My Little Santas

They are the best gift I could have asked for!

Thanks for all the comments during the comments for cans campaign. I took the comments, doubled them and brought a huge load of cans to the foodbank drop off. Thanks everyone.

Family Picture

You asked for it. There is a series but not one where all three of us are looking the same way (and smiling) but oh well.

I'm so in love

My boys are just wonderful. I love them more and more every day.

I was changing them after a nap today and was so moved because I realized again that they are my kids. Wow. I am so lucky.

These pictures were taken by a friend. He's not a professional photographer but could be if he wanted to be.

Just a reminder, today is the last day in the cans for comments campaign.

Happy Half a Year!

And since two halves make a whole, it's a year. Okay, so it's not, but what an incredible 6 months its been.

Let's see. As per a previous post, the boys are eating now. Dinner is going well. Corwyn loves veggies, any kinds (even strained peas). Nathan is a bit more reserved on the veggies taking a couple of times to start taking them willingly. Neither boy likes fruit at all. I've started breakfast solids yesterday. As with when we started dinner, they don't really care about it right now. They'd rather their morning milk. But we'll keep going and I'm sure they will get the idea.

Nathan is pretty much hitting all the 6 month milestones. He rolls over (has for weeks), can sit up for a bit and is really trying hard to crawl. Corwyn has better fine motor skills but I think will hit the gross motor ones closer to his corrected age. I'm more than okay with that. I'm already chasing one half naked baby across the bed in an effort to get him changed and dressed each morning.

My domperidone ran outa couple of days ago. My milk supply plummeted. I could go back to my Dr for another prescription, but I'm not sure. I never had enough for breast milk full time and I cant pump more than I do since they want me and I cant pump and hold a baby. I still have some milk and Nathan still nurses at night. I said I'd self wean so I'll keep pumping during the day, as much as I can, until Nathan gives up the night feed. Its been 6 months, I think that's a good start. Its a far cry from the breastfeeding until 2 that I hoped for when I was pregnant though. Sigh.

They are both growing really well. As of their last appointment, Nathan was off the chart for height! Corwyn came in at 97%. For weight, Nathan is 90% and Corwyn is 75th. They are tall and fairly lean. Nathan wears 9 month sleepers, but Corwyn should fit the 6 month for at least this month.

I still cant believe how fast the time is going by. Sometimes its seems so surreal. Its like a dream, a wonderful dream. I cant wait to see what the next 6 months hold.

Just a reminder, I'm still doing the cans for comments. I'll post a tally at the end.(See previous post for details)

Cans for comments

Please check out http://multiplesandmore.blogspot.com/2009/11/cans-for-comments-blogathon.html for more details.

This sounds like a great thing, so I'm in! For every comment left between Nov 27-Dec 2, I'll donate a can to the local food bank. Comment away.

I'll also try to get a few new posts up this week so you have something to comment on!

What's for dinner?

The boys have started to eat solids. Its been about 2 weeks. So far, they have tried rice cereal (it's okay) and oat cereal (it's wonderful). Corwyn loved the sweet potatoes; Nathan was far less sure of them. Both boys love the carrots though. Neither would even swallow bananas so while they've 'tried them' they haven't had them. We'll try again next week.
The pictures are carrots and oat cereal. Corwyn rubs his hands over his mouth then everywhere else. Both are getting better at it. We normally use bibs, but they were getting ready for bed right after so I didnt mind.

Discovery

Nathan loves playing with the toys on the exersaucer.

What did you get?

Happy Multi-versaries

This is a time for me that is so wonderful and so emotional. Its the anniversary of the key moments that eventually became my wonderful boys. I've been aware and celebrated each day as it came, always smiling, sometimes crying (tears of joy of course).
The first was the cycle start. This was followed by the flight to CZ. And the very exciting ER and fertility report. Of course one of the greatest moments was the embryo transfer. This was done on Thanksgiving Day (Canadian). I picked that day for a reason. I'll always remember it.
The mini-versaries are going to continue with first + HPT, first US etc and of course ending the in the boys first birthday in May. I am so happy and so lucky.

Time is flying by!

A couple new pics

They boys are looking more and more alike each day. I can't really afford to test them right now, so as long as I can tell them apart, I'm okay. I still find them easy to tell apart.
I'm likely going to start to pick up a few hours working from home in the evening (after they are asleep) next week. We'll see how it goes.
Yesterday, my friend and neighbor R made me an offer I couldnt refuse. While her son was napping in his stroller, she played mothers helper. It was wonderful. I was able to give Nathan a bath without having to wait until Corwyn was asleep. I got dishes done, laundry done and even changed the sheets. It was so nice. I'm still not ready to leave the boys with someone, but this I can handle. R and I are going to swap off doing this now and again. I'm also going to see about getting a paid mothers helper in a few hours a week, maybe someone who I would eventually feel comfortable enough to let babysit.
We're loving the local baby groups and story times. They are all free too. I may get one of the aformentioned helpers to come to the Friday group. Its "library time" and involves lots of songs, poems and actions with the babies. I need another set of hands until the boys can sit on their own.
As of last week, Nathan was 14 lbs, 24 inches. Corwyn is not far behind at 13lbs 23 inches.
Until next time, enjoy the cuteness...

Growing boys

Okay, so its another video. But this one shows smiles. I cant wait for the camcorder to arrive. I think I'll go nuts with it. Airmile emailed me that it was shipped so within 2 weeks.


New baby groups started this week. I went to one of the nearby community centers today. I'll go to another, closer one tomorrow. There is another that could be considered walking distance, but its a bit further away so I wont go there. Anyway, I was able to weigh and measure the boys.
Corwyn is 23 inches, 13 pounds.
Nathan is a full 2 feet and 14 pounds.

They just keep growing and growing. I'm happy. They are still fed a mix of breast milk and formula. While I hold out hopes to produce enough milk someday, I've been nursing and pumping and suppliment for about 3 months now. I can keep it up until they no longer want to nurse if thats what it takes.

I keep getting asked if I think motherhood is all I hoped it would be. No, its not. It so much more, so much better, so totally incredible. I love it, I love them. I know it sounds corny, but really, they make me feel complete. I know not everyone wants to be a parent and I respect those who know it, but for me, this is so right. If there was anyway to swing it, I'd have more.

I cant believe it's 3 months

Wow, the time is just flying by. The boys are just over 3 months now. Where does the time go? This video was taken with my regular camera. I ordered a mid-range camcorder with my airmiles. It should be here within 2 weeks, until then, enjoy this one. The shaking noise is a rattle I was using to keep Nathan's attention on the camera. Corwyn was more interested in Nathan.



This shot is of one of my dogs. The boys are indifferent to the bouncy chair, but apparently, he likes it.

Truth in Advertising

I saw these shirts and almost started crying. I had to have them. The words say it all.






In 7-8 months I'm hoping to be able to pass them onto two different IVF friends with well deserved recent BFPs.

The boys had their most recent appointment. The doctor and I dont think they are fraternal. They look a heck of a lot alike, but not identical. Nathan is 12 lbs 15oz and Corwyn is 11 lbs 13oz. Growing boys. They had their first set of shots. They took them better than I did.

I get lots of questions in person and online about how I handle it. I dont know how, I just do. Its not always easy, but its worth it. They are sleeping well at night now, which helps. Corwyn will sleep up to 11 hours without a break. Nathan gets up once at 6-7 hours for a feed. I get most done after 8pm. Meals are whenever I can, and normally sandwiches, eaten very fast. I dont want to put something on the stove, to get called away and have it burn when I forget it. So I cook after they go to bed, if at all. I eat out now and again, so that helps, but since money is tight, I have to budget that.
I almost always have at least one boy on my lap or in my arms (like now). The hard time is when they are crying or fussing and I cant figure out why, or cant help (gas). I have kept up with the laundry. Its okay to leave a load in the washer for a few hours or in the dryer overnight. I dont iron and am more of a stuff in drawer than fold person (always have been). I'm past the disposable dishes, so its a bit more work to keep up with the dishes. Its not bad though (see previous comment on diet of sandwiches). I sweep the floor about once a week, and its long overdue for a good wash and polish.
Things are piled up, but they were before. I've started to sell the odd collectable, but since that means a trip to the post office, I'm pacing those too.
Thats about it for now. I'm sure I'm missing something. Oh, I'll tell you about the "village" that loves the boys another day. Or maybe I did. I'll have to go back and look.

New Pictures

Pride Weekend - Day 1

Today we ventured onto the skytrain (like a monorail) for the first time. The boys took it like anything else and slept through it. Corwyn was in the single stroller I use for transit and Nathan in the carrier.

It was another scortcher of a day locally. But we wanted to check out the dyke march. We even met up at the end with a woman and her partner from my twin group with their 3 week old b/g twins. They looked so tiny, but were actually a bit bigger than my boys had been at that age!

The boys got into the day, waving their flags (okay, clutching them, but it looks cute). Tomorrow is the Pride Parade. It takes forever so we'll watch a bit then head down to the picnic/booth site at the end.

Tasty

We were between nursing and the supplimentary bottles. And well, the pictures tell the story....



When given the chance, they always seem to pull their heads together and link arms or hands. Its very cute.

Big boys

Nathan is now 9lbs 13oz and Corwyn is 9lbs 3oz. They are 22 3/4 and 22 inches long respectively.
I'm sure it was just a fluke, but within 2 minutes of being put on his tummy yesterday morning, Nathan easily rolled over onto his back. Yikes.

Open eyes

The boys with open eyes, and a shot of the dogs. You can imagine the comments I get while walking with the boys and the three dogs.
Their names are Nathan Rhys and Corwyn Thomas. I figured if they wanted, when they got older they could use their middle names if they didnt like their first names.
I honestly dont think they are identical, although they do look so much alike. Corwyn has the premie shaped head (the doctor says its coin shaped - round and flat). That makes it fairly easy to tell them apart right now (from the front). They were di/di while in me. Most di/di twins happen when the egg splits by day 4. They were a 5 day transfer. So, while not impossible for them to be identical, its unlikely. We'll have to wait and see.
Things are going really well. I have some questions for some of you, and will find time to ask this week (re meds etc). I just wanted to get some new pics up.

Pictures