Things Are Bound to Get Better

So, awhile back when I said we were having a good couple of days and we were all healthy...false alarm. These poor kiddos have been sick for so long. I don't know if they keep giving it back and forth or if they are getting it from other people, but somethings gotta give. We are on our third antibiotic and you know what they say, third time's a charm? I haven't blogged much because

a. Haven't had time with two sick ones.
b. Too tired at night.
c. Not much to say. Boogers. Fever. Cough. Not too exciting.

Whatever they had has turned into a yucky cough and wheezing. I feel like people think I'm that crazy Mom who thinks her kids are always sick. Or even worse, that psycho mom who keeps her kids sick...remember that lady in the movie The Sixth Sense? Why would I think that? Because they have been sick for SIX WEEKS and I'm going slightly crazy. Anyway, this week I felt like we would just wait out whatever this sickness is and pray that we are almost over the last of it. Until Ella started coughing yesterday. For over 45 minutes she coughed and wheezed hard and I didn't know how to help her. I took her to the urgent care and a nice, elderly (like, seriously old) doctor helped us. He looked at her ears and Ella still has a double ear infection. As I held her against me I felt her little body huffing and puffing, though the coughing had stopped. He listened to her lungs and with a smile he told me, "Well I just don't hear a thing." At which point I wanted smash the stethoscope over his head and ask if he was @#$*@&! kidding me. Instead I explained that I could hear her right then and I was concerned with what I should do if she started coughing for another long stretch. To be honest, I couldn't really understand what he said. I realize that's the time that you ask questions and advocate for your child. But this was all happening as Maxwell was screaming in the stroller and Ella started to cry/moan/wheeze. We had been waiting for two hours and at this point we were all done. Anyway, I called my pediatrician and yada yada yada I feel OK with our new dose of antibiotics. The point of this post is just to say...this is why I haven't been posting. I feel like I would either write to complain, or sound like a martyr 'poor us.' Not too exciting to read about.

I also realize that although we have had a rough month, this will pass. Many families struggle with much worse. Our kids do not have cancer. They are not disabled. They are not in the hospital. We are OK and soon enough this will be over. I am so thankful for our overall health. Maxwell and Ella are not miserable all day everyday. They have bouts of smiles and playing. This morning I took the camera out and this is a typical morning around here when they are feeling alright.

Points of interest in these photos: Yes, I know Ella has a mullet. I'm not sure how to handle it so I cleverly tried to disguise it with a headband. Which lasted two minutes longer than I thought it would.
Both kids know exactly what to do with Kleenex and the thermometer.
I think it's adorable that they kiss each other, but we are working on close mouthed kisses.
As always, please ignore the annoying mommy voice in the videos. It's a habit I just can't break.

Mothers

To my mother and to my mother-in-law...thank you. I love you both. You have made this year easier for me, as you've helped me so I could help my babies. I am blessed by both of you in different ways. Thank you for taking care of me and my family. Happy Mother's Day.

Grand Parents

I think it's an extraordinary gift that Maxwell and Ella have great-grandparents in their lives. I grew up with very special relationships with each of my grandparents and I have memories with one of my great-grandmothers. Watching my kids be loved by other people is so moving its ridiculous. We went to visit my grandparents, Nana and Papa, in Santa Barbara last week. During our visit Maxwell found a ball and started playing catch with Papa = my heart melted on the floor.

My kids are already sharing such special moments with their grandparents.


I love how Maxwell is throwing the ball to Papa but looking adoringly at Nana.

14 Months

Happy 14 months Maxwell and Ella! You've spent the last two weeks feeling yucky and sick. High fevers and ear infections sum up the happenings around here. I hate seeing you feel so bad...I'm ready to have my happy babies back! This morning things are looking brighter. Everyone slept well last night and your smiles made me run for the camera. Here's to a healthy month 14. Love, love, love you~

Best Surprise Ever

Last weekend one of my best friends came to visit. Molly, John, and their ADORABLE daughter Vienna came for a quick overnight stay. Maxwell and Ella have both been sick, again...for so long...but having company in our house was refreshing. It's hilarious how 90% of what Molly and I talked about was the kids. But we also got to laugh and play remember when, talking about college and the 'good old days.' All I can say is...come back. Soon. We love your family.

Molly and I were trying to get them to smile by dancing and making silly faces. They all just looked at us like, really?

V has the cutest face ever. I think Maxwell wants her to be his girl.

Skate

Big Sister

We went to the park last week with little Meg. Oh how they love their big sissy.

Cousins

Abby Mae came to visit for the weekend. The babies studied her every move.

We also celebrated Charli's third birthday with a tea party...
happy birthday big cousin!

We love our family.

Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-8a and 13
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails....And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (NIV)

Lord, teach me to love this way

13 Months

So this post is a little late. BUT, as I've said before, I'm using this as my baby book so I've got to keep up.

Babies,
You two are literally into everything. I find myself starting to get frustrated and then you just make me laugh. This month you are especially interested in the toilet, the fireplace, the television, and any drawer that does not have a safety lock.

One of the best parts of the day is watching how excited you both get when Daddy comes home. If you are by the window you start squealing and waving your chubby arms around. You get so happy to see him. So do I.

Love,
Your Mama

Maxwell,
This month you have been a sick boy! Poor little guy. I hated seeing you with a cough and runny nose. But you're better now and you're back to being a ham. Everywhere we go people always comment on what a big boy you are. It's amazing that you are still so healthy because you are not eating much at all! I try to feed you you're favorites and you still either throw it on the floor or try to knock it out of my hand. But you know what? Everyone tells me that I was a really picky eater too. So it's OK. You'll come around.

The past few days you have us laughing so hard because you are VERY proud that you've learned to stand up. That's right, all by yourself! You can get up on your own and then you look around with a 'check me out!' smile. You'll stay up for quite awhile but you're not interested in taking steps yet. That's OK. You have your whole life to walk :) You are sleeping better! This makes me so so happy! You are also a chatterbox. You like to make so many noises. And if we aren't paying attention, you'll talk even louder so we do. You continue to be a very happy boy. I love being your Mommy.

Ella,
You have become so affectionate the past couple months, I LOVE it. You like to cuddle and crawl up in my lap for breaks during playtime. Unlike your brother, you LOVE to eat. Anything. Off of your plate, off of the floor, off of the driveway. You have everyone fooled. You look like a petite little thing, but when it's time for a bath we see your chubby little body. It is adorable. You are very sweet with your stuffed animals and baby dolls. You look at their faces and talk to them in this little high pitched voice...too cute. But you are also a tough girl. Your brother can play really rough with you and sometimes I can't believe how strong you are. This is going to take far little girlie.

We all thought you would have been walking by now because you speed around so quickly with your walker, but you are content to crawl. And that's fine by me. You still have moves. My favorite is when the music comes on and you rock back and forth, looking at us to make sure we're catching your smooth dance moves. Don't worry, we see them we love them.

You sure like to give me a hard time in the bath. Although you love bath time, you are determined to stand up. Don't you see this is dangerous? You give me a heart attack everyday. But I just breathe in deeply and ask you to please sit down because it is not safe. You sit, then smile, and stand right back up.

Love you so much baby.

Gag me with a...finger?

Patience usually comes easy to me but I'm finding myself frustrated. Two things:

1. My kids get a kick out of gagging themselves. They literally put their fingers down their throats and make this awful bulimic like sound. They've been doing it for a few months and show no signs of slowing down. I thought it was just a phase. At first I wouldn't react because I thought they were doing it to get my attention. Then I tried calmly taking their fingers out and giving a disapproving face/tone. They don't care. One starts and the other one copies like it's a game. It is so gross.

2. Mealtime with Maxwell is not fun. He is a super picky eater. I know twins are two separate people but it's hard not to compare his eating with Ella's. These days little peanut literally eats twice what her brother does. The 'finger food' I put on his tray goes immediately onto the floor. So I try putting down small amounts at a time. He does better when I feed him with a spoon, but he only wants to eat things with no texture. We're fine if I feed him yogurt or sweet potatoes. But he can't live on that alone. Right? I've been pretty successful with keeping them on the same schedule with eating and sleeping, but this fixing double meals is driving me crazy.



Any suggestions? Ideas? Witty one liners for the people staring at us in the store when my kids have their fingers down their throats?

Day 7

Last day of Spring Fashion Week. Thanks for hosting Emery! It was so fun 'meeting' all you other bloggers. My last outfit is...a repeat. Same dress, different shoes. I had been on the hunt for the perfect boot and two Christmas ago my Mom found these for me. I wore them all through my pregnancy and I still LOVE them.

Happy Easter. And Happy Thirteen Months Maxwell and Ella. Love, love you.

Day 6

Saturday outfit. Comfy and easy. I know my other flip flop is around here somewhere. I found it's mate in the shower. Note the intentional head crop...bad hair day :)

Only one more day of Spring Fashion Week.

Day 5

Little boy is on the mend.
The sun is out.
My charming, hilarious stepson comes home tomorrow.
The weekend is here :)

Go see what others come up with over at Emery's.

Day 4

Maxwell is still feeling kind of yucky, but he's better today than yesterday. Have I mentioned that I LOVE our pediatrician? She had her nurse call to check on him. Maybe all doctors do that, I just always have a good feeling when we leave her.

Funny thing happened yesterday. Maxwell LOVES to be without his diaper. He was still a little feverish so I just had him in shirt and diaper for his nap. When I went in to get him he had taken in off. And decided to spray down the crib. Silly boy.

OK, here's our day four for Spring Fashion Week.