The Saturday of mother's day weekend it was beautiful weather. In the morning, we made the trip into Boston with the boys to try to go to the March of Dimes walk/event. We wanted to visit the BWH tent. Some of the NICU nurses were going to be there and we thought it would just be good to get out with the boys. However, there was NO PARKING ANYWHERE! The garages were full....We ended up just leaving without ever getting out of the car. Carlos wanted ice cream so we went to Belmont center to Ranc's. Carlos also bought me a Pandora bracelet and two charms in one of the stores there. It was a really nice present--I'll enjoy collecting meaningful charms to put on it. After that, we went home so Carlos could cook green mole, rice, and salsa because Saturday night we had another visit from our two favorite NICU nurses, Marcy and Judy. God, we love those two women. It makes my entire month when I see them. They are coming to the baptism so hopefully everyone will get to meet them. We had a lovely evening with them, and I'll miss them every day until we see them again.
Unfortunately, I got pretty drunk off the margaritas that I made for us. It was the first time I had made this Food Network recipe for margaritas, and they were VERY heavy on the tequila. I haven't had a margarita in months, and I think I'm also used to the watered-down restaurant versions. I had one and maybe a few sips of another plus a beer, and I was so drunk I couldn't stand up by the time they left! I hadn't realized I was so bad until I tried to climb the stairs back into the house after I walked them out. I collapsed in bed. Carlos did the 11pm feed by himself and left me alone (thank God), and I STILL felt drunk at 7am when it was time to feed the boys again. Again, thank God, he saved my butt and fed the boys. I don't think I've ever woken up feeling as drunk as when I went to sleep. Anyway, I'm too old for this business. I'll be staying away from tequila for a while. And that was how I spent the morning of my first mother's day. Fun! Marcy called me a baby...she's right!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
First Daycare Trial...
Today was the boys' first day of school--sort of. They start full time on June 1, but the daycare owner Sonia has them going a few times for a few hours before their official start day to ease them into things and also give the teachers a chance to get to know them. I think this is a really great idea, and I'm grateful that Sonia does this.
Today they went from 9:00-11:30. I dropped them off with their supplies: play yard sheets, bibs, bottles, extra clothes, diapers and wipes, and blankets. On my way in, a father was dropping off his (older) son, and I talked to him about the center. I asked him how long his son had been going to this place, and he said since he was an infant. He raved about Sonia and the place in general. I felt better since it was completely unrehearsed and spur of the moment.
I left two happy boys with the teachers and took off. No tears from me. I guess because this was to be a short visit. I also have to admit that I think having to leave them in the NICU has something to do with it. It's not as hard for me, maybe, as it might be for other mothers to leave them in the care of someone else. I only wish it were Marcy and Judy I were leaving them with!!! I wouldn't think twice about it.
They had set me up with camera access so I could watch them the whole time if I wanted. I didn't watch all 2.5 hours, but I probably watched over an hour. They did a good job of moving the infants around every so often to different positions with different stimuli to play with and see. I think my two boys are the youngest in the infant room--or at least they were today--because they were the only ones not yet sitting on their own. Yet they still got a good deal of play time and were held by the teachers the appropriate amount of time. The only bad thing about the day was that neither boy was able to nap. They just weren't having it. They still aren't quite trained to sleep unswaddled yet (we are one day 2 of both arms out of the sleep sack, but they are still swaddled around the mid section). Plus, it's very bright and noisy in there. If they had gone directly from the NICU to daycare, they probably would have adjusted quite easily! I had my hands full to teach them night and day after the NICU. But they will learn to sleep there eventually I guess.
The poor things napped for me when we got home, although a bit fitfully they were so overtired. We also took a nice long walk and they slept in the stroller this afternoon. But they were fast asleep by 7:20 and they normally go to bed at 7:45 or 8:00pm. I think we'll end up giving them an earlier bedtime once they are in daycare to make up for lost napping hours. Right now on a good day for me at home the boys can sleep 4-5 hours during the day and 10 hours at night!!! I don't think 4-5 hours of naps will be happening in daycare, even after they are used to the place!
All-in-all it was a good day I guess--as good as I could have expected and maybe better. I just wish they'd slept a little...even 5 minutes so that I'd feel assured that they can do it. Maybe next time.
They go back next Thursday and Friday for more trial runs and they get increasingly longer each time. Hopefully by the end of next week they will be sleeping here completely unswaddled and unwrapped for naps. I haven't tackled nighttime unswaddled yet since I need them to sleep through the night so they aren't so overtired they won't nap! It can be a vicious cycle! When I see they can have good naps at home unswaddled, we'll try nighttime. I am afraid to institute too many changes at once. Solids are coming soon too....
Today they went from 9:00-11:30. I dropped them off with their supplies: play yard sheets, bibs, bottles, extra clothes, diapers and wipes, and blankets. On my way in, a father was dropping off his (older) son, and I talked to him about the center. I asked him how long his son had been going to this place, and he said since he was an infant. He raved about Sonia and the place in general. I felt better since it was completely unrehearsed and spur of the moment.
I left two happy boys with the teachers and took off. No tears from me. I guess because this was to be a short visit. I also have to admit that I think having to leave them in the NICU has something to do with it. It's not as hard for me, maybe, as it might be for other mothers to leave them in the care of someone else. I only wish it were Marcy and Judy I were leaving them with!!! I wouldn't think twice about it.
They had set me up with camera access so I could watch them the whole time if I wanted. I didn't watch all 2.5 hours, but I probably watched over an hour. They did a good job of moving the infants around every so often to different positions with different stimuli to play with and see. I think my two boys are the youngest in the infant room--or at least they were today--because they were the only ones not yet sitting on their own. Yet they still got a good deal of play time and were held by the teachers the appropriate amount of time. The only bad thing about the day was that neither boy was able to nap. They just weren't having it. They still aren't quite trained to sleep unswaddled yet (we are one day 2 of both arms out of the sleep sack, but they are still swaddled around the mid section). Plus, it's very bright and noisy in there. If they had gone directly from the NICU to daycare, they probably would have adjusted quite easily! I had my hands full to teach them night and day after the NICU. But they will learn to sleep there eventually I guess.
The poor things napped for me when we got home, although a bit fitfully they were so overtired. We also took a nice long walk and they slept in the stroller this afternoon. But they were fast asleep by 7:20 and they normally go to bed at 7:45 or 8:00pm. I think we'll end up giving them an earlier bedtime once they are in daycare to make up for lost napping hours. Right now on a good day for me at home the boys can sleep 4-5 hours during the day and 10 hours at night!!! I don't think 4-5 hours of naps will be happening in daycare, even after they are used to the place!
All-in-all it was a good day I guess--as good as I could have expected and maybe better. I just wish they'd slept a little...even 5 minutes so that I'd feel assured that they can do it. Maybe next time.
They go back next Thursday and Friday for more trial runs and they get increasingly longer each time. Hopefully by the end of next week they will be sleeping here completely unswaddled and unwrapped for naps. I haven't tackled nighttime unswaddled yet since I need them to sleep through the night so they aren't so overtired they won't nap! It can be a vicious cycle! When I see they can have good naps at home unswaddled, we'll try nighttime. I am afraid to institute too many changes at once. Solids are coming soon too....
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| Rockin the usual pose |
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Time is running down...
I have not worked since October 15, 2011. This is the longest stretch I've ever gone in my adult life without working. I have such mixed feelings about going back to work.
I have to admit that in the middle of winter--even though this was the mildest winter I think I've ever experienced in Boston--I was really missing work. I felt stir crazy being home every day, especially when it was too cold to go out for a walk in the afternoon with the boys. I missed adult company, my work friends, and my NICU and 8th floor nurses, and I was trying to get my head around how to handle 2 infants. But slowly I got the hang of the boys, we settled into a routine, and I started to really enjoy being home every day with them. There was never a doubt in my mind I'd go back to work after my maternity leave was over, but I didn't expect it would be this hard on me to have to go back.
Part of it, of course, is having to leave the boys at daycare, essentially with strangers. I like the center as much as I could possibly like a daycare, but it's still daycare. I have feelings of guilt about it like any mom would. They will do things their way, not necessarily mine, and that worries me. Already, I have to train the boys to sleep unswaddled before I'd like to because they won't swaddle them for naps. I'm in the middle of that right now. There's an overwhelming list of things and supplies I need to bring to the daycare on a daily and weekly basis. And there's the logistics of drop off and pick up. But we'll figure it all out.
Another huge part of my anxiety and sadness, quite honestly, is just that it's sort of an end of an era or stage in my life that I quite liked! I was pregnant and then BOOM! BEDREST! Bedrest was a rude awakening and the start of my maternity leave essentially. But it ended up being a really GOOD experience. Then there were the 2 months going back and forth to the NICU. Those were also 2 really incredible months. Weird to say that bedrest and NICU visits were positive experiences, but they were. And then finally both boys were home with me, and it was amazing, scary, and stressful all at the same time. But we got through each of these periods and we'll get through my return to work. I just feel sad that this period of life that was 100% about the boys all day every day is nearly over.
Adrian and Sebastian (and Carlos and I, too) have come a long way since November 25, 2011. They are so much bigger, stronger, and healthier than I could have imagined 32-weekers would be. I feel incredibly blessed that things turned out they way they did. And I was also blessed to have such a nice, long maternity leave to spend with them.
I have to admit that in the middle of winter--even though this was the mildest winter I think I've ever experienced in Boston--I was really missing work. I felt stir crazy being home every day, especially when it was too cold to go out for a walk in the afternoon with the boys. I missed adult company, my work friends, and my NICU and 8th floor nurses, and I was trying to get my head around how to handle 2 infants. But slowly I got the hang of the boys, we settled into a routine, and I started to really enjoy being home every day with them. There was never a doubt in my mind I'd go back to work after my maternity leave was over, but I didn't expect it would be this hard on me to have to go back.
Part of it, of course, is having to leave the boys at daycare, essentially with strangers. I like the center as much as I could possibly like a daycare, but it's still daycare. I have feelings of guilt about it like any mom would. They will do things their way, not necessarily mine, and that worries me. Already, I have to train the boys to sleep unswaddled before I'd like to because they won't swaddle them for naps. I'm in the middle of that right now. There's an overwhelming list of things and supplies I need to bring to the daycare on a daily and weekly basis. And there's the logistics of drop off and pick up. But we'll figure it all out.
Another huge part of my anxiety and sadness, quite honestly, is just that it's sort of an end of an era or stage in my life that I quite liked! I was pregnant and then BOOM! BEDREST! Bedrest was a rude awakening and the start of my maternity leave essentially. But it ended up being a really GOOD experience. Then there were the 2 months going back and forth to the NICU. Those were also 2 really incredible months. Weird to say that bedrest and NICU visits were positive experiences, but they were. And then finally both boys were home with me, and it was amazing, scary, and stressful all at the same time. But we got through each of these periods and we'll get through my return to work. I just feel sad that this period of life that was 100% about the boys all day every day is nearly over.
Adrian and Sebastian (and Carlos and I, too) have come a long way since November 25, 2011. They are so much bigger, stronger, and healthier than I could have imagined 32-weekers would be. I feel incredibly blessed that things turned out they way they did. And I was also blessed to have such a nice, long maternity leave to spend with them.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Milestones
1. Adrian sucks two fingers and sometimes covers it up with his other hand--Carlos did the SAME thing until just a few months ago.
2. Adrian rolls over from tummy to back with regularity now. He's also figured out how to balance himself so that he can stay on his side. Sebastian can roll but hasn't done it lately???
3. Adrian now rivals Sebastian with his belly laughs.
4. Both boys respond to peek-a-boo with giggles and smiles.
5. Sebastian seems to be teething...
6. Both boys are increasingly strong. Sebastian can lift himself to his feet from a sitting position if you just grab his hands and steady him. He LOVES to stand with support. If I didn't have to balance him, he'd have the strength to support his weight on his own.
7. Sebastian does very well in the Bumbo chair. Adrian still tends to slouch with the weight of his big head. We have to work on those core muscles so he can show off his 6-pack at the beach this summer.
8. Both boys are increasingly interested in watching our mouths when we talk. They love when I go through the alphabet babababa, cacacaca, dadadada, fafafafa....
9. They love looking at each other and often try to "talk" to one another. They've yet to have a conversation back and forth, though. It's usually one talking to the other while the other listens. Sebastian in particular gets really into it and babbles with a lot of expression and conviction!
10. Both Adrian and Sebastian will take things within reach and put them in their mouth. They also grab necklaces, collars, shirts, HAIR, and anything else they can get their hands on. Ouch!
2. Adrian rolls over from tummy to back with regularity now. He's also figured out how to balance himself so that he can stay on his side. Sebastian can roll but hasn't done it lately???
3. Adrian now rivals Sebastian with his belly laughs.
4. Both boys respond to peek-a-boo with giggles and smiles.
5. Sebastian seems to be teething...
6. Both boys are increasingly strong. Sebastian can lift himself to his feet from a sitting position if you just grab his hands and steady him. He LOVES to stand with support. If I didn't have to balance him, he'd have the strength to support his weight on his own.
7. Sebastian does very well in the Bumbo chair. Adrian still tends to slouch with the weight of his big head. We have to work on those core muscles so he can show off his 6-pack at the beach this summer.
8. Both boys are increasingly interested in watching our mouths when we talk. They love when I go through the alphabet babababa, cacacaca, dadadada, fafafafa....
9. They love looking at each other and often try to "talk" to one another. They've yet to have a conversation back and forth, though. It's usually one talking to the other while the other listens. Sebastian in particular gets really into it and babbles with a lot of expression and conviction!
10. Both Adrian and Sebastian will take things within reach and put them in their mouth. They also grab necklaces, collars, shirts, HAIR, and anything else they can get their hands on. Ouch!
Photos
I have some serious posting to do to catch up. I think I'm going to start trying to post every night or every other night after the boys go to bed. I usually end up wasting time playing around on my phone anyway, so I might as well be doing something "productive" instead.
For the meantime, more photos.
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| Adrian |
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| Sebastian with Papi |
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| Eating his favorite toy |
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| Blowing raspberries |
Cannot get this kid to give this pose up!
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| He took his hat off so you could see his Superman curl. |
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| Sebastian with Mrs. Donut |
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| Shopping in Framingham |
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| Fussy Sebastian finally fell asleep with Ani. She had the magic touch. |
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| Today's topic of discussion: WTF is up with North Carolina? |
If the boys had personal ads or a FB page
Adrian
Interested in: CHICKS!
Hobbies: Flirting, trying to fit my whole fist in my mouth, extreme exersaucer play, flirting, tummy time, modeling, admiring myself in mirrors, did I mention flirting?
Ideal date: snuggling while listening to "circus music" from my swing or a long walk in my double stroller
Favorite song: I'm Sexy and I Know it, Wild Ones, Choo-Choo Song, and Kukaburra
Favorite Book: Where the Wild Things Are
Favorite movie: BIG
Favorite celebrity: Mario Lopez (We are both handsome Mexicans with dimples!)
Favorite quote: "Ahhhhh gaga wooo!"
Relationship status: In a relationship with Marcy Blake
Political views: Way Liberal
Religion: Peace, love, and happiness.
Sebastian
Interested in: CHICKS!
Hobbies: Flirting, trying to fit my whole fist in my mouth, extreme exersaucer play, flirting, tummy time, modeling, admiring myself in mirrors, did I mention flirting?
Ideal date: snuggling while listening to "circus music" from my swing or a long walk in my double stroller
Favorite song: I'm Sexy and I Know it, Wild Ones, Choo-Choo Song, and Kukaburra
Favorite Book: Where the Wild Things Are
Favorite movie: BIG
Favorite celebrity: Mario Lopez (We are both handsome Mexicans with dimples!)
Favorite quote: "Ahhhhh gaga wooo!"
Relationship status: In a relationship with Marcy Blake
Political views: Way Liberal
Religion: Peace, love, and happiness.
Sebastian
Interested in: making friends with everyone!
Hobbies: clowning around, laughing, chewing anything I can pick up, standing up (with some help), tummy time, sleeping, acting fussy so that people will hold me, playing with Olivia (my Lamaze owl), sumo wrestling my brother (and winning!)
Ideal date: a nice big bottle of milk, good conversation, and lots of laughs
Favorite song: Wild Ones, Agarra tu sombrero
Favorite book: Make Way for Ducklings
Favorite movie: The Little Mermaid, Superman
Favorite movie star: Will Ferrell
Favorite movie: The Little Mermaid, Superman
Favorite movie star: Will Ferrell
Favorite quote: "Pffffffffffffbbbbpt" (raspberries)
Relationship status: In a relationship with Tia Mimi
Political views: Liberal
Religion: Buddhist (Rub my belly!)
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
It's about time to write a blog entry that has more substance to it. I've been lazy (busy, actually) and haven't written much lately about what's going on. This was supposed to be my record of their milestones, etc., and I haven't been writing it all down. They are due to wake up for a nap any minute now, though, so I'll see what I can actually get down...
We've been trying to get to the bottom of Sebastian's fussiness. He's just so fussy when he eats lately. He cries when you put the bottle in, cries when you take it out, screams because he's hungry but then doesn't eat....he drools a lot and has his hands in his mouth all the time. I don't know what the problem is, but I was thinking either he's teething, he has an ear infection, or it's reflux and/or a formula allergy. Our visit to the pediatrician wasn't very helpful. Sebastian doesn't have an ear infection, but the doctor suggested cleaning out Sebastian's ears with Colace syrup! Who would have thought that a stool softener could be used in someone's ears to dissolve wax! So I did that. It didn't seem to help a whole lot. We put him on Zantac and Maalox as well, to see if it's reflux. Unfortunately, the pediatrician prescribed pretty much the maximum dose of Zantac for his weight--without even knowing if it would work. I thought the dose seemed high, so I actually asked the pharmacist when I picked up the medicine. She said it wouldn't be an overdose, but that it was very high for it being his first time on Zantac. This isn't the first time the pediatrician has given me dosage advice that was either wrong or just not in keeping with my philosophy. Why not start him off on a low-ish dose instead of charging full throttle ahead? I ended up just doing my own thing...instead of giving him 1.5MLs 3X a day, I'm giving him 1.5ML 2x a day. It does seem to be working, although he's still fussier than normal. But at least now he's eating again. It had gotten to the point that he was in such pain he was barely taking his bottle. And that's UNUSUAL for Sebastian!
I've decided to switch pediatricians. The small practice the boys are at right now is just not convenient. The doctor never answers during his call-in hours because he's too busy I guess. I don't like that I got wrong dosage information for Vitamin D a few months ago, and the Zantac dosage was the last straw. He's always so rushed I don't trust him anymore. I don't feel confident in his advice or diagnosis. I've just made the 6th month appointment for the boys with a place in Weston recommended by both my friend Michelle and our friend Adriano. Hopefully that will go better. They have urgent care appointments on weekends and holidays, too, although I hope we won't need them!
Adrian has been eating like a little piggy lately too. If he keeps this up, he might regain his position as the big brother. Both boys are on a faster flow nipple now, and that makes such a difference. They finish eating in 20 minutes now instead of the 45 it was taking before. But they are also super gassy after eating now! They burp so loud it's unbelievable!
The boys have been having fun with their "new" exersaucer! They are still a bit too small to fit in it, but thanks to the Hug-a-baby thingy from Michelle, I can still put them in there from time to time. They have figured out that if they pull on the flowers or push the buttons at the "pond," music will play. Adrian hops up and down in it so much he can turn himself around in it.
The other new thing is the bumbo chair. The boys seem to have mixed feelings about it. Sometimes they are happy to go in it, and other times not so much.
It's useful to have something to put one baby in while I'm holding the other that doesn't involve them putting pressure on their heads. They are both getting flat spots, despite my best efforts to avoid it! I have them on their bellies and off their heads as much as possible, but it's hard with two! I've tried everything...Sebastian just only likes to turn his head to one side! I have to go in after he's asleep and turn his head the other direction. But if I go back in a few minutes later, he's already turned it back to his favorite (flat!) side. Goodness. Hopefully they will be sitting up on their own very soon...
We took another visit to visit Nana last week. We had a great time. Nana always makes us a delicious lunch, too.
And, as usual, just some random shots of the boys!
We've been trying to get to the bottom of Sebastian's fussiness. He's just so fussy when he eats lately. He cries when you put the bottle in, cries when you take it out, screams because he's hungry but then doesn't eat....he drools a lot and has his hands in his mouth all the time. I don't know what the problem is, but I was thinking either he's teething, he has an ear infection, or it's reflux and/or a formula allergy. Our visit to the pediatrician wasn't very helpful. Sebastian doesn't have an ear infection, but the doctor suggested cleaning out Sebastian's ears with Colace syrup! Who would have thought that a stool softener could be used in someone's ears to dissolve wax! So I did that. It didn't seem to help a whole lot. We put him on Zantac and Maalox as well, to see if it's reflux. Unfortunately, the pediatrician prescribed pretty much the maximum dose of Zantac for his weight--without even knowing if it would work. I thought the dose seemed high, so I actually asked the pharmacist when I picked up the medicine. She said it wouldn't be an overdose, but that it was very high for it being his first time on Zantac. This isn't the first time the pediatrician has given me dosage advice that was either wrong or just not in keeping with my philosophy. Why not start him off on a low-ish dose instead of charging full throttle ahead? I ended up just doing my own thing...instead of giving him 1.5MLs 3X a day, I'm giving him 1.5ML 2x a day. It does seem to be working, although he's still fussier than normal. But at least now he's eating again. It had gotten to the point that he was in such pain he was barely taking his bottle. And that's UNUSUAL for Sebastian!
I've decided to switch pediatricians. The small practice the boys are at right now is just not convenient. The doctor never answers during his call-in hours because he's too busy I guess. I don't like that I got wrong dosage information for Vitamin D a few months ago, and the Zantac dosage was the last straw. He's always so rushed I don't trust him anymore. I don't feel confident in his advice or diagnosis. I've just made the 6th month appointment for the boys with a place in Weston recommended by both my friend Michelle and our friend Adriano. Hopefully that will go better. They have urgent care appointments on weekends and holidays, too, although I hope we won't need them!
Adrian has been eating like a little piggy lately too. If he keeps this up, he might regain his position as the big brother. Both boys are on a faster flow nipple now, and that makes such a difference. They finish eating in 20 minutes now instead of the 45 it was taking before. But they are also super gassy after eating now! They burp so loud it's unbelievable!
The boys have been having fun with their "new" exersaucer! They are still a bit too small to fit in it, but thanks to the Hug-a-baby thingy from Michelle, I can still put them in there from time to time. They have figured out that if they pull on the flowers or push the buttons at the "pond," music will play. Adrian hops up and down in it so much he can turn himself around in it.
The other new thing is the bumbo chair. The boys seem to have mixed feelings about it. Sometimes they are happy to go in it, and other times not so much.
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| Notice how he's holding the rattle! |
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| He's figured out the rattle makes NOISE if he moves it! |
It's useful to have something to put one baby in while I'm holding the other that doesn't involve them putting pressure on their heads. They are both getting flat spots, despite my best efforts to avoid it! I have them on their bellies and off their heads as much as possible, but it's hard with two! I've tried everything...Sebastian just only likes to turn his head to one side! I have to go in after he's asleep and turn his head the other direction. But if I go back in a few minutes later, he's already turned it back to his favorite (flat!) side. Goodness. Hopefully they will be sitting up on their own very soon...
We took another visit to visit Nana last week. We had a great time. Nana always makes us a delicious lunch, too.
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| Nana with Adrian |
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| I think they look a lot alike here....And funny how their positions are mirror images of each other. I love this picture! |
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With their new sunglasses for when we take walks. |
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| Adrian LOVES his sunglasses, and we knew the flirt would! |
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| Adrian can't figure out if it's more fun to look at himself in the mirror.... |
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| or look at the camera! |
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| Adrian |
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| Sebastian |
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| Using their sunglasses for the first time. Adrian's hands and face are so funny! |
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| Sebastian |
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| Adrian |
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