Balancing Act

I was really stuck at one point trying to come up with something to write about this week.  Usually it's easy;  I just start spouting off about what has happened lately.  But, what has happened lately?  We have no new medical results as we have been in a blessed appointment-free lull  since our last trip to the ENT.  That, of course, ends next week as a new round of appointments begins with our Family MD on Monday (inoculations... ack!). No rushing around or potential mix ups in the meantime.  This quiet time has also made it possible for me to collect my thoughts and realize that we have had no follow up or interventions yet.  I'm sure that I'm probably jumping the gun here but Wyatt (and Zoe) will be 5 months old in a handful of days and I'm not sure how early "early intervention" starts or what they will be looking for. As far as I know, there are no "summer programs" starting, but as of this morning (after my phone call, imagine that!) a worker will be coming out on Monday to evaluate Wyatt. 

Wyatt - 4+ months

What I do know is that he continues to keep pace, or be just behind his sister with his development.  He is still a chatty guy with his pre-canonical babbling (adding consonants to his vowel sounds).  In comparison, Zoe is more of a gurgle-r (and screamer).  I'm really working with him to get his head steady, which is give and take, depending on the day.  I was happy to see a few toys that I picked up on a list of toys for "delayed" kids.  The Oball and the Oball Rattle seem to be getting a response out of both of them, along with simple things such as "keys" and the like.  Since his muscle tone is lower (hypotonia - but not too bad, to be honest), I've started working with him when he has floor time.  Added to his tummy time push up attempts, we also started a new game with the Oball Rattle or a similar rattle toy where I initially tapped his feet with it.  Then later, when he raised his feet, I'd tap the ball on the soles.  Now we are working towards a move where I tap his feet and hold the ball up and hopefully he'll lift his feet to it.  The goal here is lifting leg (and arm) reps.  So far he thinks it's pretty fun;  we'll see if it has any results.

I can find my thumb just fine - Zoe and Wyatt lying around

His fine motor skills are pretty good as he can (and has been from birth) grasp anything within reach.  Right now he's at the hair grabbing stage along with his sister.  Add to that the postpartum hormones and it's no wonder why my hair is a little thin in spots. I was a little concerned as he is not a soother-baby like his sister;  he still has a little trouble keeping it in.  This only concerns me as the extra sucking would help build his oral-facial muscles which will help him with his speech later on.  I was very happy to learn today that his thumb will do and since that is in or near his mouth constantly, it should help him immensely.

One of our biggest challenges has been (and I fear, will continue to be) the balancing act between all the kids.  Having twins in itself is a daunting task as you try and wade your way through two schedules, two sets of diapers, clothes, feeds and dirty bottles (and do we ever have dirty bottles!)

What my sink looks like every day...

I have to find time to work with Wyatt around his sister's [screaming] needs... Then there is the active 5 year old older brother who needs his time too.  Motherhood may be a juggling act for some;  around here it is a three ring circus.  As ringmaster, I have to make sure that my top acts aren't all on at the same time.

I had to have part of the talk with Quinn yesterday (which was backed up by Hubby later in the evening).  We haven't kept much from him; he knows that Wyatt has a heart problem and has to go to many different doctors.  However, after another morning of telling him "no" and "stop that" as he bounced around and did various things around (and to) the babies, I had to do something. I explained that Wyatt had a condition and that he was not like other boys.  I fielded his questions as best I could, including "will he be a Daddy?" which just about did me in.  Quinn started to cry a bit too.  In both conversations we made it clear that we did not know what the future would hold but Wyatt would be our son and his brother (and Zoe's too) first and foremost.  I'm not sure what permeated, but he looked thoughtful at a couple of points so I think something might have actually stuck.  We will see what questions come our way in the next few weeks.

Our wee guy...

Another major step coming our way is separating them at bedtime.  Although the 2nd crib is set up and we use it as another place to set them while I am fixing up the crib they currently sleep in (and I had it ready in case one of them caught my bug the other week), they continue to sleep together.  It provides comfort for both of them and you can hear them cooing to each other sometimes through the monitor.  It may sound a little bit like sentimental nonsense, but every time we put them in the crib, we set them at opposite ends.  When we come back a short time later, they will have wiggled their way together so they are touching.  Somehow, in some way, there is contact.  If you come back an hour or so later, you'll find them snuggled together.  It's fantastic and adorable all at the same time.  However they are growing and rapidly becoming too big to put together across the crib (and there won't be a lot of room lengthwise now that Zoe has learned to roll over).  Just in case there are sleep issues, I am going to wait until the weekend to put them down for the night separately.  Wish us luck...

I am often reminded of the old saw where life is like juggling:  the trick is knowing which balls are rubber and which are glass.  The rubber balls around here are self evident:  laundry, dishes, garden, housework.  Once in a while tho', something rebounds and I get to incorporate it back into the routine.  Regardless of how tired you are, you keep going, trying to improve and be the best parent that you can be. It won't always be perfect, but you will soon realize, just as I have, that this is in fact the greatest show on earth.  I wouldn't miss it for the world.

It's all about the balance...

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On Mother's Day

My Mother's Day started like any other day, to the sound of at least one baby crying. Now, as it is the weekend, I've let their schedule slide a little bit which gave me a few extra hours sleep going into Saturday. Last night they decided to take that back; this morning was not greeted as happily as the one before.

Over the course of today, I've received: 1 handmade card (from Quinn), 1 decorated cup full of dirt (that I am assured that a seed lives in), 1 handmade necklace (also from Quinn), and three commercial cards (one from each of the twins and one from Sean). We had to forgo the usual brunch as my husband has been suffering from a migraine all day... which was a bit worrisome as he does not get migraines. The day has progressed like any other day otherwise; dishes, laundry, babies. Meh.

Speaking of babies, both are doing very well after their excellent medical adventures. We were at the pediatrician 2 weeks ago and they had gained a whole pound each. By last week, they had gained another pound, which puts Zoe over 8 lbs and Wyatt close to 9. Wyatt has actually made the growth chart. Hooray!

Last Monday saw us heading to the Family MD after a trip to the polls. All three kids were due for shots. Zoe cried real tears after her needles (one in each thigh) and Wyatt almost turned blue after his... and Mommy was not far behind. Quinn too needed a jab and he took his like a trooper. He had to: Mommy quietly restrained him for the shot. Everybody got Tylenol and a couple of hours later no one was the worse for wear. Including Mommy.

No more ouchies pweeze.

Tuesday was a trip in the rain to Wyatt's cardiologist. They had called us the day before stating that there was an opening and they wanted to sedate him for his test (presumably for a trans-esophogeal). Needless to say, between the 5 year old, the weather and Brampton Transit, we were very late and had to forgo the sedation (not that I minded terribly about that either). Instead, they did a regular echo and were very pleased to note that the ventricular aspect of his Atrioventricular Septal Defect has in fact narrowed significantly. On top of it, there is a significant amount of occlusion, meaning that part of the hole is mainly blocked. He therefore does not have the gross mixing of blood from the left to the right side, which means it is not overloading his lungs and, as we speak, is mainly asymptomatic. He will still need surgery eventually, but I am very happy to report that it can be held off until he is approximately 3 or 4 years of age. That is fantastic news. It allows his heart (and him) to grow and makes the surgery that much easier for everyone. Especially Wyatt.

Yay for me!

As for his Down syndrome... well, to this humble, non-expert, he doesn't look that far behind his sister and most of that (to me) can be chalked up to him being a boy. He does have more variety in his vocalizations, when he uses them. He's more active as well (when he is awake); he can wiggle across the crib to Zoe. I'm pretty sure she can do the same, but she's too busy yelling. I've connected with Infant Development of Peel, so we're now on the waiting list for resources.

Next on our list of specialist appointments for Wyatt will be an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) and an opthamologist, all within the next month or so. The appointments have settled down to part-time status, which is a blessing too. Getting these kids out the door is a major manoeuvre; the planning, the anticipating, the preparations, the packing, the equipment... I swear, it would be easier to annex a small country. I had a Region of Peel nurse through here not too long ago and she was amazed at my "organization". I told her it was do or die, and she laughed. She's the mother of twins as well, which left me scratching my head a bit. But, it was nice to know that the cheese hasn't totally slid off my cracker. It's been pretty close some days...

It's the little things that are keeping me sane these days, I think. Well, I'm not totally sure, it could be the chocolate, so that excuse is as good as any. ;) I received a 1 TB (Terrabyte) drive for Christmas and recently I've been archiving all my photography, etc. I've also been archiving my writing, especially since I stopped by my MSN Page on Quinn's birthday and found it deleted. After that little heart attack/discovery, I set up an account with WordPress and have slowly been moving things over. As an interesting footnote here, there were quite a few pieces that I thought lost forever. I took a chance and relit the fuse on an old dispute with Facebook. It only took a few emails, but I got my original profile reinstated. I was delighted (but also a little disturbed) to see most of my stuff still as I had left it, three years prior. It had switched over to the new format but all the rest was the same. I picked off what I could and then reposted them on the WordPress Archives (and then deactivated the account). We shall see... I like the layout and interface there better, however I can (and am) importing posts from my Blogger account. I guess only time will tell. I gave it a facelift as well as it looked a little crappy compared to the WordPress design. I'm also undecided how to post to Facebook... The RSS feed is flaky (see dispute link above) and it's already given me trouble today. I may just have use an old fashioned cut+paste...

I hope everyone had a Happy Mother's Day. Mine, like most days, had its moments of supreme joy and moments where I wanted to stab myself in the face*. It's the hardest job in the world... but I wouldn't trade it in for anything. Even chocolate.

Quinn and Zoe (in a rare, non screaming moment)

Quinn and Wyatt

*Note: a turn of phrase, not an actual desire. Please, you don't have to call the experts, which would be me anyway, so relax. Really...