Another trip to the Dr...

This morning Nicholas seemed warm to me. I tried taking his temperature under-arm and before he wiped my hand away it was at 99. So a low grade temp at least. He was very sad and wasn't eating breakfast and hardly ate lunch. Kind of the same behavior as Celia. Their pediatrician doesn't work on Friday's, so I called and got him in this afternoon. After his nap and some motrin he seemed a little better and I even contemplated canceling the appointment, but took him anyway. Good thing I did because the little guy has pneumonia! I was really surprised. His ears were completely fine, but he had a lot of cracks and pops in his lungs. The pediatrician lent me his cleaned stethoscope and had me listen to what he was hearing. It sounded like crinkly paper when he took breaths. And he was also breathing more rapidly. So, we had extra amoxicillin from Celia and we've started him on that. Lets hope he doesn't have any reaction like Celia. Its unlikely though. If he isn't feeling better on Saturday I will take him back in. I'll be happy when this cold, ear infection and pneumonia is over!

The two year old hurdles

Two year old hurdles have started. Yesterday they were coloring at the table and they both decided to throw and wipe markers off the entire table as I was saying "keep the markers on the table!". When I asked them to pick them up (its getting more and more tough to bend over and anyway they should do it) they wouldn't. So off to time-out for them. It was also one of those evenings where I was just so tired of such behavior. So after a couple minutes I explained to them that they needed to come and help pick up the markers. They both came over and Nicholas did a great job picking them up. I THOUGHT Celia was picking hers up on the other side of the table, but my dear daughter was scribbling on the floor. Ugh. I was not happy with her and gave her a wet washcloth and told her to clean it up. So she happily cleaned up her marks (I guess it was fun for her). The best thing to do at this point was just take a picture....



Nicholas and Celia are also starting to try to climb out of their cribs. They have both fallen out of their beds in the last few weeks one time. I worry that they could really hurt themselves, but on the other hand, they aren't ready to be in toddler beds. I'm really hoping to hang on to cribs for a long time yet. I think if they had their own bedrooms they would be able to learn how to sleep in big kid beds, but with twins in the same room, it makes timing more difficult. Also with a new baby on the way, I would really rather not have them able to run around in their room. So, my idea was to turn their cribs backwards so the low front rail is against the wall. Now instead of having the rail come to their midsection it comes up to their shoulders. So hopefully this will safely keep them contained for many more months. Perhaps in the Fall we'll have one of them get a toddler bed and the baby can move into their old crib. the baby will sleep in our room for a number of months in the co-sleeper, so we don't need a crib right away. Here are their flipped cribs. :) In the next few months it will be interesting for me to be able to lean into their cribs though! lol




p.s. Celia is now labled as allergic to amoxicillin and the Dr called her in zithromax. Tonight she actually told me her head had owies. I think she meant she had a headache cause she was weepy and her nose is still really stuffed up. They both have the same cough, but Nicholas seems like he isn't getting any worse. Nicholas was actually in a good mood today. However, his lower eye teeth are almost about to pop through so maybe he is getting some relief from the teething.
I took them to their preschool class this morning at the YMCA. We missed last week because all of us were feeling yucky. I almost skipped it this week cause I didn't want to bring germs to the other kids. Well, I took them with a bottle of hand sanitizer. Turns out the rest of the class has what they have. I heard the exact same cough from almost every other kid (maybe 3 out of the other 5). Just a germ going around right now!

Allergy to amoxicillin...

Celia went to the Pediatrician today since she was feeling pretty crummy this morning. Turns out she had an ear infection in her right ear and a slight infection in her right eye (just red, no drainage). She was so tired, no appetite and very sad most of the day. The Dr gave us a prescription for Amoxicillin. So at 2:15 she had her first dose (supposed to be 12 hours or so between doses). At about 4:00 after a late nap we noticed she had a couple red blotches on her neck. It kind of looked like she had rubbed it against something that irritated her skin.
I took Nicholas to swim class alone and Celia stayed at Grandma and Papa's house. Grandma called me after swim class (I was picking up McDonald's for us all for dinner) and said Celia might be having a reaction to the amoxicillin. Sure enough her blotches on her neck had spread around her neck and up and around her right ear and onto her face. She had a red mark on her tummy and some prickly rash on her torso - more her back than front. She was also itching them a bit. The pharmacist said to stop treatment. So I called the after-hours clinic number and they said to give her benedryl and keep an eye on her. They also said they want to see her to diagnose her as an amoxicillin allergy. The only thing is I babysit tomorrow and can't get her in until late afternoon and by then the benedryl may have taken care of the rash. So, I'll call her Dr in the morning and see if we can get anywhere over the phone. Sometimes the after-hours and on-call people are more sticklers to protocol than her actual physician. However even if he agrees over the phone that she shouldn't take amoxicillin then I can't get a new prescription for her until late afternoon. Jason may have to see if he can pick something up for her if we get that far. Poor girl. At least she seemed like aside from the rash she was feeling a touch better. Hopefully we can get somewhere tomorrow so she can feel better soon.

Tacos, oreos and coughing

Tonight we had Turkey tacos for dinner. Jason decided to add a bit more seasoning and it turned out that our turkey tacos were spicy turkey tacos. :) Nicholas and Celia did well, eating about 1/2 of their tacos, but kept drinking a lot saying their tongues had 'owies'.
So after some tacos and applesauce they had an oreo for dessert. I showed them how to pull it apart and Nicholas commented that there was 'snow' inside the oreo. :) So they licked off the snow in the oreos. Cute!

Celia has a cough and a runny nose. I think the cold is starting to fade, but she is left with a cough that hurts her chest. We have the humidifier going, mucinex, motrin, lots of fluids, extra vitamin C, throat coat tea with honey and kisses & hugs. I think its a bit of bronchitis personally. She had a low grade fever a couple times this weekend - about 100 degrees. She wakes up from the coughing because it hurts her. :( Poor girl. I hope its improved tomorrow.

22 weeks and doing well

Today was my check-up ultrasound on the baby's heart. When I had my ultrasound at 17 weeks, it was still early to get a nice clear picture of the 4 chambers of the heart. This time the 4 chambers were there pumping away nicely. The brain looks perfect and all parts are where they should be. The only pictures I got were the face. Ultrasounds of faces look so weird. You'll see the orbits of the eyes (which the eyelid is still fused shut - should be able to open and blink by 27/28 weeks), the nasal area and the mouth. His head is to the side - forehead to the right of the picture. The baby was putting his hands over his eyes and moving all over.
Thats the other thing, we KNOW for sure he is a little boy. I was so sure he was a girl until 17 weeks, but this time I had them double check and there will not be any surprises. He is definitely a baby boy. Thankfully, a healthy little boy too. I wonder if he will look like Nicholas or Celia?

Happy 2nd Birthday Party - January 2009

I finally have the pictures of Nicholas and Celia's 2nd birthday party ready. But, let me warn you that I am not a party-thrower. Some women have it. . . I'm not one of them. Let me elaborate with a few examples:

1. I didn't buy any decorations. Not one streamer. I remembered some balloons from teaching 5 minutes before people were to come over up in the cupboard.

2. I wrapped the presents in newspaper. Newspaper isn't the problem. The problem was I started to wrap their presents in the obituaries. Once I realized what I was doing I used the comics.

3. I wore sweatpants and a maternity shirt and no socks. I had done my hair/make-up earlier in the day, but I just ran out of time to dress in normal clothes for guests.

Aside from that, it was a laid-back family affair. Grandpa and Grandma Velicer unfortunately couldn't make it even though they wanted to. They donated money towards the food and cake for Nicholas and Celia, which was definitely used (Thanks!). Uncle Matthew & Aunt Lydia, Aunt Angy and Uncle Russ with cousin Lauren, Grandma and Grandpa Maus, and our friends Matt and Nicky were at the party. We had a sub platter from subway (which worked out great). Nicholas had a train cake and Celia a ladybug cake. Celia points out ladybugs all the time so I picked that for her. However, once I ordered it I remembered that she always says 'owie' when she sees ladybugs because she remembers that one bit her last summer. Celia has an excellent memory (well.. they both do). Thankfully she didn't say 'owie' when she saw her cake.
They opened gifts leisurely throughout the day. Some gifts were: savings bonds from Great-Grandma, money towards tricycles from Grandma and Grandpa Velicer, a playdough set and markers from Aunt Angy and Uncle Russ, clothes from Matt & Nicky, a baseball and basketball set and baby from Grandma and Grandpa Maus, and a bubble mower, shape sorter and bath toys from us. Celia LOVES her new baby. Nicholas is in love with his bubble mower. We haven't put the bubbles in the mower, but he still loves it. They both have really loved the playdough set too.

When they were going to blow out their candles Nicholas grabbed for his cake and took a bite. I didn't expect him to do that at all! I had to take a picture of him though.




They both did a pretty good job blowing out their candles. We wish you a happy, healthy, wonderful 3rd year Nicholas and Celia!!!

Happy Birthday babies

Friday Nicholas and Celia turned 2 years old! Since their party was today (sunday) we went out for a family dinner on friday night with Grandma and Papa Maus. We just went to Culver's since it would be easy and it has food they like. Nicholas ate a hamburger and Celia had a hot dog. They shared fries and each had milk. We had ice cream for dessert. They were so good and sat on chairs like big kids (no boosters either). At one point Nicholas leaned too far and between Papa and I we caught him, but he was embaressed and cried pretty hard (he's been a mama's boy big time lately- a post yet to come). I think he is going through some teething pain with his eye teeth and some separation anxiety.
So Saturday we had cousin Lauren's birthday party. We had a nice time there too. Its amazing how fast these kids grow!
Today N&C had their party, but its late and I'll try to get pictures up for tomorrow. Celia caught a cold yesterday, so we're trying some vitamins and Zicam to clear up her cold. Seems to be working, but she does feel a bit under the weather. Hopefully it will be short-lived.
Stop back for pictures, hopefully by tomorrow! :)

A nice nice day

Today was such a nice day with Nicholas and Celia. In the morning I made the 3 of us breakfast (turkey sausage and scrambled eggs with green pepper and cheese). They ate almost all the turkey sausage leaving mommy very little. :) They were acting kind of bored so I had them come to the livingroom table and put all the ingredients for Banana Bread out. I had 3 overly ripe bananas and had planned to make bread with them anyway. They helped pour and stir. They did such a nice job that when we were done and the bread was in the oven, I gave them some bowls with a scoop of flour inside and some measuring spoons. They sat at the table transferring flour (I added some sprinkles in the flour for fun) between bowls with their spoons and pouring for about 30 minutes. So I took some pictures of them. At the end it did get messy, but it was a pretty quick clean-up once I took their sweaters and pants off and then swept up. Nicholas swept for about 10 minutes. Celia was an excellent manager following him around while he swept.



After the flour fun I let them go through the food cupboard. They had fun looking at cans and asking what things were called. When I was making their lunch I turned around and saw Nicholas pull some taco shells out of the cupboard and start eating them saying "Gaco! Gaco!" (as thats how they pronounce 'taco'). Celia decided to munch on some uncooked spaghetti noodles. When your toddlers start eating odd things from the cupboard you know its time for lunch. ha ha
The video is hard to watch because I was thinking in photography and not in videography and I turned the camera vertically. Sorry!






A very nice day. Their last day as 1 year olds. I will have twin 2-year olds tomorrow. What a blessing they are and how they have filled my life with joy - even the rough days. :)

Have I stooped to a new low?

The last 2 days I've been craving chocolate. Chocolate with substance. A hot chocolate might help, but I've been wanting something like chocolate cake or a chocolate blizzard. Tonight we had salmon and sauteed fresh (well. . . frozen fresh) green beans. Even Nicholas and Celia ate the salmon and green beans! Anyway, I ate a good dinner but chocolate was still calling my name.
Since its pretty cold out, I didn't feel like running to Dairy Queen. So..... I ate the chocolate ice cream I bought for Nicholas and Celia' s birthday party (sorry kids). Not all of it. But, I have a feeling it will need to be replaced by sunday. I'm trying not to gain a lot of weight with this little guy, but its a serious need for chocolate.
The good thing is the baby liked it. He kicked for seriously a 1/2 hour while we watched 'The Biggest Loser' (as I am eating ice cream with crumbled chocolate chip cookie on top). I promise I'll loose the weight after he is born. :) Poor lil guy is tuckered out now and sleeping.

Backseat Driver

Wednesday I was driving home from Walmart with Nicholas and Celia. We hit every stoplight on the way home so I was showing them that red means "stop car stop" and green means "go car go". So when it would turn green I would yell "GO!" Nicholas thought this was pretty cool (Celia was trying to keep her eyes open from exhaustion after our busy morning - also another example of what a boy thinks is cool and what a girl thinks is not so cool).
So this morning I took them to the pediatrician for their 2nd flu shot. They walked in with me holding hands and then we sat on a seat together and read some books I had brought. Then Nurse Mary had us come back down the long toddler hallway of fear. Nicholas started walking slower and slower and looking at me with puppy dog eyes. Celia walked on the heels of Nurse mary right into the exam room. Nicholas tried to walk past the exam room, but he then turned and buried his head in my legs with his lower lip pouted out and crocodile tears in his eyes (he remembers what this place gives little kids..... shots).
So once we got in the room Celia and Nicholas start crying and I am sitting in the chair with my two little toddlers with their heads buried in my lap crying. Its about enough to make you want to just leave. So the nurse said we could try just having me hold them on my lap instead of laying them down on the exam table (which makes them cry even harder). So we did Celia first - she's tough and cried a little, but once she realized it was done, she stopped. Then I held Nicholas and he didn't cry for the shot, but cried pretty hard afterwards. They both watched the needle go in too.
So after giving them each a powder sucker I had brought with me and them picking out stickers from the nurse, they were happy again.
So as we were in the van and waiting at the stoplight to leave the clinic area I was looking down and suddenly Nicholas yells "GO!!!!" (in a happy toddler voice). I look up and sure enough the light is green.
So, I do indeed have a backseat driver who turns two next week. :)

Classtime was awesome! And 20 weeks!

Nicholas and Celia's little preschool class at the YMCA was great! I am so happy we signed up. Its supposed to be for walking to age 2, so Nicholas and Celia are the oldest kids in the class, but its very appropriate for them. There is a lot of time for large motor exploratory play. So this week there were tunnels set up all over the gymnastics gym. Next week will be all jumping aparatus's. In the beginning the kids sit in a circle and the teacher leads us all in some songs and fingerplays. Then the kids get to play for a long time. There were only 5 other kids in the class so its a great size (and parent's stay with the kids). Then for 2 weeks we focus on one color and look at pictures of healthy foods in that color, have a coloring page to bring home and also they learn one new sign each time (however N&C know the signs already and are speaking the word instead). Its just great! I'll look forward to every Wednesday morning!

So then this afternoon I was cleaning some cloth diapers and I heard rustling on papers in the kitchen. I figured Celia had pulled down the newspaper off the table I had been reading earlier. Soon I start hearing both of them saying "Ummy! Ummy!" and pretend eating noises. So I come in the kitchen and here they had all the grocery store ads on the floor and were looking at all the food pictures and pretending to eat the food. It was SO cute! I had to take a picture. I also got a picture of the Burger King coupon book for Jenny March. lol


And here is a picture of Me at 20 weeks pregnant. And a comparison picture of me at 19 weeks with Nicholas and Celia. Not a ton of a difference, but I look more stretched with the twins (and felt that way too!).

Baby #3 at 20 weeks

Twins at 19 weeks (Oct 2006)

Bubbles

Saturday night Jason and I were able to catch an early evening movie (Marley and Me) while N&C played at Grandma and Grandpa's house. When we came to pick them up they were laying on the carpet while Grandma blew bubbles all over them. They loved it, so we have been doing it at home too.


Tomorrow morning is their first 'class' at the YMCA. Its a 'walking to age 2' class which focuses on songs, sensory activities, socialization and beginning signs. I think it might be a bit easy for them, but that isn't bad since it will be an entirely new experience. So having them feel confident and capable to do what they'll be doing (I'll be there with them) won't be a bad thing. Then perhaps we will graduate to the 2-3 year old class after this session. So, hopefully it goes well. But tomorrow we need to be out of the house by 9am and usually we aren't out of bed until 8am, so we'll have to be moving kind of quick in the morning to get breakfast and be in the car and ready by 9am! And if you know me, you know I'm always late! :)

Swim class is back!

Nicholas and Celia started swim class again today. I told them today that we were going to the pool and I seriously think they remembered. We talked about the rubber ducks they have to swim after, the huge beach ball they kick, and splashing/kicking. Their last swim class ended in October, so we had a 2 month break.
Once we got to class and into the water it was like we had never taken a break. They did so awesome. Nicholas kicked his legs to swim almost every time. Last class we had to keep reminding them to kick and this time Nicholas kicked like he was trying to propel himself every time. Since we hold their torso and they swim on their stomach we told Nicholas and Celia we would stop if they stopped kicking (to show them that kicking makes you go). It worked super well with Nicholas and he was able to use the kick board and swim so well. Celia tucks her arms close to her to kick since she uses so much energy to kick. There was also a newborn with a mom on the sidelines and Celia couldn't keep her eyes off the baby. She will LOVE having a new baby in the house in 4 months.
Anyway, they did great. I think they will really have a lot of progress this session. They have to keep taking the Inia/Perch class at the YMCA until they meet all criteria to move forward and are also 3 years old. So, we'll be in this class for a while. :)

However once we were in the changing room and we were all dressed and were walking out poor Nicholas slipped and fell flat on his back. The poor little guy just buried his head in my neck and sobbed. I felt so bad for him cause he had fallen earlier in the day.
We were walking in to the house from grocery shopping this morning and he found the one patch of ice on the driveway and fell flat on his back. He sobbed and sobbed for a while after that. I had him on the couch with his green froggy and he just clung to me and cried. And his sweet sister brought him everything she could think of that he likes. She brought him his green turtle from Grandma and Grandpa Velicer's Florida trip, his cars, his trucks, his fish book, a blanket and a drink. She is such a caring little toddler. She just kept bringing him his favorite things to help him feel better and stood next to him with concern in her eyes. She makes me proud. She'll go far in life with that empathy.

New Shoes!

We went with some New Balance shoes this time. Nicholas and Celia's shoes from preschoolians.com were becoming a bit small, although they have some life left in them. But, I saw Kohls was having a sale on toddler shoes, so we bought them each a pair. They look so much older to me in these running shoes. They both like them a lot.

Don't mess with a boy and his Pj's.

On a Target shopping trip this week we came across a pair of Thomas the Train pajamas. Of course, Nicholas being the Thomas fanatic, we bought them. It worked out well because the bottoms were 3T and the top was 2T (to fit his long legs). Well, we didn't know that we were buying him an outfit he would want to wear 24/7. That night he wore them to bed and the next morning he refused to even lay down for a diaper change unless I said he could keep his 'choo choo pajamas' on. He wore them last night too, but I had to really work to get him to put on jeans and a shirt today.