Update On The Repeat Audiology Visit

So, Eva Rose went for her follow up audiology visit today and pretty much nothing had changed from her last visit.  Her hearing is borderline normal, which isn't really the issue.  The biggest issue is that she continues to have fluid in her middle ear and the negative pressure in her middle ear was worse.  Her last appointment was 3 months ago and either nothing has changed or it has gotten worse.  We now have to see an otolaryngologist to evaluate what to do next.  We have an appointment in 3 weeks which is the soonest appointment that we could get.  I was thinking about an appoint on a different day of the week, but that would have meant that the appointment wouldn't be for at least 2-3 more weeks and the audiologist didn't want her to wait that long.  We may be looking at tubes for her if the fluid doesn't resolve by the next appointment.  She will also have another hearing test the day that she sees the otolaryngologist.

The good news is that even though she is borderline normal hearing, meaning that she hears fine at close distances, but may not hear so fine at further distances.  This also means that if there is a hearing loss it is not impacting her speech.  She, along with her brothers have all progressed quite nicely with their vocabulary.  There is some talk about whether or not they will be eligible for further services through EI.  I am hoping that they will still get services since they are doing so well with the services that they have!  I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens at the next appointment.  The best thing that could happen is that the fluid dissipates on it's own.

Amy

My Crazy Life

I don't know if it was just a bad day, the fact that I got my period (sorry if TMI), or what, but I had a horrible day.  The kids drove me crazy, the house is a disaster, and I was just in a plain crappy mood.  My kids are now almost 3 and almost 2.  In a couple of weeks, I'll actually have 3 two year olds for a month and a half.  They fight horrible, they destroy my house (and I hate to clean as it is),  and they just always want to be on the go.  Now that winter is here, we can't really go to the park.  They hate to keep mittens on so being outside for any length of time is pretty much out of the question.  The indoor play areas can get crazy expensive or just plain crazy with 3 little ones. 

With the new year coming, my goal is to have a schedule, albeit fairly flexible, but a schedule for both me and the kids so that I can make sure that they are having fun, learning, and I can get things done.  I haven't been very scheduled at all, and I think it is now time to put something into place so that I feel less stressed about the day!  I am hoping that with some scheduling, the craziness wll be alleviated somewhat, or at least I won't be as stressed about it.  Now, I need to get a plan in place for waht I want to do with the kids.  There is a resource network that I want to check out.  I am hoping to get together with some friends who have kids and do a playgroup.  I want to plan to have art time almost daily even if it is only for a short time.  I want have dress up time.  I guess I just need to put in some structured play time, and as stupid as it sounds, I'm not sure exactly how I want to schedule the day.  If anyone has any suggestions or wants to plan a playgroup, please let me know.  My newest goal is to start scheduling my day a little bit more than I have been.

Thanks,
Amy

Newest Crafting Projects

So the holidays are officially over and I didn't get a chance to make as many handmade things for the kids, or anyone else.  Hopefully things will settle down, and I  can get into a routine for me and the kids.  I am hoping that with a better routine, I will be able to get more done, including crafting for the kids.  I have so many things that I want to make, but there is just not enough time in the day.  I always knew that once I had kdis, I wanted to put my love of crafting to good use for them.  The next projects on the list are:  knit hats for all three as well as mittens, a doll and doll accessories like: quilt, clothes, maybe even a moses basket, a car caddy for each of the boys, since they are so into cars, especially Thomas.  There are also the multiple quilts that I want to make for the kids and others!  I better get that routine down so that I can set aside time to craft and get these projects done.  Thankfully, I set aside Monday nights to get together with a friend and create.  Oh, there is also the multiple scrapbooks that I need to work on.  Good god, I have way to many projects that I want to make!

Amy

Happy 23 Months Babies!

A few of my twin mom friends write letters to their children every month to document the different things that have gone on.  This can be developmental changes, activities that have happened, or just funny things/memories to preserve.  Since today is Eva Rose and Thomas' 23rd month of life, I figured I'd start today.  I don't think that I am as prepared as I'd like to be to really document all the different things that have gone on, but I definitely want to acknowledge that my babies aren't babies any more.  I will be sure to really document things for their 2 year birthday, but for this post, I will just briefly go over things.

We found out that we were having twins when I was 11 weeks along in my second pregnancy.  I was so lucky to get pregnant so quickly after my first son.  We never imagines twins, though so many people joked about it with us.  I have twins on both sides of my family and even though the male doesn't really have anything to do with the likelihood, my husband has identical triplets on his side.  I was put on bed rest at 23 weeks and was so scared that I would deliver early.  At 35 weeks, my OB took me off bed rest and when I went for a routine non-stress test, I found out that I was having the babies that night because of pre-eclampsia.  They were born 5 weeks early and my daughter was 4 pounds 7 ounces and 17 3/4 inches and my son was 4 pounds 8.9 ounces and 17 inches.  They did great and were able to come home with me.  unfortunately after 2 1/2 weeks, my son got RSV and was taken to Children's Hospital via ambulance from a routine doctors appointment.  He was in the hospital for 3 weeks and did well.  His sister was admitted for RSV 1 week after he was and she was in for 2 weeks.  From the time they were discharged from the hospital, they just grew stronger and stronger every day!  Over the last month, I have seen such changes in both of their verbal skills.  We have had early intervention involved for about 3 months now and the improvement in their ability to express and understand is amazing.  My Eva Rose was always and continues to be my feisty go getter and I thought that she would be the one to speak first and have a more extensive vocabulary.  My Thomas is my little cuddle bug that loves to snuggle especially with daddy.  The funny thing is, he is the one who seems to have all of a sudden exploded with his vocabulary.  they are still only saying 1 word at a time, but they have gone from  maybe a 5 word vocabulary to at least a 25 word vocabulary and probably more than that.  They are able to point out pictures and name objects independently.  They are starting to play with toys in a more functional manner. 

My goal for the new year is to start really having some scheduled activities for them instead off me being wishy-washy about the day.  I think this will be a better plan for all of us.  I don't want to plan and schedule my day in a totally rigid manner, I just want to have a plan on what I want to happen that day.  I love being a mom too my 3 kids, and even though I always knew I wanted to have children and stay at home with them, I never realized how totally amazing it would be.  Don't get me wrong, I have my major stressors and don't always deal with things in the most rational way and my kids are not perfect angels, but I wouldn't change a thing!  As difficult as it's been having 3 kids in 10 1/2 months, I wouldn't change a thing.  I love watching them play together and overall they get along really well.  They are siblings after all so they do also fight, but when they kiss each other and play together nicely, it makes me tear up!

Wow, lengthy post, but so needed.  I may repeat some of this in next months post for their 2 year post, but after that I won't!  thank you bloggy friends for inspiring  me to write this type of post.  I know that this is not the best most in depth post (even though it is so long), but I think this is a great way to document different things in my kids lives since I can't scrapbook like I would want to (though I really need to get back to doing that!)

Amy

way Back When-esday: Christmas Eve

Four years ago, I got my engagement ring, after dating for 13 1/2 years.

By our 1st Christmas as a married couple I was already 6 months pregnant and one year later I was pregnant with the twins not realizing I would be giving birth to them 1 month later. 

This was me and my older son 2 years ago Christmas Eve, just one month before our twins entered the world!

Merry Christmas,

Amy

Eva Rose's First Haircut

Saturday, we took all 3 kids for their holiday haircut.  Both the boys had been before and were certainly not fan for their first haircut, but boy oh boy, Eva Rose was not a happy camper.  We take the boys to a traditional barber in Cambridge, that is not only inexpensive, but the staff have great personalities as well and they are actually really good with the kids.

This time, Eva Rose went first and as you can see from the following pictures, she was miserable.  Then Thomas went, and her was just as miserable.  I didn't think that he would be that bad since his first time wasn't too traumatic.  Finally, it was Mr Michael's turn.  He was amazing.  He didn't cry once.  This was probably his 5th or 6th hair cut  and the woman cutting his hair said that haircuts 2-6 tend to be the worst.  We have a few more to go with the twins before we have no crying.  That is if what she said is true!

Before we started

Even eating her candy cane wasn't making her happy!

Yay!  All Done!!!!

Thankfully we won't have to go back for a while!

Amy

Sleep and Lack There Of!

Ok, so I thought I had figured out the sleep issues with Michael.  I was so wrong!  My good luck lasted for about a week, before it took a sudden dive.  I'm sure that there will be plenty of people that say I am too lenient and never ever let your child sleep in bed with you.  Unfortunately, I succumb to the need for sleep and Michael often ends up in bed with me and my husband.  Maybe I should be more strict and just let him cry.  Sometimes it works and other times it doesn't.  I'm sure part of the reason it doesn't work is me.  There is a part of me that loves to cuddle him with me, then there is another part of me that feels like I am doing him a huge disservice.  If you ask my mom, she says "just let him sleep with you".  One of my younger sisters slept with my parents for the longest time and she turned out ok.  One of these days, Michael will learn to sleep through the night and we will all get some much needed rest.  For now, I am ok with him in my bed, even if there are others that don't agree.

Amy