Dear Grandma and Grandpa, Thank you for the stylin' matching polka-dot PJs you sent us, and the lovely swaddling blankets, I love mine and it really helps me sleep! A.J. calls it his straight-jacket and says they should have named him Houdini (whoever that is) We have been working really hard lately, they make us do a lot of push-ups And of course we have pacifier practice, Followed by synchronized supplemental bottle eating To be honest, sometimes it's all a little too much, I get a little cranky OK, so sometimes it's a little more than a "little" but then I remember that you love me the best of all,* and that makes me happy! ***In interest of impartiality, A.J. will be posting next time.
If you are on Facebook, you may have seen this photo and wondered what it was, it is the scene by scene breakdown of Amalia attacking her brother. I am sure this is only the first of many injustices A.J. will have to suffer as the only brother to 4 sisters!
So, a few things happened recently, and though I am holding one baby and listening to another complain that he needs a diaper change, I am posting briefly, some highlights,
Ella turned 7 and had a lovely party
The twins came home to rave reviews We learned that Amalia loves to take a bath.... and that A.J. does not like to take a bath.... They both like to practice martial arts and hope someday to be in the sequel to "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon"Eddie got older We bid my mother a tearful farewell, The twins survived to 1 month old! Eddie installed closet systems in both of our master bedroom closets Ella lost her first 2 teeth and got her first visit from the tooth fairy Eddie left me for a few days and went to Vegas, but he made sure his Mom could come and keep me sane and the children happy. As you can see here, Amalia became especially attached! So now my Mother-In-Law has returned home and we are finding our way on our own, taking baby steps towards what will become our new normal.
*****Bonus****** Amalia, our delicate little girl has learned to vocalize her feelings about this life!
On Saturday December 12, my mom came to be a part of my baby shower and celebrate our common birthday and wait out the arrival of the twins. We did some Christmas shopping, got two new tires put on the Mini-Van, mailed off some packages, started getting ready for Liana's 5th birthday on the 21st and baked some cookies.Thursday the 17th I went to bed like every other night, full of baby and heartburn. At 12:55 PM my water broke, we called to wake up the doctor, went to the hospital having contractions every 5 minutes. On arrival they found I was already dilated to 4cm so they gave me a shot to stop contractions and began prepping me for surgery.
At 3:05 AM Baby Girl Au Twin A made her entrance into the world. At 3:07 AM Baby Boy Au Twin B followed closely behind.
Our little girl was wailing before she was out, she was only 3 lbs 11 oz, but very strong with good reflexes and breathing, they cleaned her up wrapped her up and brought her to me for a quick look and kiss before going to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
Our little guy cried but not as loudly or clearly as his sister, we learned later he had inhaled some fluid. I saw only a glimpse of him as they sped him off in an isolette to the NICU after his sister.
Our girl continued to make good progress, she needed only a myriad of wires and monitors, and an IV to hydrate her and get her to the point where she could begin drinking from a bottle. I got to hold my baby girl for the first time around mid-day! Our son was put on a CPAP machine to remind him to breathe, occasional suction of aspirated fluid of course a plethora of wires and monitors IV nutrition. On Friday we named our babies Amalia and Edward Jr.
On Saturday we named our babies Amalia Huilin Au and Anthony James Waikuen Au (A.J.) Amalia began to drink from a bottle, 5 cc at a time.
On Sunday A.J. graduated from the CPAP machine to being on Oxygen and I got to hold my son for the first time! Amalia graduated to 6 cc of milk. On Monday I was sent home from the hospital, crying of course because I was leaving my babies behind. But happy to go home and see Liana who had turned 5 that day and thanks to my wonderful mother and my fabulous friends, she had already had a fabulous party.
On Tuesday my Dad took me to see the babies in the morning and Eddie took me in the afternoon and I only cried one time that day. Both babies were jaundiced and put under Billi Lights both quickly learned how to get out of their eye shields (picture foam sunglasses)
On Wednesday A.J. graduated to regular old air and got to start milk through a feeding tube. Amalia started increasing her bottle by 1cc each feeding.
Today is Thursday they are one week old and doing well, both are off the Billi lights for now, both are gaining a little weight and both are so cute I don't mind just watching them sleep, it makes me happy to see them here, and to know that they are being cared for by some spectacular nurses who answer the phone when it rings at 4 AM and tell me how the babies are doing, even if all they are doing is sleeping.
So Merry Christmas everyone, this year I really feel the JOY behind the message "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given!"
Each child is a miracle and I am grateful for the Son of God, Jesus Christ who answers prayers and watches over all His little ones.
Last Friday we went out to eat as a family with several other families we know and love. The food an company were great, but apparently we shared more than just good times. The stomach/intestinal flu BLECHHHHH!
By and large we actually got off pretty easy, just a 24 hour bug and I am the only one in our family who actually threw up. Maybe because of my limited stomach space in the first place, or lowered immunity, at any rate, I could not keep anything down Saturday night into Sunday Morning. This dehydration set me into a pattern of contractions every 5 minutes for several hours and so I decided at 5:00 that I should call my OB and see what I should do.
The OB of course said go to Labor & Delivery. Let me remind you that it was 5:00 Sunday, the girls are still asleep and I don't really want to take them along to the hospital. I call my friend P who I now refer to as "Super P." I called her because I figured her Husband "Tall C" is a very capable dad and would be able to cover the home front, and because my girls love her and would be OK waking up to her in the house instead of Eddie and I. Little did I realize that she had been up with her own sick child at 3 in the morning, that her capable husband had to be to the airport by 10:00. My super friend came right over anyway.
As soon as she arrived Eddie and I headed off to the hospital, where they put me on monitors and established that I was indeed contracting regularly, but that the babies were both doing well. Eddie took off to pick up his mother and bring her back to our house in time for Super P to get her husband "Tall C" off to the airport. Back at the hospital, after conferring with my OB they put me on an IV to rehydrate, and eventually gave me a shot to stop the contractions which it did. Blood tests confirmed that I had no infection and no signs of immediate dilation or progressing labor and so they sent us home
In the continuing spirit of gratitude, I am grateful for the following; My husband who stayed calm and shuttled back and forth to make sure that the girls and I were all OK. My Friend who rescued me and took great care of my girls, they were fed, dressed, and had their hair done before my mother-in-law came to relieve her. My mother-in-law who stayed several days to make sure that I could rest and recover. My father-in-law who went to work alone so that his wife could be here with us. Modern Medicine one shot and a liter of liquid = a little longer to prepare for our twin blessings. All my family and friends who care about us and send prayers our way!
13 - My Fabulous Church Friends who gave me a baby shower with delicious food and adorable outfits! 14 - The fabulous movers from our church who took time away from their families on a Saturday to help us get everything to the new place. Oh and speaking of everything, the fabulous sister friends from our church who came over under the pretense of helping me wipe down counters and mop the floors quickly, they ended up packing up everything in the house and garage and cleaned it to move-in condition. 15 - Sister Williams and family who brought us dinner 2 nights in a row so that my kids would not starve. 16- Eddie who was off work and did the lion's share of putting the right boxes into the right rooms. 17 - Grapeland Elementary that provides field trips like Ella's to Riley's Frontier where she dipped a candle, made cider, and went into a "real cabin house". At least one of my children got to do some "fallish" activities this busy year. 18 -Having a day to unpack more of our life 19 - God - Thank you for the beautiful park with shady trees and a time to sit and relax for a few minutes - until Nina comes down with a fever and we go home to find the medicine basket. 20 - Healthy babies with strong heartbeats, the Rhogam shot that means no antibody issues, and justification for gaining 5 lbs in 3 weeks. 21 - Ibuprofen and Tylenol (see the 19th) 22 - Nina getting better in time to be safe to go to church. 23 - My girls' dance teacher who inspires them to do their best and tells them they are "on fire" when they do well. 24 - We had another ultrasound, babies are small but growing on their curve line, each estimated to be over 3 pounds at this stage. 25 - My brother who drove all day from AZ to spend the holiday with us, and arrived just in time to help Eddie discover the reason sewage was backing up into the downstairs shower! 26 - The plumber who came out on Thanksgiving morning to clear the pipes. My generous in-laws who are cooking for me and my family, my brother's family, my grandmother, uncle, cousin and her family, another cousin etc. Plus, I am really grateful that both sides of my family not only get along, but seem to really enjoy each other! 27 - My Sister-in-law and Niece who kept my children entertained and helped Eddie get the Costco shopping done while I had quiet time at home with my swollen feet up! 28 - Our friends from Irvine who came up and helped us organize some things in the garage and toy room. 29 - Friends who came and ate SPAM, thus making our house a home. 30 - Surviving the month of November, babies inside, household moved!
We interrupt this gratitude festival to bring you some much requested photos, of my big belly
This first one was taken at 22 weeks, or 5 months, you can see that Nina was quite impressed Now 8 weeks later, at 30 weeks, or 7 months, my belly has become my daughters favorite source of entertainment. They like to trace the huge blue veins, poke at my flattened out belly button, and laugh when occasionally their baby brother pokes back. Baby sister has nestled herself into my left hip and shows no signs of leaving said territory.Sneaking back into the land of gratitude, and at the risk of repeating myself, I thank God each morning that I can still get up out of bed and get Ella to school, and be here for Liana and Nina, and be home when Eddie comes home from work.
10+ - My mom who found a bilingual phone to teach Nina some Chinese! Ella used to say that she is "a little bit Spanish" because she could repeat the phrases Dora the Explorer uses all the time, thanks to Ni-Hao Kailan and our new Fisher Price phone, hopefully Nina will be able to say she is Chinese with confidence!
11- My Dad again who watched the girls so I wouldn't have to take them with me to the 3 hour Glucose Tolerance Test my OB wanted me to take (for the second time this pregnancy, I guess it isn't 2 for the price of 1 on everything.) My friend P. who brought my family dinner because she had listened to my complaint of not wanting to cook this week and decided to just surprise me.
12 - My Husband who is getting up at 5:30 this morning to take my Dad back to the airport. He will then come home to pack up more of the house and navigate the finalities and formalities of getting the new house funded and closed, and will make more calls to cancel utilities here and start them there, and will do a few million other things all to make sure that we get settled in.
8-Last Sunday we had our annual Primary Sacrament Meeting Program, which is once a year the children, ages 3-12 deliver the sermon portion of the main meeting at church. For the last 2 1/2 years I have been one of 3 people who lead and teach and prepare the children for this program. Every year it seems fabulous, but this year I am especially grateful that my daughters are who they are. Ella memorized her part and the words to all the songs, and sang loud and clear at the appropriate times. Liana not only did her part but valiantly stepped up two more times when other children didn't show up. (because they were sick, something else to be grateful for, we were better in time for the program) I thought Nina might be problematic, when I was getting things set up before the meeting started Nina was whining and not letting Eddie comfort her, but just before I needed to lead Liana's class up to the choir loft Nina decided to take her bag of goldfish and sit quietly with her Auntie "Cessa" who we have adopted as our family. (Thank you for adopted family who step in when needed.)
9- NINA - Our little Nina turned 2 on the 9th, and never has a child been so ready for her birthday, she has been talking for weeks about her Grandpa coming for her birthday and how she wants to have a tea party with him. Of course her translation is "My Bampa a comeen my irthay peapot party!" When I went to get her in the morning (she likes to lounge) her first words of the day were "I low a tannel" which of course means "I want to blow out candles" So she had candles in her corn muffin and delightedly sang happy birthday songs to her little self all day long! Her Grandpa did indeed come for her birthday, though bless his heart my father's plane didn't land until 10 and he wasn't offended that we had a shuttle bring him from LAX and he didn't get here till after midnight. I love my Dad.
10 - I'ts 5:00 in the morning as I type this, and I am sure by the end of the day there will be several more things I am grateful for, but today, I am grateful for our new home, which is due to be completed this Friday, today we are doing a walk-through inspection and signing the loan documents, so I am grateful for the house I will raise my family in. I am also grateful for friends who will take Liana to story time so she doesn't have to miss it, and for my aforementioned Father who will keep Nina occupied and help me pack boxes this afternoon and do whatever else he can before he hops on another plane on Thursday to take him home to HK.
I have realized lately that l seem to be complaining a lot, "my stomach is huge, I can't sleep, I have to pee every 5 seconds, Acid is eating my throat, Yadda Yadda Yadda...." Really how much are you people supposed to take? Answer? As long as it takes to bring these babies safely to the world. I am big and getting bigger and I am uncomfortable and tired and grumpy!
That said, I am also profoundly grateful for this time of my life, so in addition to continuing to update on my pregnancy stresses, I would like to also enumerate my blessings, one for each day of November
1- When I am really sick, I have enough friends and family to cover all the bases for me so I can stay at home and take care of my family and self.
2 - The Brown Family from church brought us dinner last night, I felt a little silly when she called the night before to say that she was going to do that, but then I spent my day taking Liana to the doctor's and the X-ray Lab and getting Ella to-and from school, figuring out homework, and dealing with Nina who didn't get her nap. Never has a pork-chop dinner been so welcomed! Thank you Brown family
3 - A quasi healthy Liana (cleared by the Dr.) returned to preschool and Library time, allowing me to take a shower and actually get dressed.
4 - Ella's Parent-Teacher conference showed what we expected, she is an intelligent motivated learner who is at the top of her class.
5 - I am big, but I am still pregnant and still mobile, I go walking 3-4 times a week with friends who like me enough to go slowly and wait for my Braxton-Hicks contractions to stop. I know some really dedicated mothers who at this point of pregnancy have been on full or partial bed rest, hospitalized, or already had their little ones and endured the stress and heartache of having a little one in the NICU.
6 - Medical Insurance - I decided with the recommendation of multiple doctors and after reading it up to get the H1N1 vaccine, the down side is that my doctor didn't have it yet so I had to go to the County's walk-in clinic for my shot (translation 3 hours of waiting in various lines and rooms for 30 seconds of treatment) I am really grateful that I don't have to go through that every time I need medical attention.
7 - I am Greatly Pregnant. It would be really dumb of me to not recognize what a blessing it is that Eddie and I have been blessed to have biological children without medical intervention and that this time around we are doubly blessed. I am grateful too that interventions exist, because some of our very best friends have become fabulous parents of their own bio-kids with a little help. I am also grateful for adoption and the blessing that it is to the parents and children alike and because adoption has brought some fabulous people into my life.
Each year I get a happy feeling anticipating Halloween, an opportunity to be creative and make my children costumes they want, We plan out the pumpkin carving for maximum effect, I make fingers out of string cheese, spiders out of hot dogs, and other gross foods. It's a little effort laden but always fun.
This year, my family saved me from myself, in case I forgot to mention it, we are 6 months pregnant with twins, starting to recovers from colds and flu bugs, packing up the house to move in 2 weeks, and generally going insane.
First of all Eddie slaved over the crock-pot all day and made a delicious venison stew for dinner.
Bless her heart, all Ella wanted was to buy some ears and a tail at the 99 cent store and be a cat. All Nina wanted was to wear the princess dress our friend had handed down to her (Nina would like to wear a princess dress every day). Of course once she saw that Ella got to be a kitty Nina needed to have a nose and whiskers too! Oh, I tried to talk her out of it but I am glad I gave in, she was the only kitty princess around. Liana was my project girl this year, she wanted to be a lady-bug and since all the costumes I saw for sale were a little more hoochie than I like for my 4 year old, we set to making wings and a skirt (because after all, a lady bug is still a lady!)
So my darling girls were darling and it didn't take much to make their dreams come true.They didn't even want to carve the pumpkins, they wanted to paint them, so that means they'll be around to make a home-made pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving,.....anyone want to come over and bake it for me?
I don't know if it's because I have been helping Ella with her homework or because I have been sick with a chest cold, but in the midst of my insomnia the other night I began thinking of the word problem below, then a snowball effect began. So though math is something I know very little about (just ask my report cards all the way through college) here is a post for your (hopeful) enjoyment.
Pregnancy Quiz
1. The doctors have prescribed 1 325mg iron supplement to be taken twice a day on an empty stomach and separately from your prenatal vitamin. Due to your indigestion and acid reflux you are to eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day instead of "3 squares". You are instructed to sleep a minimum of 8 hours a night and advised to also take at least one nap during the day. At what times of day will you take your pills?
(answer - anytime you happen to remember it, including right after a bowl of ice cream, pregnancy robs you of your neural synapses, the doctors are lucky you remembered to buy the supplements in the first place.)
2. You are lying in bed at night anytime after your 6 month of pregnancy, are you a. not sleeping because you are being kicked/pushed in your stomach/kidney/hip/etc.
b.Not sleeping because you are not being kicked and are therefore worried that something could be wrong.
c. Not sleeping because your acid reflux is burning your esophagus.
d.Not sleeping because you are on your way to the restroom, just back from the restroom, or thinking about getting up to go to the restroom but delaying it because it hurts to get up out of bed.
e. all of the above
f. Sleeping soundly
(Note - answers "a" & "b" are only possible at the same time if you are pregnant with twins. if you answered "f" you are probably in fact the spouse of a pregnant woman.)
3. You might be pregnant if watching "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern" a. actually makes you throw up instead of just gagging. b. actually makes you hungry.
(Note - both answers may be true depending on your pregnancy or on the stage of your pregnancy.)
4. When pregnant which of the following will likely make you cry? a. Hallmark ads on TV. b. Country music songs. c. People being rude to you or others. d. People being kind to you or others.
5. To avoid high blood pressure during your "high risk pregnancy" you are to limit activity and simplify your life, which of the following activities will you eliminate?
a. Feeding your family b. Cleaning your house. c. Showering. d. driving children to school. e. monthly ultrasounds. f. bi-monthly OB check-ups. g. glucose screenings, blood tests, urinalysis. h. aerobic exercise
(Answer - trick question, you must continue to do all of these things - with the possible exception of "b", but if you eat some chocolate and hydrate while you do it, you might survive!)
That is about all my pregnant brain can come up with, if you have additional word problems feel free to add them in the comments section!
In the spirit of things I know something about, I am returning to the photographic essay style to illustrate some of the kinds of things I know my children will eat. There are of course a plethora of things they will not even touch, but please enjoy the following;
Ice cream, regardless of flavor, ice cream will be consumed if given the chance, it is best enjoyed dripping down the chin, or creating a clown make-up effect around the whole mouth. Biter biscuits and graham crackers, - actually I can't certify that they ingest any of it, but they will put it in their mouths until a paste is produced, said paste will then be spread on clothing, dark clothing is preferable, you will think you have washed it all out until the clothing is dry at which time you will realize the paste will never really be gone. Toys My children will eat rice, I don't know if it is their blood or just because it will stick to their fingers until they lick it off, but all my children will eat rice. Chocolate chips, but don't count on putting them into other things under the thought that they will eat the whole pancake etc., oh no, they are adept at picking out the chip only and getting it everywhere. Noodles, again, possibly a genetic trait, but my mother says I used to slurp up long noodles in one breath too.
Olives on their fingers, my side of the family sees this as normal and regularly uses up a #10 can at a family gathering, but elsewhere in the world apparently this is bizarre. My girls like to load up all their fingers and eat them one at a time. Stuff that many adults can't handle, here Nina is enjoying a dried cuttlefish snack (a small squid) Ella has loved flamin hot Cheetos since she was a year old. Things their siblings feed them, here Ella thought it would be fun if she were "a farmer, and Liana was my little chick-chick who likes yogurt." -I should point out that I had tried many times that week to feed Liana yogurt, but was spurned, apparently high chairs and bibs change the flavor. Things their siblings give them while naked. Yes it's true, otter pops were too cold for her until Ella stripped down and shared. Things eaten on a picnic blanket, never underestimate the power of a change of scenery, also don't count on it lasting too long. Things grown in their own garden Things covered in technicolor frosting
Chicken products swimming in a sea of ranch dressing - I'd expound but it makes me gag Also, not pictured, if you want someone under the age of 2 to eat something, hide it on the floor behind the foot of a kitchen table, or try to eat it without letting them see it. CAUTION, all children can hear candy wrappers from anywhere in the house.
