Mason's Hiding Spot

Mason found a new hiding spot!

To the Zoo, Take Two

Another great outing to the Zoo.

We made it just in time to see the penguins being fed. I missed it in the picture - but one penguin kept swimming right in front of us.
Hello Rhino.

I thought this would be a cute picture - Mason had other ideas.He was better if Mommy was in the shot.Hagen thought it was a very friendly animal.

H: Can we take him home, Mommy?

H: I'm going to name him Fred.


The lion was out with her baby cubs. We later found out it was their first day out of hiding!


Mason pointing out the zebras for Daddy.
The Zoo has this really neat bird exhibit where you can feed the birds. They will come right up to you and feed out of your hand. I thought the boys would be a little scared - but they loved it!


Mason was even curious enough to reach out and touch them!


They were flying all over the place!
Hello kangaroo. Or would it be G'Day?
Hagen didn't last much past the kangaroos... here we are with the cheetah and Hagen didn't spot him. ;-)And he is out. Here we are in the car - completely out.
Mason even gave in.

Hagen's First War Wound

The other night I was bathing the boys. They love when I dump the water over their heads. I was dumping the water over Mason's head and Hagen ducked forward. He bumped his head on the side of the tub. He immediately started crying and raised his head. Blood was pouring (okay, dripping) out of a gash (okay, cut) above his eye. Because he was wet, it looked worse than it actually was. I pulled him out of the tub to console him and take a better look.

I had two naked boys in the tub, one had a cut that I was unsure of the condition, and the other was crying because he didn't know what was going on.

*I am amazed at how even just pausing for a second, I am able to collect my thoughts and move into action.*

After drying them off and getting diapers on them, I was able to see the cut better. It is right on that bone that is above the eye and below the eyebrows. I called the advice nurse because it kept bleeding. Jeremy came home and determined he didn't think H needed stitches. Gran came to give her opinion and she felt the same way. Jeremy went to work and Gran went home. The advice nurse called back and said it probably needed stitches and to head to the Pediatric Urgent Care down the road.

**Okay, several things flash before my eyes. Two screaming toddlers in the PUC. Hagen being strapped down to get the stitches. They were both taking naps at the time and I am by myself.

Me: 'So umm, what happens if we don't get stitches.'

Nurse: It will probably scar.

I tell her thank you and hang up. Boys with scars. Hmmm, yeah, Hagen has his first war wound. No stitches. Bonus: A black eye is also appearing.

Practice with Spoons

So apparently they don't learn how to use eating utensils on their own. Who knew? A large clear shower curtain on the floor before we started practicing would have worked nicely. I didn't think that far, so the clean up was not fun!

Mason: This is so much fun!

Hagen: I agree - so much fun!

M: Couldn't tell you what I'm eating though. Don't really care - because this is soo much fun.

H: You are really getting stuff in your mouth?

How to Raise a Cooperative Child

Each week I get an email from 'Baby Center'. This week's title was 'How to Raise a Cooperative Child'. Hmmm, I almost deleted it because I really don't think they have met my children. We have entered the tantrum world and can I just say it is only going to get more interesting as we go.

Yet again - even H & M have different temper tantrums. (Could they be any more different?!)

I will get this on video at some point ---

Hagen: dramatically falls to the floor (face down) and scream cries (no tears). If I try to move him, he goes stiff in my arms.

Mason: Sits down and cries nonstop. Big tears if he has the effort - sometimes no tears if it is a quick one to get his point across.

The first time I discovered these were indeed 'tantrums' I pictured my lovely stroll through Target. Something doesn't go Hagen's way and he throws himself down screaming. Mason sees this and sits down beside him and cries. Hmmmm, so at this point I take my Starbucks and walk away? Do I act like they aren't my children? I think I will continue to do my Target runs on Jeremy's days off - so I can enjoy my Starbucks and Target ALONE :-)

RSV Season is Upon Us

Here is the dreaded post. The post I really didn't want to post. The post I really wish I didn't have to post. But I do, so bare with me.

I really didn't want to quarantine the boys. The boys are really just getting used to church and their Sunday School teachers. I found a few fun classes I wanted to sign the boys up for. I wasn't even thinking about the dreaded RSV coming to town.

Suz Steece is a nurse with quads that were born at 30 weeks. After talking with her - I have decided to agree with her. Quarantine is the best option. We go to our pedi in October and I am sure he would have told us anyway.

So, let us refresh our memories as to why it is important to go back into lock down.

1. What is RSV? Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-shul) virus (RSV) is a very common virus. RSV usually causes mild cold-like symptoms in adults and children. But premature babies or those with lung or heart problems have a high risk of getting very sick if they catch RSV early in life.

2. But the boys are no longer premature. Why are you still concerned? Because technically they are very healthy on the outside. But, they had chronic lung disease when they were little babies in the NICU. Even though we can't see their lungs, they are still growing and healing from the chronic lung disease. Remember also, Mason was on the ventilator for almost a month and Hagen was on it for a little under 3 weeks. The ventilator helped keep the boys alive, but it can and does cause damage to the lungs.

3. Why is RSV so dangerous? Because if H & M get it, it is not a common cold for them. If it becomes severe, they can be hospitalized. It can also lead to more long-term health problems, such as asthma.

4. What are the risk factors that make you think the boys need to be on 'lock down'? They have several risk factors, first of all we got the synagis shot last year but this year they do not qualify for it. This means last year they were protected - this year they won't be. A few other things that make them more susceptible are: premature birth, chronic lung disease, low birth weight, and multiple birth.

5. How long will this last? This is the last year. We have been told (I am sure the pedi will confirm this) their 2nd year is the most susceptible year because they don't have the synagis shot. After this year, their lungs are much healthier and they can usually fight off RSV. RSV season usually lasts from October to April. I will probably start in mid-October and follow my doctor's advice on when we can 'enter the world' again.

6. What exactly do you mean by 'quarantine'? We will not be able to take the boys to the church nursery or any other type of nursery/daycare setting. If you have a cold (or even if you think it is allergies) please stay away. Obviously we can't cut the grandparents out - so hand washing is a must.

If you remember from last year, I posted a similar post. Feel free to click here and read what I posted last year. These pictures were included. So here they are again. Also, ask any questions you want.

'I sure hope we stay healthy this winter season.' 'Me, too...'

A Train, A Park, and A Picnic

We have been having such great weather lately - we decided to enjoy as much as we could while it lasted.

We met Gabriella (with Julie, her sister, and her children) at the park. The boys absolutely loved playing at the park!

Mommy and Mason with the park in site.

'Um, I don't think we are going to get very far on this bus!'

'Come on Hagen!'

'Finally...'

'Hi Momma!'

The boys loved walking all over the bridges and tunnels.

'Excuse me, Gabriella.' (I guess I need to work on that 'Ladies First' rule!)

We had a great system for the slide. One of us would send them down, one would catch, and one would pass them back up to go back down again. Here is Gabriella ready for another slide run and Mason is in the background coming down to Julie.

Here we are on the train. Daddy and Hagen.

Mommy and Mason

After the train, we went over to the Botanical Gardens and had a picnic lunch.

Hagen (not really) enjoying the grass before we spread out the blanket.Jeremy and I attempting to get a good picture of the boys with the flowers.

Can You Feel the Love?

The boys are playing together more and more. It is so fun to watch them interact with each other. They love to feed us whatever they are eating - but today Mason wanted to feed Hagen. It was so cute! I grabbed the camera and caught it when he did it a second time. They had more fun eating cheerios off each other's tray. I also love watching them play with each other's feet.

Do you want one of mine?

(Notice Mason's face - he thought all of this was just hilarious!)

Do you want a cherrios, Momma?

Two peas in a pod.

Could we be any sillier?

After lunch, we decided to take our buckets, turn them upside down and race each other. (Notice they color coordinated their buckets!)