I'M IN LOVE!!

- 4 Months Old -

Ella

-Definitely the talkative one! Lots of Ooh's and Aah's!

-Getting better at taking a bottle now that I'm back to work.

-She's even becoming more regular, which is a good thing.

-Fascinated with Avie. She loves staring at her.

-Loves to suck on her pointer and middle finger.

-She hardly ever performs for the camera, just like her Dad!

Avie

-Loves the camera!! Stares at it whenever it's in my hand.

-Loves to suck on her fists.

-Drama Queen!! She has this fake cry, I'll have to try and tape it. It's hilarious!

-One of the happiest babies in the morning!

-She's starting to get her voice, slowly.

They both:

-Drool and blow bubbles constantly!

-LOVE sucking on their clothes, blankets and hands. Their clothes are drenched!

-Both have a very firm grip. Be careful with earrings and long hair!

-Starting to notice each other more. They stare at each other and smile.

-Sleeping better at night! We've even had a few all nighters!

-Enjoy the outdoors! They love the sounds and looking at the trees.

-Wearing 3-6 months clothes. We still have a few 0-3 months, but they're tight!

It's been really hard to get back into work with the girls getting bigger! They are so much fun to be around whether they are cooing back at you or just sucking on their blankets! I love being with them! I can't wait to hear those giggles for the first time!! We're working on getting them stronger so they can be sitting by themselves soon! Ella has a flat spot on the right side of her head, so we're trying to work on that. Having more tummy time and moving her head while she's sleeping. Tummy time is getting better. The girls can last longer before getting frustrated and they are rolling over more! It's definitely been a rough couple of weeks, but seeing their smiles in the mornings make it all worth it!

LOVE the video below! We were able to tape Ella talking and smiling! Avie just stares at the camera the whole time and even leans in for some close ups!

Tummy Time - Video Post

Erica came up to say Hi to the girls last night and to see what we were up to! I had just got done feeding them, so Erica recommended some much needed tummy time and shot these short videos for us.

Video # 1: Avie does well on tummy time! She even rolls over!

Video # 2: Ella joins in the fun, but Avie starts to get frustrated. While we find Avie's cries of frustration funny, Ella rolls over.

Video # 3: Avie's really frustrated and Ella soon joins her! I'm sorry, but I find their little cries hilarious. But it's sad, because you can tell they are really frustrated.

Scared, Worried, Lost, Etc.

For those of you that do not know, Kelly had a seizure on Monday, during a BBQ we were having over at my sister Kalie's.

It was by far the scariest moment in my life and it all happened so fast. Kelly followed me into Kalie's spare bedroom to hang out with me while I nursed the girls and shortly after he laid down on the floor, it happened. I couldn't do anything... I couldn't move or reach him unless I wanted to drop the babies. The next thing I knew, I was screaming for help and everyone was running into the room. Mom was able to grab the twins and Erica tried to calm me down. Calming down wasn't happening, so Kalie decided to move me into the living room, but I collapsed in the hallway. All I could hear was my step dad saying that Kelly was bleeding because he bit his tongue and he was trying to swallow it. The actual seizure lasted about 45 seconds but Kelly didn't come around until the paramedics arrived about 10-15 minutes later. He doesn't even remember my step dad or Joe talking to him.

You can't imagine... Seeing a loved one in pain, hurting and you can't help them. I felt so helpless. I can't stop replaying it in my head... But as terrible the situation was, it couldn't have happened at a better time or place. Like I said, he was already on the floor, so he didn't fall. The room was pretty empty so he didn't run into anything or hit anything. Plus we had the entire family there, so there was enough people to tend to him, me and the babies.

The paramedics took Kelly to Emergency by fire truck and they didn't have any room for me. So as I was histerical, Kalie took my car and followed them to IMC. The paramedics took the LONG way to the hospital, so I knew he was okay. They even had him call me on the way there, just to say Hi. When we got there, Kelly had a CT Scan, EKG and blood work done. Everything came back normal. So what did this mean? What happened? They didn't know. They kept us there for awhile and gave Kelly some medication and recommended meeting with a neurologist for follow up. We didn't get home until about 1AM Tuesday morning and the girls ended up staying with my Mother. As much as we missed them and just wanted to be with them, we needed to get some rest, Kelly mostly.

We met with a neurologist this morning and he has ordered an EEG and a MRI for Monday afternoon. Hopefully it will tell us something, but the neurologist isn't optimistic. He says that 99% of the time, we don't know why people have seizures. Great! But what happens now? The neurologist informed us that by state law, Kelly is not allowed to drive a car for 3 months. He is also to avoid heights, swimming and bathing. Obviously this means that working as a bill poster with Reagan is out of the question for the next little while. However, the Dr is optimistic that after the 90 days, if Kelly is seizure free he'll be able to get back to his job and Reagan is holding his position for him. In the mean time, he may see about going back to Ream's, maybe joining the stock crew or something. We also need to decide whether or not to put Kelly on medication. The only thing is, is if you start the medication you have to take it for the rest of your life. Taking it and then stopping could lead to a seizure. The Dr recommends that if the tests on Monday show nothing, we should wait the 90 days and if Kelly doesn't have another seizure than he won't get on the medication. However if he does, he should definitely take some. What? Another seizure? I don't want to see that!

Scared, Worried, Lost, Etc... Thankfully we have an amazing support system at home. THANK YOU FAMILY for always being there for us! I'll keep everyone posted as to his test results and where we go from here. I hope all is well!

3 Months Old

Alright, I know I promised this post a week ago and the girls are technically 14 weeks on Sunday... but better late then never, right?!

Ella

aka Ella Rella, Ella Bella, Ella Bear

Weight: 11 lbs 5 oz - 40%

Height: 22.5 in - 31%

-The mellow one. However, when she gest mad... enter high pitch screech. Yikes!

-The gassy one... she stinks, really bad!

-She is the lower lip queen!

-She isn't a big fan of the play mat, she cries once you set her down.

-Daddy's girl BIG TIME! She lights up whenever she is with him.

-Loves her tongue. It's constantly sticking out.

Avie

aka Avie Bug, Avie Baby, Chubs

Weight: 11 lbs 14 oz - 55%

Height: 22.5 in - 31%

-Miss Fuss! She is definitely the feisty one.

-She smiles the most and they are big smiles.

-Has been seen sucking her thumb.

-Absolutely loves the crib mobile. She gets so excited!

-She likes to play, very active on the play mat.

-Erica's BFF!

They both LOVE:

* Bath time * Being held and loved * Mornings * Clean diapers * Their swings * Car rides, as long as the car is constantly moving * Standing up, stretching *

They both HATE:

* Pacifiers * Being swaddled * Having their ears cleaned and boogers sucked * Being in their car seats and not moving * Being ignored *

LOVE MY BABY GIRLS!

To see more photos of their 3 months, check out my Facebook.

Not a my friend on Facebook? What's wrong with you!

Record Breaking Night!

Yesterday was quite a day with our multi family yard sale! I was so beat and really need a good night sleep! Well, the girls must have known that because they slept the longest they ever have last night!

I put the girls to bed around 8:30 and surprisingly they fell asleep around 9. I, however, wasn't able to fall asleep until around 10:30. But the girls didn't wake up until 4:30 AM for a feeding!! Did you count that? They slept for 7 1/2 hours!!! It was incredible! What was even more incredible, was that I woke up right before they started to cry. Why do you ask? Let's just say I REALLY needed to nurse and that I was even able to pump 8 oz after I fed them! Yea, it was nuts!

After feeding them and pumping, I was able to get to sleep around 5 AM and the girls woke my up at around 7:30 AM, the usual time. I don't know if you've been calculating... but I was able to get 6 hours of sleep the first time and an extra 2 1/2 hours of sleep after feeding them! 8 1/2 hours of sleep!! And I NEEDED IT! Thanks girls for being so great!

Speaking of sleeping... Let's talk swaddling. Who does it? How does it benefit you? My Mom picked us up some swaddle blankets with the Velcro and everything.. I've heard great things from other mothers that use them, but my girls HATE being wrapped up tight. They are dying to get free. So we just lay them in the cribs... They seem to like being able to move around and have their hands free. So, should I still try to swaddle them? Will it help them sleep longer? I'm open to anyone's thoughts or suggestions!

I'll be posting again later today or maybe tomorrow... The girls are 3 months today!! SO CRAZY! We went to their Dr appt last week and I'm gonna post about it. I just want to get some cute pictures taken first!

Much love!

Job Situation

Yup... it's about that time!

Right after Labor Day, I'm back to work. I know some of you have heard that I was trying to work out what is considered a "job share," but that fell through. Unfortunately no one was available or wanted to do one...

So where does that leave me? Well in order to maintain full time status, which is my only option, I have to work at least 35 hours. Now, most managers like you to work the full 40, but my manager is willing to work with me. He is allowing me to work 4 days a week, 9 hour days as long as I keep up with my book of business. That's easy! I worked 25-30 hours while I was pregnant and did a better job than those working 40+ hours! It's true! I may not work that much, but I'm good at what I do!

But yea... 4 days a week, 9 hour days! It's going to be so hard to get used to. All in all I think it will be really good for me. Not only could we use the extra money, but I'm going to need "adult" time. Get away from all the chaos that is feeding, diapers and screams! I've set it up so that I will work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday! I thought having every Wednesday off would break up my week. Mondays I'll open, 6:30 am - 4 pm and the rest I'll close 9:30 am - 7 pm. The hours might not be my favorite, but it works around Kelly's schedule too. It's going to be weird going back after so long. Especially because they've done a lot of changes while I've been gone. Luckily I won't have to jump right on the phones. I'll just have to get back into the swing of things fast... and find a quiet place where I can pump. That's going to be weird!! Plus, I'll have to stock my filing cabinet with food, since I eat like crazy while nursing! I'd rather have a stock than raid the vending machines or go for fast food!

I'm lucky enough to have family willing and wanting to watch the girls for us! Erica offered to take them maybe once or twice a month on her Monday's off and then my Mom offered to take the rest! She is even willing to take them all 4 days if I need her. Not only is she going to be our primary babysitter, but she has also offered to come here, to our house to watch them! She likes the idea that everything she would need is right here and she has even offered to clean and maybe cook sometimes for us. I know! Amazing right?! I honestly don't know what we would do without her! Plus we have other aunts and grandparents that could take a day here and there! We will probably get the girls into a day care sooner rather than later... but I'm thinking for the first year, we'll take advantage of the free and loving day care!! I still feel bad though... leaving 2 babies with someone is a lot harder than leaving one!

As disappointed as I am that we can't afford me to be a stay at home Mom, I'm looking at this as a positive situation! Even though I've loved the last 12 weeks, I've been going a little crazy couped up in the house. This will be good! It will be good, it just has to! Right?! Let's see if I'll still be saying that in October!

Hope all is going well with everyone! Much love!!

The Twin Switch

I call it "The Twin Switch."

I don't know if all parents of twins experience it, but it's a daily thing here with our girls. "The Twin Switch" happens when one baby stops crying, the other starts. And it just goes on and on. It's pretty funny but can get irritating.

Last night for an example. Both girls were in their swings and Ella starts crying. She goes on for about 5 minutes and then finally settles down. As soon as she stops, Avie starts. And it just goes back and forth!

Ah, the joys of having twins!

Scale Experiment

I used Erica's scale today just to see if I could get a weight on the girls. The scale still didn't pick them up by themselves, so I helped them out! After weighing myself, I held each baby one at a time and got back on. The results took me by surprise! Now it's probably not the exact total, but this is what we got.

Ella - between 9 and 10 lbs

Avie - between 10 and 11 lbs

I really wasn't expecting that! For some reason when I brought them home at 4 and 5 lbs, I thought 10 lbs was going to be huge! But that makes me happy! My Dr said that they should be gaining about 1/2 lb each week so they're just about perfect from their last weigh in!

My favorite part is their chubby cheeks, their cankels and the rolls of fat on their thighs! Adorable! Even Ella is starting to catch up to her sister! But with Avie, you can tell she weighs more just by picking her up! I can't wait to take them to their appointment on the 18th and see how much they've grown!

Love my girls!

Night Time Feedings

So I've mentioned in the past trying to give the girls formula at night so that I will have a time to pump and store the milk.

The first night we did it, we gave the girls 2 oz of formula and 1 oz breast milk. They did great, but it didn't really make a huge difference. Girls woke up exactly 3 hours later to eat again. The second night we tried it the girls would not drink, same with the 3rd night. So we decided to take a step back. Obviously 2 oz of formula was too much to start off. So Monday we started giving the girls 2 oz breast milk and 1 oz formula. It's been working great!! The girls are eating the entire bottle and are sleeping better! We start feeding them around 8:30 and they finish around 9. Bottle feeding the girls takes awhile. The girls are still awake, but we put them in their crib. As hard as it is, we allow them to cry themselves to sleep which can take up to 30 minutes. So they get to sleep at least by 10 pm and they don't wake me up until 2 am for the next feeding! Then after that, 6 am! It's been nice! I've been getting some great sleep! I hope I'm not jinxing it, but 3 nights in a row... YES!

We plan on continuing this until next week and then we'll try to increase the formula, 2 oz of formula/1 oz breast milk. Then give that a week, then maybe we can go all formula and no breast milk. Hopefully that will work and I'll get a good milk storage!

It's been a challenge, but we're working at it! The girls are doing great and I hope

that in the next 4 weeks, we'll make even more progress!