Better late than never

Okay, so St. Patrick's day was 2 weeks ago. But I just have to post these:

I think he is trying to watch tv while I took this.
He wore that Target dollar spot hat all day.

And of course we had to put something green
on the boys for their first St. Paddy's day!

The helmet saga continues

So we have technically had the helmet for 4 weeks now. But we have quite the issues in actually wearing the helmet. We had Carter wear it a little more each day, but as soon as he wore it for 23 hours straight, he got a horrible rash. He has always had sensitive skin. Here he is when I took it off that morning:

We let the rash heal and tried again--the same thing happened. We are on our third try, but I am not making him go 23 hours straight. Hopefully we will finally get him wearing it as much as he should, because the sooner we do, the sooner we will be done!

The Froot Loop Grandma

It's been so long since I blogged that I don't know where to start. It seems that life just kind of got in the way. So please forgive me over the next few days while I try to play a little catch up. I am going to start with this random thought: I just might have the greatest mom in the world.

My mom and I talk on the phone quite often. Well, about a month ago she must have heard the desperation in my voice, because she went ahead and bought airline tickets so she could come and help me. She says it was because she missed her grandbabies, but it was really to help me. Without realizing it, she booked her tickets for spring break, which thrilled Tyler.

So she came and we spent the week together. Whenever she comes we spend a lot of time shopping and eating. She always cooks for us. She entertains Tyler. And she snuggles on babies. Because it was spring break we got to go to Chuck E Cheese, Old MacDonald's farm, the movies, and lots of time at the park. Heck, Dan and I even got a date!


What makes me even more grateful for my mom is that I know what a sacrifice it is for her to leave home. For one, she misses work, which means she misses out on that money. Also, she is very needed back home, and I know it is hard for her to leave all that behind. In fact, the timing of her visit out here coincided with a catastrophe back home. My 14 year old nephew (whose mom is doing the single parent, going to school thing, and as a result my mom is there to step in whenever needed) suffered a ruptured appendix the week before she came. Then, while she was here he was sent back to the hospital with blood clots--both in his leg and lungs! (I teased him that while I knew I was cool, he shouldn't try to replicate my entire medical history in 2 weeks.) I know it was stressful for her to be so far away when people needed her so much, but I am so thankful that she is always willing to give of her all to everyone.

Someone once told me they had two grandmas--the Froot Loop grandma and the oatmeal grandma. My mom is most definitely a Froot Loop grandma, and we all love her!

In case you were wondering

when twins started fighting (over toys or even over mom), it's 8 months.

Brady was stealing toys from Carter,
but they both looked up at me when I went to take their picture.

Helmet update

Day 6 of the helmet
Day 1 of nonstop wear
Smell already pungent

I wonder if today's 75+ degree weather contributed.

This is going to be a long 2-4 months. Let's hope it's closer to 2. For Carter's sake, as well as anyone who has to hold him in the next few months. Good thing he doesn't seem to care.

New Noggins

So all the boys have new looks today.

Since I mentioned in passing on here about Carter's helmet, I received a few questions. Yes, Carter 's head is not nice and round the way it should be. He has a noticeable flat spot on the back left side of his head. At his 4 month check up the pediatrician noticed the flattening and told us to focus on repositioning him. At his 6 month check up it was clear that repositioning alone wasn't going to correct the flat spot, and we got a referral to see a plastic surgeon. We have finally gone through all the steps--doctor's exam, scan of his head, communication with the insurance, and we got his helmet fitted today. Over the next five days we will gradually increase the time he wears it until he is wearing it 23 hours a day. We don't know how long he will have to wear it; they say 2-4 months. His is on the milder side so I hope we won't have to wear it much past 3, but I also didn't think we would need an apnea monitor for 7 months! We go back next week, and every other week after that to get it checked.

Carter's helmet, Tyler's photography

And not to be outdone, Brady got his first haircut today! He did great, no crying or complaining. And he looks so cute. A big thanks to Jen for doing such a great job.


Like I said, everyone got new looks. so be sure to check out Tyler's handsome hair too.

Happy Birthday

I feel like Tyler has been overlooked recently on the blog. So here is, according to him, the funnest birthday party ever!

To celebrate Dr. Suess's birthday, we read Green Eggs and Ham, we met the Cat in the Hat,

we decorated our own version of green eggs and ham,


and ate a delicious slice of cake. Thank you to our local library for throwing the party, and thank you to Dr. Suess. What an icon.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

Overwhelmed

I try hard not to complain.

We waited and hoped and prayed for years, many years, to be blessed with children. I know that Brady and Carter were an answer to those prayers and are meant to be in our family. I love being a mom; I love all my boys; I wouldn't change a thing.

But some days are simply so overwhelming. If this 4:30 in the morning thing continues--I might become the world's crankiest mom from lack of sleep. (Seriously Brady, did you forget how to sleep through the night?) The thought of doing 2 baths, 2 solid feedings, 2 bedtimes, 2 trips up the stairs (I know, my life is so hard), 2 trips to load the car--it's just makes me tired. And it's been two weeks since I've had a prescription filled that is still sitting there because the thought of loading them into the stroller and into the store just so I can give the pharmacy my new insurance information is too much.

But I also have moments that I wouldn't trade for anything. And no matter how overwhelmed and tired I feel, I still love my job and think I might just be the luckiest mom in the world.