Surgery and yuckies

On Wednesday The Girlchick has to have her tonsils out.  Her left one is almost the size of a golf ball.  They aren't sure why it is so large, but it can happen sometimes.  They don't think it is anything serious, but will send it off to be biopsied.  The reason it needs to come out is because it is effecting her swallowing and breathing.  She chokes on stuff every now and then, and it causes her to have issues at night when she is sleeping.  She is a little nervous about having surgery, but very excited about all the "soft" foods she gets to eat.  We went grocery shopping this weekend and she got to pick out everything she wants to eat.  Chocolate pudding, strawberry ice cream, blue popsicles, strawberry jello, berry smoothies, strawberry "shakes" aka pedisure. 

I was a little worried that she might not be able to have the surgery since she was coughing this weekend and had a runny nose.  But she seems to have cleared up with no lingering issues, so we are a go for Wednesday. 

The boys seemed to have caught something last week and haven't been able to shake it.  They sound better this week, but are still a little cranky and have runny noses.  I was worried that they were going to have issues and we would have to cancel The Girlchick's surgery or that it would turn into ear infections.  But knock on wood, so far so good.

Little Girl Growing up

The Girlchick is growing up way too fast.  We had her last parent teacher conference at her Montessori school.  I got a little teary leaving knowing it was the last one.  Then I did a little happy dance knowing that we will soon be getting a monthly raise! 

It was a good meeting with her teacher.  Her teacher has been telling us that The Girlchick is pretty smart, but I would always say in the back of my head "yeah, ok, you say that to all the parents".  But this time she actually said that we need to have The Girlchick tested for the gifted and talented program at the kindergarten, and maybe even skip kindergarten all together.  Now that blew me away.  She can read really well.  She is already reading chapter books, and spelling really well, can do story math problems, but I guess I just never realized that all the kids in her class weren't doing this. 

Then on Thursday we registered her for kindergarten.  I got a little teary leaving there too.  I know, I know, I admit it, I'm a mourner I've already determined this and stated this as fact mourners vs. rejoicers.  I just always feel like there is not enough time to slow down and enjoy my kids more.  I get so caught up in just getting through the day that I forget to enjoy everything my kids did that day, or take the time to really play with them and let them know how much I love them.  There just never seems to be enough time.  This seems to be a theme with me, something else I need to work on.  Hopefully one day soon I'll figure it out.  But until then, I've come to accept that I'm a mourner, or at least majority mourner with a little bit of a rejoicer, with goals to become more of a rejoicer!

Happy Birthday!

The boys first birthday is today.  We are having some friends and family over to celebrate with us.  The big surprise - we got a play set for the backyard.  We got it from some friends of ours that no longer wanted it.  It is awesome!  Nathan wants it to be a big surprise for all of the kids, and The Girlchick is so curious it's just driving her nuts!  It was taken apart so we could move it, then we needed to pressure wash it and stain it.  So it is still in pieces.  She has seen all the parts, but hasn't been able to figure out what it is yet.  We just keep telling her that Dad is working on a project and she will see it once it's done.  We are hoping to have it all put together for the party.  Nathan is determined - even if it kills him with frustration.  I keep telling him if it's not done, it's ok, we can take our time, no pressure.  But he's not hearing it.  We have been working all week to get it stained and ready to put back together and he seems to think that he can do it in one day.  We'll see. 

Happy Birthday boys!  It's been a crazy year that has gone by way too fast.  I need to remind myself yet again to slow down and enjoy it and not get so caught up in the everyday stress and everything else and enjoy my kids while they are young, before I miss it.  I seem to always be saying that, I hope to one day listen to myself.

Before the cake

Thing 1 just wanted to play with it at first and didn't put any in his mouth, but Thing 2 went right for it.

Thing 1 testing it out first before he would try any.

Thing 1 finally figured it out and liked it.

Thing 2 was a lot messier, but we had to make an emergency mid-cake clean up since he got frosting in his eye.

Almost walking

Thing 2 is so close to walking!  He has started taking more than just a few steps.  If he is already standing and balanced he will try to walk first instead of dropping to the floor and crawling.  he's not quite ready to walk full time, he still leans a little forward and will face plant if he gets going too fast, but it is only a matter of time.  Thing 1 on the other hand has only taken a few steps so far.  I think once his brother starts walking 100% of the time, it will light a fire under his hiney and he will make short work of learning to walk all of the time. 

I'm not ready for them to walk.  I have a hard time as it is keeping up with them.  I won't need any exercise, I'll just be chasing them around all the time and won't need it.  But I was estimating that they would be around 14 months before they were fully walking.  Now I'm not so sure.  It may be closer to 12.5 months.  At least they aren't both walking at the same time.  I'll have a little bit of a break. 

Go Texan Day...... Just a little late.

Go Texan day is a pretty big deal here in Texas. We celebrate our heritage and history of the state and show that we are proud to be Texans. We put on our best boots and hats and eat good ole Texas BBQ. It's fun times. It was also celebrated on February 24th, so I'm a little late with this post. But life happens and as with everything else in our lives, I'll get a round to it, it just might be a little late. The Girlchick was so excited to get all gussied up for Texan Day at school. However she was not excited about eating BBQ for lunch. She is not a huge fan. Don't understand it, but I think she may eventually come around. Just like she did with chocolate, pizza, and Mac n'cheese. She was so proud of her outfit for the day. She picked it all out herself.

The countdown to 1 year begins!

I had decided awhile ago that if we had more kids after The Girlchick I would nurse for 1 year.  I had made it until 8 months with The Girlchick, but really wanted to go for a year if we had more.  When I found out we were having twins, I just said I would wait and see what happens.  I wasn't going to put that kind of pressure on myself if it didn't work out.  Having twins is hard enough, but I said I'm just going to see how it goes, and if I can do it then I will. 

Well April 21st is one year so I am almost there.  It's a good thing too since my milk supply is rather low these days.  We have had to do some supplementing in the last 2 weeks, but they are still getting breast milk everyday even if it is only 1/2 a bottle, so I say it still counts.  I'm going to miss my little private times with them in the mornings and evenings, but I am very happy that I will no longer have to pump!  I hate pumping, all the "stuff", hauling the pump all over the place.  But I am very happy that I made it this far and with twins to boot.  It wasn't always easy, and at times I wanted to rip out my hair, but I did it and I'm very proud of that!

Little Boys

The boys got their first haircuts this past weekend.  It was time, it was either get their hair cut or start pulling it back in a pony tail.  Nathan said I wasn't allowed to do that.  They look like little boys now instead of the shaggy haired babies. 

Let's just say that I'm not impressed with the selection of places to get kids haircuts.  I decided on one place on a recommendation from a friend.  She had taken her son there since he was a baby and she was pretty happy with it.  I also looked them up on the web and liked the fact that they give you a little certificate with their hair and take a picture for you, which is a BIG plus with trying to juggle twins.  I don't always have a free hand to take pictures of the things I want. 

We get there at our appointment time, and I was a little miffed that they took 2 walk ins ahead of us.  We had to wait about 10 mins, which is not easy with babies, let alone twins.  They are at the age where they want to be on the move.  They don't want you to hold them or confine them. 

We finally get called, and they only take one back, and then when I asked about the other, she seemed a bit confused.  She decided to take the other one and I had to hold him on my lap instead of putting them in the little car chair that they have for the little ones.  Not only did she just start cutting without talking to me I'm trying to talk to Nathan and look at the other one at the same time, and then she asks me ...... well if we do you at the same time, who's gonna take pictures?  Huh?  I came here since you advertise that you take pictures for their first hair cuts.  Before I can say anything she just starts to cut away.  I'm asking Nathan down the aisle what the other lady is doing since I want them to have the same cut.  You would think that one of them would have asked what the other was doing since you could tell we were concerned about it.  But no..... I think it would have required them to actually think.  We ended up getting hair cuts that were a little different from each other, not what I wanted, but a learning experience.  I now know what to expect, what to do and what not to do. 

First hair cut - not shaggy babies anymore

Happy Easter!

The boys celebrated their first Easter this past weekend.  The Easter bunny came to our house and hid eggs all over the place..... inside and out.  They boys had their baskets and were ready to go........ then they stalled.  We told The Girlchick that she had to leave the eggs on the floor and a few in the grass outside for her brothers, but the rest were fair game.  The boys were excited at first, all the colors and different stuff, but then they were over it.  They played with the new stuffed bunnies that came in their baskets, but that was it.  When it was time to go outside and hunt more eggs - they just sat in the grass.  They made no moves what so ever towards any of the bright eggs.  Just sat there.

The Girlchick was thrilled!  She had all the eggs to herself, just like old times. 

I have to say it is a bit different getting all the kids on the same page at the same time for holidays.  You can't just command them to perform the way you want them to, or to this idea that you have in your head on the way the holidays should go.  The new normal is still taking some getting used to.

The boys first Easter - hunting eggs in the back yard.

The Girlchick with her loot!

Come Out, Come out......

The boys are really interested in looking under the doors to see what they can see.  It can be the bathroom door, the bedroom door, the door to the pantry.  They even try to look under the front door and get mad when the get down to look under it and then can't see anything. 

The Girlchick and the boys have turned it into a game.  She knows if they are around and see her go and close a door they will come over to check it out.