October.

Feels like time just flies by. There is really not enough time in the day to get everything done. We've had a very busy October, but welcome all the ups and downs in life.

Julian had his last flag football game on October 17th. It was so great that my parents made it down to see him play before the season was over. Julian was so happy that he had them there to watch.. He kept asking them if he did a good job. He always does a good job to us. I don't know if Julian ever got into the actual game of football, but he got out there and tried his best every time. He loved the social interaction with the other kids. Julian definitely has the gift of talk and friendship. He will never be lonely because he has a great talent for making friends. He is so socialable and friendly, and loves to please his mommy( hopefully he will continue that for a long time) Alex and Lilly loved having my parents here also. They are funny. It takes a little while for them to warm up to everyone but then they quickly remember.

October 19: The babies had their evaluation for early intervention through the state to receive additional services. They said they looked great, but did qualify for services because they are delayed with their speech. It's very hard to have your children critiqued and to feel like they aren't doing what they should be doing. Considering they arrived 8 weeks early and were VERY small and sick, I think we are doing pretty good. They are also twins which typically are a little slower to talk. They have no problem understanding, just have difficulty in expressing their speech to me.

Then on the 20th, I was very reluctant but went to Charleston with Chris on a business trip. We were very lucky that his mom and dad came to watch the kids so we could take this much needed time away. It was very hard leaving the babies. It felt very strange and unnatural leaving them. But Chris and I had a good time away and it was great coming home to them. You would have thought our 55 hrs away was much longer. The babies and Julian did much better than I expected and Mary and Tom survived, so it was a good thing all around. Having 3 children in hard finding someone willing to watch them, but we are blessed to have wonderful parents that will take on my kids so that Chris and I can have a break every once in awhile.

Lilly update:

Her bloodwork came back from seeing the immunologist and it wnl for her age, so she suggested we just continue to monitor in a year to make sure values increase with age. (one problem averted). We had our f/u with the GI doctor today and her weight was great from the last visit. She weighed 19 lbs 11 oz. the doctor was very impressed but have to say it was just the cream thats in her bottle. It gives her so many extra calories. She still doesn't eat very much quantity, and I really believe she takes forever for food to empty her stomach. She did want to do an endoscope to see the stomach and esophagus to see if there is something that causes her stomach to have such a delayed emptying. One more test, but hopefully we will get some results from that or some medicine that will help. Her saga continues , but she looks great and has such a vibrant personality. She is so funny and loving. Her size defiantly doesn't stop her. She can really take care of herself.

Alex:

Had an appt with a ENT: 5 ear infections since June= tubes. I hate that he will have to have surgery, but every time he gets an ear infection, he hurts so bad. Hopefully, he will feel better and not get so many infections. That is scheduled for November 18, so pray that goes well for both Alex and Mommy. I tend to be a wreck whenever things go wrong for my kids. It's funny, because being a nurse, I'm great for other people's problems but its harder to deal with my family.

Julian is doing great. he got a special treat this week and got to go to Canada with Chris to see his best friend from when we lived there. Chris had a business trip and it worked out where Julian could go with him and spend the night with our friends. We've been trying to find time to get him back since we've left and this was the first opportunity that really worked. We felt bad that we left suddenly and never went back for him to say goodbye to anyone. He had a great time, and we love that we could do that for him. We appreciate Joanna for letting him come and working that out with her busy schedule. Hopefully we can continue to get them together. They were great friends when we were there and it will be interesting to see if that continues.

Pictures to come

Pumpkin Patch

The kids looking at the chickens.
Chris thinking, "do I really have to carry this funny looking Pumpkin"
Julian found the white pumpkin he had been wanting.
Me and my babies.
Trying to get all 3 looking at the same time is next to impossible.

They had a barn full of corn that they treated like a sand box. All the kids loved it and we took plenty of it home with us in our shoes.

chris helping the babies feed the goats
My animal lover was loving it

She's probably telling the goat what to do. She's little and fiesty
She's going to be my little gymnast. She can already hand from the bars by her self and swing. She loves it, she's my little monkey.







Last weekend Chris and I took all the kids to a local pumpkin patch. It was a beautiful fall day. It was sunny and warm and a great day to get everyone outside. The babies are following in Julian's footsteps with a love of animals, so they loved seeing the goats, chickens, and horses. Lilly is a child with no fear. She marches right up to them and almost gives them kisses. Alex is my cautions one. He is very clingy and attached to me and Chris. He did get down some and enjoy everything though. We then took a hay ride out to the pumpkin fields and so we could pick our own pumpkins off the vines. Of course, Julian didn't want the standard big, orange pumpkin. He was looking for a white pumpkin. Whatever Julian wants, Julian gets. He searched for the right one and then chris got it off the vine for him. It was a great day. I love it when we are able to get out as a family and enjoy each other's company.

Favorite part of the day

Chris took this picture the other morning and I just wanted to put it on here even though it's not looking my best. This is absolutely my favorite part of the day. I love waking up in the morning and Julian comes to get in the bed with me, Lilly is usually already there sleeping. Once Alex hears noise upstairs (he's usually down with Chris playing- my early birds), he darts up to join us. I love having all 3 of my babies in the bed with me. It's our time to be together before the crazy days begin. Everyone is happy and I can just take it all in. I love seeing their smiles in the morning, it starts my day off on a good foot. This is why I longed to have children. This is what my life is all about. I love them so much.

Immunity

Last Thursday Chris and I took Lilly to her appt with the pediatric immunologist. (Another specialist to add to our List). She was very nice, and knowledgeable. She was very thorough and tried to get a handle on Lilly's history. The main reason why we were sent to her was the concern with her reaction with her last ear infection and taking a course of antibiotics. The severe thrush was a big concern to our pediatricians. One's immune system shouldn't become so depressed with one course of antibiotics to allow the thrush to overcome your body. We are going to run a battery of blood work to look at her blood counts. I have to admit that some of the information she was giving us was very complex. I'm glad I have a masters degree in nursing sometimes so that I have a better grasp on what to ask and understand how to better take care of my children. We also did some allergy testing while we were there to see if there was an allergy component that would be contributing to Lilly's reflux. Luckily, we ruled out any allergies. Check that off the list of potential diagnoses. Now, we just have to go have Lilly's blood drawn this week. Not looking forward to that, but it will be wonderful to be able to mark that off our list as a potential problem as well. The doctor didn't think we had anything severe to worry about since she has not had any illnesses that have required hospitalization, and she has tolerated her "live vaccines" without any problems. I've gone back and forth thinking the worst to thinking this still isn't the problem. I still believe that Lilly's reflux is our primary problem and she hasn't gotten the relief she needs to feel like eating. I also think food empties her stomach very slow and causes her not to want to eat as frequent as she should. I feel like our saga is going to continue but hopefully we are one step to helping her.

We also had our 18 month check ups recently. A little recap:

Alex weighed 25 lbs and was 32 inches tall. This put him in the 50% for both weight and height. (Julian was never this big as this age). He is so thick and feels solid. He is definately more of a Stanford body than a Colquitt.

Lilly weighed 18 lb 9 oz- not on the chart for the weight, actually this has fallen further off the curve than she had been doing. She was 30 inches tall, which was actually in the 20% for a full term baby. At least one thing is improving. Maybe she is going to be tall and thin.

I will post when we hear about the bloodwork. I pray she doesn't hurt too bad and it's quick. My poor baby.

Julian also continues to have his sunday football games. It has been a great way for Julian and I to meet people. This has been one of the first times since we moved here that we have met people that have been friendly. Julian has been doing a great job getting out of his box to try something new. He loves to be out socializing and I think he has actually learned something along the way. We were lucky to have had Aunt Anne come visit for one of the games. It was great to have some family to get to see him play. That's one of the big things I hate about not living near family. We haven't had any family that gets to come see him play sports. I feel bad for Julian because so many other kids always have tons of extended family at the games and it's always just chris and I. I know he was happy that she took the time to come here for him. It was very appreciated. She also let Chris and I have a night out to go to dinner alone. A very big plus to her visit, especially since our weekend to vegas alone didn't happen. It was nice to get some alone time. Our first class trip would have been great but we will take whatever we can get.