Sunday, July 25, 2010

The month of July - a work in progress

I thought for all of our amusement I would run through the month of July as it went down for the Au family. I won't wait till the end of the month cuz by that time I will probably be sick and forget to post.



1- Visit with Grandparents - lots of fun!


2- Grandma and Grandpa take us to Scandia, our local mini amusement park.

3 - Drive to Long Beach to celebrate a fabulous birthday with one of my favorite cousin's daughter, also to drop my Mom off so she could fly out of that airport the next day.

4 - Go to Church in the morning, watch fabulous fireworks from our neighborhood, with our actual neighbors!

5- Say good bye to my Dad as Eddie drives him into LAX

6-

7 - Pioneer school, we made barbie outfits out of brown paper bag (to resemble buckskin clothes)

8
9
10- Attend our buddy Owen's baptism, beautiful day with his beautiful family.
11
12 - Centex Homes Reps and an A/C technician come to see if they can figure out the loud buzzing sound that occurs in the wall of the babies' room when we turn on the AC. They cut a large hole on the wall, push the AC pipes around and determine that they cannot figure out the loud buzzing sound, but will send someone to fix the wall on Friday

13 - Pediatrician for the twins, Eddie has other commitents, I get to take all 5 kids. Both babies have made it onto the growth chart, Amalia has a slight fever so she can't get her vaccinations, AJ has a little rash on his face that "might be" heat rash.

14 - Ella and Nina's check ups, Eddie is working, I get to take all 5 kids along, again. Both girls are doing fine, though Ella may never pass the 50 lb mark, Amalia still has a fever and has now developed the signs of an ear infection, starts antibiotics. Downstairs A/C unit is blowing suspiciously warm air.

15 -Temperature outside hits 103, AJ's rash now includes his arms and thighs, downstairs air conditioner is blowing hot air, same A/C tech from Monday comes out, determines we are low on coolant. We either have a leak or they never filled it full when the house was built in November. Can' t find the leak, but assures me it isn't related to the exploration on the 12th.

16 - Dry-wall repair guy comes out to fix the wall, when he opens the dry wall a distinct hissing sound is heard, opens a bigger section to reveal a nail from the baseboard has pierced the coolant line, which is smaller than my pinky but just happened to be the in the exact place that someone decided to shoot a finishing nail, two cm above the protective flashing. the nail is extracted, and the results may be seen in the following video clip.


Many hours later the coolant line is fixed, the drywall is repaired and primed.

Many loads of laundry later and the loads of clean laundry I had in baskets on the bed are once again clean.

17 - Dry wall repair guy returns to paint the wall and wipe everything from wall to wall to ceiling down in order to remove the plaster dust etc.

18- Eddie, Ella, and Liana are all ill, Nina the babies and I go to church without them. I am teaching a lesson and AJ chooses that time to realize that the nice lady who was holding him, was not me, he screamed in the hallway during the last 5 minutes.

19 - My fabulous husband took the 2 oldest girls to the dentist. Good news? We have dental insurance. Bad news? Ella's teeth are all growing in behind the baby teeth instead of under them, she has to go back in two weeks to have 5 extractions. Her 2nd grade pictures are gonna be cute!

20 - Liana's physical, all 5 kids go together back to the pediatrician, then hurry to the Library for story time.

21 - Pioneer school, but I can't remember what we did, it was all so long ago.

22 - Everyone is feeling well, the weather wasn't too hot, so we went to the park. We had to leave early to get drop of Ella, Nina, and AJ with Eddie who was home sick, so I could return to the Pediatrician for Amalia's vaccinations and have Liana's TB test checked. The visit went fine and I called Eddie to see if he needed anything on the way home, only to find that Nina had come up with a fever, later confirmed to be 102 F.

23 - Nina's fever seemed to be improving, so I put her down for a nap and as the babies were happy I snuck off to Costco, half way through my shopping list Eddie calls to report that all 5 children are crying. I hurry home to relieve my poor ailing husband.

Later that day as I was settling the babies down for the night, Nina reawakens and has another high fever, so with a prayer that the others would stay down, Nina and I head off to urgent care, returning home at 1:30 in the morning with a prescription for antibiotics.

24 - Happy Pioneer Day! As referenced previously, we have been having pioneer school this summer to keep the big girls actively engaged in learning. The activity at our local church building was to be one of 2 culminating events, they had booths of crafts and activities for people of all ages, we had fevers and sore throats for children of most ages. Nina didn't feel like eating anything and had to be coaxed into drinking anything, Ella woke up coughing, Liana went to bed with a fever. Eddie returned to work in spite of his lingering illness.

25- Liana's fever worsens, Eddie takes her to urgent care, infected tonsils = antibiotics.

For those of you keeping count that's 4 members of the family on antibiotics at the same time.

26- Ella and Amalia wake up at 4:00 AM with fevers, Amalia is done with her antibiotics, ear check at the Dr's reveals no sign of infection, ergo, this is something new. Ella however has signs of infection, antibiotic count rises to 5.

On the upside Eddie bought us a laptop, there is a direct corrolation between that purchase and the posting of this blog, now I can write and supervise the sick ward at the same time.

27 -Back to the peditrician Amalia's ear is infected and she is on a new antibiotic. AJ wakes up from his afternoon nap with a fever.

28 - Everyone wakes up without fever, a cause for celebration. Pediatrician calls, as suspected Strep is at least one of the causes of our woe.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

6 months into twins

It has been over 6 months since the twins were born, even 6 months since we brought them home, and I am almost feeling normal, or at least the new normal. I thought I would share some things I have noticed,

My house isn't as clean as I would like it to be.
I am not as organised as I would like to be.
I don't sleep as much as I would like.
My kids and I yell at each other more than I would like.
I miss my husband more now that he is working nights.
I miss my parents because they were just here for a visit and now they are gone.
I miss my siblings because they all live so far away.
I am taking all of my children to the doctors for physicals next week and the older ones to the dentist the following week, co-pays and waiting room time will take years off my life.
I enjoy cooking but detest figuring out what to cook each night.
I would like to have menus all planned out, but I have been thinking that for years now....

I could go on, but I have already noticed that every complaint I have is a result of a huge blessing in my life, I have this great house full of beautiful things, a healthy family and extended family, a husband who works hard and provides for all our needs. I even have a freezer and refrigerator, close access to a grocery store, and children who eat vegetables, sometimes even happily.
I'm going to go be appreciative for a while
- although I would be even more appreciative if someone would tell me what to make for dinner tonight.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Preschool Graduation Class of 2010, class of 2

This year in our Preschool Co-Op we had only two students, which turned out to be just fine as we then also only had 2 teachers and both of us had twins this year in addition to our 3 other children!

We still managed to have a lot of fun and enough learning, even if we didn't get to take as many photos. Here are a few highlights,

Friendship day, where preschool alumni and prospective students came together to celebrate being friends

U is for Unicorn, and Usually we forget to take cute pictures but that day I remembered! This is the crowd of proud family and friends waiting for the graduation exercises to begin This is the class of 2010 recieving their diplomas
And sporting the accolades of their adoring fans!
Hooray for Kindergarten next year!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Done and Done and Done!

Yes I know I haven't posted for a while and have neglected to catalog the older children and their activities. I am here to make amends

Nina has realized that the babies are here to stay and she is no longer automatically the center of attention! As such, and as she is 2 1/2 years old she has a new strategy in life, if the attention doesn't come to you, go get the attention! She likes to do tricks like somersaults and the splits, she likes to pretend that she is a baby, which entails not using any words, but sticking out her tongue and grunting and pointing at things she wants! She also loves to sing and has a tremendous vibrato that she like to insert at odd times.

Liana
is ready to graduate PreSchool next week, she has started to read, putting letters together in her mind and piping up periodically with questions like "does F.A.N. spell fan?" She is registered for Kindergarten and excited to get there and really start learning!

Ella just finished her last day of First Grade! I can't believe how fast the school year went! Speaking of reading, Ella has turned into a voracious reader and is currently reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder books in the "Little House on the Prairie" series.
Last Saturday was the annual dance recital where Ella and Liana both did wonderfully. Nina sat on the edge of her seat the whole time eating animal crackers, watching each number intently, and repeating her mantra, "I go my dance class when I be 4!" Amalia slept through the entire show! A.J. was his usual affable self, requiring only a bottle and a diaper change to keep him happy. In all it was a lovely recital and the shine light of accomplishment shining in Ella and Liana affirmed that it was time and money well spent. Eddie topped the evening off by buying the dancers some soft tacos for a post recital snack.
I'm gonna go ahead and post now, but before I go I had better add that A.J. and Amalia have both mastered the art of rolling over from back to tummy!
Of course they usually top it off by spitting up and smashing their faces in it, gotta work on rolling back to their backs!

Saturday, May 1, 2010

A.J. Chimes in

It has been called to my attention that according to photographic evidence, my dear sister Amalia seems to have more emotional diversity than I.
Let's examine the evidence...
..... ......I am not sure that this is trueIn fact I take umbrage at that suggestion, or at least I would, if I knew what umbrage was.I am really quite surprised that so many people have arrived at that conclusionI was only acting under the advice of my manager who suggested that as there were two of us, and Amalia seemed rather vocal, perhaps I should take a more "laid back" approach to life.
I'm actually very social and attune to things, I have to be with that little cannibal around, always trying to take a bite out of me.Is it my fault that she can't take a jokeI have decided that life is amusingIf I just relax, and take a little time away...To chill with the guys....
I can come back refreshed, And then I can help Amalia be happy too!Oh, and by the way,
Happy Birthday Uncle Matt

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Amalia posts...

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.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Action sequence!

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!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

filling in some blanks

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!

Friday, January 22, 2010

The twins are home and 1 month old


Ok I figured even if I couldn't finish any actual writing the title would inform you all a little.
More to come when I have time!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

They have arrived!

WARNING BIRTH STORY AHEAD!

The babies are here!

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.