Food

I was talking with another Micro mom today about food.

Silly you think, but no. I like to forget how much of a fight it was to get Gwen to eat. Well to get Gwen or Avery to eat. Avery caught on a lot quicker then Gwen.

Gwen sitting in spit

Gweny was a fight, every meal was a fight of texture, amount, taste, etc 

first cereal 

 And not only was she hard to convince to get food/milk into, she was quick to get it up

and.... puke 

Then one day she got it. Not to say she didn't have random issues with food, eggs and Greek yogurt to name two that took her longer to prefect keeping down.

But now Gwen will eat anything that you will. She is at the moment eating leftover General Tao stir fry and loving it! Well.... except for the noodles... but I take it as a win! 

First Haircut

Well, technically Avery's second they had to shave her head in hospital for a picc line, and an iv and gave me her hair clippings.

1st Haircut for Avery Dec 27, 2011

So Matthew and I decided that it would be a good idea to get the girls a haircut to help even it out and maybe grow it faster. Matthew has a couple of cousins who are hairstylist and Sheila was the first one to show interest in doing their hair. He was getting today off due to being full time and Sheila had the day off too.

Miss Avery was really good and went first, she didn't squirm or move away at all

Avery loved Shelia's hair 

Smiles for mom

all done with certificate 

Avery's certificate with her hair 

all done!

Miss Gwen went second, she moved a lot and needed Daddy for distraction

I'm so excited!!!

maybe I'll stay still 

how to distract a 18 month old 

channeling her inner Marlon Brando 

Gwen's certificate with a lot more hair

Gwen after the haircut

Friendship & Fathers Day

A lot has been happening this week, and its made me forgetful over posting things I was planning on. So please forgive my forgetfulness.

Rhys has clued up his literacy program in school last Thursday.

He did wonderfully and has made many friends in his future kindergarten class (and his class all the way through to grade 5/6, they have an intensive French option in grade 6 for them to split then) He will be going to a small community school, so small that there are only 5 kids that live far enough away to qualify for the bus. The whole school is about 225 kids (K-6) and there are only 20 kids registered for his year. Rhys has a birthday party to go to tomorrow with his best friend from his class, and they live almost directly behind us.

"Rhys, show mommy your certificate"

How about you look this time cookie face? 

with his literacy teacher 

Rhys also has asked me to make him one of those friendship bracelets, remember those??? I told him when he is a bit bigger if he wants to know how to make them I will show him. 

in progress, in his favorite colours

I remember making a ton of these and people selling them too at school, so its a good skill to learn even for my little man. 

Rhys is also starting up soccer next week, and his team's name (if I heard her twice, because I asked her to repeat it) is Slytherin. This makes me a geeky mom very happy! Is that bad? or the fact that I keep thinking how my blond haired blue-eyed boy would look great in the uniforms if its the "right" colours???

Come on green and silver would be awesome on this boy! 

But I'm a silly mom.

Also during my forgetful time, Fathers day happened. Matthew did really well. He got a new baseball cap (he picked out and knew about), an iPhone case with the kids pic on it (he didn't know about)  and this...

"you are not suppose to make me cry on Fathers day!" 

the poem in the frame is this

Major props and thank you to my friend at Scarlett Love

A good online mommy friend at Scarlett Love did this up for me only two days before and gave me lots of choices to work with. She is awesome, and if you want some random custom chalkboard art you want you should check out her etsy or her on facebook. I know she's in vacation mode right now, but due back June 30th. 

*I'm not payed to say this, in fact she probably doesn't remember I have a blog, and she doesn't know I'm posting this*

 

Well, I think that is everything I was planning on talking about this past week yet forgot

18 months

Gwen top, Avery bottom- Dec 22, 2011

I can't believe the girls are 18 months old.

Time is flying, and they are growing. 

I'm one proud mama!


As I posted on facebook just after midnight:

"18 months ago I was counting down the hours until I would met the girls, contacting constantly, and trying to find the good in the last few hours of having my girls safe inside. Now they are big, healthy, happy, silly girls, who have overcome more in their short lives then anyone should ever have to. I couldn't be a prouder mama"

NICU play-dates

we had a play-date with 27 week twins who were the girls roommates, it doesn't hurt that both older brothers are the same age too ;) 

trying to get two sets of 16/17 month old twins in the same shot was hard

the girls checking out the gate

Avery liking the rail 

all four looking up 

sleep

Gwen has been fighting naps recently. So guess who just slept through her last itinerant teacher appointment until September?

Gwen showing off 

This girl. 

Oh well, she was happy to see Avery, met Rhys for the first time and talk over what the plan for the summer was. 

And Gwen slept.

I guess its the positive for her having those appointments at home...

preemie parent problems

*Warning early pics of the twins ahead*

I don't know what it is but I have discovered that some people believe that I caused my girls premature birth. Not just me, but everyone's. That any issues in pregnancy are caused by the mother not taking care of herself.

Unkie Dew teaching the babies the raptor screech  

This couldn't be further from the truth in my case. I was the healthiest I ever was, and was monitored so closely. Much more closely then I was with my pregnancy with Rhys, because it was twins and well... because we knew of it.

Its not right to assume that an early delivery is because the mom did something wrong. 

Avery - Dec 28, 2011 

It is not kind to say it. 

Gwen - Dec 23, 2011

Trust me the mom already blames herself enough, and has to deal with self apposed guilt. I did everything in my power to keep my girls safe and healthy. It took a long time for me to not blame myself, and I still have moments of blaming me. 

My body failed me.

first time sitting up (after giving birth) in two weeks

I didn't fail it. 

And almost all (I can't say all sadly) the moms I met in the NICU would have given everything to have kept their baby(ies) in longer for them to have been healthier. 

Avery - Jan 24, 2012

Gwen - Jan 22, 2012

So assuming premature birth is completely the fault of the mom for not taking care of herself isn't helping the solution, its adding to the problem. The mom needs all the love and support her family and friends can give while she grieves the baby(ies) she didn't have and the guilt of the premature birth.  

If you are a preemie mom/dad have you come across this? How do you deal with it if you have? 

random photos and what its only been three days????

Are sometimes the most treasured. We dropped Daddy off at work and I picked up these two outfits that I've had my eye on for a few months, they only had two left in their size so I had to get them. In going through the checkout the sweet girl in the portrait studio came over to say hi and mentioned she didn't have any bookings. She has been trying to get the girls in to use some of the pictures for display. 

And Gwen, sweet Gwen stood up. Just popped up. Not holding onto anything. Just stood up from sitting. 

we cheered and clapped for her and she did it back! 

We were so excited that we kept cheering her and she did it several times. I'm so happy to have gotten that caught on film

Gwen was so pleased 

Gwen was so happy, but tired. 

Miss Avery was showing off

Avery was sweet and kept posing, she had several pics of just her. 

happy girls (Gwen's blue toes are a hit of part of Daddy's gift for tomorrow) 

Missy Avery had another cardio appointment this week too, she was doing well with blood pressure so they cut down on her dose of her medication. They also did blood work which she laughed through. Her cardiologist called today to let me know that everything came back normal. Can you believe that he rushed  ordered her labs and then called me on a Saturday?

The day after the appointment, Rhys clued up his school program nothing else school wise until September. 

cookie face Rhys 

The girls had a first birthday to go to yesterday. Just 30 mins before, our hotwater heater burst and of course it was a Friday afternoon... Daddy stayed home waiting for the plummer with Rhys and told us to head on to the party. We got back just after it was fixed, so Matthew didn't loose too much time from work.

Auditory Neuropathy Part 2

Miss Gwen had AVT (audio verbal therapy)  today and she was made to work hard, so much so she passed out before I left the parking space at the hospital. We have homework, she has to be encouraged to verbally respond when its her turn to verbally engage us.

Gwen using her shirt as a crumb catcher 

So lots of repeating games and sounds and correcting her.

I'm getting tired just thinking about it, but you got to do what you got to for your kids. We know the HA are helping, we just need to push her language development and try to get her to catch up and stay on par with other kids her age.

Gwen blowing kisses 

Things can never be easy for the girls can they?

Can't have a pity party, they are doing well, they are alive. But some days, scratch that, most days I wish things were easier for them- different. Poor Gwen doesn't know any better, but I do. No child should have to fight to live, breath, grow, learn. After living through something like this, you never ever take the simple things for granted.

She is developing language skills, she is a happy energetic little girl. Most kids with ANSD don't like to engage people. Most of them like to keep to themselves and not try to engage others, living in their own little world.

Gwen going to her appointment today

Not Gwen.

Gwen loves to be involved with everything. Gwen loves to babel back, sing, clap, dance, and smile. Oh how she loves to smile.

Gwen's first time in the little people chair 

How would things be different for Gwen without ANSD?

Would she be as talkative as Avery and as Rhys was at their age?

Would she feel outnumbered, her voice lost in the commotion of my concern over Rhys being the eldest and only boy or Avery's blood pressure and paralyzed vocal cord?

I doubt it.

Gwen is Gwen and I can't live in the "what ifs". Gwen has ANSD, and needs HA. Hopefully that is all she will need, we shouldn't be concerned that she needs the help. We should be happy that she is getting the help that she needs and that we might be able to avoid surgery and CI's. But if we need to go that route, I know that she will be given the best care possible, and we will work so hard to help her in her journey to language and hearing.

Happy HAed Gwen during breakfast 

Kindergarten supply list aka when did this happen???

I can't believe how big Rhys is getting, or how fast time is flying. It feels like yesterday he was this little baby on my shoulder trying his hardest to bring his knees up to his nose and now its hard to carry him anywhere. Just got his Kindergarten supply list, and info.

How can he be starting school in September????

Kindergarten Supplies September 2013
The following lists the supplies needed for kindergarten. Please do not label the supplies, and bring them in the first day of school.
Book Bag: A zippered knapsack ---preferably one that is large enough to carry bigger items such as Library books and Artwork.
Sneakers: A pair to remain in school.  Please put your child’s initials or name on the inside.  Velcro is the best option unless your child is able to tie his/her own laces.
2 glue sticks—no purple please
1 pair of metal scissors
1 package of crayons
1 package of original 8 markers- non scented, basic colors, no sparkles etc.
10 pencils--sharpened
1 eraser
4 paper duo tangs (Red, Blue, Green, Yellow) (3 prong)
1 Blue Binder
Painting Smock or Old Shirt (Please put your Child’s name on the inside)

Were did the time go????

Time, like Rhys won't stand still 

Some ideas and tips to better prepare your child for Kindergarten
1. Read to your child every day. Find books with simple stories, and help your child start to think about what he or she sees and hears. Talk with him/her about what happened first, next and last in the story.
2. Play "what's that sound" and let your child try to guess where a sound comes from.
3. Make up characters and act out their roles. You and your child can pretend to "be" anyone!
4. Let your child tell you a made-up story during bath time, dinnertime or any time.
5. Play outside! Run, jump, play tag or hide-and-seek, or play ball.
6. Make things together with scissors and glue. A shoebox makes a great pretend dollhouse or car. Old socks make fun puppets. A big cardboard box can be a clubhouse.
7. Let your child "help" with chores by using a broom, dusting a table or sorting laundry by colors. These can be fun ways for children to learn.
8. Make (and play) musical instruments. Use paper towels, old pots, plastic pails, tin cans (with no sharp edges), cardboard, and anything else handy. Play along with the radio, or give a "concert."
9. While you're on a walk or going to the store, help your child to look around and explore. Watch the big machines at a construction site and talk about what they are doing. Let your child feel the bark of different trees. Count the different kinds of cards and talk about what makes them different.
10. Have regular times for meals and snacks, so that your child will grow up eating on a healthy schedule. Eat healthy foods yourself as an example for your child.
11. Keep an eye on your child's vision. It can be hard to tell if a young child is having trouble seeing. Watch for signs such as stumbling, squinting, or holding books too close. If you think there might be a problem, see an eye doctor.
12. Be clear with your child about how you expect him or her to behave:  saying "please" and "thank you," holding an adult's hand when crossing the street, not talking to strangers, taking proper care of toys, sharing, etc.
13. Give your child chances to play, both alone and with others. Make arrangements for safe playtime with other children.
14. Using a doll, pretend that you and your child are taking care of a baby. Say, "Oh, the baby is crying. I think we need to change baby's diaper," and show your child what to do. Or, pretend that the two of you are friends having coffee together. Set the table, sit down, and start a conversation. You can ask, "So, tell me something that made you laugh this week."
15. Play games with a jump rope. Lay it out straight on the ground and have your child pretend to "walk the tightrope" in the circus. Once your child can do this, have him or her hop along the rope. Then put the rope in a circle and have your child hop into and out of it, first with both feet and then on one foot. The two of you can keep making up new tricks.
16. Pretend to be in a restaurant where you take turns writing down each other's orders. Also, point out the words on stop signs, billboards, cereal boxes, etc.
17. Help your child to become aware of sounds in letters. Play games: "What starts with 'm'?" "What ends with’t’?"
18. Ask your child to tell you about what he or she did today. Listen closely and be interested.

bread

Out of all the things I can talk about, bread is still something that surprises me. Well, actually how much bread a family of five can go through.

Gwen was a good girl and let me get the camera while her ears were in

two slices of bread, cheerios, melon, and yogurt can I have more please?  

But then this morning when I was getting the kids breakfast I thought more about it. Minimum we use ten slices of bread a day for breakfast alone.

see my toast?

I also request more mom

Ten.

That is almost a loaf of bread used just for breakfast.

who me?

And they eat more then bread in the mornings... my kids love to eat, if only their weights reflected it.