Sick babies, tired parents

Aaron and Andrew have had the sniffles in the past, but NOTHING like the last week.  For the past week both babies have been sick with the flu and have been really cranky and fussy every day.

It started with Aaron and within two days Andrew had it full force too.  For four days they both had a fever, coughing, totally plugged noses, and very little appetite...and lots of crying.  We've just about reached the limits to how much mucus we have suction out of them.  They've probably done more crying in the last 5 days than they have in the last 5 months!  

Aaron had wheezing from bronchitis and last week we were sent home from the Pediatrician with a nebulizer and enough medication for what seems like a year's worth.  That's a good thing because when I could finally take Andrew in to the Doctor (thanks to a 3-day weekend) he had the same thing.  That was no surprise!  So the extra medication has really helped.   And if you've ever done these breathing treatments, they take FOREVER- just for one baby.  Then double that and it feels like that's about all I've been doing the last two days. Unfortunately they just won't sit there and breathe it in, they either have to play with the nebulizer or get really cranky because they are tired of it stuck in their face. 

Each night we've had to get up at least once with each baby.  When I started feeling sorry for myself I realized I'm a little spoiled now.   It's like deja vu all over again.  In the first 4 or 5 months we had to get up EVERY night to feed them once or twice.  I think I've forgotten how nice it is that they have been sleeping 11-12 hours through the night.

It's not easy to see your kids suffer.  Not that I enjoy being sick, but I'd rather it be me than them.   Of course, I had it before them and passed it on.  It'd been a while since I've had the flu/cold that bad and it was miserable.  I learned firsthand that Moms can't get sick, and if you do there's no break. However today they have begun to start feeling better and their runny noses are beginning to slow to just a drip.

"Aaron sporting a very red and sore nose"

"Andrew not much in the mood to do anything"

Two little monkeys crawling on the bed...

...One fell off and bumped his head.  This morning was the first time one of the babies fell off the bed, and I'm sure it won't be the last.  Steve was on the bed with Aaron and Andrew, but while Aaron went one direction Andrew quickly crawled off the other way and THUD!, down he went.  I think it scared us more than it did him. 

Andrew's pretty tough compared to Aaron.  He cried for a minute but was quickly smiling again.  Whenever Aaron is sitting up and falls back he starts crying. Andrew simply laughs and starts crawling to the nearest toy.  After what Andrew's been through (TEF and kidney surgeries) little bang ups are no big deal.  We're learning Aaron is the sensitive one. Another way of putting it- he's a big time Mama's boy! And I love it- at least for now.

Now that they're becoming more mobile* we're becoming more watchful.  One of their favorite things right now are door stoppers.  It'll keep them entertained for what seems like hours (it's probably only a few minutes, but that's a long time for 10 monthers). After catching Aaron pulling off the rubber end of one of the stoppers and putting it in his mouth, we've had to pull the ends off of most.  Everyday as they discover new things we're having to move things up or hide them from view.  One mother of 3-year old twins told me she eventually had to bungee chord the kitchen chairs together to prevent them from accessing cupboards and causing chaos.  Oh, we can't wait.

* Note:  Aaron & Andrew are ALMOST crawling.  But they're getting pretty fast at the commando/army crawl.

"It's so much more fun UNDER the Exersaucer than in it."

"Same with the jumper.  And wherever my brother goes, I follow."