minute without you rolling over and over and over! You are starting to scoot and tried to army crawl last night! I love your bald little head, even though your hair is really starting to come in.  I love your contagious smile, your deep screaming voice, your little legs and how cute you look when you stand up! Your eyes and pretty much everything about you - looks like your momma! You have blonde hair and very dark blue almond shaped eyes. You completely adore your sister and want to grab her arms, eat them and bury your face in her belly! You get so excited to just sit there and watch her! You still love to eat, you love your activity jumper, your puppy violet, your baby doll, Sophie the giraffe, your jumparoo & now your crib! It's official- you are out of the swing and in the crib! At first you were hard to get to bed, but now I can lay you down and you snuggle your monkey and you fall right to sleep! From time to time, you sleep all night. Sometimes you can't get yourself back to sleep after putting your binky back in and we have to feed you! You are such a good little napper though! You and your sister are opposite in that way! 

You have become quite the talker and We truly love every minute of it!!! We love you to the moon and back Ellie Bellie! 

My Baby Bria Girl!!

You are chugging your bottles and we hope the new high calorie bottles are packing on the pounds! You have the tiniest roll on your legs and we love it! We switched sissy to size 2 diapers so we switched you too! You have been in 3-6 month sleepers and we are slowly switching to 3-6 month clothes! We love how excited you get when we see your bottle, you start kicking like crazy! We love your pouty cry face and wonder how long you will do that! Daddy loves your cuddles & often takes naps with you! We love your new beautiful blondish hair, your big blue almost hazel eyes and your growing belly! You look just like daddy as a baby, which is pretty stinking cute! You are getting some hair which looks dark

Blonde and still have the prettiest blue eyes which may be turning into pretty hazel like daddy!  You seem very content laying on your back and playing, and don't seem to care to roll over! You do like to scoot around on your back in circles or roll on circles! You can make your way around a floor mat for sure! You love your activity jumper, jumparoo, Violet, Sophie the giraffe, your baby doll, pretty much anything you can stick in your mouth! & you are in love with your swing! And your monkey! You dont show an interest in crawling, but you are getting pretty good at sitting up! Until you get tired, you start to bend over and it looks like a folded sandwich! Ella has a physical therapist as she is so impressed at the way you and sis stand! She said you will be walking soon! You love to talk to us and your sister and you are started to get a dainty scream/talk! You aren't that great of a napper but have the sleeping all night thing down pat! We love every minute of it! We love you to the moon and back Bri Bri! 

I.am. So. Lucky......

Putting On Make-Up

It's 2pm and I'm just getting ready for the day.. 

Why is that?!

#1- after a feed at 650- we slept until 930 and 10! So did I! (Well I lie- I relaxed but snuggled in my fleece sheets!) 

#2- right now- both of my girls are sleeping IN THEIR CRIB!!! 

You read that right!! 

Andrew tried it out the other day with Bri and she slept 40 minutes as a nap in her crib. So the living room smaller swing is out of batteries so I decided to lay her in the crib. 30 minutes. Not bad. 

Ella took a 1.5 hour nap earlier today and is out again. I got 10 minutes by myself during the day. It's a start! 

Crib Sleeping- say what?!

1 for 2 is good.. Right!? 

So after my last post where I confessed that I didn't know what I was doing- well Ella has slept through the night in her crib and taken all naps but two (one we were at my parents) in her crib since! Yes- I said that! 

She has somewhat of a difficult time getting her to sleep. She needs bounced which gives me a workout I'm not expecting, she refuses to be rocked.  I'm trying to figure out her cues. I've been going off cues lately. She let me know she was ready for the crib by turning over In her swing (almost anyways) or arching her back in her bouncer,etc. She lets me know when she is sleepy. She fights sleep kind of by arching her back or screaming, etc. I was exhausted yesterday and Andrew had put her to sleep for 2/4 naps yesterday and I wasn't going to give up on bedtime. (Even though if was struggling). So she was still fighting me, she was getting sleepier though- so I laid her down in her crib and she went right to sleep. Not a peep until 4am when her binky fell out. 

She has however woken up yesterday at 430 to eat and today at 530. I'm hoping she's just not used to her crib and will be able to fall back asleep in time. The girls have been spoiling us with their awesome sleep habits lately. 

Bria, however, shows NO cues. I have no clue what to do with her. She's an awesome back sleeper but that girl looooves her swing. So I'm not sure. But 1/2 is a start!!! 

Compilation of photos from this past weekend which was highly eventful! Will share soon! 

2013 Year in Review

This is a tad late but seriously- that's my middle name lately. 

 Of courses we got out positive pregnancy test in 2012-

Christmas Day! So this year has and will be a flood of oregnancy pictures! 

January- 16th I believe! Found out it was twins! 

I seriously remember it so vividly! I have too many best day Evers this year but this is definitely one of them! 

We got to call my sister, Mamaw, his sisters, and my parents to tell them! Of course- his family didn't believe us! My parents and sister had a feeling it was multiples! They were just nervous it was triplets! 

February- I got to go back for an ultrasound and take my parents and Dr. Prouty gave us a super cool 3D ultrasound! 

My parents loved it! Now that they are here- it's seriously so amazing. God knew exactly what he was doing when he was creating pregnancies and development in the womb! This is perfection! 

March- 

March we found out we were having two baby girls! Honestly, I was so convinced there was a boy because everyone said boy and girl, etc. And I figured hey why not. I couldn't imagine having one of boh. Two girlies for us is beyond perfect! 

April, May- we started getting the girls room ready! And planning the baby shower! 

June 1- our baby shower! Unfortunately- my hard drive has all the pictures from it and I'm blogging from my phone! It was amazing and we got so much stuff! 

July- my belly exploded! 

& August- the best month ever! 

Stopped work August 9th at 36 weeks

August 12- had a regular appointment and got sent to labor and delivery 

 

 

And the rest is history!! 

August 13th-