June 2006

We’ve officially made the 1-year date and going forward our plan is to mark their age from today.  We’ve already started telling people when they ask that are babies are 1 year old and cutting out the extra months. They look 1 and we’ll just stay with that.

Last night was tough for both babies and given the Sophie’s struggles continues today I decided to call the advice nurse at our pediatrician.  While she said she couldn’t figure out what it was over the phone, she also said that I a mother’s instincts are rarely wrong (and to date my have always been right on even from the day they were born) and I should go with that so- tomorrow she and I will see the pediatrician.  She just can’t seem to stay in the crib – whether it be sleeping through the night or napping during the day.  There is something about lying flat that just makes her unhappy.  Our big boy just loves to sleep. He loves to nap and although a bit fussy when its time to go down at night- once he crashes he is really down. Hopefully we’ll figure out what’s bothering Sophie and soon she and our Trentman will be more in sync with their sleeping.

Tonight Aaron and I were discussing that had life turned out as planned- the babies first birthday would’ve been tomorrow.  Ofcourse being twins we’re quite sure they would’ve been early but just not 3 1/2 months.  We then tried to figure out the pros and cons of being older.  Earlier driving but less time to fly for free etc.  It’s pretty much a toss up.

Our little Sophie girl is now trying to dance.  We saw it for the first time with the physical therapist on Tuesday.  She has this little square music box and every time she hit one of the squares- Sophie would start to bounce up and down like she was dancing.  I’ve always tried to make music part of their life and at long last all the disco is paying off (I wonder how hard it will be able to find a toy that plays disco?) Not to be outdone by his sister- Trent is now trying to rock out a little as well.

We continue to work on exercises from therapy and although their young- the babies same to understand when I correct them and say, “be flat footed or legs together” and respond accordingly.

Sleeping for Sophie continues to be an issue.  I know the neuro surgeon say’s her waking up screaming in the middle of the night couldn’t possibly have anything to do with her shunt but it continues to be something related to lying flat – no matter if she’s napping or sleeping at night.  After a while she just wakes up screaming.  I wish I knew what to do.  I know they are probably tired of hearing from me but its got to be something and I really would like our pediatrician to give it some thought.  Every time I’ve thought there was something going on with one of the babies -my instincts have been correct (even when they were in the hospital) and I just feel like we’re missing something.

Today the physical therapist came to see the babies and we worked on balance.  Trent is doing well but is still struggling to keep his legs together when he tries to stand- and his feed slide a part. He’s great at the splits but that’s not necessarily a skill we want him to have.  Our task this week will be to practice with their walking/push toy to get him used to keeping his feet closer together and moving forward.  He’s got really strong legs we just have to work on the feet placement.

Sophie on the other hand is great at keeping her legs together and standing.  Her issue though is keeping her balance and being able to hold herself up.  Our focus for her this week will be strength building.  Lots of table holding, doing the cruising movement on the couch, using the push toy.  We’ve got to build those quads and abdominal muscles.
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The summer heat is really hard for the babies and I’m wishing more and more that we had given more thought to air conditioning.  Their little pool is great – although we’re still trying to master how much water pressure the dancing flower can take before it waters the babies, the car and our neighbors house but… as soon as they get out of the pool – the fussiness starts again.  Nights seem to be the worst.  They each take a turn.  One night one baby is able to go right down the next night the other is.

Next week we will travel for the first time as a family out of state and as excited I am to go on vacation- I realized today I am quite nervous.  I’m not worried about Trent but given Sophie girl’s hydrocephalus, I realized I’m frightened to be out of driving distance from Stanford.  I’m quite sure we won’t need it- but it was nice to be able to voice my concerns.

My mother -n-law was so nice about it though. Today I called her to ask her about hospitals that were close to her.  She didn’t act like I was a paranoid mom or anything. She just told me they had a great regional hospital and heliports just up the road should we need to go to a major metropolitan hospital.

Tomorrow we have physical therapy.  Trent has been working quite at his walking as is now able to go along the entire couch holding him up.  We’ve been working on this and I know Karen will be quite pleased to see it.

Sophie girl on the other hand just want to stand up- and anything will do.

Last night we had our friend Susan over and although it’s been more than a few years since she had young babies, they just took to her and crawled all over her like she was a juggle gym.  We’re fortunate to have her visit almost every month (she’s from our of state) and they babies are just so happy to see her and play with her.

Last year when we did our remodel we had our house wired for air conditioning but in my great wisdom I told Aaron and the contractor that we weren’t going to drop several thousand dollars to address a 4-day a year issue. I am such an idiot. Here we are in June – and our household is cooking! Thank goodness our neighbors and Starbucks are air-conditioned. On Thursday we came home to a note from our baby sitter saying she and the babies had followed the air conditioning over to our neighbor Jean’s (who also has the swing on her porch that I use to calm the babies at night) – thank goodness Jean doesn’t give you the eye (like starbucks) if you just hang out without buying anything.

We’re working really hard on walking. They like their walking toy but really want to do it themselves using us, the cat or the coffee table as a balance. They are so competitive. I guess this is a window in what we have to look forward to the next 17 years. I wonder if I’ve ever going to get past being an over protective mommy with Sophie girl. She wants to be so independent – yet when she falls backwards on her head- I just freak out!

Aaron- always the prepared dad has managed to pull out whatever baby-proofing item is needed as soon as they reach for something. Thank goodness for his preparedness. I guess there is something to be said about being “older” parents and listening to people who have gone before us.

Last night we took them out to dinner. Thank goodness we could walk and the restaurant we went to was kid friendly. They were so welcoming – we felt so blessed. High chairs, they brought the babies fruit and pasta quickly so we could feed them before us, and were fine with picking up toys and sippy cups that fell on the ground. Thank goodness there are two of us and two of them – each one of us gets a baby and is able to grab the placement and bread plate before they do.

From: Katie Keene
Date: May 30, 2006 3:44:35 PM PDT
To: Katie Keene
Subject: Save for blog

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Today our wonderful caregiver bought the babies a walker toy for their “2nd ” 1st birthday.  Trent’s not sure what to make of it but Sophie loves it.  They both seem to be getting the idea though and are trying to use it to walk. We’ve always been told the babies development would be delayed and we’ve tried never to worry about it- but if there is a toy that helps them get the idea to walk- we’ll go for it.  It’s been 15 months since the Today our wonderful caregiver bought the babies a walker toy for their “2nd ” 1st birthday.  Trent’s not sure what to make of it but Sophie loves it.  They both seem to be getting the idea though and are trying to use it to walk. We’ve always been told the baby’s development would be delayed and we’ve tried never to worry about it- but if there is a toy that helps them gets the idea to walk- we’ll go for it.  It’s been 15 months since the babies we’re born and at long last one more part of life is getting back to normal.  Aaron has played ball on the Apple league softball teams for over 6 years and as embarrassing as it is to admit, I completely forgot about it last spring and summer and didn’t even realize he didn’t’ play.  We were so focused on the babies and in such a different routine that I didn’t realize he just sat the season out.  But he’s back at it now- and tonight I took the babies to Aaron’s ball game.  Sophie girl who loves all sports sat on edge of stroller and was completely into the game.  Trent on the other hand enjoyed it but clearly needs something with more action.  Perhaps he’s a basketball guy… like his mom.

Tonight we also had a right of passion.  Sophie has found the toilet paper.  The 3 of us were hanging out tonight after Aaron’s game and Sophie crawled off.  I thought it was REALLY quiet and then I went into our master bathroom.  She was having the time of her life in a MOUNTAIN of TP.  I worry though since they seem to share everything- its just a matter of time before Trent’s finds the TP in our other two more bathrooms.
babies we’re born and at long last one more part of life is getting back to normal.  Aaron has played ball on the Apple league softball teams for over 6 years and as embarrassing as it is to admit,I completely forgot about it last spring and summer and didn’ty even realize he didnt’ play.  We were so focused on the babies and in such a different routine that I didn’t realize he just sat the season out.  But he’s back at it now- and tonight I took the babies to Aaron’s ball game.  Sophie girl who loves all spoits sat on on edge of stroller and was complety into the game.  Trent on the other hand enjoed it but clearly needs something with more action.  Perhpas he’s a basketball guy… like his mom.

Tonight we also had a right of passion.  Sophie has found the toilet paper.  The 3 of us were hanging out tonight after Aaron’s game and Sophie cralwed off.  I thought it was REALLY quiet and then I went into our master bathroom.  She was having the time of her life in a MOUNTAIN of TP.  I worry though since they seem to share and we have two more bathrooms that Trent could certianly find.

the physical therapist came to see the babies.  She was so impressed with Sophie’s progress. She said that even though we’re worried about her enlarged ventricles- you’d never know it by her development.  Trent’s walking attempts have certainly been an incentive for Sophie to try to keep up.  Thank goodness our couch is big enough for both of them to pull themselves up on.  Trent is doing well too but we have a little concern about his continued stiffness.  I asked my monthly question about cerebral palsy and the therapist said with every development the concern about it gets a little less- but its still there for now.  He’s just so stiff when he’s trying something new and has this think with a flying leg.  Everything time he’s trying to do something that’s new or hard for him- one of his legs goes up in the air behind him- like he’s doing some ballet move.  For whatever reason, watching him do his one leg move has reminded me of the Wally Lamb book “She comes undone” and the whole focus in the book on the flying leg painting. In any event, our big focus for him over the next week will be no flying leg and balance on both legs.

In addition to their therapy today, the babies got to go to Kelly Park with their godmother Jennifer.  I’ve heard from friends with kids that Kelly Park and Happy Hollow is the place to go and something Aaron and I definitely have to join so we can enjoy it this summer. We are so thankful to have such a wonderful friend/caregiver like Jennifer.  The babies just get so excited when they see her and although they couldn’t tell me – I know they had a fabulous time with her and her son Charles today at the park.