We had a visit this morning and at lunch with a minister we've both known for years, Bruce Shaw. He has just returned from a trip to the orient. We really enjoyed hearing so many different stories about those people finding the gospel. It was his first time to meet our sons. We are thrilled that he could. He will be leaving Virginia now and heading to preach in the Chicago area. He is switiching places with Jim Holt! It's actually to his father's house that we go every Sunday morning for worship.
On our way home this afternoon, we stopped to visit with John Anderson. We had seen him briefly at convention so wanted a real chance for him to see our boys. He was very glad we came. We only stayed about an hour as I stupidly left the diaper bag behind!
On Saturday, two different neighbors stopped in to see/meet the twins. In the morning, Pat from behind us came over. Then in the afternoon, Helen (who put our donkeys away EVERY single night while the boys were in the hospital) and her daughter, Kimebrly stopped in for a baby/donkey/sheltie fix. Something interesting I noticed....Nathan who doesn't like to make eye contact when he is over stimulated (like when he sees a new face) will do it if he is sitting on my lap. He must feel secure enough. I am trying not to hand him over to a new person immediately. I want to give him a chance to take in the new situation. Thomas does better at this, but his motions with his hands will become a little jerky. This is because their central nervous system is immature. Maybe this is true in all babies, just different degrees of it.
Good night and love to all,
Jennifer
ps no temper tantrums recently from the big T. His latest experiment with his voice amounts to small shrieks. This is cute. He'll continue to do it if you return the small shrieks....
Another beautiful day in September! The weather has been so nice. We enjoyed our walk this morning around Gates Pond. The boys slept for some or it. Hope you like these pictures. I think they are some of the best ones we've taken. Matt got home just in time to take them with the sun setting in the backround. No way is that a sunrise. We don't do mornings. In fact we don't even do mid mornings.
I really liked Julie from Early Intervention. She has good experience and 2 children of her own. She's been with EI for 1 year, but has EI type experience in her past. Her degree is a bachelors in early childhood development. She was really good with the children. Both boys really responded to her...so much that she said she had not been flirted with like this in quite a while. She pointed out things I didn't notice and accepted things I pointed out. She spoke to me in technical terms which lets me know that she thinks I have a brain. Sometimes in the hospital, this wasn't always so. I asked her about Thomas' tantrums. She said that he could just be experimenting with voice. She said that the only thing that I really can do is not allow it to get to that point. I tried today and we didn't have any episodes. I've got to go to bed. love to all, J
Okay, so maybe I shouldn't call it DDOB when it hasn't been daily....sorry. I completely forgot to take any pictures yesterday and the day just seemed sort of ordinary so I opted not to send a DDOB. It's funny that I can follow the same routine two different days and at the end of the day, one can be considered really good and the other really long. I hate to say bad, but some days aren't all rosy. Today, we had a restful day. The boys did well napping. We picked up Matt at the car repair place and then went and got groceries together.
Thomas has started this new bawling routine. When he starts to cry, if I don't see to him immediately, he just turns on the sobbing turbos. He turns deep red, huge tears fall, and he is LOUD. I feel awful that he thinks he has to go to such extreme. Any words of wisdom? Of course, the main thing to curtail this is to give him what he wants immediately which at 5 months, I wouldn't think this would be considered spoiling. But on the other hand, I can't always do that. He has a brother. I have tried a few wacks on the butt, but that only makes me feel worse and he cries harder.
I have been pureeing peaches this week for the boys. Nathan has figured out that if he coughs with a mouthful, that he gets his mom all messy too. He still frowns at the taste of peaches, but Thomas does pretty good about taking it. I've been feeding them rice cereal with milk at 10AM and peaches with rice cereal at 4PM.
Tomorrow we are going for a walk around Gates Pond with our friend Lisa and her boy, Benjamin. Then early intervention (EI) is coming at 1pm. We will be meeting a new educator. For those unfamiliar with EI, it's a state-run program that gives aid to children under the age of 3 who are considered at risk for learning and motor disabilities for which our boys are, being that they were preemies and are twins. Boy, do you think I could make that sentence any longer? Nothing at all has alarmed them, in fact our pediatrician is very impressed with their continued progress. The group consists of social workers and educators. The first lady we had, quit after 1 month. It wasn't us....I'm sure.
Well, I must get to bed. I've been telling myself that I am staying up to late. It just has been easier to get a few jobs done at night when all is quiet. During the day, once in a great while I get 15 to 30 minutes to get this or that done. Today, both shelties got a bath. My goal during the day is first and foremost to take care of the boys. But if I get a chance, I like to get one thing done on my never ending list. now I am rambling...
lots of love to each one,
Jennifer
Each day (or at least I try for that), the boys get "floor time" which includes playing with their activity gym. Thomas was practically climbing on it and then as you can see he was pulling himself over with it. Nathan usually just lies under it, staring away from it but today I put the dangling toys above his feet and showed him how to kick the toys. He thought that was cool and continued on his own playing. Floor time includes, belly time and sitting time. All things that we practice!
The boys had their 5 month check up today with Dr. Cohen. Current stats:
Nathan 12 lb 13 oz 23 3/4 " long
Thomas 14 lb 7 oz 24 1/2" long
The doctor recommended we increase the cereal feedings to 2 or 3 times a day especially with Nathan who spits up large amounts. He also said to mix the cereal with fruits starting with P. So tonight, they had pureed peaches with their cereal. Thomas was so unimpressed with the change in diet that he kept coughing like he was gagging on it. A bit dramatic, I might add. Nathan made faces, but swallowed the peach concoction down. Another interesting detail to our visit was after about 1 minute laying on the crinkly paper on the table, Thomas started bawling. I think they are connecting that sound to unpleasantness. Overall, the pediatrician was very happy with their progress.
I am having so much fun with these two little people. I am so thankful to have them.
much love to each,
Jennifer
A busy weekend! My sister, Laura, came to visit Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. We had a nice time together. Matt took a flight down to Philidalphia Saturday morning and drove our new Toyota sienna home. 2004, all wheel drive with 30,000 miles. It has GPS and a cool camera mounted on the back to help you back up. It also automatically slow down if you get within 100 feet of the car in front of you on the highway. It beeps and allies the brake if the car ahead slows down quickly, too. Now we just need it to beep at Matt when he starts to speed so that I won't be the one sounding like the old nag... : ) Like I never speed.
The boys are doing super. Have I mentioned lately that they are sleeping from about 7 or 8 PM to about 6AM. Thomas may not nap long during the day, but they sure have this night thing figured out for which I am thankful.
Good night!
J
For the few new people in our Baby Fan club, DDOB stands for Daily Dose of Babies. This is a (almost) daily email I send out of recent pictures of the boys and sometimes a blurb on their well- being. If you are not interested in getting this, then let me know.
Today, the boys went for blood tests to check their red blood cell count. My mom accompianed us (thankfully) and was a pillar of strength. The nurses tried to go through their heels again which means the blood truely drips out and they catch it in a tube. I gave them permission to try Nathan's arm given that they didn't go searching....they had to go through his heel. Unfortunately the blood clotted in the tube before the test was completed rendering the entire exercise fruitless. The doctor says just forget it, we'll keep on with the iron supplement in their diet. Tuesday, they have their 5 month checkup.
We are sorry to see G & G leave in the morning as our days have been precious together.
Good night and love to all!
Jennifer
