Surgeries... complete!

Rocco and Matteo's surgeries went very well on Monday. No complications! Hooray!

This was our schedule:
* 5:30am: Leave home
* 6am: Check-in
* 7am: Pre-surgery exam, vitals & anesthesia consult
* 7:45am: Matteo anesthesia
* 8am: Matt surgery
* 8:10am: Rocco nebulizer
* 8:20am: Rocco anesthesia
* 8:30am: Matt in recovery
* 8:45am: Rocco surgery
* 9am: Matt wakes up... angry... VERY angry.
* 9:15am: Rocco in recovery
* 9:45am: Rocco wakes up. Confused. Still drugged. Fussy.
* 10:55: Swing by my office to say hello to my coworkers and show them how big the boys have gotten
* 11:30am: Leave for home
* 12noon: Arrive home

Dr. C said that both surgeries went very well. They found that Matteo had a lot of fluid build-up in both ears... which probably would have led to another double ear infection. Sadly, the little guy has been on meds since last week for another ear infection anyway. Then, he said they found Rocco to have an active double ear infection (argh!)... which we didn't know about prior to the surgery. Definitely explains his moodyness on Monday and Sunday. It's almost as if the boys had gotten so used to being sick with ear infections that they didn't really know life differently. Pain = normal. Poor little guys!

I wasn't nervous during the surgeries. Probably because I was busy juggling between the two boys. I didn't really have time to think about complications or issues. I was a bit anxious about the anesthesia. But overall... my goal was to just make it through the morning without my kids a) going crazy because they were hungry or b) destroying every room we entered. They LOVE to push buttons, pull cords, etc. It's NOT easy having two very busy boys in high-tech hospital rooms!

Both boys received a valium-like drug to relax them. It was meant to help keep them calm when they were taken from mommy and brought into the OR to get their general anesthesia. Matteo was taken back before I got to see him impacted too much by the valium-like medication. He just got real cuddly and was perfectly fine when they took him from me. VERY unlike Matt. He's a bit of a momma's boy and would otherwise have screamed his head off. Rocco, on the other hand... wow... I got to see him very *valiumized*... and he was truly FUNNY! He was high-fiving people left and right, playing with his nebulizer, flirting with all the female nurses... smiling SO BIG for them and being the ultimate charmer. He had a hard time even sitting up straight so I mostly held him. He was just plain goofy and funny.

Recovery was the most difficult part of the entire process. Matteo was really upset when he was trying to wake up from the anesthesia. The nurses warned us that this would happen and was normal. But he was so upset that I couldn't calm him down and couldn't hold him because he was literally trying to jump out of my arms. Rocco had a much easier time in recovery. He was definitely confused, abnormally fussy and very off-balance.

The worst part of the entire experience was when poor little Rox threw up ALL OVER himself and the car seat on the way home. I'm sure it was a combination of the ear infections, anesthesia and the car ride. I felt so bad for the little man. Sniff... sniff.

Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera (can you believe it?!) along with us on this adventure. So, the quality of the photos isn't that great since they were taken with my Blackberry. But... I thought my little guys looked darling in their hospital outfits!

Escape to Mexico!!

Thanks to my parents and our au pair, Julia… Dan, Gabby and I were able to enjoy a little vacation! We spent 5 days in Cabo San Lucas and it was great!

I was SO beyond excited to get a few nights of uninterrupted sleep, that I psyched myself out the first night and woke up constantly. Then, on the last night I didn’t fall asleep until almost 5am and then had to get out of bed at 8am to get packed, grab breakfast, etc. It was a bittersweet trip. The alone time with Gabby and Dan, rest and relaxation were much needed. But, we were also leaving behind two VIP family members! And, worse yet… the little guys were SO sick (see below posts).

MEXICO HIGHLIGHTS:

* Whenever we told Gabby what we were going to do next (like eating lunch, going to sleep, swimming, etc.), she would ask “Are we going to eat lunch in Mexico?” “Are we going to sleep in Mexico?” “Are we going to swim in Mexico?” * LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Mexican food.

* One night when we were getting ready for bed, Gabby said "Mommy... my ears hurt." I said "Where do they hurt?" She pointed to the inside of her ears and I thought uh-oh... not another ear infection. So I said "Why do your ears hurt, Gabby?" She said "Because I've been pooping so much!" Ummmm.... ok… LOL! And no, she did not get any tummy troubles while we were there. None of us did, thank goodness.

* LOVED the resort we stayed at. There were fabulous pools everywhere, the beach was beautiful and worth exploring. The service was excellent. And, the food was DELISH!

* I read “The Reader” while there. That is the first book I’ve read cover-to-cover since the twins were born. I started another book… 900 pages long. I’m sure I’ll have to restart that 5 years from now when I can maybe reacquaint myself with something called “PERSONAL TIME”.

* Dan’s highlight: Checking NCAA tournament scores constantly, uninterrupted, while beer and/or margarita in-hand. Let’s just say he definitely took advantage of pools-side beverage services. And good for him, right?!

* Every day we were able to see huge Blue Whales blowing water and jumping into the air. They were at least a mile or two off the shore. The staff at our resort would bring us binoculars so Gabby could see them better. They were fun to watch. Big and wowtastic!

* One day while swimming with Gabby, I was holding her and she started screaming so loud like she was in pain. Everyone around the pool was looking at us. I asked her what was wrong and she held up C.inderella (a little figurine doll) and screamed “C.INDERELL’S HAIR IS MISSING!!!!” OMG! She FREAKED OUT! I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I had to assure her I would find C.inderella’s hair. Thank God I found it quite quickly on the pool floor. I almost felt like holding it up so I would get a round of applause from the onlookers we’d attracted. Gabby smiled, laughed… we wiped the tears. And, everything was happy again. In case you didn’t know… princesses are like crack to my child… they’re beyond addicting! She eats, sleeps and breathes princesses. C.inderella was in Gabby’s hand throughout the entire trip… even while sleeping and swimming, I kid you not.

* We watched as a couple got married on the beach one night. Gabby thought the bride was a princess... so we explained that she was a bride, kind of like a princess but only for a day (until reality sets in. ha!). After the bride and groom walked off... Gabby said "I want to be a princess and have a REAL BIG white dress like that! Daddy... I want to get married!"

* Gabby swam like a fish and would spend entire days in the pool! She did SO great and didn’t need any assistance while swimming with her water wings. She’s not yet able to swim without the water wings… but it’s just around the corner, I can feel it!

* Several times I gave Gabby the camera so she could take photos. She thought this was GREAT. She LOVES taking pictures and I have to admit, I love seeing the shots she ends up getting. Sometimes Dan & I have to try and move quickly to get in the photos that are supposed to include us. It’s fun. Can you guess which photos she took?

* Gabby was great at spotting Iguana’s on the resort grounds. They were fast and big (about 2 feet long). She also spotted a sand crab and got VERY CLOSE to a pelican that decided to jump into the pool and swim amongst all the humans before making a grand exit. It had an amazingly large wingspan… probably close to 6 feet wide. (see photos)

* We walked on the beach and in the ocean and got to see lots of striped and colorful fish swimming and eating off the shore rocks.

* Gabby LOVED having Dan toss her into the air SUPER HIGH (see photo).

* I brought the camera to breakfast our last morning in Mexico. You see... Gabby had become good friends with Arturo, our server. He helped us every day with our breakfast. Gabby spotted him about 5 tables away and pointed at him saying "Mommy, I LOVE that boy!" It was a great trip! So much fun. But, it was also great to get back to my little guys… I sure missed them a LOT!

Pink Eye Today... Surgeries Tomorrow.

Gabby complained about her ear hurting yesterday. Then, around 5am this morning she woke up with a fever. She was HOT! But, I didn't want to really "wake her" by taking her temperature so instead I gave her Tylenol. Then when she woke up, she had some gunk in the corner of both eyes.

She visited Dr. O this morning... and instead of hearing that she has an ear infection, we found out she has PINK EYE! Huh. Interesting. Never once did she complain about itchy eyes. Dr. O said that sometimes kids will complain about something else instead of where the source of the problem actually is. Go figure. See... kids mess with us and try to confuse us from the time they're born!

Anyway, I guess the diagnosis shouldn't be a surprise, as we were recently notified that Pink Eye was going around her classroom.

Hopefully... the babies won't catch it. They seem to catch EVERYTHING!

They'll get tubes tomorrow. Please keep my little guys in your thoughts & prayers!

POO on the loose!! Sunday - March 29, 2009

Saturday morning we made a big family style breakfast. The kids finished before Dan & I got to eat (of course, right?)… so they were playing, running around and riding their trucks.

Dan and I fixed our separate plates and I was diving into a magazine and Dan took his plate over to the computer.

Suddenly I heard Dan yell “WOOOOOW! WAIT FELLAS… WHAT is THAT?!” And, I look over… and Dan is horrified and claiming that poop is on the floor?

WHAT?! GROSS!

So… I run over… we’re both laughing… and there’s little Matt… sitting on his dump truck (how appropriate) and pushing it along like nothing happened. Since the poop trail was in his path… we made the correct assumption that it was his. Three lovely poop chunks somehow escaped the kids diaper… wiggled down his leg and plopped onto the floor. Gross… gross… gross.

We can only assume it was a result of the thong diaper he was wearing (thanks to his daddy’s doing). Gotta put those diapers on proper, daddies!

THANKFULLY… his brother did not find it before Dan. I can only IMAGINE what would have resulted from that.

Again. Gross.

Trying is the name of the game!

When it comes to getting photos of all 3 of my kids simultaneously, trying is the name of the game.

We tried to get a photo of Gammy, Papa with all three kids. OMG. Nearly impossible. First we couldn't get Gabby to participate. So... we got a few photos of Gammy & Papa with the boys. Then, Gabby decided to turn on her charm and participate. Then, Matt was only content if he could hold a key chain. And then Rocco wanted down. My mom asked if any turned out... and my response to that was "Yes. All 5 of you were in the photos... that's considered a success." :)

"Go Matteo Go!"

Matteo can now say several words, including:
* Momma
* Dadda
* Rocco (not a lot... but will repeat 'Rocco' when he hears us or Gabby saying it)
* Go Diego Go! (he MIGHT just be the world's biggest fan of the show)
* Cookie
* Yucky (I will say "Yucky" when he licks dirt off his hands or has a stinky diaper)

I have to say my personal favorite is probably "Go Diego Go!" because it is usually accompanied by fabulous cheerleader-like hand movements showing his enthusiasm for the show.

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!!

Hard to keep up with life!

Life has been so busy lately... it's been really hard to keep up.

The boys have been really sick... yet again. Yes, one week after I was SO thrilled to have a healthy house again... Rocco came down with a double ear infection (one ear rupturing), and Matt came down with bronchitis and an ear infection. Always full of unexpected twists and turns.

Now, we're meeting with an ENT physician on Monday morning... for BOTH boys. Poor little guys. I'm very confident that tubes are in our very near future.

Also... thanks to my parents and our au pair, we were able to escape to Mexico last week for some much-needed R&R! It was a great get-a-way... and we were able to get more sleep than we normally get at home.

Anyway... two blog posts coming soon with recent photos. My goal is Tuesday night!

Meet "baby"!

Meet "baby"... Rocco's baby.

For the past week, Rocco has been very interested in one of Gabby's baby dolls. We call it "baby". Rocco will walk around holding "baby" while patting it's head. He'll kiss the baby. He'll burp the baby. He'll roll around on the ground with baby. Quite honestly... it might just be one of the cutest things I've seen this child do!

If you ask him to go find "baby"... he'll start looking around. Then he'll go running around at a pretty good clip from room to room until he can find "baby". Once he finds baby, he'll come running back to you hugging baby in his arms.

For such a little tough guy... my little Rox definitely has a soft spot! I love it!

Rox is REALLY hard to photograph because he's always moving and he's FAST! But, here are a few photos I was able to catch of him and baby:

The funny things kids say. Saturday - March 7, 2009

Kids say the funniest things. Put on your parenting hat... because you're about to read what you will undoubtedly hear/experience conversationally with your own child, if you haven't already!

We were driving in the car the other day and Gabby was watching "The L.ittle M.ermaid". She said "Mommy? I would like to have a green tail too!" This is of course added to the list of princess wishes that she makes daily. Princesses are a very big deal around our house. ;-)

Then, tonight I was giving Gabby a bath. Looking at me quite seriously, she said "Mommy, someday I want to have really big b.oobies just like you." I didn't know what to say... but then said "Oh really? Ok. That's cool!" Little does she know that her mommy was much more... ummm... should we say blessed (?) pre-kids in the chest department. Not much there to wish upon now!

Then, of course during this same bath, she proceeded to tell me that she has a hole on her bottom that goes poo poo and pee pee. I of course nodded and said... "Really? Wow!" I didn't bother to start explaining that one... but of course in my head I was thinking... hmmm... perhaps we wait until she's 30 to revisit this comment.

Age three seems to be the age where these little people start voicing more of their awareness of body/self. Recently, when I was changing one of the boy's diapers... Gabby pushed a chair up so she could watch. She said "Mommy, what is that thing between his legs?" So... of course I had to tell her that little boys have different parts, etc. She giggled and thought this was pretty funny. And, she said "I don't have a p.enis. I just have a bottom."

After the bath, I was thinking about all her little comments and one of my own childhood memories popped into my head. Both my mom and I remember it. I was in my mom's dressing room... and I looked at her while she was getting dressed and said "Mommy, some day I want small b.oobies just like you!" I'm not sure how old I was... but I would venture to guess I was in the 3-4 age range.

What is the lesson to be learned from this blog post?

Be careful what you wish for!

HA!