What was she thinking?

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8022400/

I saw the mom on the news this morning, and she says she just wanted her son to have a "memorable" sweet sixteen party and that she should be able to expose her son to anything she wants in her own home. Never mind the feelings of the parents of the other kids at the party, and what they would like their children exposed to. According to the news this morning, she was busted because several of the kids had pictures from the party that they were trying to get developed at their local Walgreens.

Maybe it's my republican side making itself heard, but what is wrong with these people?? I'm not against expressing yourself, or strippers, etc., but there's a reason we have age limits on this kind of thing. Not to mention, how is it her right to break the law on behalf of the the other parents. I can't beleive idiots like this are allowed to procreate while some really wonderful, responsible people can not. Ok, now I'm just ranting.

Let the growing begin.

Ok, the girls better be taking a growing spurt because if they aren't, they're going to be the only kids that are 2 1/2 feet tall weighing 150 lbs.

For breakfast this morning (after nursing THREE times this morning), they each had:
A full portion of rice cereal (1/2 cup)
a handful of cheerios
~ a tablespoon of the dehydrated apples
1/2 a kiwi (this was a first for them)
1/2 a banana

Riley liked the kiwi and ate it pretty quick. Sam LOVED the kiwi, couldn't eat it fast enough, and YELLED at me when it was gone. Also tried snaking her sisters kiwi, but Riley was on to her and wouldn't let it happen.

The wisdom of children

Tonight at work a co-worker called his 4 year old to say goodnight and had the following conversation with her.

Karl (co-worker): You know you don't have to go to school tomorrow Hannah
Hannah: Yeah, Mommy told me.
Karl: Do you know why?
Hannah: Mommy said it was for Memorial Day.
Karl: Do you know what that is?
Hannah: It's to remember all the soldiers who fought for us.
Karl: You know Daddy is a Veteran (explains what a veteran is.)
Hannah: Did you fight dragons Daddy?
Karl: No.
Hannah: Then why did you fight Daddy?

Wierd dreams - What do they mean?

This one goes out to Liz and Andrea. Maybe they can decipher it since they seem to be in my head.

Last night (actually today, but it's night for me since I work nights) I had a dream that I was at Liz and Andreas house. Apparently their little row of houses was located on a median strip between a bus drop off zone and a junior college (who knew?) The back of their house faced the bus drop off zone, with playing fields beyond that. This is how we entered the house. At the back, there is a sliding glass door with a "sitting area" off to the left and a large gourmet kitchen off to the right (Better get cooking Andrea). Beyond that was a step up area to a sunken living room where Liz was sitting. According to her, we couldn't stay the night because one of their roommates was going to be there who was originally not supposed to be there (apparently she was a tad be-witching.) In any case, at this point in our house tour Andrea took over. We headed down the hall (which was a 90 degree turn), which passed through a fabulous craft/sewing area that I went nuts over (it was severly underused here). As you passed through this room, you went up a couple of steps, made a u-turn and headed up a staircase where you faced the doors to two rooms, do another u-turn and you headed down the upstairs hall. We never got to see the nursery though it was discussed during this tour, and we only got to see Liz and Andreas room from the doorway - it had a Spongebob Squarepants comforter on the bed. One roommate looked to be a male version of Viv, and was hitting on whoever was with me (I have no idea who it was that accompanied me on this magical tour). The other roommate looked like a life size Barbie doll (I'm so sorry L and A).

At this point, the twins woke me up crying and wanting to nurse. Perhaps we'll get installment two tonight, or maybe we'll never know.

There's always a silver lining

I find I have to remind myself that things have not been all bad (though I did neglect to mention the loss of one of my best friends this past year, Sutter.) Despite all that seems to have gone wrong this year, a lot has gone right.

1. After a long bedrest, and lots of worrying, my babies arrived healthy and at term, so they could go home with us.
2. Riley's cancer scare turned out to be a minor hematoma (bloodclot) that her body reabsorbed.
3. After his stint in the hospital, my brother appears to be ok.
4. My sister is battling her breast cancer with all she has, and at this moment her odds are very good.
5. My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary (now if that isn't an accomplishment, I don't know what is.)
6. I lost 50 lbs. (Have gained back 15 but hey, I'm still on the right side of that loss.)
7. Last, but most certainly not least, I have had wonderful support from my family and friends. Thanks to all of you who have been and continue to be there for me. I couldn't do it without you.
8. All the many good things that have happened that I simply can't list them all here.

If this is a test from the universe, you can stop now.

Today I had something happen that I had hoped and prayed would not happen again - Sam had another seizure. I can't even explain the emotions that are flowing through me right now, and the look on Sam's face that I had sort of managed to stuff down into the back of my memory is back, bigger than ever.

While I realize that there are a lot of people out there that have things a WHOLE LOT worse than I do, I'm beginning to wonder what I did to anger the universe. In the last year and a little bit, I have had Bell's Palsy, broken my ankle, had a cancer scare with one daughter and a bladder/kidney problem with her requiring daily antibiotics for who knows how long, a brother hospitalized for severe pancreatitis, a sister with breast cancer, my dad who suffered a heart attack, my SIL going through foot surgery this week, and now one of my beautiful little girls has had her second seizure.

We don't know what this means yet. It might mean long term medication, it will most surely require more tests requiring IV's, wires, and drugs. My mind is all a whirl right now. The only picture I can see is her seizing face. I can't imagine ever leaving her again, even for work. My poor sweet baby who doesn't understand what has happened to her.

More Dad news

Dad was seen by a cardiologist yesterday who determined that he needs to have surgery which will take place in SF on Wednesday. Why SF? Cuz that's where their specialist are, and where the equipment is, so it's a short ambulance ride for Dad. In the meantime, he was still in the ICU stepdown this morning, but I have since heard that they have moved him to the cardiac floor since he has stabilized on all the meds. I'm still worried though (it's in my nature). At this point, no more news is good news.

Don't know what to think.

Had a really rough night at work last night, and ended up without a break, and working almost an hour over just to get the paperwork done. Headed home and was met by two HOWLING babies. You'd think we were starving them, but no, they had had breakfast, but they still wanted Mom. So, after nursing the velocirapters I actually got to sit down and eat a quick breakfast and then off to bed. That was the last non-stressful thing I did.

When I woke up I checked the answer machine because it was beeping incessantly. Turns out my Mom was calling because my Dad was having chest pains. The long and short of it is they believe he had a heart attack (some tests are still pending). He's now in the PCU (a step down from the ICU - same unit, opposite side). He'll probably be there for a couple of days. Please keep positive thoughts flowing that direction. Thanks to all.

Baby Nirvana

If there's such a thing as baby nirvana I found it today. Both girls have been teething lately with Sam having more to show for it than Riley. Today while checking Riley for new teeth I started rubbing her gums. In an instant her jaw went slack, she kind of melted in my arms, and just held her head back, so I could continue massaging them. She must be getting ready to break through with a molar because that was her favorite place. We did this for 4 to 5 minutes, but it seemed much longer. You know how tiring it can be to balance a 21 lb. toddler while trying to rub her gums and not lose a finger in the process? In any case, it's all good.

Is it me?

Ok, the girls have been a little cranky lately which is really out of character for them. We've narrowed it down to the fact that they were sick, got MMR's, and are teething. They haven't wanted to eat much, and sleeping has become a nightmare (they had been sleeping through the night.)

However, I might have to fess up to the fact that it might be bothering me more than necessary because I have A) a lack of sleep, B) haven't been able to accomplish anything due to their fussiness, and C) have been cooped up in the house for over a week due to party prep, the weather, my assinine work schedule, etc. (This may be the single most important contributing factor. So, rather than put the babies on the porch with a sign around their necks that says, "Free to a good home" I'll have to sit down, and have some good play time with them. That always cures every thing. How could you not have fun with them? Ok, I'm off to Hokey Pokey with Cookie Monster and the girls.

BTW, they're both walking now.

Stop the growing, Mom needs more time!

It's been another long hiatus from posting, and well, there's no excuse other than life which we all have. What's happened in the last 3 weeks you ask? Well let me tell you.

The twins have turned a year old, yes a year old. It's hard to believe, but it's true. Sam has started walking nearly everywhere, no more crawling for her, this is a woman on the move. She also has 12 teeth with 4 more emerging. Needless to say this is making her one unhappy baby at the moment. She is mostly refusing to eat, still nurses, but not strongly. I'm afraid my little peanut is going to waste away to nothing. At her 1 year check up, she was 16 lbs. 12 oz., only 6 oz. heavier than at 9 months.

Riley is also trying her hand, or should I say foot, at walking. She's still mostly holding onto things, but making great strides (pun intended). She is also getting more teeth which seems to be bothering her as well. She has 5, and it looks like she might have 3 more trying to break through. She's eating slightly better than Sam at the moment, but I have concerns about her too. She's weighing in at 20 lbs. 2 oz.

Both girls got MMR (Measles, mumps, rubella) vaccines at their appointments, so that in combination with the teething, the warm weather, and the colds have really been giving us a run for our money. However, despite it all, the girls are still fairly happy little people at this time.

For their birthday, they received many wonderful things from all the people in their life, and they have been enjoying them all. The clothes will be wonderful this summer, and prevent the girls from having to go naked. The toys have given them all kinds of new things to explore including music, movement, water, and reaction. They are so entertaining to watch.

It's shocking how much they have grown and changed in the past year. While it is all fun, and I can't wait to see what comes next, I have to say that I am mourning the loss of their first year just a little. Riley's oranutan impersonation, rocking on the hands and knees, crawling backwards, and Sam's patented sniffy face, bird yips, and sprinting crawl. It all went so fast, as I'm sure the next stages will too. My girls are growing up so fast. You'd think I would know this having experienced it with Stacey, but it's new all over again.

I still miss Stacey toddling around, wearing her backwards baseball hat, falling in her toybox, first day of school, first crush, driving (can't we at least rewind on that one?), graduating, and now she's a college student, working in her spare time (or is it an employee, going to school in her spare time?) ;)

Enough middle of the night sap, back to work for me.