18 Months....

It's been way too long. I'm starting to slack on the blogging. It's no excuse but it's so hard to find the time. My boys will not let me be on the computer when they are awake and if they are asleep then I have 101 other things to do before they wake. Plus... Facebook has sucked me in. If you are someone I "know" in the blog world feel free to e-mail me if you want to touch base through facebook. I don't talk about infertility or about my blog on there but it would be a great way for me to keep in touch w/ some of you. I do hope to start posting more often on here.

So my boys are already 18 months old. How did that happen? Wasn't I just hugely pregnant and having a rough go of it? Now I have two fun loving toddlers running around the house. They are doing well. We had out 18 month check up and they did an autism check that they both passed with flying colors. I was very happy about that. We switched to a new pediatrician recently that I like and he is a much better fit for our family. For the first time ever Matthew weighs more than Andrew by a few ounces so both are just a little over 23 pounds. Matthew gained almost 2 pounds in two months and I'm thrilled. I truly think some of it has to do with the "cry it out" we did a few months ago. The "CIO" worked and he's sleeping so well. I figure he gets 4, even 5 hours of extra sleep a day! That is such a huge difference. He's happier and eating better.

We've had some worries over Andrew. He's had a cough since early December. He basically gets croup each time he gets sick and even after the croup is gone... a cough remains. So we listen to him cough just about every night. 80% of the coughing is at night. I lay there worried and listening attentively since we had that frightful night when he couldn't breath. We've actually had that happen again but I was more prepared that time to handle it. Because of all this Andrew will be having a procedure next Weds (April 22nd). They are worried that the intubator he was on in the NICU could have caused some damage to his throat and that is why he's having trouble breathing when he gets sick. Scar tissue could be making his airway even smaller than it is and the swelling from the croup along with it is a dangerous combo. So he'll be having a triple scope (Direct Laryngoscopy, Rigid Esophagoscopy, Bronchoscopy). This will require general anesthesia. I'm nervous and want it to be over and behind us. A part of me almost hopes they find something minor and easily fixable so that he doesn't have to be sick "cough" anymore. I am blocking out all thoughts of the more serious things they mentioned they could find b/c they all require cutting through the throat to fix them. (lalallalalalalalal I can't hear you *fingers in ears*)

So please keep us in your thoughts.

Some 18 Month Facts/Milestones:
Both boys will run over and give me a kiss when I ask for one =) Sometimes they give each other a kiss too.
Matthew knows and can point to some of his body parts... toes, tummy, belly button, nose, mouth, eyes, ears and hair. Andrew knows eyes, nose, mouth and belly button. They are saying a little bit more but not a ton. They seem to do the "twin talk" all day long. Babbling baby talk amongst themselves. I love watching them. They really do seem to be deep in long conversations at times. Some words they do say include, up, ball, bye, hi, yea (yes), that, kitty, duck, dog, thank you, mama, dada, ut oh. Of course sometime they will say one of these words several times a day and then all of a sudden not say it again for a while which makes me think they forgot it or ??? but then I'll hear it again a few weeks later. I sometime worry they aren't talking the way they should. My pediatrician said it wasn't a worry. In fact he told me twins can take longer b/c of the "twin talk" and that the typical 18 month old only knows 6 words. So I guess we're doing just fine. I have noticed a few similar aged children who are forming 2-3 word sentences and I'm like OMG...how can they do that!

Both are still in size 4 diapers and I'm thinking I might try potty training them late this summer sometime around the age of 22 to 24 months. I know... insane right! Will let you know how it goes =) I already bought them both their own potty training chairs so they have plenty of time to get used to them before we start the process.

It seems like the boys are becoming more aware of each others needs and not just their own. If one is upset the other will try to fix it. Usually by going over there and offering whatever is available... such as a sippy cup, a snack, a pacifier or a toy. It's very sweet and constantly melts my heart.

What else. I had tons of blood work done on myself and to quote the doctor... "I am one of the healthiest people he's seen on paper" I was very happy. I was telling my husband how I was a little nervous b/c my health is so much more important now. I have too much at stake. I can't be seriously ill. I never had these kinds of thoughts before. But my family has cancer all of the place and several who died at early ages because of it. I still suffer from regular migraines and have a scheduled appointment to see a neurologist for some calf pain I've had over the years but overall I think I'm in very good health =) I laughed at my Lipid panel. See below. Looks like it's safe for me to eat a few more hamburgers and fries.

Blood pressure- 88/63
lipid Profile:
Total Cholesterol - 147
Triglycerides- 45
HDL- 70


Now on to some pictures. The best part...


Andrew


Andrew


Matthew


Easter Egg Hunt w/ Friends...


Matthew helping Daddy clean


Matthew


Playing w/ stuff from Mommy's Junk drawer...