Double Trouble

[kholtan]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers! We are headed to the RE in an hour and I will feel so much better. Honestly, as moms we all know that worry is just part of our life now but it breaks my heart ot see the little guy struggle. He is SO happy other than these little periods of struggle. Hopefully we will all feel better soon and these constant trips to the RE can end soon for him. Little Annelise is just along for the ride but has been quite a trooper. THis will be our 4th trip in 2 weeks! UGH!!!

I'll report back soon!

Kimberly

[buckeyegal]

Kimberly--good luck! It's hard not to worry. I hope the doc can help you figure this out. Could he have an allergy? I know one of my friends who bf's can't have any dairy. Her 11 week old son just can't handle it. Please keep us posted!

Di--I'm glad your two handled the vaccines better this time, too!

Faithandhope--how you feeling?

As for us, we're going through lots of changes right now. THe day of naps was just a result of vaccines. We're back to napping less now. But still decent amounts. ellie has become a rolling pin this weekend! She keeps rolling everywhere--it's so funny! Braeden isn't as motivated as she is, so he's quite content where he is. We're also trying to get these solid foods in. We literally have to sneak cereal into them because they hate it! I'm sure it's not "good" that we're doing it this way, but I am hoping after lots of times being tricked into trying it, that they'll get the idea. Each baby is a little better with some veggies. Ellie doesn't seem to mind sweet potatoes, while Braeden seems to give green beans a go. Of course, when I say that, they'll switch their minds! They're both seeming to like their high chairs too, so I'm hoping to ditch the bouncy seats very soon! Yeah--more room for the junk they'll get for Christmas! Seriously, my house is completely overwhelmed. IT's like TOYS R US.

gotta run! The kids are napping, so this is my chance to shower before work!

[faithandhope]

Kholtan-keep us posted on Bodie!

Buckeyegal....already sick 3 times before 9am...not a good start to the day. Please let 14 weeks come soon!

[kholtan]

Good Morning everyone!

Kim~ Ellie as a rolling pin is so sweet! Gives me the cutes visual. When did they start rolling over? How early were your babies again? I can't seem to remember anything anymore unless it's related to my own little ones!
I know how you feel about your house being over ran with baby stuff! Every square inch of this house is covered with baby items. I love the thought of putting some of it away and then when I really think about it it's so sad that they are growing up.
Sounds like the babies are having a good time trying new foods. I'm sure you already have the messy baby face of food photos going. Cute!

Di~ So Bronte has reflux also? Bodie never spits up, ever, so I wouldn't have thought of it right away. Any tips?

We went to the RE yesterday and are now taking some reflux med. Let's hope he has some relief. About 80% of the day he is SUPER happy just smiling and playing and he is so sweet. Then, he gets hit with this problem and he is just scared and stiff. It's heart wrenching! He's now falling a little behind in weight but only by 3 oz. so it's not much but he has always been bigger or the same prior. Thank goodness we have so much faith in our RE. They even made a house call last week to see him in his environment which I thought was so thoughtful. They really aren't supose to do that anymore but they did and then they didn't even charge me for it. Our Re really is the craziest fella but so endearing. We were also told to give him one bottle at night with a little rice cereal in it so that it's a bit thicker and will stay down easier. Anyone do this? It seemed early but we tried it last night and it went alright. He doesn't really like bottles at all and only takes one every now and then if he feels like it so we'll see how it goes.

Yesterday was a busy day for the babies (hair appointment, RE, dentist office, post office, Pharmacy) so today we are hanging out at home all day to get some good play time in. Should be fun and relaxing. I love these days where we just roll around on the floor and play silly music. I'll try post some new photos today as well since they seem to get so much bigger every day!


Have a great day everyone and thank you again for all the sweet thoughts.

Take care~ Kimberly

[buckeyegal]

Kimberly--I hope the meds help Bodie. Time should help too. I hear that babies with this problem tend to get better with solid foods. Did I read your post right--you take the babies to the hairdresser with you? WOW WOW WOW! I'm impressed! I've never even tried that one. In fact, I am going on THursday for a highlight and cut, and I had to ask my MIL to come help DH take care of the kids. He CAN do it by himself, but he does a BETTER job with help! You amaze me in how you cart those babies around. I wish I were a braver woman!

Braeden has been rolling over (belly to back) since he was about 4 weeks old. Sounds amazing, but he was just so pissed off when I put him on his stomach (and lightweight), that he'd flip over. Ellie was nearly 2 months the first time. AMazingly enough though, Ellie was the first to flip from her back to her tummy (about 5 1/2 months). Now she just keeps rolling--even in the middle of the night! I've been woken up a few times now by Ellie crying because she's run out of room to roll, and she's on her belly! My two were born a day shy of 37 weeks, so they were pretty much full term. (At least as far as twins go...)

I know what you mean about putting things away. It's sad and happy all at the same time to see them grow out of things. It's neat to see them grow up, yet I can't believe how time flies! I do need to take more pictures of them eating--I usually have my hands full, so I forget about the camera. I'll do that at dinner tonight!

Malinka--are you with us? Or, did I bet right??? I hope you are well!

[Malinka]

Hi girls,
Kim was right, well, almost right, I had my babies on Dec 13th, thursday:) via c section.
Benjamin Boris was born weighting at 6.5lb and 18 3/4 inches at 1.21 pm
Victoria Jasmine was born weighting at 5.9 lb and 18 1/2 inches at 1:22 pm

I am home with my lil Vicky, Ben is in NICU, he swallowed some meconium:( but he is a tough little cookie, he is doing just fine, they cleared his lungs and now he is just learning how to eat. As soon as he will gain some weight, hopefully by tomorrow, they will discharge him!

[faithandhope]

Congratulations Malinka!!!!!!!!!!! So exciting!

[buckeyegal]

Congrats Malinka! Yeah! I just had a gut feeling about that one. GREAT SIZE babies! Wow! So sorry to hear that Ben is in NICU (gotta teach the little guy not to eat his poop! ) How are they with eating? What great Christmas gifts, you've gotten! I can't wait to see photos. I bet they're beautiful. Try to get some rest, and remember, we're here for ya!

Can't wait to hear the stories! Did you go into labor? Or did the BP go up?

[Malinka]

thanks Kim, actually, remember I was complaining that I was itching all over? Turns out I had a cholestasis of pregnancy. To make a long story short, I called my Peri, because Obs in my group were not paying to much attention to my problem and peri insisited on rescheduling the c section. With cholestasis of pregnancy babies should be taken no later then 37 weeks. I was 37 weeks last thursday.
well, eating, I think I might run into a problem here. My lil baby girl is home with me and I am trying to breastfeed her, we are working out on a schedule, she is a quick eater but my son, is such a slow eater, it takes him forever to finish the bottle. He eats good, thanks G-d, but he really takes his time with each feeding. I tried to breast feed him too couple of times, it went ok, but I am not sure how it is going to work between two of them. One is a quick eater and one is a slow eater, I am at lost

Any suggestions?

[buckeyegal]

Malinka--I'd never heard of that before...good for you for calling your peri! Someone was looking out for you!

I feel your pain about the eating situation. That was my situation. My daughter (baby A) chowed like a fiend. My son was sooooo slow! Still is, sometimes. That's why tandem nursing was hard for me. My daughter would be finished and jump off (and need burping) when my son was just getting his groove. Good luck to you! Maybe kholtan has some good advice? (They're also really young too, so maybe in another week or so it'll be better?)

[kholtan]

Malinka~ CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! What great sizes and both home now, WHOHOOOO!!! I bet you are relieved. I had some itching while on hopital bed rest but I think it was because of the mag I was on. It was miserable though when it flared up.
As far as the eating goes, I still b-feed mine with only one small bottle of formula before bed to help them sleep longer. For me, the tandem pillow was a must!!! Mine eat at different rates even now and I'm able to leave one on the boob while I throw one over my shoulder to burp. It's a bit wierd at first but you get the hang of it after a few times. My babies dob't mind hanging out on the pillow while the other finishes either. Mine were 6 weeks early and it was a time consuming process at first but now we have it down to 15 minutes a time. Now they are getting to long for the double pillow so we will have to go to individual feedings soon but it's so much fun to nurse them. I found the bottles so difficult and still do. My little guy rarely takes a bottle at all but I always offer it to him. The one warning I will give is that the double pillow makes the kids feed kinda wierd and I got blisters and cracked randomly up until 2 weeks ago! OUCH!!!
Either way, good luck and I'll try to help you as much as I can in the nursing department. I love it and found it well worth the pain and struggle in the beginning.

Kim~ Your little guy rolled over at 4 weeks!!! HOLYCOW!!!!!! Mine won't do it even now at 16 weeks! Should I be worried? They both HATE tummy time. I mean HATE IT!!!! They show no interest at all in rolling over. I'll roll them over to get the feel of it and they throw a huge fit and protest but they LOVE laying under the gym toys. They smile, laugh, bat at toys, and stuff like that but they don't do too much more. Is that normal?
I will say, mine travel so great and I am lucky for that. Technically they are 10 weeks old today and still sleep a lot while out but recently they wake when we arrive places and need to check things out more. Santa at the mall was a real treat for Annelise. She just stared at him like he was the biggest mystery!

I have no idea what they should be doing because they were so early but needless to say, I worry they don't do enough. Will the worry ever end???

Better run. . .morning nap has ended for Bodie. Bummer!
Take care!
Kimberly

[LauraLou]

Malinka- Congratulations!!! Your babies are so nice and big; you did a great job! My babies took forever to eat. It would take up to 45 mins to get them to eat 2 oz. The older they got, the faster they got. They now eat an 8oz bottle in 15 minutes. I never tried to breastfeed, so I don't have any suggestions there.

I have taken care of pts with cholestasis, so I know how miserable you were. I'm glad you advocated for yourself and got your c-section early. Good for you!

Jeremy and Nicholas had a pedi appt last week. They are still a little small for their age (16lbs & 16lbs 11oz), but seeing as they started out at 4 lbs, they're doing really well. The only problem is they have had 4 ear infections since October, so they need tubes in their ears. They have an appt with a pedi ENT in January. I am a little nervous about the anesthesia but I know it's a routine procedure so they will be fine.

They are so much fun! They laugh and squeal and put their arms around me when I hold them. They sleep 12 hours at night! I am so incredibly happy! This time last year I so nervous and scared about having twins. Now I can't imagine only having one.

[Malinka]

girls thank you so much for all your suggestions, you know you are twin moms gurus LOL

I am actually taking my baby boy home today, so we will see how it will go with feedings and sleeping at night, I will keep you updated!

Kimberly, how is little Bodie, feeling better?

[woodcliff]

Hi Ladies! I read your thread from time to time, congratulations for all of you twin moms!

I'm 22 weeks tomorrow with B/G twins, and currently see my OB only...

Q:

Did all of you have an OB PLUS a Peri?
If so, why?
I don't have any complications, and will start at week 24 to see my OB every other week, get sonograms every other week...etc.

My OB will perform my c-section as well.

If you have a Peri, how does that work? Did you see him/her every other week, PLUS your OB? Who did you listen to the most?

My OB is great...he has delivered many twins and I've gone to his group practice for over 10 years...but I want to make sure I do not make a mistake that could hurt my babies. My OB gave me the name of a Peri he refers women to, if I want to do that he said go ahead...
My husband is an MD and wonders if it'll get too confusing for me, hearing so many opinion on my pregnancy...I tend to agree with him, but again, I don't want to make a mistake!

Thank you!

[kholtan]

Woodcliff~ Congrats on B/G twins!!! That is what I have and I just LOVE it!!! I'm a sucker for a pair of identicals and would clone each of my children for sure but I jsut love that we have our instant. . .after years of trying. . .complete family!
For me, I only had my RE. We had rock solid confidence with him and felt very well taken care of. There is so much advice even if you only have one RE. Advice comes from EVERYWHERE it seemed for myself one RE was the answer. I saw a PERI on the day I went into the hospital on total bedrest but my RE sent me only to confirm his findings. The great thing about twins is that they are so common. Although considered a high risk pg, they are still an everyday occurance around here and my RE had quite a few other twin moms getting ready to deliver at the same time as me. The day I met my RE he had delivered two sets by noon! In the end, go with your gut! I'ts better then 1000 RE's!!!

As for Bodie. .. UGH!!! Poor fella! He just can't seem to get any relief. I ended up calling our Pediatrician this morning and begging for him to help my little fella. It's starting to effect his ability to sleep and Annelise seems to be taking the grunt of neglect around here in order to accomodate his discomfort. Our RE even made a house call last week and I know he is very good. He's very knowlegable and I feel like he is doing what he can but it's very hard to help a littel body that can't talk to you and tell you whta they are feeling. He never spits up or anything but he is constantly getting stiff and his tummy is SO loud! He just clings to me and it is so sad to see him look for help and yet I can't give him anything but a lot of holding.
We really have been the most confident parents. . .I know that sounds funny to say and I don't mean to be arrogant but we really did feel very capable. Our babies have been SO easy and minus our attempts at more sleep we have had it easier than most people with one baby. Our house has been all smiles since day one with them and all the sudden our little fella has really rocked our confidence and made us so worried. It's not that we don't have great moments most of the day because we do but when he is miserable it is more than just being cranky. You know when there is something wrong with your baby and there is something not right with him and we are on a mission to find out what if I have to see 1000 RE's. In the mean time we will keep praying for an answer for him.

Thanks for asking about him. It means alot to have other mothers that can understand and be thinking of him. It feels good to not be alone in my worry.

Off to get them some fresh air.
Take care~
Kimberly