Musical Babies

I decided to start a Music & Movement class at my dance studio.  I had checked on music classes for them, but everything was so expensive to have 3 kids take the class.  They also wanted one parent per child (not easy for a mom of multiples), and they told me Brenna could sit on the side.  I'm sure that would have worked out just great! 

After hearing all of that, I decided I should start my own class.  I have a large studio with plenty of props - instruments, mats, wedges, balance beam, hoops, balls, parachute, etc.  I have really enjoyed creating the curriculum and activities for the class.  We sing songs, play instruments, free play on the mats, dance with hoops or balls, blow bubbles, and play with the parachute.  I am able to incorporate some of the activities from our long list of things we are supposed to do with them from therapy.  Each month we are going to have a theme, and all the songs, books, activities, and play will be based on the theme.  Last month, our theme was animals, and this month our theme is going to be transportation.  I can't wait to get a new set of songs and activities together for our new theme.  The babies have fun in class, and our class is growing.  We now have 10 kids in the class.  And, the best part is that I am in control of keeping things clean and sanitary.  I don't have to worry about the toys being sanitized because I do it. 

Below Cade is trying to play his cousin's trombone. 

Brenna taking a turn on the trombone.

Cade trying to eat the trombone.

My girls "playing" the piano before church.  (okay, maybe not playing - more like banging!)



Frantically Scrapbooking

I'm taking a little break from the frantic scrapbooking I have been doing this week to write this post.  I realized I had not scrapped since the babies were 3 months old and still in the NICU.  I had prepared their books up to that point to show at my baby shower.  Then the babies came home, we had to feed them every 3 hours around the clock for a year, take them to a zillion appointments, and well, that didn't leave much/any time to do anything extra, like scrapbooking.  Now, I'm playing major catch-up because I want to have their scrapbooks current for their baptism this weekend. 

I had purchased several stickers when I was still pregnant.  I have 3 unopened packages of pregnancy stickers.  They have cute stickers of big pregnant bellies that say things like "belly beautiful" and "patiently waiting" and "overdue" and "due date".  I guess the scrapbook companies don't think pre-term labor stickers would be very popular.  I needed stickers that said "16 weeks early" and "not ready yet" and "half-baked".  You can see why those wouldn't be popular!

Aside from the pregnancy stickers, most of the baby stickers aren't even applicable.  "Bundle of Joy" doesn't seem to fit when you are looking at your 1 lb baby struggling to live.  I did later use that sticker at about 6 months old.  You can't use the sticker "he's finally here" when he shouldn't be here for another 16 weeks.  When exactly do you use the sticker "newborn baby" for a micro-preemie anyway?  When they are born or when they should have been born?  One package of stickers says "Who came to visit?"  Well, we were only allowed 4 visitors in the NICU so the list wouldn't be too long on that one.

Then you have a slew of stickers you can't use because they are just so understated to the enormity of your situation like "tiny fingers and tiny toes".  No one knows "tiny" until they have seen a 23/24 week baby.  I didn't use the sticker "love at first sight" either because sadly, I don't think those were the first words that came to mind.  The order of my thoughts went more along the lines of- shock, disbelief, sadness, desperation, pleading with God, mixed with how much I loved them and needed them to live.

I just searched online and found that they do make NICU stickers (pictured above).  I should have searched ealier because I would have probably used a few of these.  Although, I have to say that it does seem a little strange to make a cute sticker about getting a blood transfusion or to make a sticker that says "bradycardia" with a heart for the "a" like it's a pleasant, happy thing.  Come on, scrapbook sticker makers; it's when a baby's heart rate drops significantly and scares the mother half to death.  The cutesy heart really seems out of place. 

 

I will get off my scrapbooking rant now so I can actually get some scrapbooking done!

Spa Trip

This past weekend I fianlly got around to using the gift card I won in the "Mother of the Year" contest (http://cedarparkcitizen.com/2011/04/29/mom-of-the-year-michelle-hensel/). You would think I would have run right out to use it, but somehow there was never time. I wanted to include my mom, sister, and mother-in-law, Kathy, in the spa trip because even though I was given the title of mother of the year from the newspaper, I know I couldn't have made it through that first year without them (and my husband, of course).  He's not a spa person, so he and my father-in-law stayed home to babysit while the girls went to the spa!

We had so much support from our family and friends through the babies' stay in the NICU and beyond, but I couldn't take everyone to the spa.  I wish I could repay all of the people who helped us out so much because saying thank you is inadequate for the support we received.  Anyway, these women were instrumental in saving my sanity throughout that insane first year.  My mom watched Brenna so I could go to the NICU, cleaned my house, brought me food, sat by my side in the NICU several times, and so much more.  No one would want to read the tremendously long post I could write about how much she helps us.  My sister made sure that I was okay - when everyone else asked about the babies, she asked about me (not to say, she didn't fall madly in love with our precious twins from the first time she saw them).  And, I always say I won the "in-law jackpot".  My in-laws came up EVERY weekend for 8 months from an hour and a half away to help us out and still help us tremendously!  Jim's dad is not a spa person either so he wasn't too upset that it was a girls' trip.

Now on to the spa day.  Lake Austin Spa is ranked #5 top spa in the world from Travel & Leisure magazine, and it is on several other top ten lists.  Needless to say, it was awesome.  It is nestled into lush gardens on lakefront property.  Just being there is relaxing.  We hung out at the pool for a while.  While Mom and Kathy got their river stone pedicures, my sister and I took a dip in the hot tub followed by the steam room.  (She's a wimp though and can't handle the steam room long! ha sis)  We then showered and headed off to get our river stone pedicures.  Mom and Kathy then went up to relax in rocking chairs on the balcony overlooking the beautiful grounds.  We all enjoyed our spa trip very much and decided one of us needs to win the lottery so we can go  back.  Even though we thoroughly enjoyed it, we didn't want anyone to have any more traumatic experiences that would enter us into any contests to win a spa gift certificate in the future. 

                                                                                                                                         

my sister, Mom, and Kathy

me and Bridget by the pool

Kathy and Mom relaxing by the pool

Bridget and I relaxing by the pool

the view from the balcony

me on the balcony overlooking the grounds

Bridget, Mom, and me on the walkway near the lake



Developmental Tests

Camdyn and Cade had their yearly review for Early Intervention.  They did a long test which measured their gross motor, fine motor, social, expressive communication, receptive communication, and cognitive skills.  They both did so well that they will no longer qualify to receive services through ECI.  They scored anywhere from 12-19 months in all areas.  Most of the areas were 13-15 months which means they are functioning at their adjusted age (right where they should be) and slightly higher. 

Camdyn did score lower at 11 months in receptive communication (what she understands); however, in expressive communication (what she can communicate), she scored above her adjusted age at 15 months, so they think the lower score was probably not an accurate measure.  She would qualify in that one sub-area of communication, but I decided not to do services with ECI because we are already getting an hour of private speech therapy for her weekly and they would only be able to provide an early interventionist rather than a speech therapist twice a month.  I'm sure her receptive score is actually higher; she's just hard-headed like the rest of the women in her family.  She knows/understands what we are telling her; she just chooses not to do what we want her to do!

Even though they no longer qualify with ECI, we will continue our private therapies as we have been doing.  It's obviously working, and they still have a lot to accomplish.  They both are currently getting one hour each of speech, occupational, and physical therapy each week.  Cade will continue with this plan for as long as he still has Medicaid.  Camdyn; however, will have to decrease her visits once January rolls around and our insurance starts over.  She is allowed 20 visits of each type of therapy per calendar year.

They also scored well on their NICU follow-up clinic tests showing average to superior scores.  Average means they are functioning at their adjusted age of 13 months, and superior would mean they are functioning at their chronological age of 17 months.  On both tests, they both scored the highest on cognition with scores equivalent to 15-18 months!  That is absolutely incredible!  After worrying about brain bleeds and the developmental effects of the steroid dexamethasone they were given to wean off the ventilators,  I feel incredibly blessed that they are able to use those smart little brains of theirs to make huge messes all over my house!

Double Trouble

Here's an example of why I can't get anything done, my house is never clean, and I can't get anywhere on time.  Scenarios like this happen at least a dozen times a day.  One toddler can make a big mess, but put two toddlers together and let the plotting begin!  I swear they plot out how they can make the biggest mess together all the time.

Cade:  "Oh, Mom, are we not supposed to be doing this?" (Camdyn not even noticing I'm there)



Camdyn: "Oh, hi Mom - look what I have!"

Cade thinking 'Mom's busy taking pictures; I can unroll some more.'

Cade: "Here sister, want some more?" 

Camdyn: "Look Mom, it can make a hat!"

Camdyn: "Here Mom, do you want some?"

They are definitely double the trouble, but also double the fun!

I had to include this random picture at the end.  I took this picture from my back deck this afternoon.  Isn't that an amazing sunset?



Hometown Weekend

Last weekend, we went back to our hometown of La Grange to watch our nephew play football.  Unfortunately, they didn't win, but we still had fun watching the game.  Aunt April bought Brenna this cute "Lil Lep" t-shirt and hair bow.  The babies stayed home with Grandma and Grandpa.

On Saturday, we met my dad's side of the family in Caldwell for lunch.  Then we headed to the Kolache Festival for a while.  Brenna, and her cousin Colin, had fun riding this little train.  Again, the babies stayed home with Grandma and Grandpa.  The air quality was dangerous due to all the Texas wildfires for the babies to be outside, so they had to miss out on the fun.  I have recently noticed that Camdyn's favorite word to say is "bye," and Cade's favorite word is "go."  I just put that together and realized they are trying to tell me something.  I imagine Cade telling Camdyn, "I'll say 'go' and you say 'bye' and maybe Mom will get the hint that we are tired of being trapped inside!"

Brenna enjoys being a country girl when we go visit Grandma and Grandpa.  She loves to ride on this little buggy.  Notice how dry everything is around here.

On our way back home, we traveled through Bastrop.  Here's what most of it looks like now.  Prior to the massive wildfire that burned 1500 homes, it was full of beautiful, lush pine trees. 



Brenna's 1st Day of Pre-K

Last year, Brenna wasn't able to go to school.  We all made sacrifices for the babies - Brenna included.  We couldn't risk having her catch the flu or RSV and bring it home to the babies.  She started back to school this past Tuesday and will be going on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  This will work perfectly since the babies have therapy on those days.  I'll drop Brenna off at school and then take the babies to therapy.  It's nice to be getting into a routine again.  Although gettting the twins and their double stroller out multiple times in one day, is not an easy task!  It goes like this -load up to leave the house, get the double stroller and twins out to drop Brenna off, load back up for therapy, get everything out to go to therapy, load back up, get the babies out at home to take a quick nap, load back up to get Brenna, get everything out to pick Brenna up, load everyone back up to go home, unload at home - finally!)  You get the idea.

Brenna was so excited to go to school.  She walked around all morning wearing her Tinkerbell back pack, and asking if we could leave yet.  So cute!

Brenna at the front door ready to go.

Brenna in her classroom.  She was all smiles (at first).

Then came the tears, but after her teacher talked to her, she decided she was going to have fun.

Then the smile returned.

She began coloring, and I made my way out of the classroom holding back my own tears realizing that my little girl was growing up.

I'm so happy that Brenna is back in school and now gets to be a normal little girl instead of the little girl that asked me over breakfast a while back, "Which doctor are we going to today, Mommy?"  Luckily, our doctor appointments are much less frequent (even if our therapy appointments are very frequent), and my pre-schooler is in school!  It's going to be a much better year.