Growth Check ...project weight gain continues!

We went on Black Friday of all days to a pedi appointment for a growth check of the boys. Because of Synagis season, the boys have to be weighed every time they get their shots because the medicine is mixed specifically to their weight. Please see prior posts from last year freaking out about their weight gain or lack thereof between the months of Nov-April because of this very reason.

So our appointment went well, I won't post their height because I know it was wrong, they got Summy as being taller even though Jack is, and Summy still has a great big old monster melon, but what's new? However, Jack...

CROSSED OVER AND WEIGHS 20 POUNDS!

The child has literally NO buns whatsoever, he sits down and the floor cries because his bones are poking it, but I digress. He weighs 20 pounds people! I am so stinkin' happy! He actually pooped tonight and I told David he's probably back under, but I had a few moments to bask in the glory...

Summy weighed 21 lbs 15 oz.

She was VERY happy with their weight...even though they are both below the chart on weight, (Summy is soooo close!) they are both following a lovely curve, which is the important part.

Jack's ear infection wasn't any better, so we were on to antibiotics, round 2.

Do I smell funny?

I can't believe no one commented on Summy saying "pumpkin pie" in the video below...do I smell funny?

Pumpkin Pie!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a lovely time at my Papaw's house tonight for a Thanksgiving dinner that is always fabulous. Summy not only greeted Papaw (his great-grandfather) with "Hi Papaw!" but found he really liked "pumpkin pie" both boys said the food was "deeee-licious!"

My brother in law took some great video of Summy saying "pumpkin pie" eleventy billion times in a row, look for that soon!

I am thankful for so many things. David had just uploaded an album of the boys from the NICU. I am so thankful to have healthy, funny, wonderful boys. I am so thankful for friends and family. I am so thankful for all of you out there who care for us.

Happy Thanksgiving from us to you!

Technical Help

I need technical help from my fellow bloggers. I am trying to figure out how to add the blogroll to the sidebar that shows the blogs I read as they are updated. Any one know how to do this?

Also, my links never seem to show up. Anyone have ideas why this is happening?

I've been checking my google analytics, and 70% of my visits are from referrals from other blogs. That is awesome! Thanks to all who read and have a link to my blog. If your blog isn't linked in the left, and I have missed you, can you comment and let me know?

We're continuing our sickness. We all 4 have the same "cold." David and the boys all have ear infections and have been on antibiotics, which have helped immensely. The boys are really almost back to all better.

Mine has gone into tonsillitis. Strangely, I had my upper tonsils removed at age 5, but there's a lower set called the lingual tonsils. One became infected when I was a senior in college and they removed it surgically. It's kind of a rare operation. The worry now is that the other one is infected. Please send me good thoughts...they wanted me in to the hospital today but I got meds to hopefully tide me over until the ENT can see me Monday or Tuesday. I'll let you know what they find.

The boys had their first Synagis shot today, finally! This year we have a home nurse administering it and it is much easier. Jack weighed 19 lbs 8 oz, and Summy weighed 21 lbs 12 oz.

Tagged!

I've been tagged! The lovely Miss Sarah over at http://blueladybug77.blogspot.com/ tagged me. I feel really bad because I was tagged once before and couldn't figure out how the heck to do it! (Sorry Elyse!!)

Rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you. - Sara
2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about you. - see below
3. Tag 7 random people at the end, and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.

7 random facts about me:

-I play 18 instruments
-I started school at age 4
-I used to be ambidextrous
-I love cats. We have 3
-I am afraid of heights
-Like Sara, I also LOVE ebay (I am an addict) and I am a haggler. (I love nothing more than haggling for a car)
-I am thinking about getting my PhD, and have been actively researching schools

I am tagging:
-Danica http://danicalynn.blogspot.com/
-Simi http://playingdagamewell.blogspot.com/
-Amanda http://lifewithoutdragons.blogspot.com/
-Kathy http://bustedbabymaker.blogspot.com/
-Alana http://alana-isms.blogspot.com/
-Julie http://47andstartingover.blogspot.com/

and Sara http://mommyoftwinsinwaiting.blogspot.com/

21 months!

Last nursing session and 21 months old

Well, it is officially over. I never once thought when I found out that I was pregnant with twins that breastfeeding would be for me. If you look back to earlier posts in the blog, you'll find I really wasn't on board with the whole breastfeeding thing...I didn't know how it would work for me, if it would work for me, or what I even really thought of the concept.

During the pregnancy, I read many books about breastfeeding and they came across very judgy to me. I didn't need to be preached to about "breast is best" and most of what I read seemed very fanatical and narrow minded. Lots of women can't breastfeed. Some of them don't even want to try, which is totally understandable. Formula is certainly not poison! I dubiously thought that I would give it a try myself and see what all the hype was about.

Fast forward to the delivery. Obviously it didn't go how I intended. With the boys in the NICU, pumping became essential. Our neonatologist was very pro-breastmilk and so as soon as I woke up I asked for a pump. I can remember the nurses telling me I should just rest, but I was determined to build supply. Hell, I was determined to feel a connection to babies I didn't see for over 48 hours postpartum. In some ways, breastfeeding saved me from losing my mind in those early days because it felt like the only bond I had with them.

The hospital stay was rough. I overproduced, and pumped a quart of milk in one sitting. The nurses called me a cow which in my fragile emotional state practically sent me over the edge. I persevered, and practically filled the entire NICU fridge and freezer.

When I got home, my body was shot. The delivery had put such a strain on my body that I began to get very sick. A tiny cold had me feverish. I dropped 50 pounds in a matter of 6 weeks. I got thrush. Mastitis 4 times over the course of us nursing. I still pumped religiously. We had to use nipple shields the first 4 months and upon discharge, they could only breastfeed half the time because it tired them out so much. Jack had tons of feeding issues and reflux. We persevered.

Throughout the course of breastfeeding the boys, things got easier, then harder, then easier again. Sumner had two nursing strikes. I went back to work full time for good a 6 months postpartum and my supply took a hit, but I continued to pump at school. Jack went through a biting phase. I had to throw away thousands of ounces because of the heavy medications I had been on. (It wasn't viable to be donated)

But looking back, it was worth every freaking minute. I returned my pump in June, vowing not to pump this school year. I cried: it was like a friend, we had a love/hate relationship. Summy weaned himself around 18 months when the boys started daycare this fall. But Jack kept on.

I knew it was ending a few weeks ago. Jack was sometimes reluctant, was down to once a day anyway, and I had decided 2 years old would be my cutoff. Monday morning was beautiful, relaxing, and I knew in my heart it would be the last time. Sure enough, Tuesday he was done, looking at me with wide eyes that morning and saying "no."

I'm happy to have my body back, but sad that these boys have gotten so big so fast. Where has time gone? How are they 21 months old today?

During these 21 months I because a milk donor, I nursed Summy to 18 months and Jack to 21, but most of all I became a superwoman to myself. I never thought I could do it, and I am so proud of myself that I did.

Doing something we shouldn't be...

Sick Day

Jack had been sick this weekend, and though he went to daycare and was *fine,* he just wasn't himself. So we decided to keep him home from daycare yesterday. David stayed home with the boys and had a lovely day with them. By the evening, we noticed Summy had a fever.

Today Summy was clearly sick, so I stayed home with them. I've been feeling slightly under the weather too: really tired, and my throat hurts a little. Here's a picture from today. I'm pretty sure Jack's milking it now slightly, as it is pretty obvious he is feeling better.

Jack update

After freaking that my child looked emaciated, and after crying thoroughly about it, David and I each re-weighed Jack. David got 19.6 lbs and I got 19.8.

I am feeling *slightly* better.

Preemie Woes

I decided, just for fun...you know, like the fun of causing yourself high anxiety...to throw Jack on the scale the other night. Granted, he wouldn't sit still so it was hard to tell, but it appeared to me that he did not yet weight 19 pounds. I've prided myself on being very low key about his weight gain in recent time, (see old posts to understand our weight gain issues, particularly months 6-8) and now I am starting to feel old mister worry creeping back in to the pit of my stomach. We go for a growth (read:weight) followup at the pediatrician the day after Thanksgiving. I am worried, I won't lie.

Also, we have been struggling with the boys physical therapist. After much deliberation, we have decided to ask she be removed from our case and we be reassigned. I feel terribly because I can't tell if it is miscommunication, or misunderstanding, or what. But I can tell you that yesterday was only the second time she had been out for a visit since the boys started daycare on August 20th. And that, my friends, is not enough. Especially considering the concern we have had over late walking and balance issues...

Ah, the joys of preemiedom! Sometimes I feel bad because I wonder if my kids aren't the only ones who haven't totally "caught up."