My poor little guys! Tuesday - March 24, 2009

Two weeks ago both boys were healthy for almost a whole week. And, Gabby was healthy too!

I was thrilled for two reasons. First of all, we were getting SLEEP! It is not easy constantly having sick twins. Trust me. Secondly, Dan, Gabby and I were heading to Mexico for a 4-night vacation… and the last thing I wanted to do was leave my baby boys at home sick, even if they were under the fabulous care of my parents and Julia, our au pair.

Then it hit.

Gabby was diagnosed with bronchitis on Tuesday, March 10th. And on Friday the 13th (go figure) the boys’ little noses were snotty beyond belief. Again. Since Rocco had 3 horrible nights in a row (Wednesday – Friday), we brought him in to the doctor Saturday morning. And sure enough… he had another lovely ear infection (his 6th since birth). He was also wheezing again so we were back to using the asthma meds too. Then, a few hours after his doctor appointment, his left ear ruptured. Poor baby!

I have only one other experience with an ear rupturing and that was when Gabby’s ear ruptured last spring, just days before the Easter holiday. Her medications weren’t working, even though they had switched us 2 times that week. The fluid that came out of her ear was greenish in color. She had a bad infection. Rocco’s was clear. So I guess that was good.

On Saturday night (March 14), both boys were waking up in the middle of the night uncomfortable and in pain. Ugh. Once again this scene was becoming all too familiar. On Sunday, all three kids had fevers. And all were fussy. Gammy and Papa had arrived to take care of the boys while we were in Mexico and I think they were suddenly wondering what they got themselves into. Both babies were clinging to mommy. Dang. This was not supposed to happen before our trip! They were supposed to be healthy! My poor babies!

So, last Monday (March 16), we brought both babies to the doctor. Rocco’s left ear was not getting any better. And, his other ear was also now infected. So – the little guy had a double ear infection, and the left ear looked like it was about to rupture AGAIN. Ouch! Matteo was also diagnosed with an ear infection in both ears. The doctor recommended giving both boys antibiotic shots because the meds were no longer helping them and they needed help FAST. One in each leg. (Sniff, sniff) And, they ended up having to go back for shots Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday while we were in Mexico.

I felt so bad having to leave my little guys while they were sick. And, I felt horrible that my parents and Julia had to care for them while they were so sick and whiny and fussy and not sleeping well. Unfortunately, my parents were quickly welcomed into the sleepless world of sick twins. They also brought them to the doctor, held them each through 6 more shots of antibiotics. And most importantly – the little guys were spoiled with sympathetic love, lots of attention and patience. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MOM, DAD & JULIA!!

Yesterday, we met with an ENT doctor and decided that both boys will get tubes in their ears.

Then, last night... Matteo woke up 4 times and Rocco twice. Add Matt's not eating well this morning to the picture and I scheduled an afternoon MD appointment for the little man. And, once again my suspicions were right - Matt has ANOTHER EAR INFECTION. OMG! POOR BABY. This is number 8 (I think... I'm beginning to lose count!).

We’ve found it to be incredibly difficult ever getting any sleep in our house with how often the boys are sick. Whenever they’re sick – they don’t sleep. When they get healthy, we have to re-sleep train them. That usually only takes 2-3 nights since we've sleep trained them so often. And, when they are healthy they'll put themselves to sleep just find and sleep through the night. But, when they're sick, it's another story. They get so much mucus buildup that they'll puke if left crying for longer than 5 minutes. And then not only are you cleaning puke off a crib, floor, rug and changing crib sheets, doing laundry, etc..... you're waking up constantly throughout the night to tend to the sick babies. Anyway, our main sleep problem is that the glory of two 1-year olds sleeping through the night never lasts long enough before the next round of sickness starts.

Hopefully… with Spring here, and tubes in their ears… full-time healthy boys and normal nights of sleep are just around the corner!

WISH US LUCK… PLEASE! PRETTY PLEASE!!