Busy Weekend With Family

This weekend Nina and Emily came to visit the girls.  I think everyone had a great time.  Plus, we found out the girls have brand new cousins...Emily's twins were born in India via surrogacy on Friday!

Sleeping & Therapy (or not)

So far, so good, on the sleeping front.  The girls have slept basically all night (9/10pm-ish through 6/6:30pm-ish) for three out of the last four nights (Sat, Sun, Mon, & Wed).  Tuesday night/Wednesday morning we reverted back to waking up at 1 am and 4 am, which was rough for me and even rougher for Matt, who took care of the 1 am feed (it was Abby) and ended up staying home from work on Wednesday (I went to work, but can't say I got much done).

Small rant about the state agency that provides the therapy for the girls.  We made an appointment for them to return today, which I thought entailed the therapists actually, you know, working with the girls.  Um, no.  Instead, the SAME people returned and we spent an additional 2-3 hours doing more paperwork.  This now has been the third visit (again, at least we don't have to go anywhere), and combined we've probably spent about 6-8 hours doing paperwork and about 20-30 minutes actually evaluating/working with the girls.  The cost/benefit analysis is a bit out of wack, I think, especially since the girls really aren't behind so far on any major issues, and probably would be okay without it.  But why turn down therapy?  Can't really get too much at this stage.

Ironically, one of the therapists we need was not present at this paperwork go-around, so we'll get another session of that.  Fortunately, though, I think we'll actually have a therapy appointment that involves THERAPY in two weeks.  Hopefully.

Hazel's binky slips out of her mouth while sleeping.

Hazelbear "rarrh" while sleeping.

Hazel:  I've almost got the bottle, Mom!

Back to the Grind

After four and a half months, I went back to the office today.  I was excited to see everyone and see how the new routine would go with the twins in the mix. It was also kinda fun to think about getting "dressed up" again, since my wardrobe had basically been shorts, sweats, and tee shirts since March (save the occasional dress up occasion, like weddings, parties, and showers).

A Scates Family Outing

Aside from doctor visits, therapy, and some occasional visits to the NICU, the girls have been generally isolated at home.  This is mainly due to two factors: (1) since they were premature, we were told to limit their contact with others; and (2) it is a major undertaking to get all of their gear packed up and be prepared to leave the house.  As a subset to (2), it is also so hot right now, even with the a/c blowing full blast it's got to be miserable in the carseats, and they've definitely sweated the few times we were out.

Sleeping?

Well, THAT was nice ... and unexpected.

According to one of the books we read, you can start trying to work on sleep training babies around six weeks of age.  Given that the girls were about six weeks old (corrected) this past week, I thought we could start the process.  Sadly, though, not much progress was made, so I assumed we'd have a ways to go.

Until last night.  We made a discovery that both girls settle down/go to bed with music.  Not nursery rhymes, or something like that.  Nope.  Hazel really enjoyed listening to Mumford & Sons!  It happened to be on my iPhone, which happened to start playing that song, and she quieted down.  How cool is that?

And it gets better...we put Hazel to bed around 9:30 pm and Abby down around 11:15 pm and they both slept until ... SIX THIRTY AM.  Talk about AWESOME.  I'd love to take credit for it, but I have to give all the credit to the girls for powering through the night.  :)

So...here's hoping that's not a one time occurrence, especially since I start work tomorrow!

Jacques (the Peacock)

One of the girls' favorite toys is a colorful bird named Jacques.  We (or maybe just I) joke he is so alluring due to his French accent.  :)

Yet Another Photo Shoot

I could probably take thousands of pictures of the girls, if I had the time and the inclination to go through all of them.  I try to temper it somewhat, but it is so much fun to take pictures and then be able to instantly send them to friends and family.  It is so nice to keep everyone connected this way.

Austin First Steps, plus My Last Week of Freedom!

Lots of things going on this past week.  Talk about time slipping away!

Since this blog is mostly supposed to be about the girls, and not me, I'll do the short recap of my activities: cat vet appointments, dog vet appointment, hair appointment, roof leak consult, insurance adjustor consult for said roof leak, and general prep/house maintenance.  Oh, and jury duty - how could I forget that?  I was selected as one of the six jurors for a municipal court case involving a speeding ticket.  The jurors picked me to be the foreman.  We definitely spent more time debating the amount of the fine than whether the defendant (an attorney) was guilty.  Anyway, definitely a fun experience for me!

Not So Fast, My Friend

Well...

We fed Abby at 9 pm and put her down.  She slept from then until 5 am.  EIGHT hours!!!

Hazel, on the other hand...we fed her at the same time and then tried to put her down.  She wouldn't have it, and basically cried/screamed/fussed off and on (mostly on) until about 1 am.  Mostly she calmed down when being held, and she finally went to sleep when I put her pacifier in and held her hand until she was super drowsy.  Ah...my current high maintenance twin.

Probably one of the more frustrating aspects of last night was seeing one twin sleep peacefully (and wishing you could do the same) while the other is crying and screaming incessantly.  Not to mention that figuring out WHY Hazel was so upset was an exercise in futility (mostly - at one point she had a pretty dirty diaper).

I'm now up a mere hour or so after going back to bed because I have jury duty today.  How funny is that?  This is only the third time ever I've gotten a summons and it happens during my maternity leave.  Fortunately, it is for municipal court, so on the really off chance I get selected the trial won't last more than a day or two.  I have several things I still want to do before going back to work, though, and am running out of time to get them done!

Breakthrough!!!

Last night was amazing!  

The girls were starting to get fussy around 8:00 pm, which seemed really early to be hungry.  I had been reading the sleep book, and wanted to get started with that, so after feeding both girls we put them down in their cosleepers between 9:30 and 10:00.  They woke up at 1:45 for food - we were back in bed by about 3:00 - and then they slept unti 8:00 am!!!!! Hopefully this continues!

Ah....naptime... (Abs left, Hazel right)

Cute sleeping pose by the Bear.

Check out my bling!

Grumpy looking Abimus.

What happens if meal service is delayed.

Abigail On The Move

Baby Faces

I love trying to capture the faces Hazel and Abby make at various times.  They are like the weather - always changing!

Hazelbear:

 

 

Abimus:

Four Months Old

The girls are FOUR months old today!  In the immortal words of Keanu Reeves....WHOA.

Hazel: 10 pounds, 7 oz; 20 1/2 in
Abigail:  9 pounds, 8 oz; 21 in

Karen and I took them for their four month checkup today with our pediatrician.  He checked them out, said they looked great, answered some questions we had about food, vitamins, Hazel's prilosec, etc, and then the nurse came in to give them their four month shots (this is one of the few things that follows their actual, not corrected, age).  Now, one of the nice things about being in the NICU was the nurses gave their shots to the girls when they were due and when I was not around.  I didn't realize the latter portion was a good thing until today.

Abby went first, as Karen had just finished feeding her and I was still feeding Hazel.  We put her on the counter and Abby's bopping around, doing her thing, until the nurse sticks her with a needle.  Suddenly she opens her eyes wide and just starts crying.  It was the sweetest and saddest thing ever.  Fortunately it didn't take too long for her to calm down, but oh!  So heartbreaking!

Next up was Hazel.  We weren't quite finished eating (which ended up being helpful), but the nurse was ready to go, so I put her on the counter and held her hands while the nurse jabbed her with the needle.  Hazel was calm.  Then, suddenly, she turned about five shades of red and just let out this horrible cry.  Again, the sweetest and saddest thing ever.  She was SO upset, and crying in my arms.  But, as I mentioned earlier, we hadn't finished eating, so after the nurse was done we had another go at the bottle and that seemed to take her mind off the needle jab.  

While Hazel was upset, though, Karen looked at her and said: "she looks like a tomato!"  Look out, Hazel, we may have a potential costume for you in the future.... :)

On the way home, we stopped by HEB to grab lunch and also to commemorate the four month milestone with cupcakes (the girls couldn't eat them yet, but we could!).

That afternoon, several therapists (an OT and a speech therapist) visited to evaluate the girls and determine if they were eligible for treatment.  After LOTS of paperwork - some of which wasn't even applicable to babies - and some evaluation, we were told the girls could receive therapy.  The nice thing about this group is they visit the home (instead of us having to go to them), so that makes it much less complicated.  We set the next appointment for two weeks.

Closeup of chubby cheeked Hazelbear.

Hazel striking her bear pose while napping in the carseat.

Waiting at the pediatrician's office.  

Visit from Papaw and Family!

Matt's dad came to visit us, and Matt's aunt and uncle happened to be in town, too.  It was great to visit with them and have everyone see the girls.  Unfortunately, Hazel thought the proper way to greet someone was to throw up on them, so poor Aunt Jan got a very wet welcome (but was a great sport about it).

The Great Escape

Hazelbear has started doing a neat trick.  While laying - on her back - in the bouncy seat, she can twist completely around onto her stomach.  I think she may be trying to slip out...I'd say without us noticing, but it usually involves some sort of crying, which is giveaway, of course.  :)

Aren't I cute, sleeping in the nap nanny?

 

Ho, hum, don't mind me.  I'm just sleeping.  (Yes, with the neck
crane.  All the time.  How is that comfortable????)

Yep, on my belly.  Just sleeping.  Don't mind me at all....

Do-ti-do-ti-do...I'm thinking about sneaking out of the chair....nothing to see here.... ;)

Video evidence:

Happy Fourth of July!

Thanks to Uncle Steve for the cute patriotic onesies!

Abimus.

Hazelbear.

 

My parents came for a few days to visit the girls, so I got some cute pictures of them together.  Overall, it was a relatively quiet and uneventful holiday, especially since Matt only had the one day off (which fell on a Wednesday this year).  Also, since the burn ban had been lifted, people were shooting off fireworks really close to our house, so it was easy enough to walk outside and watch some displays.  Merrydog, of course, spent the evening freaked out due to the fireworks noise (poor little puppins).  My parents also babysat for us one night, so Matt and I were able to go out and catch a movie (The Amazing Spiderman).

Abby snuggling with Granddad.

Mimi with Hazel.

Forced tummy time.

Not super happy after tummy time.

Hazel and Granddad in his Fighting 9 shirt.

Another Photo Shoot

Yup, another one.  I wanted to get some pictures of the girls in their preemie onesies before they outgrew them completely.  So here you go...pics of Abby "Early Bird" and Hazel "Couldn't Wait"...

Mimi and Granddad with the girls.

The whole family.

Rolling Over?

We did some tummy time today, and I think Abimus rolled over!  I caught it only in the corner of my eye, but Karen swears it happened.  I took a picture mid roll, I think:

Of course, afterwards we videotaped and watched closely, but there was no encore performance.  :)  Hazel seems like she is interested as well, throwing her legs up, but she's not quite there yet. 

Looking up at the world from our playmat.

Hazel, working hard.