First off, since this is primarily a blog about my life with my amazing baby boys, I thought I'd share that this morning, Dean CRAWLED UP HALF THE FLIGHT OF STAIRS!
Lord have mercy. I almost lost it.
Dean has gotten very, very clingy with me lately. He wants only to be with me all day long. I can't even bend down to pick something up when I'm holding him because he thinks I'm putting him down and he goes berserk!
This weekend was really hard for him, because I was at the hospital much of the day. Though he was with Lester (who he LOVES), there were a lot of new people around and upsetting of schedules, etc., so he was not happy.
So today, when I was upstairs too long getting ready for work, I suppose he decided to take matters into his own hands and climb up to get me.
Nothing like determination to propel a child to master a new skill, huh?
Anyway, we have to step up the gate game - again. Can't have him falling backwards down the stairs. Gracious. That's all I need.
And here's the update on my brother, as sent to friends and family by e-mail. Thanks to all of you who have posted your thoughts and prayers for Rashad. I really, really appreciate it.
All,
I thought I'd send a quick update before I leave work to head down to the hospital to see Rashad.
The last two days have been a series of ups and downs.
Saturday night, after we'd all turned in for the night (except Cortney, his girlfriend, who's been sleeping in the hospital waiting room every night since Tuesday), nurses turned off Rashad's sedation. Doctors expected him to stay out of it for a considerable amount of time just because of the magnitude of his injuries and the sheer volume of drugs he's been on. But early, early Sunday morning, Rashad surprised them all by attempting to open an eye!! Seeing this, the nurse on duty called his name and he tried to turn his head!
Hallelujah!!!
When we heard this news, you cannot imagine the jumping, shouting, crying and praising the Lord that ensued! We all got dressed and went to the hospital to see him, but by then, the doctors had re-sedated him, because apparently just that small amount of struggling to come to was enough to send his ICP levels soaring. Doctors said he wasn't ready just yet to be aware and alert. Still, we were heartened.
As the day progressed, however, although Rashad's ICP levels stayed good, his CPP -- a different number that indicates blood flow to the brain -- began to dip. And doctors said tests were showing he was having trouble oxygenating his blood. Further tests showed fluid in his lungs, and possible pneumonia. Last I checked, they were trying to find a way to more deeply drain his lungs.
Today, we were told the doctors were going to try to do a CT scan on Rashad's brain. In and of itself, this shows improvement, because he was unable to tolerate lying flat for a long enough period of time to do such a scan even a few days ago. But Dad says his ICP levels -- for some reason -- have been trending high today (in the low 20s), so I'm not sure if they were able to do the scan after all. I'll find out more later when I get to the hospital.
We are anxious for the results of the CT scan, because doctors will be able to tell us by what percentage the swelling has gone down, and also if they can readily see any damaged areas. Right now, we still have no idea what is going on in there.
But we are all just praying and being patient for Rashad to be ready for all this testing. And we are trusting that each day may bring some good and possibly some not-so-good news, but that at the end of this road, our brother will be back to us healthy and strong.
As my Dad, the mathematician, said today: Three steps forward and two steps back is still a net gain.
Thank you again to all of you who have stepped up in such a big way to share your love and support. So many of you have called, sent notes, cards, e-mail and Facebook messages, stopped by the hospital, offered to pray, babysit or run errands, etc., I feel buoyed just by your very goodness. Special thanks to The Hatcher Group for the gang of food sent to my Mom and Dad's, and to Jessica and Holly for running to the grocery store for Lester and me. And special, special thanks to all of you who have and are continuing to pray for Rashad. I really will never be able to thank you enough.
More later, if I can.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Update
I just sent this email to friends and family and thought it would be good to re-post here. This way I'll always have it, to refer to later, when my brother wakes up.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friends and family,
I have been getting so many requests for updates about my brother, I am truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and concern. Your friendship has never meant more to me than it does right now.
I wish I could muster the energy to respond to all of you individually, but truthfully, by the end of these excruciatingly long days, I really just want to crawl into bed and try -- usually fruitlessly -- to get some sleep.
So I thought it would be easier to just e-mail you a quick update, and hope that this will suffice until we can talk or see one another. I hope you don't find this impersonal. Please know I have gotten all your kind words and offerings of prayers and help, and I have been immensely grateful for each and every one.
My entire family is grateful.
So here's what we know now (which isn't much, unfortunately):
Rashad is stable, but still in critical condition, unconscious, and very, very sick.
He has severe swelling of the brain, which the team of neurosurgeons assigned to his case are trying to keep to a minimum with a bevy of medications they adjust several times a day.
Because of the swelling, we have no idea if he has any significant brain activity. We know he must have some, because his pupils dilate in response to light. And also, when his body is tussled or moved around, the swelling increases, indicating that stimulation causes some reaction in the brain. Other than that, he has not moved, spoken or otherwise.
The swelling is expected to peak anywhere from 3 to 5 days after the date of the injury, which was Tuesday. After the peak, they expect the swelling to level off, or in the best case, go down some. Once that happens, the doctors will be able to see better what kind of brain activity he has.
So, we're in a torturous game of wait-and-see.
The whole family has rallied together and gathered at the hospital to sit by his bedside and pray or talk to him (quietly). We can't really touch him, because the doctors said even that is too much stimulation,and that restriction is hard. But hopefully, that will change at some point.
They're keeping Rashad heavily sedated and in a paralytic state, and have even lowered his body temperature to 94 degrees, all in an effort to keep his brain from having to work too hard to do anything at all. A machine even is breathing for him.
Even with all that help, Rashad's intercranial pressure (ICP) continues to spike from time to time. If the doctors aren't satisfied by tomorrow that his body is able to keep the brain pressure at an acceptable level, they have told my parents that they'll have to put Rashad into a medically-induced coma.
I honestly don't know really what that means; how it's different, for example, from the unconscious state he's already in.
In the meantime, other doctors and nurses are taking care of the various other things that are wrong with Rashad. His right eyelid is ripped nearly completely off, and the ophthalmologist said he has damaged tissue in that eye; he has 9 broken bones in his face; his leg is broken. Somehow, the nurses also are trying to keep him from shivering (since they've lowered his body temperature), because that makes his brain work too hard; they are worried about blood clots in his legs because of inactivity, so they're giving him blood thinners, and they're intravenously feeding him a gross-looking cocktail of protein, acetaminophen and other fluids. That doesn't even include the more serious painkillers they're also pumping into him (thank the Lord). It feels good to believe he isn't feeling any of this.
It's beautiful how so many of Rashad's friends have come and set up posts at the hospital; from boys he's known from as far back as pre-school to co-workers he's only recently met, but who love him already. We are literally spilling out into the hallways at some points. I'm sorry he's missing out on the mini-party in his honor that occurs every day. I hope he can feel it.
We have brought pictures of family members into his hushed and darkened room, including one of our dear Grandmother who passed away in June 2008. She and Rashad were the best of buddies, so we know she's looking out for him. My mom is also keeping a little journal for people to sign, so he'll see it when he wakes up.
I also make sure to tell the revolving door of medical staff a little about Rashad when I can, so that they know he's not just a badly-bruised body lying there; he's our brother, and a devoted father, and a man who was working two jobs to save money to get a better apartment for himself, his girlfriend and 4-year-old daughter. He's the one in the family who makes everyone crack up laughing -- a jokester who makes up nicknames for us that make absolutely no sense (my mother, for instance, is "Thompson;" my father, "Big Lads.") He's a sweetheart and a good boy.
I tell them he has a lot of life left to live. I want them to know that for some reason. I hope it helps somehow.
Tuesday and yesterday we were all running on adrenaline, so things seemed optimistic; today was much harder. The weight of what has happened to my baby brother seems almost too much to bear. This morning, I could barely breathe. I am unnerved by watching my father sob, and my mother fall apart. Even Kadija (those who know my family well will know what this means) has been rendered jokeless.
But, despite the sadness, we are all -- more than ever -- trusting in God, and believing that He is in control of this situation. Prayer is helping us tremendously. And we find comfort in being thankful for what miracles already have happened. The fact that Rashad made it out of that crash alive? Clearly a miracle. The fact that Nasya, his daughter, was not in the car (because those two are joined at the hip)? Clearly a miracle. We know God's hand is in this. We are managing, in between our tears, to keep the faith.
Anyway, that's the update for now. I'll try to keep you all posted from time to time, and prayerfully, by God's grace, I'll have something miraculous to tell you soon.
Thank you again and again for all your love and support. It means so, so, so much.
Tanika
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friends and family,
I have been getting so many requests for updates about my brother, I am truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and concern. Your friendship has never meant more to me than it does right now.
I wish I could muster the energy to respond to all of you individually, but truthfully, by the end of these excruciatingly long days, I really just want to crawl into bed and try -- usually fruitlessly -- to get some sleep.
So I thought it would be easier to just e-mail you a quick update, and hope that this will suffice until we can talk or see one another. I hope you don't find this impersonal. Please know I have gotten all your kind words and offerings of prayers and help, and I have been immensely grateful for each and every one.
My entire family is grateful.
So here's what we know now (which isn't much, unfortunately):
Rashad is stable, but still in critical condition, unconscious, and very, very sick.
He has severe swelling of the brain, which the team of neurosurgeons assigned to his case are trying to keep to a minimum with a bevy of medications they adjust several times a day.
Because of the swelling, we have no idea if he has any significant brain activity. We know he must have some, because his pupils dilate in response to light. And also, when his body is tussled or moved around, the swelling increases, indicating that stimulation causes some reaction in the brain. Other than that, he has not moved, spoken or otherwise.
The swelling is expected to peak anywhere from 3 to 5 days after the date of the injury, which was Tuesday. After the peak, they expect the swelling to level off, or in the best case, go down some. Once that happens, the doctors will be able to see better what kind of brain activity he has.
So, we're in a torturous game of wait-and-see.
The whole family has rallied together and gathered at the hospital to sit by his bedside and pray or talk to him (quietly). We can't really touch him, because the doctors said even that is too much stimulation,and that restriction is hard. But hopefully, that will change at some point.
They're keeping Rashad heavily sedated and in a paralytic state, and have even lowered his body temperature to 94 degrees, all in an effort to keep his brain from having to work too hard to do anything at all. A machine even is breathing for him.
Even with all that help, Rashad's intercranial pressure (ICP) continues to spike from time to time. If the doctors aren't satisfied by tomorrow that his body is able to keep the brain pressure at an acceptable level, they have told my parents that they'll have to put Rashad into a medically-induced coma.
I honestly don't know really what that means; how it's different, for example, from the unconscious state he's already in.
In the meantime, other doctors and nurses are taking care of the various other things that are wrong with Rashad. His right eyelid is ripped nearly completely off, and the ophthalmologist said he has damaged tissue in that eye; he has 9 broken bones in his face; his leg is broken. Somehow, the nurses also are trying to keep him from shivering (since they've lowered his body temperature), because that makes his brain work too hard; they are worried about blood clots in his legs because of inactivity, so they're giving him blood thinners, and they're intravenously feeding him a gross-looking cocktail of protein, acetaminophen and other fluids. That doesn't even include the more serious painkillers they're also pumping into him (thank the Lord). It feels good to believe he isn't feeling any of this.
It's beautiful how so many of Rashad's friends have come and set up posts at the hospital; from boys he's known from as far back as pre-school to co-workers he's only recently met, but who love him already. We are literally spilling out into the hallways at some points. I'm sorry he's missing out on the mini-party in his honor that occurs every day. I hope he can feel it.
We have brought pictures of family members into his hushed and darkened room, including one of our dear Grandmother who passed away in June 2008. She and Rashad were the best of buddies, so we know she's looking out for him. My mom is also keeping a little journal for people to sign, so he'll see it when he wakes up.
I also make sure to tell the revolving door of medical staff a little about Rashad when I can, so that they know he's not just a badly-bruised body lying there; he's our brother, and a devoted father, and a man who was working two jobs to save money to get a better apartment for himself, his girlfriend and 4-year-old daughter. He's the one in the family who makes everyone crack up laughing -- a jokester who makes up nicknames for us that make absolutely no sense (my mother, for instance, is "Thompson;" my father, "Big Lads.") He's a sweetheart and a good boy.
I tell them he has a lot of life left to live. I want them to know that for some reason. I hope it helps somehow.
Tuesday and yesterday we were all running on adrenaline, so things seemed optimistic; today was much harder. The weight of what has happened to my baby brother seems almost too much to bear. This morning, I could barely breathe. I am unnerved by watching my father sob, and my mother fall apart. Even Kadija (those who know my family well will know what this means) has been rendered jokeless.
But, despite the sadness, we are all -- more than ever -- trusting in God, and believing that He is in control of this situation. Prayer is helping us tremendously. And we find comfort in being thankful for what miracles already have happened. The fact that Rashad made it out of that crash alive? Clearly a miracle. The fact that Nasya, his daughter, was not in the car (because those two are joined at the hip)? Clearly a miracle. We know God's hand is in this. We are managing, in between our tears, to keep the faith.
Anyway, that's the update for now. I'll try to keep you all posted from time to time, and prayerfully, by God's grace, I'll have something miraculous to tell you soon.
Thank you again and again for all your love and support. It means so, so, so much.
Tanika
Praying, praying and praying
On Tuesday, my youngest brother Rashad was in a serious car accident.
He is in critical condition, unconscious and very, very sick.
Please pray for him. Please.
Thank you all...
He is in critical condition, unconscious and very, very sick.
Please pray for him. Please.
Thank you all...
Monday, March 21, 2011
John Glenn would be proud
We went to my Mom and Dad's this weekend for Dad's 59th birthday!
The boys missed all the revelry -- and cake and ice cream!-- because it happened after their bedtime, but all that resting did them some good.
Both boys figured out this weekend how to go up and down a single step, which is in between the family room and the eat-in kitchen area of my Mom's house.
At first, Dean could go up and not get down, and Cary couldn't get up but could get down. But after many, many attempts, eventually they both got it!
Hooray!
One small step for Cary and Dean; one giant leap into "OMG! We need to get those gates up by the stairs!!" for me and Lester.
The boys missed all the revelry -- and cake and ice cream!-- because it happened after their bedtime, but all that resting did them some good.
Both boys figured out this weekend how to go up and down a single step, which is in between the family room and the eat-in kitchen area of my Mom's house.
At first, Dean could go up and not get down, and Cary couldn't get up but could get down. But after many, many attempts, eventually they both got it!
Hooray!
One small step for Cary and Dean; one giant leap into "OMG! We need to get those gates up by the stairs!!" for me and Lester.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Warmer weather!
Today's high was in the mid-70s! Yessssss!
It was so nice, I cut out of work a little early and came home so Michelle and I could take the boys for a walk.
We ended up at a playground, and it dawned on me as I pushed the boys in the baby swing that this was their first time at a playground!!!! Can you believe it? 10 whole months on this Earth and this is the first playground visit. Wow. But it's the first of oh-so-many, I'm sure.
Cary loved watching the kids play; Dean loved the baby swing.
We only stayed for a few minutes, as it was getting close to quitting time for Michelle, but it was so great and a lovely, lovely glimpse of warm-weather days to come. I can't wait.
(Of course, I forgot my camera! Grrrrr!)
It was so nice, I cut out of work a little early and came home so Michelle and I could take the boys for a walk.
We ended up at a playground, and it dawned on me as I pushed the boys in the baby swing that this was their first time at a playground!!!! Can you believe it? 10 whole months on this Earth and this is the first playground visit. Wow. But it's the first of oh-so-many, I'm sure.
Cary loved watching the kids play; Dean loved the baby swing.
We only stayed for a few minutes, as it was getting close to quitting time for Michelle, but it was so great and a lovely, lovely glimpse of warm-weather days to come. I can't wait.
(Of course, I forgot my camera! Grrrrr!)
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Warm weather = walking time
It was warm enough here tonight for a walk when Lester and I got home from work, so we put fleece jackets on the boys, strapped them in the stroller and headed out!
It was great! The temperature was perfect, and because of Daylight Savings Time, it stayed light the entire time we were out (which was about 40 minutes). The boys were sorta zoned out, and toward the end, Cary was ready to get his bath and go to bed (I know this because of his pleading eyes and whining). But it was still a really nice time.
The walk reminded me of earlier days in their lives, when Lester and I took them for walks around the neighborhood adjacent to ours in the evenings. And it is really strange to be thinking about my boys in those terms: "earlier days." Ha! How crazy is that?
Speaking of earlier days, here's a throwback pic of the boys in the double Snap 'n Go, which was a real lookey-loo magnet when we took the boys out in it. We're at Lake Montebello in this photo, at a festival:
We had to retire that stroller when the babies were about 4 months, because the baby who was in the back was starting to get his little legs smushed by the car seat in the front. Oh, how sad I was to see that stroller go, because you could take the boys out of the car/stroller/etc. and keep them in the car seats, so they'd stay asleep.
Misty water-colored memmmmories!
Anyway, along the way on our stroll tonight we encountered some really nice people, as we usually do in that neighborhood and everyone is always so excited to see the double stroller approaching. If we had a dollar for every time someone said, "Double trouble!" or "Got your hands full, huh?" we'd be able to pay for Cary and Dean to go to an Ivy League college in cash. It doesn't bother me, the way it does some Moms of Twins (or so I read); I think it's really sweet how fascinated people are by two little babies who just happen to be born to the same parents on the same day.
Walking in that super-cute neighborhood makes me excited for the day we live in a neighborhood like that one -- with single-family homes and neat little lawns, mature trees and inviting porches, kids playing outside and happy-looking people walking their dogs.
In fact, now would be a good time for a prayer:
God, please grant us favor in this desire we have for a comfortable home in a safe, kid-friendly neighborhood, with lots of room to run and play and really nice neighbors who are the kind of folks to wave and smile at strangers and stop and talk to a couple pushing a double stroller along the sidewalk.
Bonus: One of my favorite pictures of them in the stroller; I think this was in September or October. Along our neighborhood stroll, they both fell fast asleep. A prize to anyone who can tell who's who in this pic!
It was great! The temperature was perfect, and because of Daylight Savings Time, it stayed light the entire time we were out (which was about 40 minutes). The boys were sorta zoned out, and toward the end, Cary was ready to get his bath and go to bed (I know this because of his pleading eyes and whining). But it was still a really nice time.
The walk reminded me of earlier days in their lives, when Lester and I took them for walks around the neighborhood adjacent to ours in the evenings. And it is really strange to be thinking about my boys in those terms: "earlier days." Ha! How crazy is that?
Speaking of earlier days, here's a throwback pic of the boys in the double Snap 'n Go, which was a real lookey-loo magnet when we took the boys out in it. We're at Lake Montebello in this photo, at a festival:
We had to retire that stroller when the babies were about 4 months, because the baby who was in the back was starting to get his little legs smushed by the car seat in the front. Oh, how sad I was to see that stroller go, because you could take the boys out of the car/stroller/etc. and keep them in the car seats, so they'd stay asleep. Misty water-colored memmmmories!
Anyway, along the way on our stroll tonight we encountered some really nice people, as we usually do in that neighborhood and everyone is always so excited to see the double stroller approaching. If we had a dollar for every time someone said, "Double trouble!" or "Got your hands full, huh?" we'd be able to pay for Cary and Dean to go to an Ivy League college in cash. It doesn't bother me, the way it does some Moms of Twins (or so I read); I think it's really sweet how fascinated people are by two little babies who just happen to be born to the same parents on the same day.
Walking in that super-cute neighborhood makes me excited for the day we live in a neighborhood like that one -- with single-family homes and neat little lawns, mature trees and inviting porches, kids playing outside and happy-looking people walking their dogs.
In fact, now would be a good time for a prayer:
God, please grant us favor in this desire we have for a comfortable home in a safe, kid-friendly neighborhood, with lots of room to run and play and really nice neighbors who are the kind of folks to wave and smile at strangers and stop and talk to a couple pushing a double stroller along the sidewalk.
Bonus: One of my favorite pictures of them in the stroller; I think this was in September or October. Along our neighborhood stroll, they both fell fast asleep. A prize to anyone who can tell who's who in this pic!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Hello world! Bye-bye, Mommy
Finally got a little video of Dean waving!
(Of course, he decided to do it sorta spastically -- which is par for the course with him -- but you can get a glimpse here of an actual wave.)
Take note of how Cary mimics him a bit toward the end of the video. I can't get Cary to wave on his own, and he's also decided not to comply with my requests for him to clap, either. But if Dean waves, he'll sometimes follow suit.
They're sitting at the door, near my purse, work bag and lunch container, which is where they sit lately these days in the mornings while we rush around getting ready. I think they think if they can blockade the door, maybe I (or Lester) won't leave for work.
Inevitably, however, my exiting the door always ends in Dean crawling after me in tears.
:-(
Have I said already how much being a working mom sometimes sucks?
I got a nice note from a friend of LauraC's, Beth, who said it best when she said she likes working and she likes her job (same here, Beth!) so she wouldn't necessarily want to be a fulltime SAHM, but that it would be nice to stay home a little more with the little ones.
But she said she has made peace with making running errands "family time" and also with the fact that her house isn't white-glove-spotless. (Which my house has never, ever, ever been!)
I think that's pretty good advice and it's going to have to be the best we do right now.
Meantime, from my desk at work, I am saying "Hiiiiiii, Dean and Cary! Mommy loves and misses you!" And I imagine my little sweeties waving spastically back at me.
(Of course, he decided to do it sorta spastically -- which is par for the course with him -- but you can get a glimpse here of an actual wave.)
Take note of how Cary mimics him a bit toward the end of the video. I can't get Cary to wave on his own, and he's also decided not to comply with my requests for him to clap, either. But if Dean waves, he'll sometimes follow suit.
They're sitting at the door, near my purse, work bag and lunch container, which is where they sit lately these days in the mornings while we rush around getting ready. I think they think if they can blockade the door, maybe I (or Lester) won't leave for work.
Inevitably, however, my exiting the door always ends in Dean crawling after me in tears.
:-(
Have I said already how much being a working mom sometimes sucks?
I got a nice note from a friend of LauraC's, Beth, who said it best when she said she likes working and she likes her job (same here, Beth!) so she wouldn't necessarily want to be a fulltime SAHM, but that it would be nice to stay home a little more with the little ones.
But she said she has made peace with making running errands "family time" and also with the fact that her house isn't white-glove-spotless. (Which my house has never, ever, ever been!)
I think that's pretty good advice and it's going to have to be the best we do right now.
Meantime, from my desk at work, I am saying "Hiiiiiii, Dean and Cary! Mommy loves and misses you!" And I imagine my little sweeties waving spastically back at me.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Money can't buy me love
Once upon a time, when I'd drive past the lottery sign on the highway, I'd daydream about winning the Megamillions and buying homes for all my family and Lester's, setting up college funds for my nieces and nephews, giving money to my church and my alma mater, and then living it up on international jaunts with Lester for years to come.
Today, when I drove past the sign, I daydreamed instead about having enough money to go part-time, so that I could spend more time with my babies.
I imagined going to a 3-day workweek, and spending Mondays and Fridays (or some combination) visiting fun places, and reading books, going to parks and exploring with them. Singing songs and exposing them to new foods. Hanging out at bookstores, eating muffins and hot chocolate. Doing projects, like making a rain barrel or a composting bin. Being able to go on field trips with them, or have lunch at school with them. Having them be able to say I was there for them -- really there -- during their childhood years.
I also envisioned a beautiful new home with lots of room for them to run and play (and a friendly dog) and me being able to pay Michelle what she's really worth.
Of course, I'd still help out our families, and travel the world with my best friend and love. But we'd have to do shorter trips than I once imagined, because I know now that I'd miss my babies too much if we stayed away too long.
As it is, it's getting harder and harder to be away from them. I miss them so much during the day. And they're getting to be so much fun! I love watching them grow and learn; I love helping them grow and learn. It sucks when I can only be a participant in that process for a couple hours a day.
But, until Lester or I hits the lottery, this is our reality. And, really, it's not that bad. We're happy, all of us. And we're very,very blessed. So I'm grateful for whatever time I get with them. After all, I hit the lottery big time the day those little babies were born.
Today, when I drove past the sign, I daydreamed instead about having enough money to go part-time, so that I could spend more time with my babies.
I imagined going to a 3-day workweek, and spending Mondays and Fridays (or some combination) visiting fun places, and reading books, going to parks and exploring with them. Singing songs and exposing them to new foods. Hanging out at bookstores, eating muffins and hot chocolate. Doing projects, like making a rain barrel or a composting bin. Being able to go on field trips with them, or have lunch at school with them. Having them be able to say I was there for them -- really there -- during their childhood years.
I also envisioned a beautiful new home with lots of room for them to run and play (and a friendly dog) and me being able to pay Michelle what she's really worth.
Of course, I'd still help out our families, and travel the world with my best friend and love. But we'd have to do shorter trips than I once imagined, because I know now that I'd miss my babies too much if we stayed away too long.
As it is, it's getting harder and harder to be away from them. I miss them so much during the day. And they're getting to be so much fun! I love watching them grow and learn; I love helping them grow and learn. It sucks when I can only be a participant in that process for a couple hours a day.
But, until Lester or I hits the lottery, this is our reality. And, really, it's not that bad. We're happy, all of us. And we're very,very blessed. So I'm grateful for whatever time I get with them. After all, I hit the lottery big time the day those little babies were born.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Show Me the Mommy Sunday and various other bits
I went to brunch today for my friend Andrea's birthday and had waaaaaaay too much to eat, including mini cheesecakes, waffles and a bellini! (Yum!)
(Here's my Show Me the Mommy photo -- right before I went into a food coma. That pretty lady beside me is my friend, Andrea. Happy Birthday!!)
Several of Andrea's family members were there, including two handsome teenaged boys, brothers who were 16 and 15, respectively. I could not stop staring at them. (Not because they were handsome, people! I like 'em young, but not that young!) I kept thinking, "My boys are going to be teenagers one day. Soon!" I loved how close the two of them seemed, and I wondered if my boys will be that sweet together when they're older.
And I also was a little freaked out at the fancy clothing they were wearing: North Face and Nike jackets and designer jeans and sneakers I know must cost a zillion dollars. I asked their father if either one of them had a job, and he laughed hysterically! Then he started naming all the "things" they had; iPads and iPods, sneakers and cell phones and...OMG! Who is going to pay for all those things when my two are teenagers???
I think Lester may have to get a second job. :-)
Speaking of my wonderful husband, while I was out drinking bellinis and packing on the pounds, Lester stayed home with the babies and forgot to feed them lunch or put them down for their second nap. Ahem.
So they went to sleep later in the afternoon than usual, and skipped their third bottle. The time change contributed to this mix-up, but it's made me think that perhaps we can skip the third bottle altogether -- they usually only drink a little of that bottle anyway, preferring to eat solid food at both their middle-of-the-day feedings -- and maybe put their second nap off until later in the day.
Perhaps we'll try it this week.
Random other stuff: We gave the babies cottage cheese today. They sort of liked it at first, but then not so much. I think the texture was weird to them. We also introduced thawed frozen peas as a finger-food snack, which they liked a lot. And we gave them mac-n-cheese this weekend. BIG HIT!
Dean is the sweetest baby ever. He just hugs and hugs me and kisses Lester -- all day long.
He also has started waving! It's toooooo cute. We were feeding the boys tonight and he was waving at me while he was drinking his bottle.
Cary is hysterical. He is so silly! He makes funny noises and cracks up laughing at everything. I love how smiley he is when we go in his room to get him, and how he giggles and giggles when he's being tickled, or when Dean makes a funny-to-him sound, or when we sing the ABC song.
Some days, I am tired or stressed and I lose sight of days like this, when I am just so in love with these two little boys! I'm so grateful to God that I'm their mother and that Lester and I get the privilege of raising them. I'll have to try to remember this feeling more often. I am truly blessed.
(Here's my Show Me the Mommy photo -- right before I went into a food coma. That pretty lady beside me is my friend, Andrea. Happy Birthday!!)
Several of Andrea's family members were there, including two handsome teenaged boys, brothers who were 16 and 15, respectively. I could not stop staring at them. (Not because they were handsome, people! I like 'em young, but not that young!) I kept thinking, "My boys are going to be teenagers one day. Soon!" I loved how close the two of them seemed, and I wondered if my boys will be that sweet together when they're older.
And I also was a little freaked out at the fancy clothing they were wearing: North Face and Nike jackets and designer jeans and sneakers I know must cost a zillion dollars. I asked their father if either one of them had a job, and he laughed hysterically! Then he started naming all the "things" they had; iPads and iPods, sneakers and cell phones and...OMG! Who is going to pay for all those things when my two are teenagers???
I think Lester may have to get a second job. :-)
Speaking of my wonderful husband, while I was out drinking bellinis and packing on the pounds, Lester stayed home with the babies and forgot to feed them lunch or put them down for their second nap. Ahem.
So they went to sleep later in the afternoon than usual, and skipped their third bottle. The time change contributed to this mix-up, but it's made me think that perhaps we can skip the third bottle altogether -- they usually only drink a little of that bottle anyway, preferring to eat solid food at both their middle-of-the-day feedings -- and maybe put their second nap off until later in the day.
Perhaps we'll try it this week.
Random other stuff: We gave the babies cottage cheese today. They sort of liked it at first, but then not so much. I think the texture was weird to them. We also introduced thawed frozen peas as a finger-food snack, which they liked a lot. And we gave them mac-n-cheese this weekend. BIG HIT!
Dean is the sweetest baby ever. He just hugs and hugs me and kisses Lester -- all day long.
He also has started waving! It's toooooo cute. We were feeding the boys tonight and he was waving at me while he was drinking his bottle.
Cary is hysterical. He is so silly! He makes funny noises and cracks up laughing at everything. I love how smiley he is when we go in his room to get him, and how he giggles and giggles when he's being tickled, or when Dean makes a funny-to-him sound, or when we sing the ABC song.
Some days, I am tired or stressed and I lose sight of days like this, when I am just so in love with these two little boys! I'm so grateful to God that I'm their mother and that Lester and I get the privilege of raising them. I'll have to try to remember this feeling more often. I am truly blessed.
Friday, March 11, 2011
A pox; a pox on your house
So...Cary got it, just like I said he would.
And he was up all night, with a runny nose and a fever. (Pooooor baby!) At one point, around 2 a.m., he was asleep in my arms and I was asleep, head lolled back on the couch in the playroom, and he reached up in his sleep and put his little clammy palm on the side of my face. It was so sweet. I hate it when my boys are sick, but I have to admit, I don't hate how super loving Cary is when he's under-the-weather. (Dean's always super-loving).
Anyway, now I'm under-the-weather too.
And Lester is getting it.
There is a pox on our house and I want it gone. Spring? Please come now. I'm running low on Kleenex.
P.S. Happy 10-month birthday Cary and Dean!
And he was up all night, with a runny nose and a fever. (Pooooor baby!) At one point, around 2 a.m., he was asleep in my arms and I was asleep, head lolled back on the couch in the playroom, and he reached up in his sleep and put his little clammy palm on the side of my face. It was so sweet. I hate it when my boys are sick, but I have to admit, I don't hate how super loving Cary is when he's under-the-weather. (Dean's always super-loving).
Anyway, now I'm under-the-weather too.
And Lester is getting it.
There is a pox on our house and I want it gone. Spring? Please come now. I'm running low on Kleenex.
P.S. Happy 10-month birthday Cary and Dean!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Groundhog Day in the Davis household
So last night, Cary drank just about his whole bottle and fell asleep before his head hit the mattress.
I prayed he would stay asleep, and even talked to Cary while he was drinking about how much Mommy would appreciate it if he stayed asleep all night. Does that sound crazy?
Maybe so, but apparently he and God decided to accommodate me because Cary slept through the night! Not a peep out of him from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.!
Whooo-hoooo, right?! Not quite.
At 3 a.m., a baby began moaning. At 3:20, the baby was still moaning. At 3:50 the baby's moaning ratcheted up a notch. At 4:10, up another notch. At 4:15, a pitiful little cry escaped from the baby and I could take no more.
I went in the boys' room and the baby was my little Deanie! Poor thing was moaning and half crying! He had rolled over onto his back and couldn't (or wouldn't) move back. So I rolled him over, put his blanket on him, gave him Lovey the Puppy and left. He was asleep before I closed the door.
If you notice, however, I was awake from 3 a.m. to 4:15. Sigh.
But even worse: It turns out poor Deanie has a cold! (Which might explain the moaning and the tossing and turning over in the crib.) He woke up this morning with a face covered in crud. Poor baby!
Michelle says he was snotty all day. And tonight, I've had to go into his room once already to prop him up on a pillow to help him breathe. Again I say, Pooooooor thing!
So I am steeling myself up for another long night. And then when Cary gets it -- and he WILL get it. Oh yes. He WILL get it -- another couple of weeks of long nights.
Cary will wake up for a few days because he can't breathe, and then, after a few more days, he'll wake up out of habit and need a bottle to soothe himself back to sleep.
And you know what will happen once Cary gets over the cold? I'll have to re-wean him from the bottle. Again.
This is either "Groundhog Day" or "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie." Or Sleepless in Baltimore!
Clearly, I'm delirious. Good night.
P.S. Cary started clapping! Only imitating us, mind you, not spontaneously out of joy or excitement. But he is putting palm to palm two or three times in a row. Hooray!
I prayed he would stay asleep, and even talked to Cary while he was drinking about how much Mommy would appreciate it if he stayed asleep all night. Does that sound crazy?
Maybe so, but apparently he and God decided to accommodate me because Cary slept through the night! Not a peep out of him from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.!
Whooo-hoooo, right?! Not quite.
At 3 a.m., a baby began moaning. At 3:20, the baby was still moaning. At 3:50 the baby's moaning ratcheted up a notch. At 4:10, up another notch. At 4:15, a pitiful little cry escaped from the baby and I could take no more.
I went in the boys' room and the baby was my little Deanie! Poor thing was moaning and half crying! He had rolled over onto his back and couldn't (or wouldn't) move back. So I rolled him over, put his blanket on him, gave him Lovey the Puppy and left. He was asleep before I closed the door.
If you notice, however, I was awake from 3 a.m. to 4:15. Sigh.
But even worse: It turns out poor Deanie has a cold! (Which might explain the moaning and the tossing and turning over in the crib.) He woke up this morning with a face covered in crud. Poor baby!
Michelle says he was snotty all day. And tonight, I've had to go into his room once already to prop him up on a pillow to help him breathe. Again I say, Pooooooor thing!
So I am steeling myself up for another long night. And then when Cary gets it -- and he WILL get it. Oh yes. He WILL get it -- another couple of weeks of long nights.
Cary will wake up for a few days because he can't breathe, and then, after a few more days, he'll wake up out of habit and need a bottle to soothe himself back to sleep.
And you know what will happen once Cary gets over the cold? I'll have to re-wean him from the bottle. Again.
This is either "Groundhog Day" or "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie." Or Sleepless in Baltimore!
Clearly, I'm delirious. Good night.
P.S. Cary started clapping! Only imitating us, mind you, not spontaneously out of joy or excitement. But he is putting palm to palm two or three times in a row. Hooray!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Bad, bad night (why do I have the feeling I will use this blog post title many many more times in my life?)
So last night, Cary and I had a moment. Not the moment I wanted to have, but a moment nonetheless.
For the past week or so, the poor thing has been so tired at the end of the night that he can't stay awake long enough to finish his bedtime bottle (around 6:45). So he wakes up for more milk anywhere between 11 and 2. I, of course, have been waiting for the right moment to get him back in the habit of STTN.
Last night, he finished his bedtime bottle. Sucked it down to the last drop. I thought, "Great. Here's our moment! Either he'll sleep through the night, or if he doesn't, I can start the three-day process of re-weaning him from overnight milk." Famous last words.
At 3 a.m. he woke up for milk. At first, he was merely complaining. I let it go. Then he escalated to loudly complaining. I let it go. Eventually, Lester got up and turned the monitor off and said, "Either give him a bottle or not. But I'm not listening to this all night." (I also let that go!)
A few minutes later, actual crying began. I went in to comfort him, but (veteran parents know what's coming next) that just made it worse! I patted him and patted him and even ended up sitting on the floor next to his crib, patting and soothing. Again, this just made it worse.
Finally, at 4:45, when the crying was more than I could stand, I caved and gave him a bottle. He was asleep almost instantly. I, however, did not get back to sleep until about 5:15.
Like I said, NOT the moment I wanted to have.
Oh, and in the middle, Lester and I yelled at each other! He's all: "Just give him a bottle!!!" And I'm all: "No, he's not really hungry; he's just in the habit of waking up for milk now and we have to break him out of it." And Lester's all: "I don't CARE. I just want to go to SLEEP!" And I'm all: "Well you SHOULD care! I don't want to be waking up to give him a bottle for the rest of our LIIIIIIIIVVES!!"
I say again: Bad, bad, BAD night.
What is it about pre-dawn awakenings that makes everything seem so life-or-death? I mean, today, it doesn't seem so awful. Why couldn't I have had the calm I have today when Cary was crying in his bed, and I was gripping my sheets, sighing heavily, and staring at the ceiling, praying for lightning to strike me right. this. minute to take me out of my misery?
Don't ask me what I'm going to do tonight when (if?) he wakes up. I have no idea. But as tired as I am, I might give the kid a steak, if he indicated that it'd keep him asleep.
OK, maybe not. But I really don't know what to do. I don't want him waking up for a bottle just because it soothes him. He has to re-learn to self-soothe (which I know he can do, because he's done it. LOTS.) But I also don't want him hungry! And I can't take another night like last night. Lester thinks he'll eventually grow out of needing a bottle at night. But I've got a 3-year-old nephew who still wakes up in the middle of the night for milk in a sippy cup. (Yes, Tahira, I'm shouting you out!)
I swear, I will learn to make lightning in an old pickle jar and strike myself if that is me in 2.33 years.
Stay tuned to see how this turns out.
P.S. Can you believe Dean slept through this whole ordeal??? That baby sleeps like a teenager!
For the past week or so, the poor thing has been so tired at the end of the night that he can't stay awake long enough to finish his bedtime bottle (around 6:45). So he wakes up for more milk anywhere between 11 and 2. I, of course, have been waiting for the right moment to get him back in the habit of STTN.
Last night, he finished his bedtime bottle. Sucked it down to the last drop. I thought, "Great. Here's our moment! Either he'll sleep through the night, or if he doesn't, I can start the three-day process of re-weaning him from overnight milk." Famous last words.
At 3 a.m. he woke up for milk. At first, he was merely complaining. I let it go. Then he escalated to loudly complaining. I let it go. Eventually, Lester got up and turned the monitor off and said, "Either give him a bottle or not. But I'm not listening to this all night." (I also let that go!)
A few minutes later, actual crying began. I went in to comfort him, but (veteran parents know what's coming next) that just made it worse! I patted him and patted him and even ended up sitting on the floor next to his crib, patting and soothing. Again, this just made it worse.
Finally, at 4:45, when the crying was more than I could stand, I caved and gave him a bottle. He was asleep almost instantly. I, however, did not get back to sleep until about 5:15.
Like I said, NOT the moment I wanted to have.
Oh, and in the middle, Lester and I yelled at each other! He's all: "Just give him a bottle!!!" And I'm all: "No, he's not really hungry; he's just in the habit of waking up for milk now and we have to break him out of it." And Lester's all: "I don't CARE. I just want to go to SLEEP!" And I'm all: "Well you SHOULD care! I don't want to be waking up to give him a bottle for the rest of our LIIIIIIIIVVES!!"
I say again: Bad, bad, BAD night.
What is it about pre-dawn awakenings that makes everything seem so life-or-death? I mean, today, it doesn't seem so awful. Why couldn't I have had the calm I have today when Cary was crying in his bed, and I was gripping my sheets, sighing heavily, and staring at the ceiling, praying for lightning to strike me right. this. minute to take me out of my misery?
Don't ask me what I'm going to do tonight when (if?) he wakes up. I have no idea. But as tired as I am, I might give the kid a steak, if he indicated that it'd keep him asleep.
OK, maybe not. But I really don't know what to do. I don't want him waking up for a bottle just because it soothes him. He has to re-learn to self-soothe (which I know he can do, because he's done it. LOTS.) But I also don't want him hungry! And I can't take another night like last night. Lester thinks he'll eventually grow out of needing a bottle at night. But I've got a 3-year-old nephew who still wakes up in the middle of the night for milk in a sippy cup. (Yes, Tahira, I'm shouting you out!)
I swear, I will learn to make lightning in an old pickle jar and strike myself if that is me in 2.33 years.
Stay tuned to see how this turns out.
P.S. Can you believe Dean slept through this whole ordeal??? That baby sleeps like a teenager!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Girlfriends are the greatest!
About two months ago, my friend Jen wrote an e-mail to a few new moms, asking if we could get together and talk about the many challenges of attempting to find a work-life-mommy-marriage balance. Over waffles and cocktails at a trendy Midtown restaurant, we determined that there is no such Holy Grail. And in fact, people should stop calling it a "balance," dangit! It's more like a work-life-mommy-marriage unbalance.
From there, the Unbalanced Mommy Group was born.
Today we met again, this time with babies in tow, because a number of us couldn't get away without the kiddos. Which was actually cool, because the babies got to play with (more like near) each other, and we got to eat creme brulee French toast (made sinfully delicious by Jen!) and kvetch.
Here's a pic of some of the babies who were literally EVERYWHERE during our brunch:
We decided we'll meet this way -- one time with the babies; the next time without -- for as long as it's convenient and necessary.
I, for one, hope that's a long, long time, because I honestly don't know where I'd be without my girlfriends. I have many, from all points throughout my life. Some are married; some divorced or still looking. Some have teenaged kids or kids close to Cary and Dean's age; some have none at all. Some are former journalists like me; others had the sense enough to get real jobs. (Hahaha! Just a joke for all the journos). Some I talk to just about every day; others I wish I could talk to far more often. Each one brings something different to my life. But they are all various shades of awesome.
I love my husband, my family and my kids. But I can say that I am blessed to also have really good friends, both old and new, who I also love.
So even if you're not an Unbalanced Mommy, I want to give props to you, dear friends. So here's to: Desiree, Neelofer, Candice, Lisa, Laurie, Su, Jill, Kelly, Andrea, Naita, Lynn, Stacey, Stephanie S., Stephanie D., Monica, Juanita, Carla, Angel, Theola, Mari, Jen, Jessica, Sumathi, Shreya, Erin, Erika, Olivia ... and many others!
You all support and love me in so many ways, and I'm grateful to God for each one of you!
Since this is Show me the Mommy Sunday, here are pictures the incomparable Jen McMenamin took during our Unbalanced Mommies group:
I have no idea why Cary was fussing here; but Dean is enthralled with the balloons Stacey brought for the kids.
This is Dean's usual look; I love that Jen caught it.
Cary is still looking distressed, but at least you can see here what beautiful eyes he has. And LOOK at my Deanie's cute little smile. Don't you just want to eat him?!
From there, the Unbalanced Mommy Group was born.
Today we met again, this time with babies in tow, because a number of us couldn't get away without the kiddos. Which was actually cool, because the babies got to play with (more like near) each other, and we got to eat creme brulee French toast (made sinfully delicious by Jen!) and kvetch.
Here's a pic of some of the babies who were literally EVERYWHERE during our brunch:
We decided we'll meet this way -- one time with the babies; the next time without -- for as long as it's convenient and necessary.
I, for one, hope that's a long, long time, because I honestly don't know where I'd be without my girlfriends. I have many, from all points throughout my life. Some are married; some divorced or still looking. Some have teenaged kids or kids close to Cary and Dean's age; some have none at all. Some are former journalists like me; others had the sense enough to get real jobs. (Hahaha! Just a joke for all the journos). Some I talk to just about every day; others I wish I could talk to far more often. Each one brings something different to my life. But they are all various shades of awesome.
I love my husband, my family and my kids. But I can say that I am blessed to also have really good friends, both old and new, who I also love.
So even if you're not an Unbalanced Mommy, I want to give props to you, dear friends. So here's to: Desiree, Neelofer, Candice, Lisa, Laurie, Su, Jill, Kelly, Andrea, Naita, Lynn, Stacey, Stephanie S., Stephanie D., Monica, Juanita, Carla, Angel, Theola, Mari, Jen, Jessica, Sumathi, Shreya, Erin, Erika, Olivia ... and many others!
You all support and love me in so many ways, and I'm grateful to God for each one of you!
Since this is Show me the Mommy Sunday, here are pictures the incomparable Jen McMenamin took during our Unbalanced Mommies group:
I have no idea why Cary was fussing here; but Dean is enthralled with the balloons Stacey brought for the kids.
This is Dean's usual look; I love that Jen caught it.
Cary is still looking distressed, but at least you can see here what beautiful eyes he has. And LOOK at my Deanie's cute little smile. Don't you just want to eat him?!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Contemplating food and flights
Today's menus and dilemmas:
Breakfast: French toast (with wheat bread and no syrup). Verdict: Cary - YES! Dean - Meh.
Snack: Banana YoBaby yogurt. (LOVED IT!)
Lunch: Rice cereal with harvest vegetables and applesauce. (Good ole baby food.)
Snack 1: Baby Mum Mums
Snack 2: Oranges in mesh bags
Dinner: Smushed grown-up chicken, with rice cereal and Gerber green beans and a banana YoBaby yogurt. Verdict: Cary - YES! Dean - YES! YES!
All in all, I think that was a good mix of baby food and grown-up food. And not too bad in the healthy department. But I don't know what I'm going to do when we run out of Gerber baby food in a couple weeks. Ugh.
Dilemma:
We're going to a friend's wedding in West Palm Beach in May and leaving the babies -- for the first time - for the whole weekend. More on that much later.
But in the meantime, the husband of a good friend has asked me to come to New Orleans with the whole family to surprise his wife (my friend) for her birthday. He's going to even pay for us!!! I haven't seen my friend since 2009, so I want to go. But this would be a major, major undertaking. And I'm not sure I'm ready to fly with the babies yet. I'm nervous about so many things: flying with the babies on our laps; traveling through the airport; sleeping arrangements (will they even sleep?); car seat schleppage; packing all their STUFF; keeping up with all their STUFF; their fish-out-of-water behavior, etc. etc.
So I could really use some advice from Moms of twins who've done this before. What do you recommend? Brave the unknown and go on a fun, free trip, or save ourselves the drama and go by myself?
Breakfast: French toast (with wheat bread and no syrup). Verdict: Cary - YES! Dean - Meh.
Snack: Banana YoBaby yogurt. (LOVED IT!)
Lunch: Rice cereal with harvest vegetables and applesauce. (Good ole baby food.)
Snack 1: Baby Mum Mums
Snack 2: Oranges in mesh bags
Dinner: Smushed grown-up chicken, with rice cereal and Gerber green beans and a banana YoBaby yogurt. Verdict: Cary - YES! Dean - YES! YES!
All in all, I think that was a good mix of baby food and grown-up food. And not too bad in the healthy department. But I don't know what I'm going to do when we run out of Gerber baby food in a couple weeks. Ugh.
Dilemma:
We're going to a friend's wedding in West Palm Beach in May and leaving the babies -- for the first time - for the whole weekend. More on that much later.
But in the meantime, the husband of a good friend has asked me to come to New Orleans with the whole family to surprise his wife (my friend) for her birthday. He's going to even pay for us!!! I haven't seen my friend since 2009, so I want to go. But this would be a major, major undertaking. And I'm not sure I'm ready to fly with the babies yet. I'm nervous about so many things: flying with the babies on our laps; traveling through the airport; sleeping arrangements (will they even sleep?); car seat schleppage; packing all their STUFF; keeping up with all their STUFF; their fish-out-of-water behavior, etc. etc.
So I could really use some advice from Moms of twins who've done this before. What do you recommend? Brave the unknown and go on a fun, free trip, or save ourselves the drama and go by myself?
Friday, March 4, 2011
Night off!
I went out after work for a friend who is leaving The Sun and Lester stayed home with the babies.
He said the night was fairly uneventful and meanwhile, I got to have some wine and dessert and chat and laugh with a lot of good friends who I don't get to see as often as I'd like.
I had a great time and it's lovely to be married to a man who makes it so easy to leave your babies at home. I honestly didn't worry -- not even once -- about them. I thought about them, of course, and bragged about them. But I didn't worry. That's because Lester is a rock star Dad. I gotta give it to him: Not too many men would relish a night alone with two hungry, sleepy babies who don't quite have the hang of staying upright in the bathtub. But Lester not only does the job magnificently; he actually enjoys it! He's the best! I really am blessed.
That does not mean, however, that I didn't miss seeing Dean and Cary tonight, so tomorrow morning, I hope they are prepared for the onslaught of hugs and kisses coming their way. I need my Davis baby fix!!
G'night babies. See you in the morning.
He said the night was fairly uneventful and meanwhile, I got to have some wine and dessert and chat and laugh with a lot of good friends who I don't get to see as often as I'd like.
I had a great time and it's lovely to be married to a man who makes it so easy to leave your babies at home. I honestly didn't worry -- not even once -- about them. I thought about them, of course, and bragged about them. But I didn't worry. That's because Lester is a rock star Dad. I gotta give it to him: Not too many men would relish a night alone with two hungry, sleepy babies who don't quite have the hang of staying upright in the bathtub. But Lester not only does the job magnificently; he actually enjoys it! He's the best! I really am blessed.
That does not mean, however, that I didn't miss seeing Dean and Cary tonight, so tomorrow morning, I hope they are prepared for the onslaught of hugs and kisses coming their way. I need my Davis baby fix!!
G'night babies. See you in the morning.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
9-month-checkup
The boys had their 9-month-checkup today. It was pretty uneventful, even considering the fact that there was a shot involved! (Last of the Hep B series.)
Here's the basics:
Cary weighs 18 lbs., 5 oz. and is 27 and 3/4 inches long.
Dean weighs 20 lbs., 15 oz. and is 29 and 1/4 inches long.
(When do we stop saying "long" and start saying "tall?" I guess when they can stand?)
Both boys are doing so well, Dr. Bodnar says the boys should be completely age appropriate (in terms of their relative prematurity) by age 1. Whoo-hooo!! I feel really good about that, but I don't know if I'll ever completely stop wondering if prematurity may be affecting them in some way. It might become more and more faint over time...like, it'll be a vapor of a worry as opposed to a huge cloud hanging over my head. But I have a feeling it will always be there just a little bit.
I also learned today that the boys can now eat table food, like 100-percent of the time. Wow! This is a big one for me. I mean, babies eat baby food, right? Hence the name. So this is more proof that my babies are growing up, and fast!
It also poses a bit of a complication. I hate to say this, but baby food is easy! It comes already prepared, in the right consistency and portion size. We buy the organic kind, so it's healthy and not too seasoned or buttery or sweet (the way I like all my foods). Giving my boys table food means I'm going to have to actually prepare their food. When they started on solids a few months ago, I honestly tried to be the kind of mom who made their food. I boiled the sweet potatoes and mashed and froze them in huge Tupperware dishes they could never ever hope to finish. I baked the spaghetti squash, and it turned out too stringy for them to eat without choking half to death. I cooked and mashed frozen peas, but didn't know I needed to de-hull them first. They hated those!
In the end, I determined that it took way too much time and was a major pain (Just my opinion. I really do applaud moms who can and do prepare their baby's food).
But now, developmentally, they don't need the baby food, so I guess I have to step up my game.
The doctor suggested a baby food grinder or food processor, neither of which do we own. So I guess we'll buy one this weekend. Do we need one of those? Advice, please.
I sound whiny, but actually, I'm sorta looking forward to introducing them to real foods. Lester says we're going out for breakfast on Saturday. I see a waffle in my boys' future! And in mine!
Yummmmm!
Here's the basics:
Cary weighs 18 lbs., 5 oz. and is 27 and 3/4 inches long.
Dean weighs 20 lbs., 15 oz. and is 29 and 1/4 inches long.
(When do we stop saying "long" and start saying "tall?" I guess when they can stand?)
Both boys are doing so well, Dr. Bodnar says the boys should be completely age appropriate (in terms of their relative prematurity) by age 1. Whoo-hooo!! I feel really good about that, but I don't know if I'll ever completely stop wondering if prematurity may be affecting them in some way. It might become more and more faint over time...like, it'll be a vapor of a worry as opposed to a huge cloud hanging over my head. But I have a feeling it will always be there just a little bit.
I also learned today that the boys can now eat table food, like 100-percent of the time. Wow! This is a big one for me. I mean, babies eat baby food, right? Hence the name. So this is more proof that my babies are growing up, and fast!
It also poses a bit of a complication. I hate to say this, but baby food is easy! It comes already prepared, in the right consistency and portion size. We buy the organic kind, so it's healthy and not too seasoned or buttery or sweet (the way I like all my foods). Giving my boys table food means I'm going to have to actually prepare their food. When they started on solids a few months ago, I honestly tried to be the kind of mom who made their food. I boiled the sweet potatoes and mashed and froze them in huge Tupperware dishes they could never ever hope to finish. I baked the spaghetti squash, and it turned out too stringy for them to eat without choking half to death. I cooked and mashed frozen peas, but didn't know I needed to de-hull them first. They hated those!
In the end, I determined that it took way too much time and was a major pain (Just my opinion. I really do applaud moms who can and do prepare their baby's food).
But now, developmentally, they don't need the baby food, so I guess I have to step up my game.
The doctor suggested a baby food grinder or food processor, neither of which do we own. So I guess we'll buy one this weekend. Do we need one of those? Advice, please.
I sound whiny, but actually, I'm sorta looking forward to introducing them to real foods. Lester says we're going out for breakfast on Saturday. I see a waffle in my boys' future! And in mine!
Yummmmm!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Lions and Tigers and Dancing Machines!
Incredibly-cute-things-the-babies-are-doing-now update:
Cary is growling, like a lion or a tiger, or a puppy. At the Puppies and Kittens book, he growls, attempting to imitate the "woof woof" sound I make when I read it.
He also growls what sounds like "brrrm. brrrm" when I read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. I swear he's trying to say "Boom Boom!" It's so cute! And, clearly, he's a genius!
And Dean has started dancing! When he hears music he likes (like Head Shoulders Knees and Toes), he starts bouncing his little body in the cutest, little rhythm-less way. He's clearly me and Lester's child. :-) I love to see him dance! It's so sweet.
My goal is to get video of both of these things in the coming days. Stay tuned!
Cary is growling, like a lion or a tiger, or a puppy. At the Puppies and Kittens book, he growls, attempting to imitate the "woof woof" sound I make when I read it.
He also growls what sounds like "brrrm. brrrm" when I read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. I swear he's trying to say "Boom Boom!" It's so cute! And, clearly, he's a genius!
And Dean has started dancing! When he hears music he likes (like Head Shoulders Knees and Toes), he starts bouncing his little body in the cutest, little rhythm-less way. He's clearly me and Lester's child. :-) I love to see him dance! It's so sweet.
My goal is to get video of both of these things in the coming days. Stay tuned!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Waaaaay down in the hole
The post's title is a phrase from the theme song from "The Wire," which Lester and I watched faithfully when it was on. Especially since both of us at one point worked at The Sun, and live in Baltimore.
But the title is in reference to the way my two sweeties look now that Lester has lowered both their cribs to the lowest rungs!!
I don't like it!!
I know I sound like a whiny brat, but seriously. Could my babies be any farther away? They might as well be in a well or something. Ugh. And I had to take away all the bumpers, because they're pulling up now, and could potentially hang themselves on the decoration -- no matter how cute it is.
So they are now in naked, drab cribs, waaaaaay down in the hole. I have to literally stand on tippy toes, and strain to pick them up.
I really, really, really don't like this! Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!
It was so much better when they slept like this (both fitting in the Pack 'n Play!):
Or even better (napping on the sofa next to Mommy):
Or EVEN BETTER (This always brings tears to my eyes! They're in preemie clothes for goodness sake!):
But now they're big 9 and-a-half-month-old babies, who are pulling to stand (Cary) or pulling to kneel (Dean) and safety has to come first, right?
Excuse me while I go crawl way down in my own hole ... and cry. Time is moving way too fast, and my babies are moving too far away. Already.
But the title is in reference to the way my two sweeties look now that Lester has lowered both their cribs to the lowest rungs!!
I don't like it!!
I know I sound like a whiny brat, but seriously. Could my babies be any farther away? They might as well be in a well or something. Ugh. And I had to take away all the bumpers, because they're pulling up now, and could potentially hang themselves on the decoration -- no matter how cute it is.
So they are now in naked, drab cribs, waaaaaay down in the hole. I have to literally stand on tippy toes, and strain to pick them up.
I really, really, really don't like this! Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!
It was so much better when they slept like this (both fitting in the Pack 'n Play!):
Or even better (napping on the sofa next to Mommy):
Or EVEN BETTER (This always brings tears to my eyes! They're in preemie clothes for goodness sake!):
But now they're big 9 and-a-half-month-old babies, who are pulling to stand (Cary) or pulling to kneel (Dean) and safety has to come first, right?Excuse me while I go crawl way down in my own hole ... and cry. Time is moving way too fast, and my babies are moving too far away. Already.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
More from the annals of schedule-breaking
Because the boys have a firm bedtime (7 p.m.), Lester and I sometimes feel caught between a rock and a hard place. We love the bedtime, because it gives us guaranteed time to ourselves, both as individuals and as a couple, before we shut it down ourselves for the night. But we also feel like we have to boogie home from anywhere we happen to be not just before 7 p.m., but before 5.
If we get in the car after 5, the boys -- who have been up since their last nap ended around 3 -- inevitably conk out.
Which means we either have:
But yesterday, we had an appointment in D.C. at 3, which then got pushed to 3:30. It was over around 4, and Lester still needed to run to Costco to buy our king's ransom's worth of formula. There's a Costco near my mom's house, which is about 20 minutes from D.C. So we decided to run to my mom's for a second just to say hi, while Lester went to Costco. Thus began the downfall of the schedule.
At 6:15 when Lester got back, we hurried to put their jackets on, strapped them in the car seats and began praying for a non-scream-filled ride.
I gave Cary and Dean their bottles in the car (so great that they can hold their bottles themselves now) and they fell asleep by 6:45 (OK, Cary screamed a little bit.)
At 7:30, when we got home, I wondered which scenario I'd have: cranky babies or energetic babies.
Being the mother of twins, of course I got both!
Dean was annoyed and whiny, as Lester changed his diaper and put on his jammies.
Cary, on the other hand, thought it was apparently 2 in the afternoon. He was wiggly and giggly and thought me trying to put his PJs on was the funniest thing, especially since he was turning over and twisting his body so as to make getting him dressed nearly impossible.
When we put Dean down in his crib, he fell right to sleep. He seemed almost grateful.
Cary, of course, stayed awake, complaining in his crib for about 45 minutes and then finally, finally crashed.
All in all, it wasn't so bad. Color me surprised.
This makes me feel a tad bit more at ease about occasionally breaking the schedule, now that I know that there won't be WWIII in my house when we do. Could that be a light I see at the end of that thar tunnel?! Perhaps. We shall see.
If we get in the car after 5, the boys -- who have been up since their last nap ended around 3 -- inevitably conk out.
Which means we either have:
- cranky, sleepy babies who scream the entire ride home and, when we get to our house, are annoyed at having been awakened, or
- cat-napped, energetic babies who don't want to go to bed!
But yesterday, we had an appointment in D.C. at 3, which then got pushed to 3:30. It was over around 4, and Lester still needed to run to Costco to buy our king's ransom's worth of formula. There's a Costco near my mom's house, which is about 20 minutes from D.C. So we decided to run to my mom's for a second just to say hi, while Lester went to Costco. Thus began the downfall of the schedule.
At 6:15 when Lester got back, we hurried to put their jackets on, strapped them in the car seats and began praying for a non-scream-filled ride.
I gave Cary and Dean their bottles in the car (so great that they can hold their bottles themselves now) and they fell asleep by 6:45 (OK, Cary screamed a little bit.)
At 7:30, when we got home, I wondered which scenario I'd have: cranky babies or energetic babies.
Being the mother of twins, of course I got both!
Dean was annoyed and whiny, as Lester changed his diaper and put on his jammies.
Cary, on the other hand, thought it was apparently 2 in the afternoon. He was wiggly and giggly and thought me trying to put his PJs on was the funniest thing, especially since he was turning over and twisting his body so as to make getting him dressed nearly impossible.
When we put Dean down in his crib, he fell right to sleep. He seemed almost grateful.
Cary, of course, stayed awake, complaining in his crib for about 45 minutes and then finally, finally crashed.
All in all, it wasn't so bad. Color me surprised.
This makes me feel a tad bit more at ease about occasionally breaking the schedule, now that I know that there won't be WWIII in my house when we do. Could that be a light I see at the end of that thar tunnel?! Perhaps. We shall see.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Dreams, teeth and other weirdness
Do babies have bad dreams?
Last night, Dean suddenly screeched in his sleep twice and then ....silence. Ten minutes later, he screeched again, just once this time, and then silence, again. I went in to check on him and he was asleep in his crib, like an angel, clutching Lovey the Puppy.
It was so weird.
Of course, a sudden screech from your babies' room in the middle of the night is startling, to say the least, so *I* had a hard time going back to sleep after that. I kept wondering, "What was that all about?" He must've been dreaming about something. What could it be??
Here are my ideas, based on what I know about Dean:
1) He found an awesome toy to gum, and Cary army-crawled over to him and snatched it away.
2) He fell over in his crib (or in the Pack 'n Play or on the floor) onto his back and tried, like a turtle, to sit up, but couldn't. (This actually happens at least twice daily).
3) He was forced to sleep without his blanket or Lovey the Puppy.
4) He was desperately trying to pick up Puffs off the floor, but his pincer grip just wouldn't quite work.
5) Cary took his toy, and in the process, pushed him over so that -- again -- he was unable to sit up AND he had no toy. (This might actually have been it, folks. This would have to be Dean's ultimate nightmare.)
Meanwhile, I finally snapped a photo of Cary standing in his crib! It's taken me days to catch him in the act and all I had handy was my stupid iPhone, which takes crappy pictures:
Check out how Dean is looking at him like, "Hey! How does he DO that?"
And also, I would like to point out that my babies -- who will be 10 months old in two weeks -- STILL have NO TEETH! How the heck are we supposed to start introducing meats and actual table food, if they have NO TEETH!! More weirdness for me to ponder!
We see the doctor on the 3rd -- I'll ask him about teeth and baby dreams while we're there.
Happy Friday!
Last night, Dean suddenly screeched in his sleep twice and then ....silence. Ten minutes later, he screeched again, just once this time, and then silence, again. I went in to check on him and he was asleep in his crib, like an angel, clutching Lovey the Puppy.
It was so weird.
Of course, a sudden screech from your babies' room in the middle of the night is startling, to say the least, so *I* had a hard time going back to sleep after that. I kept wondering, "What was that all about?" He must've been dreaming about something. What could it be??
Here are my ideas, based on what I know about Dean:
1) He found an awesome toy to gum, and Cary army-crawled over to him and snatched it away.
2) He fell over in his crib (or in the Pack 'n Play or on the floor) onto his back and tried, like a turtle, to sit up, but couldn't. (This actually happens at least twice daily).
3) He was forced to sleep without his blanket or Lovey the Puppy.
4) He was desperately trying to pick up Puffs off the floor, but his pincer grip just wouldn't quite work.
5) Cary took his toy, and in the process, pushed him over so that -- again -- he was unable to sit up AND he had no toy. (This might actually have been it, folks. This would have to be Dean's ultimate nightmare.)
Meanwhile, I finally snapped a photo of Cary standing in his crib! It's taken me days to catch him in the act and all I had handy was my stupid iPhone, which takes crappy pictures:
Check out how Dean is looking at him like, "Hey! How does he DO that?"And also, I would like to point out that my babies -- who will be 10 months old in two weeks -- STILL have NO TEETH! How the heck are we supposed to start introducing meats and actual table food, if they have NO TEETH!! More weirdness for me to ponder!
We see the doctor on the 3rd -- I'll ask him about teeth and baby dreams while we're there.
Happy Friday!
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