2 yr & 4 month updates

Rhys and Zoe are both getting so big. At Rhys's last nutrition appointment we realized that even though he'd been gaining some weight, it wasn't quite what it needed to be. So, we've been pushing extra snacks so he'll get more calories. I really think he needed the extra calories anyway. It is hard for me to gauge what he wants/needs since he doesn't communicate except for whining. I think it's working pretty well though because he is nearly 25.5 pounds, which is a pretty good weight gain from the ~23.5 pounds.

We've been doing the mouth exercises the SP recommended. I have been bad and forgotten to do them a few days. I can't do it after he eats because he'll gag and throw up. I had a duh moment that ended with me spot botting my rug. Rhys actually handles it fairly well, though he wants to chew on the little tool I stick in his mouth. Which would be okay, because that is actually one of the exercises to get them to chew with his molars, except that I also have to stick my finger in his mouth to "stretch" his gums. I'm sure you can see where this is going... he has mistaken my finger for the tool and I got a first hand feel of his sharp little teeth. I can see a small improvement in his speech. He isn't talking or using words, but I really think he's articulating his sounds better. And, maybe there is a tiny improvement in his chewing. I gave him something the other day that was out of the norm and even though he did have a bit of a gag when it didn't break down as quickly as he wanted he kept chewing and worked through it until he swallowed.

Rhys is also rolling all over the place. It is getting very easy for him to roll onto his stomach. He used to be a little hesitant and had to put a lot of effort into it, but now it's very smooth. He is also starting to raise up a little on his elbows. He still gets extremely frustrated when things do go his way, but I see his little brain working trying to put things together. I typically put him on a sheet instead of laying him directly on the ground and instead of working to move towards what he wants he's started pulling the sheet to bring it towards him. Even though I'd rather him learn to crawl that is problem solving.

Last week Rhys really got into his swim lessons. He started kicking in the water and also was participating in the other activities. The instructor said he was doing great with his swim skills. He doesn't want to monkey crawl along the edge of the pool, and he obviously can't crawl out of the pool, but he is enjoying it and the PT thinks it is really helping his tone.

Zoe is talking up a storm and is starting to laugh. We've been working on the floor trying to get her to push up and she hates it! She recently discovered the mirror and it's hilarious watching her look at herself. What a ham! She's been drooling a ton and chewing on her fingers. And the bottom front of her gums are a bit puckered and hard. It seems like she is teething, though when Rhys's first teeth came it in was a total nightmare, so either she's going to be a good girl and not give us fits or the teeth aren't close to popping through just yet. She still has no eating schedule to speak of, and wakes anywhere from one to four times a night. I am all about the nursing thing, but man I can't deal with this for much longer. Hopefully she'll regulate the eating a little better when she starts solids because if she doesn't we're moving to the bottle!

random commenters

Completely random, but am I the only person who is having issues with the random comments in Chinese that are showing up on posts? Any clue on how to block these people? I'm getting tired of deleting them. And I accidentally clicked on one of the links a while back and it went to a site of border-line child pornography.

happy 2nd birthday, my loves

Two years ago today our lives changed forever. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and headed towards the bathroom to get ready for work. After only a couple of steps I felt the pressure and cramping. My stomach sunk after I discovered blood on the tp. I frantically called Cody wondering what I should do. I quickly got dressed and rushed to the OB's office as fast as I could safely get there. I was breathing through contractions the 20+ miles to the Med Center, feeling like I was getting stopped at every light along the way. A cervical exam revealed I was fully dilated and Rhys's sac was bulging. Minutes later I was wheeled into triage for an emergency delivery. And my beautiful boys were born more than 16 weeks premature.

There are some experiences in life they have not invented words to describe. This day, two years ago, was one of them.

Happy birthday to my two perfect angels. To my Bentley, we love you and miss you more than I thought possible. And we think about you every day sweet boy. Rhys, you are joy personified and we're blessed to be your parents.

our little diva

Zoe is growing, growing, growing. I couldn't believe when she was born. Healthy and all tiny with loose skin. We don't have loose skin any longer!

In fact, this baby girl is pleasantly plump. Everywhere. I love watching her personality develop.

She's got a great smile, just like Rhys. And she's now starting to "talk" up a storm. When I was pregnant I kept telling Cody she was going to be a busy body because she was constantly kicking. And so far that has proven true.

sitting, tummy, swimming and speech

I'm working really hard with Rhys and his sitting. He gets h.o.r.r.i.b.l.y upset when I make him sit. He isn't angry, his feelings are hurt, and I can not understand why. He is uncertain and sometimes unsteady so I think he's feeling a little out of sorts when he's not surrounded by a barrier (i.e. us, the couch, chair, etc.). He is in the beginning stages and can mostly only prop sit, but the catch is that he doesn't want to use his arms to prop himself. Hands are for grabbing things, not bracing yourself! He has enough muscle control to keep himself upright if he is still, but let's face it, that rarely happens as Rhys is an inquisitive little dude and has to touch everything multiple times to check out all the angles. Another issue is that he has always relaxed against us when we hold him and he's always been caught when he falls. So now he thinks it's a great game when he throws himself back and we catch him. We've been trying to break him of that for a while now and haven't been fully successful yet. I have always thought if/when Rhys could sit more of his development would fall into place. Certainly his standing will not happen until then since you need to be able to control your torso in order to balance on your feet. If he can sit upright he can have greater access to his toys and range of movement of his arms. If, if, if, if.....

While playing with Rhys on the floor today he did something he's never done. He rolled all the way over onto his stomach to play with a toy. All by himself. Holy moly! Talk about a shocker.

We've tried many times to get him to play on his stomach but he immediately rolls onto his back. For him to intentionally roll onto his stomach (out of the blue!) to play with a toy is very exciting for us. Maybe, just maybe he will start doing this more frequently, which will lead to his legs working a little more so that he finally realizes he has the capability to (gasp!) army crawl. He definitely has the motor skills required to do that at this point, but he needs to put a few more things together first.

I have no idea if this is a coincidence, but Rhys has made these two good strides since he started swim lessons. It is hard for me to say he is getting that much benefit from swim so quickly, because even though we participate in all the activities he is mostly still an "observer" at this point and doesn't join in with the kicking, blowing bubbles, etc. I hate being wrong, but I'd love to be wrong about this.

The speech pathologist started his sessions two weeks ago. Only to leave for India this week for vacation. He showed me the exercises he wants us to do and anticipates we should at least see some changes in eating by the time he returns from his vacation in s.i.x. weeks. He offhandedly mentioned Rhys should be sucking from a straw by then, but I'm not going to hold my breath. I'd love it above all else if he was, but I'd settle for him gagging/choking less. All this progress at once is nearly too much for my little brain to process.