The Best Sounds In The World

On a lazy Sunday morning, K2 and I heard the best sounds in the world. I had my hair in a raggedy pony tail and shook my head back and forth so that the pony tail would flip from side to side. I then made the sound you will hear in the video and laughter ensued. Chick is in an exersaucer (a no-no in the hip dysplasia world) but her weight is being supported by a pillow under her. She is essentially sitting in the exersaucer as opposed to standing in it. I'm posting the video as a Dropshot and as a Vimeo. Some people can't view the Vimeos, but they are better quality than the Dropshots.


Untitled from Two Kayaks on Vimeo.



Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Hard To Believe

It still hits us hard. We have babies. Honestly, every morning when we go in to scoop up the babies from their cribs, we stand in wonder of their smiles, the way they find comfort in our familiarity and the way they snuggle in close to our bodies for that first morning cuddle. This is easily the most amazing experience of our lives.
December has not been an easy month for us in the past. A miscarriage and an unfulfilled due date are just two reasons (not to mention the years of holiday reminders of being childless). Holidays are incredibly difficult for those who struggle.
As I sat the babies in their bouncy seats in front of the Christmas tree and decorated it with ornaments that have graced the tree for years, it hit me again. I explained the significance of each ornament as I placed it and watched their eyes span, in obvious wonder, the height and breadth of the brightly lit tree. Amazing.
We have everything we have ever dreamed of.

Two more stockings hang this year. 

Our Tree

My beautiful family.

Fashion Disaster

This is what happens when Mommy and Pea sleep in and Daddy attempts to dress Chick.

At least he tried.

Hippy Chick

Chick had her 4 week check up of her hip today and all went well. When she was first diagnosed with hip dysplasia, the doctor stated that she would have to wear her harness for 12 hours a day for the next four months. However, today's ultrasound revealed that Chick's hips are progressing at an incredible rate and there is a substantial amount of calcium buildup (a good thing). She has another check in two weeks and if everything still looks good, she might be free of the brace then!
I have to say, though, that she has been such a trooper with the brace. Every night, it takes K2 and I quite some time to get all the straps adjusted and it sometimes takes up to 15 minutes just to get her into it properly. All the while, our girl is patient and rarely protests at all. She sleeps a solid ten hours a night with her brace on and I am so proud of her. Here's hoping that she only has to wear the brace for another two weeks!

103 Reasons To Go To Emergency

Pea woke from his nap yesterday with a fever of 103. I had checked on him every fifteen minutes or so while he slept and never would have guessed that he had a temperature that high. When K2 brought him downstairs, we both immediately knew something was terribly wrong. His face was all blotchy, his skin had developed an all over rash and he was quite limp. I checked his temperature then and there and it registered 103. I called his pediatrician who instructed us to go directly to emergency. Since Chick was completely fine by this point, K2 stayed home with her while I took Pea on my own. Navigating consent for chest x-rays, catheters, blood work and IVs was no fun on my own. No. Fun. A few tears were shed by both Pea and me.
The doctor wanted to put a catheter in Pea to check for a UTI and to make sure that the specimen was free from contamination. Usually, a bag would be taped to his skin and he would pee directly into it, but the doctor wanted no part of that since the specimen could be contaminated by Pea's skin. I refused the catheter. The doctor didn't like this and pressured me through fear to do the catheter. I consented only if Pea could have a little freezing gel applied beforehand. Just as the nurse finished applying the freezing gel, my beautiful and VERY smart boy peed a perfect arc. The nurse grabbed the cup and got a completely sterile sample. No catheter needed after all. A frozen willy is all this boy had to endure. Phew!
Four hours later, we were sent home with what looks like a very mild UTI. They are sending his sample off for culturing and we'll know more soon. Until then, we are to keep up the Tylenol/Advil and monitor him closely. He just woke up and is cool as a cucumber and playing on his playmat.
Mommy needs a drink.

Fevers

Fevers are no fun whatsoever. Yesterday the babies and I went for a long stroll outside (we walked for an hour and a half) and they both slept pretty much the entire time we were in the sunshine and cool air. When we got home, Chick woke up fairly soon, but Pea slept for a long while afterward. I finally had to wake Pea to feed and he didn't finish his bottle (which is unlike him). For the rest of the day, Pea just wasn't himself and he finally fell asleep on K2 at about 7:00pm. I fed him at 9:00 and put him to bed for the night. He woke hourly and when I would go in to check on him, I noticed that he felt warm, but attributed the warmth to his polar fleece sleep sack. By 2:00am, he was crying uncontrollably and when I picked him up out of his crib, it was clear to me that he had a temperature. It was fairly low grade at that time, but by 7:30 this morning it had risen higher. He's also only had about 7 ounces of milk since 2:00am. Poor thing.
Since I knew that sickness can spread quickly among twins, I took Chick's temperature after she seemed quite cranky and low and behold, she has a temperature as well. Both babies are asleep right now and I am spent. Two feverish babies makes for a LONG day alone. It's hard to soothe them both at the same time when they are so clingy. K2 will be home in less than two hours and then we will each take a child for the night and we will all feel better knowing that no one will have to wait to be held.
Wish us luck!

Now I Know Why My Mother's Kisses Were Always So Wet

 When I kiss them, I want to savor them too.

They taste of sugar cookies and hope.