Decreasing posts

The amount of posts may decrease even more for the next few months. I'm getting to my busiest time at work and will not have a lot of extra time. Hopefully I can update at least every other week, but please don't get upset if it's less than that.

Starting in October I should be back to once a week or so.

First Cereal Feed

Last week - June 20 - we started the babies on cereal. Previously, we had added some cereal to Paul's bottle to help with the reflux, but this was much thicker and fed with a spoon. Paul took to it right away and happily eats quite a bit every night. Lizzie did not like it so much at first, but has started to adjust. Unfortunately, despite the assurances from others, this has not really increased their sleep. They still wake up once during the night for a feeding around 2 - 4 am. This is not too bad as we're pretty much used to it now.

Here are some pictures from that first feed:

Paul getting some more


Paul making sure it all goes in by pushing in the last bit with his hands


Lizzie making a strange face at the taste


Paul a little too interested in the camera instead of the food

Erie Pictures

Here are some pictures from Erie (in no real order):

At the beach with Aunt Sue & Aunt Peggy


Lizzie & Aunt Peggy


Paul asleep on the picnic table


Paul & Aunt Mary at the motel pool


Paul & Mommy


Lizzie with Uncle Paul


Paul asleep at the party - all worn out


Lizzie with Grandpa and Paul with cousin Gayle


Lizzie & Daddy


Another of Lizzie & Daddy


Lizzie with Aunt Sue


As you can tell, we had a great time and the babies had fun meeting all the Trost relatives. It was commented more than once that Lizzie looks like her great-great-Grandma Trost. Guess those Trost genes stay strong.

Erie Fun

We went to Erie, PA over the weekend. Lizzie and Paul did great - both on the 10 hour (usually 8 hour) car trips and in the hotel room. Paul was a little fussy at night - we think he was just overloaded and his body couldn't take the stress. We took a lot of pictures and I hope to get some up soon.

Lizzie and Paul had a wonderful time meeting all their "great" aunts and uncles. They also had their first look at Lake Erie and the sand.

NICE follow up

Today the Twins visited the NICE (neonatal intensive care experts) doctors for a follow up visit. This is the practice that cared for them in the NICU. It was a really great appointment. I thought it was just going to be a physical exam, but they actually had a developmental analysis by a speech pathologist. He said they were both doing really well for their adjusted age.

Both babies have a "left side aversion" - Lizzie worse than Paul. Basically, they don't like to turn their head to the left, even if that's where the action is. The doc said that it is something we can probably fix by working with them. He gave us a whole stack of papers with different exercises and other information.

Charlie and I thought this was great. One of the papers is a developmental check list that we can use to help track their progress. This will help us become aware if they need additional help. We'll go back next March for their year (adjusted) check up. After that, if all looks good we don't have to go again. However, if at any time we are concerned about their development we can take them in for a check.

5 Month Checkup

Today the twins had their 5 month checkup with the doctor. Everything looked good, except Paul was running a low fever and has been very very fussy. The important stats:

Lizzie - 16 lbs 3 oz 24 inches
Paul - 14 lbs 13 oz 24 inches

Yep, Lizzie is 1 lb 6 oz more than Paul, but the same height. The doctor said that was okay - plus she had just finished her bottle (8 oz) before the appointment. Overall the doctor was very pleased.

Lizzie and Paul have another appointment on Wednesday - a follow up with the NICE doctors from the NICU.

Here are a few pictures of the kids on their exersaucers. They are learning good neck controll and really enjoy it when Mommy and Daddy play with the toys (they haven't quite gotten the hang of the toys themselves).

5 Months

Today Lizzie and Paul are 5 months old - almost 1/2 year. I can't believe how quickly time flies. They are doing better at holding up their heads. In fact, we may start a small amount of cereal later this week. Paul has been a little fussy lately - always wants to be held. Lizzie is still calm most of the time, but does make her needs known. Everything is going well at daycare. Not much else happening. We're all getting ready for our first road trips. First, we do a short 1 hour trip to General Butler State Park for my work - staying two nights - June 7 - 9. Then we do the 8 hour trip to Erie for the Trost get together - June 15 - 17. I expect the Erie trip will take closer to 10 - 11 hours.

Here are their 5 month pictures (they were being real smiley in their bouncy seats, so I changed them for the pictures - they got cranky before I could get the pictures done):

Paul likes to keep his hands in his mouth - even when we're trying to feed him.





The shots of them together were towards the end of the photo shoot, so Paul especially was getting tired.



Lizzie is drooling on Paul - I'm sure it won't be the last time.


Their head control is not the greatest!


Lizzie's just hanging out

Zoo

The twins had their first trip to the Zoo Sunday, May 6, 2007. We went with our friends Chase, Carrie, and Troi Simms. Carrie and I have been best friends since the 7th grade, so I'm sure anyone reading this has heard about her. They enjoyed their time in the sun (as much as we could tell). Here are some pictures from before and during the zoo visit.

4 month check up

The twins saw the doctor again last Thursday. The stats:

Lizzie - 14 lbs. 22.5 inches
Paul - 13 lbs. 22 inches

The doctor said they are growing perfectly - which we knew because everything about them is perfect!!! Nothing significant from the appointment, all is going well. We have to take them back in a week or so for the next round of immunizations.

4 Months

WOW - Lizzie and Paul are 4 months old. Time is really flying. Their personalities are showing a little more. They are both mostly happy babies and spend most of their awake time smiling and cooing. You can tell that they want to just start talking. Lizzie likes to stick her tongue out a lot and Paul likes to fidget. All continues to go well - they are eating 4 times a day - usually every 5-6 hours, but can sometimes go 7-9 hours between feedings. Below are some pictures we took on Saturday.

Daycare pictures

Here's a few pictures we took on Lizzie and Paul's first day at daycare. (And yes, I know this happened two weeks ago, but that's life).

They had a sign up on the fridge (and everyone was waiting for the babies - so nice)



Their cribs were already marked and ready



Their names were on the wall - yes the birthdate is wrong, but they have since fixed.

Daycare

Sorry it has been so long since the last post. I always feel that I need pictures, so when I don't have time to download, I skip posting. Hopefully I will have time for some more pictures soon, but I wanted to update on the daycare.

Lizzie and Paul started daycare last week on April 16. We are lucky because it is so very close to our work (we are both at the University of Louisville). It's about 1/4 mile away - across from the stadium (if you know where that is). It's small and very, very friendly and clean! So far everything seems to be going well. They have caught their first colds and have runny noses and a little cough. Paul had a fever last Friday and saw the doctor on Saturday. He said it's just a cold and had us continue to monitor his temperature, feeding habits, etc. Paul's temp was back to normal by Sunday. We're hoping they develop the daycare immunities soon.

Hard to believe, but Lizzie and Paul will be 4 months old this Saturday. We are sure to have some pictures then. Plus, their cousin Jonathen will make his First Communion on Sunday, and we'll take pictures at the party.

Other than that, we're just trying to get into a routine (one that involves at least 5 - 6 hours of consecutive sleep for me and Charlie).

First Easter

For the twins' first Easter, we dressed them in little bunny sleepers. They looked very cute in the little pink and blue sleepers. Luckily, the weather here was very cold and they didn't get too hot in the outfits. While the Easter bunny didn't visit them at home this year, Grandma and Great-Grandma came through with some cute stuffed animals to celebrate.

The pictures were taken at home - Charlie ran out the night before and bought the grass and eggs.

3 Month Check up

The babies saw the doctor again yesterday for their three month check up. They are both doing really great - Lizzie is 12 lbs. 13 oz, 21 3/4 inches and Paul is 11 lbs. 12 oz, 21 1/4 inches. Paul's incision sites from the hernia surgery look good. He is still having problems with reflux (one reason he weighs less than Lizzie) so we are thickening his formula with cereal now. He seems to like this and is keeping it down better.

They are enjoying their time with Daddy - and I will have him take some more pictures soon. We have cute bunny sleepers for them to wear on Easter - so look for pictures next week.

3 months

Wow, Lizzie and Paul are 3 months old - a quarter of a year. Of course, their adjusted age is only 2 weeks. They are starting to stay awake a little more and are sleeping longer between bottles - sometimes a whole 5 hours!!! I'm getting ready to go back to work on Monday. Charlie is staying with them the next 2 weeks and then they'll start daycare. I'm still shocked all the time at how much they've grown. Charlie and I think they're sooo big (although most of the comments from others revolves around how small they are). Here's their 3 month pictures.

Paul's surgery

Small Paul had a hernia on his right side and a small one on his left side. They were causing some fluid build up. Yesterday he had surgery to take care of them. Everything is good now and he's home doing fine. They had him stay overnight due to how young he is - as there can sometimes be complications with the anesthesia. He didn't like the hospital room and had trouble sleeping, although once I gave him his snoodle (from the NICU) it helped.

Playing at home

We're still doing good and mainly playing around the house. At the latest doctor appointment on March 13, Lizzie weighed 10 lbs. 4 oz and Paul weighed 9 lbs. 13 oz. We have started taking the babies out more. They have visited our work and attended their first Eastern Star and Rainbow meetings. Here are some more pictures of us playing and them getting a bath.