So, Where Have I Been?

Dear Readers,

I'm Baaaaaack LOL I've been dieing to say that! I apologize for my absence, but I have a good excuse: I'm a mom to twins. Need I say more? I'd like to take this time to let you know that there are going to be a few changes around here. In addition to telling you all about my amazing daughters, I will tell you about all things that amuse and interest me and any thoughts I wish to share because I can. To start things off I will update you on my little darlings.

Christmas 2011

Sakura and Akira are now 18 months, 2 weeks and 1 day old. No, I can't believe it can you? They are as different as apples and oranges. Akira is very independent and bossy. She has an opinion about everything and wants to control anything she can including her sister. She is walking, almost running, and loves to throw her ball (or any toy she can pick up) around. Akira is currently in speech therapy (for about a month and a half now) and is doing well. She knows how to say "Hi", "Whoa", "Uh-oh" and she signs "More", "Eat", "Bath", and "Milk". We're working on "Mommy" and "Daddy", both she can say, but doesn't use appropriately yet. If I could describe her in one word it would be FIRECRACKER. God has got some amazing plans for Akira with this strong personality He's given her.

Sakura's Pureed Dinners

My lovely Sakura is as delicate as the cherry blossoms she's named after. She is so happy, all the time, just an all around happy baby. She was born with the peace of God. She doesn't have to work at it like I do. She is all smiles. Her laugh is contagious! It makes my day when she laughs with pure joy like she does. Her hair is always a mess. I have no idea where this child's hair came from. It is ridiculously long and her sister still gets called a boy (even in pink clothes). Skaura is still in physical therapy and has been since she was nine months old. She is now crawling like she's always late to get somewhere. She's also starting to pull herself up on furniture and successfully cruises in her crib. Sakura started speech therapy as well because she could not tolerate eating solids. All she could eat were pureed foods. About a week ago she flat out refused to eat pureed foods, of course after I had just finished making a weeks worth of pureed food that is still sitting in my freezer. She is now enjoying the same foods Akira is eating, and it's about tine she did.

Both girls, although still delayed, are doing amazingly well. We did have a scare last October when I took Sakura to the hospital because she was working too hard to breathe. It turned out to be pneumonia. She was in for four days, had to be put back on oxygen (very heartbreaking for me), breathing treatments, and IV lines, but she was still smiling! Not the whole time, of course, because hospitals are no fun. Sakura is a fighter! Since then, both girls have been illness free, not even a sniffle, Praise God!!

I have to give a shout-out to my amazing husband. He leaned up right against me and helped me though my PPD, Sakura's hospital stay, and all the junk I've been dealing with recently. I was NOT the wife I was suppose to be to him, but he was and still is the husband God has called him to be. Thanks, Babe, for being so amazing. I admire your commitment and dedication to our family and your determination to help me though. I pray I can be the wife you most definitely deserve.

By the way, to follow up on my last post about Juan being away for two weeks: I survived! Barely. I went to my parents for a week, which was a huge help. The rest of the time was not easy at all. I started my two weeks of single parenting by taking my daughters to church by myself. Long story short, I lost my keys and nearly had a meltdown the second day after Juan left. A friend came over and found my keys on a shelf that was above my head (she's taller than me). I still don't know how they got there.

The Joys of Motherhood!

Wow it's been so long! I've been very busy taking care of my little ones and trying to get into a groove. I feel like it's taken me so long to get into a schedule and for things to settle down. I know that it takes time to adjust, but I was so very lost on what to do and how to make my life easier. Finally, I have peace and time to myself regularly.

So much has happened since my last post! Sakura rung in the new year oxygen tank free!!! I watched her like a hawk because I was scared she would turn blue on me. She is still on her breathing treatments, but she's down from twice a day to once a day, which makes my life better. She is now a full 10 lbs. and finally out of newborn sized clothes. She was evaluated for developmental delays and is now having physical therapy weekly for an hour. Surprisingly, I wasn't devastated by the news. What parent wants their baby in therapy? I don't know if it was my experience working with special needs children or my expecting her to need therapy that gave me peace about it, all I know is that I felt peaceful about it and I was eager to get her started. She is currently not at her adjusted age on a few things like pushing up on her arms and holding her head while she's being pulled up. Her language/speech skills, on the other hand, are above her adjusted age, but under her actual age. She's starting to play with her playmat, which she used to absolutely hate. Her personality is definately flirty and drama queen rolled in one. I wonder who she gets it from :) She loves to smile at everyone who smiles at her. She loves being outside, sometimes it's the only thing that shuts her up. she looks all around at the trees, sky, flowers and water. So curious! Overall, my Thumbellina is growing stronger, getting bigger and learning more everyday

Akira is doing great as well. She is blossoming into a beautiful, attentive, curious baby. I enjoy being with her so much. She's gotten to the point where she is reacting to tickling games and belly-bubbles. She's reaches for my face and "talks" to me. She's so much fun to be with. Sakura is getting there, but she needs more time. Akira is now 11 1/2 pounds and is wearing 3-6 months clothes. They are 7 1/2 months now, so they are smaller than a term-baby, but that just means that I get to have adorable little dolls a little longer. Akira gets so close to rolling over and then doesn't do it. I'm waiting for her to finally get her but over! Akira is still battling her reflux and I've gotten it all down to a science now: meds before nap and bedtime and a bib at all times. At her evaluation nothing showed that she needed therapy, but that doesn't mean she won't need it in the future. She scored pretty close to her actual age, which was such a relief. Her personality is definitely more serious. If she doesn't know you she will stare at you and most likely will not smile. If she's tired or pooping, she doesn't have any desire to please a smiling crowd. Hmmmm, is that me or Juan ;) She also loves to be outside like Sakura, which is awesome because I like a relaxing day at the beach or a hike through the woods once in a while. Overall my Chunka-Monka is doing more than I could ask for and is teaching her sister how to get it done.

Both girls are eating solids now. They eat lots of veggies and fruits. No allergies to any so far, thank God. Both are loving life and taking it by the horns. They are the most beautiful babies ever.

It can get pretty confusing and challenging raising a preemie, but I treat both girls as if they were born full-term. I understand they will be delayed, but not in all areas. I will expect them to "act their age" and if they don't, we can work on it. I'm not going to start them off as if they have already failed. Most of the people I meet (doctors, therapists, other moms) don't agree with some of the things I do or don't do with and for my girls. I just say what my mother-in-law says, "People are different". What works for me may not work for you and that's fine, so stop badgering me about it. My girls are alive, happy and healthy and that's all I could ask for. They are also always telling me "It's ok if they're not doing it now, delays are to be expected." Expected and the norm are two different things. Obviously not all preemies have significant delays, my girls are shining examples. I'm sure they are trying to reassure me that everything will be ok, it's just annoying to me.

Life with twins has been very challenging and time consuming, but I've finally gotten a handle on things. I'm even planning on baby #3 ( I know, shocking, right). Yes, there is life after my horrendous experience and there is still room in my heart for another baby and enough love to go around. God can defiantly change hearts!