Family values

We have thought from time to time about what is important to us that we can kind of use as a creed for what we believe in as a family. A benchmark, if you will, that will guide the kids as they grow up. I was reading the Bible to Adam while nursing yesterday - it's got a little more meat than the TV Guide! - and came across Titus 3:1-2. It's basically a list of values. I think it's a pretty awesome start and the only one I would add to the end is "Don't lie!"

-- Be subject to rulers and authorities
-- Be obedient
-- Be ready to do whatever is good
-- Slander no one
-- Be peaceable and considerate
-- Show true humility toward all men

Spontaneous Thursday

Shannon found out on Wednesday that he had a 2nd interview scheduled for Thursday and needed to travel to Davenport to meet the person. During that time, I had a NICU meeting I wanted to attend, so we were thinking of who could babysit the kids. We thought we would be creative and ask Grandma and Grandpa Mollenhauer if they wanted to watch the kids in Davenport for a few hours. Of course they jumped on the offer - who would turn down seeing grandbabies! But then they decided that since it would be raining in their neck of the woods, they might as well drive the whole way and spend the day with the kids. Now that Grandpa George is retired, they can be flexible and spontaneous like that. (Well, he's retired from a paying job with set hours...now he just gets to work on what he wants around the house!)

Shannon's interview went well. Hopefully the process will go faster than it has since his 1st interview with the company was 2 months ago. Even better that he was able to bring home Whitey's milk shakes! My meeting got moved to today so I was able to get a few things done around the house instead. The kids enjoyed bath time with Grandma Sue, and I bet Grandma enjoyed it even more! Grandpa George installed our new under the counter toaster oven and helped Shannon make a little more progress on the deck. Feels good to get some more things accomplished.

They couldn't believe how much the kids have changed in just 2 weeks.

Weight update

We used our home scale from Grandma Mollenhauer to check the kids' weight for bath day on Saturday. Apparently Adam eating everything in site and getting extra bottles lately has paid off. He decided his sister shouldn't weigh more! So at 19 weeks they are now...

Adam 10lb 10oz
Sara 10lb 4oz

Adam still looks so skinny compared to Sara. Must be that extra inch or so in length.

The past few days Sara has been sitting in her chair and really sqwawking at little toys hanging in front of her. It's quite comical! We'll have to post the video feed. And then last night, I went to bed and I heard the same noise and assumed it was Sara again. Shannon called to me from the living room - that's Adam!

Adam's outie :)

Well, it finally happened. Adam's outie deflated. He had quite the belly button protrusion, we thought mostly from having more tummy issues in the NICU. It was really weird - you would push on it and could hear fluid and air gurgling inside. Kind of creepy, actually. The doctor said it was part of his intestine wall and would go away probably in the next year. But low and behold, Saturday evening we changed his diaper and it wasn't sticking out any more. And it seems to be staying flat.

Right on schedule

I know, I can't hardly believe I said the "S" word. The twins are 18 1/2 weeks and we may be stumbling on a pattern, or as much of a pattern as you can have with tots that small. My last blog revealed a better night's sleep last Tuesday, stretching from 11-3:30. Wednesday-Friday they stepped it up a little to 11-4. Saturday night was 11-5. And last night was 10-4. I couldn't be more excited to get 6 consecutive hours of sleep. The evening seems to be the time they are most awake, as well as most hungry. Especially Adam. Over the weekend I fed him at 6pm, then 8:30. He was still hungry so we gave him a bottle at 9:30 and he drank another 4-5 ounces...and then woke up at 12:30 for another snack! I feel a growth spurt coming on!

In other news, the kids made their second trip to Iowa this past weekend for a family wedding. We were thrilled they slept through the wedding and didn't interrupt Candice's big day. And we ventured to the reception for a bit to visit with Great Aunt Marlene and meet a few other new people. Shannon gathered stats on the other babies in attendance and got a chuckle when he learned the baby that was much bigger than the kids was 1 1/2 months younger and 5 lbs heavier!

We are starting to get Grandma and Grandpa Mollenhauer's house stocked with some essential items so we don't have to pack as much when we come. It's nice to get assistance with keeping the kids occupied and of course they don't mind giving the kids lots of squeezes. Sara loved her snuggle time with Grandpa George and probably would have snoozed right through a feeding if we would have let her. And Adam was quite content rocking with Grandma Sue.

My mom had spent the weekend with Ivy so we didn't have to board her and she loved the extra attention. Unfortunately she is acting out a little and showing her jealous streaks. So the kids got to see all the grandparents in one weekend - you won't hear any complaints from them!

Sleep, Part B

I already wrote about Sunday night being hard. Monday night wasn't much better. I passed out from 10:45-11:30, 1-3, and 4:30-7. That's why it really doesn't surprise me that I almost fell asleep while driving to my hair appointment the other day. I know, I'm sure a lot of you parents reading this are saying yep, get used to it...been there done that. I realize I'm not experiencing anything other moms haven't already, just voicing where I'm at right now.

I analyzed what might be different the past few nights compared to those 4 really good nights we had last week when I thought just maybe we had a pattern going. All 4 of those nights, they were awake right before bed and playing with toys, they had a "snack" about 8 or 9, got into PJs, and then Shannon fed them bottles between 10:30 and 11:30. So we gave it a try. They slept in their high chairs during dinner. Then we got them out and had stimulation time with some toys. Sara had a great time laying in the dome just staring at these rainbow colored stuffed toys and sqwaking. Adam hung with Shannon and practiced sitting up and standing on his legs. He is getting so strong. Sure enough, about 8:30 he was hungry. 9:30 PJs went on and we started bottles. I was hoping to go to bed while Shannon fed them both since he had gotten a nap that afternoon but Adam was too hungry. So we had family time in the nursery. It was worth it because they both ate well, then went right to sleep, and we were both in bed before 11. I didn't get out of bed or wake up once until 3:30 - praise God! I nursed them at 4:15 and they went right back to bed. Let's see if we can do that again!

They were having some terrible gas pains after breakfast, especially Adam, but it was probably from that broccoli I had with dinner. Oops! We had a little snuggle time under a blanket in the recliner hoping the warmth of our bodies would break it up and help it pass easier. Must have helped because he is out like a light right now.

And how is my refraining from dairy helping Sara? I think it has eased her comfort quite a bit and we even gave her half the doses of mylicon yesterday. Now I just need to find a balance to maybe get just a little dairy in during the day - I really miss it! Did I mention I'm not eating ice cream? Just when Shannon had bought my new favorite mint cookies & cream!

Sleep

Wow what a great night of sleep I got last night! Believe me? If you add it all up, 5 1/2 hours is great considering they are only 4 months old. But when you break it down that I slept from 11-1, 2-4:30, and 6-7, not so great. Some nights are actually a good stretch but last night happened to be especially hard. No wonder I couldn't subtract 72 from 76 at work and get 4.

Give us a call if you want to take a turn at the middle of the night shift! ;)