Double Trouble... Life with Twins

2009-09-21T21:57:00.000-07:00

The rapid flows of the river TIME

2009-08-16T22:06:00.000-07:00

This is Chuck, filling in for a spell. I'll be trying to get updates on here more frequently, so as to keep people filled in. It's been an incredibly stressful past year for the both of us, so I apologize for the sporadic posts.

Now without further ado, I believe the last we left off, it was Halloween for the girls as well!

January 8, 2009

2009-01-08T19:31:00.000-08:00

I've just realized that i never even posted the Halloween pictures.. UGH!!!

Ok I promise pics will be up soon of Halloween and Christmas..
My god can you believe it's already past New Years..

The world with two little 16 moth olds (and a big brother) is just amazing and crazy..
Morgan is my sponge. This child cracksme up on a daily basis and learns so fast it makes my head spin. She is currently saying "Riley where are you" or "Daddy were are you" which sounds more like "iley weeer ahhh oouu" SO CUTE!! She is such a silly funny goofy kid. So smart and happy..

Riley is talking too but not as much, it depends on her mood. Sometimes you can't get her to be quiet and other times she is the shy momma's girl.. She absolutely loves me, and her gommie aka god mother. I think if she could be atached to one of us she would be on out hip 24/7.
She is my music child I say. Always humming and singing and playing the piano or drums. She loves music it's the cutest thing...

As for weight and height well you will have to catch me on a day my brain is working lol.
All i can say is that Riley has always been alittle taller then Morgan and now she is a lot taller. If she keeps this up she will surpass Aiden in no time at all. She is only about an inch shorter then him now and he has about 4 or 5 inches on Morgan I'd say. To see them all standing next to each other is sooooooooooo cute.. I remember this time last year and they were still "little".. My babies ar not babies anymore, there growning up too fast..

November 22, 2008

2008-11-22T20:33:00.000-08:00

My walker and my talker... What a crazy world it is...

Riley is officially walking! She started about 4 days ago and is all over the place. I love her new found independence. She is wobbly and walks a bit like a monkey but OMG is it CUTE!!!!

And Morgan is my talker, and what a smart little cookie this one is.. She says ya, momma, dudda, nonna, hi, uh-oh, sit, (although I still think it's sh*t lol) and the kicker is this cookie taught herself sigh language. YES real signs with real meaning.. I assume it is from us teaching Aiden and seeing us do them and his E.I. worker. One day I was talking to them all and asked if they wanted more. Aiden signs more a bit like a clap (open hands) but I know the difference between him saying more and clapping yay. Well when I asked the question Aiden aigned his version of "more" and then i asked the girls. Riley just looked at me like of course I want more and Morgan closed her hands and signed it. PERFECTLY!!!! Like a little pro.
The very next day I kept on it so she would keep the skill and out of the blue when she was all done she signed "all done" ! OK I was floored.. My one year old taught herself how to sign and did it like a pro. She knows, more, all done, and me.. As of just the other day both her and RIley can wave bye bye now too.. Something Aiden still doesn't do.. It's a trip to see all this, my brain is still in preemie land. Guess my preemies are growing up.

Now we just got to get Morgan to walk, and Riley to talk. Well i shouldn't say that, cause she does talk. She says momma, dudda, ya, and uh-oh, but she is in no way as vocial as Morgan. Morgan is just down right loud and has long conversations with who ever she can get to listen lol Ri is my quiet one (unless she is cranky) then there is no such thing as quiet with either one of them..

October 31, 2008

2008-10-31T20:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!

The girls were pixies this year and we once again took out the wagon and went trick or treating. Last year they were only just about 6 weeks old. This year they still didn't get it but had tons of fun any way..

They are both trying to walk on there own and have taken a few independent steps. It's so fun to watch them when they don't know your watching. They get excited when they realize "wow" I can do that..

Morgan is trying to talk up a storm and is my little parrot. She learned to say "shit" (ooopps)
That's what I get for saying PU.. it smells like shit.. Then when I asked her if she did a stinky and told her PU.. You smell like poopy.. She replied Shhiit!! LOL
Well i thought it was hysterical.. Come on, this tinly chubby little girl with pig tails looks at you all innocent and says that.. You'd laugh too..
For the record she knows a few other words.. All good.. She can say Uh Oh.. Morgan.. Butters (her nick name by the way from daddy) Ya, Hi, Mumma, and Dudda..
Ri so far is a mumma and dudda girl. Once in a while you will get a hi, or a ya and today I got an uh Ohhhh, but she is my quite to her self kid until she is tired or irritated then she is a whine bag. In those cases, just put her on the couch or the bed and they flop all over cracking up til they have tears from laughing so much.. (both of them) They are just NUTS!!!

Well i think that's about it.. I will post pics later.. it's been a long night.
Again.. Happy Halloween..

Birthday Party Pictures !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-09-26T18:42:00.000-07:00

Happy 1st Birthday Morgan Kennidi and Riley Lorene xoxox I LOVE YOU !!

September 26, 2008

2008-09-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

Flu Shots, Vaccines, finger sticks.. Blah
add that to a rainy wet humid yukky day and it was a nightmare.
Three kids in the doctors office, all over tired cause the appoint ran over two hours. Aiden was hungry and had been up since the early morning. The girls were all ready for there nap and in came the nurse. Riley did really good with the finger stick, not a peep, just a look like what the heck are you doing.. Morgan had a different nurse and wooooooooooo she freaked out. Then came the doc for the check up. All is good and we showed we can screech louder then he can talk lol.
Then the nurses came in to give the shots. Since they also offered the flu shot I agreed not realizing that ment they had to each get 5 needles. One in each arm, one in the right leg and two in the left. Poor girls, all this after there birthday.. Boo Hoo!
This killed plans for lunch, I was hot and tired and the girls were exhausted, cranky and hungry. SO we came home (thank god I live about 1 min from the doc office) and the girls got in there PJ's, got a nice warm bottle and took a nap. Aiden ate his lunch and passed out about 30 seconds after the last bite..

Girls are doing great. Riley is getting her 4th tooth and Morgan still only has the 2. They are closer and closer to walking and i can't wait.
It will be nice to actually put one down and let them hold my hand to walk for a second.

So here are the stats for the 1 year appointment....

Morgan
Birth.......... W.......... 3 lbs 14 oz.......... H.......... 16 in

4 M............ W.......... 14 lbs 7 oz.......... H.......... 23 in

7M............. W.......... 18 lbs 8 oz.......... H.......... 24 1/2 in

9M............. W.......... 20 lbs 9 oz.......... H.......... 27 in

1 Year....... W.......... 22 lbs 14 oz......... H.......... 29 1/4 in

Riley
Birth.......... W.......... 4 lbs 7 oz.......... H.......... 17 in

4M............. W.......... 15 lbs 2 oz.......... H.......... 24 1/2 in

7M............. W.......... 18 lbs 14 oz.......... H.......... 26 1/2 in

9M............ W.......... 21 lbs 8 oz.......... H.......... 29 1/2 in

1 Year...... W .......... 24 lbs 5 oz.......... H.......... 31 in

September 22, 2008

2008-09-22T15:16:00.001-07:00

Happy 1st Bithday Morgan Kennidi and Riley Lorene !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can not believe my girls are already one. We had there party yesterday and it was an awesome day. THe sun shined, it was about 80 out and a nice little breeze. The kids all played in the jumpy house and chased bubbles and all us grown ups got to relax a bit.

THe girls enjoyed there little cakes I got for them so they could each have there own and it was even better when Aiden came over to share. First he had to taste Riley's and since that was so good he must of wondered if Morgan's was better. So off he went over to Morgan and grabbed a bite.. LOL it was so cute I can't wait to post the pictures. (I did however leave the camera in the car that daddy took to work tonight so you will all have to wait)

THe girls are bothe crawling as previously reported and no more army crawl for Morgan. They are also very close to walking. I think Morgan will be the first. The clock is running, I give them less then 2 months. By Christmas they will be running. Oh that shall be fun..

THey go to the pedi at the end of the week so I will update then on weights and heights. I can only imagine.

We also got to finally meet one of our blog moms. Jen, Shawn, Arianna, and 4 week old Daria joined us to celebrate the twins bday. It was nice to finally meet you all, and next time we will have to chat some more.

Thank You to everyone who came and again Happy Birthday to my baby girls.. We love you so much.. It's amazing to me to know that a year ago you were 3 and 4 pounders and now you have to be pushing 23 at least.. Crazy.. Just Crazy..

August 22, 2008

2008-08-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

Happy 11 months to my baby girls who are getting WAY TO BIG!!

And YAY for Miss Morgan, she got her first tooth today..
Both are pulling up and cruising, both are walking with hand over hand assistance, and both are just truly amazing.

Now they just got to gang up to protect themselves from there brother who thinks he has the right to just go over to them and bop them in the head or knock them down.. Lets jsut say I don't think he likes the competition for toys and attention now that the girls are mobile.. hmmm

August 9, 2008

2008-08-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

Ri in the sink..

Morgan in the sink

Morgan's new trick.. She likes to climb in the middle of the coffee table and belly surf.. Then cry!

There not babies anymore... I realized that when I saw a lady with her new 3 week old baby in the store the other day and she was soooo tiny (and not even a preemie) and reality set in that my little girls are getting so big so fast. Morgan is still crawling away but can finally go from sitting to crawling even if she refuses to crawl on her knees. Riley is already cruising on everything she can. She will crawl over to the couch or the cabinets or me and climb up then move along the coffee tables. She still walks like frankinstein but thats ok... Even Morgan tried to pull herself up today to a standing position... It won't be long now...
Ri still only has two teeth and Morgan none.. But they will come..

Also Mommy got a new tattoo with all the kids names.. Click on Aiden's blog to see..

July 21, 2008

2008-07-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

The girls are HUGE!!! Let's start with that.. They are finally on a schedule and doing great with it. Bedtime is anytime between 7:30 and 8:30 and they will sleep til about 4 or 5 and then have a bottle. After that they go back to sleep til at least 8am which is pretty good.

Nap time is about noon or 12:30 depending on when they got up and they will sleep til about 1:30 or 2.. That is a morning with Daddy.. and he leaves to work at 2:30

I get home from work at 3:30 or 4 and they are up and will usually go back to sleep at 5 for a half hour if we are not out and about. It's usually a short nap (very short) then it's play time, bath time every other day and play time again until they get a bottle before bed and once it's bed time, it's BED TIME! 8:30 is the limit if we are home, which is most of the time. It was hard in the beginning cause they would cry but that onlu lasted a week and they learned it was night night time. Now it's pretty easy and if they cry (once in a while) then i go in check them give them kisses and thats that. For example as I type, Morgan is not a happy camper.. :(

They are learning so fast though. Morgan started crawling first and she still does the belly crawl. Riley just took off one day on all fours and just kept going. Not they are both trying to pull up on things and they are ALL OVER THE PLACE in seconds. Riley does much better getting from sitting to crawling to sitting again. Morgan still doesn't get how to get from sitting to crawling, but once she falls over ( lol ) she is off and all over the place.. She is so fast..

We are currently cup training with hopes to have them off the bottle by there first birthday or at least 14 months. We will see.. There new pedi thinks they are so darn cute and just amazed with all my kids, especially Aiden.

Riley had her first ear infection when the bug cam through the house and stayed a while, but it missed Morgan. Well not the bug just the ears. We all, except for daddy, got the sore trout, runny nose, cough, itchy eyes.. and the kiddos had a few other issues going on.. (Can you say got poops) ewww i know.. It was a stinky house with 3 poopers.. ha ha ha

Last weigh in was right after Aiden's birthday and here is the tally...

Morgan 20 pounds 9 ounces and 27 inches tall (at 9 months old)
Riley 21 pounds 8 ounces and 29 1/2 inches tall (at 9 months old)

and just for fun to compare..

Aiden 26 pounds 1 ounce and 32 inches tall (at 2 yrs old)

I will post pictures soon... for now I have to go rescue the girls with nite nite kisses..

June 22, 2008

2008-06-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

Happy 9 months to my two beautiful baby girls... You are getting so big so fast and learning somuch so quick.. I love you both and can't wait to see the beautiful girls you grow up to be...

Both the girls see there new pedi on Thursday so we will know more then on weight and height. Everything else with them is just falling into place. They are both on the verge or crawling and the baby babble is just awesome.. Riley has about 4 inches I think on Morgan now.. She is sooo tall already.. You would never know these kids were 6 weeks early.. I think soon they are going to weigh more then Aiden and he is 2.. lol

Here are a few new pics of them today on there new quilts the Oma made them..
Yes by hand.. She is truly an amazing talented person..

Morgan

Riley

Riley & Morgan

June 11, 2008

2008-06-11T21:54:00.000-07:00

We had a little celebration today with cupcakes for Aiden and Riley gave us her own gift.
Miss Riley for the first time has done something before Miss Morgan.. Riley got her first tooth today on her brothers birthday..

Both girls a super huge, and doing fab. Riley wiggles all over the place on her back and rolls every where she can't wiggle. Morgan is still doing the "baby swim" and rolls all over too. She has even attempted to hold her own bottle.. YAY

I will have pics soon.. And wait til you see the girls in there new bikini's LOL
Daddy doesn't like them cause he said it doesn't cover enough.. Boy are they in trouble when they get older.. Although after bing at the mall a few times with my mom I have banned my kids from there til they are 30 unless they are with me.. (ha ha) Some of the things these kids wear makes my head spin. NOT my child!!!!

On another note.. The girls are doing better with there bedtime. 8:30 for the last 3 nights. It's bed no matter what and if they cry or fuss then so be it. After about 10 to 15 mins they are both usually sleeping with no prob. They do however wake up sometimes at midnight to eat and then they eat again at about 5 or 6.. After that they will sometimes fall back to sleep then get up at 7:30, but usually now they are up by 6:30 or 7 for a little while then will go back down about 9 for a little. I usually leave for work by 7:30 so it's on daddy after that..

FIngers crosse dthe sleeping in the Russell household gets on a good schedule and then finally all of us can get some good beauty sleep. (Right now with 3 kids teething, it's tough some days, I'm lucky I make it til bedtime..

June 6, 2008

2008-06-06T20:26:00.000-07:00

OK so my two little girls are NOT SO LITTLE!! I think Riley is almost as tall as Aiden and Morgan, well she isn't as tall but man they are both so much bigger. There not even 9 months old and in size 12 months for the most part. we can squeeze them into smaller sizes depending on the maker and if it's a shirt, but pants, shorts, and skirts they need 12 months and even soem of those are tight. It's crazy to me cause Aiden last year at this time was in 12 to 18 months (which got tight) and now again he is wearing some of the same 18 months stuff and it's big on him cause he got so much taller he thinned right out. I think the girls are going to be the same way. Ri is already tall and thinner then my Morgan (who everyone picks on for having so many baby rolls, it picking in a fun good way cause she is so darn cute.) I think she is going to sprout too. I have a feeling these kids are gonna be pretty tall considering I am almost 6 feet and Chuck is about 6 foot 5.

Both girls are rolling, sitting, standing with assistance and doing what I call the baby swim. It's when they lay on there belly and move there arms and legs like they are swimming, which is the first sign in crawling, then comes the bum move, which they do too...
It is going to be so weird having two crawling and one walking. It will be just crazy around here. More crazy then it already is.

The girls are getting to a better schedule. The sleeping by 8:30 thing still hasn't stuck but I'm still trying and eventually they go to sleep. They are no freaking out like before and screaming. Morgan will stay awake and talk to herself for a while at times and Riley too. Sometimes they talk to each other I think, and sometimes they cry, but most nights are not so bad. It's between the hours of 3 and 10 that are nuts. With 3 teething, only me home, and babies wanting constant pick me up attention or I am going to cry, makes it a bit difficult.
By 11pm i am so wiped out that I don't have the energy half the time to do anything. It takes everything I have to try and get things ready for the morning and pick up from the tornado that just went through the house lol. Then it's up again at 6am, get ready for work, join the traffic for my hour and a half commute, work, traffic again and then me and the kiddos til daddy gets home at 10:30pm, unless he goes out, to the gym, or it's a friday and he has to work til midnight.

They are growing so fast and i want them to stay little but at the same time I want them to be a bit more independent. For example, hold there own bottle (Morgan attempts to, Riley basically looks at me like I'm nuts) and walk and sit up a little better then they do now (they can sit up for a while but still do that "I'm so excited I'm gonna fall over move and they will flop backwards or forward and bump there noggin, then the cry comes)

SO I guess we can't have it all. We can't have out independent 3 month olds, they have to grow to do the helpful things, so I will just cherish every second I have and look forward to the new things they try tomorrow..

May 12, 2008

2008-05-12T21:45:00.000-07:00

There getting too big and I am not liking it.. What happened to my preemies.. LOL
I saw some preemie clothes in the store the other day and can't imagine that they use to be too big for the girls (and Aiden) at one point. It's just weird..

Morgan is sitting up better and better and RIley is trailing behind her pretty well. They both have become talkitive which I love and giggle so much.. The best is Morgan has said dadadada a few times now.. It's so cute.. I also think they are teething but hey what do i know.. They chew EVERYTHING, it's funny, they're always chomping on this or that, fingers, binkies, toys hands, there feet.. lol

Well here the the latest pics that I promised..

Riley Lorene Russell

Morgan Kennidi Russell

May 7, 2008

2008-05-07T21:04:00.000-07:00

They may be twins but they couldn't be more different.. LOL

With that said, it's been one heck of a week. With there brother sick, and Riley getting it for a day (thank god no longer) I am starting to wonder if my girls are teething or just spoiled.
I've also been told by friends that I need to have them in bed by 7pm and the need to deal and cry it out, that they will learn 7pm is bed time and get on a better schedule. I think people forget that we live in an 1 bedroom apt (til the 17th) and that them crying it out keeps everyone up. Even if they are in the living room where they currently sleep with one of us (Aiden sleeps in our room in his crib with who ever doesn't sleep in the living room that night)

We move into our new 5 bedroom house on Saturday the 17th so then it will be a bit easier to give everyone there space and start some schedules but til them I am stuck.

Riley goes down most nights pretty easy. She will lay there til she is tired and fall asleep. Not always but 75 % of the time. Morgan however prefers to be rocked and have her bum patted. She likes when you shush in her ear and hold her. But lately she doesn't want anything. She just screams. It reminds me of the colic days and at moments I just want to put her down and go outside. She has a voice that is like nails on a chalk board and when it's 11pm, your tired, and she is waking the other ones up, you start to go nuts. Eventually she will settle and as long as she feels me next to her or I am holding her and butt patting she falls to sleep. But this last week she has been really tough. Getting her to sleep is like pulling teeth which makes me wonder if she or they are teething.

I can't compare them to Aiden, as he is almost 2 and just got his 4th tooth lol. A friend of mine has a little boy 5 days older then my girls and he just got 4 more teeth so he now has 6.
I however had no teeth til I was one so I don't know, maybe my kids will take after me. Aiden on the other hand is on his own schedule since he was such a preemie.

Other then that the girls are getting huge, Riley is finally standing some when you hold her up and bearing weight on her legs. Morgan its up pretty good but still falls back or over after a little while, Riley just started sitting up a bit, but she has always been behind compared to Morgan so that is no surprise to me. She is however getting so long, her feet now hang over her car seat. Neither has reached the weight limit to be in the "big girl" seat, and with Ri not sitting up well yet I am not comfy switching her even if it is rear facing. So I am going to wait til she gets to the right weight limit even though she already mad the height requirement lol.

As for foods, well I am a terrible mom this time around. It was new and fun feeding Aiden all kinds of new fruits and veggies but with the girls they are still on bottles with cereal for the most part. I do my best giving them fruits and veggies when I can line them up and feed them at the same time, but Ri still seems to not like foods much. (unless it's pasta sauce or whip cream)
Peaches, pears, apples, bananas, all of them and she takes a bite or two, gags and wants no part of it. Once ina while I can get her to eat about 2/3 of a jar but it takes twice as long to get her to eat it as it does Morgan and with 3 kids under 2 time is everything.. UGH...

BUT I have promised myself I will do better cause they need it. So plan on some funny pics and stories to follow I am sure of Riley covered in something.

Well since all the kids are finally asleep and I have to work in the morning, it's past midnight and I'm exhausted, I am going to bed.. Before we do we wanted to say Happy Birthday to our Oma!! (Chuck's mom) we didn't forget.. Love you

April 23, 2008

2008-04-23T12:39:00.000-07:00

Well.......... DRUM ROLL PLEASE............

at 7 Months Old
weighing in at 18 pounds 8 ounces and 24 1/2 inches long is Morgan Kennidi...
weighing in at 18 pounds and 14 ounces and 26 1/2 inches long is Riley Lorene..

Geeeesh they have grown so much..
It goes by so fast, but I can actually say I hope the next 3 months fly by too.. I can't wait for them to be able to hold their own bottles..

To be honest I wish i could have them all potty trained in the next month but since a child needs to know how to walk first I guess that is out huh.. HA HA HA..

I love them all but boy they keep us going and going and being tired just doesn't even come close to explaining it unless you have multiples, you already know what I am talking about. Not to mention that Aiden's corrected age is about 18 months so I got my hands full..

Well Aiden is finishing his lunch, and Morgan is wakign up from her nap so I am off..
Pictures to come soon..

April 21, 2008

2008-04-21T18:28:00.000-07:00

The girls are getting huge. I can't wait for the next pedi appt to see how tall they are. Riley already hangs over her car seat a bit, unlike Morgan who is still shorter then her sister. They have been nuts the last few days, and maybe it was the full moon but MAN can you say bipolar!
One second they are happy, the next flipping out.. No rhyme or reason either.

They are however getting to the point that they want to be held more and well It's hard to hold two babies when they weigh about 16 to 18 pounds each. Not to mention having a 22 month old see you holding them and now he wants to be picked up. So I have delt with the fact that my kids will have to "cry it out" at times cause Momma was not born with 6 to 8 arms and even if I was I don't think it would be enough.

Morgan may be shorter then her sister but she is still ahead in the learning department. She will sit up on her own for a little while and does really well. She pulls forward a lot trying to pull herself up to sit all the time. She rolld from back to belly and belly to back with no trouble at all. She will stand when given two fingers to hold on to while she is on your lap. She does very well.

Riley has finally started to bare weight on her feet (what I was worried about) She won't stand yet like her sister does but is doine most of the other stuff, but not the sitting. You can prop her up and she will stay for a few seconds but after that she falls forward, back or to the side. She is still building those stomach muscles up to hold herself up better. At this point, now that she bars weight on her legs (even if it's not as often, or as well as Morgan) I am not worried like I was. I know all kids are different and I think she is just going to be a little slower in getting there. She is the baby so the youngest gets away with more (isn't that what they say?) Morgan is the middle child so maybe she has more to prove (Middle Child Syndrome)

I was given some advice though by a few people that have made small talk when they have seen me out with the kids (strangers most of them) and that is to not tell them who was born first until they are older. That way they don't play the "I'm older then you card while fighting, and believe me these kids will be all fighting I am sure. They both have strong personalities.

THey will be 7 months old tomorrow and I don't know where the time has gone. I do wish though that the next few months fly by so for 1. they will hold there own bottles, and 2. they will sleep through the night, which they still don't do. If they fall asleep at 8 they are usually up by 9, then they fall asleep again at 10 and they are up at 10:30 or 11.. THey are usually not out for the night, or what I call for the night until 12 or 12:30 and then most of the time sleep 5 hrs before waking up to be fed. They will then take a full bottle with cereal and go right back to sleep. This is most of the time. The last week though, they have been all over the place. Sometimes I think they stay awake 20 hours a day, or so it feels like it.

We will also be moving soon and the girls will have there own room. I am still debating to have them share a room for a while or let them have there own room right away. If they share then we get a play room, if they have there own room then there is no play room and I'm sure toys will be all over as usual. (Then again with a play room I am sure they will be all over too so does it really matter? probably not! lol)

We'll see how it goes... But boy will it be nice to have space. Good bye one bedroom apt and hello 5 bedroom house.. YAY!!!!

April 1, 2008

2008-04-01T01:52:00.000-07:00

The girls are doing wonderful. Baby talking, rolling, kicking and sucking there thumbs. It's so funny and so wonderful to watch them grow.
Riley still won't stand and bare weight on her legs. If she hits 7 months of age and still won't then we will have to look into getting her evaluated by the doctor to see if something is wrong. I bounced the idea off Aiden's PT and she said to wait til she was 7 months, so that is what i am doing. She is however soooo much longer the Morgan. They both weight about 18 and a half pounds but Riley has to be 2 to 3 inches taller then my little chubba Morgan.. We go back to the pedi on April 23 so then i will know more and I can ask him about her standing.

They are also finally eating fruits and veggies. Well Morgan liked them pretty much when I tried 2 months ago but she would only eat a few bites. Riley on the other hand hated everything and screamed like I was trying to kill her. Well finally Miss Noodle ate an entire searving of Sweet potatoes and then yesterday she ater 3/4 of a serving of bananas.. YAY
One day at a time, or on week at a time since that is how long I was waiting to try a new food with them until they ate them. Now i think they will do fine and at least have a variety of flavors other then cereal and formula.. YUK!!!!!

Well that's about it for my two peas in a pod.

March 15, 2008

2008-03-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

SO we got bit by the bug and recovered pretty ok.. Well the girls did, I had a rough time and so did Aiden but the girls seemed to bite the bug right back and got rid of it pretty fast.
Morgan now has a cough and a runny nose, but she is seems to be ok for the most part and the cough is getting better. There sleeping is getting better too. THANK GOD!
I still can't imagine them going to bed at 7 and sleeping til 7am lime some parents tell me there kids do. I don't think I'd like the 7 to 7 shift anyways. Right now they go to sleep by midnight most nights, if I am really really lucky then they will go down about 10:30 and sleep 4 or 5 hours then wake to eat and go back to sleep for another 4 to 5 hours. That I can deal with. It's the wake up every two hours and stay awake or cry and scream til we hold them that I can't deal with at 4am..

So for all you out there that say it gets better.. Guess what, it does.. Although it's still not the best schedule, it's better then it was.

They go back to the pedi next month and I am anxious to see how much they weigh and how long they are. Riley at this point has what looks to be about 3 inches on Morgan. She is sooo long and weighs I think about the same Morgan weighs.

I stood on the scale with them and they came in about 18 pounds so we will see. I joke and say Morgan is going to be my little person and Riley will be about 6 foot 5.

Morgan also does really well holding on to my fingers and standing up. It's amazing how strong she is, they are growing so fast. Riley on the other hand may be longer but she will not stand at all. I could hold her all day long and she just goes limp like a noodle and laughs at me. This is how she got her new nickname.. NOODLE!! Morgan I call SPIKE cause of her hair... lol

SO that is about it. We are still house hunting, and have been spending a lot of time down at my parents and with my dad because his health is really bad now so i want him to be able to see the kids as much as he can before he passes. The sad part is the kids are too little to remember him, and as much as me and my dad have had our differences, he loves my kids.

February 20, 2008

2008-02-20T22:30:00.000-08:00

Just some fun and cute pictures.. No real big updates.. The girls are still the girls LOL and not sleeping at night yet.. I came to the conclusion that i can do the same routine every night to the T and every night have a different out come. We had to good night and I thought I was on to something but then it all went to crap again. So back to the drawing board and in the mean time enjoy the photos.. They are so cute, it's hard to be flustered with them. (Remind me of this at 4:30 am when everyone is sleeping but one of the girls and all she wants to do is sit straight up on your lap.. Not in her seat. Not lay down.. Not anything, but on your lab like a big kid.. UGH!)

February 14, 2008

2008-02-14T22:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day !!

February 4, 2008

2008-02-04T12:52:00.001-08:00

Well we made it to the doctors appointment at 10am by just pure luck I tell ya. After last night I am surprised I am able to function at all. Aiden was awake til about 2:30am (he was doing better thil his cold now he is off track again) and Riley fell asleep for the night at about 1:00am BUT Morgan, Oh my little Miss Morgan, was up, awake, and not happy for most of it until 6:30am. YES people 6:30 in the morning. She finally fell asleep after 2 hours of laying on the side of me and either crying or laughing non stop. My crazy child was happy giggling talking up a storm one minute then having a break down the next! (Bipolar much?) LOL
Once she wa out I'd like to say it was seconds before I fell asleep, but it still took me about 20 mins. Partly cause I was forcing myself to stay awake that when I finally told my body i could sleep it didn't know what to do. Once I was out, Riley woke up to eat, so I finally got to go to sleep for real at 7:30 and the alarm went off at 8:30. I hit the button and fell back to sleep and by luck woke up to what I thought was a noise (probably in my head saying WAKE UP!!) and it was 9:40. We had to be at the doctors office for 10am. Everyone was sleeping, so I dashed in the bathroom, went potty, wached my face and brushed my teeth, woke Chuck up to get Aiden dressed. I changed diapers, made bottles, packed a mini bag, put the girls coats on over the jammies, stuck there hats on there heads, binkis in there mouth and strapped them in there seats. We mad it to the doctors by 10:10am. Not so bad, and thank god it's close, only a few miles away. If it were in Boston we'd never make it!
The girls got there vaccinations today, 3 shots and one oral vaccine. It was not a happy day for the kids. No one likes needles and they all had to get them.

I was also off on there weights, which I knew was possible. Since I weighed them on the home scale while I was holding each of them, and I think the scale was on the rug, not a hard floor, i figured i could be off a bit. The weird part was i still had Morgan heavier then Riley!
As you can guess, I was WRONG! Currently they girls are....
Riley weighed in at 15.2 pounds and 24.5 inches..
Morgan weighed in at 14.7 pounds and 23 inches..

They are getting so big so fast.. Riley is getting so long, I am not surprised at all that she grew much more then Morgan. Last appointment they were only a half an inch apart, now they're and inch and a half. I think Riley is going to be my little green bean. Considering Chuck is 6'4" and I'm 5'11" there is a pretty good chance we will have tall kids.

So the doc looked them over and said they look great. That I can start them on cereal, and I told him I already did. I didn't mention that I started them 2 months ago. (They needed it, they were eating every hour) and he also said I can start solids, meaning fruits and veggies. I already tried pears for the second time the other day. It was a mess but funny. I'm not too sure that they thought it was funny, but thye attempted to eat them. Morgan did better then Riley.
He said keep the same fruit or veggie for 3 to 5 days before changing to a new one, just in case they have a reaction you know what it's from, but I already knew this. SO it's baby food time, and I see lots of messes in my future. How cute are they going to look covered in food. HA HA

Now if I could only get these girls on a sleep schedule I'd be sooooooooo happy.. I don't know what I am doing wrong or if it's just time i need to give them. I even go so far as to try to keep them awake all day as much as I can considering I have 3 kids and I am the only one home with them all day until 10:30pm or midnight. But even when i do keep them awake, or they stay awake on there own, they still don't seem to sleep well at night. Most nights I will say Riley sleeps pretty good, occasionally we get a night like the other night when she is up til 4am and fussy, but it's unusual for her. Morgan on the other had is a lot harder. However I can't seem to get them both to sleep. I feel like I always have at least two kids up til late and then one is always awake til the wee hours of the morning. They are almost 4 and a half months old and no one can give me an idea of when it gets better. Any of you blogger moms have some advice??

Well fingers crossed that today and tonight goes well. I am exhaused, the kids all had shots, and are cranky. Aiden is being "clingy" and the girls just want attention. All this on 2 hrs sleep and an hour nap I got to take before Chuck went to work. Something has to give cause mom and dad are about to pass out. After all this time out of work, it's sad to say, i really need a vacation.. LOL

February 1, 2008

2008-02-01T19:06:00.000-08:00

A New Look.. We are getting a "Face Lift" !
Thanks to a blogger "Hilary" who came across our blog, we are getting a pretty updated, stylish look. I can't wait and I'm excited to re do this one and Aiden's and make them more "personal" and pretty to look at. I won't go as far to say that I am a total idiot when it comes to the computer and web pages. I've done pretty good on my own myspace page, but I have to be shown how to do something first. Once someone shows me then I am pretty good at retaining the information and can run with it. Since I am not up to date on how to make these blog pages the way I wished they did, I've lucked out to bump into someone who asked if they could do them for me.. So in advance THANK YOU HILARY!!!! It's nice to know there are still people in this world who like me, like to do things for other people just cause it makes them happy (or to get the word out on just how good you are) either way, most people these days don't do much for free..

It's been a crazy week. Morgan has had a major fall back with being colic. The other night it was about 3 hours of just non stop, all out, at the top of her lungs, screaming! At 12:30 AM at that, til about 3:30am. Then the next night the same, and last night she wasn't as bad for as long, but it was on and off for about 3 hrs (not a constant 3 hours) but after a few nights of this already and myself only getting about 4 hrs total sleep the night before I was exhausted.
Chuck woke up to Aiden sleeping in bed with him, Riley sleeping in the living room where me and Morgan were and to me sitting on the kitchen floor holding my aching head, eyes full of tears and Morgan screaming like someone was killing her. What a nice way to wake up I know, but I was at my wits end. I've had this cold for about 17 days. It's near the end but every so often kicks me in the butt and I think it's just lingering on cause I don't sleep well, when I do sleep I am super uncomfortable and wake up to my back killing me. It hasn't been the same since I've had the twins, it's terrible!

As for the girls, Morgan was doing well with the Gripe water and her Zantac for the reflux. I started to give her the Gripe water a little less and after a few days, this seems to be what maybe triggered her episodes. I'm not sure, maybe it is just all in my head, but I have started giving her the Gripe water every 4 hours (unless she is sleeping) then she gets it when she wakes up. Here is hoping it starts to help again and fast cause this is tough.
She is such a cute happy baby at times and then in a snap, for no reason I can figure out she will just freak out and it's all over from there.

Riley on the other hand has her baby fit moments, but for the most part this child thinks the world is a funny funny place. She is always laughing and smiling and such a wiggle worm. She kicks the blankets of her all the time, wiggles so much her bottle go flying and she now even pulls forward like she wants to sit up or roll over. She is just a big goof ball, I love it.

Oh and unlike her sister, who would much rather be in a diaper and no cloths, Riley like being dressed. If she is in just a diaper, after about 30 mins she will fuss. Morgan on the other had has actually calmed down from one of her fits before just cause I got her naked. The child is going to be Lady Godiva, ha ha ha.. However it doesn't work for a fit all the time cause if it did I wouldn't be so stressed out..

I did sneak in a weigh in at my moms house. I weighed myself, then me with the girls and took the difference. We go to the doc on Monday to get the official weights, but as of last week from the home scale Morgan was 15 and a half pounds and Riley was 15 pounds. They are getting so big !!!

Riley Lorene

Morgan Kennidi

January 22, 2008

2008-01-22T15:49:00.000-08:00

Babies and Colds... and a sick Mommy boo hoo..

Happy 4 Months to my Baby Girls too!!

Riley seems to be holding off on catching my cold, or so it seems. She has always been a baby that sounds a bit stuffy and gets GINORMAS boogers in her nose (I know TMI) but it's baby boogers so it's ok.. ha ha and well she doesn't have any other symptoms.

Morgan on the other hand has watery eyes, a little cough, and a stuffy and junky nose.. She's sleeping more then she did two days ago and I know it's just cause she is wiped out. When she is awake she doesn't seem to be too cranky which is good. She's not any worse then yesterday and her watery eyes seem a little better so I'm keeping a close eye on her and have been giving her a little tylenol here and there. If she isn't better in a few days or gets worse at all then I'll call the doctor and see what he says.

Even Aiden had a runny nose & stuffy nose, and he's never really had a cold before. He had the sniffles once for 24 hrs but that was it. UGH!! I am all about sharing, but not my cold.. i tried so hard to stay out of there faces so they wouldn't get them, but it's hard when your there primary care giver. My poor babies.. I hate when babies are sick and more so when my babies are sick. Sorry, that is my selfish side coming out!!

Other then that the girls are doing good. They are huge and growing. I sware they are 2 feet tall already (well it seems they are) we'll find out at the next appt on Feb 2nd.

Not much other news to report. I'm behind on pictures and with this cold i am just not energetic enough to load them and post some.. I'm being lazy, but I have the right..

I've also decided to be part of a study being done by Washington University. The link for any other moms interested is http://fetalstudy.wustl.edu/fetal/fetalp.nsf/
all you have to do is fill out a survey and give them a DNA sample (saliva sample). The study is to try and learn more about preterm birth..

January 15, 2008

2008-01-15T21:58:00.000-08:00

Gripe Water to the rescue...

OK so this may just be that it doesn't work and Morgan is just feeling better, BUT a few people asked me to post if I found a remedy to this nasty colic... GRIPE WATER!!!!
I searched on line and read all this junk about how colic means a baby who sometimes cries for no reason, and that they usually grow out of it, and blah blah.. Not much helpful info really. Then I came across a site that talked about Gripe Water and how it helps with upset tummies, gas, and colic. Of course the site said that there brand was the only brand that really worked and it was about $28 for a 5 oz bottle. Well our walgreens sold a brand that was only $11 and I figured that I would try it. So tonight is night 3 and well it's too soon to say if she will sleep through the night. It's 1am and she could wake up any time and fuss so I'll keep my figures crossed but so far so good. The first night she did great. Woke up, ate, hung out for a little while and went back to sleep. last night the same and she had a mini episode of fussiness but not 4 hrs of painful, all out banchee screams! This afternoon she even got a little cranky and tight with gas and Chuck gave her some and within 15 mins she was happy again.
Ahhh a sigh, here is hoping this stuff works. She is also still takign the zantac that seems to be working well for the reflux. I haven't seen her have that look like it's coming back up (then goes back down) since the day after starting it.

We go back to the pedi on Feb 4th and I am hoping by then they will both be sleeping through the night, that this colic will be GONE, and the reflux still under control. Let's cross our fingers.

January 13, 2008

2008-01-13T14:24:00.000-08:00

COLIC............ It's the devil...
Anyone have any remedies or advice they can share. I thought at almost 4 months this would be done with but no such luck. The more I look up on the internet the more I read that colic babies seem to have there "colic fits" around the same time everyday. Well for us this has turned into the 4am to 8am shift. It's terrible and NO one gets any sleep since our apt is so small you hear everything. Morgan last night screamed so hard and so much that you would of thought someone was beating her. I feel so bad for her but I'm sure when I am running on an hours sleep and the fit starts I am not much help. I cuddle her and rock her and shhhush in her ear and it seems to help but not always and not for long. The second you calm her and settle her and go to put her down or try to get yourself in a comfy position so you can at least hold her for a while she freaks out again. Least night I was up til about 4:30am, Chuck got up and I went to bed and Morgan started and woke me up with her screams at 6. I held her and rocked her and soothed her the best I could til about 8 and then attempted to go back to bed. An hour later the same thing. Finally she calmed down and fell asleep at about 9:30 and the problem with this is she sleeps all day which makes me fear she will be up all night. I've even tried to wake her up evey hour and a half to brak up her sleep so she would be tired at night. Some times it works and other times it doesn't, but since she has been having these fits, she is hard to keep awake during the day cause she is so tired, not to mention that I am just exhausted and so is Chuck and we have Riley and Aiden to attend too.
So if anyone has any advice they can share I am more then willing to try it. She is on zantac for reflux and we also give me Mylicom for gas, they seem to help a lot but like I said the last few nights have been hell...

January 6, 2008

2008-01-06T08:37:00.000-08:00

REFLUX!!! Ugh!!!!!!!! It reared it's ugly head and we finally got something for it. Morgan is now on Zantac (since Thursday) and what a difference. Although last night you wouldn't have thought so. Both babies were up all night, and when I say ALL NIGHT I mean it. THey didn't finally fall asleep until 5:30 AM, Chuck was tired cause he is battling a cold, and I was exhausted cause io just spent a few days at my moms with the kids and was up the night before with them and didn't get to sleep during the day so i was running on E and had been up for hours. Every time I tried to sleep I could hear the girls freaking out or fussing and it kept me awake too. The only one who go sleep was Aiden.
They are still not, as you can see from what I just typed, sleeping through the night. They are getting better but last night was just a rough and tough night. They are getting so big so fast already. From preemie clothes that seem 10 sizes too big to being in 3 to 6 months and some of those I wonder about already. There 0-3 sizes are just about all packed up. They have some new things they got for Christmas that they still fit into but by the end of January there is no way i will be able to squeeze them into anything that is a 0 to 3 and at the rate they are going they might be out of a lot of 3 to 6 sizes too. What a big difference from having Aiden. I am still not use to it.
TO see the girls now, they look SOOOOO different from when they were born. They have changed so much that they don't even look like the same babies. Morgan looks just like Aiden. She could be his twin and a year from now I think they will pass for twins if she keeps growing like she is. Riley on the other hand is my happy giggle baby. She doesn't look like Aiden or Morgan much at all. Sometimes when you look at her or you get a picture of them all she will have this look on her face and you will see a little of them all in each other but for the most part she has her own look. It's just funny to me that her and Morgan are twins and are so different and Aiden is 15 months older and him and Morgan would pass for twins if they were the same age. I actually have pictures of him when he was little that you would think are Morgan and vise versa. With all that said, it's obvious Morgan looks like her daddy since Aiden is a clone of Chuck. So maybe Riley will look like me since she keeps changing more and more. Chuck thinks Ri looks like his mom, which mean the Russell gene is just too damn strong and I am not stopping til I have one child who looks like me.. HA HA Don't say that to Chuck or I think he'd pack his bags and run now..
Who would ever think twins would be so hard. I guess you think about it but just don't imagine it being as crazy as it really it because it's not a reality to you. I could not imagine having more then two. As it is, it is a bit more crazy with Aiden still being so young, having them all be newborns would make me really coo-coo..
One of my fav shows is Jon & Kate plus 8, and every time I watch it I tell myself it could be soo much harder. However having the financial income they have from the show and his job would make it a bit easier to get a helper too like she now has, but hey that is there life, not mine lol..

I am off to put Aiden down for a nap (maybe lol) and feed Riley.. Then if they all sleep maybe mommy can get in a nap too.. (Fingers crossed)

December 27, 2007

2007-12-27T23:34:00.000-08:00

Christmas has come and gone it it was a nice day. The kids were spoiled like crazy by my parents. We have our second christmas on Sunday with Chuck's family and I am sure they will be spoiled there too..
I have now cleaned out there new born clothes to give away (I keep all the preemie stuff) I also kept they xmas pj's and halloween ones, the dresses they took there xmas pics in and there dresses from turkey day. As of right now there draws are stuffed with clothes and pj's. I even had to hang stuff in the closet. (This doesn't count all the stuff they already have larger the 3-6 months. Right now they are in 0-3 but I'd say in about 2 weeks they will be pushing out of most of that depending on the maker and into 3-6. They are growing so fast that I tell everybody that I think they double in size every 48 hours.
They are still not sleeping through the night. Some times I can get Riley to sleep a good amount but not Morgan. If I have a lucky night and do get Morgan to actually sleep then Riley for some reason is up. So far no luck in getting both of them down at the same time for a decent amount of time. When they do fall asleep sometimes (like now I am affraid to actually lay down and try to sleep cause it never fails that once I get comfy and sleepy one is up crying and needs to be tended too.. Not a big deal until your super tired and it's the 10th time they woke ya up. Not sleeping at all is sometimes better then trying to sleep and being woken up every 20 mins. After a night like that I am just miserable and grouchy and my body hurts and I don't feel good.
(SO pray these little princess's start sleeping throught the night in at least 6 hour spans.. It would be so nice)
They go back to the doc in Febuary but since Aiden has an appt on the 31st I am going to take them with me. They told me to bring Ri anyway if her foot still looks "swollen" so why not take Morgan too. Then maybe I can get them weighed and ask the doc to give Morgan something for her reflux which is back and kicking her butt. We'll see what happens..

Elfed....

2007-12-05T17:36:00.000-08:00

I elfed the kids.. Ha Ha Ha.. So cute!!

Aiden, Morgan & Riley.. Elfed

December 5, 2007

2007-12-05T15:19:00.001-08:00

Swollen feet??? That is the out come of the x-ray we had taken of Riley's feet. The foot that looks "funny" is swollen tissue. Hmmm ok so what now.

It was the other pedi that works in Dr B's office that called me back and told me. I called Dr B on Monday and he said that Yes the bones look fine and that the x-ray looks like swollen tissue. The nurse asked if it was still swollen and I said YES. It has been like this since the NICU just not as noticeable. We noticed her toes were long and funny but not her foot until she got home really. Now as she grows you can see it more. She asked me if it seems to cause her pain and I said NO. So the pedi will check it again on her next appt in 2 months if it is the same. But since I have to bring Aiden in for his RSV shot in 3 more weeks, she said if it's still swollen they will probably look at it then. The pedi that called me before Dr B said also that if it doesn't get better they will probably have us see a vascular doctor since it's probably due to the veins in her foot.

We'll see how that goes cause I assume it is still going to look the same in 3 more weeks.

On a holiday note.. We went to see santa. All dressed up in our matching PJ's.. So cute.. It was fun! and they looked so damn cute..

Morgan & Riley (2 months old)
Aiden (17 Months old)

November 27, 2007

2007-11-27T21:01:00.000-08:00

Holy Weigh in Batman!!!

We had a pedi appt today and the girls weighed in at...

DRUM ROLL PLEASE..................... Morgan 10 pounds 7 ounces and 20 inches long Riley 10 pounds and 20 3/4 inches long...

I was shocked, they were just shy of 6 pounds a month ago and only 17 and 18 1/2 inches.. They are growing like weeds..
We also had the doc check Riley's ear, she has a bump that I was keeping an eye on and brought it to the doctor attention today. He said he thinks it is just a calcium deposit and nothing to worry about, so I will just watch it to see if it gets bigger. It doesn't seem to bother her so that is one good thing. We also had Riley's foot checked out. I had mentioned it to the pedi when I saw him last with Aiden but because Ri was not with there wasn't much he could go on.
I have noticed as she gets bigger the difference in her two feet is more noticeable. She has one foot that has a large gap between her big toe and the rest of her toes and the foot is thicker and wider in size. I also noticed today that she is flat footed (just on the funny foot) there is no arch but her other foot is fine.
The pedi looked and saw what I saw and wrote up a form to have it x-rayed. So after there appt we went over to the hospital to have it done. i didn't want to wait even though he said I can go at my convenience. I want to know right away in case there is anything we could or should be doing NOW while she is little. I've learned by past experience that time is important when you catch something early.
now can you imagine trying to x-ray a 2 month olds feet. They don't stay still and are always curling there toes when you touch them. So mommy got the idea to tape her foot to one of those things that look like big popsicle stick. It kinda worked, well good enough for them to get the x-ray they needed. They just didn't think Ri would be as strong as she was to keep riping her foot off the stick.. Haaa that's my girl..
As for Morgan.. She is doing fine, my little chubba has no current issues besides her hernia, but Ri also has one too. Ri's is not as big though.

Once I know more about the x-ray I will fill ya in, I plan on calling tomorrow to see if the doctor has looked at them. He should have received them 30 mins after we had them done. His office is closed at 4 and that would of been about 4:30 but I assume he'd still be there. I'll just call in the afternoon sometime and see what they say. Fingers crossed it's nothing major and can be corrected. I said today that Aiden went through enough for all my kids, at this point in time I think Aiden and the girls deserve a free ride..

November 19, 2007

2007-11-19T22:01:00.001-08:00

November 18, 2007

2007-11-18T02:47:00.000-08:00

It's been almost 3 weeks since I posted.. Ooopps.. Time just flew by, but when your not sleeping much, have 3 in diapers, and still looking for the pre-pregnancy brain, time gets one over on ya..

The girls are doing great, and getting so big already. No new weights to post yet, it's still another week before they go back to the pedi, but they are gaining like champs.

Riley already holds her head up and is so strong. Morgan does the same but I think it'sa the 3 chins she has. HA HA! She is still shorter but bigger now. It's hard to believe she was the "little" one.

We have become the attraction on outings now. People are so amazed to see twins. I use to stop and chat on the first few outings, but now it's more thank you's and smiles cause if I stopped every time someone chased me down to see them I'd never get anything done. It's funny cause I would have never thought I'd get the reaction from people I get. Maybe if I had triplets or quads or so on, but never with twins. Then again it's still sinking in with me that we have twins. Two babies at the same time.

Things are still crazy. The girls are sleeping a little better but I'm still not getting good sleep. They have started on cereal at night so that is helping and hopefully in a few weeks they will start to sleep through the night.
Morgan was eating every 90 minutes before the cereal and now see goes every few hours. Riley is the same, but neither one has a set schedule yet. It's still random. One will take a full bottle and go 3 hrs before the next, then take another and only go an hour and want more. The other will eat and go 2 hours or 4.
This is why sleeping is such an issue. By the time you are done with one, the other is ready and ya never know if either is going to fall right back to sleep after they eat. (Like now, it's 5:45AM and Morgan is all done eating but has no idea what she wants now, the little fuss bucket.. Every one else is sleeping.. UGH!!)

As for other news, we got our pictures done. Oh What Fun that was.. None of the kids wanted to cooperate. Aiden (who loves to smile for the camera) was over tired and just wanted to nap. Morgan and Riley didn't like any position they got placed in, so if one was happy the other was ticked off! Needless to say we got a few pictures for xmas, but we will be going back in a few months with fingers crossed they all do better. (they did look super cute though) AND boy are pictures expensive.. Geeesh!!! I got some but was rushing to not cut into the next appt so much and forgot a few I wanted so now I have to go back. After going through them and givine a few out to my family I realized I need a ton more just to cover Chuck's family.. UGH!!!

I got a good deal from a friend, cause if I had to pay full price it would of been about 350.00 and the amount of pictures we got are not a lot. Now to re order I will probably have to pay full price and well lets just say, there will be a lot of people not getting pictures of the kids. Not the professional ones that is, cause it's going to cost me an arm and a leg and well I already don't have enough arms.. Ha Ha!

November 1, 2007

2007-11-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween everyone... There are pics on Aiden's blog.. www.aidenkristopher.blogspot.com but here are a few more..

The girls slept most of the time we were out but we had fun.. Can't wait til next year when everyone is walking, or almost walking...

All ready...

Morgan
Riley
Our Big Brother Aiden
And we are off in the Choo Choo Wagon..

Dinner after a long night out.. ha ha ha

October 29, 2007

2007-10-29T16:04:00.001-07:00

Preemies.. Now you would think that at 34 weeks we'd have no issues... WRONG!!!
First off I am VERY happy to say that the girls have no major issues like Aiden had, however with that said i have discovered Morgan has an hernia just like Aiden had (in her belly button). It was never discovered in the NICU and I just thought she has an outie until the other day when i noticed it has gotten a bit bigger and when she was crying (as babies do) it pops out like Aiden's did.
I can push it back in, as I could with his too, but I'm afraid it will get big like Aiden's did and cause a problem. Are there any moms out there whos little ones had a belly button hernia and it went away..?? How big did it get and how long did it take?

I can't compare to Aiden since his was fixed by having surgery because it got stuck and never came close to correcting. Another thing I'm not sure how common it is.

Another thing my poor Morgan has is reflux that so many moms know about. she never spit up that much in the NICU, that was more Riley's thing, but now she has it pretty bad. she doesn't puke often but you can tell it comes back up and makes her uncomfortable. One minute she is so happy and the next tense and coughing and gagging.. She even coughs a lot when sleeping. I feel so bad for her.

As for Riley well (other then her crazy toes) she is fine. No hernia and although she was the "spitter" in the NICU she doesn't seem to have reflux at all.
To explain about the toes, there super long. It's like the child has hands on her feet.. ha ha
She'll be picking things up with them in no time I tell you. One of her feet has really "crazy toes" I'll have to try and take a picture with out her curling them around my finger to show you all. The base of that one foot (near the nuckles) seems to be wider then the other and she has a big gap between the big toe and the next toe. There funny and cute now but Chuck fears it could affect her foot so the pedi is going to look at it at the next appt in Nov. I'm just hoping it's nothing and that her only problem in life might be that it will not be fashionable to wear open toe shoes.. (ha ha ha)

Both the girls are eating well, Riley has seemed to caught up to Morgan who was eating about a third more then her. Now some feeding Riley leaves Morgan in the dust. They are still on 24 cal formula but I am going to bump them down to "normal calories" which is 20 starting this week. There weight gain is fine, there both eating, and doing well. They sleep pretty well most of the time however they have there moments where all they want to do is eat and between the two of them I am feeding one every hour on the hour. (That can be a bit tiring)
The longest sleep run they have gone ever is 5 hrs the shortest is and hour, but even if ones goes 5 hrs the other one is always up in between that so there are no 5 hr sleep runs for the rest of us.

Me and Chuck try to do shifts which worked well but since today is his first night back to work (he works 3 to 11) it's going to be tough and I am sure we will be more sleep deprived then we already have been.
I just have to promise myself to split the time and not try to do it all myself (my worst habit is trying to "do it all" and let him sleep when he has to work and then in the end I just feel like crap)

We often forget taking care of the kids is a full time job too.. An outside job is sometimes a break more then work..

October 23, 2007

2007-10-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

So it's been a little crazy, a little fun, and not a whole lot of sleep, but i'd do it all over ten fold to have all my babies here with me like they are now.
The girls are doing well. The last weigh in was on Sunday and Riley weighed 5 lbs 15 oz and Morgan weighed 5 lbs 14 oz (which means Riley gained 1 lb 8 oz since birth and Morgan 2 lbs)

They are not on the same eating schedule but I've gotten them pretty close to where I want them. Roughly about 30-45 mins apart works well for me. That way i can get one fed and settled and then the other.

Morgan is also sleeping better at night now that Riley is home. The first few nights she didn't really want any part of her crib. It was either with me on her car seat she wanted. Now she does fine. They both seem to really like the car seats though.

We haven't done much, since lack of sleep kinda makes you feel a bit more over whelmed when you are awake. We did make it to the Keene NH pumpkin festival (which was way to busy to have 2 strollers so we didn't stay long) but the girls did great on the 2 hr ride there and back.
It was also a beautiful day out yesterday so we went for a walk and took the wagon. Can you believe it was 82 (in late Oct) that is New England weather for you..

I tried the halloween costume on Riley today (and you will all have to wait for a pic) but let me tell you... OMG sooooooooooooooo cute... lol

I can't believe they are growing so fast. Riley has busted out of preemie clothes cause she is too long for them. Morgan can still wear them cause she is an inch and a half shorter but she is starting to push the limit with some of them.

I also took a pic of the girls with Aiden. He looks so huge compared to them. My littel boy is not so little, or so it seems in the pic.

(The pics of the kids in the wagon are on Aiden's blog, so you'll have to check them out too!)

Mommy and the Girls...

Morgan, Riley, and Aiden

Morgan making that face she always makes... lol

Riley trying to look at everything all at the same time..

Sissy hold my hand...
I just love this pic...

October 17, 2007

2007-10-17T21:42:00.000-07:00

THERE HOME !!!

Yay! Riley came home today so now both my girls are home.. It is such a good feeling. i couldn't get to the NICU fast enough and then out of there quick enough just to know i don't have to go back.
Morgan as you know came home on Friday leaving the NICU weighing 5 lbs 1 oz and Riley came home today weighing 5 lbs 9 oz.

There both doing well, sleeping right now, and happy.. I am about to get ready to feed Morgan who should be up soon and go check on Riley and Aiden who are both in there cribs sleeping. (Morgan is in her seat til she wakes up so I can feed her, just like Ri was.)

I posted som pics I took from today..

Welcome home girls... You have made your mommy a happy camper... I FINALLY have my babies all in the same place.. Aiden, Morgan, & Riley.. I love you all so much.. My only wish to be complete would be that Chase was here too, but he is always in my heart and mind and I know I will see my angel baby again some day.. I love you too little man.. xoxo

October 14, 2007

2007-10-14T04:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Keisla (the girls' godmother) we hope you have a wonderful day!

As for the girls, well Morgan is home, we just had overnight number 2, which went well. The first night she didn't want to sleep unless she was laying next to me or on my chest. So that is how we spent the night. Me staring at her and her sleeping on me or next to me. Needless to say Mommy didn't get too much sleep.
Last night, Daddy took over. Chuck had to work so we went to my moms to visit and got home after he was out of work. Aiden went right to bed and Morgan was sleeping in her seat (which she loves so it seems) Mommy went to bed since the kiddo's were all snoozin too. Daddy stayed up for a while and when Morgan woke up he kept her in the living room with him and fed her. So YES mommy got some sleep. Solid sleep from about 12:30 to 4:30 when Aiden woke up crying. I put him in bed with me and we fell back to sleep til I got up at 6:45.
Daddy is now sleeping, Aiden is still sleeping, Morgan is sleeping and the milk is in the fridge.. LOL
I guess I can chill out on the futon with Morgan until feeding at the zoo begins.

As for Riley, I didn't get to see her yesterday so i will go in today after the visiting nurse comes to check on Morgan. I miss her so much. The plan has changed and instead of her being home yesterday or today it was changed til Monday because she had a few second spell the other day. Well friday she had on when I was holding her so now we are on hold. They nurse thinks it is due to minor reflus since she dips and comes right back in seconds on her own, no stimulation needed. However since it is the week end we have to wait for the doctor on Monday to decide if the Friday spell will hold Riley til Wed now. We won't know until tomorrow morning! UGH!!

I have to say having just one baby home is already busy and the thought of two home scares the crap out of me. At the same time I can't bare to heave one here and not the other. It feels wrong, unfair, and makes me sad. I love all my babies the same and they should all be together. Just a few more days!!!

October 11, 2007

2007-10-11T15:45:00.000-07:00

Today was the day I was scheduled for a c-section to have the girls. Instead I am preparing for Morgan to come home tomorrow from the NICU, and just got the word that Riley has decided to step it up and should be home either Saturday or Sunday.

How excited am I??? VERY !!!

I am now thinking of the million things I need, want, and have to have done before tomorrow. House cleaned to MY LIKING, the bedroom organized, the changing table moved, all laundry done, and the car vacuumed. Yeah the last one is just a pet peeve that has been annoying me cause it's messy and I hate it. I deal with it, and part of it being messy is my own fault but it still erks me, ya know.

So that is the news. I am still flying high.. It's killing the ache of not being able to go see them tonight and having to leave there last night 5 minutes after I got there cause Aiden was with a sitter and having a fit. It's not like him to just cry and cry and that is what he did.. Cried and cried and cried, so I left the girls knowing there ok and went to rescue my little man. I got there and he was a bit whiny but once we got home he was ok, until he got super over tired then he was a beast to get to bed.. UGH
I do believe my baby boy (who is not so little anymore) had his first episode of separation anxiety and missed his mommy.

For having a rough day yesterday, today has some what made up for it. Morgan will be home tomorrow and Riley this week end. Our family will all be under the same roof, how much better can it get. (Well unless someone has the lottery numbers they can share with me?? Hmmm )

October 9, 2007

2007-10-09T15:08:00.000-07:00

One full bottle, two full bottles, three full bottles then four... LOL
Yes Morgan took 4 in a row, actually 6 in a row if you count before midnight (and I do) YAY. This was the other day and then she got her first tubby (by me) yesterday and I feed her again and she took almost a full bottle. I think the bath took a lot of energy out of her, the poor little thing.
SHe is doing so well that they now changed her feeding schedule to a PRN (as needed) so she can sleep and wake when she wants to and eat what she can. If she sleeps for 5 hours and then decided not to eat they will gavage feed her and if she does this too often she will return to an every 4 hr schedule. However if she does well with it then we are looking at her coming home Friday.. That is in 3 more days. I am so excited to have her coming home. I sware now I can think of 1000 things I need to do, like straighten out the damn bedroom.. UGH

As for Miss Riley, well she took a full bottle for me last night at 9, then fell fast asleep. After that she took more then half from all her bottles which is good for her since she was only taking 5cc's a few days ago. We think she'll be home not long after Morgan. A week or less, but it's going to be weird having one there and one here. Visiting the NICU might become a bit more complicated, but then again daddy will be home from work so maybe it will work out just fine.

As for me well last Friday i started taking Reglan to help with my milk since I am not a very good dairy cow after all. After 4 days on it I stopped taking it last night before I jumped out of my own skin. When you start taking it, the 1st day you take 1 pill the 2nd two and the 3rd to the 12th day you take three, then day 13 you take 2 and day 14 you take 1. Well i made it to day 4, and my second dose and decided NO MORE. I was feeling very weird, restless, anxious, and had insomnia really bad. No matter what I did i couldn't get comfy and felt like I had restless leg syndrom all over my body. It was terrible. Then I was driving last night and was really short of breath, I was jittery, and my vision was blurry to the point I had to pull over. I was getting a head ache (which I still have) and just feeling out of sorts. It obviously had to be the meds so I looked it up on the internet. YUP it was the meds.. I am not one who usually gets any of those random side effects drugs say you can get, but this time I had a ton of them. I skipped the 3rd dos last night and haven't take it again. I still have the head ache like I said but the jitters have gone away for the most part and my vision has improved. I don't feel like I am going to drive off the road now or tear my skin off.

All I can say is it was all for a good cause and I did everything I could to help myself get milk for my girls but I am not going to sacrifice my health for something I am not sure will even work. And I don't think I could of taken another day feeling like I was feeling any way.
It may work for some people and god bless them if it does but if anyone has taken it and had the reaction I have had then I am sure you will agree with me. No Reglan for this chick!!

I look at it this way.. My girls have been getting my mil even if it's not a lot. They get at least 2 bottles a day each of my milk and the rest formula. That isn't so bad. As long as I can keep it up I will and they say the first few days are the absolute best and the first 3 weeks are the most important for them to get all the good stuff.

So to all you bad dairy cows out there, you can add another member. To all you over abundent cows.. Pphhhhffffttttt is what I say to you.. lol :oP

I am about to pack up Aiden and bring him to his auntie's then go in to see the girls so if anything changes I will let ya know..

October 6, 2007

2007-10-06T21:56:00.000-07:00

FULL BOTTLES.. YAY

Morgan took a full bottle for me yesterday and Riley took 20 ml's. How excited was I?? I think I did a jig.. Well I told Riley if she would take atleast 20 I'd dance a jig for her, and she did so I did too. LOL
Then today.. (drum roll) guess who surprised there mommy and took a full bottle.. YES Miss Riley Lorene. I came in and the nurse told me and I almost fell down. I was so excited that it made me hyper. By the end of the night she took one full and almost a second full feed. Morgan has come close too. They are catching on, it's my pep talks telling them this is all they need to get sprung and out of that place.
The nurse tonight said that she has twins before that did the same thing, that they told the parents that in about a week and a half they might be close to going home, then she got the honor of calling them two days later to tell them one of there girls was coming home and the second twin went home the next day. It's like a switch she said, it clicks on and they just get it, so here is hoping our switch clicks very soon and out little ones are home in there own crib driving us crazy really soon... I miss them.. Until then I am off to get some sleep.. If I can manage to get comfy. I've been feeling jittery tonight and can't seem to get comfy at all.. UGH
Hope my girls and Aiden are sleeping better then I am..

October 4, 2007

2007-10-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

Together Again!!

Morgan Kennidi

Riley Lorene

Babies are doing well and I am proud to say both breastfed yesterday and today like champs. I tried Riley today at her 6pm feeding and she did great for 15 minutes. I then did Morgan at 8 who did awesome too. I tried Riley again at 9 and she was just too tired and wanted no part of it. She much rather sleep, which she did on my chest all snuggly and cute.

When I got in today they finally had there new crib and were sleeping together. (SO CUTE!) and Riley had her shirt on that said "If you think I'm cute you should see my twin". Morgan however didn't have hers on, besides it was changing time soon enough any way.

When I did change them tonight, lets just say the pictures say it all.. (DOUBLE TROUBLE)
I'm still falling in love with the fact that these beautiful babies are mine.

Morgan also too 35 from a bottle today.. Almost a full bottle, how awesome is that. Riley never got a bottle today since I breast fed her when I got in and then tried again at 9, she probably won't get one at midnight and will have to wait until tomorrow.

We are getting close in so many ways, we just need to catch up on feedings. There weights are good too. Riley was 4 lbs 13 oz and Morgan was 4 lbs 5 oz.. One more day down is one more day closer to home..

October 3, 2007

2007-10-03T09:43:00.000-07:00

I saw the girls last night, I got in about 6:15 and couldn't hold Riley cause of the, once there feeding we leave them alone rule. (it really depends on the nurse) I felt so bad cause she was wide awake and holding my hand and staring at me like why are you not taking me out mommy. So I waited it out til her next feed at 9.
Morgan got fed at 8 and I took her out, we changed her, took her temp and weight and dressed her. Then i tried to bottle her (not breatfeed) so I could see how much she took. Not so bad she took 21 for me, which is about half for her. A full feed for Morgan is 43ml's.

We hung out til 9 and it was Ri's turn. Same routine and in the mean time I let Annette (Aiden's godmother) hold Morgan (something some nurses frown on but too bad I say.) Then we tried to bottle Ri. No such luck, she took 2, and well I think most of that was on the bib, she wanted no part of the bottle.. I was bummed out...
It's so hard when you just want to show them how it's done. You just want to give them your knowledge and tell them once you get this you can come home baby girl. UGH!!!

I am taking it one day at a time cause it's all I can do, but please pray that they get it soon. It's heart wrenching to not have them home, to not see them everyday and to have them struggle no matter how little the struggle is compared to some. I've been down the super roller coaster ride of the NICU and all it's struggles, I don't wish it upon anyone, and although this NICU stay should be a breeze, I still hurt inside not having my babies home with there family.

October 1, 2007

2007-10-01T22:35:00.000-07:00

Baby Blues, Hormones, Grrrrrrrr...

I didn't get to see my girls today and that just sucks. With Daddy still in and out of work trying to save as many days as he can for when they come home, it leaves us searching for a sitter since I am still not allowed to pick up Aiden due to my C-section. Even if he was home it still leaves us searching for a sitter to go see the girls, which hasn't been as easy as it sounds. So today made the 2nd day (not in a row) that I wasn't able to go in to see, hold and feed them. The first day was a super baby blues day. I broke down in tears when things fell through and I couldn't go in. (I also am not allowed to drive yet which is a real pain in the butt cause I can't go in alone and leave Aiden with Chuck nor can I go here or there to just get out and do stuff.
Today "we" had a sitter to be with us while Daddy was at work, and tomorrow and wed he is home cause no one is around to help out. I also have a ride in to see the girls which I am hoping pans out to be around feeding time since the nurses don't like to take them out of there isolets if its non feeding time.

As for the girls well both were having spells but today is day number two that neither had a single one.. YAY but there still not bottling full feeds and that is a biggie. Morgan is taking usually half of her feed by bottle when they try her, some days less. Riley is only taking about 5 to 7 ml and that is no where close. (A full feed for them is about 45 ml)
Although the nurse today didn't try them all morning and the night nurse tried them at there 8 & 9pm feed (Morgan eats at 12, 4, & 8 and Riley 1, 5, & 9) We are going to ask why they don't attempt to bottle them more then once a day or if that was a "just today thing" I don't see how they are going to get the hang of it, if they don't try as often as possible. The nurse says not to be discouraged and that they will get it eventually however as Chuck says we are not fans of that word. That is what they said about Aiden. He'd get it "eventually" and well 16 months later and he still doesn't have it...
They did however change Riley's feeding times again to 9, 12, 3, & 6 to give her less to digest at a time and help with her spitting up. (She's my spitter) although Morgan can hold her own when she wants too.. We will see if this helps. (Riley will now get 35ml a feed)

Fingers are crossed that they will be home by there 37 week mark or very soon after.. I pray everyday that it's sooner then later.. I know there in a good place and it also gives me a chance to heal but I miss them so much.. Just typing it makes me cry so I am going to stop before Chuck notices and wonders what malfunction I am having now..

September 28, 2007

2007-09-29T02:57:00.001-07:00

Riley Lorene

Morgan Kennidi

September 27, 2007

2007-09-27T07:45:00.001-07:00

We had a family meeting with the doctor and head nurse at the NICU yesterdy. oth girls are doing really well but Riley is having some spells aka bradies. It started when she began feeds so we all think it's just a matter of time for her to get past them and grow a little bit more. That it is her body trying to get use to having food in the belly and all that jazz.
Morgan on the other hand is doing fabulous!

As of last night they are both on full feeds and no more IV's. There antibiotics are done, no signs of infection and there gaining the weight back that they lost in the first few days.

The doctor also told us the criteria they need to meet before going home. (there is NO weight requirement at all)

1. They need to hold there body temp on there own with no help from a warmer (almost there)
2. They need to take full feeds from the bottle or by breast (working on it)
3. They can't have any spells for 5 consecutive days before leaving..

Morgan is taking half or more of her feeds by bottle and did well at her first attempt to breast feeding also. She is close to holding her temp (if she doesn't already).. And she has not had any recorded spells as of today since birth.

Riley has only tried a bottle once so we have to work with her and she has never been put to breast so far. (She is a spitter so the are trying to get past that first) She I also think is very close to holding her temp. And as for the spells well in due time I think she will be FINE! She may be there a bit longer the Morgan if she doesn't catch up.

By the way the doctor was talking though, we are looking at maybe 2 weeks before the girls are home.. YAY!!

Morgan Top
Riley Left
Mommy Right
Seconds after being born!

Morgan staring at mommy and holding my finger

Me and My Girls!!

Mommy, Morgan & Riley

All we needed was Aiden to be there..
Mommy, Daddy & the Girls

September 26, 2007

2007-09-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

How it all went down...

Some of you have asked how it all went down, if I had signs of labor and all that and I haven't posted the details yet because I didn't have my computer for the first few days and well while I am on the pain meds, things become loopy and I get sleepy concentrating on the computer screen so I needed a clear mind. Not that I am not always loopy but ya know what I mean.. haha

Sooo... I woke up saturday morning and my plan for the day was to go pick up the cake for Chuck's dads 60th bday party, get a few things done and go to the party at 2pm. Like I said that was the plan. Morgan, Riley, and my body had other plans in store for me.

I warn you now some of this may be T.M.I. for some people but you asked for details and with that said I won't leave anything out..

I woke up about 7am and went pee, as usual I go about every hour or two. That was normal until I wiped. It was slimy, and the discharge was clear with a tiny ting of brown (very little ting)

I cleaned up and went back to bed to lay down until Aiden woke up. About 8:30 I got up again cause the little man wanted out of his crib and I went pee again. It was the same. SO this got me thinking "mucus plug"???? I then went on the computer and googled the word to see what I'd come up with. A lot of sites said you may not lose it in one blob it could be a gradual thing, however a lot of people who lose theres don't go into labor right away, but it could be a sign labor is close (within two weeks). This got me thinking that hmmm if that is the case then maybe the girls will come a week early or so, now that I was 34 weeks.

As I continued to go to the bathroom every hour it was the same routine. A bit slimy, clean and wash up and go about my business, if it didn't stop after the 4th trip I would call the doc. Being that it was a saturday and all, and dad's party, and I was not having any BH's or contractions I wasn't worried and was hoping to not have to call.

On the 5th potty break I was still having discharge but this time it had blood in it. Not a lot by any means, but it was fresh bright red blood. Like I said not a lot and was mixed with the clear jello like stuff my body was creating.. Ewww

I then got on the phone and called my doctor. I told the nurse my info and the issues and she had the doc call me back. The on call returned my call in about 5 minutes and I went over it all with her again. She suggested that I come in to be checked to make sure the cerclage was still in place and make sure and not tearing and I was not in labor, but since I was not having contractions she wasn't too worried and neither was I.

I packed my bag just incase, jammers, undies, toothbrush and all that good stuff and off I went. I had Chuck stay home with Aiden and my friend Keisla (the girls godmother) dropped me off at the hospital on her way to work. (Feeling bad I might add that she couldn't stay with me)
I went in, checked in and headed up stairs to wait. I was in the waiting room about 10 mins and they called me into the exam room. The nurse to my vitals and asked me questions and then the doc came in. She asked me again what happened and I told her. I also told her I just saw my OB on Friday (the previous day) and she did an ultra sound and all was fine. The only thing that we were watching was the girls weight cause they were so different by ultrasound measurements.
She asked if my doctor checked my cervix or did any kind of an internal and I said no, so she said she was going to do one.
Out came the can opener (that is what I call it and that is what it feels like! OUCH) After 22 weeks of "being good" being examined by the doc with that god awful device is painful!!!
SO she checked and looked and could see the knot on the cerclage and it was still in place and tied. She said she could see some tinged mucus but NO active bleeding. This is good I thought!
She the proceeded to swab with one of hose huge Q-tips and all of a sudden any place she touched with it began to bleed. WHICH MEANT.. my cervix was getting soft.
She took out the torture device and said I am going to finger check. She did and then said you body is trying to dialate, the cerglage is stopping it, but the baby's head is right there (Morgan)

The next words out of her mouth were.. "So we will be doing your c-section today" Ummm WHAT??? No contractions at all, a great day, I feel fine, and I am in active labor.. Geeesh

Well I was 34 weeks and 2 days and now VERY pleased I made it this far. I called Chuck, told him to find someone to watch Aiden on bring him to the hospital and my mom will meet us and take him, and to hurry up cause in just a few hours (if that) we will be having the girls.

I called my mom, who showered and drove up. Chuck dropped Aiden off at the party and then came to the hospital. He got there about 45 mins after I called him. By this time I was already in the OR with the spinal, all preped, all set and waiting for him. They threw his scrubs on him, tossed him in the room with me and off we went.
Music playing, people chatting, a really nice and funny delivery team, some familiar faces from the NICU and we were ready to bring the girls into the world and that is just what we did.
About 15 mins after Chuck was in the room, at 4:00 pm, Morgan Kennidi Russell was out. Weighing in at 3 pounds 14 ounces and 16 inches, she was my peanut. She cried and cried and so did I with so much happiness just to hear her little voice. (I never got to hear Aiden) I was so happy and felt blessed she was ok. Then at 4:03 pm Riley Lorene Russell was here too. Weighing in at 4 pounds 7 ounces and 17 inches long, she was my big girl. She also cried and made it known she was present. Then they both joined in together... What a sound, it melted my heart!
Chuck took some pictures and got to hold them, they then brought them over to me to see and gives kisses too and off they went to the NICU.
Since they were under 35 weeks they had to go to the NICU, and this is where the new journey begins for all of us.
I am now a proud mommy of my angel Chase born at 20 weeks, my superman Aiden born at 24 weeks, and my twin girls, peanut and chubs, born at 34 weeks.

And that is my story... I am off to see them in a bit so I will update more soon.

September 24, 2007

2007-09-24T20:31:00.000-07:00

I'm still in the hospital and will be until Wednesday so I can update but can't post pics until I get home, since the only computer I have is my father in laws laptop.

I am doing fine and have been keeping up with my pain meds so things are not too bad. The first night was crazy. I had to wait 18 hrs for the morphine in the spinal to be out of my system completely before I could get any pain meds and as you may know just cause it is in your system doesn't mean it is working to kill the pain anymore. FYI... it wasn't, so due to the soreness and the SUPER itch from the spinal wearing off I didn't sleep for the first night. I was awake for 42 hrs before I actually slept.

But on to the good stuff.. The girls...

Morgan... She is my little one, 3 lbs 14 oz and 16 inches long. She is doing fabulous, needed no O2 and is already eating (and has tried a bottle twice as of last night, once with me and once witht he nurse). She too half of her little feed by bottle befor she pooped out. Awwwww

Riley... She is my chubba, 4 lbs 7 oz and 17 inches long. She went onto CPAP for less then 24 hrs due to a bit of fluid inher lungs but is now off and breathing fine on her own. She is also now eating too but as of last night has not tried a bottle yet.

Both babies are past the isolet stage and now being swaddled in there isolets and keeping there temp. Next stage is an open crib (yay)
Both babies also has a round of antibiotics for a precaution. Due to being born early and still considered preemies, they were given the antibiotics just incase they had an infection that caused them to come early. Nothing has grown on the cultures so they are in the clear.

The are expected to be in the NICU anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. However att he rate they are going I don't expect them to be there for 6. They are really doing well and it's completely different then when we had Aiden at 24 weeks.

I can't tell you how happy we both are to see them so healthy, happy and strong. I will post more pics when I am sprung from here so hang tight. And thank you to everyone who has sent us there best wishes...

SURPRISE!!

2007-09-22T18:18:00.001-07:00

Quick update from Dad while Mommy recovers...

Say hello to:

Morgan! (3lbs 14 oz, and the elder by 3 mins)

Riley! (4lbs 7oz)

And one very excited (and now very tired) daddy. More updates later!

The SHOWER

2007-09-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

It was Sept 8th, given by my mom (THANK YOU!) It rocked ! I had to post a few pics. I don't have them all yet but I do have one of my cake that I just LOVED!!!

And of course I had to end it with a pic of my little man who enjoyed the day so much!! He just had a ball with all the family and friends and rides in his wagon.. It was awesome!!

A HUGE THANK YOU to my mom again and to everyone who helped out.. Love you all !!

September 21, 2007

2007-09-21T22:10:00.000-07:00

SO here is the update..
I was suppose to have a NST today (Non-Stress Test) and got to my appointment, went in, got hooked up, heard both babies for about 2.2 seconds and then nothing. The nurse came over and searched and was like, hmm this is weird, we know they're there. They are moving but we can't hear them. Then my doc just happened to walk in and said well i was going to do an ultrasound anyway so we will see what they're doing in there.

I went in the ultrasound room and all was fine. Both babies had strong heart beats. However Riley flipped AGAIN and is now head up and feet down (breach). This child can't figure out what way she wants to be (and she is the bigger one). The doc said she seems to have more room cause she has poor little Morgan stuffed down low on my right side (head down feet up).

Here is the kicker. We don't have to worry about twin to twin transfusion because they have there own placentas. With that said there is a BIG weight discrepancy between my little ones this time. Morgan who has always been a bit smaller and was 3 lbs four weeks ago is now measuring 3 lbs 14 oz. Riley, who has always been a bit bigger, and who measured 3 lbs 3 oz four weeks ago is now measuring a whopping 5 lbs 6 oz.

Now I know the ultrasound is not 100%, it is usually off a little either direction (and the internet said it can be off as much as a pound in some cases) but a pound and 8 oz difference is a lot..

Since the babies sounded good and still looked fine and everything else is going well I didn't have to do the NST today after all. However because of the size difference, I am having two NST's next week and scheduled for two the following week. I will be going in on Wednesdays and Fridays to have them done. If the babies are not is distress at all them we go on with the plan of a c-section on Oct 11th. If there are signs of something else then we will change those plans, if if need be deliver them a wee bit earlier then planned.

The doc did say though that it is possible I could go into labor before then and if so not to stress over it, that they might end up in the NICU but nothing like what Aiden went through, which i knew anyways.

We also talked about keeping my cerclage in. That since it has held, I am having a c-section, it doesn't bother me since I can't feel it, and I'm not getting my tubes tied and know I want more kids in the future, if we keep it in, i can still get pregnant again and still have my monthy cycles (which I don't miss) however when we choose to have another baby, I won't have to go for the cerclage procedure again cause I will already have on in place.

I didn't even know this was a possibility. Who would of thought that it could stay in and last 5 years or forever for that matter until taken out. BUT, it works for me if I don't have to go through that pain again anytime soon.

So that is about it.. The girls are still baking, Riley is a piglet and growing very well, Morgan is my picky eater and watching her weight already (ha ha) and we will check on them next week and see whats what..

I've also posted some new belly pics.. ( I look like crap since it's about 1am or later and i was about to go to bed) but we can't always look beautiful..

Picture from my Shower 9/8/07 (32 weeks)Taken yesterday (34 weeks) and my belly looks square?!?

September 20, 2007

2007-09-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

34 Weeks and 3 weeks to go!!!! It's flying by, the cribs are in and just need to be picked up. I got the bedding all set, the girls clothes are washed. folded and put away waiting. A few more things to organize and it's just a waiting game..
I see the doc tomorrow so I will update then on the girls size and all.. 20 days and about 12 hours.. LOL WOW!!! I'm still in shock!

September 13, 2007

2007-09-13T22:15:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it.. 33 weeks and holding..

Things have been going well, just the normal complaints. Achy hips, leg cramps, sore this and that and the awesome company of Mr Braxton Hicks!
Most of them don't hurt, but yeah I get some that are not so pleasant!
Both Morgan and Riley are still in there though and kicking (Morgan more then Riley) I don't know if it is because Morgan is a tiny bit smaller so she has more room or if she is just the ADHD baby LOL!
Riley seems to be my sleeper, and just when I start to get overly worried I haven't felt her all day she'll let me panic a little longer then move or kick me to say "ya mom I'm fine geeesh"
Morgan on the other hand seems to always be active until about 2am and she is pretty calm from them til noon ish. She still moves and squirms but isn't kicking the crap out of me like she does later in the day.

Well I see the doc on the 21st and will have a better idea of there weights at that time. I probably already mentioned that before, but since my memory is just about completely gone I am not responsible if I repeat myself a zillion times.

But we will keep on trucking even if I completely forget who I am by the time these babies come, As long as they are ok and healthy i will deal with having NO brain cells left.. LOL

September 10, 2007

2007-09-10T20:04:00.000-07:00

Ok so it's the final month.. Just one month to go, although I thought they were going to come on Sunday..

To enlighten you, my shower was Saturday, my mom gave me one. (THANK YOU MOMMY!!) It rocked and it was nice to see lots of my family that don't travel up this way (although I am only an hour away) most won't go into Boston never mind beyond it. It was a HOT day, about 92 out but we had a breeze. The shower was outside and a BBQ so it was nice. I knew to make sure I drank my water and I did. However it seems whenever I have a 'big day" with lots of walking or moving around I pay for it that night and all the next day. Added to that is the fact I've been getting Braxton Hicks and well it made for an very uncomfortable sleepy time and Sunday!

I was sore, I was achy and I kept having them stupid contractions (BHs) some don't hurt some do, and well lets just say i can do with out them.

So Sunday I stayed low key, complained and rested and did my best not to be too much of a baby.. Although you will have to ask Chuck if i was cause all I know is I was not a happy camper.
By late Sunday night I was a bit better and slept better then I did on Saturday night but who really sleeps well when your 32 plus weeks pregnant with twins. Find that person cause I want to know there secret.

Today though things have been better. Only two BHs all day and although my hips kill and I had a tummy ache (yes people I am falling apart ha ha, sounds like it I know) it was a pretty good day.

I ordered the girls cribs and will have them in about 10 days or less. There bedding will be in soon too (Thank You ebay) and I've washed there blankets and clothes and put them away.
THings are falling into place slowly and before ya know it the new little car seat and Aiden's old car seat will be filled with two new little faces crying back at us..

I have not yet put the pics from the shower on my computer once I do I will post a few. Lets just say in one I look HUGE!!! and that is not what I see when I look in the mirror. I guess there actually is plenty of room in there for two.

September 5, 2007

2007-09-05T17:58:00.000-07:00

My appointment today was a quick one. Well the waiting was a while, the midwife was running behind about 30 so minutes, but the appointment itself was fast as they usually are. They checked my weight and BP, then the midwife came in, asked if I had any question, how things are going and all that jazz. Then she checked the heart beats. Well I almost had a panic attack when she was having a hard time finding Riley's. Ok this baby is about 4 pounds, how can ya not find it. It's bad enough she makes me worry cause she doesn't move no where near as much as Morgan and NOW we can't get the heart beat.. Yeah I wanted to freak. So she moved on to Morgan and wham there she was beating away at 150 and moving around.. SO back to Riley we went (the bigger twin at that) and still having a hard time. She said she might have to get the ultrasound machine to fine her but kept trying for a bit longer and there she was up high in my belly and beating at 130. She is always lower then Morgan usually by 10 beats or so, today she was off by 20 but still in the "normal" range. So my panic attack was over and I left with a smile but damn, those few minutes (about 4) seemed like forever!!!
I also asked since she her heart beat was so high in my belly which means that is where her chest is, did she flip again and is now breach like before. The midwife said it's possible but we won't know til they do another ultrasound and well that is in 2 weeks at my next appointment with the doctor so by then she could be any where. My daughter the acrobat!
That was about it.. I go back in 2 weeks and see the doc, no weekly appointments yet. At the next one she will do an ultrasound as I said and check there measurements again and there weights. By then they should be about 4 plus pounds each.. CRAZY TALK!! and then I'll only have 3 weeks to go from that appointment.. Even more crazy!!!

September 1, 2007

2007-09-01T06:44:00.001-07:00

Ok can you believe it's already September.. It's just crazy that the time has flown by so fast. When I was pregnant with Aiden it seemed to creep by and everyso often a week would fly but then slow up again. It's nuts thinking I have my 32 week appointment this week!?!?

Other then that and stressing out with worry about how we are going to make "it work" not that reality is setting in we will have 3 babies (YES Aiden is still a baby lol) I've been pretty ok.
The aches and pains depend on how much moving and walking I seem to do. I try to stay pretty active as far as doing every day things (who wants to be a sloth and just sit and do NOTHING) and it's good for Aiden to get out and good for me that the house stay clean or I'd just freak out more.. LOL

The newest thing is the queeziness is back. I've had it all along, but it's worse then the second trimester. The first trimester it was terrible terrible morning sickness and feeling ikky all the time. As the second trimester came into play it got better and the medication the doc gave me I only had to take twice a week rather then every day (which is good considering insurance only pays for 9 pills a week even though it says take every 6 hrs as needed)
I have one of the best insurances and it's just stupid but we won't go there. Well this was my last script, I've managed to stretch it this far. If I had to take it at least once a day it would of ran out a while ago. Like months ago! So I have 6 pills left and it's like my body knows and wants to torture me when I eat. Grrrrr I had to take it twice yesterday and the day before. It's back to eating, feeling ok for about 10 ins (if that) and then wanting to run for the nearest bucket. By now I am a pro at talking myself to hold it in and wait it out as long as I can. THe meds kick in pretty fast once I take them, usually 10 mins (the longest 30 mins) but then again 30 mins is a LONG time when you want to upchuck. UGH!!!

So I see the midwife Wed (I'll be 31 weeks and 6 days) and at this rate I'm asking for another script.. Who the heck wants to be queezy there last 5 weeks... Not I.. (and as I just said to my blog friend Sarah that I would send and extra prayer that her queeziness goes away, lol, I think i just gave it back to myself, so hopefully you're feeling better Sarah.. )

That's about it.. Hope everyone enjoys there long weekend..

August 29, 2007

2007-08-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

No new news to bring to the table.. (Sorry Jen) lol
I don't go for another check up until the 5th (a week from today) and I am seeing the midwife again and not the doc. I assume after that they will have me going every week for my last 5 weeks but I really don't know.
So far all is going well. The belly is getting bigger which means the girls are getting bigger. I still can't believe I will be 31 weeks tomorrow. Chuck finally got to feel one of them kick and a friend got to feel one have the hiccups. It's fun to share with others. I still stare atmy belly and watch them move and wiggle when they are super active.

I also don't remember who asked in there comment if I still see the same midwife who told me to only gain 14 pounds. Umm NO! She was a stand in for the midwife who works directly with my doctor. She works for the other doctor in the practice and yes I am glad I don't see her or she'd have me on a diet. LOL
I haven't gained much weight, I don't think. I was 226 at my last appt. Remember I am about 6 feet tall too so i don't look my weight. I was 213 when I got pregnant, lost weight and went down to 205 and then after a while got back to 213. I believe that is where they start counting my weight gain. As of today I am 231 on my scale, so that is a 19 pound weight gain at 31 weeks with twins.. Not so bad if I say so myself and believe me there are days (or should I say nights) that I chow. Some mornings I will admit I forget to eat and then I'll have a protein bar or something to make up for it. I don't do it on purpose, but once I do eat something, no matter what time it is, that is the start of me wanting to eat every 2 or 3 hrs til bed time. It's crazy but hey who is complaining.. Food is good, aslong as it's not making me queezy and I still get that was with some things like eggs. i love eggs but it never fails, I have to take my nausa meds every time I eat them or it's not pretty..

Well other then that, things are the same at this end... I will be sure to update atmy next appt or if anything happens from now til then. Or who knows I may just need to vent before hand ha ha..

August 22, 2007

2007-08-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

Well I just got back from the doctors and my appointment went well. Since there have been no changes to my cervix the last few times it was checked and now that I am 30 weeks as of tomorrow we didn't check it today.

As for the babies, well they are growing and growing. Today we took measurements of both of them. Morgan aka Baby A measured 3 pounds and Riley aka Baby B measured 3 pounds 3 ounces. This blows my mind still to think there is 6 pounds of baby in this belly right now and they more then doubled there weight since the last measurement at 24 weeks. Morgan was 1 lb 6 oz and Riley was 1 lb 7 oz, so in 6 weeks they more then doubled and I have 7 weeks to go before my C-section so they could be 6 pounds each if all goes well. That is 12 pounds of baby.. OMG!!!!
Thank god I am tall and have some meat on me cause if I was a tiny person I don't see them fitting in there lol. Also Riley is no longer head up feet down. They are both head down, feet up. I assumed she flipped cause one day she just felt weird and was in like a bowling ball position. It felt funny and I had this big hard ball then all of a sudden she was stretched out again and when she kicks I feel it up high and not down low.

My mom doesn't think I am going to make it til Oct 11th though. She thinks I am going to go earlier then that. Since I was a 32 weeker and my brother a 35 weeker (both with no issues) it seems preemies run in the family with us.

I however think I will make it to the 37 weeks and have the girls as scheduled on Oct 11th..
Either way, as long as they are healthy and ok then i will be happy. The last thing I want is for them to have to struggle like my little Aiden did, but just knowing that they are twice his weight and 6 weeks further along then he was is great news..

I see the midwife next in two weeks, then I believe I will be going every week until my C-section (the last 5 weeks)

It's the home stretch and it feels so weird to say that.. It feels even weirder to say I am going to have 3 children under the age of 2 VERY SOON... Actually under 18 months.. YIKES..

Makes me think of the family I watched on discovery health last night. She had a 3 yr old. 1 yr old quads, and was pregnant with quads again. They ended up losing one but in the end, now have 8 children under the age of 3... OMG!!! and they want at least 4 more... A 3 yr old four 16 month olds and three 1 month olds.. I think I'd go insane no matter if both my parents helped me every day like theres did.. I'd really need medication or a VERY VERY BIG HOUSE and paycheck... 500 diapers a week they use and 5 cans of formula, not to mention the baby food..

Sooo.. with that said, things could ALWAYS be crazier..

August 20, 2007

2007-08-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

This is just for Sarah.. (Hugs)
Yes the babies are still cooking... We have an appointment on Wednesday and will have an ultrasound to check the measurements of the girls and see how big they got. As I been saying there are some days I feel huge and other days I feel little, but to think they could each be 3 plus pounds by now blows my mind. There is no way!! I'm not that big I don't think, for them to be each more then 3 pounds. We'll see I guess, i could be completely off. i worry I'm not eating enough some days or growing enough to give them room and that they are going to be too little.. I know useless worry since I don't really know.
Eating has been crazy at times. I get so hungry but then am luck y if I can eat 4 or 5 bites before I feel like I can't breath and there is no room. Other times I eat and don't know where it goes.. Makes no sense to me, but I enjoy it when I can eat and not feel ikky and know the babies are happy in there..
I'll be 30 weeks Thursday, and that is almost 6 weeks longer then I was with Aiden! It also means I have only 7 weeks left before my c-section and the girls will be here. Now that is just nuts to me.
Chuck asked me if I am ready and I said NO! He said will you ever be ready and I said NO! lol but I think I am as ready as I will ever be, just a little nervous that I am going to go crazy..
Thank god he will be here every day for 3 weeks, my mom will come up to help when she can, and take Aiden home on her days off to give us time with just the girls and try to get a schedule and some sleep here and there. It will also give Aiden his one on one time with Nonny so he doesn't feel left out. Not that I think he will cause he is still really little, but I'll feel better knowing he's getting all the attention from at least someone. While Morgan and Riley will be testing mommy and daddy on sleep deprivation ! LOL
SO that's about it for now, I will be sure to post on Wed night when I have more info. I have my appt at 1:30 then I have to shoot to moms to drop off Aiden and spend time there so I won't be home til late, so don't anyone get nervous if the post is up really late or early thursday (ok sarah)

August 8, 2007

2007-08-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Our check up was a quick one today. It was with the midwafe so all they really do is check the baby's heart beats and measure my belly. Riley was 140 beats and Morgan was 150, just about the same as last time. Next week we see the doc and she will do another ultrasound and measure them for size and weight.
I also took pics today so here they are..

August 4, 2007

2007-08-04T10:16:00.001-07:00

Yes i know this has nothing to do with the girls, but this is my blog too and well I wanted to share the new... We FINALLY got engaged!! YAY! and tomorrow is my birthday so we are having my birthday dinner tonight.. What a week huh..

Yay for meeee!! lol

Hope everyone else is having a good week too..

This makes up for the sore hips LOL!!

August 3, 2007

2007-08-03T02:53:00.000-07:00

It's been a nutty few days I tell ya. I hit 27 weeks yesterday. (excited) I took Aiden in to finally get his blood work for his Lead test and kidney test he is required to have after turning one. (Not exciting) and the big wopper, I officially got engaged the other day and got my ring yesterday. YES I AM GLOWING!!! and it's my birthday on Sunday.. :)

We've been together 5 years (and a few months) and been through so much. With all the ups and downs, Chuck has carried the weight of the world on his shoulders with me, and the best part is, I couldn't ask for a better dad for my kids. He may not be Mr domestic, and god knows there are things about each other that we wish we could change, but when it comes to loving me I know he does, and when it comes to loving our children, there is no question, they are the world to him.

So by this time next year we will finally be the Russell Family!! YAY

On another note, can you say soreness. My hips are killing me, sleeping had become no fun, and somedays it feels like I have just ran a marathon. UGH!! Don't get me wrong, I love being pregnant, I really do. I don't mind the belly and I can deal witht he little aches and pains, but lately my body just hurts. It's tough to say the least. By the end of the day I just want to pass out, but once I get into bed or on the futon, where ever I decide to sleep that night, comfort is just not my friend. I can get comfy for a few minutes but once I really get tired my body just feels worn out and hurts. Rolling over, or shall I say turning, cause there is no more "rolling" at this point, is not fun either. I can only imagine how big I am going to get in the next 10 weeks.
To think these babies are only about a 3rd of there birth weight blows my mind. Although I do take pride in the fact that everyone who sees me, after wowing over the belly, says I look good. And for having twins I look really good. Now that makes a girl smile!! I have to say, that in all honestly, I really haven't put weight on in my face or any place. Just mostly in the belly. ALL BELLY!! I am yet to take them belly pics. Maybe I can do that tomorrow. Hmm I do have one from the 4th of July standing with my brother in law. We were comparing who had the bigger belly. In person it was funnier, in the pic he doesn't even compare to me, so I can post that one for now. I'm sure he'll love the fact he's on my blog.. HA HA

So wish me luck in finding a comfy sleeping positing and a way for this body to adjust to the weight it's holding. Worst case is I only have 69 more days so I'll suck it up. I think Iwillactually miss being pregnant though. However with Aiden and two newborns I'll be busy so don't expect any new pregnancies for a while. This girl is gonna look into the depo shot. i got a wedding to plan people LOL

For now I am off to bed again. I've been up since 4:30am cause my body hurt and it's now 6:15, I'm beat and Aiden will be awake in 2 hrs.. Hopefully I can fall right to sleep..

July 25, 2007

2007-07-25T19:17:00.000-07:00

26 Weeks tomorrow and my doc appt today went well.
I had my glucose test and well that wasn't as bad as it could of been. Since I had gastric bypass 3 yrs ago, I'm not able to have a lot of sugar or I get sick. I get a really bad head ache, a belly ache, dizzy, sometimes I puke and get sweaty. Well drinking a drink that is only 10 oz and has 50 grams of sugar is a lot for me. When I'm pregnant I can consume more sugar then I can when I'm not (for what ever the reason) and so I did the test and hoped for the best. It was a happy medium I suppose. I got the sweats, a headache, a belly ache that didn't last too long and felt queezy, but I didn't puke or get dizzy. I don't know if I passed until I call tomorrow to get the results, so we'll see what they say.

Other then that, the doc checked my cervix and it still looks great she said. Same as last time!!
I see the midwife in two weeks, then the doc two weeks after that and she will check my cervix then for the last time and she said she will also measure the babies and see how much they have grown and there weights based on the measurements.
By then I will be 30 weeks, which just blows my mind. That means I will only have 7 weeks to go before we meet Miss Morgan and Miss Riley.. I am excited and scared and still not processing that I will have two babies.. TWO people... T...W...O...

I can't wait to see what they look like.. If they look like Aiden and Chuck, or look more like me.. If they have lots of hair or are bald like I was. If there blond like chuck was or have dark hair like there mommy..

However I can wait the next 11 weeks or longer if need be to find out. As long as these two babies stay in there and bake as long as they need too.. No more NICU stays. We filled our quota of days there and having 1000 doctors and a million worries.

July 15, 2007

2007-07-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

GAWD!!!!! What a weekend.. UGH!!!
First it was the worst tummy ache to start my friday. Saturday I actually felt ok and got to spend the day with my mom and Aiden and we did some shopping at the outlets for the girls (and Aiden too.) Then today... Morning started off fine, we all slept in late. That was a nice switch. Aiden woke up in a wonderful mood and my goal for the day was to get the bedroom orginized, go through the last of the packing boxes, bring a few more things to the storage unit and get Aiden his first hair cut before he has a mullet.. LOL
Easier said then done... I started on the room and was going along. I walked into the living room to talk to Chuck and check on Aiden and came back in the bedroom and WHAM!!!!!
I was seeing stars.. I had wacked my baby toes off the vacuum (that just broke so it needs to be tossed and we missed the trash men last week or it would of not been there)
Well I tried to shake it off and it was not working. Can you say pain! For the first time I was convinced that I broke my toe. I was in tears and couldn't walk it hurt so bad.
After a few hours of icing it the best I could I was forced to get up to pee before the twins jumped on my bladder one more time or I was going to wet the bed (haha). So up I got and wooooo back down I went. I sat there thinking of all the ways I could make it to the potty with out using my foot. Hmmm hopping was the only way. Do you know how hard it is to hop on one foot being 6 months pregnant. It just doesn't feel right.. lol
So I did my best, go in and barely got out and then hoped in the kitchen got a bowl of ice and cold water and soked my foot til I could not feel it. By then, YES PEOPLE, I was in tears.
I guess this is what I get for being a clutz right.. Well CHuck and Aiden woke from there nap and Chuck saw me sitting in the kitchen with my foot in a bowl and tearns in my eyes and said ok that's it we are going to the hospital. Off we went..
5 1/2 hrs later and it's not broken, but sprained with torn/pulled ligaments.
Tylenol for pain (oh yippie) and keep it up and rested as much as I can til it feels better. Also buddy tape the toes unless it hurts too much and wear an attractive boot.. I so wanted a matching pair (ha ha ha)
Right now it's a little past midnight. Everyone is sleeping and my damn foot is throbbing like the cartoon who gets his thumb slammed into something. I can't sleep, there is nothing on TV, and well it just sucks all around..
Tomorrow is Monday, Chuck is working, and i pray to god my stupid foot feels 200% better so i can cope. I am actually glad the week end is over and I never want week ends to end, but this one with the exception of Saturday, has been terrible.

Ironiclly I am 24 weeks and 3 days today, and that is exactly when I had Aiden, which was also a Sunday. So how do I get to spend the day today.. In the E.R..... Lovely, just Lovely!!!

The best part is in the morning I will be 24 weeks and 4 days and that is just 1 day closer to our target and the girls getting stronger.. Now that I can smile about.. :)

July 13, 2007

2007-07-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

UGH!!! What do you do for a terrible tummy ache. I was fine yesterday and had wonderful plans to spend the day with my mom and Aiden today, to only wake up and have the worst stomach ache which has kept me in and out the the potty all day. Chuck just left for work which means I am on my own with Aiden until bedtime. OH that seems so far away right now.
All I've eaten today is 4 slices of dried toast, a cup of decaf tea and been sipping water all day to try and stay hydrated. This sucks!! I am trying at this point to force myself to feel better knowing I have Aiden to take care of. It's that mind over matter thing, but it's not working so well.
The girls are probably in there wondering why mommy is making so many weird noises today cause my tummy is in an up roar. Hopefully this will go away really soon cause I've had just about enough of it already.

July 12, 2007

2007-07-12T18:17:00.000-07:00

24 Weeks today and all is good..
I was out of work this week for a few reasons. Monday I just couldn't walk very well due to having so many charlie horses in the same leg the previous night that my legs were just so sore. Two days before that it was the opposite leg, so I was in rough shape. Tuesday and Wed i was just exhaused and needed a break. I need some sleep and rest and wasnt going to get it if i went into the office then came home and had Aiden until he goes to bed which is about 10:30pm these days. Today I had my doctors appointment and needed a note for the last 3 days so I couldn't go in today either. ( I know what a shame!) I have to say, being home has been really good. I get to nap for atleast an hour in the middle of the day and sleep a little later in the morning, both help with not feeling like I am about to fall on my face any second.

So i intended to go back to work on Monday after i got a note from the doctor saying it was ok to return. In the mean time I up'd my calcium dose i take daily and that has helped with the charlie horses I was getting. I learned that around this time it's common to get them, more so if your carrying multiples, from the babies taking so much calcium from you. It took a few days to kick in but I think it's helping. So far I've gotten only one in the past two days ( I up'd the calcium on Saturday) and it wasn't a really bad one like the ones I was getting.

My appt went well. The doc checked my cervix and it looks great. The stitches are holding and no shortening so far. The babies had perfect strong heart beats, Morgan was 150 and Riley was 148, and Morgan is weighing in at 1 pound 6 ounces and Riley 1 pound 7 ounces.

With all that said, the doc has pulled me from work. With my permission, she took me out for bed rest due to being a high risk pregnancy. Although nothing is wrong with me or the babies, she feels the same as I do, and so many others, that the less stress, more sleep and more rest I can get, the better for me and the babies and for this pregnancy to go to the full 37 weeks we are planning. FINE WITH ME!! No stress of dealing with office politics, or customer service nightmares. No forcing myself to stay awake when I am exhausted at noon. Now I can take a nap since Chuck is home everyday til 3pm before he goes to work.

I see the doctor again in two weeks, then the midwife, then the doc, then the midwife again. So I am booked for appts every two weeks for the next 8 weeks which will bring me to 32 weeks. After that I will start going every weeks until delivery at 37. It's sounds so close and at the same time 3 months seems so far away. I'm still processing that I will now be a mother of 3. How crazy is that?!? It still just blows my mind.

In the mean time I will take it one day at a time, knowing that every day these babies stay in there, is one day stronger they become. Aiden was born on a Sunday at 24 weeks and 3 days. Ironiclly this Sunday i will be 24 weeks and 3 days. WEIRD!!! But this time my 24 week appt went awesome.. I can't be more pleased. The babies are active, healthy and strong and everything seems to be going very well.. Positive thinking will get us there I just know it.. :)

June 21, 2007

2007-06-21T13:43:00.001-07:00

My appt yesterday went well. My cervix has not changed since my last ultrasound and is still measuring 3 and a half.. (Anything over 2 is good)
The heartbeats of the girls are good and strong and both seem to be active. I think Riley is more active then Morgan (it use to be the other way around) but I feel them both, usually not at the same time, unless Riley is kicking her sister to say hello.

I am 21 weeks today and see the doctor in 3 weeks, which means I see the doctor when I am exactly 24 weeks and that is when all hell broke loose with Aiden.. Fingers crossed X !

I also got to pick my C-section date, so you may notice that the counter clock has been changed. We wanted October 1st, it's my little brother's 21st birthday, but since I will be a few days shy of 35 weeks she wanted to bump up the date. She wanted me at least 36 weeks if the girls will hang out that long, so the new date is Oct 11th. I will actually be 37 weeks that day and I'm scheduled for the O.R. at 11:30am. The joke is by noon time I will be a mother of 3.. Ha HA

It's still scary.. Everyone keeps asking me who is going to come stay with us and help for a little while, or if we are going to have a nanny part time or a sitter just to get the everyday things done. Well the answer is, to be honest, as much as family loves us, no one is coming to stay and no one will be here but me and Chuck. My mom will probably come a few days since I will be healing from a c-section, but thats about it.
It's on us, 3 kids in diapers.. Aiden will be exactly 16 months old and we will have two newborns.. Ok now I am really scaring myself again.. LOL but what can ya do. I didn't ask for twins or plan twins, it just happened, and well in it's own way it's a blessing and I welcome my girls with all my heart. I love them both just as much as I love Aiden and although I am far from perfect and I am sure not the best super dooper mom in the world, I will do my best to have patience and love and care for the 3 of them. That's all I can do. Well... Unless someone wants to come stay with us, or pay for a nanny, or I will the lottery.. Hmmm i don't think any of those will happen so as i always say.. SUCK IT UP! ha haha

June 16, 2007

2007-06-16T19:42:00.000-07:00

I am currently 20 weeks and 2 days, and it's scary.. As I said to someone to day in agreement with a comment they made, pregnancy is now a scary thing and forever will be. It is no longer a exciting happy time. With my history all I can think about is getting past 24 weeks. Then once I say that my brain says even that isn't good enough.. I need to get to 30.. Thirty is the number I need to feel at peace.

I have a doctor appt on Wed and i will be 1 day shy of 21 weeks. So far all "feels" ok and the babies are moving (not as much as I wish they were, i just love the feeling) but I know in time it will be stronger and more intense and I'll probably complain that they move too much in there.

Things so far have progressed along fine. The "pains" I do get are normal pains ie: stretching pains. However a few days ago I think I experienced my first syatic nerve issue. That was NOT nice. It felt like someone kicked me in the butt and the pain just traveled straight down my leg and that someone twisted my knee the wrong way and left it there. OUCH!!!!!

I was limping for a bit cause it hurt to walk. I've also been getting charlie horses. UGH!! They syatic issue was in one leg and the charlie horses (on and off for the past 2 weeks) have been in the other. Lets just say at this point I want to cut the calf portion of my leg off. Some mornings it hurts so much that I sware I can see a bruise from where the muscle was so tight.

I have been trying to drink more water to see if it helps cause I know some days i don't drink enough ( I try I really do) but so far it doesn't seem to do much..
I've also been trying to up the calories I take in. Some days I feel like I eat like a pig and other days i feel like I don't eat enough. My last appt I still didn't gain weight and then the following two weeks I weighed myself and I was up 3. Yeah a whopping 3 lbs. (and that only brought me back to my starting weight cause in the begining I lost weight, i always do) Well I weighed myself today and I was up 10. I drank alot before I got on the scale so I am sure it's off a little, but it still brings me 10 lbs above my starting weight.

We have a really good book all about twins, triplets and quads, and it talks about everything. It is written by a doctor and a co author or twins who have a clinic and deal with just people having multiples now. Although the midwife I saw (for one and only one appt) said I should only gain 10 to 14 lbs for the entire time, the book said at least 45 to 50 being at my current hight and weight. My doctor herself has not given me a number this time around, and so to be honest I am going by the book. I can't see only gaining 14 pounds and having two babies at a really good weight and being healthy. That just doesn't sound right to me. If I got both babies to 5 pounds each, that would give me 10 lbs right there, not to mention the fluid, placenta, and other stuff. To be honest, i think the midwife was a bit off.. No actually a lot off.

As long as there healthy and growing I'm not overly worried about it. but in the mean time for the first time in my life I am actually working at trying to gain weight. This is an odd thing for me considering I use to be over 320 pounds and lost 125 a few yrs ago. To try and gain seems like a game now, but it's fun at times. i don't feel guilty eating what ever I want (as long as it doesn't make me sick) and YES people at 20 weeks I still get queezy and toss my cookies from foods I eat or things I smell.. I thought by now it would be smooth sailing with that, but boy was I wrong.

I'll let you all know wed what the doc says..
"Deep Breath" "one day at a time" Right...

June 5, 2007

2007-06-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

Everything went well today at the ultrasound.. We found out we are having two girls... We almost didn't fine out the sex of one because she was being so so stubborn. Yes that would be my child! But last minute at the last attempt she uncrossed her legs for a second and let us see, then crossed them again as to say now bug off.

They also checked the length of my cervix and the measurements were really good the doctor said. That made me happy!!
All in all it has been a good day... and i got two little girls to boot..

May 15, 2007

2007-05-15T17:45:00.000-07:00

Me again, but who else would be typing on my blog..
I forgot to post after my last appt on the 9th. OK well I didn't forget, I've just been crazy busy and tired.. So what's a few extra days.
The check up went well, both babies have strong heartbeats and look good the doc said. The stitch is still right where it is suppose to be and my cervix looks normal. No changes, it's not shorter and isn't funneling at all so far, so this is a great thing.
We also hoped to get to see what the little ones were, but even though the doc did both a normal and an internal ultrasound we couldn't see. The babies are too small to tell on the belly ultrasound so it would have to be an internal, and well when doing that one they have to be bum down. It just happens that on this day they both decided they didn't want to be bum down and no matter how we moved or poked they were not going to budge.

FINE!!!! ha ha So my "big" ultrasound is on June 5th. They will check the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, all that stuff, and then see if they can see what sex they are. Those buggers better let mamma bear see..

So that is the update for now.

I see the midwife for a checkup on the 29th and then the ultrasound on June 5th so I'll be updating then. So just like me you all have a few more weeks before you will know what these babies are..

March 7, 2007

2007-05-07T18:05:00.000-07:00

So far so good (knock on wood).. We did the walk on the 5th and I took my time, did what I could and sat when I needed to (at the end) (you can see the pics on Aiden's blog).
Life has been normal since the procedure and besides streatching ligaments in areas I call the "unknown" the has been no pain or cramps. I do take it easy just from my past history, I don't walk all that much either. If I were not pregnant and didn't have a cerclage and didn't have the history I've had, i think I'd be out more with the nice weather walking, but luckly I have a baby boy who just loves being out side and doesn't need me pushing him all around creation. He is fine just sitting on the porch with me watching traffic go by.

I see the doctor on Wed (the 9th) and will have an ultra sound and check up. Hopefully all looks good the babies are growing strong and this cerclage is doing it's job. I'll let you all know what she says Wed, til then enjoy the weather, tomorrow is suppose to be 82 here in Boston.
xoxo

April 30, 2007

2007-04-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

Well my first day back to work was last thursday and it went fine. Considering my job doesn't consist of a lot of walking or any lifting I assumed being back to work would go smooth. I waited til Thursday to go back for two reasons. 1 I ran out of time to use at work, and 2 I was just so tired and still a bit achy that I didn't want to "push it"..

So far I have not had any issues. No bleeding or major pains. The only "pains" I do get are mild and feel like stretching pains and that would just about be right since I am already showing. My belly has popped and you can now tell I am pregnant. It's funny cause it took a while the other times and this time it seemed much sooner. I figure it's cause I am having twins and it's my 4th pregnancy (two of which I reached 20 or more weeks) so my belly just knows what to do at this point.

Other then that I do feel good for the most part. I do no lifting just because I don't want to risk it, although i was told to "live normally" Normal to me means if your pregnant you don't lift things and you take it easy if possible. Well that is what I am doing, to the best that I can.

My mom was up most of last week so she helped a lot with Aiden so that was nice. I find that my energy still has not returned yet and I am still very tired. I try to sleep at night but scince I am such a light sleeper and hear everything, I am always waking up wither for Aiden, the cat, or some drunk guy yelling outside at 2:30am.. (long story, lets just say there is a bar a ways down the street and someone was not happy) of course no one else heard him..

Well that's about it, I go back to the doc on May 9th and she will then do another ultrasound and check the babies and my cervix. As I get news, (or need to vent) I will post..

April 23, 2007

2007-04-23T06:07:00.000-07:00

Day 3 and it's so much better. I'm still not 100% but way better then I was the first night.
The surgery itself was a piece of cake. I felt nothing. And when I say nothing I mean NOTHING! They had started and were working on me for about 10 mins and I didn't even know.

It did however take about 5 hours for the spinal to wear off. Unsually it's about 2 and a half I guess for some people but who knows maybe they gave me a bit extra cause I was numb for a while.

I finally got to come home at about 6pm and when I left there the pain on a scale of 1 to 10 was about a 3 or 4. A few hours after being home it was about a 6 and by bed time a 8 or higher. With no pain meds it made for a very uncomfortable and sore night with (I'll admit) some tears. All they gave me was 800 mg motrin which to be honest did nothing. I took them in hope it would help but the pain over road every feeling I had. It really was not a fun or good night. The next day I was still uncomfortable and it still hurt but by late afternoon as long as I could find a position in bed and stay still the pain was so much better.

I know the doctor said live life normally once I was home just no lifting, but really, there was no normalcy happening for me. I felt like I wanted to jump off the nearest bridge. UGH !!

Last night sleep was much better and when I woke up this morning I feel better too. I can sit up with out feeling pressure and discomfort and when I walk around it's not as hard as it was before. I can still tell pretty quickly if I am standing or walking too much but all in all it's a much better day and to boot it's going to be about 80 degrees out side today.

My plan is to go back to work Wednesday morning so hopefully when I get up tomorrow I will feel 100% again. We'll see..

Chuck asked me the other day if I felt "safer" now with the stitch in, and my answer then was I feel nothing but pain and can't even think about anything else. Now I feel better but I won't feel completely comfortable until my next appt and I see those babies on the screen and know that they are ok. The nurse was suppose to check them before I left the hospital and forgot and to be honest I was still feeling a bit numb, tired and achy that I forgot until we got in the car and started driving home or I would of said something. So now it'a a waiting game until I see the doc on May 9th. Then I will feel better... I know one day at a time right..

April 21, 2007

2007-04-21T04:00:00.000-07:00

SO here's up update... I feel great, like I never had a procedure done... Oh wait that is because I didn't.. I got bumped.. After sitting there for a few hours, not having water or food for about 13 plus, my doctor comes out fuming.. Yes she was angry! Someone had moved me on the schedule to Thursday and never informed her. THe rescheduled someone else for 1:30, who in fact got bumped too due to an emergency delivery. So I drank about a half a bottle of water in 2.2 seconds and inhaled a south beach peanut butter bar and we talked.
NOW.. the plan was to come in this morning at 8 AM and I am scheduled for 9 AM!.. Ugh!!
No eating or drinking after midnight, which is not as bad as last time, and hopefully all will go off with out an issue this time. So that was my day. A field trip to the hospital to pay for parking so I could sit there and starve myself.. Fun eh? Not really.. And today I get to do it all over again.. Just think now I'll have to take Tuesday off of work too.. Oh what a shame.. ha ha

Well wish me luck for attempt number 2.. and I will be sure to post as soon as I can.. Right now I am off to the shower and then to the hospital.. Oh how exciting LOL..

April 20, 2007

2007-04-20T05:54:00.000-07:00

The Big Day!
Well it's 8:56 AM and I am home doing some pick up and cleaning because I know I will not be able to do it later and if this house is super messy it will bug me. So i am getting what I can get done, done now. Daddy took Aiden to his doctor appointment and i stayed home to finish the cleaning stuff. It bugs me much more then him so I wanted to get it done.

He asked me if I was nervous last night cause I couldn't sleep and I said no. As I sit here I'm still not really nervous. I feel fine about the procedure. In a way, since I have read so much about it on the internet and other peoples stories, it makes me feel a little bit better. That there will be something helping me out, and that I am doing everything in my own power to keep these babies in for the long haul.

Honestly the hardest part right now is that since my surgery is not scheduled until 1:30pm (I have to be there by noon) I am dying for a drink. (water people... H2O.. not alcohol)
I am not allowed any food or water after 4:30 this morning and you know what it's like to be super thirsty and not be able to drink what is around you. I can get my mind off food but not water. It's killing me.. UGH!!!

Once I check in they will hook me up to an IV and myabe that will help but I doubt it.. part of it now is mind over matter. i want it and can't have it so I want it even more.

i am hoping my OR time doesn't get bumped. They said it's a chance if a lot of people come in having babies today. Well hopefully those babies can wait to be born tonight or tomorrow.. HA HA so i can get in and get out and get home and have WATER !!!!!!
Yes I know I am obsessing..

SO wish me luck, and I will fill you all in once I can get to the computer and blog again.
Til then
xoxo

April 19, 2007

2007-04-19T20:42:00.000-07:00

Sooo.. and the road once traveled is traveled once more.

People always say that pregnancy is such a joyous thing. You have a glow and it's just amazing. Well as amazing as it may be, I dont think they have ever driven the road Ive been on the last few years.

Our first pregnancy was in 2003, and as scary as it was, I was so excited to be a mom. I yelled it out to the world and told everyone who would listen. To only then have it shattered when I miscarried at 10 weeks.

Our second pregnancy was in 2005, and as excited as I was I was even more scared. We told a few people until I got past 10 weeks then once again I told everyone. What was the harm after 13 weeks I thought. We are now in our second trimester and what could go wrong. Famous last words.
I hit 20 weeks and went into full labor. Long story short, my son was born at 20 weeks, Charles Preston 06/23/05 15 ounces and 9 1/2 inches long, and although alive, soon passed due to immaturity. This was the biggest heart break and worst thing to ever happen to me in my life. I don't wish the loss of a child on anyone ever. It's just wrong. It took me a long time to get it together but I did the best I could.

In March or 2006 i found myself once again pregnant and this time I was too scared to be excited. I got a high risk specialist, did everything they told me, had ultrasounds every appointment and even started to see the doc every week once I hit 18 week. Then we passed 20 weeks and there was a bit of relief. However I knew from the past that this baby had to be at the very least 24 weeks for him to have a chance and even then it's a slim chance.
So we progressed along and I went in for my 24 week appt. Now finally a bit more relaxed since I thought in my head it's smooth sailing from here. (silly girl I was) Well the doc comes in we talk, she checks me and I'm 2 cm dialted.. WHAT!!! not again.

So I'm put on bed rest, no walkign , no sitting up, no nothing. Bed or couch, laying down on a perm basis and hanging out til this baby comes. We hoped for 6 weeks, we got 3 days.
Aiden Kristopher was born at 24 weeks, 3 days 06/11/06 1 pound 6 1/2 ounces and 12 1/2 inches long. He was so tiny to them but so big to me compared to Chase.

Aiden spent 150 days in the NICU and by the grace of god is here with us today. (if interested you can read more at www.aidenkristopher.blogspot.com )

Now it's 2007 and guess what.. Yeah you guessed it, we are pregnant again. Why else would I be blogging. And to our surprise it's TWINS! This came as a big shock cause we didn't expect that at all. Of course you joke about it but I never really thought there could be two babies in there until my 8 week appointment and the doc did an ultrasound. Umm yeah I saw two and said it before she could even confirm. I was in awe!

Our plan.. Besides being scared to my wits end, we are taking one day at a time.
I just had my 12 week appointment yesterday and both babies look fine and the heartbeats are strong.

Tomorrow we have a cerclage planned and that is a procedure they do in the OR to stitch your cervix. They are hoping this will keep me from going into pre term labor and dialating to early.

However here is the kicker that I struggle with. Yesterday at my appointment the doc gave me the option to have selective reduction. For those of you who don't know what this is, it is when they go in and "reduce" the number of babies you are carrying. Most common it is done with people who have 4, 5, or 6 in there.. Sometimes with triplets too.
In my case it was offered due to my history, it would give me a much better chance to have a full term healthy baby it I was to carry just one.

But how do you choose. How do you choose to abort one and keep one. Obviously I said no, and I know for some people that might sound selfish cause I am taking the chance away for one baby to have a healthy long pregnancy. But in my heart I just can't do it.

The struggle isn't the question of what I feel is right, it's the question of what is right, and who is to decide that. Am I being selfish? Am I putting both babies at risk because I choose not to take the life away from the other? In a sense, yes, I guess I am.

But if you were in my shoes and saw your babies on ultrasound, and knew as of right now they were both doing good. That this all happed naturally and in a sense is a amazing in it's own. How do you do it. How do you keep one and not both. How do you not give both the best chance you can give them?

I know the doctors study medicine and they try to give you all the best options. I know this option would give me the best chance to carry longer, but it's not with out risk either. There is a chance after the fact that you could miscarry the other baby and that is something else i could not live with.

So this is my story.. My walk down a long bumpy road.. One day at a time..