Keeping a Keene Watch

This week has been Spring break for the kids (and Aaron being SUPER Papa) and one filled with doctors appointments.

Over the last week I’ve noticed that Trent keeps saying “ uh and what” a whole lot and as much as I thought it could be a 4 year old thing in my gut I knew it was more.  So, much to Aaron’s dismay (Katie  - must you search out trouble) but given our history with hearing stuff- I just wanted to jump on it.  Thankfully we have a relationship now with an incredible audiologist at Packard and she was able to get us in on Monday.  The toddler-hearing test though is much different than the infant one.  Concentration was key and Trent was so focused.  He wanted so much to hear the little beeps and he just couldn’t.  The mama was so proud. Ok so we failed the hearing test and he has fluid again.  Now it’s time for a plan.  It looks like he’ll be getting tubes again and I begged (big time) to have to have audiology get us in with ENT as soon as possible.  Apparently my begging wasn’t all that because the first available is April 21^st. Not great but at least we have a plan and get his issues resolved as soon as possible to avoid impacts to his development.

Today was Sophie’s turn.  While Trent is rocking potty training, Sophie just can’t quite put her arms around it.  We know there are development issues.  She still toe walks and favors her right side when trying to skip or run but we know those are things we just have to work on everyday and work through.  We knew though that once potty training time happened – we may need more tests and that was today was about.  There is a strong possibility that her hydrocephalus has impacted her ability to “sense” when she needs to go and today we had an ultra sound of her kidneys. Aaron brought her up to Packard and I met them there.  I think she really appreciated having both of us with her.  It was nice to see some of our old friends at Packard and see their improvements (with lots of great landscaping and the toy train being upgraded). And Sophie was SO chatty. Saying hello to everyone, talking, smiling and just wanted to get to know everyone.  As luck would turn out, the ultrasound technician who did our study was someone who has known us over the years and remembered Sophie from her NICU days.  She was so happy to see her progress.   Sophie’s kidney issues are always just one of those things in my head and I guess 90% of the time I forget it’s there but today was one where I needed to remember.  I had mentally prepared myself to see her shunt tube all through her tummy (the first time I saw it years ago it completely freaked me out) but today I had my head about me to remind the technician that she has one kidney fussed in the center of her body.  Didn’t want the technician to think she discovered something that we didn’t know and would freak us out.  Although we had to go two rounds of trying to get the right picture, Sophie was a total trooper and just stepped up to having a very long ultrasound exam.   I think though having both Aaron and I there (I was holding her on the gurney) just made it easier.  On Friday we get to see “ the plumbing doctor” (his words not mine) to get the results.  Depending on the outcome, she made need a little surgical procedure to connect what hydrocephalus has prevented- to help making her body work as it needs to.

This week is also Spring break for the kids.  Granted there are no wild beach parties, thong bathing suits, or drunken fests, but Aaron has definitely had to step up. They are SO busy.  Trent no longer naps (huge bummer) and they both just egg each other on.  Lots of bike riding (for Trent only- Sophie is not there yet), baseball, coloring, dancing (to their special musical CD form Charles) and laying with our old drum.  Hours and hours of fun but poor Aaron.   It takes a lot to keep them occupied. School can’t restart soon enough. 

I can’t believe my “babies” are four! Wow where did the time go? Complete happiness to have friends both sets of grandparent (Aaron folks came from Arizona to help celebrate) and the neighbors to help us celebrate. And we are so proud.  Not so long ago I asked the question of Dr. Edwards if Sophie could “jump in a bouncy house” and Aaron thought I was nuts but… here we are 4 years later and there is our little Sophie girl jumping her heart out in the jumpy house Aaron and I got for their 4 birthday. That in itself was a moment…  And now Aaron and I can consider ourselves “real” parents.  Seems like you haven’t really cross to that place until you’ve had a bouncy house at a party.  However, we did have some learning.  Aaron in being the organized guy he was told the bouncy house guy that we were be ready to return it at 3:30 pm…. which turned out to be a HUGE party foul.  According to the neighbors, you’re always suppose to ask to be the last pick up of the day to ensure you keep the bouncy house as long as you can.  Needless to say, Sophie cried when the bouncy man took it away and now we know- next year it will be “ last pick up of the day”.

The birthday party thing is hard. What to do, what to plan, crafts, games eek—- neither of which I’m good at.  Thank goodness we went for the jumpy house.  Hours of fun and no crafts or games required.   Happiness!  We had worried about rain (in fact I was outside more than once talking to the sky asking for no rain) but we were just spit on a little but no downpour.

I know every parent loves a birthday but somehow given the special way ours came into this world— makes every birthday so much more special.  This year we gave Trent and Sophie bikes.  A big discussion about what to do since Sophie isn’t quite ready yet for a bike but Trent is definitely there and we knew it was time.  So after going back and forth between Toys R Us and Target- we finally got the bikes at Target.  

Trent was just OVER the MOON about his bike.  So happy and today already demanding to have his training wheels removed.  Such a long way from a little man who was 1.5 lbs at birth with huge concerns about cerebral palsy.  He has come so far!  We are so proud of him Sophie needs a little bit more time.  Her brain injury makes it harder for her to do everything but everyday we work at it and she continues to amaze us.  She can’t yet master the potty (although she’s trying really hard) and skipping isn’t quite her thing (her left side doesn’t quite move correctly) but she really wants to ride her new bike and we do think it’s just a matter of time before her brain tells her legs to peddle, peddle, peddle…. and off she will go.  The left and the right side of her body just have to talk to her brain and off she will go!

They are so fortune.  So many people who love them and helping them grow.  Pre-school is the best.  They are both learning so much and what a great day it was to be able to celebrate their birthday with their classmates.  We brought cupcakes and all their friends were happy to celebrate their birthday.   They got special crowns and I’ve never seen two people who were happier to wear their special hats.

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Ah Pre-school and the things that come with it…..

Poor Trent, his nasty sinus/ear infection has turned into Pink Eye- which means “ no school”.  And of course with twins- Sophie too woke up with it today.  Back to the pediatrician we went today.  Dr. Oro was so funny though.   She’s one of the two pediatrician at that practice who cover us.  The practice did that when we first went to them since we were the smallest children in their practice and they wanted to make sure there was always a doctor on service who was familiar with us. There have been many times though where Dr. Oro has had to step up with Sophie and reach far back her residency days ( catheters, shunt malfunctions, meningitis etc)  and when she saw Sophie on her schedule today she said all she could thinks was “Well shi…”  Thankfully it was  (in her words) “common garden variety pink eye” and she was SOOO happy that Packard wasn’t involved and it was just a simple prescription for eye drops.

Hopefully the drops work quickly and tomorrow we can go back to school.  It was obvious they love it and were so bummed that they had to stay home today.

It’s funny how life continues to bring you changes- both good and bad.  

Pre-school has been an awesome experience with both of them enjoying it in different ways.  Sophie is so social and busy but made of point of showing us what she was made of by using the bathroom for the first time at pre-school.  I’m not sure if it was peer pressure or just feeling the moment but for whatever reason she decided she needed to experience the bathroom at pre-school.  I know, I know- small moments but for us it say’s YES- she can feel it, NO we may not have to get intimately involved with the urology folks at Packard and YES- she is being Sophie and somehow she got a break. We’re still taking it one day at a time but it’s amazing how the little things can just make your day.

However, on Friday we said goodbye to Doris our long time nanny.  Wow that was hard. She’s been such an important part our lives- taking care of Trent and Sophie since they were technically 5 months old and I went back to  work after my maternity leave.  We will forever be greatful for everything she did for our family and I know Trent and Sophie will always think of her  as someone special in their  early lives.

Last week they celebrated Valentines Day at School and were so proud of the projects they brought home. And of course they’re so social. They love interacting with the college kids at State in the quad and are not shy. Apparently Sophie wished EVERYONE happy Valentines Day and made everyone smile. Aaron said it was one of those moments of “Hmm – if I could just disappear” since everyone was looking at him with his outgoing toddler.  

Trent too loves school in his own way.  He loves to play, has made friends and thoroughly enjoys the other kids.  He though unlike Sophie is very aware of getting dirty (remember his is the child of “ anal Aaron”) and takes great pains to keep himself clean. Sophie on the other hand always comes home in a new outfit and is a giant mud ball.  Such different kids.

Unfortunately being out in the world has brought it’ share of illnesses and this weekend Trent experience his first major ear/sinus infection.  Poor little guy.  It started of course on Friday night around 7pm with complaints of an earache. Needless to say it turned into a very, very long night with him crying and both of us taking turns to try and settle him.  On Saturday Am I took him to the pediatrician and she said he had a significant ear infection that was so significant that it had blown a small hole in his ear drum (which will is suppose to heal) and that he had a major sinus infection.  Wow.. how fast things happen. 

He for the most part he seems fine but it’s sure been hard to keep him down and resting.  And of course it’s rained and rained all weekend. We had a million ideas of things to do but we just didn’t want him out- spreading his nasty infection or tiring himself and not healing.

The plan though tomorrow is to take him back to the doctor.  His ear looks better but now his eyes are bloodshot and small and we can tell something it definitely up.

I know everyone has said school is like hanging out in a Petri dish- I think I just wasn’t ready.  That on top of Trent’s early ear issues- just make this whole nasty infection really, really scary.

Pre-school a whole new world…. For all of us.  (including Tia and her family).  I guess it’s all about growing up.  We’re working at getting the routine down.  What time to leave, when to nap, how to get them out the door, where to park, which clothes to pack to put in their backpacks… and what to say when Sophie comes home from school with green hair (like today).  And of course, watching them crash….

 I guess this all prepares me in a weird way for our teenage years. Once again we’re reminded that it takes a village. 

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Change is hard.  I’ve known this for quite some time but wow- getting four people to change routines, structure, and daily life all seemed so easy but wow- it’s a lot.

Our new schedule is school from 12:30-3pm with Tia watching them in the morning, taking them the school and Aaron picking them up.  Aaron who is still on disability for his shoulder but is actively looking for a new job (the economy drama touches everyone) is trying to be chief cook (nothing new here), bottle washer (that is collective) and childcare (new) is taking us to whole new places.

There are lots of changes too.  Potty training (I’ll get back to that), school, new day care plan and a new boss for me.  Lots of things happening all at once.  All completely good- but just a lot at once.

Ah potty training.  So hard.  Every day is hard but we continue to make progress.   It’s almost though like you’re going backwards since we’ve long mastered diapers and blow outs have become almost a non existence occurrence (not like when they were 3 months old and it was a stand back experience) but now- underwear- it’s BACK!!! Why I thought now as a good time to go green vowing for 2009 that I would use have NO plastic bags in our house… so not a good idea.  What to do with the big GIANT blow out?  Paper towel is so not the answer?  Needless to say, we’ll soon be going to the neighbors begging for the so cherished, soon to be illegal plastic bags…

The kids though love school!  Hard to get them out to the door (all be it – we’re just talking day 2) but once they get there – they seem very happy!  Today though Ms Joy- the teacher called me and the first sentence out of her mouth was “ Trent is Ok.”  I wasn’t quite sure what to say.  She then went on in a very NERVOUS voice to explain that he had put his entire hand in a large jar of red pain and his hand reacted like he was allergic. She then went on to explain to me the side effects of toxins and lead but assured me they had NONE of that in their supplies.   I felt so bad for her.  I wasn’t quite sure what to say.  I apologize of course for the mess he made and asked if he was upset (he wasn’t – he asked her not to call me because he didn’t want to home) and then told her I suspected that his hand reacted because he has HORRIBLE eczema.  His poor little hands are almost raw and I’m sure that whatever in the paint just made it worse.    She thanked me and said she just wanted me to be informed.   All this is new for me but it does remind me of the days when I first went back to work after I had the babies and Doris would leave me notes of our daily activity.  I remember thinking it was neat and it wasn’t until later that she told me that all parents expected it and she was just following protocol. 

All this to say, after everything we’ve been through with Trent and Sophie just makes you relax and a little reaction to paint— such a no brainer…

I have to be the proudest “the mama” on the planet.  My little micro preemies are now preschoolers I cannot even describe how I felt today

They were so sweet.  We dressed them in their new outfits (as I told Aaron- everybody must have a new outfit for the first day of school), with their backpacks on and they were excited!  We were early (as much as I kept giving Aaron a hard time for taking the long way) and had to wait outside the classroom but it also gave us the opportunity to meet the other families.

We had a few shy moments but sure enough when Ms. Joy opened the door- in ran Trent (the first student).  And then I started to cry.  Poor Jenifer (Tia) she had told me if I cried she’d cry so sure enough we both welled up.  I always had the visual of our first day of school and I am so happy that my dream has come true.

They loved school!  No crying just a big ole “bye mom, bye Tia, by Papa” when we left.  The festival of toys and new friends.  

How far we come!  The poor folks at Apple.  I just had to tell everyone everywhere I went that” I WAS THE MOTHER OF PRE-SCHOOLERS” in every single meeting I had today.  It’s funny though how life turns out.  As I was leaving an Apple building tonight that I probably am in once a week- I ran into a women who had the locker across from me at the Apple gym for years before I was pregnant, knew me through my pregnancy and knew me after the babies came. She hadn’t seen me for over 3 year but was suddenly yelling in the hall- “ you had twins and I never knew how it turned out”.  It was so special to be able to tell her that they’re 3 ½ and Preschoolers.  She then told me that I made her whole week.  We are so blessed!

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