Thursday or is it Wednesday...

Jack continues to amaze us in his growth rate... he is actually getting heavy to hold for long periods of time. I think the majority of his weight is in his head.

In the same respect, Ella feels too light. She is having some digestion issues with the formula (we've stopped fortifying breast milk and have gone to straight formula). She cries and cries at times. We are trying Mylicon drops to help her belly pains.

As for me, I have begun to adjust to very little sleep. Instead of trying to stay awake during the evening, I go to sleep as soon as the last diaper change/feeding. It seems to be working, but then again, I've had help during the day (both mom's and David have spent some time with me during the week). Besides the daily baby care, my days are filled with insurance battles, nanny hunting, and house work. I think I'm actually looking forward to going back to work...

Speaking of help - thanks Debbie for coming last Saturday! We loved having you visit and the babies haven't stopped talking about it.

Our next big "thing" is Jack's pulmonary appointment next week. We are hoping to be done with the oxygen once and for all. The only worry is that Jack has had some apnea alarms. We aren't sure if they were legitimate alarms or just mechanical issues. The leads that attach to Jack's chest sometime move - so we don't know if they are truly picking up his breaths.

Anyway - we are still on the hunt for a "nanny" so please keep your ears open for us. Any leads are much appreciated!

Definitions

Kristy and I are learning that concepts we once knew now have a new definition. For example, tonight we had a little steak dinner on the grill. Let me do the comparison:

Before:

700PM - On a hunch, decide to go out to eat
730PM - Arrive at restaurant, hang out for a while to get a table
800PM - Have a couple appetizers or salads
830PM - Enjoy a well-cooked steak while being annoyed at the crying babies around us
900PM - Finish up with some nice creme brulee
930PM - Decide to hang around for a while to listen to the band
1030PM - Go home to watch TV for a bit before bed

After:
Days before - Buy steak for freezer
900AM - Decide to have steak, so defrost it on the counter
600PM - Feed Ella
700PM - Feed Jack so that we've timed the dinner appropriately
730PM - Put steaks on grill
745PM - Jack and Ella decide this was a most inopportune time for mom and dad to eat
750PM - Put Ella in car seat on table in the hope that she'll stop crying
755PM - Steaks are done
805PM - Hurriedly finish steaks since Jack is now throwing a fit
810PM - Clean up between fits
815PM - Jack and Ella decide that being calm is now good
830PM - Sit on couch with aching bellies from eating too fast
The rest of the night - Stay up so that Jack and Ella can eat

Oh well, the pictures make it all worth it. And by the way, if you have any care references, please let us know at dkokoska@yahoo.com. Thanks.

Heisman Pose (The first LB in PSU history to win one?)


Thinking?


Fighting (I think Ella might take this one, unless Jack uses that lower center of gravity)


Chilling (I'm sure they'll love this one when they're older)


Sleeping (It does happen from time to time)

Jack hits 8lbs

The last couple of days have been something... anytime we have to leave the house it is quite an undertaking. On Tuesday we went back to the pediatrician for our second visit, and on Wednesday we went to the pediatric optometrist. Needless to say, I can't even imagine doing this on my own. Since David had to go back to work, my mom filled in as monitor, diaper bag, and oxygen tank carrier. Thanks mom!!

As for the pediatrician's visit, we found out that our little Jack has hit 8lbs! Ella isn't far behind at 7lbs 10oz. It's really amazing to see their changes from 3 months ago.

OK... I need some help! I have to arrange day care for Jack and Ella soon (for August - back to school). Does anyone know of a nanny or personal care service? Our dream would be to have someone come to our house each morning around 7am and then leave when I get home from school around 3pm. We've already been warned that Jack and Ella will be very susceptible to catching all the "bugs" out there, so I'd like to avoid a large day care if possible. Got any ideas? Does anyone know of a service? Anyone know of a former nurse that just happens to want to watch two adorable little babies from August through May? I don't even know where to start, so if you happen to know someone that knows someone that has used a nanny service or individual and really liked them, please let me know.

Long Nights

Instead of relishing the night (sleeping, cuddling with my hubby, snuggling with Lucy (my cat), unwinding after a rough day), it is a time of loneliness. I sit and watch Jack and Ella sleeping knowing that in just an hour or so the whole diaper/feeding tango begins again.

I sit on the couch looking out the family room windows across the golf course - mostly in a daze. The sky is dark with only the twinkling of street lights. The house makes weird noises as it settles - noises lost during the hustle of the day. David is off to bed as he has taken all he can. Though I do the majority of the feedings and diaper changes, he makes up for it by doing everything else. I have lost count of the loads of laundry he has done and loads of trash he has taken out. Our refrigerator is so full of David's cooking that it will take a week or so just to find our way to the back.

The clock only reads 11:18pm; it is going to been a long one... I can already feel the heaviness on my eyes and the weakness of my legs. The sad part is that I actually got some good sleep today. Thad and Bobbi stopped by and of course, I took advantage and went to sleep. All in all, I probably got 5 good hours.

This week is looking to be uncomfortably busy which is probably some of the dread I'm feeling tonight. David goes back to work Tuesday. This stinks for both of us! My mom is coming down Monday night for the week, and as much as I appreciate it, it's still not like having David home. Tuesday is our second pediatrician appointment and Wednesday is an Optometrist appointment. Two days of taking Jack and Ella out of their safe cocoon known as home... not to mention the unbelievably difficult task of loading up the two car seats, diaper bag, oxygen tank and monitor, double stroller, and the kitchen sink.

I guess I'll stop rambling and try to get 30 minutes before Jack indubitably tells me that it is time. He has an internal alarm that goes off after 3 hours... no questions asked.

Ella Bella

Holy smokes. Babies sure are harder to take care of than cats. It's a good thing that they're a lot cuter...

As promised, here are some pics of Ella over the past week.

Ella's classic looks (the peek and the O)



That sure was a good dinner


One day I'll have a full head of hair