Choices

We were given a choice today. I knew all alone this choice was ours to make but I thought that we wouldn’t have to make it. I thought that the choice would be made for us. Owen had another head check today. When all the measurements were taken I was told that though Owen did have a growth spurt (his head circumference grew a whole cm) his cross measurements maintained the same difference as our last check. This tells us that we may have seen all the change in his head that we are going to see. He isn’t completely symmetrical and his soft spot not yet closed completely yet. BUT with no change in the difference in 3 weeks with a growth spurt is it worth it to keep the helmet on?

So that is the choice we have to make. Keep the helmet on and hope we get a little more change OR be happy with the results we did get and ditch the helmet.

What do you think?

If we decide we are done I have to decide soon or go in for additional measurements for the government because they regulate the helmets. If we decide to continue with the helmet I need to call to make another appointment for in 3 weeks.

Owen's head just before getting the helmet on for the first time


Owen's head today

12 month appointment

Friday the boys had their 12 month appointment. I was worried that Ethan wasnt going to get his shots because he had a fever the day before and was still warm when we were at the office.

The good news

Ethan got his shots and both boys are growing well.

Owen
Weight: 21lbs 2oz
Length: 29.5in
Head: 47cm

Ethan
Weight: 21lbs 14oz
Length: 29in
Head: 47in


The bad news
Ethan's murmur is still audible so he has to see a cardiologist. We still have to see the GI in SF the first week of Feb. AND after months of no eczema on either of the boys Ethan's whole tummy is rashed and Owen's whole back, up his neck, around his ears and in his hair are broken out. This is the worse I have seen it and nothing has changed to cause it.

heads above the rest

Look mom I can climb

And I can stand


look at that smile and those teeth


Owen had his first head check for the helmet yesterday and the good news is the helmet is working already. There is a 3mm change in his head. I know you think 3mm is nothing but his head only needs to adjust 13mm so 3 is great.

Owen's head just before getting the helmet on

The helmet

close up

Not what we were hoping for

Today the boys had a follow up with the GI. We were hoping to hear that Ethan could try dairy and soy now that was not the case. The boys are growing.

Owen: 19lb 13oz 29.5 in and a 47.7cm head
Ethan: 21lb 2oz 28.75 in and a 46.5cm head

BUT when they checked Ethan's poop there was still a trace of blood in it. So still no dairy or soy til this birthday. Then we get to try it and go back to the GI. If that appointment in Jan. still shows blood then he has to have a blood draw and an allergy panel done. BOO!

Long day

Erick and I had to get up at 5 am today. We were out the door by 6. The boys had an appointment with a pedi GI in SF at UCSF. The appointments were at 9 and 10. We thought by leaving that early we could sit in the cafe and eat before the appointment. Things didn't go that way. It took us an hour to go 35 miles on the freeway. When traffic came to a dead halt I did something very dangerous and while on the freeway I climbed through the van to the 3rd row to make bottles for 2 babies that wernt going to get any quieter. We FINALLY made it to UCSF and find parking it is now 8:45. WE rush up and they call our names as we are signing in.

The boys for weighed and measured Owen is 18.3 lb 27.2 in and Ethan is 19.6lb 27.5 in (butt naked). The appointment was a LOT of questions and history. She wrote out a script for Zantax for both boys telling us it wont stop the reflux but it will make for happier babies. She decides to do a stool test to check for blood (a sign of allergies). Can I just tell you how fun it is to hold a baby that just wants to crawl off on his side so a finger can be put up his butt to get poop for a test? Let me assure you it is not fun at all. They didn't scream but it was a fight. Then I had to hold them down to get gagged so she could see their throats. The poop tests came back and Owen is fine. Ethan is showing moderate traces of allergies. So she decides that Ethan needs a new diet. She changes his formula, this makes the 6th formula we have tried with him. He will be on Nutramigen for the next 4 months. We also have to cut out all dairy and soy from his diet. We go back to SF in 2 months to check progress/ tolerance.

When we get back to the car their is something on our windshield. Erick grabs it. It is a parking ticket. We had parallel parked in an space. They say we took two spaces. What do you think?


We are going to try to fight it because the lines are repainted and what they are saying is that the back of our car was over that line but all the tires were in the space. We thought we were up enough.

As we were leaving I had a thought. I need to change his WIC. WIC gives us 9 cans of formula/boy/mo. I call WIC and make an appointment for tomorrow to change it. I cant do it over the phone because to be on Nutramigen with WIC you need a script (which I have) because you have to see a nutritionist. So while on the phone with her I ask what to do. I already cashed my formula check for this month last week but I have the formula unopened, still sealed in plastic as well and need the new formula. I get told to call the store and ask if they will trade it. I tell her I got it from the WIC store. I get given that number and call. The store says WIC wont let anyone trade...sorry...hangs up. So now I have whole lot of the formula for Owen and no formula for Ethan.

While I am on the phone Erick is driving. We were going to have lunch at Ike's Place. It is a sandwich shop we had seen on man v food on the travel channel. By the time he gets there I am so up set I am crying. There is no parking and there is a line out the door. We decide to head home hungry.

When we get about 30 min from home it is clear the boys wont make it and we are hungry too. We still dont have any formula for Ethan so we find a Wal-Mart. Wouldn't you know it Ethan's new formula is $21/12oz can. We look and each can makes 87 oz of formula at that rate we need 8 cans just to make it to the end of the month. To compare Owen's formula makes 93 oz/12oz can and only costs $13/can. We always need to buy formula on top of what WIC gives so this isn't going to be good. Because on top of already needing extra WIC is cutting the amount we get by 2 cans/baby next month.

This couldn't have come at a worse time. We are moving on the first and our new rent is already and additional $100 in the budget. The parking ticket is another $70 (if we lose) and the formula but to make it til I can get it with WIC is going to cost us $170. I know... I know... We chose to have to boys and really I wouldn't give them up for anything in the world. BUT I also thought I would have a job (Thank you state of CA for that). We wernt expecting to move but I refuse to live with mice, mold and roaches (in our building but haven't seen any in our unit but if they are int he building they are in our place).

It was a long day and I am glad to be home and packing. Tonight we will make a new budget.

PS: I have started adding to/changing the wish list because of growing boys and upcoming birthdays and Christmas. In case you want to look.

lessons

Today was Ethan's first lesson with his teacher. He is going to help get Ethan to sit, roll, and eventually crawl, and walk. Jared (his teacher) is a very energetic father of 2 that loves working with kids. He loved Ethan and he will be coming over one hour every week (skipping one week a month so the physical therapist can come) for the next 6 months. He was amazed at the difference in what the report said and what Ethan was doing til he saw that the report was taken almost a month ago. He suggested we get a ring stacker so maybe we need to go to the store this weekend.

Owen's head

We were told to record images of Owen's head in case insurance asks for them. here they are.

Weight check

Owen had an appointment today to check his growth. He is now 14lbs 15oz and 25.5in with a 44cm head. That puts him in 50th% for height, 25th% for weight, and 75th% for head. We got the results of the upper GI and they prove he does have reflux (duh!) but because he is maintaining his weight pattern of being at the 25th% she isn't going to do anything for another month but watch it. She looked at his massive flat spot and is going to refer me to a neurosurgeon if insurance approves it because he might need a helmet (first thing she hasn't argued with me about). To help with the approval (should they deny it the first time) she said I should take 5 pics of his head (top and all sides) every month so we can track changes. So once again we are in a waiting game. Waiting to see if he maintains his growth path. Waiting to see if he stops spitting up. Waiting for a referral. Just waiting. They have another appointment (normal 6 month check up and shots) on 7-2. Erick is going to use some flex time and come with us if he can swing it.

5 months old

My little men are so big. They are doing all kind of things now. Smiling, laughing, sleeping 12-13 hrs. Owen is rolling. They are both very social and love to do raspberries.

I dont have weight checks but I did have an in home eval for development. Owen passed with flying colors scoring 4-5 months in every area (they consider the boys 4 months). Ethan passed all categories but one. Ethan is behind in his motor skills. He doesnt reach, roll or track close silent objects. So he scored a 2-3 month in that area. BUT he scored a 5-6 month on one are of the category because he can sit unassisted. So he just needs a little help and we will be getting it. They are going to come and work with him in home 4 hrs a month for the next 6 months. They will evaluate his vision in 3 months and I will learn what I need to do to help him. One thing I was told was not to have him stand because he locks his body. They want him to loosen up. At least we are getting the help now.

UGIS

Owen did his upper GI test today like a champ. He wasnt allowed to eat before it so we played. When we got there he was called back almost right away. He was a little wiggley for the first xray but calmed right down when they gave him the bottle of the chemical. The Dr said the pics were good and we will have the results soon.

Happy Birthday boys

I know what you are thinking its not their birthday they are only 4 months old. Well to that I say it all depends on when you think life begins. Ok enough about my sex life a year ago.

Today I got a great phone call. A company called today they got my referral and will be coming into the house to evaluate the boys to see how far behind on milestones they really are. I am so excited. I will get the help I need to get the boys where they need to be. Best of all they come to our house. The downside is I have to wait because of our vacation. So they boys will be tested at exactly 5 months.

Today's happenings

I have a few things I need to talk about that have happened in the past 24hrs or so. Most of which is good news.

We started an improved bedtime routine. Now the boys get play time, bath, massage, book, bottle, swaddle, then bed. Here is how it really goes. Erick plays with the boys while I prep the bath. When it is almost ready he cleans butts (most the time someone is poopy at this time) and gets the first baby nude. As I am washing whoever is first Erick is getting the other one ready. When washed I bring the wet baby wrapped in a towel to the living room and take the other one. Erick begins to dry, massage, lotion, and dress that baby. When I am done washing the other one I join them. We finish about the same time so while sitting on the floor I pass the baby I have off to Erick who reads them a book. I get up and go make bottles. When the book is over they eat, swaddle then go down. This seems to run smoothly maybe a little to smoothly. Both nights we have done this the boys have fallen asleep in our laps eating.

Last night we tried this new thing. We decided to let the sleeping baby lie. The boys were in bed by 730. We sat up and finished things that needed to be done. The boys had been eating again at about 10 or 1030. We waited to hear them stir and heard nothing. 11pm nothing. Finally at 1130 we decided to just go to bed. We were finally woken up at 1220. yes that's right nearly 5 hrs. So I get up not even a min later Erick has to get up because Ethan decided he didn't want to sleep in he wanted fed too. So they go back down 330 Ethan decided he is hungry. We let Owen sleep. hahah he fooled us 10 min into Ethan's bottle Owen was up and hungry. They go back down. 713 comes and both boys are hungry. That's right we were going to let the sleeping baby sleep and they decided that they wanted up too.

By the time the 713 bottle was empty the boys were awake and we started our busy day. First was Owen's heart appointment. We got there a little early and the place was empty (same place I had my NST done) but we still had to wait. When we get to a room I strip Owen he is measured and weighed (not releasing this info til tomorrow when I tell you about them getting shots). The Dr comes in and listens to his heart and says it will be about 15 min til we can get the u/s done. That 15 min turned into almost 40. The guy comes in to get us and tells us to bring everything because we are going to switch rooms after the u/s. So we pack everything and go into the room with the machine. I hold Owen while they get the pictures they need. By this time though the appointment has run into bottle time and he is no longer holding still or being quiet. They finally get the needed pics and we gather everything again and move rooms again. Once in our third room I got Owen dressed and made bottles. About the time the bottle were made the dr came in. Are you ready for this? I dont think you are. So the dr saw me put mylicon... just kidding ...INNOCENT... It is already closing and working itself out. There is no need for a follow up or anything. Ok really the dr did see me with the mylicon and started this whole discussion about how and why it worked. Then we left.

From the Dr we had to go straighten out Ethan's social security number. We find the office and it is full. We get our number and sit down. The boys are still hungry so we start to feed them the bottle made at the Drs. I just get Owen eating and my number is called. CRAP I don't want to stop him but i need to do this. I hand him off to Erick who starts to feed him. I leave everyone at the seats and take the stuff needed to get Ethan's card. I just get to the window when I hear Ethan crying to eat too. Poor Erick. I try to hurry the lady. i get the print out and rush back to the seat. Erick has Owen in his lap and is hunched over feeding Ethan in his car seat. I take Owen and we decide to sit there and feed the boys then finish our errands.

After finding lunch for ourselves we dropped off some papers at the school for a friend. I love taking the boys to the school they get oohed and ahhed over. Then we went and opened savings accounts for the boys. After that it was off to target then home.

Whew what a day!!!

EDIT: Erick was just putting away the paperwork form SSA and noticed that the lady that entered our info wrong. Wrong address #, apartment # missing and wrong zip. Guess I get to go back to social security tomorrow. crap I know its my fault for not checking it while I was there but I needed to help feed my babies.

back to square one

I think I talked before about how Ethan almost didn't come home with us because he wasn't gaining weight and was spitting/choking. We were told that it was a mild case of reflux and it would go away. Well over the last week it has gotten worse. Not only that but Owen had started displaying the same symptoms. After a few cases of formula coming out little tiny noses and lots of grunts and back arching i got lucky and the Drs office called on Friday (as I was picking up the phone to call them). I was lucky and they got me in today.

The boys appointment went a little less than stellar. After getting weighed in (Owen-8lb 10oz and Ethan-8lb 5oz) the Dr came in. She examined them and felt tummies. We talked about what had been happening. She told me they both have reflux but she doesn't want to put them on the meds because of the side effects and they are still gaining so its not a threat just a nuisance. She gave me a paper to read. She wants to keep the boys on the same formula because of the extra calories so for now we have to try cutting the boys intake back down to 2oz at a time and bring it back to every 3 hrs (the same schedule we were on when we came home 5 weeks ago). On top of that we have to now hold the boys in a completely vertical position for an hour after every feeding (there goes my sleep). If that doesnt work then we can switch formulas or thicken (trying to avoid this because Owen is already on Karo syrup for constipation). We go back in three weeks for 2 month shots and she will check them again and decide what to do from there. Because we were there she took the time to listen to Owen's heart again and I was instructed for no reason should I risk missing his cardio appointment (um yeah way to make a mom worry more). So to say the least this is going to be interesting feeding, holding and diapering is going to take 1.5-2 hrs to do both babies that gives me 1-1.5 hrs between feedings to do what I need to do (eat, sleep, shower, or household cleaning). I hope this works... please let this work because this is still better then the screaming and the formula out the nose.

maybe not so good news

So yesterday Owen had an appointment. It should have been just to see how he is growing (which by the way is great he is just below the charts and should be on them very soon). He now weighs 7lb 3oz and is 19 in long. Well after all the measuring and stuff the Dr was listening to his heart and thought she heard something. She spent some time moving him and listening. Well she thinks she heard a murmur. So now we are waiting to get a referral to see the cardiologist. I am really trying not to worry but it is hard not to. We were told that it could be nothing and many children have them and grow out of them.

In other news I have a camera full of pics I want to post but in a sleepless stupor SOMEONE (Erick) did something with the cord to upload the pics and now we cant find it. So pics will be posted as soon as the cord is found.