Back to life

The days slip so quickly don't they! But here I am again, jotting away at my keyboard spattered with bits of baby drool and sticky fingers. We finished our last Christmas on Saturday with my Dad's extended family. The girls received once again some wonderful presents and we had a good time. This year has been amazing, and we are so grateful for the generosity of our family and friends. 

Kara and Kiley are babbling more and more now. Babababa (Bottle) has been very popular along with (Mum mum mum) Food. And we mustn't forget their favorites "No no no" and "Hot, Hot" Kara loves to tell me all of the things she finds that are hot, including her breakfast cereal. (which isn't hot, she made me blow on it to convince her though)

(Kara and Tic Tac)

Kiley is now afraid of going down the stairs alone (yaaaay!) Took her three times falling down them to get that but at last I have at least ONE child that doesn't immediately bee-line towards the gate the second Abby opens it. 

Abby is still very much the princess and wears her dress up dresses and things most of the day. I've decided I'm just going to put one set of 'real clothes' in the living room to put on her when she finally decides to wear them. The heap of laundry in the other room sighs in relief. She also insisted that she wear her pink sparkley shoes to church the other day...even if they were a little too big. The church goers got a kick out of them and her twirling during the church music. 

(Abby loves to brush hair and make it beautiful)

Kiley & Kara still hate being restrained during church and have a devious plan of trying to distract us constantly. Kiley also loves chewing to death the little cardboard books we got for Christmas (I've had to hide them) I took one away and she just screeeeeamed at the top of her lungs and wouldn't stop. Of course it was during the prayer...  

Here in lies the dilema. To try and comfort the one screaming child? Or chance that the moment one of us leaves with her that the other two won't notice? There are very high odds that the one screaming child will turn into three screaming children.

Who knew having children was a constant tactical exercise... I've learned we are a lot of fun to watch during the service. 

And a bit of an update on myself. (gasp) If you want to skip you can...  Perhaps you remember back a few posts I mentioned my having had 'Lazy Eye' as a child. I decided it would be a good idea to get into an optometrist to have a check up (it's been 4 years) My eyes were feeling tired and I was having a lot of headaches. 

My eyes as far as prescription goes, are actually pretty decent with not a lot of issues. I could probably live without any correction and be just fine. The problem is I have some form of a strabismus. Basically as it was explained to me by brain is fighting very hard to use both of my eyes. My left eye isn't as strong/good and so my right eye is very dominant. Up until now I was compensating pretty well but I guess the added stress of kids, sleep deprivation, school etc etc I can't do it as well as I was. After we talked I discovered I can actually tell when I'm switching vision from one eye to the next, and can't tolerate looking through both in the eye doctor lens things. (it forces both of my eyes to work together)

I asked him what would have happened if I hadn't come in, basically my brain would have given up trying to use the left eye and it would have become useless (blind) Ugh! 

Good news, it can be prevented! I just have to wear special glasses with prism lenses to make my eyes work together and make it less difficult on my poor weary brain. But that means no contacts and I will have to wear glasses pretty much all the time to try and reprogram things. 

Something that didn't bother me a whole lot until I started looking at myself in glasses. Whether it was all that pent up emotion from when I was teased as a child or felt ugly as an adolescent I just couldn't handle it. I felt awful. So I got out of there before I started to cry.

Tom my sweetheart happened to know I was upset and bought me a bouquet of flowers(love them so much, such a wonderful surprise!) and my mom stayed a bit longer to help me readjust a bit. (Thanks mom) I'm feeling better about it now, I was just soo overwhelmed and shocked by everything it was too much. My friend and I will probably go later and she will help me pick out a cute pair of frames. 

But kiddos are up and at em better hit the ground running... 

Good Times

An early trip in the morning went from 'waiting for Santa' to... mommy... let's go play with our toys. Abby has been up for awhile now to play with her two castles, princess Barbies... and to watch Curious George. She told me she was afraid of Daddy's computer downstairs.

May have to shut that down at night? Tom did a lot of work rearranging our basement downstairs. I worked yesterday on putting away the pile of things that got rearranged with it. Now we just need a good pickup to help us move everything! I need to take photos of everything to see if anyone wants anything before we take it off to some furniture mission. A new dishwasher will also be taking it's place along the other shiny black appliances. Perhaps we can all maintain our hearing now... at least we won't need to crank the volume on the tv or shout like an elderly married couple...

Merry Christmas to us ;) 

Kiley and Kara are working on more teeth... super cranky and some sour tummies. The diapers are sitting in the garage as they gave the house a 'recently changed' aroma... not so pleasant. 

Abby is eating a banana in the most peculiar way... sucking/smashing it on her mouth. Ugh. 

Not exactly sure what is on our plate today. Hoping to get my sister to stay the night and hang out with us today before the weather gets nasty again. They are saying possible 6 inches more of snow with strong winds and bitter cold... plus an ice bath before that starts. So we'll see where the storm goes but it may be a quiet New Year's Eve for us all.... 

Hark I hear babies... time to run!

(I bought 200 dollars in groceries last night... let's hope it makes us more than a week... wow they eat a lot!)

So this is Christmas :o)

And what a wonderful Christmas it has been so far...

The girls have all thoroughly enjoyed themselves and they have plenty of new toys to feel the hours here at home. New baby dolls, a Little People Princess castle (large and small) books, princess dresses, a mini trampoline, Fisher Price Gumball machine, Barbie Car, Play Dough, Princess shoes, bath toys and games to name a few...

(Kara, she got a little messy after supper, the shirt sufficed :P) 

We spent Christmas Eve with my parents where Tom enjoyed the time with my brothers playing WII Resorts. (I think they played for like 5 hours) We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Dinner and then opened presents. Abby was playing with my sister Tiffany at one point during the afternoon. Tiffany was supposed to be sleeping but eventually came into the kitchen to see what we were up to. Abby came running and said "Get back to bed, right now!"

I wonder if she has heard that before....

We went down to Tom's parent's house that evening and spent Christmas Day and today with them. Of course 'Santa' came to visit and left Abby a Barbie, coloring book and a few other little things. She was very excited to open her presents and begged me to let her go down and check the tree. When we asked her if she wanted to leave a cookie for Santa she said "Yes, put it in my hand." hahahaha

We had a good time down there and Abby loved spending time with her wonderful cousin Isaac. I get a kick out of how the two of them play together! Abby was playing in the living room and Isaac comes running in "Hi Abby, How are you?" Abby replies "Good, How are you Issac?" Issac: "Good, thanks, Bye!" They did this several times it was so cute! They enjoyed swimming in their diapers on a blanket pool/beach, opening presents and rough housing with Grandpa. Christmas afternoon we visited their Great Grandma's house and after about an hour of terrorizing it we decided it was time to head home.

We went sledding then this afternoon. They really had a lot of fun even though it was freezing cold outside!

We had a lot of fun but oh is it nice to be home :o) Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Worth it

Ok... I know I already posted today... 

But after the countless hours of screaming, time outs, mountains of poopy diapers, struggles to keep clothing on, short naps and sleep deprivation I saw this:

And realized how true it really... really... is...

Hello from Earth... down here...

I know... I've been MIA for awhile. The computer charger cord 'thingy' went out with a bang and a light puff of smoke. Thankfully no small children or pets were harmed in the process but suddenly my lifeline to people older than 2 wafted away....

I'm probably on too much. But what else could I possibly be doing? Laundry? lol

I awoke this morning to the sounds of Abby's disappointed voice exclaiming that Santa had not come. I remarked tiredly that today was not Christmas (6:40am btw) She then in very patient tones told me that Santa was very very very busy right now.

She also told me last night, while holding a small children's Bible (with Noah's ark on the front) that she wanted to read a story about pirates. Noah=Pirate... who knew?

I made bacon tonight and Kara came toddling quickly to the kitchen exclaiming 'hot hot hot hot!" Pointing at the bacon and standing in the warzone of spitting pork bits. The word, correct. The meaning still a little fuzzy...

(Kara=Blue Sheep, Kiley=Pink Sheep)

Kiley and Kara have been enjoying a 7:30 bedtime... almost as much as their parents. Their sleeping through the night is blissful.

Kiley has also learned the word 'hi' and they both feel the need to shout it at all passers by... just to make sure that two one year olds and a two and a half year old trying desperately to escape the shopping carts/strollers aren't noticed... who notices that anyways

I honestly don't mind the attention/probing eyes/questions, I know people are curious or want to feel important. I certainly know of more cousin's daughter's friends who have twins than I ever thought possible... but I try to be polite. There have been a few times I have had to bite my tongue... especially when they ask if they are all mine, if I know where babies come from etc. etc. "Yes... they are mine, I'm married, yes to a boy, yes we DO know where babies come from... while we are getting personal can I ask you what your favorite brand of Tampons is? Oh? I thought we were best friends..." Maybe one day I will get up the nerve... but for now I nod and prod the screaming children into initiating a getaway....

Someone once asked me if they fight.... do most siblings fight? Just curious if that is something twins shouldn't be doing.... They are sisters....  So just in case you were curious... yes... they do fight... 

I think we are past bedtime... the troops grow restless...

My Rapunzel

The girls are napping so I should probably be napping or folding laundry or washing dishes... the never ending tasks of such things. We got home from Abby's doctor appointment this afternoon around 12:30. At one of the checkups we had in the past I asked about her hair, the CNP took a look and said there were a number of things that could cause it to be doing what it is doing. (very brittle, falls out, breaks easily... she has a few small bald patches even) I had always thought that it was because of her 'hair pulling' that she used to do about a year ago.. but I haven't seen her do it in a very long time and her hair is still having issues. Really most people might not even notice it, but if you run your hands through her hair and look closely you can see it.

The doctor saw it. She ordered a CBC and Thyroid levels on Abby to see if there were an abnormalities. I knew when they took Abby in to lay her down that they should have had more in to hold her. I ended up having to almost lay on top of her to keep her from getting away from the poke. It wasn't easy but we got it done. She told everyone she could about the poke and her bandaid and how she got a sucker and stickers afterwards. It was pretty funny, the receptionists enjoyed her. We find out the results early next week I guess. If everything comes back normal than she wants Abby to go in and see a dermatologist.

Like I said... no shortage of doctor's appointments around here it seems. I just want to make sure there isn't an underlying cause that is making her hair fall out like it does. It literaly will come out in chunks at times! And goodness it isn't caused by over-washing... my girl HATES having her hair washed. We only do it when necessary lol.

So in case your curious there are a number of things that can cause it ranging from a Vitamin D deficiency, Zinc Deficency, Hypothryoidism (I have this), Iron Deficency... etc etc... so I guess we'll see where this takes us.

At least Rapunzel has really long 'pink' hair :o) For now at least she can brush that! 

Qwik Update

Ahh... homemade toys....

Tom was teaching Abby the difference between lemons and onions (play food) Onions "Make daddy cryyyyyy?" Lemons: *She does a pucker, spit face*

Abby has been enjoying time with the puppy when she comes to visit. The puppy loves Abby too :o) This was before we got all of the snow! The picture below is our backyard after the snow. 

Abby out helping Tom scoop the snow

.

The babies were too worn out from all that hard work..... lol

It's almost Christmas

And I have so much to do... but not the energy to get it done. My umpf has run low.

Both Kiley & Kara have drainage coming from their ears now, thankfully Abby's are ok at least as of right now. Though she has told me 3 times today that her stomach hurts. Hopefully, not the flu bug going around.

Our van is back in commission... I had no idea how much I missed it hauling the kids around. So glad we have it back before Christmas. Very thankful for our body shop guy and his quick work. (he's faster than insurance that is for sure!)

I have about 99% of the gifts still to buy on our Christmas List... hoping I can get a shopping day in with my friend to cross some of those things off! Also hopeful for a nice Christmas Bonus to ease those bills :o)

I spent $150 on groceries this afternoon... and I just looked. We spend about $450 a month on groceries... yikes! I bought 5 family size cans of fruit cocktail today, it might last us a week. Yeeeeeeesh.

Curious...

If 'regular' doctors actually even look in a one year olds ear?

They told me both twins had perfect ears... despite the copious green/yellow junk coming out of their noses....and this is the second appointment now where the day after the appointment they have had thick yellow drainage come pouring out.

Go figure it's back to the drops...

Blizzard

Winter came storming in this morning in the form of a blizzard. We have some large drifts in the backyard from what I have been able to see. It was a little difficult being 'stuck' home all day and with as antsy as I have felt  I'm sure the girls were feeling it too. I was able to catch up some on laundry... which reminds me there is probably still a load sitting on my bed waiting to be folded. It's so hard to do that with the girls sometimes, they are just so helpful!

I'm finally almost done with my Fall Semester. The final is on Monday and I'm so thankful that by all appearances I did quite well even though at times I felt like it was falling apart. It's hard being a student and mom of three.

Church has already been canceled so we won't be going out in the morning. Hopefully it will be cleared up by the afternoon at least. Tom will have quite the job of digging us out. If we had the extra income it would have been nice to have a snowblower. But not this year and that is ok. I only wish I had a stronger back to help him. Hopefully we can avoid more snow ;)

Yikes! I completely forgot to write about how Kiley & Kara's 1 year check up went. They are each 20lbs and 28 inches long (i think Kara is 3 oz heavier but hard to tell if it was accurate lol) It was extremely hard to take them in. Our appointment was at 11:10, I got there at 10:45 (early I know...) we got in at 11:45... my girls were running all over that waiting room and it was all I could do to keep up with them. They were tired and hungry and wanted to go. They each got three shots, Kiley pinched her fingers twice in drawers and bumped her head on one of the cabinets trying to get in. They were not happy campers by the time they got pricked. They were due for the Varicella vaccine (chickenpox) but I decided not to give it to them. Abby if you remember got the chickenpox from the vaccine and with my luck Kiley & Kara would too.... during Christmas. So we decided to hold off on it. I did let them have the flu shot because I'm just ... so tired of them being sick all of the time. Hopefully it will help.

Otherwise they are looking beautifully and on track developmentally, perhaps a bit behind in speech but with their ears as bad as they were they are making up fast. I needed to make an eye appointment for Kiley because the poor thing is showing symptoms of 'Lazy Eye' ... something I had as a girl. Hopefully she doesn't have it but we have to be safe and check it out. If she did have it and it was left untreated she have blindness, nothing to mess around with. So no shortage of doctors appointments here. We will see what they say, hopefully we are just being careful.