Feeling better and getting ready for xmas

The boys are finally feeling better. They had a rough few days but they both seem to be feeling better. Jacob still has his moments where he just wants to be held. Jasper seems like he back to normal.

With them being sick, they barely slept in their cribs. We all thought they would have a hard time going to their cribs but apparently we are wrong. They have been going to their cribs for both nap and bedtime with barely any issue.

Jacob had been waking up in the middle of the night and I had just been taking him to bed with Joy and I. However last night he slept all night in his crib.

Last night, Jasper woke up crying a couple times. I was able to rub his back till he laid back down and went to sleep. This morning, he woke up again crying and Joy brought him to bed with her. She said he held on to her so tight and went back to sleep.


Last night, Joy and I worked on their Christmas presents. We set up their lego-like block and made a castle. To be honest it was a lot of fun. Almost want to go up there and make a new one, I guess the kid in me came out. I bet the boys will get much enjoyment out of them. I also set the boys toy drum set. Joy did such a great job upstairs! It looks amazing! The boys are gonna get such enjoyment out of their new playroom!



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Going to sleep on their own

This was our method to getting the boys to sleep:

We start with giving the
boys a bottle of milk in their cribs. Sometimes they would fall asleep during or after finishing their bottle.

If that fails, we bring them back out to the living room where we sit and watch tv until they fall asleep or get antsy.

If they get antsy, I take one of them and walk around with them and try to rock them to sleep. After the one I have falls asleep, I do the same to the other if they haven't fallen asleep with Joy.

This method worked pretty well. Heck, they were going to sleep at night now!

The problem is that the boys were so used to this method that it made it really hard for Joy to them down for a nap.

So this weekend, or actually Sunday we started working really hard to get them to go sleep on their own.

So we gave them bottles and walked out until we heard them freaking out.

Instead of grabbing them, we made them stay in the cribs and Joy and I sat on the floor. I read to them. Joy would play music for them and sing. Or We both would sit silently reading to ourselves. But we did let them leave their cribs.

Sometimes I would get them to sleep by simply reading to them. Jacob seemed to be the first one to pass out but seemed to take a bit longer for Jasper.

The first night they were both out by 2am, then next 1am, followed by 12am. The last two nights they have fallen asleep on their own around 9pm.

Also they have been taking their naps easier!!

Let's hope this sticks up because it's really nice that they can go to sleep on their own and at a decent time. Shortly before they were pushing bedtime to 12-1am.

The only thing is now seems the boys are going through something, teeth or effects from the 12 month shots. Jacob woke up last night and had a big hissy and took awhile to get him to go back to sleep. He seemed in pain or comfy so I held and brought him to the couch. He didn't like that either, however eventually he fell back asleep. A couple nights before Jasper seemed the same way.

Growing, speaking, moving, and stealing

Over the weekend we had to lower the cribs. The boys are starting to try to pull themselves up and we don't want them to learn while in their cribs when we're not there. After we lowered them, Joy put them in and had them standing, leaning on the railing. They got the biggest kick out of it. Jasper enjoyed falling down on his butt after awhile, Jacob not so much.

A couple days ago I went to get Jasper out if his crib. While doing so, I started saying/singing "good morning!" over and over. Then Jasper mumbled out something resembled "good morning." I was stunned. Joy said he is trying to mimic me. So naturally, I've been saying a lot of "good mornings."

The boys have become masters in their jeep walkers. They can both move themselves almost where ever they want to go. It's not uncommon now to be in the bathroom and then see one of the boys stroll up. They've also been getting themselves stuck in a traffic jam-like situations in the hallways.

They have also been able to play more independently on the rug with their toys. However, they've become quite jealous of each others toys. Even if they both have the same toy in hand, one will drop it and try to steal the others. This can cause tears.

One day, Jacob was working really hard to get a toy out of the toy basket. He was so determined and when he finally got it out, Jasper took it.

Although this isn't new, the boys get upset if you walk by them without saying "hello." I'll come in from work and put my stuff away and they'll get so upset if I don't stop by and play with them first thing. Although, if they're in their jeeps they can just come along.

The last couple of nights have been rough. The boys have waking up about every hour during the night screaming. I'm not sure if they're not feeling good, teeth, or what.

This morning around 6:30, Joy got up with Jasper and decided it was time for them to both be awake. She wrote out a schedule for feeding and nap times. If all goes well, we hope the boys will start to sleep better at night.

This weekend, our friends Heather and Kit are flying in from Colorado. They haven't been up since last June. I bet they'll be surprised at how much they've grown.

Up all day, Sleep all night

Not trying to beat the topic of sleep to death but this week has been fantastic! Last week Joy worked really hard at keeping the boys awake during. In return Joy got screamed at. However, it really paid off.

Last Sunday, the boys went down for a nap around 3pm. 6pm came and they were still sleeping, so fearing that they would be up all night. I tried to get them up at 6:30. This turned out to be impossible! So we just let them sleep. ....well they slept all night! I think they got up around 3am.

The next night, they went to bed around 6 and didn't get up till 3 to eat. Jacob wanted out of his crib so we went to couch. I put a music documentary on and our cat joined us. Then Jacob went back to sleep. Jacob and Jasper both slept till 6 before waking up for the day.

Last night Jasper went down at 7 and Jacob at 8. Aside from waking up to eat, they both slept till 7am. Needless to say, Joy and I got to sleep! Together! Yay!!

So we're not sure if the boys are really getting on a good schedule or they're sleeping more because they're growing. One day Jasper slept a ton and we both swear he got more hair. His hair looked darker too!

Well, tomorrow is Xmas eve! We are excited to spend our first Xmas with the boys!

Six Month vaccines

This time I had a whole new approach. I thought we were lucky last time after they got their shots. They quickly passed out for most of the day. I went ahead played around the house, thinking the boys are not affected by the vaccines. Then came bed time for Joy and the boys screamed! Apparently, the shots did affect them and they were none too pleased. I then wished I had napped or rested during the day.

So after we got the shots, they fell asleep on the ride home. So I headed off to bed shortly after we got home. Joy pumped and then joined me. Even though, I didn't fall asleep I was resting in case I don't get any sleep later.

Jasper work up shortly after Joy joined. He drank a bottle and fell back asleep. Joy tried to move him back to his crib but woke up. A little later Jacob woke up. He got a bottle and then fell back asleep. Jasper followed.

I got a couple hours asleep and then comforted Jacob till he fell back asleep. I then comforted Jasper till we both fell asleep on the couch watching The Last Man on Earth.

The main difference at the actual event of getting the shots was that I think they knew it was coming when they got the liquid part. The nurse gave it to them and they both freaked. They're weren't too happy about getting pricked. However, after they got their clothes on and we were checking out they were both falling asleep.

I'm very proud of my boys! They did really great. I don't like getting pricked either but if I were their size and that size of a needle came at me, I would be scared too!

It's really cute when they're clingy and want to be held afterwords. It's kind of like they're saying "make it all better, daddy!"

teething and the zoo

I started writing this blog Monday and then got distracted... Here is what I wrote:

--

We thought they were teething before and thought our doctor was lying because she didn't even check to see. Well, time has come by and no sign of teeth. Until last week. We've had extra grumpy babies. Joy felt around in Jasper's mouth and felt the bumps of teeth.

We were really hoping they would just pop out during the weekend but no luck. Both the boys have been extra clingy. Although, we haven't felt the bumps on Jacob's gums he's been waking up about every hour. Oral gel seems to work for the most part. We have been bringing them to bed with us.

On Saturday, we decided to take the boys to the zoo for the first time. We thought maybe being outside would help keep their minds off their teeth. Also we thought it would be fun.

They really loved the jelly fish exhibit. They were both putting their hands on the glass trying to touch the jellies also I think they really loved the moving colors. They tuckered out pretty quick afterwards. They both fell asleep in the stroller and slept on the ride home.

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Today is Thursday and last night we noticed Jasper has a tooth poking out! He's been a totally trooper the last couple of days.

Jacob now has bumps on his gums! I think he is feeling the pain. They've both been night owls but around 5 in the morning he stated freaking the other day. I tried to hold him in bed but that was a no go. We ended up going to living room and I held him on the couch. I turned on the news and we both passed out.

This weekend, we're having thanksgiving at my parents' house. I'm hoping the boys feel well enough. Last time we were over everyone rushed to hold them. That freaked them out. This time Joy and I will make sure they are cool before handing them off.

Flipping sleep schedule

Had a sweet four day weekend last weekend. During that time, we were determined to flip the boys sleeping schedule. At that point, they were staying up most of the night. Getting three hours of sleep was really wearing on me/us.

During the day, we kept them awake, delaying and limiting nap times. That wasn't always easy as they would reply very unhappily. By Monday, we went shopping and we were in the about three forty minute rides. During those rides they napped.

By the time I headed back to work, we were rewarded by the boys sleeping through the night only waking to feed or to be held for a few minutes. I went to work on Wednesday feeling so refreshed. Even today, I'm feeling alive and alert! What a great feeling!

In other news: the boys are starting to get hair!! 5 months later. It seems like every day I'm noticing they have more and more hair. Hopefully in time for winter, they will have a full head of hair.

Mother of Twins - Jeep liberty walkers and our dog

Our dog has taken it onto himself to watch over our boys. The boys have two jeep liberty walkers that they love to play in. Currently they mainly move backwards and beep the horn, but they love every minute in there walkers. I can only imagine the chaos that is going to ensue when Jasper and Jacob start chasing our dog Ace or our Cat Tino around the living room.

Every milestone is so exciting, but with each milestone my days seem to get stretched a little thiner. I can't wait until the milestones start making life a little simpler; sleeping through the night, holding their on bottle, eating real food, and when they can tell me what is wrong rather than scream until I figure it out. I will miss the all night cuddle sessions, but I think a few sweet dreams may ease my pain.

What milestones made your life a little easier and when did your baby reach the milestone?

At home with the twins

We have been home for over a week now. I was so scared to leave to the hospital. No nurses to help out. No nursery to put the kids in so we could get a couple hours of sleep. I was silly for being scared. It really is much better being home. Joy and I have been taking shifts in sleeping. Right now, she is sleeping till 2:30 and then I will get some sleep. Also one nice perk is we're not woken up by nurses in the middle of the night for vitals.

I've been staying up with the boys and watching really bad horror movies on Netflix streaming. I finally got a chance to watch that Hellraiser DVD I got back a couple years. I'm sure eventually this will have to stop when the boys get a little older but for now I'm taking advantage.

One of the biggest fears I had when we came home is that our dog would freak out and hurt the babies. I had been worrying about this for weeks. I had not come up with a good plan to introduce them to our dog, Ace. Joy came up with the idea of putting them in the crib where they would be safe and trying to introduce them to him

Much to our surprise, Ace was great! He treated them like one of his own. His first response was to smell them and try to lick them. We stopped the licking. After the introduction, he would check up on them about every hour. As soon as he heard a cry, he would come from where ever he was in the house to check up on them. At one point, I was burping one of the boys and Ace looked at Joy with a look in his eye that said "Are you gonna let him do that to him?" After about a day or two Ace finally need some sleep. Joy's mom is staying with us, so he went upstairs to sleep with her. His eyes looked bloodshot. Ace has defiantly been a good dog. What a major relief.