Elliott found his thumb!!!

Hello all =) Today has been a super day. I had my hair cut and and badly needed eyebrow wax...haven't done either of those since September or October!!! Aunt Jean came over and Andrew was home so I didn't have to leave anyone alone with two babies...its tough to do that. I also got to walk around Walmart without worrying about dirty strangers touching my babies!!! It was so freeing!!!

Elliott and Aaron turned three months old on Monday. They are smiling all the time and talking lots too. Sometimes I think they are smiling at us and other times I don't think they know what they are doing!!! We discovered the awesomocity of baby swings this week...they actually will sleep in them for hours!!! We were given a swing from Annie's neighbor and my mom bought us one that Julie found on craigslist for $25...it's awesome...it has cute fish and a light that changes colors. The babies and I LOVE it!!! Aaron's head is flat on...I thought it was and my mom said it wasn't and then Julie said it was and now I am freaking out. I don't want people to make fun of him...he is way too cute and so sweet. Elliott found his thumb today. I was able to capture the moment on video...I am not sure how to post videos from our video recorder but if I get a chance to figure it out I will post Elliott sucking his tiny little thumb. The boys are doing much better as far as projectile vomit goes...that is super awesome! They spit up a lot but I welcome spit up after all that puke. They are really missing their aunt Annie since she has been in a different country since Friday....Andrew and I miss her tons too. I don't know how we are going to survive once we move out of her house!!! Speaking of that...we can move in March 9th...YAY!!! I think we will paint a few rooms before moving our stuff in...it's easier that way.

I just want to give a "shout out" (what ever that means) to Nate and Heather....I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy that you guys are finally going to have a baby!!! Way to go you crazy kids =)

Jen
PS. Thanks Aunt Joy for those super cute bibs!!! Twins really do rock =)

Praise God for Avanit's and Sprite

It's been awhile!!! I want to start out by saying that last week I was able to get a shower 3 days in a row!!! I have been really stressing out over Aaron puking so much and both boys not being able to sleep without being held. I have had to break down and ask for help. My mom has come after work to help out and spent the weekend here. Sharon came two days last week and Grandma Bock was also here. It's just been a little crazy here lately. We are way super excited to move into the house!!! We will have an entire refrigerator to ourselves and everything!!!

I am trying to remember what I wrote in the last blog...I don't remember so I might repeat myself. Aaron kept puking so he had an ultra sound of his tummy. It was fine so we started the Gentlease for both boys. Elliott is now pooping almost everyday and Aaron is puking much much much less. The problem now is all the gas they have. They will both still be burping 2 hours after they ate. Also, Elliott has MAJOR gas issues. Aaron has been screaming after he eats and we think its gas. It could also be reflux. It's so hard to know. Aaron has been taking Zantac for his reflux and it wouldn't be working yet if it will work but maybe he doesn't even have reflux. I don't know if I am just putting too much guilt on myself but I think that things would be lots easier for my little babies if they were getting breast milk. They have always been gassy but not this bad. I know that going to formula only was the right choice (I think) but to hear my babies scream in agony makes me feel pretty terrible. It's hard to say what is making their tummies hurt...in the week that things started to get bad they received shots, I stopped breast feeding, and we switched formula. It could have been any of those things or a combination. All I know for sure is that I am feel super guilty for not giving them the milk that is best for them. My mom did some research online and thinks they might have a milk protein allergy. The Gentlease should be easier for them but there is yet another formula that is made for babies with this allergy. It's called Nutramigen. The Gentlease has partially broken down protein and less lactose. The Nutramigen has "extensively broken down protein" and no lactose. I really don't want to switch again but this gassiness is just awful and I don't think its normal. I don't think that it's okay for poor little Aaron to be in pain and for Elliott to have so much gas. His tummy has to hurt too. I am going to call the doctor AGAIN and talk to her about my concerns. I know she thinks we are crazy!!!

Oh!!! The boys had thier Synagis shots on Tuesday and Elliott weighs a whopping 9 pounds while Aaron weighed in at 8 pounds 5 ounces. They are so big!!! At least all the puking hasn't make either one of them stop growing. I can't believe how little they started...I miss my tiny babies!!!

The babies are smiling alot and it seems like they know what we are talking about when we talk to them. Both love to be sung to and to be told stories. I posted more pictures on snapfish so be sure to check them out. Becky, if you are reading this I promise that I will email you soon. I think that I want to be your BFF =) Well, I need to go now...Aaron just projectile puked *sigh* and Elliott needs a bottle.

good news/bad news

Aaron went to see the urologist, Dr. Reid, yesterday. Lots of good news!!! His hypospadias fixed itself and the hydrocele is getting better. He could still need surgery to fix it but his older cousin Jake had the surgery so I am sure if Aaron needs it he will also be just fine!!! The bad news is that Aaron threw up 4 bottles in a row last night/this morning. I called the pediatrician, Dr. Maini, this morning to see if we needed to switch formulas again. I talked to a nurse who told me to bring him in. Andrew had to work today so I had to bring both boys by myself....that was some hard work!!! People said "wow! Your hands are full" and wouldn't help me!!! What the heck?!?! Anyway, I told the doctor that he had been thowing up more often with this new formula that is supposed to help him not throw up. She said that he could be getting an infection (no fever), he could have reflux (was diagnosed with that in the NICU) and his tummy could be extra sensitive to the new formula, or he could have some kind of sickness that would need surgery. This sickness thing is when the stomach muscles grow too fast and there isn't any room for food...or something like that. I was so sure that that wasn't the problem that I didn't really pay attention. Maybe I should have... So Aaron was to have 2 oz of pedialyte every two hours for at least 4 feedings and then have 2 oz of Enfacare (old formula) every two hours. I called the Dr back at 3 like I was supposed to and have to call again in the morning. If he continues to throw up then he will have to have a tummy ultrasound. He is very hungry but was able to keep the pedialyte down and his first formula feeding. I am hoping that things will continue this way throughout the night and Dr. Maini will want to put both boys on a different formula, Gentlease. This is supposed to be super easy on their bellies. The Enfamil AR (the new formula) makes Aaron puke and makes poor Elliott constipated. He has been screaming when he poos. Poor poor little guy!!! I guess that is all the news I have. Oh...I looked to see if I could post a link to the house, but it's not online anymore...guess because we bought it =) I will post pictures of the house and of the boys soon!!!
Jen

we have a house!!!

It's true...we have a house. Actually two now, but I am sure that the Elkhart house will sell very very VERY soon =) We put two offers in on the house in Mackinaw but the bank would not budge so we gave up. Andrew looked at a house in Peoria without me last Tuesday..I think. He came home and told me he wanted to buy it. I saw pictures online and wasn't that impressed. He told me that the rooms were small and it was only a one car garage. I just kind of blew it off. The Wednesday he texted me and told me that he had arranged for me to go look at the house with Mario on Friday. He said that he wanted me to go through it and then put in an offer. The house was listed last Monday so I knew we didn't have a lot of wiggle room with the price...plus I didn't think it was the right house. Anyway...Andrew, the boys, and I went to look at the house Friday. Aside from the purple shudders and door I love it. I knew the second I stepped in the front door that it was our house. I don't know that our family can add more people to it in the house but it is perfect for now. We put in an offer on Friday and the people accepted it on Friday. We close on March 7 and move in March 9. YAY!!!

Elliott and Aaron had a super day yesterday. Nobody threw up and they slept very well in between feedings. I had to let Aaron cry for about 7 minutes before he fell asleep and I hated doing that. I keep reading that babies cry for a reason and you shouldn't let them cry but I can't hold them both all day either. I am putting my babies first and everything else second, but I still can't hold and calm two babies and once as well as prepare and wash bottles. They HAVE to learn to sleep without being held. Aaron goes to the urologist tomorrow to check on his hypospadius and hydrocele. Hopefully nothing will require surgery!!! I am sure that God will get us though it if it does. Nothing can be worse then having babies in the NICU for a month!!! Gotta go...Aaron is screaming!!!

Jen

Finally a minute...

I only have a minute. The babies have been extra demanding this week. They went to the doctor on Monday. I was overwhelmed and surprised when Dr. Maini said that they would be getting shots. I knew that the time would come but I thought we had more time. I didn't want them to have shots....I really wanted to make sure that they only received the ones they would need to go to school. I felt rushed and pressured into it and didn't have time to think. Each baby received 2 shots in each thigh and an oral vaccine. Elliott spit most if not all of the oral vaccine out...yay Elliott!!! Since then they have been a little extra cranky and don't want to be put down. This is hard when I am only one person!!! Elliott weighed 7lbs 10 oz and Aaron was 7lbs 1 oz. They are not on the chart as far as weight goes for a normal 2 month old but their heads are on the chart!!! I didn't think they ha big heads. They no longer have to be on the high calorie formula but are now on Enfamil AR...for acid reflux. Its super thick like a milk shake, but they aren't throwing it up!!! We were hoping they would be put on a less expensive formula but our babies are WAY to special for that!!! On that note...I have decided to stop breastfeeding. I know that it is healthier for them but I am pumping so often that I can't spend quality time with my babies. I think their mental health is more important than their physical health and I know that their physical health is good. It is true that they may have more ear infections and allergies because they are not breastfed but they may not as well. They could have developed those things even being breastfed. That may sound terrible but they are really healthy!!! They were only able to get one bottle of breast milk a day. I know every bit is awesome, but I need to be able to sleep in order to be a good mommy. I was so incredibly stressed out and it was such a hard decision to make but I know it was the right one for our family. Andrew and I are both able to bond while feeding the babies and all 4 of us seem to be happier and more calm. I love being able to spend more time with them and not getting upset when they take a long time to get to sleep since that pushes my pumping back and makes me be able to get less done. I need my babies to be what I think about the most...not pumping. I had been in denial about this for too long and I really REALLY tried to make it work. I am not giving up. I am doing what is best for our little family. We have spent so much money on teas and herbs and non FDA approved prescriptions. If circumstances were different it may have worked. I will for sure try again if we have any more kids...even if it's twins again!!!

On a light note...Andrew and I had a terrible night with the boys Sunday night. They were both crying and we couldn't figure out why. They kept calming down when they had their paci's and then would begin to scream again when their paci's fell out. Andrew wanted to tie their paci's to their faces!!! I wouldn't let him but it did lighten the mood and make us both laugh. Finally Andrew asked if we had checked if they were poopy and both were!!! Once their diapers were changed they both felt so much better =) How amazing is that!!!

On Monday they boys had their first trip to a restaurant...we went to Flat Top...yummy. They slept the entire time!!! We put in two offers for the house in Mackinaw and both were rejected. The four of us looked at another house...this one is in Peoria..this morning. I feel very good about it. Not like how I felt going through the Mackinaw house. We are putting in an offer today. It is move in ready and super close to Chuck E Cheese. We bought the boys in the house and they met our Realtor, Mario. He thought they were awesome!!! I am thinking it won't be long before him and his wife have their own little bundle!!! Well...the boys are waking up to eat. So happy I had a few minutes to write!!! Have fun in the snow!!!
xoxo
Jen and Elliott (Elliott is currently sleeping on my lap =)