oh, to be a daddy

B and I had an enjoyable morning (after we resolved a few misunderstanding: NO! he didn't want his peanut butter sandwich cut out in the shape of dinosaurs! NO! He didn't want to eat it now, not now after I'd ruined it. etc...) but once, we settled down after a few friendly, early morning power struggles, B munched happily on his mangled sandwich.

A entered the kitchen and addressed B: 'Good morning, B! That looks like a great sandwich.'

B cheerfully chirps, 'Yes, I'm eating it alll up. I'm getting SO big. I'm getting big so that one day I can be a daddy, so I can play with sharp knives and drink BEER!'

Ahh, yes, the highlights of being an adult.

House of Brotherly Love

'I big, you little' is a common taunt thrown around these parts. The ultimate insult coming from one brother to another. H can be reduced to tears by B who proclaims this with repeated glee at H's mounting hysteria. There is something amusing about this as B is the petitest of the bunch; by far the littlest but with the sharpest tongue. We've sort of solved it by reassuring H that he and his brothers are ALL BIG and that it is M who is little.

Alas, M is seeming less little lately. Probably because she has shot of out of infancy and is an active, vocal player in the brood. She loves to bellow 'Daaadaaadaaa'. She squeals and chortles at her subjects magnaminously but remains fairly even tempered and sweet.

Bowing to the inevitable

At least there is one of us who is very excited to be seen driving the new minivan.... He even takes the time to make sure his hair is styled just right.

the Tunnel

I've only got a few rotations left in my third year. And while these next few months are guaranteed to be busy, hectic and hard, I am starting to think towards next year: towards applying for residency, and starting my career. I'm beginning to glimpse light at the end of this tunnel.

En-dEAR-ing

Here I am being me: cute, inquisitive, talkative.... Just looking for a little attention.



Next thing I know, my crazy brother's inflicting his ear fetish on me. Oowwie.



We made up.

Out with a bang

A had the great idea to move the twins to beds of their own. I'll freely admit that I wasn't wild about this idea at first: this means we now have three little independent minded beings able to wander the house nocturnally. Yet, it also means that there is no longer a crib upon which to bang one's head. While it was very hard for us to discern if B was banging his head for attention reasons (bored and wanting to get out of bed) or for headache reasons associated with his chiari (to get our attention because he was having a headache), we agonized over him doing it regardless.

The bed has brought some clarity. B has stopped headbanging. He now hops out of bed and demands for 'Dad-dee, tuckie in' A much welcomed request for being tucked in as opposed to the rhythmic banging that we've been subjected to for a long while. It is also difficult to know how his headaches/chiari stuff is going. His appointment with the neurosurgeon this month went well. He did not feel that B's chiari had worsened or that the flow of his spinal fluid was significantly blocked. He still is waking up a lot at night, but I'm trying to take a step back and consider the possibility that B simply has us trained. I think I might work on a little sleep hygiene with him over my spring break...

Key-R-Ee

B has something called a chiari (key-R-ee) malformation.  I imagine that most of you who read this blog are aware of this-- we found out last March.  After a long December and January with B head banging and unhappy, we began actively trying to find out what was going on with the little guy.  We saw our pediatrician who thought that 'frankly, it was weird.  But probably, normal?' It continued.  We pushed harder and bought ourselves a psych consult. At first I really resented the consult.  I kept suggesting we needed imaging done.  I wanted to make sure there was a huge tumor growing in his brain, causing bad headaches with subsequent head banging in the middle of the night.  Our pedi reasonably pointed out that we had already had an MRI done as part of a research study in which the boys were taking part.  Surely, they would have said something if there had been something to see? Right?  

As it turned out, the psych consult was helpful.  Not because they uncovered any diagnosis but rather, the principal investigator of the research study was a member of the psych department.  Our psychiatrist inquired about the previous image and lo, I received a phone call from the investigator a few days later.  'Uh, there was something on his MRI.  He has a chiari.'  There are different forms but he has a chiari I which is a herniation of the cerebellar tonsils past the foramen magnum.  This means there is a small portion of his brain that extends out of his skull into his spinal column.   This can be troublesome because it can cause the spinal fluid to get backed up, affecting the spinal cord and causing other problems.  Some people have it without any symptoms.  It is just a finding but with no clinical significance.  Others have a lot of trouble: headaches, choking sensation, decreased arm/hand function...  

We saw a pediatric neurosurgeon shortly thereafter who examined the MRI carefully.  We had another set of images of his brain and spinal cord taken to see if there was any blockage.  B has a large chiari (in terms of the length the brain extends down) and while the flow looked to be diminished in the back of his head, it wasn't enough to warrant surgery.  We were partially relieved, brain surgery is no joke.  And yet, he was obviously having troubles at night still.  Waking up, head banging, crying and no being able to go back to sleep.  It would come in bursts and then get better.  A miserable month, a couple weeks reprieve.  It sucked and still does.  But we were in a holding pattern, until there was more concrete signs that surgery was indicated, the surgeon wanted to hold off.

B had another MRI and follow up appointment last month.  Things are looking cramped back there.  His brain is growing normally (as evidenced by his language development, his social skills, and his normal progress) but his little noggin isn't keeping up.  We had another MRI the week after next.  From there, we will decide whether or not we need to surgery.  In the midst of all of this, B has started getting up again every night.  It generally takes him two hours to get comfortable and fall back asleep.  This happened most of November too.  Meh. It makes the caffeine requirement steep and the bleary eyed mornings numerous.

I suppose in the course of these types of things, one needs to go through this process to come to terms with having their child undergo a surgery.  If it weren't so rough, and he wasn't in so much distress, then it would be difficult to justify opening his skull and exposing his brain to all sorts of scary infections.  But balanced with the possibility that it might bring him relief and the chance to sleep, not to live with constant headaches and to continue to develop and grow normally, it seems less radical.  

growth spurts

B and E continue to get more advanced, more active and more independent-- summed up to say, craftier, daily. As B hones his pitching skills (he combines accuracy and speed for an exceptional toss of anything from balls to hotdog buns), E shows interest in engineering-- designing new and inventive ways to reach the kitchen sink (first onto the step stool then balancing precariously on the wheeled cooler, which he's brought in from the hall, he can juuust reach the spray nozzle and chomp on the musty smelling sponge).

B remains 'spirited' and 'opinionated' about many things. He wants to be in control and becomes 'demonstrative of his displeasure' (see below) when things don't go according to the B plan. I'd like to credit Dad with this delightful intensity that has blossomed in B, and yet, it is all so familiar to me. Most of the time I can empathize with his feelings, especially when B's plan is in direct conflict with my own plan, then it is exquisitely clear to me how hard it is to compromise your desires. Of course, as the parent and in terms of safety, my way prevails, but it makes me remember how much I desired the autonomy and freedom that I equated with growing up. Not that I wish for B to grow up any faster than he already is, but I do know that as he develops language (and negotiating skills-- just ask H, he may be on the path towards a law career) things will get easier for him (and us). In the meantime, it can be tough to be a little guy.

in the genes?

Looks like B comes by Blue Steel naturally.

These days

Again, no pictures but I will have some soon I hope- spring break is rapidly approaching and I am already looking forward to having a few minutes to catch up on pictures, sleep, and organizing. Though maybe not in that order.

Anyway, a quick note to say that the boys are doing ok. B, unfortunately, got sick on Monday night, and even more unfortunately, they were driving back from Mimi and Poppa's house when he started puking.

B (Retch, retch): Waaah
H: 'B! Again, B! Haha, that's so funny!'
E (copying B trying to imitate the retching noises): gag, gag
B (again): Retch (followed by laughter this time)
H (laughing): Again, again! Hahaha!
E: Haha, giggle giggle.

Apparently, this carried on the whole way home culminating in B covered in vomit and H and E mightily amused. Poor baby. He had a high fever and then recovered slowly over the next day. Just in time for Dad to wake up last night at 11:30 with H crawling all over him, spreading something wet and sticky over both of them in the process. Wondering what that wet and sticky might have been? Here's a hint: it was chunky too. Poor Dad.

We spent the next 4 hours holding H as he puked over the bed, the carpet, the tile and cleaning up after him. All I can say is at least the stars aligned so as not to have them all sick on the same night. There's only so much puke a couple can handle.

ruling the roost

the B has decided to make a campaign of NOT going to sleep at night. oh yes, it is an all out rebellion to the 'sleep through the night' campaign that I started this December. We were doing well, but as I previously mentioned, the B has a secret weapon: the head bang. Which he uses cunningly: I’d rather be clubbed in the knee caps than listen to the sound of b head banging his brains out. Argh. So in order to prevent the head banging, there is a ritualistic dance involved in soothing this little boy to sleep. Arrrghh. But check out that little devil... see how cute he is? see how hard it is to stay frustrated at him?!

Blue Steel gets a haircut

B got his first haircut the other day. I had been holding out until he turned one. After a few more times of being complimented on my 'adorable daughter,' I decided it was high time for a trim. B did quite well at the kids' salon... and as you can see, his curls are no longer (i.e. they're shorter).

B hasn't seen Zoolander (well at least not that I know of) but he has managed to perfect the main character's signature modeling pose: Blue Steel. For him, it's an expression that translates into, 'I am utterly frozen in anticipation and delight' or perhaps, 'My parents?!? Do something fun and entertaining?! Shocking!' haha. Nevertheless, it's become quite amusing 'round these parts when B encounters something he's excited about. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to completely capture the expression (the second of the two photos) but it's close.

yuck.

B has a word of his own. 'Yuck' which he says with every bit the emphasis of disgust. I have to admit he learned this word from me. As B spends a lot of time trying to investigate yucky things: the toilet bowl, eating dirt, chewing on the A&D ointment tube, taste testing all types of paper products, and generally grossing me out on a regular basis, he hears the word a lot. 'B, Yuck!' I point out as I haul him away from the toilet. 'Yuuuuckk!' he happily agrees. 'yuck, yuck yuck' It's become a mantra for the boy. He repeats it over and over again as he goes about his day playing with toys. When I arrive home from school, he greets me with a 'yuck', a giant smile and a little gleam in his eye.

b's balloon

B had fun attacking a balloon the other day. He was trying to bite it but fortunately, he wasn't able to get his sharp teethies into it. I know the noise of a bursting balloon wouldn't have gone over well.

to the beat of his own noggin

B has recently taken up head banging in his crib. It first start during our trip to NH when he had an ear infection. It certainly relayed that he was in pain (or if he wasn't to start out with then he possibly was afterwards). But after his ear infection cleared, B continued to bang.

Apparently, he finds it a soothing way to calm down before falling asleep and it is mightily effective for getting mom and dad to wake up in the middle of the night and pick him up. Lordy. From the noise that it makes, we always expect to go in there and find him with black and blues all over his face, but not a one. Perhaps he's analyzed the crib and chosen the location with the greatest resonance so as to get the most 'bang' for his bang so to speak.

Regardless, the behavior itself I don't find concerning but the noise and perceived headache are disconcerting.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have... a tooth!

B has big news! His first tooth broke through on Saturday (yes today is Thursday... my breaking news is a little late) but regardless, he is no longer toothless. E's got a very swollen gum and I think his tooth will be making an appearance in the next few days!

So far, I have not personally had any run-ins with the Tooth. It is only a matter of time I suspect before I get chomped. Interestingly enough, H didn't get his first tooth until about 9.5 months which is the babies' current age.

Not much else to report on the boy front. The babies will be getting PE tubes (ear tubes) on September 10th. Not soon enough but we'll manage until then.

B had his 9 month appointment yesterday. He's still very slender in about the 20th percentile for weight and he's in the 40th percentile for height at 28 inches. E has his appointment tomorrow so we'll see where he weighs in.

H is getting ready to start Montessori preschool. His teacher will be making a home visit so as to meet H in his natural habitat. ;) He'll be part of the inaugural pre-three class at this Montessori school. His class will have kids from 18-36 months. There will be 10 kids total with equal numbers of boys and girls. H will go from 8:30-11:30, Monday through Friday. I think the idea behind this is to maintain the same routine each day. And Montessori strives to instill self reliance, order and learning through play. Self reliance= getting dressed by oneself, learning to pick up before moving onto something else, and doing things by oneself. This is great, with three little boys, I'm pleased to be instilling these ideas early. But beyond that and more importantly, I think H will enjoy meeting new kids and learning new things.

LOCO motion

I'm not sure I relayed the news that B has started crawling in earnest. It's amazing. He started doing this porpoise like maneuver across the floor while we were in NH. Although he could rock on all fours, he wasn't able to coordinate moving his arms and legs. Instead he lay on his belly, arched his back and thrust forward, dragging his legs behind him. Picture a whale emerging from the water and flopping down again. Well, despite looking ridculous, this was extremely effective. And then somehow or maybe inevitability this has opened the flood gates, within days B was alternating between crawling on hands and legs and belly flopping and for the last week, he has been all out crawling... everywhere. And he's fast. Very fast. Something looks dangerous and potentially like trouble, B is on the job. No place is too far, no destination not worth the trip.

Sometimes he meanders over playing a game of chase the ball with himself; other times, he is a man on a mission. And he has the memory of an elephant. His bellowing, squirming indignation is at times amusing, "What?! I'm not allowed in the bathroom, but someone has to inspect the bolts around the toilet! Who's going to do it, if not me?" And at other times, like the 15th time I remove him from the forbidden place, irritating.

I wish I had a picture with me of the B in action. But I will post one soon. In the meantime, he's started pulling up on everything. Oi.

MIA

Sorry. It truly has been a long couple of weeks. The babies are teething, H is having some sort of anxiety which involves waking up in the middle of the night and taking complete advantage of his sleep deprived parents by weaseling his way into our bed, and we have been juggling the selling and buying of cars, getting the fence/irrigation installed, applying to an au pair program, getting ready to go on vacation and moreover day-to-day life. Things have been chaotic.

But I should be able to find a few things to say about the boys. H is a sponge for words. Dad was looking at a framed construction drawing that neighbors recently gave us for the boys' room. H was able to point to not only the dump truck, the excavator and the backhoe but he also knew the scraper, front end loader and of course the 'dozer. Amazing. I'd like to say who knew all those things even existed... but I know the answer to that: H did.

As for babies, B and E are doing well. The continue to be stuck in the all fours position- crawling has not commenced. This is extremely frustrating for B who bellows with desire to go places! to do things! E is somewhat more philosophical about it, but he still manages to scooch around the floor.

The Missing Link part 2

H and E continue to look very similar but at moments you can catch glimpses of H in B now and then.

H has been so funny lately- he's been having extremely elaborate, loquacious coversations on the old cell phone I gave him. He "phones" Mimi and proceeds to use every word he knows, at least twice, plus many many words of gibberish. He harhars at his own jokes, excitedly explains things about "Baby E! Eee Eee and Baby B! Bee Bee" and punctuates the conversation with outbursts of 'googoobah' and 'dahpahdoo' (meaningless to us). It's fun to see him chatting with so much joy.

As for the babies, they had their 6 month shots today-- a little late. B cried hysterically and E grimaced. Poor boys.

feed me

B continues to have some trouble eating solids; he can't quite coordinate his tongue and he dislikes objects in his mouth that he personally didn't put in there. Of course, he puts anything and everything in his mouth these days. But a spoon? A guy has to set limits... but anyway, I was trying to feed him a few days ago. I had to give up momentarily to attend to E, but I returned to discover that H had taken over feeding B for me. B was somewhat hysterical, but H was not deterred. H kept dipping the spoon in the applesauce and shoving it in the direction of B's mouth (kinda hard when he's sitting above you in a high chair). Eventually, H gave up and decided he could best help by simply eating the applesauce himself.