Health and Wellness

On Sunday afternoon James complained that he needed to throw up so he started carrying around the bucket we have for just in case.  He was super whiney and acted miserable until he fell asleep in the rocking chair.  He was grouchy again when he woke up but then was fine!  He’d woken up very early that morning and his sister had spun him around and around in a chair for awhile, so I’m guessing that’s what did him in.

Isn’t he cute in his footie pjs?!

The kids have been enjoying playing outside this week, even though it’s cold and cloudy.  (I find that much better than hot and muggy!)  James looks grouchy, but he was just telling me that he wanted me to take a picture of only him.  :)

Yesterday Mamma came over and watched the big kids while I took the babies to their two month check up.  They were wonderful!

I brought the big pillow along, since it’s really the only way I can nurse them both while I’m by myself.  I also brought the big stroller.  I had quite the long long trailer!  When we got back into the exam room, I changed their diapers and stripped off their clothes so they could get weighed.  (I also discovered that I only had size newborn clothes in the diaper bag – whoops!) 

Michael is 10lbs 5.5oz, 22” long.  Thomas is 10lbs 9oz, 22.5” long.  They’re in the 10th and 12th percentiles, respectively.

While we waited on the doctor, I nursed them in the chair that’s in the room.  The nurse was kind enough to help hand me a baby before she left – yay!  I missed my couch.  :)

Dr. Harper came, asked questions about the boys, and then examined them.  They were mostly happy, even being messed with.

Sadly, they needed to have some immunizations, and that made them very mad.  :(  Thomas even threw a fit at the oral vaccine, before he even got shots.  Michael thought it was delicious.  The each received three shots, and then I found myself in a room with two naked, crying babies.  A few weeks ago and that would have DONE ME IN!

As it was, I got them dressed (one in a slightly too small outfit!), hopped up on the exam table with my big pillow, and nursed those sweet babies into happiness.

I don’t think they’re feeling a hundred percent today, but they aren’t running fevers.  They even “played” happily in the bouncy chairs for quite a while this morning!

Thomas:

Michael:

They’re the cutest boys in the universe, amiright?

At their last feeding, they nursed for about an hour (I’m very warm and cozy you know.) and I think, about an hour later, they’d love nothing more than to nurse again.  Normally I’m pretty mean and don’t them nurse ALL DAY LONG, but shots are rough!  I am still hoping they’ll go back to sleep though.  Poor babes!

From Before Christmas

All of these pictures were sitting in my “to blog” folder before Christmas, and they got pushed aside for more pressing events.

I took this of a rose out front using my macro filters.

Then I ran a black and white action on it.  Pretty!

I love a bouquet of sharpened colored pencils!

I also used the macro filters on these.

And Michael’s lips.

I don’t remember when this was, but James fell right asleep on Natalie one day.

He doesn’t look very comfortable!

I had to take Thomas out to snap a few pics one day.  He was just too cute.

He wasn’t having as much fun as me though. 

I put Michael to sleep in my arms but then needed to do something else I think so I put him in the rocking chair.

Thomas again, on my bed, with a cozy hat.

And Thomas’ lips!

I love playing around taking pictures.  Have I mentioned digital cameras are FANTASTIC?!!  :)

Hanging Around

My friend Kathy stopped by the day after Christmas to bring by a gift (diaper detergent – wahoo!!) and snuggle some babies.

Sorry I caught you mid-expression, friend.  :)

Then we went over to Grandpa David’s house to spend time with more family!

Laura holding Michael and watching TV with James.

Later, David holding Michael.

Then the kids were playing in the yard with Dusty and Laura, and it was quite a picture moment, so he was snapping pics while still holding the sleeping baby!

Laura let everyone try on her Mickey hat from Disneyland.  The boys were asleep on me so I asked Joanna to get this one of James.  The grouchy face is because Laura had just taken a picture of him, and I guess that’s all he had in him.  :)

The boys each managed a little nap in someone’s arms, but they sure were ready to crash on me after they nursed.

Such sweet babes!

We had a lovely visit with family, and it made the day after Christmas just perfect!

Yesterday I got to drop the bigs off with David and Laura while the boys and I went to my doctor’s office.

Thankfully they (mostly) fell asleep in the car and I was able to keep them asleep in the stroller. 

And I loved the beautiful tree in the waiting room.  I do missing having a pretty tree with lights in my living room this year.  :)  (I don’t miss the work involved though, so it all works out.)

The reason I was at my doc’s is that my labwork did come back wonky from my 6 week check up.  It looked like I was on too much thyroid, so Dr. Torres wanted me to see Dr. Beauvais, who technically manages that for me.  I brought along my lab work (which my wonderful sis-in-law was so kind to fetch for me!), and Dr. Beauvais lowered my dose.  I have to go back in three months to make sure it’s the right amount.  I haven’t technically picked up my Rx yet, but I actually have most of a bottle left from when she upped my dose almost a year ago that’s not expired.  Yay!

Yesterday Miss Natalie was just tuckered I guess, and we found her like this:

It’s the corner of the closet in their bedroom.  :)

This is the tent that Aunt Mindy and Uncle Steve gave the kiddos.  It’s been up for a couple of days, and if I can’t find the kids, I know they’re inside.  You can’t see it in this picture, but Joanna colored a piece of paper with black crayon, rolled it up, and tucked it in the front of the tunnel to make a funnel for the “train.”  So clever!

Natalie is often my laundry helper – she’s good at it!  I have also discovered that she’s excellent at folding my Bum Genius Freetimes for me.  At first she did it so happily, but now it’s a chore so there’s some eye-rolling involved.  Oh well; she still does a good job!

Yesterday I ordered the boys some new swaddle blankets.  (This is Thomas.)

We can just barely tuck them in there anymore; it’s about time for the next size up!  They sleep so well swaddled that I’m not looking to stop any time soon.  :)

These kiddos do so love to dress up, and I love what they come up with!

It’s Saturday, but it feels like Friday.  Matt has to work today.  :(  Next week is going to feel very long with only a one-day weekend to start it off!

The Rest of Christmas Day

One of my friends (Candice) makes these fabulous snack and sandwich bags, and It occurred to me they’d make great stocking stuffers. I was right; they were a big hit!  The kiddos loved eating their Christmas sugary cereal out of them.  Yum!

We got a couple of things for the boys and tucked them in their stockings.  They didn’t need much anything, but it’s nice to have gifts for everybody!

We already had one Sofie the Giraffe (she’s a squeaky baby chew toy), so I picked up another.  It doesn’t seem like the kind of thing that will be shared well.  Old Sofie is on the left; new Sofie on the right.  Oh, how she’s aged!

I also got two sweet board books.  (Side note: I just love that Joanna can read just about anything she gets her hands on – those boys are going to love having her read to them!)

After the boys’ mid-day nap, we headed to Mamma and Pop’s house to eat and enjoy family time.

I love that my nephew isn’t afraid of holding the babies!

I love Natalie’s face when she opens presents!

And James’ – he loooooves Mater from Cars.

The big kids all got cozy mats.  Natalie didn’t waste any time in getting her shoes off to get snuggled in.

James even did some pretend snores for us.

The babies had presents too, which their brother and sisters were happy to help them open.  When Natalie first went over to help, she grabbed Michael’s hand and moved it along the paper like he was opening it.  It was very cute, but I didn’t get my camera out in time.

James helping Thomas open his.

I love matchy clothes for the babes!

And I love lots of family around so I get some hands-free time!

Awwwwwww!

I didn’t take a ton of pictures, but we got to see everybody who was in town and it was just lovely!

Christmas Morning at Home

All of the pics in this post are unedited.  :(  Someday I will do an update post with my favs after some edits.  I do love to play in PSE.  :)

Our Bayberry candle burned all night long and much of the day!

Thomas!

Michael!

Can you believe it?!!  A beautiful smile for me – Merry Christmas Momma!

And one from Thomas as well!

We had to wait on Sleeping Beauty (Joanna) until like 8:30 to start opening presents!  The kids all made a beeline for their angels/snowman from Nana and Popo.

I’m pretty sure they could have been filled with rocks.  But, luckily they weren’t.  :)

They all got a chocolate Oklahoma – fun!

Then Matt and I had a parenting fail moment.  Nobody knew what a Pez dispenser was.

But they’re all very big fans!

I like to put at least some consumables in the stockings – applesauce from a packet – yum!

We moved over to the couch to open more presents since the light is better.

Joanna is hugging her new PJs.

I got James a subscription to a Thomas and Friends magazine.  There is fun stuff inside for everyone.

I love gifts that are good for everyone – James got a book that Joanna can read to him.  :)

Dress up!

This was the face I got after she opened a present, and I said “It’s an addition and subtraction game!!”  I LIVE for these faces from her.

James got Dash the engine from us and Bash later in the day from Aunt Missy – they’re twins!

Groovy girls and a horse for them to ride!

A few new ponies joined the ranks and got all lined up!

The two very best Christmas presents a girl could ask for!

Loooooove these boys!

Next up – More Christmas fun!