Thankful - a 10 mos update

Today I am thankful. My boys are 10 months old and they are healthy. Not only that, they are BIG and healthy. Looking at the preemie sleepers they wore home from the NICU is mind-boggling. And to think they doubled (nearly tripled) their weight before wearing size preemie...

I am thankful to be a mom. The job isn't easy, but each day is amazing. I love when I can hear my two boys "talking" and laughing with each other - as they're playing together on the floor, in their high chairs, through the rails of their cribs. It's becoming more and more frequent lately, this "twin talk." And they really like to chat and giggle when the adults are in the next room, so you have to be a little bit sneaky to catch them in the act.

I am thankful for Emmanuel. All 20 lbs of smiling boy. For two bottom teeth, one taller than the other. For his observant eyes, taking in everything around him. For the deep tone of his laughter. For every ounce of snuggle that he desires. Don't you love the drool?


I am thankful for Russell. He's our bigger boy, our silly boy. For his twinkling eyes. For his two bottom teeth. For the forever-babbling da da da, ya ya ya, da da da. For his curiosity - soon he will be crawling to explore his surroundings! He, too, lives in bibs right now.


I am thankful for happy babies. The boys love to sit up and play now. They can pick up toys in both hands and pass things from one hand to the other. They always seem to want whatever toy their brother has (of course)! They can swivel on their bellies and they roll like champs. They really enjoy the jumparoo and the exersaucer, especially when we put them side by side.


I am thankful for the many people - family, friends, strangers - who lifted our family in prayer this year. Here is the answer to all our prayers...



Thanks be to God, for making me a mother and for a year filled with blessings.

P.S. Mannie and Russ say, "No, thank you," to mashed potatoes. They were greatly disappointed by their one new Thanksgiving food. Poor Mannie even gagged and threw them up.

Nine months and counting

Whew! If I thought life was busy simply being a mother of twins...life as a working mother of twins is insane. Where have the last 5 weeks gone?! Most days I lay down to sleep, moments after putting the boys in their cribs, and I wonder where the day went. My week days are a blur. But somehow, I am doing it. I am managing to be a good mom AND a good teacher.

I can't believe I haven't written for a month. (Did I just write that? Seriously? Um, wait a minute...didn't I just say life is an insane blur?!) The boys are growing and changing, but to be honest, the most notable events happened in the last week.

First, the boys turned 9 months on October 21. 9 months! Their 9 month appointment isn't for another week yet, so I will have to write again once we get the official 9 month stats.

Next, I took a break. My first real break in 9 months. I actually left the boys for a weekend. My mom and I went to Minnesota to celebrate my cousin Celine's wedding. It was a wonderful family reunion, and we even did a little bit of shopping along the way! By the time we got home Sunday evening, I was ready to cuddle with my babies...but I had a really great time. Thanks, Dave, for allowing me to get away.

Then, I came home for lunch on Monday morning and found that Russ had cut his two bottom incisors. Teeth! How exciting!

Finally, Mannie saw the orthotist on Tuesday and he said the helmet treatment is over! Yay! He looks great. I am enjoying seeing my little guy's head and snuggling my face into his soft hair and neck.

***

Other news:
- The boys are such good eaters! They eat rice cereal + fruit for breakfast, and rice cereal + veggie for dinner. Throughout the day they drink 4 bottles, each around 6-7 oz.
- Once we started feeding the boys food, they stopped sleeping through the night! But they do sleep for 7-10 hour stretches, so I really can't complain. Plus, Dave is really good at getting up with whichever boy wakes first.
- We are really close to sitting and crawling. Both boys can prop sit, and they are starting to want to sit up. With more practice, they're going to get it! As far as moving goes...Mannie scoots in circles. Tonight Russell was scooting backwards.
- Mannie has an upcoming appointment at Minneapolis Children's Hospital. Dr. Sidman is going to scope his airway, to be sure the cyst is not returning and also monitor the growth of Mannie's airway. Be thinking of us the first weekend in November.
- We can't wait for Halloween! The boys have their costumes ready, and we will venture out to a few friends' homes to show off their cuteness. I mean, check them out below - aren't they darling?!

Food, glorious food

I've been meaning to write (you know, in all my "free" time now that I'm back to work) about feeding the boys. Ah, yes. We finally tried some food. **Break out the chorus from the opening act of Oliver! here**

On Saturday, September 11, Russ and the Man had their first taste of rice cereal. I followed the directions on the box (like any new mom would) and it was incredibly soupy. Think formula with a hint of rice. We fed it to them anyway. They were both unsure, but definitely interested. Then, because we were trying new things and we were all messy...I broke out the sippy cups and they drank some water to wash down their soupy cereal. I was impressed with how well they did with the cups!

Russ (above), Mannie (below)

All done! Russ (above), Mannie (below)

The next night, we tried again...and this time I made the cereal thicker. Much better! Mannie was like a little bird, opening his mouth for every morsel. Russell wanted to talk through the whole meal. We continued to feed them just in the evening (before their bath and night time bottle) for several days before we added in a morning meal, too.

So last night I added a little spoon of pears to their cereal. They LOVED it. Russ said "mmmm, mmmmmmm" through every bite, and Mannie was impatient because we weren't feeding him fast enough. After their baths (oh, they smelled SO yummy like all clean babies do) my mom and I gave them their final bottles of the night. Then I decided to give the Man a little Tylenol to help him sleep (because he is still adjusting to sleeping in his helmet and although he does sleep, he has been extremely restless). Well, this was a BIG mistake. BIG MISTAKE, I say. The poor little guy choked on the Tylenol as he swallowed it...and UP came the entire contents of his stomach. UP came the formula and the cereal and the pears. All over him. All over me. Yuck. So much for that clean baby smell that I had just been inhaling!

Today Mannie has been more apprehensive about eating, and I have been so disappointed and sad. He was my little bird, opening his mouth and waiting for the spoon, other days. Not today. He had just a few bites in the morning and a few more tonight. Maybe tomorrow will be better?

Mannie's new look

Emmanuel and Dave took a trip to Marquette on Monday to pick up his helmet. By Friday we had to make a second trip to Marquette to improve the fit. This time Mannie and I went together. The helmet was rubbing his little ears, and it kept shifting and sliding down over his eyes. It seems to be much better after Friday's fixings, however there is one spot behind an ear that needs a little more tweaking...hopefully the orthotist can make the adjustments when he travels to Houghton on Tuesday. Otherwise, we'll be heading back to Marquette!

It has been a rough week, but Mannie IS getting used to wearing the helmet...and so are mom and dad! We've worked our way up to 22-23 hours a day. He's technically supposed to wear it for 23 hours every day, but we have been giving him two breaks every day instead of the recommended single one hour break. In the morning we give him a 30-60 minute break to change his clothes and have some tummy time. In the evening, the 60 minute break involves his bath. The worst part is putting the helmet back on him, as it is very easy to accidentally fold his ears under it, not to mention his screaming (which thankfully subsides after some cuddling).

We were able to pick out the pattern on his helmet - the solar system. However, the page we made our selection from had a NAVY BLUE solar system, not a PURPLE one! Oh, well. It matches mom's new glasses! I told Dave we should find a Minnesota Vikings sticker for the helmet, to go with the color scheme. Dave seemed to think Brett Favre would be the perfect Halloween costume...ha!

Cross your fingers that we will be done with this chapter in our lives before Christmas. A typical child might wear a helmet for 3-6 months, but the orthotist seems to think Mannie's head might round out more quickly. We can only pray.

Back to school, back to Duluth, and other updates

Tomorrow I head back to work. My classroom is ready, my lesson plans for the first week are complete, and the boys have had two days of "practice" with our wonderful new sitter, Tammy. Everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) is wondering how I will handle leaving the boys to go back to work...and I think I will be fine. I mean, I know I will be fine. I love teaching. I've missed teaching. And really, my classroom is literally four blocks up the hill. So if I need to, I can certainly run home at lunch to visit Mannie and Russ. But I probably won't make a habit of it. Tammy is great - really great - and so I am confident the boys will be well cared for. Besides, I am hoping to use my time wisely during my breaks during the work day so I have fewer papers to grade in the evenings.

***

Last week we had a doctor's appointment. Mannie needed his 6 months shots. After his surgeries he had gotten a little behind in his immunization schedule, but now he will be right on track again. Dr. Rajanee examined both boys and was impressed with how much stronger they've become in the last month. It's true. They are doing great. Their adjusted age is 4 months and they are right on track both physically and developmentally. Russ weighs 17# and Mannie is 16# 11oz. Both boys are 26" long.

Our NICU follow up visit (on Aug. 24) confirmed our positive progress, as well. Judy, the dietitian, was extremely pleased with Russ and Mannie's growth. I hadn't started feeding them cereal yet and she suggested we wait until the boys are 6 months adjusted, if possible, which brings us to late October/early November. I don't think the boys will wait quite that long, but we're holding off as long as we can.

Part of the follow up appointment included meeting with the occupational therapist, Joyce. Joyce engaged the boys in some playful activities, which went well for Russ...but poor Mannie badly needed to eat and have a nap (and he refused to do either) which left us comforting a crying baby for at least an hour of our appointment. I couldn't believe it. He would not settle down. He would not fall asleep. He would not take a bottle. This was not our easy, happy Mannie at all! When he finally settled, he did play with Joyce briefly, and Dave was finally able to get him to take his bottle. Whew!

The last part of the appointment was meeting with one of our NICU doctors, Dr. Falgier. She thought the boys looked wonderfully healthy. She did write us a prescription for a cranial molding helmet for Mannie, which was her only concern.

It felt really great to be back in Duluth - almost like we were home again. Seeing Dr. Falgier, Joyce, and Judy - even Judy - was wonderful. (Judy was my dietitian while I was on bed rest at St. Mary's. I told her more than once, "I will give up anything but dessert. You can't take dessert away. It is what I look forward to every day." Little did she know, the nurses were sneaking me cookies as a bed time snack, too!)

After the follow up appointment was completed, we strolled over to the NICU for a visit. Dr. Muskovitz was amazed at how big the boys are, as were the nurses. Dave and I were almost sad as we left St. Mary's that afternoon. The hospital became our life for 3 months this year, and even though times were tough, we managed to actually enjoy many days thanks to the wonderful staff. They became our friends, our support system, our cheerleaders. Through Facebook, I still keep in touch with many of them. (Gotta love Fb!)

So, we already took our prescription to Marquette and had Mannie's head cast for the helmet...the helmet should arrive sometime this week. The casting wasn't too bad, but alas, it resulted in another meltdown for Mannie. Luckily, we were able to compose him as soon as the casting was complete. The orthotist thinks the reshaping might go really fast because we're fitting him with the helmet so early. We can certainly hope so. Typically a helmet is worn for 3-6 months. Joe thinks Mannie's head should take more like 1-3 months (cross your fingers)!

***

Enough about school. Enough about medical. Let's talk about how much fun the boys are right now. They are F-U-N! Both guys are moving around, though not crawling yet. Russell is rolling, and is constantly contorting his body to see what's going on around the room. He is really smiley and silly. Mannie has been doing a roll onto his side for what feels like forever...I'm just waiting for him to go all the way over. Mannie used to be our only flirt, but Russ is not going to let that be the case anymore. Right now they love to grab things - and everything they grab goes into their mouths. Both boys are very vocal, "talking" to whomever will listen. They love bath time, which is part of our nightly routine. Sometimes I can get both of them laughing at the same time...so cute! They love patty cake, "soooo big", dancing, and playing on a blanket on the floor. They also love when mommy sings, sneezes, or says things like "Shipoopi" or "get yourself." Below is a clip of Dave pretend-sneezing to get them laughing. They are all shirtless because there was a major heatwave here about a week ago and our house was like a sauna.

***

Well, I started writing this post one week ago - so I should probably post it tonight! And seeing as I am back to work tomorrow (which means getting up at 6 a.m.) I've got to get to bed! I'm hoping to write more than once a month this fall. Think I can manage?

we're on the charts!

Yesterday, after getting caught in "bridge traffic" and arriving 15 minutes late to the doctor's office, Mannie and Russ had their 6 month appointment with Dr. Rajanee. She said both boys look great, especially considering they were 26 week preemies. The biggest news from the appointment is that Russ and Mannie made the charts for 6 month babies (their birth age, not their adjusted age)! Here are their stats:

Russ is 25" (5%) and 15# 12 oz (20%). His head measures 42.5 cm (20%).
Mannie is 24.5" (<5%) and 15# 6 oz (15%). His head measures 41.5 cm (5%).

Dr. Rajanee wants us to switch to a different formula - and if the change goes well she thinks we should give rice cereal a try after about a week on the new formula. We are very excited about this...however, this brings new questions to my new mom mind. Questions like how does one feed a baby cereal if the baby doesn't sit up yet?? Do you feed them in a bouncer seat? And what will it be like to try to add cereal into my already hectic bottling schedule?! Another high point of the visit was Rajanee's opinion about Russ and Mannie's heads. She doesn't think we need to put either boy in a helmet. "Just give baby more tummy time," was her position. Now we have a bunch of different opinions on the matter, making the decision all the more confusing:
1. Dr. Colleen - yes to helmets
2. Dr. McCue, neurosurgeon - yes to a helmet for Mannie
3. Dr. Sidman, pediatric ENT - no to a helmet for Mannie
4. Monica Aho, PT - try stretches and exercises first
5. Dr. Rajanee - no to helmets
So, what we've decided to do is to continue with PT and really work to keep Mannie off his favored side of his head for the next month. Our NICU follow up appointment is at the end of August and we will talk to the NICU team about what we should do. Dave and I are not opposed to helmet therapy, as we do not want our child(ren) teased about their head shape on the playground. But if helmets aren't needed, GREAT.

***
Being a mom is really fun when a baby finally responds to you. Our guys have been smiling and cooing for awhile now, but last weekend we finally got them laughing. Well, actually it was Grandma Deba who got them started on Friday night. She had Russell laughing in the tub. And he was laughing so hard he scared himself and started to cry. Then she had Mannie laughing after the bath. But on Saturday - when I was all alone with the babies - I got them both laughing at the same time. We were playing peekaboo...and then Mannie started to belly laugh, then Russ, then Mannie...it was like hearing the other guy laughing was encouragement. If only I could've captured the moment on video.

***
Today I had an eye appointment - my first since I became pregnant. My eyes were constantly changing during my pregnancy, and I had to dig through old glasses to try to find something that worked. After the testing, my eye doc was pleased to report both eyes improved. Thanks, Russ and Mannie! Now I have to find time to have my mom help me pick out some new frames. She was planning to come to the appointment with me to offer her opinion on new specs, but she ended up taking care of the babies because my dad was supposed to babysit and he was stuck on the other side of the bridge! (Find the story here.) Crazy to think I would be affected by the bridge two days in a row when I barely ever leave the house anymore.

***
The humidity is killing me this week. It is miserable. I walked on both Monday and Tuesday mornings despite the heat, but today I thought, "Forgetaboutit!" Right now would be a great time to get some walking in, as it is cooling off and breezy, but I just got the boys to doze off before their last feeding and I don't dare load them into a stroller just so I can get a little exercise. I do need to walk daily, if possible. I mean, I will be going back to work in a month and I still have about 20 lbs of baby weight left to lose. I know I can't lose 20 lbs in a month, but I'd like to shed half of it so I can fit into my work clothes!

***
Well, it is time to wash bottles, prepare formula, and make the last bottles of the day. Another day in the life!

a bigger piece of our story

Okay, so I have to admit it - I "Google" myself. As a public school teacher who hopes to someday call myself a public school administrator, I am very careful about my virtual footprint. As a result of a Google search last week, I discovered another video SMDC created to promote remodeling their NICU. People, grab your tissues - the end gets me every time!

p.s.

Mike sent me this picture as a "sneak preview" of his photo session with the boys. Thank you, Mike!

happy half-birthday to you (and you)!

Yesterday Emmanuel and Russell celebrated their very first half birthday. Dave and I find it hard to believe we've been parents for 6 months already. What's really crazy is I wasn't even pregnant last year at this time!

To celebrate this special day, Grandma Deba brought pizzas from the Loading Zone, and Anita and Mike (one set of future godparents) came armed with a camera. I made a half cake. The frosting didn't turn out quite right due to the humidity, but after two failed attempts to get it right, I decided the "fudge" would have to do.

Size. The boys are the exact same size. Russell weighs 15# 1oz. and Emmanuel weighs 15# 0.5oz. Their 6 mos clothing fits perfectly. I am not sure of their lengths or head circumferences. The boys will see Dr. Rajanee for their 6 month appointment the first week of August.

Eating/Sleeping The boys eat/drink 6 times every day, totaling 30-35 oz. Mannie and Russ are awake more and more during the day time, but they still like to have several naps in the morning and afternoon. They are awake in the evening until they go down for the night around 8-9 p.m. We get them up for one last feeding (what the Baby Whisperer calls a "dream feed") before we go to bed and then we all sleep through the night. Yes, folks, that's right - we SLEEP.

Hair/Eyes. The boys are getting more and more hair on the top of their heads, and the way it is growing looks just like a military style cut. Their eyes are decidedly brown.

Health. Everyone is healthy. Mannie's July 2 laryngoscopy showed no trace of the cyst. Praise God! We don't have to go back to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis until November; Dr. Sidman will continue to monitor Mannie's airway periodically. Both boys are beginning physical therapy to deal with mild torticollis (tight neck muscles) and plagiocephaly (flattening of the head on one side, due to positioning). We are exploring the use of cranial molding helmets as a treatment option.

Other details. Even though the boys are 6 mos, their adjusted age is 2.5 mos, so their development is different than a full-term baby's. Mannie and Russ are extremely alert and responsive. They are interested in the world around them. Toys are engaging, but we're still waiting for them to reach for things. They are holding their heads up with more strength, and we're working on building that strength with increased tummy time (which they dislike - very much). Mannie scoots around in his crib - we often find him turned around and against the side. Both boys LOVE the mobiles over their cribs. They kick and make joyful noises, even if the mobile is stationary. Russ and Mannie are most "chatty" on the changing table. When they become fussy, the rocking chair is a quick fix. Overall, they are happy and content little guys, developing at their own speeds.

five months!

Seriously, how can it be that my boys are five months old already?! The days are flying by and the boys are growing so fast. I am doing my best to enjoy every simple pleasure of motherhood - each coo, smile, and cuddle.

Size. Mannie was weighed at a doctor's appointment last week and he was 13# 1.6 oz. At their previous weigh in about two weeks ago, Russell was 12# but ahead of the Man by about 8 oz. So it is possible Russ may be close to 14# now. Their 3 mos clothing is getting snug and soon we'll be breaking out their 6 mos outfits. Two weeks ago, both boys measured 22 in. Mannie's head is 38 cm and Russell's is 40.5 cm. We were excited that Russ's head actually made the charts for 4 month olds, landing him in the 10th percentile. WooHoo!

Eating/Sleeping The boys eat/drink 30-35 oz every day. Typically they have 5 oz every feeding. The boys like to nap between most of their feedings during the day. Then they are usually awake in the evening. They like to go for rides in the stroller or sometimes they hang out in the garden with their dad. Lately they've been going down for the night around 8-9 p.m. and then we are sometimes lucky enough to get a big sleep until their early morning feeding at 3-4 a.m.

Hair/Eyes. The boys are really getting a lot of hair on the top of their heads, and their hair is getting darker, too. Sometimes we like to spike it with a little bit of baby lotion after their baths (it reminds us of how Nurse Jan styled their hair in the NICU). Their eyes are getting to be brown instead of blue.

Diapers. We are wearing size 1-2, but will move on to 2s as soon as our case of 1-2s is gone.

Health. Since my last post, poor Mannie has had two laser laryngoscopies due to a cyst below his vocal cords. We have been traveling to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis for the procedures. We will return to the Twin Cities on July 2 so the doctors can have a third look at the cyst - hopefully this time it will not be obstructing his airway.

Other than the cyst, the boys have been very healthy. We feel so blessed.

Other details. We are having fun getting the boys to smile and coo - it is so rewarding when they respond! The boys are getting little personalities. "The Man" likes to flirt with ladies. He smiles and babbles with whoever is listening, but definitely likes women best. He has been charming nurses at the Children's Hospital, making him a very popular guy. "Fussy Russy" can be very personable and entertaining...that is, when he isn't fussy. He has been enjoying special attention from his grandparents while Mom and Dad are with Mannie in Minneapolis.

sometime in April

During my pregnancy, I typically didn't share my due date with people who inquired - I simply referred to my due date as "sometime in April". This was because I was expecting twins...and how many mothers carrying twins actually make it to their due date?! (We won't even get into how I feel about that now!) The truth is, my due date was April 30 or May 1. Which means our boys are full term today!

Weight. To celebrate the 40 week mark, we visited Dr. Colleen. The most exciting part of our appointment was the scale. Emmanuel, who typically trails his brother by 3-8 oz, is catching up! Mannie weighs 8# 8.8 oz, and Russell weighs 8# 9.6 oz. I couldn't believe it. I was expecting the boys to be near 8#, maybe slightly over. I mean, they are filling out their newborn clothing nicely. But eight and a half pounds each - WHOA! Mannie was only 5# 11.2 oz on April 1!!!!

Length. Both boys were 19.5 inches today - over an inch gain for each boy this month.

Head circumference. Mannie's head is 35.5 cm and Russell's is 36.5 cm. What a change from 31.2 cm and 32.8 cm, respectively.

Dr. Colleen was so pleased with their growth, and so were we! Our boys are getting BIG and we like it!

Other news...
Feeding. The boys eat/drink about 28 oz every day. They get 2-3 feedings of breastmilk and 4-5 of formula. Typically they have 4 oz every feeding. (When we left the NICU a month ago, they were taking in half as much.)

Sleeping. The number one question we get from our friends and neighbors..."Are you getting any sleep?" The answer is, YES, but not much ;) No, seriously, we do get some sleep. The boys eat every 3-4 hours, and they typically sleep most of the time in between their feedings.

Diapers. We are big fans of Pampers Swaddlers New Baby diapers. We tried size 1, but they were a bit too big so we're holding tight in size "N" for now.

Vaccinations...argh. Today we had our second dose of Synagis. The boys are having a fussy day as a result. My mom watched/juggled them for a few hours this afternoon so I could go to a baby shower hosted by my students. Sounds like she spent the entire time calming boys, while I was being spoiled by some of the boys' biggest fans.




The Man




Russ


But, my boys typically are happy. Here are their more content/calm faces...





Mannie




Russ


Tomorrow is May 1. I hope and pray the new month brings us as much joy as April. We are doubly blessed.

You know you're a mother of twins...

when your husband gets home from work and you're still in your pajamas.

So much to say, so little time

I have been composing blog posts in my mind all week long, but whenever I sit down to write, a baby boy cries out for my attention. And I have to pick up a crying baby if I can, because one's cries can quickly double in our household. I haven't yet perfected one handed typing - nor do I want to at this point in time. I mean, would I really be able to think and write while simultaneously calming a fussy baby?!

This has been a big week for the Trewartha Twins.
3 months old. WOW. Three months already.
39 weeks gestation. (Which means their adjusted age is negative one week!!!)
A perfect eye exam with Dr. Shuey in Duluth. Yay! He said, "See you in a year." We are ecstatic. We are thrilled their eyes are developing and perhaps just as thrilled to not have to make the trip to Duluth for a few months. Our next trip will be for the NICU follow up clinic in August.

I look forward to recording all my great ideas soon. I am once again summoned by a dear little boy.

a little piece of our story

Dave and I had the opportunity to share our story on Healthy Living - the segment aired the evening we went home. The video of the boys, especially Mannie, is exceptional! I still cry every time I watch it.

here we go!

My boys, Emmanuel David and Russell James, were born 14 weeks early on January 21, 2010. We spent the first 10 weeks of their lives in the NICU at St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth, MN. We arrived home just in time for Easter, proof that miracles do happen!

Now that we've been home for two weeks, I am ready to begin a record of my adventures in mothering multiples. I'm not as clever as Nat the Rat, and I do not possess the talent of my good friend ahh bear, but I'm going to begin this blog with the hopes that over time I can entertain my readers (or at least myself) with my writing.