Sick is Ick!

We are still sick at our house. Jillian is starting to mend but now Jenna has the cold and she seems to have it worse. Poor baby...she was so hungry this morning but just couldn't eat. I think her throat might be sore. The doctor went ahead and have us a prescription strength Dimetapp and that seems to help with the symptoms (when I can get them to swallow it!) but since it is just colds we have to wait for them to take their course.

Jared is sick now, too...hopefully by this weekend things will be looking up. As long as we don't get that crazy Swine Flu we are good. That is starting to totally freak me out!


Thanks for the continued prayers!
Love,
Jess

Prayer Request

I know a lot of you prayer daily for the girls and for that, Jared and I are very grateful. I have a specific prayer request for the first time since the girls have been home though. Jillian has her first cold. No fever yet (hopefully it will stay that way), but definitely the stuffy nose, cough, etc. She seems pretty miserable and had gotten to the point yesterday evening where she had only drunk one bottle completely out of 5 and the others she did half or less. I called the doctor and because she isn't eating she gave me the go ahead to give her the teeniest, tiniest amount of Children's Dimatapp. I gave her the first round this morning and she ate a little better (didn't finish) but better is better. The medicine mostly puts her to sleep. Anyhoo, I know the cold will pass but it is our first one and you know how that goes.
Love in Christ,
Jessica

TGIF....Or Maybe Not! :)

Jillian on 12/21-- testing the waters outside her snuggly like always.

Jenna on 12/21--perfectly happy to be within the boundaries presented.

This is a good picture that shows just how small the girls were. Here is Jenna holding Jared's finger.

Whew! What a week. Sorry it has been a while since the last posting. Let's see...what's new?

Jilly and Jenna are now 4 months old! Can you believe it? I know those of you who have watched from the CarePages until now have grown with us but doesn't it seem like it was just yesterday I was posting the first prayer request? I posted some pictures with a look at the girls then and now. The first pictures are of the girls when they were less than a day old. Jillian was 2 lbs 15 ounces and Jenna was a whopping 3 lbs 2 ounces. They were breathing (with assistance- CPAP Mask) on their own but weren't eating anything at all, even through a tube! Now look at them!

Jenna (L) and Jillian (R) are enthralled by their dimwitted (Jared's description, not mine!) dog :)

Jillian is 10 lbs 10 ounces and Jenna is 10 lbs 6 ounces! They eat 4 ounces 5 times a day.They are doing a lot more fun things too...Here they are holding up their heads during "Tummy Time." They are able to lift up with their arms for very short periods of time while on their tummy. They have better head control while being held and in a sitting position. They are smiling (a lot) and starting to coo and squeal (though no babbles yet). They are on the verge of giggles so those should start to erupt in the next few weeks. All in all they can now be called babies, instead of little lumps. :)

Anyhoo, in regards to my previous post on the eating problems: the doctor recommended that we move to an every 4 hour schedule. We started that on Wednesday and it works a lot better, especially with Jenna. Jillian still struggles with finishing one bottle a day but overall there is marked improvement and much less stress and fighting. :) Thanks for voting by the way, it looks like the majority of babies move up at around 4-5 months with a few going before or after that time frame. My doctor said there are 1 month olds who are on a 4 month schedule so I guess it just depends on the kiddo.

I do have a pretty funny story if you have time. Well, it wasn't funny when it happened but it is funny now:

On Thursday morning I was rushing around to get ready for work and I was trying to pick up the house some. I had put Shelby outside and therefore felt comfortable with putting the babies on the floor with their gym. It had been about 40-45 minutes since they had eaten so I figured they would be fine on their backs (acid reflux wise). Well, I was going about some quick chores while they were playing (making my bed, putting away some clothes, cleaning up their nursery) when Jillian started screaming and Jenna started crying. I didn't know if they poke each other in the eye or what!

I rushed out to the living and right away I see poor Jillian is absolutely covered in vomit/spit up. It completely covered her face; it was in her hair, ears, eyes, nose,mouth, on her clothes...everywhere! I couldn't figure out what happened until I saw a little river of spit up dribbling down Jenna' s chin. Jenna had a little bit in her hair but poor Jillian; I was having to use the bulb syringe to suck spit up out of her nose and mouth!

So, I dropped everything and ran to get some towels. I cleaned up both girls the best I could and tried to soak up the vomit that was covering the mat of the gym. Then I put Jenna in her bouncy seat and bathed and changed Jillian. She was traumatized by the whole thing and promptly went to sleep after that.

I then threw the mat and dirty clothes in the washer and proceeded to bathe and change Jenna. After she was all cleaned up and in her swing I decided to go ahead and eat my breakfast. I was eating Lucky Charms at the kitchen counter and filling out some paperwork for my sister when I spilt my milk all over the counter and floor. This was all before 8am people!

I couldn't catch a break. All I can think today is TGIF and its the end of a boo boo week filled with doctors appointments, shots, fevers and reactions from shots, schedule changes, vomit, and spilt milk.

More to Come...Unless I'm committed ;)

Jessica

We're Back!

Jillian (L) and Jenna (R)

Well, we finally got our computer back! Last week our computer just shut off for no reason and wouldn't turn back on. I thought maybe it was overheated or something and waited a few hours and tried again but it still wouldn't work. I checked the plugs and everything was in place so I had no idea what the deal was. This same thing had happened a few years ago and our 'power source' had to be replaced. So figured maybe it was the power source again.





Well we took it in last Thursday morning and that afternoon the tech called and said there wasn't anything wrong with it when they plugged it in at their shop it worked fine. So I finally had the time to go and get it after work yesterday and guess how much they charged me to turn my computer on? $37 dollars and change! Can you believe that? They called it a diagnostic fee. I didn't expect they wouldn't charge anything but forty buck? Come on people!





Anyhoo, that ranting aside it is time to update everyone since it has been a while. We are all doing well. Both girls are now rolling over from tummy to back. They don't do it often but at least we know they can. They are smiling more and more but still no giggles and no baby babble yet. A few happy screeches here and there but mostly the verbal noises are still cries.





They are still working on sleeping through the night. We haven't fed them in the middle of the night for about 3 weeks now so that is good; however, both girls usually wake at least once and we have to sooth them with their pacifier or by rubbing their heads or belly. There have been a handful of nights where one or both (both was just once) have slept without waking but that seems to be what we are still striving for and not quite there. They are better about being soothed and going back to bed afterwards which is, I think, a step in the right direction.





Our challenge these days is eating. I know all kids go through a period where they eat like crazy and then they go through periods where they aren't interested. I thought that was more toddler+ age though. The last few weeks Jillian has been a very fussy eater. Most bottles she starts out fine but looses interest after only a few ounces (we are at 4 ounces now). There have been a few bottles where she almost refuses to take any. Jenna was doing just fine but this week has started the same thing. I don't know if they are just not hungry or if we are feeding too often. They still eat every 3 (to sometimes 3 1/2 hours during the day). Maybe we need to stretch it longer?





We go to the doctor tomorrow for our 4 month check up and shots so it is on my list to talk about. In the meantime, Blogger offers lots of nifty tools I can try out and they have a poll. So, I am polling all of the moms and dads who read this... Do you remember when your baby moved off a 2-3 hour feeding schedule and onto a 4 hour schedule or longer? Keep in mind my babies aren't ready for solid foods yet...with their adjusted age it will probably be another 2 months before that happens according to our last doctor's visit. That may change tomorrow but I doubt it.





I haven't used the poll before so hopefully it works. We will see!!





More to Come...


Jess

The Beauty of a Walk

Since yesterday was such a nice day, I decided to take Jillian and Jenna on their first official walk. We have taken them around the block before- in the stroller that holds their car seats; but they were all bundled up and hidden from view with the shades pulled shut. This is the first walk where they had a view of the outside world.

At first you can see that they were not happy, not happy at all in fact. Both girls were mad with Jenna putting up the biggest fight. But once we got outside and started walking they were happy as clams. The walk even put some pep in Shelby's step...who has been kind of mopey lately. :(



Jenna before the walk and Jillian before the walk



Jenna after the walk and Jillian after the walk



Shelby after the walk :)


Me on the other hand? After the walk I was darn tired!! I used to walk about 2 miles a day with Shelby before I got pregnant and after that I always felt to miserable to do much besides lay around. I need to get back in the habit so that climbing stairs and walking from the back of the parking lot to the front door of Target doesn't seem so awful.





More To Come....
Jessica

Happy Easter!

Jillian (green dress) and Jenna (purple dress) just wanted to say Happy Easter to everyone! :) No hunting of Easter eggs yet but it is fun to think that next year they will be toddling around the yard trying to find the decorated treasures!

Thanks to everyone who commented on the CIO blog entry. It makes feel much better to hear stories from others now and then. I think I need to try and remember that a book is just that...a book. I need to just go with my instincts and listen to what the babies are trying to tell me; I also need to learn to enjoy the babies now while they are little. Already they are getting so big! :) They will be 4 months old in 2 weeks! Can you believe it? It seems like yesterday I was updating everyone on the CarePages while the girls were in the NICU.

More to Come,

Jessica

Developmental Milestone!

Jillian rolled over (on purpose) for the first time today! She was able to roll over from her tummy to her back for my Mom-in-Law three times today and she did once for Jared and I when we got home. :)

We are truly excited so I had to share even though I just posted an entry this morning. The rolling over from tummy to back is a 2-3 month milestone so she is right on target with that even though developmentally she is still considered to be about 6 weeks.

More to Come!
Jess

Cry It Out? I'm in Doubt...

Jillian


Jenna


For those of you who have been following the blog you may remember that we are utilizing the Babywise program (as opposed to on demand feeding or another routine). It is an eat/wake/sleep method designed to help babies organize their sleep patterns thus making the transition to sleep through the night an easier one, for both parents and baby. It has been great with keeping the girls on the schedule the NICU had them on which means the girls are USUALLY not too fussy, especially between feedings.

One of the methods used in Babywise is CIO or Crying it Out. The book is a big advocate of babies being able to self soothe and not needing sleep props to help them fall asleep at naps and bedtime. Sleep props are anything from swings to mom rocking the baby. I have found that it has been kind of hard for us to implement CIO for several reasons:


1. The girls have to stay upright for half an hour after they eat. During the day they sit in their pink Boppy Seats which are cushy and have a vibration...which in effect lull them to sleep. At night, Jared and I each have a baby so we hold and pat them for about half an hour after they finish eating their last bottle.

2. The girls have Acid Reflux. Prolonged crying irritates the acid reflux which then agitates them further. So the harder they cry the more agitated the reflux becomes.

3. I am a huge weenie. There is something about a baby crying that makes me want to run and soothe her. Babies are born with the instinct to cry when they are unhappy, hungry, tired, hurting, cold, wet, etc. I think Moms are born with the instinct to quiet the cry. I physically can't just leave them to cry for half an hour, hour or more.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't go in and grab the babies up every time they start to cry. I try and offer a Shh noise or their pacifier or a pat on the tummy for a minute; but, after about 25-30 minutes of crying and misc soothing tactics I find myself picking them up. Especially at night when I am sleepy. :)

Does that make me a bad mom? I don't think so...take for example this morning. Both girls were in their swings wide awake while I was eating breakfast. Jenna fell asleep in her swing but Jillian was wide awake. It was about 7:30 and I knew they needed to go down for a nap so I put Jillian in her bed wide awake. Jenna woke up when I put her in her bed. So, I had to wide awake babies in their cribs, but they didn't make a peep. They sat in there quietly for about 10 minutes and finally feel asleep without so much as a peep.

Not that it happens all the time that way....I wish though!! Yesterday they fought me on every single nap, which is why I bring up the CIO at all. I guess every mother second guesses herself when she can't seem to get her babies in a content state for most of the day.

Does anyone remember when their babies started to be more happy and less fussy? I think my babies are bipolar. :) One minute they are smiling and the next they are crying like they were pinched (they weren't, I promise!). Did your baby(s) get happy from 6 wks- 3mos, 3-6 mos, 6-9 mos, 9 mos +? I would be curious to know...feel free to share in the comments section!

More To Come,
Jessie

Dare I Say It?

Jenna

I think I am going to jinx it by saying this; but it is just really exciting...the girls have started to sleep thru the night! Almost. :)

Let's see, it started last Tuesday (or Wednesday, I can't remember). Usually both girls would wake up wanting to eat anywhere from about 1:30-2:30. On Tuesday Jillian woke up but she was just kind of wimpering instead of crying. I had always made it a habit of trying to get the girls to settle down on their own during the night instead of just bringing in a bottle right away...like giving them their pacifier instead. So on Tuesday when Jillian woke up I put her pacy back in and she went right to bed. She did that at about 2, 3 and 4 and then at around 4:40-4:45 when she really woke up it was too late to feed her or else our daily routine would have gotten all messed up. The doctor said it was okay for them to go all night now so I knew she wouldn't starve or anything. I settled her back in bed with me and she went right to sleep.

Jillian

During all of this Jenna didn't wake up once! In fact, she didn't wake up until about 5:15 that day!! Most of the rest of the week was the same where Jenna pretty much slept all night and Jillian woke up a couple times; but, the girls haven't been fed past 9:00 in about 5 days! Last night was much of the same except the girls switched, Jillian slept all night long, until about 5:45 and Jenna got up a few times.

It is kind of neat that they did this on their own. Jillian and Jenna are so used to the schedule that the NICU gave them we figured we would have to go cold turkey for a few days to get them onto a new schedule. We also didn't think they would start sleeping more so soon though; we figured it would be in late April or early May. :) Let's just hope they keep it up! I am definately ready for some uninterrupted sleep. I would rather have fewer hours of uniterrupted sleep than 8 hours of getting up and down and up and down. Ya know?

It comes at a great time too as I just started back to work this past Thursday. I am working part-time instead of full-time but I just can't imagine having a full time job right now. I can barely keep up with things as they are now since starting back last week.

More to come,

Jessica

How Do I Do It?

I don't know what it is like having one baby, but the daily chores I have with twins means I have to stay organized and on top of things or I get off and behind. So what do I do when the babies fuss during the evening hours when I have to 1) make dinner 2) clean up from dinner 3) wash all bottles from the day 4) make bottles for next day 5) get babies fed and in bed 6) get myself ready for bed 7) get ready for the next day if I know I have to go somewhere or work? I multi-task.

Here I am holding Jillian, who has been fussy since about 5:30. I am washing bottles while holding to her and singing to her. I am doing the same thing right now while I type this blog. :) Thank goodness I have a knack for doing lots of things at one time. :)

More to Come...

Jessie