A little bit of normalcy

There were many days that I wondered if I would ever be able to take both of my twins to their 1 year well baby checkup at the doctors office.  Well folks...it happened.  Our appointment was at 8 am.  Because early mornings are neither Jonathan's forte nor the girls', I decided to add a little padding to our scheduled leaving time just to ensure that we would make it promptly.  Well, we did.  We got there 30 minutes early.  So, the girls, Kim (the nurse), Jonathan and I all sat in the Starbucks parking lot for a little bit while I sipped on a Mocha.  It was really some nice peaceful time.  Quite the contrast to what happened immediately after the girls got their shots.  That is one of my least favorite things.  Holding down my child while someone does something to them that I know hurts.  And the look they give me is almost too much to bare.  In moments like that I repeat to myself the mantra that my aunt, who has twins, taught me.  "I am the mother of twins. I can do anything!"  It's commonly heard around our house.

Ok, back to the point...the girls are doing GREAT!!!!  Lydia is in the 50th to 75th percentile for height, weight, and head circumference.  She weighs 21 lbs and is doing everything a 12 month old should do for the most part. She says Dada, Nana, YehYeh, and Dog.  I think she said ball today!  She's not taken her first steps yet but she is very very close.  Scary close. She has also finally decided to join the ranks of those who clap!  It was such an exciting moment for both of us.  She did it and then looked at her hands like "hey...I didn't know you guys could do that!"  Priceless.

Miss Penelope is no longer on the Preemie charts!  That's amazing for such a tiny little girl who's been through so much.  Preemies are expected to be caught up by the age of 2.  She is in the 5th to 10th percentile on height, weight, and head circumference.  She's 16 lbs.  She's 2 inches shorter, and 5 lbs lighter than Lydia...but I'd say she's closing the gap!  Now she's not totally caught up but both I and her pediatrician are very pleased with her progress.  She is now waving hello and goodbye, nodding her head yes and no, is actually scooting forward and backwards now.  She's really enjoying her mobility.  We are still waiting to hear about whether we will be approved for her rolling ventilator stand or not, but I hope we hear soon because this girl is about to get going!

After the appointment it was about 10am and it was just about the time that Costco opens.  Now, some of you may not be aware, but Lydia and I have a kind of obsession with Costco.  Their diapers are the cheapest, their stuff is the coolest, and their sample ladies are the nicest.  Just about every week we find an excuse to go, but it has to be before 430 because that's when the sample ladies get off of work.  They always ask about where the other twin is and ask how she's doing.  I keep telling them that after cold and flu season is over we will be there all the time with ventilator and nurse in tow.  Well, we didn't wait.  With it being right at opening time there were very few people there.  The aisles are huge so people never get close enough to give you any germs, and the things Penny would experience far outweigh the risks in my opinion.  It was so much fun!!!! Costco has two seater carts so both girls got to sit in the front of the cart, the ventilator and everything fit nicely in the basket, and we had a blanket to cover up any nasty cart germs that might have been there.  They had a ball.  Penny wanted to look at all the lights (which made her look a little more "special" but I didn't want to stop her learning experience) but when we got to the diaper aisle she screamed out in excitement and tried to climb out of the basket.  I think she recognized the box, or the pictures of babies, or something but it was really really adorable.  Nothing else in the store got such a big reaction but she did taste some lentil soup that was for sample.  Lydia loved it, and Penny licked what was on her lips.  I would say a good time was had by all.  There will be many more Costco trips in a few more months.  Many many more.

Penny has another Pulmonology appointment this Friday so hopefully, because her little cold has passed, her CO2 will be low enough to wean her rate!  She has done excellently with her oxygen lowered and after a couple of days she was back to satting 99 and 100.

Lydia has an appointment with a pediatric plastic surgeon to have her ear tags removed.  I don't even notice them anymore but now would be the best time to do it so that she won't really remember it and the scar should be smaller.

Lynnlee (I can't remember if I put this in the last blog but it bares repeating) is home!!!!  She is home and doing wonderfully and her parents are so excited.  Please pray for them as they transition into this new phase of life.  They have in home nursing care too which can take some getting used to.  Just like everything else.  A complicated blessing.

Lydia and her "cousins" (my best friend's kids) Nina and Jack.  Clearly they don't like her.

"you gonna eat that?"

Penny and her speech therapist Sarah

quick trip to the backyard...just cause we could

"I think we're going to Costco!" -L

"Mom, you know playing peekaboo with me makes you look silly right?" -P

Waiting on our favorite PCP

"It's like this cart was made for us!" -L and P

"Costco makes me sleeepy" -P

Jonathan and Lydia playing outside

We couldn't let them have ALL the fun!

Family backyard play time...Penny is still confused at why we wouldn't let her put a leaf in her mouth.

This may seem like a strange picture to post.  But my sweet Penelope has had a rather large and stubborn bald spot.  This is to show that is is much less large and getting less stubborn now!  Probably because her MahMah brushes it relentlessly whenever she is here....whatever works!!!