Double Trouble

[DianeC]

Thanks for that information Kim

Just got my first assignment back and managed a Distinction - YAY! Gives me hope for the rest of the course

Cheers Di

[Malinka]

HI ladies,
sorry was out of the loop, babies caught some cold:( Have some very stuffy noses and are pretty cranky. On a top of it, they are pretty gassy.
Oh boy, I feel so bad for my lil guys. What did you guys use for gas and cold?

Kimberly, your lil Brody in my prayers, please please give us update as soon as possible, you sound very scary....

[buckeyegal]

malinka--glad you're checking in! I hope you're getting some sleep! How's the nanny doing?

As far as gas goes, are you bfing or bottle feeding? I found the Dr. Brown's bottles to be a TREMENDOUS helper with gas relief...they're designed to minimize gas. We're also on the Enfamil gentle formula...it's designed for gassy babies--cause mine have always had that problem. I do use gas drops before bottles as well--we use the generic ones from Wal Mart--Equate is their brand. They're cheaper than Mylicon and I think they work much better. I don't make it to wal mart very often, so when I go, I buy every bottle they have! If you're bfing, then your diet could help. I know I had to avoid onions, garlic, and pretty much anything spicey. Maybe Kholtan can give you other advice on that?

As far as colds, I don't think there's much you can do if they're under 3 months. When mine caught colds at 8 weeks, I did use the vaporizer, and I had them sleep upright in their bouncy seats. THat helped a bit. ONce they're 3 months, they can use the baby Vapo Rub and the jOhnson's vapor bath. I've also heard that Sudatabs (they're tablets you put on your shower floor--the steam helps open up babies a bit...) can help. Haven't used them yet, but I might tonight. Good luck--I know it sucks when they're sick. Especially times two!

Gotta run! BRaeden is talking and he should be napping....

[kholtan]

Hey Ladies!

Diane! congrats on your tests! I can' imagine even trying to study for an exam right now let alone passing it! What an achievment!

Malinka~ I'm ultra curious about your nanny as well? How is it going? My babies are gassy as well but I just burp like a mad woman and that's about it. I hvae tried gas drops but they really didn't make a difference here. I still haven't gone to Walmart to try the ones Kim uses but Mylicon doesn't really do a think other than mentally make you think you doing something! My diet doesn't really effect the babies anymore either but in the beginning red/green peppers, onions, garlic, cauliflower, and broccoli were killers! Good luck and I hope all is going well.

The babies had a rough night last night due to a lack of good napping yesterday. I got too easy on them and paid the price at night. Even Annelise awoke twice! Today we are forcing better naps for sure.
On Monday Bodie will be getting his first MRI. We just cannot get to the bottom of his pain and now he had a HUGE jump in cranial growth. He went from the 15% to the 75%. Needless to say we are HORRIFIED! The thoughts that go thru your head are so scary. Tumors, brain bleeds, Autism, and anything that could cause him an ounce of pain. The guilt and horror are just stomach turning. He just looks so healthy and happy that it's hard to imagine him having anything wrong. I was hoping I was being paranoid but the Dr.s clearly stated that we are very observant and that will actually help us in the long run. Thank God we have such a great Pediatrician. As he says" Why pray when we can worry?" Then he let me know he would be praying for Bodie and when he begins to worry he'll switch to prayer since worry will do us no good. How far Monday seems! Please keep us in your thoughts. We'll need it!

Hope all is well with everyone else. We are going to the mountains tomorrow to try relax and get away with the babies. Some beautiful scenery and some snow will hopefully ease our nerves and soothe the babies.

Take care~
Kimberly

[woodcliff]

Kimberly...wishing Brodie good thoughts. I am so sorry your family has to worry so much...it seems odd they can't get him in sooner, though. Monday is a long way away! Are in you an Urban area? Can you push your doctor to do this sooner?

Thinking positive thoughts your way...and Brodie's!

[buckeyegal]

Kimberly...you have every right to be so worried! I wish I lived closer to you so I could give you a big hug. I can't imagine how you could be feeling right now. BUT, your little Bodie has gone through a TON to get here (remember all those worries in utero?), and he's a tough cookie. Maybe some of the earlier measurements were off a bit? I know that our ped's nurses measure pretty darn quickly, so there's got to be some error. Try to keep that PMA handy right now. Worrying will just make you sick. Enjoy your trip this weekend and hug Bodie a bunch for me! (Oh, of course, silly me, annalise too!)

Keep us posted. I'll be praying for Bodie. Good luck!

[faithandhope]

Hey ladies! Sorry I have been MIA...this horrible hyperemesis (severe morning sickness) landed me in the hospital and i had to get lots of IV's that contained liquid Zofran (my friend). At this point, I am 15 weeks along and have lost 17 pounds, but the twins are doing great! Last Friday, we found out we are expecting TWIN BOYS! How exciting! I call them my lil southern gentlemen and future UGA football players. (-;

Ok, so I am back and hopefully won't end up in the hospital again!

XOXO,
Tiffany

[Malinka]

Kimberly, I am so sorry lil Bodie is going thru so much lately. He is in my thoughts and I hope that he is fine. Good luck with MRI on Monday, please keep us updated.

Nanny is a life safer, girls, I don't know how you do it on your own, seriously. Well, I kind of have to work too, soo I am putting 5- 6 hours of work every day between their feedings, so Nanny becomes very handy.

She helps me a lot during the night as well, because I am bfeeding, I have some reaccuring clogged ducts in my right breast, so I have to pump every time after the feedings, to avoid major pain.

Kimberly, when you were a full time nanny, were you a live in nanny? what were your responsobilities?
Kim, I heard about infamil gentle formula, I will defenitelly use it when I am not bfeeding anymore.

[buckeyegal]

Malinka--Oh, the things I could dream of doing if I had a nanny! It is crazy with two isn't it? Good for you for being able to bf. How are you doing it? One at a time or tandem? That stinks about the duct issue, but I'm sure as the babies drink more, that will resolve itself. Do you have to supplement at all? Looking back, I wish our pediatrician hadn't demanded supplementing...I think I would have had better luck bfing if I hadn't had to deal with those dang bottles too. Glad to hear you're getting along okay! Post some pics when you get the chance...I'm sure the babes have gotten big!

faithandhope--yikes--hospital and iv's! Wow, you really DID have morning sickness! Makes mine sound like a walk in the park. Do you have to have one of those IV purses now? A gal who went to my RE had to have a pump on her all the time. I sure hope you feel better soon...nearly 15 weeks, it has to end anyday now! Let's hope! Glad the babies are doing well. And don't worry, those 17 pounds will come back if needed! Congrats on two boys! Glad to hear that there will be 2 gentlemen for my Ellie to check out when she gets older!

Kimberly, hope you're having a nice vacation...still praying for Bodie over here.

We go to our 2nd swim lesson class tomorrow. It's a lot of fun, and the kids are just POOOPED afterwards! Long nap, yeah!

[Malinka]

Kim, I am bfeeding only. Well sometimes I bf one at the time, sometimes tandem. My lil Vicky doesn't like the football hold, she is getting so cranky and is refusing to eat, lol, such a high maintanence. So I have to find out how to do tandem feeding with different holds:) now.

Why did your pediatrician insist on supplementing? Did you bf too at the beginning?

[buckeyegal]

Malinka--my ped insisted from the first day he met them on supplementing. They were decent sizes when they were born--about 5 lb. 2oz. and 5 lb. 8 oz. But he was very insistent that they suplement until they were a solid weight (about 8-10 pounds?). Maybe he wasn't sure if I could make enough milk? Since these were my first babies, we didn't know how bfing would go. they both latched on well, and I was able to make milk. Who knows....maybe he had good reasoning that I don't know about. I do know that they gained weight very well and caught up to "normal" very quickly. I think it's a guessing game for most docs cause you never know how things are going to go. I'm glad you're able to bf though. It's nice not to have to deal with bottles. I bfed and supplemented for about 8 weeks. Then I started to wean them. I took my time though (cause I really really wanted to be able to bf---but I started having terrible pain with no end in sight. I had several nurses come check out our latches. They all said we looked good, but still the pain. I finally decided "happy mommy makes happy babies" and we've been great ever since!) I think I wrapped up all the bfing around 11 or 12 weeks? Which, in the long run, made going back to work part time a little easier too. kind of hard to pump while teaching!

As for your little "diva", get used to it. My Ellie is very particular about most things, while Braeden is sooooo laid back! ha!

[Malinka]

hmm, my pediatrician didn't say anything about supplementing yet, we will see on a 2 month appt, what she will say.

KIm, you bf almost till 3 months right? You did a great job!

By the way, girls, did you do all the immunization shots?

[buckeyegal]

Malinka, chances are, if she hasn't supplemented them yet, then they won't ever need to be...I'm sure they're probably gaining good weight and feeding well by now. AS for immunizations, we really wavered about it. It kind of freaks me out to put all that stuff in my kids, yet I know the diseases can be much worse. We ended up doing it. Our doc was very convincing. Good luck at your appt.!

[DianeC]

Malinka - We BF for 10 weeks and had to supplement. As long as your two are gaining weight you will not have to supplement. I think once you to start to supplement on a consistant basis then you will end up bottle feeding fully in the end. Good luck if you can avoid that!

We also vaccinated our two as we thought the vaccinations were less risk then getting the disease itself.

CONGRATULATIONS faithandhope on your twins boys! Hopefully you will see an end to your morning sickness soon.

Kimberly - hope Bodie's MRI comes back all OK - it must be an anxious time for you all. ((HUGS)) to you.

Kim - hope your two are not driving you crazy Mine are really wanting to get mobile. I purchased a walker (I know......many people are against them) and Bronte especially, loves it. They both can get aorund really well. I only leave them in it for short periods of time and we are all on one level here so don't have to worry about stairs etc... One more thing to help me babysit so to speak Oh....when will they get mobile.

We are moving next week and I still have to complete my assignment - just the discussion part to go so almost there. I will try and post again before we go offline.

Cheers to all

Di

[Babyb]

Just curious -- when did you all deliver your twins. I am currently 20 weeks and wondering when I should expect to deliver. I am under the impression that women deliver between 32-36 weeks (more often, right in the middle at 34 weeks). Thought I'd take a poll.

Also, if you were put on bed rest, when were you put down? I'm working full time right now and hope to continue working as long as possible so I can take advantage of my leave after the babies are born. Already having lots of back pain -- but that's about it right now (outside of some really bad migraines).

Thanks for the feedback.