November 2008

November has just been a blur.  Some good, some bad but all combined it just seems to make time go faster.

Last Thursday we had our neighborhood pre-thanksgiving dinner.  The premise of the evening is to try out recipes on the neighbors prior to doing the real thing for your family. We started it a couple of years ago and it’s now become “ Tia’s event.  Every year it’s fun but this year was especially fun.  We had a new family join us (with their 5 children) and it just seemed to make it even more special.  Tia, Jose and Charles are such great hosts and everyone clearly had a blast.  The food was amazing and all the kids thoroughly loved it. Trent and Sophie especially since they discovered whip crème. Trent also discovered a water spray bottle (poor Charles room will never be the same – but Jenifer (Tia) just laughed.  Aaron and I were both horrified (he’s got quite an arm and had to demo his reach with the spray bottle) but were able to recruit taller neighbors to help get the water off the ceiling fan, closet mirrors etc.  Needless to say, we clearly owe Jenifer and Jose several rolls of paper towel.    In spite of the drama, it was just another fabulous neighborhood event that reminded us how fortunate we are to have such great neighbors.

On Friday Aaron had rotator cuff surgery.  We had hoped it would be minor but unfortunately his shoulder was quite torn up and the surgery was much more involved.  So… he’ll be in a sling for 6 weeks and has VERY limited movement.  I was prepared but wow we were such a team and now – it’s all me.  Aaron tends to be very organized (or anal) so in preparation for our drive to his folks in Arizona for Thanksgiving we’ve already had the conversation that he can’t comment on my driving, how I load the car, how I keep the house, my cleaning abilities, or my child bathing techniques or—- the possibility that he may be left in the middle of the desert is quite high.  Poor guy.  He’s used to totally being in control and now he can hardly move.  I can’t even imagine how he’s going to feel when it’s time for the lawn to be mowed (he loves to manage his yard) or when we need to put up the Christmas tree.  That in itself will be a whole Keene moment.  Thank goodness for my neighbor Jean who just knows what to do and when. Always willing to help – no matter what.

She and I spent yesterday trying to free Trent’s toothbrush from the drain in the kids bathroom sink.  I’m not sure how it got down there but it’s clear it’s not coming out with the help of a plumber. We tried everything we could think of but that little red toothbrush is really in the drain for the long hall.  Needless to say, it was the last thing Aaron needed.  What is it about being a toddler that just makes you go for it- no matter the consequences?

And yes, Trent got a new Spider man toothbrush today  (he picked it out). But the Spider man on the toothbrush is bigger than the drain so I think we’re safe.

Hopefully pull Aaron can get some sleep tonight and our toddlers get the “ mama really needs you to be good” message so we can all deal together.

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The toddler world is amazing, busy, trying and sometime scary.  Today we had our flu shots, Loser me had gotten a postcard from our pediatrician’s office two weeks ago but hadn’t done anything about it until yesterday.  In my defense it had said, “call for an appointment “ but hadn’t said, “we have a limited amount of vaccine and you need to call NOW to get yours” … so I thought I had time.  Apparently not.  I called yesterday to make an appointment and then got a long sermon about the health of my children and importance of responding to direct mail as soon as possible.  Hmmm ok- but please make it more direct.  I was then told they had run out of vaccines for 3^rd olds and I was on my own.  Ok.    Not good. Bad mommy and time for a plan “B”.  So there is was. Me –whipping out the micro preemie – high-risk twins.  After being put on hold the receptionist came back and said “ is this the mom of Sophie and Trent”?   Answer Yes.  “ Well, we’ve set aside some vaccine for our very special high risk patients and will look forward to seeing you tomorrow”.  I hated to do it but I do know that we are the smallest infants ever to be seen in the practice (hence the reason we have two pediatrician’s who follow us) but at times it just has to come out that we are in their marketing brochure and you need to pull it out.

The shots though were hard.  Sophie had a FULL meltdown going into it but Trent took it like a big man.  However, after telling Sophie it was ok- he proceeded to cry 25 miles – all the way home about not getting his way to go a specific playground near the doctors office.   I do though have new appreciation for shots.  I recently got my flu shot and the two days after really hurt so I’ve very sympathetic about shots and know that they definitely hurt.

Needless to say, after being a “crab” most of the day- Trent crashed early and hopefully is down for the night. 

It’s hard to believe they are 3.  This weekend we were at our friend Gabby’s birthday party and after I told one mother how old Sophie was she commented on her small size (she had a 4 year old that could’ve taken me down).  I wasn’t prepared for her comment but was able to quickly say that she was 1lb at birth and although small- we were pretty impressed by our 3^rd old.  Needless to say the other mother had not much to say after that but will probably think twice about lame comments moving forward.  People are so funny.  Not sure if they think their pointing out something that every mom and dad doesn’t isn’t aware of or worry about.  If there is anything my twins have taught me is – just appreciating every moment of every day. 

Trent is so ready for preschool.  January can’t come soon enough for him.  Sophie on the other hand is more tentative.  Trent is trying so hard to use the big boy potty while Sophie has no interest.  She also continues to walk on her tippy toes and every day it seems to get a bit worse.  Our plan is to get her assessed by an Occupational Therapist but in order to avoid the insurance drama- I would like a letter for Dr. Edwards office stating the need.  This week is all about securing the letter.  It’s great that she was deemed in eligible by the school district for services (which mean we’re not 70% behind) but is also mean there is a whole lot leg work to get things paid for out of our private insurance. 

I can’t believe it’s November though.  Where did 2008 go?  And woohoo! – Sophie has (knock on wood) been healthily the whole year!  We are so blessed.  This week we have our neighborhood Thanksgiving dinner at Tia’s (Jenifer & Jose’s – Trent’s god parents).  The objective of the night is to bring recipes you want to try on your family.  I think we’ve been doing it for 3-4 years but it’s always a GREAT time.  The kids are so excited!  They just love being with the neighbors and the events we do. They can’t wait until Thursday.  Hopefully they’ll manage to keep their clothes on- as the naked toddler period persists. 

We made it, we made it!  All the way through October and Sophie was totally healthy.  Neither Aaron nor I are pessimistic people but wow, given that history has not been kind to us- October was quite a nail bitter.  But she showed us all.

Halloween was SO awesome!  Having Halloween on Friday just rocks.   I “ cut” in the morning and with Doris took the babies to downtown Willow Glen for trick or treating.  We had feared rain but thankfully it held off and we just had cloudy skies.  Aaron had turned our wagon into a pirate ship and our two little pirates wouldn’t have been more thrilled.  They were so proud.  And we were definitely the talk of Willow Glen.  Lots of “ wow that is so creative”.  Thank goodness for Aaron since I have I clearly was missed when the creative gene was passed out.  It’s been quite traumatic to learn that a mother is expected to create crafts for children birthday parties.  Hmm. I am the woman who got S minus in art and so the thought of crafts are just not a skill I have.  Hopefully Aaron wants to bond with Michael’s going forward.  Anyway, Halloween was clearly a highlight of their year. And although I know their mine, I have to say that they were two of the cutest pirates I’ve seen in quite some time Willow Glen is quite the place to be as well. First the downtown trick or treating and then the neighborhood stuff.  All the houses get dressed up followed by a great neighbor trick or treating event, and finally a huge post trick or treating event at our neighbor Laurel’s house.  Quite a kick off to the holiday season.

From now to the end of the year we can look forward to jumping in huge piles of leaves, the neighborhood pre- thanksgiving event (the objective is to try out recipes on the neighbors before you try them on your family and friends), the annual girls wrapping party at my house (lots of wine, chick talk and wrapping of gifts), and finally- the neighborhood progressive party followed by the children gift exchange.  All fun events that really make the season special.

Our toddlers continue to grow and amaze us each day. Trent’s speech is awesome and he’s turning into such a little man. Although he’s got a nasty temper (which we’re definitely working on) we are hopeful that once he starts school he’ll learn that how to better handle frustration.   For the most part our little Sophie continues to do well but there are times when we still worry.  She sometimes tires easily and we can see that her left side is weaker and she’s not great a hopping (when she works with Gayle our wonderful Early Interventionist) but we know we’re doing all the right things to help Sophie get everything she needs to make up for her early birth and issues related to hydrocephalus. 

Pottery training continues though to be challenging.  Trent is interested but just can’t seem to close the deal (although he’s now heard how EVERYONE we’ve ever met wear’s big boy pants) but Sophie as ZERO interest.  We were told she might not be interested for a while but now we’re wondering just how long a WHILE really is.   The plan is to get them into preschool in January but the pottery-training thing continues to worry us.

The naked period continues as well.  We’re quite sure they egg each other on but we thought as the weather changed and got colder that the naked thing was a bad idea.  Unfortunately not.  Although they’ve now stopped streaking through the backyard, they are still stripping in the house. Last night they completely stripped down to the birthday suits and then proceeded to pull every cushion we have in the house that was not secured onto the floor.  I knew something was up when they were so quiet for a long period of time but I wasn’t prepared for the discovery.  Aaron and I were in the kitchen and once I discovered what was up I told him it was definitely  “Two Keene adult- we can take them” moment -and “Wow- look at that”.   We know we are blessed but for just a moment we both had a moment of “Thank goodness we don’t have triplets!”

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