Thursday, December 20, 2007

Another Sleepless Night

OK, I hope this doesn't confuse anyone - but just before I hit "publish post" I thought I would add some photos that were taken a couple Sunday's ago when the weather was quite warm. After church we went to DQ. They have nothing to do with what I am writing about, but at least you will have something good to look at while you read about the not so good news. ;) ~Bonnie


Last night was a rough night I have had in a while, no scratch that - it WAS one one of the worst nights I've had in a few months... who would have thought that continuious nights of interupted sleep would promote moodiness and irritability!?! and when you add a sick and screaming baby in there, at the wee hours in the morning... let's just say, it ISN'T FUN! :(


The twins have been sick ever since Thanksgiving with coughing, and while it seems to be getting better with Baby Girl, brother is getting worse. Night before last he ran fever all night and then again all day yesterday which led to a doctor's visit... and while we were there had sister's diaper rash/yeast infection looked at too. *It's the worst I have ever seen and nothing we tried could get it under control.* Turns out they BOTH have viral infections. Different types. In addition to her diaper rash/yeast infection, Baby girl, also has a minor rash all on her back and chest. When I was taking off her closthes for exam the Dr. saw it immediately and that was the first clue that something was up with her. Dr. gave us a box full of samples of a high dose cream, that can only be used once a day, to put on her yeast infection and also wrote down his cell number and said to call him in 4 days if we don't see an improvement. So naturally since the longest period that she is in her diaper is at night time, that is when I choose to treat her with the special cream. David put it on her last night before bed, and this morning I could tell a difference. The rash is still very obvious and spread out - but not bright red this morning. We'll wait and see how it goes as the day goes on. For other diaper changes we are to use the Nystatin and Desiden.

Now, Brother's viral infection is very different than the one baby girl has. He had been having fever since 3am the night before and I had been alternating Tylenol and Motrin every two hours but couldn't' break the fever. He woke up to fever, gave medicine - measured again at 9am still over 100... then when we got home at noon, it measured 102.3 so I called the Dr.


Dr. found the symptom of the viral infection in baby brother's mouth. He showed David the ulcer with the light and scope. I didn't get to see b/c I was dressing sister... but Dr. said that antibiotics would not help for this type viral infection and that chances are we would all take turns getting this too. Especially the kids. :( He mentioned keeping close watch on baby boy and keeping the fever under control and keeping him hydrated. He said that we may see the same ulcers appear on his hands, feet and/or his bottom. If so to call him on his cell phone number at any time of day or night.

Dr. also said after the fever breaks, if he doesn't seem his self (eye contact, smiling, playful....) to call him immediately for that too. Naturally while he is having fever he wasn't gonna feel himself, b/c during fever his body is doing it's job to fight off the infection, but that after the fever is gone and he still not himeself then somehting elese is up. And he is right, all day today, baby boy has not felt very good. :(


Dr. also said that both babies should continue on one of the breathing treatment medications twice daily ALL THRU THE WINTER! Whereas, we have only been doing it once at bed time. and that Baby boy should have a THIRD breathing treatment during the afternoon and he is to have two medications in nebulizer for early am and before bed... :( So if each treatment takes 25-35 each per kid...I instantly think to myself, HOW-IN-THE-WORLD am I gonna be able to do all of this?!@!@! ....but somehow, I will. I have to.
At the end of November, when we first got the nebulizer we could have gotten two (one for each kid) but only got one at the time... not sure how much insurance would cover. Luckily they covered 100% of it b/c we had met our deductible for the year, so today after hearing we would have to increase breathing treatments, I asked the Dr to write another request for a 2nd, that will at least help out at bedtime - David and I can give them at the same time and be done with it in 35 minutes... but as for the morning... well... lets just say, that is gonna be hard!

David agreed to help me before he goes to work... which means getting up a little earlier. But since last night I was up with baby boy from 3:20 until 5:30 (handed him over to David) but at 5:55 the screaming sound much worse so I got up to go check... and they were laid out on the floor of the baby's room and David was asleep and SNORING!!! How in the world could he sleep with a screaming baby only 12" away from his head??? I dismissed him back to bed and then was up with baby boy until about 6:30am before he fell asleep.
I knew he was hungry but he would not nurse! Nothing made him madder. His nose was all yucky and running like a creek... and his fever was still high... 101. Rocking didn't help, shushing didn't help, walking the floor helped a little (not as bad screaming but still crying) but that wore me out. He finally took a bottle around 6am and gobbled it down and fell asleep.


So I got into bed as David's alarm clock was going off at 6:30am and mine was set for 7:30am b/c Big sister had to be at school a half hour earlier today for their Christmas pageant rehearsal.
So, needless to say the am breathing treatment did not get done with the babies today. I was too tired and David was running late for work. I slept for an hour before having to get up and get going... and did not have time. We will start the official breathing treatment routine TOMORROW!

I would love to take a nap but that is impossible with Big Sister these days.... We do have "quiet" time in the afternoon, and that helps some... She doesn't have to go to sleep (although that would be nice) but she has to lay on her bed. She may look at her books only, no toys. Yesterday she was quiet the whole time, but kept coming out of her room and sitting/playing with the gate at the top of the stairs. Just by coincidence, BOTH babies were napping at THE SAME TIME (which RARELY happens) upstairs... so I didn't even push the issue to get back to your bed thing b/c I didn't want her to begin screaming/crying (which she is so over the top - LOUD, when she's tired) and risk waking up the twins.... I can only hope that the twins will get on the same nap time schedule soon!

I'll sign off for now -but just wanted those of you who check our blog often to have an update so you can keep us in your prayers. :) Every little bit helps and I need all the "help & Grace" I can get.

I hope you at least enjoyed the photos - I know I am looking forward to baby boy smiling again! and speaking of smiles, did you notice that Baby Sister has her teeth now too! You can scroll back up and click on photo to make it larger and you will see them there! Yeah, now everyone in our family has teeth! :)





Merry Christmas and Love from Texas! ~Bonnie

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Story Time Christmas Party

Yesterday was the Christmas Party for all the kids who go to Story Time. Can you believe I got the kids dressed up and even time for photos in front of big sister's tree before leaving and we drove to another town and even ARRIVED 15 MINUTES early!!! It was a combined class activity meaning 40 kids... and double the amount of cars... so I wanted to get there first so I could have a close parking place and not have to walk so far... I think I'm getting the hang of this! ;)
...and look!! - Big Sister gladly offered to take my photo with the babies! She loves taking photos!
Santa even stopped by for a visit and all the kids got the chance to talk with him one on one.... or at least all the kids who "wanted" to. ;) Here is Big Sister shaking hands with him when she first saw him.She knew exactly what she was gonna tell him and patiently waited her turn. She wasn't scared at all of him this year and even sat in his lap. She promptly told him she wanted "A ONE, and for the One to be on her car" then when he asked her if she had been good this year, she told him how she had learned to use the potty "every time, everyday!" ;)
Little Brother had a real special "One-to-one" gibber jabber with Santa. It was too cute! :)
Little Sister gave Santa her Super Stretch and refused to bend those stiff legs!
Here Santa is giving her, her goodie bag. I don't have photos of the other two but he also had goodie bags for each of the babies! :) Yeah, Mom & Dad get treats too! After she and Santa were done talking we jumped in for a quick family shot with Santa. Both babies were fascinated with all the hair he had and quickly each got a fist full of it! :)


Daddy was also able to join us for the party since it is so close to his work! I'm really glad too and not just b/c of the extra help with the twins...although that was a nice bonus!!! But b/c he rarely gets to see the fun stuff that Big Sister does. Usually it is just dinner time conversation, but today he got to be there and experience it with her! She loved sitting by her daddy and eating cup cakes and cookies too!
During clean up time by the Story Time crew, I sat and nursed a baby before drivng home and Miss Melissa read a book to Big Sister.
She LOVES for people to read books to her! Warning, just don't take her with you into a card store... like Hallmark! She will bring you cards and BEG you to read each one to her and after you read them, before you can find it's spot to put it back she will have picked out another handful!!!

What a fun day!!! We are so grateful to have children! Thank you dear Father for these precious gifts you have blessed us with!!! ~B






Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Elfyourself

Hey everyone, take a look at what David has been teaching the kids!

Boy who knew that the twins would learn so fast!!! They are gonna do just fine keeping up with Big Sister Nora! There is no way you can watch it and NOT LAUGH!!! There was only room for 4 so I am not included – but I think it turned out great!

Check it out by clicking the link http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1319659668

If you make one of your family send us a link so we can watch!

To save on time, I am emailing this out to all of our family and friends so consider this your Christmas Card just incase I don’t time to address all the envelopes! ;) LOL

Merry Christmas and Love from Texas,
David, Bonnie, Nora, Olivia & Paul Thomas

Friday, December 7, 2007

Busy week and very tired Parents!



Has is only been a week since my last post??? There has been a lot going on around our house lately! Although not many would "notice" much, I can assure you it has been a busy week!

A quick update on the babies - both of them are getting breathing treatments before bedtime each night. We started on Wednesday night after realizing that both of their cough were only sounding worse night after night. Our only regret now is not getting TWO nebulizer machines... b/c it takes 25-35 minutes for the mist do dissolve per treatment, which makes getting ready for bed a little longer... but we are getting the hang of it now.



You may notice a benefit within 2-8 days of starting this drug. It may take up to 4-6 weeks of regular use before the full benefit of this drug takes effect.
Hopefully, sometime this coming week we will get better and we can have some UNinterupted sleep during the night. I doubt that David or I have gotten over two hours sleep at a time without having to get up with one of the twins all last week.

The good news to report - We put up our Christmas tree last weekend. :) This is the earliest we have EVER put up the tree!! Each year I think I enjoy it more and more while on the other hand, it is just the opposite for my husband!

He and I worked on it a few hours at a time for two days - he puts it together as I zig-zag all the lights up and down each limb as it is assembled. I think if we hadn't run out of lights we would have finished same day... but last year I felt it was time to trash some of the older ones -there were some that had much dimmer lights.. and other strands that were dangerously hotter than the rest... and of course any thing that appeared to be on the blink got tossed too! I wish I had remembered to go buy them during the after holiday sale but buying them for $2/ 100 lights wasn't so bad. I bought packs and think we only ended up using 6 of those new.

Monday (our stay-at-home-day) Big Sister and I put all the ornaments on the tree. She was so helpful and had great decorating taste knowing the perfect spot for each ornament. It was funny though, b/c it soon became apparent that her favorite ornament was "The Little Mermaid" one.... she'd say, "Oooough that is a pretty one, I want to put it by Ariel" and before we were half done there were about two dozen all as close as she could get hanging on the same branch or near Ariel. ;)

She also got to decorate HER VERY OWN Christmas Tree IN HER ROOM :) and is very proud of it and she should be! All summer she worked hard earing her ornaments! Each time she filled up a Potty Sticker Sheet (about 70 stickers) we took a trip to Hallmark to pick out and buy a new ornament. She even would hand over her sticker sheet as if it was money to buy the ornaments. The ladies at Hallmark really enjoyed us coming in each month ;)
The very first ornament she choose was as she calls it "Tinkel Bell" :) and she earned about 8-10. Here is a photo of her tree tonight before I turned it off... I will try and get clsoe ups of her special ornaments later on...
not bad for a $2 yard sale find hua??? The tree that is! The changing color star on top cost $12 bucks but is worth it bc/ she loves it so much... just wait until next year when we decorate it with colored lights... oooough...

Friday, I got an email from Big Sister's Preschool saying they have updated photos on their website of all the kids. I love that they have a website so that the parents can check in and see photos and what activities are coming up.

Here are a few of my favorites...

Blue & White Day

They're signing the letter "B" at the camera!

Fire Safety Week/Field Trip
Painting Baby Dinosaur Eggs

Painting brown camels

Coloring "her" shape
Proudly showing off "her" shape Ta-Daaaa!

This month they will be hosting a Christmas Padget for the parents & grandparents. For anyone living here in town that would like to go please let me know and I will give you more details! I am pretty sure that it is gonna be December 20th but not certain on the time yet.

Each child will get to perform their OWN SOLO PERFORMANCE!!! They can do any song they choose... Christmas song that is... So far every time they practice at preschool Big Sister protests and makes up her own counting song to the tune of a Christmas song... and just counts numbers instead of singing the words! #@@!@?

So there is no telling what she will choose the night of the Padget but here are a few of the songs we have been working on at home:

"Hark The Herold Angel Sing" (just chorus part)

"We Wish You A Merry Christmas"

"Jingle Bells"

They are also gonna take the kids and go caroling at a local nursing home this month. I'd love to go for that too..... but the twins usually nap during school time.... so we will have to wait and see.

Well, I better wrap this up. I have hit save lots of times and came back and added more but if I don't hit "publish post" I will have to start listing things that we do this coming week! LOL

Love from Texas! ~Bonnie