Fall, Football and Fabulous Food - 10/15/2013

Hello again everybody!  The girls are staying so busy they hardly have time to post but welcome back!....The last few weeks have held Denver Broncos football, Colorado State University tailgating, a Children's hospital oxygen evaluation sleep study, Brooklyn's first teeth!!!, and more!  (Many events not yet pictured will be shown next post)

(Dad w/ Brooklyn)

Football season is in full swing and the girls show up to each game with their game faces on but the general lack of emotion depicted is due to the Denver Broncos' ability to pull off a 6-0 start to the season with seemingly little effort.  Wins of massive proportion are commonplace now so the girls don't wind up easily just yet.  Check back later in the season. 

(Dad w/ Brooklyn, Grandpa w/ Madison)

The girls relish the opportunity to watch a little football as screen time is not something generally offered to them around the house.  Granted, either one of them will find a TV when it is turned on anyway, regardless of where they are placed in the room, even if it requires neck and body twisting usually seen only at Cirque De Soleil.  We've warned them their necks might stick in a 90 degree position but they continue to watch, unphased. 

(Grandpa w/ Madison)

Within the last week or so, Brooklyn and Madison have also been introduced to the world of "solid" food.  They now include a little rice cereal with their milk in one or two daily feedings.  They are usually receptive and continue to develop the motor skills required to eat this way. 

(Madison's first ever solid food bite)

(Brooklyn's first ever solid food bit)

The busy schedules are mostly full of fun with a little "business" in between.  There is no time to waste outdoors with a beautiful Colorado fall in effect as us Coloradan's know well that snow can interrupt the fall at any time.  For this reason, the girls asked to go to their first corn maze and pumpkin patch, so we did...

(Trying out the "B.O.B." stroller for the first time now that necks are stronger)

(Lost in the corn maze, posing for a photo opp in the bright sun)

Mom and Dad learn little things as they go, such as the need for baby sunglasses (not the kind that Madison previously brough home from having her eyes dilated though).  Each outing gets more comfortable but still comes with LOTS of baggage. 

(An aerial shot of Dad and Brooklyn)

(Mom posing with Madison near the pumpkin patch)

We look forward to posting more in another 2-3 weeks.  In the meantime, the girls are still on oxygen but otherwise look and act as healthy as can be.  Also, after multiple G.I. doctor visits, Mom has been sacrificing the better foods in life for a dairy-free and soy-free diet to accommodate Madison's dietary requests (Dad now suffers as a result too...pizza please!). 

Family Fun - 9/29/13

As of last week the girls weighed in at 10 lbs 11oz (Madison) and 11 lbs 10 oz (Brooklyn).  Madison goes to the G.I. doctor tomorrow to further attempt to figure out some dietary issues that leave her a bit cranky many afternoons.  Things have gotten much better since mom made a few diet changes for Madison's benefit already though. 

There has been no shortage of quality time with family as of late.  The girls have been quite busy as seen below....

(Watching the CSU Rams game with Grandpa Swanson)

(Lazy day in pajamas with Brooklyn & cousin Kaylee from Florida)

(Cousin photo)

Aunt Lucy, cousin Iris and cousin Kaylee came out for a fun-filled extended weekend recently.  The girls went to Oktoberfest, played at a couple of different parks and, generally, just had fun.

(Madison watching cousin Kaylee feed the ducks at the park)

(Madison envying the kids on the playground)

(Brooklyn getting out of the stroller to stretch)

In between all the fun, and the previously mentioned G.I. doctor's visits, the girls also see a pulmonologist and will soon participate in a sleep study at Children's Hospital to try and get to the bottom of this oxygen thing.  And speaking of sleep, we now know it's true that all good things must come to an end as 6 weeks of sleeping through the night has now turned into 1-2 mid-night feeds. 

(Madison, left, with Brooklyn, Aunt Lucy and cousin Kaylee)

(Aunt Jamie finally getting 2 babies without one crying)

The pediatrician has said this might be a good indication that it's time to start slowly introducing solid foods to help them stay full throughout the night.  We have yet to do this but expect to do so within the week.  The girls also caught a cold recently and are still fighting it, so the sleep could be due, in part, to that as well. 

(Madison proving to "Gigi" Swanson that she'll sleep just about anywhere)

Five Months - 9/08/13

In a more timely manner than usual....here are a couple of "5 Month" pictures taken today as the girls hit 5 months on Sept 7th.  

(Madison on left, Brooklyn on right)

(Madison posing outside in beautiful Sept weather)

Everyone is well, but still on oxygen.  The pediatrician is now as frustrated as we are and has referred the girls to a pulmonologist which they will visit this upcoming week to dig a little deeper into the oxygen situation.  

(Brooklyn showing off her neck strength)

Oxygen doesn't slow them down as they seem to have more energy everyday.  They "talk," walk (with some help of course), and play all day.  Parents across the world either envy or despise Mom and Dad Abrams as the girls have yet to break their sleeping streak of sleeping through the night since they started in the beginning of August!

(Brooklyn looking skeptically at Dad)

 (Madison enjoying the new jumper)

As of the last doctor's visit, Madison was 9lb 8oz and Brooklyn was 10lb even.  This is exactly what we'd like to see according to the doctor.  The girls attended a NICU reunion this weekend where former patients from very recent to many years ago were all invited back.  They had quite a following of nurses and staff, anxious to see them and amazed at their progress since leaving the hospital. 

Madison had a follow up appointment with the eye doctor where it turns out she might be only slightly near-sighted but she didn't mind as the sunglasses from having her eyes dilated are quite cool.  In fact, Brooklyn likes to borrow them when Madison isn't wearing them.  Dad is excited they like the glasses that likely cost only pennies and he hopes their taste stays in that same general price range as they age. 

(Brooklyn sporting Madison's signature look)

(One bad baby Madison)

2 babies, 4 months - 8/26

The girls hit 4 months on Aug 7th and are already practically at 5 months now!

They are doing great!  They are increasingly engaging, playful and interactive.  It's probably due to all the sleep they get...thanks to them, Mom and Dad consider themselves the most well-rested parents of twins ever, as they have slept through the entire night ever since August 1st (but who's counting)!!

Brooklyn talks so much these days that it's hard for Madison to get a word in edgewise.  Even then, Madison still manages to sneak in a few words.  It's hard to believe that with all the talking (and occasional screaming) that either of them are still on oxygen, but they are.  Brooklyn just passed the oxygen test at the doctor's office yesterday which qualifies her to do the 24 hour at-home test.  We've been down this road once before so we're cautiously optimistic.

Madison seems to like following in her younger sister's footsteps and does so about 2-3 weeks behind, which means we might expect her to pass the oxygen tests a few weeks after Brooklyn.  While Dad works, the girls clearly have fun playing dress-up.

These clothes aren't from the normal assortment as one may notice.  "Papa J" (Grandpa Abrams) sent these to be worn.  Clearly, he supports Dad's cause. 

The girls spend a good deal of time hosting and attending dinner parties and other events although we are still careful about taking them out in too many public areas because of the respiratory risks.  The farmer's market is a Sunday favorite though. 

"Tummy time" is becoming increasingly popular with the girls.  First, they would get quickly frustrated, and Madison certainly wasn't interested in this activity at all but both are coming around and getting quite good at it.  In addition to having strong necks, they often demand to use their legs with a little bit of parental support.  Brooklyn's goal is to skip the crawling stage and get straight to walking.  We'll see how that goes...

Days of Summer - 8/04

Summer is quickly cruising past us and the girls are aging before our eyes.  They turn 4 months old this week and are both loving hanging on the floor much of the day, spend lots of time smiling, and have adapted to a bedtime routine that make mommy and daddy feel like geniuses as the girls are sleeping 7-8 hours a night these last 3 days!!  They retest for oxygen later this week as well.

Grandma ("Gigi") and Grandpa Swanson couldn't resist splurging on some Rockies outfits at the last game they attended and the girls are looking good!  While Tulo is a fan-favorite, it's no coincidence that the number "2" was selected for the jersey they are wearing.  They are also attempting to make the pages of the Rockies magazine with the help of a friend. 

Speaking of friends, the girls have been attending and hosting dinner parties lately.  A new friend, baby Jimmy, came by to hang out recently.  Jimmy's father thinks he already has two girlfriends but we beg to differ.  Baby Jimmy was born just one week ahead of the girls but shows the size difference having been born "on time." 

Oh yeah, and thanks to everyone for their support and votes on the Chic-fil-a picture contest.  Unofficially, the girls reached 9th place in the "herd" category and th 19th spot in all categories with 817 votes.  We don't know if that means anything yet, but it was a good run!

Little Models - 7/25

At the risk of creating little divas, we had the girls participate in their third professional session recently, compliments of a wonderful family friend.    They weren't so sure about it and provided the photographer only select opportunities to snap good pictures, but came out with some great shots nonetheless.  Without picture labels below, you can always tell Madison by her darker skin.

(Brooklyn)

The girls are becoming regular visitors outside the home and do plenty of entertaining already.  Brooklyn and Madison registered at 7 lbs 13 oz and 8 lbs 11 oz, respectively at the last doctors visit this past Friday. The next doctors visit in about 2 weeks will include another oxygen re-test for which we've all learned by now not to get our hopes up.

Lindsay's sister, Aunt Laura, holding Brooklyn; Lindsay holding Madison

(Madison hanging out)

The girls have discovered they like the outdoors so far this summer.  They've done lots of BBQ'ing and really love lying on a blanket in the soft grass....well, Madison has her moments.

Nights are getting better but, as any of you parents already know, it's still quite exhausting.  In fact, Mom and Dad have found themselves saying and doing enough crazy, sleep-deprived things that we easily related to this picture below and have considered creating our own version.  Stay tuned...