1 year molars

The girls are rarely fussy.  They are usually very happy, easy going babies toddlers (they are still referred by my husband and I as babies in our house!).  Well this past 3 weeks, Harly has just been beside herself and crying pretty much all day.  She was still sleeping great at naps and during the night, so we werent sure what was going on.  I kept feeling in her mouth, but felt nothing.  Today, was probably the best day she has had in a couple weeks.  When I stuck my finger in her mouth, I 1/3 of it through.  Today was the first day Zoey was very fussy.  So round 2 is up!  Hip hip hooray for me!

I have a very hard time giving the girls medicine.  As a nurse, I know what antibiotics can do to a baby's immune system if given every time the baby is sick.  I am not saying I wouldn't give my child an antibiotic if she really needed it.  But if I know what it is and doesn't require an antibiotic then I don't.  I am fortunate to have a doctor to who believes in not giving an antibiotic unless needed.

I also just don't like giving them tylenol or any over the counter medicine unless needed.  It was hard to tell if it was her teeth or not because she had no fever, or runny nose.  She also slept great. This doesn't mean I won't give it to them, I don't want people to think I let my kids suffer in pain.  Now that we have figured it out, she gets a dose when needed ( if she is really fussy and sticking her whole hand in her mouth).  We will do the same for Zoey.  Two things that are lifesavers and have worked for us are: Sophie the giraffe, and baltic amber teething necklaces.

Just so people don't think I am crazy.  We had to give them tylenol when they were infants for a couple of medical reasons.  I just get nervous, they were very small and I am just a nervous nelly when it comes to medicine.  They were also on zantac for a long time.  They had a lot of reflux problems, so after almost 9 months of them being on that, we just wanted to stay clear of medicine.  I know a lot of people who give their kids tylenol at night for them to sleep, so the parents can sleep.  I just can't do that or believe in doing that.  I want to know why they are upset, I need to figure it out, otherwise I will be up all night pacing.

Teething stages just SUCK, there I said it.  This is probably the only time I have a hard time with raising twins.  They don't get their teeth at the same time so its a couple weeks for one child then it starts right up again with the second child for a couple weeks. 

If someone asked me what I could live without as a mom raising a child.  It would have to be the teething stage, if there was no teething stage, life would be GREAT!  Unfortunately, that is impossible.  That is okay though, It only lasts a couple weeks, and I keep telling myself that the next set of molars are not til 2 years old, but in the girls case probably not til 2 1/2years old.

To those of you who have not gone through this stage yet, the girls were great with all the other teeth.  They never cried, fussed, or changed sleeping patterns.  The other teeth were nothing to them, but molars, oh my! molars suck!

must be easy having one child!

I love having twins, I love my two baby girls.  But there are days where I think it, it must be easier to just have one.  the girls are just getting over a virus, but one had it and when it was done, the other one got it.  So I had 2 weeks of sleepless nights instead of just one. 

Teething- Their teeth have been coming in a week apart.  WHY can't they come in at the same time?  So one of the girls will get 2 teeth, then a week later the other one will get 2 teeth.

Its double everything in my household in stead of just one, but I wouldn't trade it for the world! Its just one of those nights where I need to vent!

I love my girls and they are very well behaved girls, I am not being biased because they are my children, but truthfully they are very good, but I am not the most lenient (sp?) mom.  We don't let them get away with things.  today, we were out all day shopping with titi, and they did so well.  I am very lucky that I can take the girls out to a restaurant and they are going to behave.  Everyone has warned me that I would never be able to take them to restaurants, but we have a routine of making sure we order their food right away and that we have toys and snacks to distract them.  I also do not get out of the house a lot by myself with them so they love to look around and see all the people.  they laugh at everyone who walks past them, and they say hi to everyone!  I love it! 

Weighing the good with the bad. Yes there are days where I want to pull my hair out, curl up in a ball and just cry, and there are times I have to give myself time outs.  If I just had one the house would be spotless, I would have time to shower, I would have time to take a nap instead of cleaning the house, but at the end of the day when they cuddle with my husband and I and drink their bottles I can't imagine my life without them, and i couldn't imagine my life without all the chaos!  When we go and check on them before we go to bed and see them sleepng I get teary- eyed every time.  Ian and I sit together and tell each other every night that those girls have been the best gifts in our lives,and instead of our relationship getting pushed aside, they have made Ian and I's relationship stronger.  We are stronger because we want the girls to see the love that we have for one another.

Newborn picture!

3 months!

3 months!

Family picture on vacation 1 1/2 weeks ago, they refused to keep their flower in so their hair is all over the place!

They are our life, our strength, our motivation, our love, and forever our baby girls!  At the end of the day when the storm is calm and we can sit down for a moment, we know God has given us a challenge, but in the long run He has rewarded us.  We get double the kisses, double the hugs, double the laughter, and double the joy, which out-weigh double the challenges!  We would welcome twins again if we were blessed, but not for a couple years! But we would welcome just one too!