Thursday, October 7, 2010

Two halves

Today the twins are 6 months old. We are half way to the first birthday, which makes me both relieved and wistful. My fellow twin mamas told me things would be easier around 4-5 months, and I'm disappointed to find myself behind the curve on that one. The twins have obviously matured a lot since the newborn stage, but I feel just as inept with schedules and general care of multiples as I was the first day. *sigh* So I'm hoping that by the time they are 12 months old we'll have things more under control. And if not, perhaps by the time they are 12 years old. Or... well, I guess they'll move out eventually.

But before I get ahead of myself, here are their 6 month stats --

NIX
Height: 27" (75th percentile)
Weight: 17 lbs 3 oz (50th percentile)
Head: 17 3/4" (80th percentile)

GAX
Height: 27" (75th percentile)
Weight: 17 lbs (50th percentile)
Head: 17" (30-40th percentile)

The appointment started off very well.  I was surprised to hear they are the same size, as they feel completely different in my arms, but I was thrilled that my girls are obviously producing enough milk for my boys.  Then came the kicker: I have a new item to add to my application for Most Craptastic Mother of the Year.  The lovely doctor, after peering into their little tiny ears with that proby thing, winced and gave me one of those "I really don't want to tell you this because you are SO going to hate yourself" faces and informed me that we have a quadruple ear infection.

That's right.  Two kids, two ears each.

All. Infected.

They've been fussy lately, but I thought it was just a cold.  I had no idea my poor munchkins were suffering like that.  Well, we've started the antibiotics now, and I pray they feel better soon.  With a massive amount of luck, relief will come by Saturday so I won't have two grumpy infants throwing a WE! HAVE! A! QUADRUPLE! EAR! INFECTION! fit during the rather pricey family photo session I have scheduled with a great local photographer on Saturday.  *double sigh*

I was also going to update on our continued sleep struggles, but the ear infection thing totally overshadows that, so I'll put it on hold until the meds can work and my twinklets are feeling better.  I'm sure at that point they'll start sleeping through the night anyway.  *snort*  I can't even type that without laughing.  Anyway, we'll just skip right to the goods: pictures.

We gave my Grandparents and Aunt a day pass from the Baby Circus to go sight-seeing at Mount Rainier and Pike Place Market.



We also got a tour of my parents' new house -- closing is in about 2 weeks.  It's a fabulous place, about to be made even fabulouser by my Mom's awesome decorating sense.  I've already picked out the bunk bed that accommodates three children for their guest room.  Tee hee.


Bean took his Great-Grandma to preschool with us.  It was such a nice treat!








We have just started to introduce "solid" food to the twins.  Here, Nix reads a recipe from the Top 100 Baby Purees book and then misunderstands its application.




My Grandparents were so good at feeding Nix, it was like they had some experience.


Nix hasn't smiled in his high chair since this picture was taken.  He much prefers that you hold him when you try to feed him, as then he can better emphasize how much he hates avocado by smearing it all over your shirt.


Being the opposite of his twin, naturally Gax loves his high chair.  In fact, he'll feed himself, thankyouverymuch.



We already miss Great Grandma and Great Grandpa and Aunt D!


I don't know who taught Bean this move.


He practices his "BUZZ WIGHTYEAR TO THE WESCUE!" with wings from his Halloween costume and a little help from Bumpa.


"I wish my Mom would do something about this ear infection."

 Photobucket

16 comments:

Kristina P. said...

I can't believe it's been six months already! The boys are so big.

Our Family said...

So, together they're a year old! :) Don't hate yourself too much...it must be going around. Cara has a double ear infection too, and I thought she was teething. Oops.

Mary said...

I can't speak for others but I never said it got easier at 4 months lol. I do think we started to turn a corner at 6 months (that's when Livi started sleeping better) and things really got easy at about 18 months. Hang in there mama. I also think you need to put Bean on a plane so Buzz can join Woody and Jesse in Cincinnati for trick or treating ;).

Duck said...

I would say it got worse at 4 months! They suddenly got more needy and sleeping went right out the window! It was so bad that this week we decided to do something, I began with tracking their nap/wake/sleep schedule and began sleep training again(ferber). Ferber works great on our little girl but it doesn't work on our little guy, so were doing the pick up/ put down method with him. It's hard work,but, we've noticed some difference after 4 days. Anyway, your not alone! And your doing great.

Jen said...

It is so difficult to detect an ear infection sometimes. Hayden is fussy in the evenings these days and I suspect it is because of teething. But who knows. Maybe I'll go to the doctor in a few weeks and find it is an ear infection. The only difference is that I only have two little ears to deal with.

Stef said...

It took me about a year to adjust to having 3... and none of mine are multiples! I think you're doing great :)

These pictures were breathtaking! You got some amazing weather during you family's visit.

Mrs. Gamgee said...

I can't believe that they are 6 months old alread! Time goes by so fast!

Don't beat yourself up about the ear infections. I had a double ear infection in my own ears and didn't know it for a month. I had a cold, but I ended up going to the doctor because I had fallen and sprained my ankle. It turned out that my ears were so blocked up that my balance was off.

I love all the pics!

Lisa said...

do NOT feel bad about the ear infections! mark has only had one, but remember Zach had the super duper ones at 9 months that we had no clue about and never got rid of until he got tubes. some kids just arent all that bothered by them, never run fevers, so how would you know! maybe that could have a little soemthing to do with their sleeping though??

And im sure you have herard this before, but dont compare yourself to other mommas! You are doing GREAT, still bfing two big growing boys AND a 2 year old in tow! You are a wonderful momma and I promise, things will get easier before you know it!!

Love ya!! :) And love the pics too, such handsome boys you have there!

~ Kristen said...

I hope with the ear infections being solved (which by the way no way on craptastic mother of the year, no way you could know) it will help everything for you guys from sleep to then schedules.

I dont know about others, but I started to realize that once they got one infection it was like a gateway to more :/ it was best to take them in to have it looked at if they were acting "off" and 90% of the time I was right they had a infection then and the other times I felt bad at first but not for long....and I soon learned Nash's *off* signs one of which being sleeping issues at night.

Hang in there good luck!!!!

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

time flies,
wow,
they are six months old...

they look so cute.
Bean looks a lot bigger and smarter...
best wishes for your book writing
Many thanks for the visit yesterday.

Leah Rubin said...

Wow, great milestone-- and they are PRECIOUS!

Don't sweat the ear infection-- it's happened to every mom, and it doesn't make you incompetent! They are obviously doing great-- so healthy and happy!

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

http://jingleyanqiu.wordpress.com/awards-from-the-blogging-universe/two-lovely-award-4-u/

two awards for you,
have a smiling day!

Mommy Wishdom said...

Your kids are beautiful! I'm so impressed you have 6 mos old twins, an adorable little boy, nursing and are blogging. Give yourself a pat on the back! I've missed a couple of ear infections too. My cousin who has twins swears her life got much easier after the first 6 mos and even better after the first year. Hopefully you'll be able to say the same. You're doing great Mom!

..al said...

OMG...was I really supposed to laugh this hard? Because I am grinning like a langoor, you know.

I love the way you comically twist your words.

Seriously, go away ear infection!

I was laughing like nuts at the pics where Nix read and tried to bite into that puree recipe book.

Anonymous said...

Now I have time to comment as well.
I second Wise Guy - am I supposed to laugh this hard? ;-)
You are a great mother. Stop the nonsense, ear infections do not come with labels... I hope it is all sorted out by now.
The pictures are great. You can tell how happy, well cared for and loved these children are only by looking at these pictures.

Katie said...

This SO reminded me of Will's six month appointment when the pediatrician looked in his little ear and said, "uh oh," and his ear was SO. BAD. that she had to pick the wax out of his ear with one of the long picky-things (love my medical jargon) and he screamed and his ear drum had RUPTURED, and I had NO. IDEA! I cried, too, and felt like thee world's worst mom.

Oh! And we'd been doing modified CIO the entire week before. Yeah, I felt like crap.

So, I hear you on that, but even the pediatrician told me that ear infections can be tough at that age. They can't tell you what's wrong, you certainly can't see what's wrong, and if they don't have a temp, how are you to know? Plus, sometimes they don't even treat ear infections with antibiotics anymore, so knowing they have one is almost pointless, because there is nothing to be done anyway.

But she did treat that one because of the rupturing. And did I mention the bleeding?

Yurg.

Parenthood is hard.