Caden's ears.

If you have a child with special needs, you soon come to realize that there is that "thing" that becomes the "thing" that's terribly frustrating. For Caden, medically speaking, that is ear infections. He is home again from school, day 2 now, with a high fever and lethargy. Most likely cause? Ears. And this is the 2nd round of it in as many weeks.

And I'm also annoyed at his ENT. I called them first to see if he could be seen instead of asking his regular doc to see him again. "It's too difficult to tell from your description if it's ears or not - but let us know if it IS his ears because we'll want to see him." ARGH! I truly DO know my son well enough to tell you what's going on but nope, they couldn't see us. So our regular dr (God bless that man) just called in a prescription for us and Caden seems better today.

In other news, I am 27 weeks today. Still feeling good, nesting like a CRAZY woman. Today I cleaned out the closet off the laundry room, cleaned the pantry (didn't organize yet, just cleaned it), sorted through all the craziness we call Tupperware (anyone need some onion holders? I am so a minced-from-the-jar kind of cooker) and cleaned out the cabinet where we put all the small appliances. Felt good, too! Avery and James spent the morning at preschool together - it was Ave's snack day and they had a good time.

A funny for your mid-week.

Hats off to my dear friend Mindi, the one girl who always knows what she sends into my email inbox will literally make me Laugh Out Loud!! This gem came from her:


Loving Couple -

A couple was celebrating their golden wedding anniversary on the beaches in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Their domestic Tranquility had long been the talk of the town. People would say, “What a peaceful & loving couple.” The Local newspaper reporter was inquiring as to the secret of their long and happy marriage.
The Husband replied: “Well, it dates back to our Honeymoon in America,” explained the man. “We visited the Grand Canyon, in Arizona , and took a trip down To the bottom of the canyon, by horse. We hadn't gone too far when my wife's horse stumbled and she almost fell off. My wife looked down at the horse and quietly said, 'That's once.' We proceeded a little further and her horse stumbled again. Again my wife quietly said, 'That's twice.' We hadn't gone a half mile when the horse stumbled for the third time my Wife quietly removed a revolver from her purse and shot the horse dead.”
I SHOUTED at her, '”What's wrong with you, woman!?!”
“Why did you shoot the poor animal like that, are you frickin crazy?”
She looked at me, and quietly said, “That's once.”
“And from that moment on.... We have lived happily ever After.”

God never ceases to amaze me.

Had my regular 4 week appointment with the perinatologist this morning - mostly a fetal growth ultrasound. These little girls - verified girls once again - are doing PERFECTLY. They are active (baby B is quite a bit more rowdy than baby A) and they look wonderful. They are measuring just 2oz different from each other, which means they are both growing at nearly identical rates. Baby B is slightly bigger at 1lb 15oz and baby A is weighing in at 1lb 13oz. The level of fluid surrounding them looks good as well. I had tears in my eyes, I am just so thankful for God continually showing me that He is in control and He has a perfect plan for these double surprises. The perinatologist came in and literally spent about 30 seconds with me - "everything looks wonderful, your risk of twin-to-twin transfusion is nearly gone at this point, though we'll still watch carefully for that, keep on doing well and I'll see you in another 4 weeks." Hallelujah! So I've moved on to every 2 weeks with my regular doctor (mostly to keep good tabs on my blood pressure and thinks like that) and will have another growth ultrasound in 4 weeks.

In other news, please welcome little James (RTS) and his family to my blogroll! Head on over and visit his blog and tell me he doesn't look just like our Caden!

Had another appt on Friday

Things seem pretty normal I guess. We were able to find both heartbeats (this was just an appt with my regular dr, not with the perinatologist for an ultrasound and more in-depth look) and heard a lot of movement as well. I asked my dr if it was common to be more anxious when pregnant with twins about all the possibilities of things that might go wrong and he reassured me that it was more common. I felt better about that, but I am truly trying to give it to God and not fret about things - easier said than done! Anyway, I have been measuring about 2-3 weeks ahead but on Friday I measured 5 weeks ahead...and off I went in my head, thinking that must mean there's too much amniotic fluid for one twin (meaning twin to twin transfusion), etc. We'll see on Wed morning when I have my ultrasound, but I could use prayers that everything is just fine. I also had my glucose test Friday morning and passed with flying colors, although I am anemic and need to take an iron tablet daily. I can do that!

Things around the house are interesting. I have been nesting quite a bit and want to get to a place where I have nothing to do at night because I am *that* caught up. I know, I will give you a moment to stop laughing. However, several of my friends have been doing this lately and say it's so freeing. I can only imagine!! James has been a peach about pitching in lately and that is such a huge help to me, especially on those days when I am extra tired or extra grumpy, lol.

Caden is recovering nicely from his ear infection. I need to make an appt with his ENT to have his ears checked again, but sometimes I just don't FEEL like making more appts (and you RTS mommas know what I am talking about there). He went back to school on Friday and they said he did great, even went swimming with his special ed class. He's back to his usual self, antagonizing Avery at every turn. It's nice to have him back. (kinda??)

Avery is...something. We're not sure what is going on specifically, and maybe it's normal 4yo stuff, but she is a crybaby and she is DEFIANT lately. When things don't go her way we get 20 minutes of full-out sobbing about life in general. We get sass when the answer to her request is "no" - and then more crying. To be perfectly honest, it has spiraled downhill since we have been preparing for the twins. Everyone tells me "Oh, she'll be such a big help" but I gotta tell you, she might be my biggest challenge! It's such a fine line between letting her have her way so she's happy and laying down the law because she can't always have her way. I guess it's about choosing your battles, but sometimes I wonder why everything HAS to be a battle in the first place!

Declan is crawling. It's slow, but it's OH so cute. He started last week sometime in pursuit of a much desired sippy cup. It was worth the 15 month wait! He's also been half-standing near things lately so he's just sort of taken off all at once. He adores getting into cupboards and I let him - he is entertained and James can pick it up later, hee hee. He went through a spell there where he was pretty difficult, but I think it had more to do with not being able to motate and always seeing the same scenery. That's not an issue now!

Caden's got a bad ear infection.

Something hasn't been right since Sunday or so. They've been saying at school that he is very disagreeable to doing things, which isn't usual. Then last night he was awake until 9:30 crying and finally passed out on James' lap in front of 24 (I know, such good viewing for a 6 year old, sometimes that non-verbal stuff pays off). He was then up during the night sobbing. I sent him to school and he was agreeable about it, but I called after picking Avery up from preschool at 11:30 and was told that he wasn't himself at all and had been laying on a special person's lap for the past 45 minutes. Time for a call to the dr and to pick him up from school. Turns out, it's a nasty ear infection (and both ear tubes are out, oh joy, I think now we'll be going to tube set #4) causing him to be so sick, poor boy! I have had to carry him for most of the day, and at 45 pounds and me "great with child(ren)" that is no easy task. So he stays home tomorrow, and I had plans to get things done that I have been neglecting but such is the life. Can anyone run to Wal-Mart for me in the morning?? :)

Kristen's blog address:

If you'd like to follow Kristen and her identical twins, feel free to visit her blog at www.rockyrieman.blogspot.com (and can anyone tell me how to make that a clickable link????). Keep praying for them please!!

I haven't forgotten about you, blog...

I have just been busy with everything and nothing, all at the same time. You know how that goes? You don't have anything on the calendar, yet your days are full of "stuff." Add that to the fact that I have been nesting like a crazy-momma and we keep busy around here!

I finally talked Caden and Avery into watching The Polar Express and I am getting a few minutes' peace. Declan is napping, bless him. He's always been a very good napper, I'm glad of it and I hope it continues for YEARS, lol.

Twins are doing well. My blood pressure has risen a bit, and I have more protein and ketones in my urine than I should AND I've been losing weight. I had to go into the clinic twice this week to have that all checked, but for now we're just keeping an eye on things and I go for my next regular appt a week from today. I'll be glad to have my next ultrasound as well, just to check on them and see how they're doing. I don't feel a TON of movement, actually not more than I did with any of my first 3 singleton pregnancies, so at times it's easy to worry that something might be wrong. There's just lots of unknowns with a twin pregnancy I guess, and sometimes that's disconcerting, to say the least.

Please keep my friend Kristen in your thoughts and prayers. We met via searches on the internet - she lives in Wyoming and is also pregnant with twins (identical). Right now she has traveled over 7 hours to go to Salt Lake City because her twins are in the beginning stages of Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome. Keep praying that they will be able to help the twins grow strong and healthy!!!!