Constipation Continued... Poor Baby!!

In January at 4 1/2 months old, Charlotte started grunting when trying to poop. It was horrifying to watch her little face contort and go completely red! We laughed and tried to film it, not really realizing how constipated you were becoming.

As we went into the 5th month and went to Grandma Knapke's for Great Grandma Knapke's funeral, it was really, really bad. Uncle Tony taught us how to raise your legs to your chest to help you push it out. We rubbed your bloated belly to help you.

We had to start you on Miralax per doctor's instructions (1 teas. in 8 oz. formula) in late February because you had gone almost the entire month with only hard, dark milkdud-like turds, which worked like a charm. However, it was bad again this week. So bad that you pushed and pushed to no avail, but then when you did go, it was so big that it made you bleed down there, as I literally had to pull it out of you. So sad!!!

So, now we've cut out your night cereal alltogether and I give you 50% apple juice and 50% water (2 -4 oz) every other day. I try to cut out a fruit to make up for the extra calories you're getting, but the sugars in the fruit juice and the liquid really help. I pray this works for you. We added Miralax on Wednesday and you've gone pretty good, but if we stop, will you stay regular????

(Olivia did have the same problem earlier this month, but is better now with no assistance.)

Charlie trying to poo on 2/7

2 or 3 naps... what to do?

We are going on vacation next week and we think that you're ready for 2 naps, but we're not sure.... I think that some days you could do it, and the next you really need to go down at that 2 hour mark. Your schedule has been this for the last 2 months, with just a small increase in amount of food, resulting in this as of today: 

730: 7 oz bottle

830 am 2TB oatmeal and fruit

10-12 nap

12p: 6 oz bottle

2-3p: nap

3 pm: 6 oz bottle

5-6p: nap 

6pm: 1TB oatmeal with fruit and veggies

730 bath

800 8 oz bottle and bed

My bigger question is: how do I get in another feeding and get you to 2 naps??  Monday and Tuesday we did this: 

730: 7 oz bottle

830 am 2TB oatmeal and fruit

10-12 nap

12p: 7 oz bottle

3 pm: 7 oz bottle

3-5: nap (one day it was only until 430, so I gave you a small bottle and fed dinner at 6)

530: fruit and veggies (cut out cereal here due to constipation issues)

730 bath

800 8 oz bottle and bed

But then Wednesday we went back to 3 naps because you were absolute fussy bears at 2 pm... and then you only slept 30 minutes. And then 30 minutes again at 5 (Olivia) and only 5 minutes at 5pm (Charlotte). So... today I will try 2 naps again! The key will be to more than 1 activity between 12-3 wake time. If you get bored, you fuss bad and it grates on my nerves and I give in too easily. I think we'll go shopping after your noon bottle! 

And now it's time for your cereal.... 

I love you so much!

That's all... my heart is just swelling today with love. Nothing abnormal, but wanted to tell you.

Binky Ups and Downs

Ah, the beloved, and often hated, binky. Charlotte LOVES it, Olivia likes it A LOT. We've struggled terribly over whether or not to let you have it. We only let you have it when you go to sleep, so it is super at signaling bedtime. We wrap you up, give you a binky, and you go to sleep immediately. Mommy LOVES that.

However, when you wake in the middle of the night, we have to replace that binky to get you to go back to sleep. That was fine when it was once a night, but there are nights that I drag myself out of bed every 30 minutes from 3am - 7am, which is just brutal. Daddy wants to "sleep train" you so that you learn to just cry and soothe yourself without this sleep crutch. I think the occasional rough night is a small price to pay for the convenience of your bedtime simplicity.

I have committed the sin of putting a blanket next to your face so that then binky doesn't fall when you open your mouth. I have shoved it in your mouth when you won't stop moaning in your sleep. I have panicked in the middle of the night when I can't find it. I have had nightmares about taking it away.

My doctor and fellow twin mother explained to me that I don't have to take it away. She explained that eventually you will learn to replace it yourself. So, I've convinced your father to keep the binky as long as it is strictly used for bedtime only.

So Charlotte; now I watch you pull it out of your mouth and play with it. I know now that you will do that for a period of time until you drop it and can't reach it, you loudly pout, and then I simply replace it and you sleep. Easy. But there are times that you've literally spit it at me too. I've also seen you successfully p lace it back in your mouth, tilt your head back, and fall asleep. Tonight was my favorite: you played, replaced it and tilted your head for sleep. You were so sweet suckling away.... except it was upside down. I can't explain why, but my heart swelled. Someday you'll not need my help anymore, but for now, you still do and I love it.

Miss Olivia: You need your bink to go to sleep, but if you wake up, you don't usually need it to go back to sleep. Your crutch is your blankie. You pull that think around your head every single time. That's how we know you're going to sleep :) You're so funny when I walk in the room-- I think you're playing peek-a-boo with me! You fake that you don't see me, then you snap down the blanket and smile that big gummy (one-tooth) smile!

Anyway... we're keeping the binkies and the blankets!

Music!!!

I've been wanting to take you to a music class since I heard Aunt Lisa sing all those cute songs, but I just didn't know how to do it without help. Thankfully, Aunt Lisa arranged for us to go to Anthony's Little Birds class yesterday.  You loved it!!!! 

You even did great with me messing with your sleep schedule. You usually sleep 2 hours in the morning, but we woke you after just 20 minutes! The class and short nap wore you out, resulting in a 3 hour afternoon nap! I didn't care one bit about an off day -- it was worth it! We'll be joining one here in the spring. I think I can handle it now that you're sitting! YAY!

 Us with Aunt Rachel

Charlotte

Olivia

On the Road Again

We're visiting Aunt Lisa, Uncle Tony and cousin Anthony this weekend! We travel down to Ohio quite a bit-- this is our third trip in a month! This used to stress your mother out quite a bit, since you require us to bring half of the house with us where ever we go. The packing procedure has been perfected now and traveling to the DiRenzo's is easier since they half much of what you need. We left at 9 pm after your last bottle, and you slept the entire way. When we get where ever we're going, we simply lug the car seats to your pack and plays, carefully sack you up, give a binky and back to sleep you go. Such angels!

Now we can reap the rewards of a day of preparation-- 5 days with Mommy's family and a big break from our boring winter routine! 

These Long Winter Days

It's Monday again, and Daddy has left again for a business trip. (Deep sigh.) It's days like today that make me realize how lucky we are to have him at home most of the time. It makes me feel less isolated. We are in this house ALL the time because it's winter and you're still little and there's two of you, so I can't easily get you out of here. I swear that you get as bored as I do. 

Our schedule right now is so predictable, but I'm starting to wonder if it's time to switch it up--both for a new routine to get us out of a rut and because you're getting older and because I'd like you down to 2 naps for Florida. (It seems most sentences around here begin with "when we go to Florida..." We cannot stinkin' wait for warm weather, the ocean, long walks and Daddy and family around all the time!) 

7:30 or 8a: wake and bottle
9a: cereal and fruit
10a: nap
12p: bottle
2p: nap
3p: bottle
5p: nap
6p: veggies and fruits
7:30p: bath
8p: bottle
8:30p: bed

You rotate between belly time, jumper time, cartoons (though I hate it and feel like such a horrible mother when I turn it on), sitting up-- all with toys being switched in and out. It's a struggle every day to keep you entertained and help you develop while staying sane.  We're all on repeat, and it's really hard when we can't go anywhere. These 4 walls will be burned in your brain as much as mine. But despite our boredom- you're growing every day! It's like you're a different person today vs. last week. Amazing. Your smiles keep me going.  I look at you in awe, soak you up and know that even though this is so hard,  I will miss it someday. It's a time in my life that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world! 

So.... today I will research how to change to 2 naps. How do I get in 4 bottles and food? Do I drop a bottle and increase the ones you get? Do you sleep longer? How will I entertain you when you're getting tired? Should I just wait until you are clearly not tired after 2 hours of play to try this? When do I add more food? What baby food should I be making? How? Are you getting enough variety? When do finger foods start? 

What I do know is that I stressed so much on how to get you to sleep through the night. We kept changing things on you and stressing about getting you up to 6 oz bottles.... I don't need to do that again. You do what you want when you're ready. 

But still... should I try something new? 

(I will end here because I hear your breathing has changed from sleep to playing with your precious little hands. :) Love you!)

February Fun!

February is a time for birthday parties in our family! This weekend Grandma and Grandpa came to visit so that we could go to a friend's party on Saturday night. The weekend started with a night out to eat-- a rarity for us. It's Lent and Grandpa needs to eat healthy, so we took you out to Deadwood for some healthy grilled fish. When we go out to eat, we feed you on our laps or in your car seats while we wait for our food. While we wait, you play with toys. (The trick is to ask for the check WHILE we eat, because you get really tired of sitting by the time we get done eating.)

We went to the mall on Saturday-- Grandpa strolled you around as you gazed starstruck at all around you! You literally don't move when you have so much to soak in. (Mommy spent time shopping for herself for the first time since she lost all 65 lbs of her pregnancy weight.) After the craziness of the mall, you spent the entire evening with your grandparents-- a first for your parents. We had left you with sitters before, but not for the entirety of your evening and bedtime routine. You were angels again, and your parents had a very nice evening out! Thank you dear daughters! 

To round out the weekend, we went to Vinny's for his 8th birthday party! This turned out to be a little bit of a disaster, as you fell asleep in the last 10 minutes of a 40 minute drive and didn't sleep the rest of the day. But we got to see Aunt Gina, Uncle Matt, your cousins & Uncle Michael. It was the first you slept in the car seats not in the car-- so tired! 

Such a great weekend! 

Half a YEAR!

You're 6 months old today!!! Half a year... wow.

Charlotte & Olivia

Charlotte & Olivia

It's as if you know you're older, because you're suddenly different children altogether. You just seem 'older' as you look around for anything and everything to pick up and chew on. Charlotte: You are laughing and squealing all the time, and even lean to get things from my hands to your mouth. Olivia: you watch everything. Everything. You're just so studious and inquisitive. I can carry you both around on my hip now like such big girls! You're growing every single day, and it just amazes me how quickly it's happening.

Happy Valentine's Day!

       

My little Valentines

6 Month Well Visit

Back to Dr. Howard we went:

Charlotte: 19 lbs. 10 oz., 28.5 inches long, head circumference of 44 cm.
Olivia: 16 lbs. 9 oz., 28.5 inches long, head circumference of 45.5 cm.

Needless to say, Miss Charlotte, you're a bigger baby, even though we feed you the same amount! Dr. Howard says you're perfect though, at 95th percentile for your weight and 99th for your height, you are very proportional!

And Miss Olivia, you're a bobblehead! And a perfect one too, coming in at 50th percentile for your weight, but 100th on height and head size.

You lucked out and missed out on vaccinations today. Doc wouldn't give you a flu shot until Friday, and Mommy and Daddy gave you Advil before he came in the room. When he heard that, he said the absorption rate is lower with pain meds administered prior to shots, so we have to go back. Ugh. Mommy hates that. Oh well... you seem to like to get out of the house, so on another adventure we will go...

However.... this may mean sleep training?!?!? by daddy tonight when Mommy leaves to go out with her girlfriends. There's no excuse now! :(

A Whole New Ballgame.. Mobility.

Charlotte suddenly and finally mastered rolling over from her belly to her back. You llleeeaaaan your head over, and then flip! :) Now we can't keep you on your belly! 

And sweet Olivia: You kick so hard and fast and push up so tall, but you haven't rolled over since your 5 month birthday. However, you're getting places by pushing with those strong legs of yours. :) 

Someone once told me that the first year was easy.  I looked at her in disbelief, wondering how anything could be harder than learning how to care for 2 tiny little babies that ate and ate and ate. Today, I get it. You're too heavy to carry together now (though I still do it some days), so I have to take one of you upstairs, then the other. But that requires leaving each of you alone for a few moments. If you're mobile..... and I leave you.... oh wow. That's a whole new ballgame. I suddenly get it. And I have a renewed and fevered interest in house hunting.

Her Smile Makes the World Go Round

Charlotte's smile is infectious! She is our happy baby, for sure. She smiles even when she's sick, when she's tired, and almost every time you look at her. She smiles for Mickey Mouse, she smiles for Olivia, she smiles for her Mommy and Daddy especially. She smiles from the inside out. She smiles with her eyes and her nose and her shoulders and her hands and her beautiful mouth. I seriously think that smile could make the world go round.

(Her first smile at Mommy was in October 5th, 2012 and accidentally captured on her phone.)

Jump! Jump! Jump!

We've learned to Jump! Jump! Jump! Mommy is so excited that she has something new for you to do! I have to be careful though- it's all you guys want to do. I guess this starts learning how to take turns!

Olivia started on 1/22 at Aunt Rachel's, Charlotte started today! I think she took longer because Olivia was always the one hanging in it. Charlotte always sat in the ExerSaucer (because she fit in it). 

4 Eyes and 4 Ears Everywhere

Lately I've been concerned about giving each of you enough attention. There are 4 eyes and 4 ears on everything that I do. If I'm singing to one of you, the other is always watching and listening. Does that make you sad? I try so hard to take turns with you. 

I worry that if I pick up Charlotte first, Olivia will be sad or feel abandoned. I worry if I look at Olivia when I say peekaboo, Charlotte will be sad or feel less loved. If I feed you in the morning, then Daddy makes sure to feed you at night. If I got Charlotte out of bed first, then I try to make sure I get Olivia up first the next day. If I sing a song to one baby, I have to sing it to the other. I even switch eyes during Old MacDonald from one of you to the other: "With a Moo Moo" to Olivia "and a Moo Moo" to Charlotte. It's exhausting and no matter how hard that I try, I feel like one day one of you always gets more of my attention that the other. 

So I'm left wondering: Does Olivia lay in her bed playing silently so well because she's so used to me getting Charlotte first? Or do I pick up Charlotte first because Olivia is playing so happily on her own?  Does Charlotte not like my songs as much because I tend to look at Olivia more during them or do I look at Olivia more because she enjoys them more than Charlotte? 

It's exhausting to worry about, but I still try my best every single day. I love you both, and I love you each as individuals and I never want you to feel any differently. More importantly, I don't want either of you to be shaped in any way (negatively) by something I did or didn't do for you vs. your sister. 

At the end of the day, one of the things that will shape your personality is the fact that you're a twin. But I'm very aware that how I treat you is also something that will shape you. I'm doing my best! 

Our Little Songbird Olivia

I knew early on that you enjoyed music. There were many times you were only comforted by me playing or singing the song "Without You" by Keith Urban. It was immediate silence and intent listening from you. It amazed me! This continued as you grew with every song you heard: "Open Shut Them,", "Old MacDonald," "Hot Diggity Dog!" Then one day, around 5 months old, I realized you were singing! You had been babbling, but this was different. When I sang back, you stopped, smiled the biggest gummy smile I'd ever seen, then started again. I kept repeating your tune, which delighted you equally each time. It was such a thrill to feel like I had communicated with you! 

I still smile every time I hear your beautiful, out-of-tune melodies-- especially when they melt through the monitor when you think no one is listening. (And why it's so fun to surprise you in your crib to interrupt!) Charlotte must love it too, because she dreams right through it. :)