Blah...cleaning is for suckers

I have decided that I'm not a fan of moving and cleaning anymore.  We moved in a month ago and I know it takes time to clean and organize how you want but the days are numbered before the holidays are upon us and I still see such a mess around me.  Granted the front room is all of the girls toys.  I had meant to scatter them up and downstairs but now with Seren in a cast they have almost all remained upstairs since I don't plan on her going down until the cast is off (2 more weeks...please go quickly).

I cleaned up Halloween decor today.  Yep Halloween hasn't even come and gone and I'm packing it up.  I didn't pull out much but it just was clutter not decoration this year anyway.  I am excited to take the girls trick or treating.  I made flapper costumes for them (seen below) but we tried on their store bought costumes yesterday and they fit so great that they will be wearing these on Halloween.  I am excited for Halloween night and to actually take them out trick or treating this year.  We'll probably both go since Seren is hobbled up and since it is their first year going.  We plan on just hitting the cul-de-sac and a couple neighbors we've met before it gets dark and then come home for all the kiddos to trick or treat us.

This is short and sweet...just a formal complaint about moving, cleaning and arranging. Now it is back to the work horse before the girls wake up from a nap.

 Kendall

Seren



22 Months

*as always these are for me (and the girls) to remember so don't feel pressured to read*

Foods They Like:  They love almost all fruit.  They are getting better at eating meat (usually chicken or sausage).  They loved a fish sample at the store (need to get on that).  They like yogurt, apple sauce, pizza, bread, orange juice, enchiladas, biscuits and gravy, carrot slivers depending on the day, etc.

Foods They Don't:  They are pretty picky compared to their friends.  They are doing better but still need improvement.  Debating on Pediasure supplement or vitamins...anyone have experience?  Will be asking our doctor first of course.

Favorite Things:   They love the swing set in our new backyard.  They love Sesame Street and Elmo (as a result of the swing set in our backyard).

Favorite toy:  Lego type blocks, books, swings and slides; whatever toy the other one has.

Dislikes:  Being hungry and tired.  Teething.  Being told what to do or not to do.

Their Accomplishments:  Walking, running and climbing.  Adapting to a cast.  Physically and mentally they are right on target and even ahead in some areas for their age according to our Early Intervention evaluation.

Verbal:  They understand a lot of words but still don't verbalize as much.  We had Early Intervention evaluate them and they did great in all areas except for expressive language. We will be having some help in the home with Kendall's speech and Seren will gain from it too I'm sure.  Seren has really started taking off recently (we think the cast has played a big role) and says/repeats new words fairly often.  Kendall is also starting to hum/sing a little and say a couple new words.  So I can't imagine we'll be working with Early Intervention too long.

New words:  Seren has said quite a few new words...my favorites being "ice" and "hello".  Kendall is also trying to say "more" and says "jah"/yes all the time...so cute.

Teeth:  Both of them are working on their canines.  Seren has two poking through and Kendall is swollen gummed and drooling also.

Sleep:  Sleeping great.  They have slept better in our new home than they did at Grandparents D.

Looking forward to:  Looking forward to more words and verbal skills.  Looking forward to Seren being cast free in 3 weeks.  Also can't wait for the holidays and trying winter things.

Hobble Legged Cutie

Seren had her bent-knee cast taken off yesterday.  Oh the panic and horror that little girl had when they buzz/sawed that thing off.  She was scared of course and I sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to her and Elmo's World (even the two staff members joined in on that one as it seemed to work the best).  She was much better getting the new cast on.  This will be a walking cast and she will have it on for 3 weeks and then will (hopefully) be cast free.  She's adapting very well to this new "freedom" of walking.  Also they did x-rays after the new cast was on (there would have been too much pain for her to do some in between).  She is healing up wonderfully and no concerns there.  So grateful this is not more of an ordeal for her, although wishing it never happened.

PS I bought a pirate and devil costume last year on clearance and didn't think they'd fit (or they'd still be in storage even) so I made their costumes myself again this year (pictures at a later date).  How adorable would this little hobble-walk have been in a pirate costume though??

Early Intervention results

With all the recent drama with Seren and special care and effort taken there I don't think I ever followed up here with the Early Intervention side of things.  We went in on October 16th to have the girls evaluated.  The women that worked there were fabulous and so open and friendly.  The girls both took to them fairly quickly.  Even Kendall was right at home which came as a surprise to me.

They did an intake on both girls together for a few minutes just getting the jest down and going over forms we had filled out before to make sure it was primarily the expressive verbal that was concerning.  Then they split us up, Jeff went with Seren and one lady and I stayed with Kendall and the other lady.  They asked a whole bunch of questions regarding Kendall's language, comprehension and verbal development.  Some of them were pretty technical and somewhat hard to answer as I wasn't sure.  They asked about her understanding and her babbling and her word use.  Some questions I didn't like as they would ask and I would tell them "no" and they'd be like "well she's not supposed to do that at this age so don't worry".  She had some definite strengths and some areas where I wanted help for her.  Seren was somewhat the same way according to Jeff.  Seren does babble more and sing and is starting to imitate, whereas Kendall is a little more delicate and soft spoken and I think lets Seren do the talking or gets "taken over" in some ways with Seren being assertive.

They also did some play evaluations with them to see cognitive and problem solving development.  They both did very good with this.  In some areas Kendall tested at more of a 2 year old + level.  Seren also did very well according to Jeff.  So we aren't worried about them I think we just need help and direction in how to encourage speech.

They tested well and in all other areas they did not qualify for Early Intervention.  In the verbal / expressive language they both struggled or were "delayed" a little.  The team explained that they only qualified if they scored 77 or below.  Seren scored at 79 and didn't qualify.  Kendall scored at 73 or 74 and barely qualified.  So we will be having follow up with another woman who wasn't present.  She'll set up some meetings in our home to work with Kendall.  I'm sure Seren will benefit at the same time.  Once she/they start catching up then the services will discontinue.  I'm honestly kind of looking forward to this help and guidance as I still feel like this is a shortcoming on my part.  I always thought teaching babies and children to talk came pretty natural but I don't know if it completely is.

Already Made...

I have been thinking tonight about the differences with infertiles and fertiles in their decisions to have another child.  For the most part it is very similar.  Do we want another child?  Can we afford another child?  When would we want to try to have another child?  How would our current child(ren) feel about a sibling?

But a thought occurred to me in a difference there is for those with frozen embryos vs a typical fertile couple.  For those with no assumed fertility problems, or even with mild ones, it is more of a case of "when should we try to make a baby".  But for those with frozen embryos those babies have already been made.  They are just in limbo.  Waiting to be a successful cycle or not.  Waiting to be your child or not.  It's not like you just have a period and figure the next month it might happen.  They have happened.  They are fertilized eggs that have started to develop.  They are a significant possibility for life.

It seems somewhat insane to be making decisions for possibilities that are just waiting, literally frozen in time. It feels like an extra weight of responsibility to me.  To make the right decision.  After all it took so much to get here there really isn't any turning back once decisions are made and events take place to offer that possibility to someone else.

Pictures Post

I spotted these on my camera when I got the picture of Kendall and Seren in her splint off of it.  I have to share because well gosh darn it they are adorable and I love them....

Kendall

Seren

Kendall's hair is red and curly - I love to throw mousse in it

Seren was running down the sidewalk and decided to play peek-a-boo

Kendall plays shy with the camera but when you can catch her looking at you it's priceless

Update on the Cookie

Seren is a trooper.  She has adapted very well to her newly casted leg.  She doesn't like it but she manages.  The first full day in the splint was rough as Seren was upset about it and Kendall had a fever (I think from teething since it's gone and nobody ever got sick).  So both of my sweeties were extra needy and I was a bit nutty from all of it.  But we have made it to almost a week post-break and things are good.  Seren is now sporting a hot pink cast and enjoys her days typically on the couch or on the mattress in the front room (luckily during the move-in this is where we slept so the mattress has stayed there for now to be a comfy sitting spot). 

Jeff's parents and sister came to sit with Kendall and his mom came to the appointment with me.  The specialist Dr Richter was quick and accurate in the assesment of her break.  He said it is not in the growth plate so it should heal very nicely and not cause any problems.  He also said he typically sees these type of breaks with trampolines.  He explained they would put a bent-knee non-weight bearing cast on for 2 weeks and then a straight leg weight bearing cast for 2 weeks after that.  The bend in the knee being to discourage Seren from trying to stand or walk (like Mommy isn't a big enough discourager).  The PA and nurse came in to put the cast on and we told them the pinkest pink they could find would make Seren happy.  The cast wrapping went smoothly and Seren didn't even cry.  She squirmed a little when the PA tried to talk to her and gave some scowls when they touched her leg but in general was amazing.

She has been off of her feet at home when I am around.  During naptimes and bedtimes I have found her standing up in her crib, holding onto the railing and most of her weight on her good leg.  I was fighting her on it but have since decided that she doesn't appear to put weight on the cast and that I can't have eyes on her at all times to keep her off.  I can't wait until she is in the weight bearing cast though so I won't be so stressed about it.  We have watched enormous amounts of Sesame Street.  So much that I want to gouge my eyes out at times but it seems to keep them both happy.  We also go for walks in the stroller, color, play with toys on the floor, go for drives in the car, stroll around stores and swing in the backyard to kill the boredom blues. 

Broken Leg...Broken Heart

aka The Disadvantages to Being a Twin and Why I Suck as a Parent

*heaven knows I'm writing this so Seren can have "fun" memories not because of my fabulous parenting skills.

We just moved to our new home on Wednesday.  We love the area.  We love the neighbors.  We love(ed) the swing set in the backyard.  So did the girls.  We had been out to play on it once or twice.  Seren has gotten pretty good at climbing on her own with us being there to support and help.  She even managed to scale a ladder all on her own once when grandma and grandpa were here playing with them...needless to say I rushed over and helped her up the rest of the way and down the slide. 

So I knew she could climb them.  I knew for her age this wasn't a great idea since she's still unbalanced and small.  But I figured I could stay on top of both of them.  We went outside yesterday and were playing with Daddy and Aunt A nearby.  Aunt A was helping with Kendall and Seren and all was fine.  Aunt A went inside or something for a moment and I was right there with the girls.  I helped Kendall up and then down the slide.  Then, I turned around and I saw Seren near the top of a ladder and before I could respond to get her down she had slipped.  I watched her fall and saw her land with most of the force on her left leg.  I ran to her and she was crying (okay screaming) and I picked her up and rushed her inside the house to check her out.  I stripped off her pants and shoes and looked at her legs and knee.  I didn't see anything wrong but she kept crying.  I rocked her and held her and offered her chocolate to see if it would calm her down (as it has in the past with falls and bumps).  She pushed it away.  Jeff and Aunt A came inside with Kendall and we tried to calm Seren down.  I asked if we should go to the doctor or ER and it was somewhat decided to wait a few minutes and see if she would calm down.  She did somewhat but she also wouldn't put any weight on her left leg and kept crying.  I called the after-hours pediatrics and explained what happened and how she was acting and they set up an appointment for an hour later.  Seren finally exhausted herself and fell asleep in Jeff's arms for a little while.  Kendall went down for her nap and when it was time to leave I left Jeff home with Kendall sleeping and took Seren.  She was more calm but again wouldn't put weight on her leg.  On the car ride there she seemed completely happy and sung and babbled from her carseat in the backseat.

The pediatrician saw her and examined her legs.  Seren cried at being touched and screamed when the doctor touched her lower leg and knee area.  She got a sucker and calmed down.  I was told the injury or pain seemed to be around her shin and knee but that the doctor wanted x-rays of her whole leg just to be sure.  So we headed down to radiology.  We waited there for a little while.  Then they brought us back and placed her on the x-ray table and I sat with her in a lead apron.  They gave her another sucker.  And the two of us cried as they took several x-rays and Seren screamed when they bent, turned and touched her leg.  Seren begged to be held and I tried to comfort her and tell her we had to take pictures first.  I've never felt so helpless and guilty.  The radiologist didn't see anything immediately and so I crossed my fingers and hoped for a sprain or something else.

We went back to the doctor's office upstairs and waited.  It took some time to get the x-rays read and back to them so we called and checked in with Jeff and said hello to Kendall.  Seren was in good spirits.  When the doctor came back in she told us that Seren had indeed fractured her leg with the fall.  I started crying again and she tried to give me a pep talk of how I was not a horrible parent (especially with twins) and that things like this happen.  I asked where it was broken and she took us to her office and showed us the x-ray.  It is on the upper part of the tibia (larger bone in the lower leg) near the knee.  I noticed that it was close to the growth plate (thank you BioMed in college) and asked about this.  The doctor said yes it would need some extra care and follow-up to make sure this wouldn't cause problems.  Then she had us follow her to the "prep room" where they splinted Seren's leg with a plaster type backing, gauze and an ACE type bandage over all of it.  She sat in my lap during this and again we cried and she screamed and begged for comfort. 

We were referred to an orthopedic specialist to call on Tuesday (dang you holiday) and will have further follow up from him, including a cast.  Seren is not supposed to have any weight bearing on that leg until the cast comes off in about 3 weeks or so.  So basically, as the doctor said, stock up on coloring books and other sitting/quiet type games.  Hoping for the best and no further trouble for her with this as it heals. 

Seren and Kendall with the splint...watching some Sesame Street.  This is right after we got home so her hair is a sweaty mess.

New Faces, Paces and Plans...

We moved everything out of our storage this past weekend on the 29th.  It mostly went into the garage so that the carpets can be cleaned at the end of this week.  It was a really smooth move and only took us about 2 hours total and maybe an hour of settling a few things into the house.  We had a good amount of help and Jeff's mom watched most of the kids (Seren, Kendall and cousins) so it was relatively easy.  It seems like a wonderful neighborhood which we are over the moon about.  We met a handful of neighbors who were all very nice and offering help and future help.  They all praised each other and the area.  So hopefully it isn't all a farce or just the surface impression.

I am a little tentative in regards to the neighborhood being primarily LDS / Mormon.  I am Mormon but after going through infertility and determining the way we wanted to build our family through donor eggs it has been a little more interesting in our relationship to other typical LDS members and the values of the church.  We do still go to church each week and we pray with our children and I do hope to work towards a more active lifestyle with our church but it has yet to be determined how it will all pan out (isn't it always with anything you do?)  I have decided not to be secretive or misleading in the reason we have twins but I will not be sharing the piece regarding donor eggs.  In my understanding it isn't highly accepted or what is expected as the first step to resolution of infertility (or possibly at all).  I feel no shame with it and I still feel that God is perfectly happy with our little family but why expose something so private if you ask me.  It will be Kendall and Seren's decision as they get older (and hopefully have a good grasp of it) to share this information if they feel it relative.  Anyway just a sub-thought process going on there.

Also, we were planning on moving out at the end of this week on Saturday morning.  Plans have changed a little.  Jeff's cousin who lives out of state is getting married on Thursday to a girl who is somewhat local...so the wedding and reception will be here in Utah.  Long story short it was somewhat offered for them to stay at the house if Jeff and I had moved by then (which it was assumed we would be...no one expected 5 months).  And since this family struggles somewhat financially it was the easiest and cheapest arrangement for them.   So, as we sat around making plans for our week and the last load to move to the house...they called and this plan was brought up again. Jeff and I were fine with moving up our time a couple days (we'll move Wednesday night now) although it makes it less smooth at the same time.  I am not so worried about us as I am worried about the girls handling the transition with less than ideal circumstance.  They will be in their pack-n-plays for a couple nights (since we can't put up cribs until the carpets are cleaned and dry) and in a new/strange surrounding also.  I hope that they make it through okay.  I hope we all make do with it.  I can't wait to be there and settling in now.