ALL CAPS FOR ONE HANDED TYPING.
KARI WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE, MOSTLY JUST TO GET OUT I THINK. I HAD THE BRILLIANT IDEA TO OPEN THE BOXES AND SORT THE PIECES OF THE JUNGLE GYM, WHILE SUPERVISING FOUR KIDS. I KNEW IT WAS A BAD IDEA, BUT I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF. I THINK THE BEHAVIOR IS AKIN TO BEING UNABLE TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS OR ASSEMBLING TOYS ON CHRISTMAS MORNING WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A GLANCE AT THE INSTRUCTIONS.
IT STARTED OUT WELL ENOUGH. I MOVED THE TWINS OUT BACK IN THEIR SCOOTER CHAIRS. YOU KNOW THE KIND WITH THE WHEELS AND THE SEAT THAT JUST LETS THEIR TOES TOUCH THE GROUND. SO FAR SO GOOD. I FIGURED THAT THE CHANGE OF SCENERY WOULD KEEP THEM OCCUPIED AND IT DID, FOR AWHILE.
OBVIOUSLY RYLEE AND REAGAN JOINED US SO THAT I COULD KEEP AN EYE ON THEM. I DO KNOW BETTER THAN TO LEAVE THEM UNSUPERVISED, EVEN FOR A MOMENT. THE BIG GIRLS ARE ALWAYS UP FOR GOING OUT SIDE. RYLEE WAS EVEN MORE INTERESTED (Kari just got home) when I told her that we were going to open the boxes.
Things were going pretty good for about 5 minutes. I opened the first box and found the directions. I was searching for the inventory. When I looked up I noticed that Reagan had removed several items from the box so I put them on the table and returned to the inventory list. Then Jordan began to cry, so I paused to pacify her. Now Reagan had moved several pieces from the box to soak them in her water table. As I was fishing those items out of the water she was making an other trip to the box. Now Rylee is helping her and Madi is crying. Have you ever attempted to herd cats?
At about this point all the wheels came off my plan and I spent several minutes with a wailing infant in one arm, making funny faces at the infant in her walker, and using the other arm to secure loose pieces of the, as yet unassembled, jungle gym and corral two toddlers. I was forced to retreat indoors witch did not please the big girls at all and they let it be known.
This is not a one man job.
We were a little amused listening to a woman in the waiting room at the doctor's office. She was patiently explaining to her 4 year old that she would have to be very good and listen closely when they got to were they were going because it was only going to be Mommy watching "BOTH" kids. (What a sissy.)
Yep we went back to the doctor again. I feel like that office is my second home. We better get a Christmas card from them, with all the business we have been providing. The twins got some more shots and the doctor discussed their continuing reflux issues with us. Our biggest question was "Is this as good as it is going to get?" "Are we ever going to have zero symptoms of reflux?" The answer was a little vague. We should be able to make them relatively pain free, but there are still going to be symptoms. We were thinking that if we knew that this was as good as it gets, it would be easier to deal with, easier to accept.
The doctor consulted with the specialist and called us shortly after we got home. The medication he says, is already at the maximum dosage that he would be comfortable with, but maybe they have a milk allergy "Why don't you try soy based formula and thicken all of the bottles with rice?" Ok, we have tried soy before but decided to give it another go.
Upon reflection, given the results of our attempt to change their diet, we would have tried soy first, then the rice. It did not go well. The twins are difficult to feed at the best of times. The combination soy rice mix resulted in gagging and screaming and for the rest of the day they would scream at the mere sight of the bottle. I think we may have traumatized them.
From 4 p.m till 9 p.m. we had at least two kids crying at any one time. You would think that you could put up with almost anything for six hours, but that will dive you crazy. We were feeling a little desperate by nine. It is really a helpless feeling having your kids in pain and not being able to do anything about it. Kari spent hours and several bottles of soy formula trying to find a consistency that the girls would eat. It really did get to the point that I was terrified to try to feed them again for fear of making it worse.
After nine I think they just wore themselves out. We finally got some of the old formula down their necks and they passed out for a little while. It was a long day. And we were/are about as tired as I can remember being.
Madi only woke up once and went right back to sleep after a bottle and Jordan slept all night. So that was a blessing. I don't think I could have done an all-nighter. Today they seem happier, but have not eaten much. We plan to try one more bottle of soy this afternoon to see if that works.
The play gym project is still looming over my head. I got all the boxes moved to the back yard, but have not had the courage to open them yet. We have had two days of rain which has also hampered the construction effort.
Kari is back from the doctor and the results are, as the title of this post reflects, inconclusive. The doctor says that she may have polyps or it could be a/several cysts. They took some blood to check her thyroid and hormone levels. She is scheduled for a sonogram on the 21st that should tell us more.
As Kari mentioned we just spent part of our tax refund on a play gym for the girls. The prices of these things seem a little outrageous to me, but I like to think of it as an investment in our sanity. The girls love to play on swings and slides, so if we have one here at the house where they can burn off some energy while we can still get things done around here, that is a good thing.
Construction will likely start tomorrow. I even roped my good friend Jay Bason into helping out. Unfortunately, his schedule doesn't coincide with mine. That is the trouble with associating with pilots.
I just uploaded some more photos of Rea. You would think that she has a 50/50 shot of getting her shoes on the right feet, but she never does. I wonder if she puts them on the wrong feet on purpose.
The potty training continues with Rylee. It seems like maybe she has regressed a little (there have been some "uh ohs"), but I guess that happens. Overall she is doing pretty well. Kari even got her to use the public toilet at Sam's without protest. We have been encouraging Rea to use the potty also, but have not really gone out of our way, just encouraging her when she does it on her own. It is pretty overwhelming trying to take care of the infants and deal with the potty training of just Rylee.
I have come down with a cold again and I am hoping that I don't infect anyone else. It seems like I have been sick more that well since the twins came home. I think all the red eye flights from last month have caught up with me. I honestly don't know how it can be legal to do all those red eyes back to back. The FAA seems to be so strict on all the other flight time limitations, but nothing seems as dangerous to me as five days in a row of red eye flights. Maybe some people have better luck adjusting their bodies to staying up all night, but I am a wreck at the end of day 5.
Kari is at the doctor right now. She says that the pain is better than it was, but I am still glad that she is getting checked out. She should be calling me anytime to let me know what the doctor has found.
Well, it has been a bumpy road, but it seems to be getting a little easier. I am feeling pretty up beat about the whole situation. It should be interesting to see how we do when Hilda leaves in two weeks. As much as it has stressed us out to have so many people in the house, I can not discount how much help she has been.
I'm not sure if Mark told yall, but we have an appointment with the best GI specialist around. Okay, it is for late June, but our pedi ( we changed) will try to get sooner. He wrote the book called Colic Solved. If you have ever suspected "Colic" or have dealt with reflux, please read his book. You won't feel alone, and get verification as a parent with screaming infants, and also get advise on methods to take. We are going to the girls 9 month appointment, shots and all, but also to re-evaluate the reflux meds we are doing. It has honestly been a crap shoot lately and mixed blessings - they have gotten separation anxiety. I have to sneak to go to the bathroom and only momma can feed them and get a good ounce result. I lost Rylee and Reagan to Daddy about the time I got pregnant again. Don't worry Grandmom, I still got the twins attention! No pregnancy in sight! Or wanted!
I still think they are having issues, but not necessarily reflux . I think some of it is consistency in feedings. I have technically five people feeding them at any given time. of course none of us do it the same. Although, I have researched my many logs of feeding and come to the conclusion that I need to feed the girls. Great for them, bad for me. That feed that someone else does may mean a shower for me or a catnap. Gone!
It's mixed, because I absolutely love that two of my girls "need me", but then again I am pasty white and need a tan! Ha! Ha!
I have also been having some problems of my own internally, but I have the great Gyno appt tomorrow. So we shall see. Yes, Momma, I will call you!
Bottom Line if you have an infant that seems miserable and your doctor says colic, let that be a sign. Colic is a word for I don't know. And most "colic" cases are some how related to reflux or allergy.
Oh, and if someone knows how I can get insurance to pay for hypoallergenic formula which costs us about $450 x 2 a month please advise!
Mark has developed a cold, and must wear a mask when he comes home....yeah. That's natural and easy!.
I hope I'm not calling you out, but I hear a very good friend Jay is coming to help put together momma's sanity aka play gym. Yes that was our small percent refund play money! We chose the kids this year, and I really think it will benefit me more that they may enjoy it! It has been very hard not to tell Rylee and Reagan. I'm very excited for them, but they don't understand that it may take a few days to install.
I have alot to do, to get organized, and my sweet nanny will be leaving in about two weeks. It is a mixed emotion. On one hand I have had someone here for a whole year in May - You know you can't run around naked or pick your nose, or stay in your pajamas for a week. On the other hand I truly love her as do my girls and well its going to be bitter sweet.
Sweetheart, I think of you every day. Unfortunately I lost your mailing address. I have a very belated birthday card and a letter for you. Please note that the birthday card was on time, but then I searched desperately for your address. I love you and talk to all the girls about Aunt Bekah, Aunt Amy, Uncle Josh, and Uncle Aaron.
I want you to know I have become very involved in aromatherapy and it works. I have a great formula for de-stressing the girls and even helping my back. I'm still learning, But Grandmom Donna has suggested I post formulas that are working for my family. I will do that and am open to the formulas you are learning. Email me, my address is at the top right side. I love sis, and I thank you for the great help you were while I was on bedrest.
Hugs for you!
It was so great to see you Beth! I have missed you so much! Can't wait to plan a dinner or drinks with you.
And to all you other Express chicks, you know who you are, don't be shy!
I don't need a mom group to talk about spit up, reflux, or sing Itsy Bitsy Spider. I need a woman group to gossip about movie stars, teach me how to play bunco, nag about our motherhood bodies, listen to good music, just hang out for sanity sake!
Love ya!
P.S. I added my email at the top right hand side of this page.