The twins visit Chicago...

... and returned home just in time for a rather balmy Orlando Christmas.

Karl and I agreed that the trip, their first one to this area of the country, was a success. We stayed with my dad in Grayslake from mid-day Wednesday, 12/16, and arrived at home late night Monday, 12/21, making frequent visits to the western suburbs where Babcia and Dziadek call Carol Stream home. The twins also got to spend QT with their godparents Aunt Sylvia & Uncle Glen. Their 2.5 year old cousin Ethan was very patient with NL, who scattered his toys about and annoyingly interfered with the puzzle-solving process of a 20 piece Sesame Street puzzle we'd brought for him. On a positive note, this bodes well for his upcoming role as big brother to a new baby due March 3.

The reason behind this particular trip was my best friend Joanna's bridal shower, held at a fellow bridesmaid's home in the south suburbs. Joanna and I have been good friends since those early years 'in the trenches', as my dad likes to call them, at Hewitt. We have shared an unbelieveable amount of rich life experiences in those last 7.5 years- love, loss, heartbreak, moving, buying and selling homes, new jobs, marriage and kids (me), going on an awesome work assignment in London and totally succeeding and embracing it (her). I feel as if we've grown together and have always been there for each other, like sisters. So, to sum it up, I didn't even consider not being a part of her special day (her first special day, that is- the BIG day is not until May 2010). We both burst into tears when we saw each other (it had been over 3 years, keep in mind) but it's funny how, when you reconnect with a good friend, everything seems just the same as it was before. Easy conversation, things in common, laughter, memories. She even looked just the same as she had when I last saw her! (Hopefully, she was thinking the same about me ;)
Well, the shower went wonderfully and the time flew so quickly that I didn't realize I should have called Karl so he and the kids would come to get me a little later than planned. So they made a brief appearance at the party, and after all the 'ooohs' and 'aaaahs', I hustled the trio into a guest bedroom, promising food, beer (for Karl), and a quick departure (as soon as she finishes opening her gifts! ;)

I kept my promises, and soon we were off to another Chicago party- this time, a surprise birthday/graduation party for our friend Garron. Unfortunately, we arrived shortly after the 'surprise!!', but poor, shocked Garron was still crying so we did get to join in that moment. This was a rather fancy party- the large house in an upscale Chicago neighborhood was sparkling with Christmas decorations; there was yummy catered food, and bartenders and a wait staff surrounding us. I felt a bit embarrased bringing 1 year old twins into a party of this caliber but thankfully, Garron, Sean, and their family and friends, are some of the sweetest, most down to earth people we know. Garron's sister brought them some toys to keep occupied with, and the staff made sure they were well-fed. Garron was very glad that we'd brought them along since it was her first time meeting them.

We had to leave before too long (missing the magician, unfortunately), since it was way beyond the twins' bedtime and they'd had a busy day.

Uncle Jeff arrives/weekend in Clearwater

While catching up on a friend's blog recently, I realized with embarrassment that I have not blogged in nearly 3 months. She, on the other hand, manages to blog on a fairly regular basis while holding a rather demanding full-time job, caring for a very active 9-month-old, and running a household (in addition to numerous other hobbies and activities). I try not to compare myself to others, but I can't help but feel a bit of shame for not doing my part to chronicle the lives of our rapidly growing twins. Especially now that I am not working outside the house (for now). I should have all the time in the world to blog, right? Well, not really. This 'job' actually keeps me busier on a daily basis than my old one ever did. And I have to say it's more stressful, demanding, and certainly less structured (and personally, I thrive on structure- so do the twins).

But this job is also so much more meaningful, rewarding, and fun. I am gradually getting used to my new role as a SAHM, and even coming to embrace it. I know many moms who'd jump at the chance without any ambivalence and I'm not saying I'm not grateful for the opportunity. But keep in mind, we're talking about someone who has enjoyed success and satisfaction in a (structured!) corporate environment since the month following my college graduation. And of course, in this environment, it surely is not an easy decision to give up a fairly secure job.

In any event, I am once again pledging a renewed commitment to blogging (as well as doing a better job keeping up with cleaning, cooking, laundry, shopping, etc..)

Ok, back to the initial post title...Jeff's much anticipated visit began late Friday night, after the twins were in bed. On Saturday morning, after completing some furious packing and filling the van with a fresh tank of gas, we headed to Clearwater Beach for the night. Marma, Great-Gram, and Uncle Jeff drove separately since Jeff had plans to head to the Tampa Bay Bucks/NJ Jets game the next day.

The twins slept the entire way and woke refreshed and ready to hit the surf. They had a blast frolicking in the sand and helping Dad dig out a large hole in the sand and attempt to build a castle. The Gulf, at 62 degrees, was a bit less inviting, especially to Lucas, who, like Dad, prefers a warmer swim. Noelle, Mom, and Uncle Jeff enjoyed the refreshingly cool water.

Later, we walked to a nice playground near the beach where the twins climbed, slid, swung, and played in the sand. Noelle had an interesting conversation with a boy at least 4 years her senior. We couldn't make out either end of the conversation, but it was a funny exchange indeed.

Despite all of the day's activities, little Special and Buddy did not sleep well at all when put to bed in their pack-n-play back at the hotel. They slept soundly for the first 2 hours, but it was downhill after that. Lucas woke up first, wailing for an unknown reason. Noelle started in as soon as I picked him up several minutes later. Eventually, Dad tried to get Noelle to sleep in one bed, where she stood up, chatted, and would not settle down. Marma and I took Lucas in another bed, and he did drift off to sleep and slept rather well for the remainder of the night.

Not used to having a tot in my bed, I was unable to sleep so I went into the adjoining room to rescue Karl. Finally, after much walking and rocking, Noelle was back to sleep in the pack-n-play. Needless to say, we were all exhausted the next day, even solo sleepers Gram and Jeff.

I am not quite sure what the problem was except that the twins do tend not to sleep as well when away from home. Also, we did suspect that Noelle had a sore throat since her voice was even raspier than usual (how do you really ever know if a baby has a sore throat?!), and Lucas may have a molar coming in (supposedly the most painful ones of all).

On Wednesday, the W's head to the Chicago area for 5 nights. Hopefully, the sleep situation will somehow work itself out. Sufficient quantities of Tylenol and Motrin will be on hand just in case.

Walking into the Holidays

The seasons are advancing. We're finally seeing cooler days and the kids in warmer clothes. Now that both are 'experienced' walkers, they get more outdoor exercise in their white StrideRites. It's still an occasional challenge to slide their feet snugly into the shoes and double-lace them while NL are wriggling and complaining of the injustice of having to sit still for 90 seconds. Though, the kids feel fairly comfortable tramping about on- and off-road, across the front lawn, over the curb, through muddy spots, and into the generally quiet residential Harding Street. I've just a bit of anxiety when they pick up speed down the slope of our driveway; they fall often enough on level ground and don't give inclines the respect and steady maneuvering they deserve.

Yesterday we joined the nation in observing Thanksgiving. Though, we parted from custom by passing on turkey and instead patronized BeniHana. NL were not as wowed by the egg-juggling and shrimp-tossing-in-hat chef as they'd been in the past. Perhaps it was his "best 3 out of 5" attitude that diminished their respect. Rightfully so.

A week before Christmas, the Wieleckis are again boarding an aeroplane for NL's maiden voyage to Chicago. Kelly will attend a friend's bridal shower a week before the Noel, so we'll spend the actual holiday back in Orlando. And, eventually, if the stars assume the right positions, we'll be leaving Central Florida for a locale that promises at least a fleeting chance of a white Christmas.

Out of Touch, Into October

NL have started to eat with spoons, though reluctantly. It's a mainly pained affair and prolongs feeding time. Normally, eating slowly is a good thing. But NL's dinners are typically past deadline, and with a bath still on the agenda I prefer to move things along and deposit the youngsters in bed at a sane hour. Back to spoons: Noelle grabs them somewhat askew and more often than not spills their contents onto her bare stomach. Not as eager to catch on, Lucas makes clear his preference for his fist over any utensil.

Relegating table-side etiquette to secondary importance, Lucas instead focuses on physical fitness. His current pastime involves pushing a blue, red, and yellow plastic "Fill & Dump" wagon to all corners of the house. He supports himself on either end and with unwavering determination steers it around toys, under leg bridges, and sometimes directly into an unwary pet's hind side. On a straightaway, he acquires impressive speed before deftly carrying out a three-point turn, soon facing the opposite direction for another go. In addition to the wagon, oversized Lego-like blocks catch the youngster's fancy. He can sit by the pile of the multi-colored pieces and arrange and re-arrange them to suit his imagination. Noelle is less keen on constructing; if she does take interest in them, it's usually to disassemble Lucas's creation.

Jumping around a bit (not the kids, this entry): the kids have certainly carved out their individual tastes in food. Though both go cuckoo for yogurt with fruit chunks and enjoy most fruits and vegetables, only Lucas likes beets, and only Noelle likes meat. One time Noelle had a piece of pickled herring, while Lucas threw his at the pets.

NL exhibit their hijinks in the bathroom, too. After their bath, I attempt to brush their few teeth. Noelle invariably clamps her lips shut, or, if I do manage to get the brush in, bites down, shakes her head, and swings her little arms like an off-kilter windmill. Lucas eases up on me a bit but grows weary fifteen seconds into the cleaning, bringing upon himself a gentle headlock until the job is done.

Sesame Street has emerged as the sure method to calm the family nerves. Big Bird and his(?) affable buddies have yet to displease Lucas and Noelle. The kids exhibit instant wonderment and rapture from the first notes of the opening song clear through the commercial after the end credits. I'm still unsure what it is about the show that fixates those young eyes and ears, and I'll admit without shame that I've starting to succumb to the spell. I'm especially fond of Baby Bear. There, I said it.

Just before, and sometimes in the midst of a toothbrushing, the kids are presented with four to six ounces of diluted apple juice. Golden slumbers just would not come about until the kids are sufficiently hydrated. Predictably, being denied juice while observing the other sucking it down does not sit well, causing turmoil not even Elmo can cure. The deprived party erupts into a scream of protest until handed their own bottle.

15 months and counting..

Two weeks ago, Lucas started walking. Up until then he seemed just fine with crawling about, in no hurry to catch up with Ms. Noelle, who has been walking for quite some time. But finally, he began taking his first slow, wobbly steps. All that time spent pushing around his MegaBlocks wagon has paid off. Lucas also enjoys building MegaBlock towers with Karl. They've developed some rather elaborate structures- until Noelle comes and knocks them down, that is.

Lucas is definitely our talker- he tries to repeat many things we say. Some favorites are diapee (diaper), num (when he's hungry), down, dog, car, Big (his favorite character, Big Bird), bath, and of course Mom :) Noelle understands a lot but does not say much. She'll follow simple commands, such as 'bring me your shoes' or 'give Hana a kiss'. She is very proud of herself since starting to eat with a spoon (very messy of course). She has become a rather proficient walker and is practically running these days.

They both still adore Sesame Street and watch it just about everyday. I'd love to take them to Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA. It isn't far from their great-grandma's house so this could be a feasible trip.

We've been to Disney twice over the last month- Epcot, then Magic Kingdom. Lucas' favorite was 'It's a Small World'..he stood on my lap, wide-eyed and opened mouthed the entire ride. After exiting the ride, he took a nap in the Bjorn while we headed to the newly refurbished Hall of Presidents (always one of my favorites). We hoped Noelle would settle down and nap too but it was not to be. Instead, she giggled during the bombing of Pearl Harbor and clapped during the segment on the Depression. The last straw was Dad chasing her down the aisle during the Reagan days. Yes, our little daughter made a mockery of our U.S. history. It was surely our mistake, though, taking a baby into that type of exhibit.

Noelle walks! And Other Curiosities

Noelle took three small steps today. With that maneuver she walked into the classification of "toddler." At least in my mind. Those first toddling steps signified the passage from "baby" into "kid"-dom.

I wrote the above on July 23rd. Admittedly this news is rather stale, as she's been improving on the feat for close to three weeks. She's already moved past the stumble stage and can sustain a respectable march for a solid five to ten yards down the hallway, demonstrating superior maneuvering skills in avoiding American Gladiator-quality obstacles like piled baby clothes, a yellow chicken that belts out the 'chicken dance' upon a light touch of its orange chicken foot, and a dog bowl with yesterday's soggy morsels. Still, these stunts play second fiddle to her crowning achievement: walking up to a mini soccer ball, planting properly with the opposite foot, and administering a determined kick, propelling the ball into the next zip code (or, more accurately, onto the next square on the rug pattern). Though still on all fours, Lucas is clearly priming for the WT soccer showdown when he can return her volleys with rocket shots of his own; presently he's limited to side swipes at the ball and a double-handed over-head throw, as if returning and out-of-bounds ball back into play.

As Florida summers are not a matter to be taken lightly, we've spent a good percentage of our free time submerged in five inches of lukewarm non-chlorinated water. We hold these shenanigans in our considerably low-tech inflatable pool, a blue and red rectangle no wider than a twin mattress and most certainly not as long, ten inches high at full rigidity (sorry), not tall enough for a stern "No Diving" sign yet high enough to trip over when pacing the backyard on a moonless night. We've yet to encounter a limit to the joys one can experience in this pool. No, that's not true. The unexpected deposit of solid waste particles by one of the short Wieleckis has indeed dampened the fun on a few occasions. Lately swim diapers have been required accessories.

A month ago NL had their somewhat delayed first birthday party. Oh, this could be an entry in itself. But it won't be, as the news is several weeks old and would fail to deliver that spark of interest. Let's just say the kids dressed up for the occassion, then dressed down to get into the relocated inflatable pool, then dressed up for the main festivities, and finally dressed down to indulge in wild cake-squishing and -smearing abandon. The sun had both barrels blazing and the breeze was on holiday in the Caribees.

Also slightly "off schedule" was NL's one-year pediatrician appointment. Noelle still outpaces Lucas in weight, but by a shrinking margin; she's 21lb 8oz, he is 20lb 14oz (60th and 20th percentiles). Injections were down to two apiece. Of course this was a month ago, so Noelle's stats have surely climbed into the >22 lb. category, meaning she officially exceeds the manufacturer's weight limit for her car seat. Another topic for another entry, for another month, likely in another year.

Curiously, Lucas has skipped ahead of Noelle with his linguistic dabblings. Though she can easily stumble around him to a gold medal, in speech class she takes a back seat. So far Noelle is restraining herself to "mama", a rough allusion to "dad", and a single-note "eeeeehhh!" siren. Meanwhile, Lucas dives full larynx into all sorts of verbal escapades, parroting most of my moronic sounds and producing some originals. Generally these consist of "baaah!" but he puts quite a bit of effort into them and occasionally comes impressively close.

June in a small nutshell

Noelle continues in her quest for bodily balance. She's making quite the show of it, now standing unassisted for a good ten seconds. Oh sure, to some that's no big feat, since their precious tyke has been scoring 10s on the balance beam when they were still in size 1 diapers. But we like our kids nice and horizontal for as long as can be, to delay the need for helmets.

Lucas's big achievement has come in the field of athletics. What to me is a bigger milestone than walking, "Peanut Buddy J", as Kel dubs him, has been sending a small yellow soccer ball around the house with his powerful right foot. Admittedly, he requires vertical support in the form of my hands under his armpits, but he doesn't seem to mind.

Over Father's Day weekend we visited Clearwater Beach, and learned our lesson: don't bother with the Gulf in the summertime. It was no cooler at the coast than in Orlando, and one could not find respite in the waves as the water felt warmer than the air. Nevertheless, NL splashed enthusiastically, not bothered by the temperature or the saltiness spraying into their eyes. Our beach stay concluded by huddling under an umbrella saving us from the blazing rays, while the kids handled the pail and shovel expertly--until Noelle deposited a fistful of sand into her mouth. Fun time being over, we trooped back to the cool oasis of Camelot Resort's Room 110. All told, the trip was forgettable. The troubles of packing/unpacking/packing and the drive out there hardly seemed the effort for the temporary change of scenery.

Oh yeah: on June 25th, Earth has completed one circuit around the Sun with NL on board. We observed the anniversary with numerous toss-ups of babies, singing to babies, explanations to babies of the significance of the occasion, and a small ice cream cake reserved mostly for the adults. The photos below reveal that NL each had a turn with a knife for the ceremonial slicing of the cake--clearly, reckless endangerment of a minor. Always prepared for the worst, I stood by with band aids, tourniquets, and an extra plate.


Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/Jun09#

Nearing an Anniversary

One week ago we acquired a Honda Odyssey--call it a first birthday present for the kiddies.* They didn't ask for a new ride, but are getting one anyway. We traded in a Trailblazer with worse gas mileage and less room, and got more cash back than we spent on it. Now we enter Minivan Land, much less reluctantly than I would have a few years ago. Then, SUVs were downright cool, and minivans were for pansies and parents who lacked a will to live and any signs of imagination. Now, my perspective has changed. SUVs feed a "I will crush you" mentality while minivans are sensible kid-movers slightly less hell-bent on destroying the environment and at least get your junk from one side of town to another with nary an effort. Yeah, so we won't ford any rivers or scramble up rocky inclines, nor would Progressive let us. Suffice it to say NL made the right choice.

Noelle has been showing off a new trick: unassisted vertical positioning. Cases of UVP have been a rare sight in our household, but recently Noelle has taken to this maneuver with determination. Granted, her balance extends for only a handful of seconds and is accompanied by a shaky teeter. Lucas is equally praiseworthy: he's experimenting with bewildering gurgling "gohdi gohdi gohdi" sounds. A comparison to things overheard in The Exorcist is too harsh, but not altogether strained.

Dressing NL is no fun. It never was. Now that they're stronger, pulling a onesie or other article over their heads and straining their arms through the holes takes immense focus and patience. Somehow I missed this topic over the last eleven months but can stay silent no longer. If anything, reporting this will help the kids appreciate the troubles we endured in carrying out basic tasks. And they will appreciate them!

I skip around as this post covers nearly two weeks of action. Today we tried a novel (for us) approach to parenting: divide and conquer. Or, more like it, divide and deal with only one potential maelstrom, overflowing diaper, red-faced teary-eyed tantrum, or what have you. Kel took along Noelle for a lunch date with a friend at PeiWei, while I introduced tiny buddy (Lucas, that is) to Vietnamese fare at Lac Viet. He sat politely in the high chair, awaiting the various morsels I deemed tame enough for an 11-month old to consume. I ordered my usual--pho ga (an Oriental take on chicken soup)--and set aside bits of chicken, rice noodles and bean sprouts for him before spooning thick red spicy sauce into my bowl. Lucas was rather gun-shy with his exotic meal, though, and clearly preferred the Cheerios I brought as back-up.

Next weekend we return to Clearwater Beach for a one-night break from the norm. We last visited over New Year's weekend, when the kids had less hair and the chilly Gulf was decidedly un-swimmable. This time we'll pack the sunscreen, arm floaties, and wipes for inevitable sand-in-crack encounters.


* In 12 days, NL's age meter flips to 1; they'll don Big Bird party hats and formally celebrate their first candle in mid-July.

NL Find Themsevles in Toronto

A week ago we returned from a fairly short-notice trip to Toronto. Correct: the twins rolled down the gate tunnel onto a plane not a month since the pressure cooker of our San Francisco trip. This time, however, our flight was direct, shorter than three hours, and we stayed in the same time zone. The whole deal was arranged by brother-in-law Glen as a surprise to my sister Sylvia. For three weeks she was in the dark about all of our devious scheming. For the crescendo we deposited Noelle and Lucas in cousin Ethan's room and hid behind the adjoining bathroom door. The unsuspecting work-weary woman then entered the room and had herself a heart-jarring surprise.

The general excuse for the trip was the long Memorial Day weekend, but Glen swiping his credit card for the air fare factored in to the equation. NL handled the flight rather well. At least, that is my report; Kel may claim otherwise. We sat three rows apart and I held Lucas for the first half of the flight. He slept like a good Christian baby from the moment I buckled my seat belts (only after being properly instructed in the technique). One and a half hours into the flight, Kel visited the cramped latrine and exchanged kids. Noelle had been causing quite a fuss for her, and she felt she deserved a break. Surely enough, Noelle found slumber in my arms, while Lucas, refreshed from his nap, fidgeted his way on Kel's lap for the remainder of the flight.

Our weekend primarly concerned itself with family time. Nephew Ethan shared his grandiose game room with NL, whose heads spun at the sight of one colorful plastic toy after the next. There was a five-foot high slide contraption, a playhouse with a door and two blue-shuttered windows, basketball hoop, a bag of giant Legos, and this, that, and the other thing, oh my, oh my. At any rate, the kids had fun.

We took in fresh air daily on walks in their Hogg's Hollow neighborhood, where Will Smith could've easily claimed "hundred thousand dollar cars, everybody got 'em". Our squeaky-wheeled Graco stroller was in true Clampett style.

Let me wrap up quickly: my parents' arrival on Friday night was another surprise for Sylvia, as was a most pleasant flight home for us Monday morning. The awesome staff at WestJet secured a three-seat row all to ourselves. The kids hardly slept but maintained civility and what verged on good humor.

Off-topic, Noelle currently sports four mature teeth, while four youngsters are in-line for take off at any moment. Lucas is still sitting on just two. We have full confidence in his abilities to produce a mouthful of choppers before Day 1 of kindergarten.


Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/May092#
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/TorontoMay09#

Re-established out East

The kids' world has been full of activity since we returned. They didn't specifically request a full agenda. Neither did I; I was fine with a few 'down' days, allowing me to stretch and unpack. Normally there is no sign of a recent voyage within three hours of my return; now, with numerous bags containing dozens of infant paraphernalia, the task occupied a full two weeks.

The weekend following our smooth landing we attended the birthday party of Kel's indirect boss's twin girls. While preteens cavorted about on the monstrous inflatable water slide set up in the front yard, NL reposed on a blanket beneath the oak tree's massive limbs and observed the yell fest in wonderment. Earlier, they ventured into the back yard's 'Dora the Explorer' bouncy house. It was most definitely not their cup of tea: an eighteen-pounder just doesn't generate the downward force necessary for a satisfying bounce and, anyway, violates the product's terms of use.

A week hence NL came along for an hour of amusing action courtesy of a little league engagement starring a son of the lady referenced above. Though the kids were not on the edge of their seats pitch by slow pitch, Noelle did manage an occasional round of applause exactly one minute after the dozen spectators concluded theirs. She's still learning the game. I give the lil' miss full credit for getting her hands together at all.

As our Disney passes expire next spring, it just wouldn't do to procrastinate and sit at home on a ninety-six degree Sunday afternoon. Nuh uh, not us. Three consecutive Orlando heat record days leading up to that day can only mean one thing: the Wieleckis are heading out for NL's maiden voyage to Hollywood Studios. The day dawned, and concluded, hot, hot, hot.* We sweltered through a few rides but mostly stuck to the safety of air conditioned fun like the Playhouse Disney Live on Stage show. It featured all your favorite Disney cartoon characters mounted on a stick and waved side to side in rhythm to clap-inducing tunes.

NL have surpassed their 10 month mark. What accomplished tikes they are! Simply enduring a dad like me should bestow esteemed accolades. Come June 25th they'll have earned the rights to one proper candle on a small cake. Whether a clown of questionable masculinity appears for an hour of balloon-shaping is yet to determined. What is for sure is that this post has run its course and deserves nothing more than a decent burial.

*There is a theme here: May, and June, and just about every month until January is "hot and humid"; there's an occasional downpour for variety's sake, and three times in two months you may detect a cooling breeze.


Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/May091#
-

West Coast Wonderings

Late Friday we slumped back into the duplex after eight days out West. The time spent in California was appreciable and satisfying, though sandwiched by two travel days of misery. Still, regret has no place in my life and so my summary hopefully will not suggest that the treacherous voyage dominated our overall memories of the trip. All I will say about that is that no matter how many passengers compliment your handling of the situation, multiple hours spent in an ass-cramping seat holding 18 squirmy and fussy pounds does not a fun day make. Add to that a shift of three time zones, and you're left questioning your sanity over your decision to undertake the voyage. And, once you’ve finally arrived, for the duration of the vacation you are bedeviled by angst over the trip home.

That first night we slummed it at the airport Clarion. Yet, 15 minutes apiece were spent on the drive there (thanks for the ride, Jeff!) and the haul of luggage from the car to room 404, and another quarter hour on successive trips back to the car for the balance of our baggage. Traveling with kids, I had learned that morning, causes anxiety not only over the kids’ tolerance of the flight, but equally over the capacity of two adults to transport the immense agglomeration of stuff needed to sustain the kids. All available luggage space was reserved for diapers, wet wipes, mush food, toys, books, and a dizzying array of one-piece crotch-snap suits, shorts, pants, jackets, hats, and so on; the kids will travel in style, or won’t travel at all.

Friday morning we rented a minivan ahead of Saturday's drive to Los Angeles with Jeff and Liz. This day was mostly spent stocking up on the NL essentials that made little sense to air freight from Florida. We later checked into our second hotel, in downtown's Embarcadero. Our room offered scant opportunities for hide-and-seek, but plenty for solemn contemplation. It was geared for the "business traveler"; I'd say more for the former than the latter. We rendezvoused with Liz at the close of her work day, which roughly coincided with the close of our waking day: all four Wieleckis still observed the Eastern time clock and TGIF was far from our minds. The kids went to sleep around 8PM. I then hit the streets for take-out pizza which we devoured over whispers on the hallway floor just outside our hotel room door.

The next day we stuffed the Sienna halfway up to its side airbags and pointed it south. Six plus hours hence, we rolled up to a line of eager valets at the Sofitel in Beverly Hills. Our eighth floor room boasted floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a mall as well as a $6.75 hit for merely glancing at the Heinekens in the mini fridge. We briefly met up with my longtime compadre Andy, a product of Chicago's Columbia College now serving under uncle Walt D.

The next day the kids awoke before 5AM and were rewarded with a two-hour stroll across at least three zip codes. Later, with the sun at full blaze on a day that would set an LA heat record, we trooped another two hours to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and slouched onto a bus back to base camp. Finally, we visited the hotel's pool where NL splished less than they splashed but at least emerged cleaner.

The last four nights of our holiday found us back in San Francisco at a fourth hotel: the Huntington, in Nob Hill. (Fancy, fancy, I know, but the luxury can be all yours with just a daring click on Hotwire.) Day 1 Liz and Jeff accompanied us on a trek up an ocean view trail at Muir Woods National Park. The twins saw the redwoods and sequoias from the inside of their Bjorns while we burned through several hundred calories. I stole a 1-inch pine cone as a souvenir, perhaps containing some malicious parasite set to devour defenseless acres of Florida's saw palmetto. Oh, well, live and learn.

Wednesday we trooped north on Taylor and west on Union, straight through the gut of the Cow Hollow neighborhood, and then south on Pierce Street to Pacific Height's Alta Plaza Park (I make this all sound like I'm so familiar with San Francisco; nah--it's all about mental notes and a re-check on Google Maps.) Following NL's nap and feed, we walked in the opposite direction and caught a free half-inning of Giants-Padres from a walk-up area in the outfield. NL capiche'd as much of the 10th inning game-winning Giants double as would've my parents, but will have a photo to admire later.

Thursday was our last full day of careless abandon. Bummer for me, though, as some vile stomach funk tormented me from dawn till dusk. Still we managed to log a few miles, traversing some major league hills to Fisherman's Wharf. We ducked into a mostly undiscovered pub where the kids nursed while I did the same, out of a tap.

By Friday, the kids have had it; they cried out for their comfy spacious cribs and well-known and well-worn toys, and their nostalgia for the Eastern time zone was more than evident. We had astutely upgraded to business class for the return trip, owing to cold chills recalling the flight here and nothing better to direct $200 towards. The bonus knee room and endless drinks were a plus, though I can't say a full-speed bicycling collision with a tree would've been less enjoyable.


Graphic evidence of the above may be found at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/SFAndLAApr09#

Credit Due

Perhaps my last entry gave the wrong impression about our bounty from the twin sale. Though I'm still not sold on Tad the frog, I neglected to mention--intentionally, as it didn't then suit my purposes--that we also scored a play table toy which did indeed become a momentary marvel for Noelle and Lucas. It stands a foot and a half tall, is plastic with blue legs and a white 'top' embedded with numerous buttons and slide- and roll-able implements of various colors and functions. As NL now are well into a propped/standing phase, the table's height and excitements suit their interests perfectly. Amazingly, the amusements afforded by this object rank low on the "madenning" scale; Tad also ranks low, well below Oedipus the Purple Caterpillar and Leap, a small green froggy version of Tad that springs into a recital of the alphabet with but the faintest touch and bewilderingly lacks an OFF button; if you discontinue battery power, he picks right up where he left off the next time you energize him.

* * *

I've developed a not so irrational fear of NL choking upon any single bit of food provided them. We had an incident last summer that required more than a routine back slap to expel some obstruction. Now with every bite I cautiously await the green light to proceed. It seems such a helpless situation when a child becomes red-faced and starts coughing. You can't just reach in and fix the problem, like picking them up from a fall and dusting off a scrape; plugged airways are serious business. (So are eight hours at work tomorrow. The End.)

Spring fling

Our local twins group held its spring party on Saturday, complete with the Easter Bunny (not to be mistaken for a snowman with teeth), an egg hunt, and at least 25 sets of multiples plus their parents. We ate pizza (NL even sampled a few bits), chatted, and marveled at the chaos surrounding us. I noticed that the majority of the families contain 3 children- either triplets or a pair of twins and plus an older or younger sibling. I couldn't help but daydream about NL being big bro and sis one day in the not so near future. Having only one brother (who is one of the closest people in the world to me), I have yearned for a larger family all my life. To all who learn we have boy/girl twins and proclaim, "Now you are done!":that is for me to decide and you know, I don't think I am done, thank you very much!

At the Twin Shop

The local organization of mothers of twins--GOMOTT--holds a quarterly flea market where one may score some used paraphernalia for multiples. The typical menu sees pre-owned objects ranging from strollers to toddler swimsuits to slightly gnawed books to brightly colored plastic blinker-and-beeper toys, harboring either loads of germs or loads of fun–it’s really your attitude that determines which.

This past Saturday saw another one of these bargain blowouts, kicking off at 7AM. As the kids have accustomed us to early weekend wake ups, a 630AM roll out of bed and down to road did not greatly contribute to feelings of self-pity. So, the kids went in their car seats, the dog in the downstairs bathroom, and I in new underwear–and off we went.

Prepping the kids and pets caused us to arrive at the church gym a solid 45 minutes following the opening bell. By then the room was already swarming with a crowd of recent mothers accompanied by recent grandmothers. Sidestepping them was a small dose of men, some shamelessly strutting about with infants strapped to their chests (that was me), and some peevishly glancing about for the exit (also me).

The card-carrying mothers enjoy the benefits of membership by being allowed into the room ahead of the masses sweating outside, who wait until 8AM before joining the frenzy. Fifteen minutes into our spree, the patient multitudes waiting outside were ushered in. That’s when the morning really took off. The room swelled from a density of one mother per square yard to that of a futures trading floor, and the accompanying din began to rub off some of the morning’s pleasant charm. After ten minutes of this I positioned myself near the exit, out of harm’s way, and suggestively started to rustle the cash in my pocket until Kel took pity and decided that the allure of not being jostled outweighed that of discounted socks.

We came home with two armfuls of stuff and without 38 bucks. Though mostly books, our bounty did include a tightly-stuffed, oversized pea green frog sporting red overalls (ill-suited for its swampy habitat, one would think). Tad, as it calls itself, announces various colors and shapes when one presses a corresponding button on his amphibial abdomen. So far the twins think little of Tad. I’m with them on this one, and promised to make their next swap meet experience worth their time.

Corkscrewing Around

A lousy rain-soaked and humid first half of the day saw WT on yet another Disney trip, this time back at Magic Kingdom. The weather and our early arrival allowed us to skip sunscreen and the long waits in line. NL experienced the Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan, Cinderella, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Noelle and I even grabbed a tame spin on a merry-go-round. Lucas napped through a good portion of the morning, saving his attentions and vocal chords for the ride home.

Both children have now learned a most frustrating skill: corkscrewing during diaper changes. Instead of their normal placid recline on the changing table, first Lucas and now Noelle immediately rotate to either side, reach for the edge of the platform with their opposite fist, and if left unmolested, turn a full 180 and elevate onto their knees. No matter the contents of their diaper, they give a hoot neither for being cleaned nor for a stern "No!" Noelle even grins and laughs in response, just waiting to be flipped back so that she can corkscrew again. Her other spunky habit is a relentless insertion into her mouth of her right fist immediately following a spoonful of mush. Perhaps it's her way of complementing the chef: the food is just so darn good, she can't wait to get it down the hatch in preparation for the next delivery.


My full apologies for these somewhat belated photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/Mar093#

Chalk and Pebbles

No Disney this past weekend; we just can't face that much magic in one month. Instead, we ventured Out East, into the Orlando suburbs, for a 5th birthday party for Kel's friend's daughter. We came with the 'cage' and set it up in the backyard between the adults' table and the beanbag horseshoe game; promptly we relocated it out of the UV danger zone since NL spurned their sunscreen. The kids briefly dabbled with some patio chalk art (briefly, since they devoted more time to tasting the chalk than scraping with it). Fast forward two and a half hours, and we're on our way home. 31 more hours, and here I am, one eye blogging, one eye on West Side Story.

For one week now Noelle has been exhibiting an upper tooth, joining the collection of two on the lower jaw. Mr. Lucas is still all gums but makes up for the lack with his fetching old man smile. With this recent addition, Noelle is now able to engage in a barely audible tooth grind, as if gnashing a few aquarium pebbles.

Last Friday the kids had a 9-month pediatrician visit. Noelle still leads on the scale: 17lb 12oz, versus 17lbs flat for Lucas. Each beared one vaccine shot and vowed not to return until their one-year anniversary.

More from Walt

Formerly discussed and long-awaited, photos from the previous Disney trip to Animal Kingdom can be found below. Also included are visual representations of Sunday's visit to EPCOT. Sandwiched in between one may gawk at Noelle and Lucas splashing in local Lake Warren. Chilly though the water was, neither child voiced a complaint and both emerged whistle-clean.

Expanding on EPCOT: we aimed to 'hit' the park at its 9AM opening and missed our target by 45 minutes. (You try having twins and being on time everywhere you go). By then, the parking lot was chock full of cars, each seemingly spewing at least four occupants plus two strollers. We joined the fray roughly 20 minutes after parking (being consumed by unstrapping, sunscreening, diaper replacing, and Bjorn-adjusting). We then slid into a parking tram row for a 28 second ride to the front entrance. Shameful.

Though Kel was promised a FastPass admittance onto 'Soarin', our shortage of time did not allow it. Instead, we took a boat ride on Living with the Land, one of my favorites, and then trekked around the World Showcase. Much of our surroundings caught the kids' eyes. However, after three hours of diversion-overload on a warm day, probably nothing was as satisfying to them as the snug of their seat and the steady hum of the 20 minute ride home.


Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/Mar092#

Back at Disney

The "Blog Topics" memo on our fridge reads "Visit to Animal Kingdom." In my current cooperative mood, I will address this topic though expect little compensation.

I believe I blogged about NL's first 'obligatory' Disney experience several weeks ago. That was in the kingdom of Magic; last weekend's was, as I already gave away, in the kingdom of Animals. It may be a stretch to assign such a lofty nickname to Central Florida (with no slight intended for our handsome manatees, brown pelicans, blue herons, common yard lizards, and the palmetto bugs (roaches, really) equal in size to your big toe). Still, the folks at WDW earned their pay by sequestering dozens upon dozens of beasts from lands hither and yonder and orchestrated them into as authentic a milieu as 70 bucks can buy. (Go for the annual pass).

We began the adventure with a power walk to the Africa section for admission onto the safari. (As NL can't yet strap themselves into the seats of white-knuckle roller coasters since they neither meet the height minimum nor possess the capacity to hold their own vomit bags, we had to patronize the gentler excitements at AK.) The safari ride requires one to slide to the end of the next open row of a fat-wheeled, open-sided truck that then proceeds at a maximum clip of 15 mph over roughly patched asphalt penetrating the 'jungle' deep. A variety of wildlife was on display, as were termite mounds, baobab trees (not indigenous), and overexcited passengers disregarding all cautions to remain seated.

As feeding time was approaching (NL's and the gazelles') we made a hasty retreat. Still, I was afforded the pleasure of two FastPass rides on Expedition Everest, while Kel and kids remained on firm ground. The ride was suitably harrowing. I now owe Kel a ride on EPCOT's 'Soarin', due to be transacted tomorrow.

Tiny Baby Special Falls Ill

Noelle yesterday was diagnosed with a baby-sized case of roseola. She produced a network of small red splotches from crotch to neck and back to crotch. Following this lunchtime discovery, she was hustled to the pediatrician at 3:20PM. Baby doc felt at ease and recommended nothing but patience and routine diaper changes (he did not, but isn't it a good practice anyway?). Doubtless he's seen skin splotches every Wednesday since med school and saw no need to worry.

A day on Noelle's spots are fading along with our concerns. She acts and eats as normal, determined to maintain her steady diet of mashed sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados, apples, and whatever else falls into the food processor. (Can't someone think of a less austere name for this common appliance?) Surprisingly, though, I'm told she and Lucas both measure approximately 17 pounds. If I were to check the blog entry following their last formal pediatrician visit, I'd find that neither child, ballooning in size though they appear, has gained much weight since early January. Perhaps their bodies are focusing on vertical development over sheer mass.

Suffice it to say that Noelle is well on track to fully emerge from her malaise. We've already been through a bout of the sniffles though surely some tougher tests await. I can now picture Lucas falling off a low-hanging tree limb, scraping this and bruising that, or Noelle pinching a finger in the hinge of a cut-rate Canadian toy or dropping a clarinet on her toe in junior high. Who hasn't dropped a clarinet on their toe? We've got to accept these calamities in stride, and in the end remember that nine toes are better than eight.

Welcome little Rohit!

On Wednesday at 8:11 am, our good friends Denise & Shyam P welcomed their precious son Rohit into the world. That night, Noelle & Lucas made a return visit to the 6th floor at the hospital where they were born to meet their new friend. Of course, they look giant compared to the little guy, and I find it remarkable that we cannot really even remember them being that tiny. And they weighed about a pound less at birth! We have many pictures..but how interesting that the actuality of it has already faded from memory.
Today, the P family will collect their puppy from a nearby doggie hotel, stop by our house for a few essential baby items, and bring their little bundle home for the first time. I feel the new parents will take their new parent role in stride. They are the type of easygoing, adaptable people who can easily settle down in a foreign counrty to live, join a group outing on a whim after a full day of activites, and get along well with most any type of people. Surely, they can swiftly adapt to 3 hours of sleep a night.
Interesting tidbit: Denise is my first 'long-time' friend who has had a baby. I have met many good friends throughout the infertility struggle, and more through my mom's meet-up groups, but we were brought together by our desire to have children.
We wish Rohit, Denise, and Shyam a lifetime of happiness and we are very excited for many upcoming play dates.

Road Trip Redux

I rejoined the twins and Kel Monday night, following 2100 miles of cross-country touring in the low budget class of a Mazda3. As you may recall, I ventured north to deliver Kel's grandma to her frosty abode near Philadelphia. Hana came along for the ride; not out of choice or a lapse in judgment, but out of my desire and effortless urging for her to jump onto the back seat right before we left. No doubt Hana thought she was in for another dog park adventure. No doubt grandma thought we were going to the Sun Cruz casino.

All doubt was removed first for Hana, upon the merge onto I-4, and for grandma several exits later. Somehow we all managed to stay on each others' good sides for the next 20 hours. Grandma insisted on announcing each and every maximum speed sign, though failed me twice when I sincerely needed to know the speed limit. Her response: "I no see the sign." Yeah, so it may be my responsibility. Still, if I was caught speeding, she would've been appearing in South Carolina's Orangeburg County Courthouse while Hana relieved herself on the front lawn.

On the way home man and dog toured Richmond on a miserable 33F afternoon with alternating drizzle and gust. The next four hours was spent driving through absolutely brutal sloppy rain to Fayetteville. Monday we took advantage of the first sighting of sun in two days by darting around the beach of Jekyll Island, Georgia. The last leg to Orlando was as boring as you would imagine.


The photos this week will not astound and amaze, but will at least provide graphic relief before you move on to the next website:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/Mar091#

Twin Invasion!

On Saturday, the twins and I hosted our first play date. I thought it'd be nice to have some company while Karl is away, plus it's always fun to get the babies together. One thing that didn't occur to me until after I extended the invitations- there'd just be me to clean before and after. And how did I expect to do that? Well I did my best, mopping the floor while talking and singing to my babies, holding Lucas in one arm and scrubbing the toilet with the other (yes, I scrubbed both of us as well after that).

We spent the majority of the time outside in the backyard; I spread out a few blankets and added toys, books, and games. Shelley and Missy came with their babies which equals 3 sets of twins, aged 8 months, 10 months, and 14 months. Expectant moms Bradi and Lynn came too and I am hoping the scene did not terrify them too much.

Noelle and Jessa pulled themselves up on the coffee table at one point, smiling, laughing, and 'talking' the afternoon away. Chase and David ran around examining everything they could find and communicating with their mom through sign language. Davis, an easygoing lad of 10 months, was hanging out, smiling and playing. Lucas played at first, then resorted to crying every time I tried to put him down.

It was chaotic but fun with 4 boys and 2 girls running and crawling all over the place. Babies were changed, nursed, dressed, fed, held, and read to. At this age, though, they spend very little time actually playing together. I noticed that the most interaction they have is taking toys from one another (with the toy-less party protesting). My friends and I talked, laughed, and had lunch. I think I need to be around people with twins more often- they just 'get' it like no one else does. It does not hurt that this group of friends happens to have a great rapport.

Due to the fact that they did not take their much needed morning nap, my little host and hostess were the crankiest of the bunch. Thus, they waved bye-bye (ok, I waved for them) and were deposited in their cribs for an overdue nap.

Snow and Seniors

Karl is currently en route up north- heading to the home of the Eagles, cheese steak, Ben Franklin, and of course, 90 year old great-grandma Barb Melsky. Barb escaped to Orlando for the winter, where she expressed deep disappointment whenever the thermometer crept below 80 degrees. During her stay, she enjoyed attending weekly church services, taking dozens of walks around the block, and, most of all, interacting with Noelle and Lucas. She is overjoyed to have lived long enough to meet her first great-grandchildren, she says, and will tell anyone who'll listen all about them. (Express the slightest bit of interest and you'll have a picture thrust in your face before you can say the words 'Liberty Bell'). Tomorrow, Barb will be greeted with snow, sleet, and temps in the 20's and will likely realize that 60 was not so bad after all.

The arrival of babies has been known to bring families together, and I can now personally attest to this. People who did not have all that much in common come together through their love of a child. Grandparents and great-grandparents are recognized as cherished elders, spouses are brought together (when they aren't arguing over whose turn it is to empty the diaper bin) and siblings may take on a new role. Even my brother, who is admittedly quiet and not too emotional, has become quite attached to his niece and nephew. Noelle and Lucas have one cousin so far and another on the way..and hopefully more to come. Large families are the best :)

Obligatory Disney Day

I'll cover our mutual admiration for mother nature in the near future, once I become convinced of the other half of that topic; namely, that NL too love the outdoors. For now I can just drone on about my side of the story. No one cares.

The final talking point concerned the caged area. Perhaps this is too rough a term for a child's play enclosure, reflecting my feelings about it and in turn those of NL. To explain-- two months ago we replaced our dinette table with a three-inch thick cushiony memory-foam queen mattress topper. Scattered with stuffed squeaky toys, plastic batterized toys, colorful crinkling/vibrating toys, and a jumbled assortment of loose socks, blankets and what else have-you, this became NL's play area. Before long, though, Noelle sought more enticing pastures within crawling distance, with items such as the pets' food bowl and the collection of dull steak knives we keep on our living room rug. So into the picture enters a Wal-Mart caliber gray plastic gate/enclosure, three feet tall and six feet a side. Unfortunately, upon being placed in the enclosed play area, quiet happy twins instantaneously became red-faced teary screaming twins. And thus back on the rug they go.

Yesterday we paid both a visit to the Magic Kingdom and dearly for Disney World annual passes. It was a carefully coordinated trip, sandwiched with precision timing between feedings, after the pets met their daily exercise quota, and before NL's looks of wonderment became howls of tired frustration. We witnessed a booming loud parade with Little Mermaid and Lion King characters I would've found slightly horrifying at eight months of age, and then a PhilharMagic 3-D performance. Lamentably, the kids enjoyed only two lousy dimensions as the yellow plastic spectacles were more suitable for Mr. Ed than Mr. Lucas.

The album linked below also highlights some scenes from NL's very first bath. Hold all calls to the child neglect hotline; the kids have experienced dozens of bathings in the kitchen sink. This was simply their first proper bath, in a proper bathtub, in a proper bathroom. Both squealed abruptly at the instant of submersion but discovered all the splashy splashy joys in no time.


Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/Feb093#

Continuing on...

...with the remaining topics:

• our jogging stroller has been blessed today with a new accessory: a sun shade/bug screen. Excitement abounds as we can now push around the kiddies eastward in the morning, towards the south at high noon, and facing west in the afternoon without fear of a calamitous encounter with the sun's rays. And, as an added benefit, once bug season hits, no brazen dragonfly or kamikaze cricket will dare enter the kid compartment.
• In 10 days, NL will witness an empty silence throughout the house: Hana and I, and Kel's grandma, will motor up to Pennsylvania to sample some fresh cool air, deposit said grandma in said state, and journey back. Over this 2,000 mile journey Hana plans to enjoy the views from the back seat, tour historic Richmond, and prance around the Atlantic in South Carolina. I plan to straighten out the butt contour to be impressed semi-permanently into my driver's seat.
  
• Again with the advanced hour. I'll reflect on the outdoors and play cage at the next opportunity.

Unrelated photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/Feb092#

A Tooth and a Trailer

• sun shade for jogging stroller
• sharing love of outdoors
• bike trailer
• Noelle's first tooth
• kids' distaste for play area once 'caged'
• road trip to PA

Here's a draft list of some topics to cover. And which one shall I comment on first? Which of these deserves an eye-catching spot at the top of this entry? Surely Noelle's first tooth! Surely not. In a world without bike trailers, that would be the case. But alas, I don't live on such a moon-man planet revolving erratically around a dwarf star spotted by the naked eye only once every 214 years. In my world, however loopy it is, the prospect of tugging behind my bike a sleek blue and yellow nylon contraption containing Noelle and Lucas is far too spectacular to relegate to second billing. Pardon my rambling. I must come to the heart of the matter: I ordered a double bike trailer and am hardly able to contain my glee. You see, my bee-hind hasn't felt the contours of a bike seat since prior to June 25th. One of my favorite activities has fallen off the map, as has leisure time in general. But now, this bike trailer (due to arrive tomorrow) will enable me simultaneously to shed those unwanted ounces while conducting State-obligated parenting duties.

As the hour has alarmingly advanced, I must close this report without commentary on the remaining topics. Shame on me, though, if I don't again allude that Noelle has broken the Gum Line with a tiny scratchy bit of a tooth front and center on her lower jaw. For the record, she is just over a week short of eight months. We're all quite proud of Tiny Baby Special, and now set our anticipation on Lucas's heroics.

Valentine's weekend

The twins, plus mom and dad, ventured out to meet our friends Nellie and Paul for lunch today. As usual, I did more baby maneuvering, feeding, and replacing pacifiers than I did eating. Still, we enjoy getting out and it's always fun to catch up with friends. Nellie helped feed and hold NL and we departed when they got tired and cranky. We may have waited a bit too long though, because when we got home and tried to put them in the crib for an overdue nap, they both cried and would not settle down. Noelle finally went to sleep but we had to retrieve a very upset Lucas-I put him in bed with me and he did nap for a bit then.
Later, we headed to Oviedo to see great-grandmother Barb. Interacting with her first (and so far only) great-grandchildren is definitely the highlight of her week.

As far as WT's first Valentine's Day...well, they're too much young to appreciate Belgian chocolate or a dozen roses but, in my opinion, they are showered with pure, genuine, unconditional love. And that's the true meaning of the holiday, isn't it...?

WT Hit the Library

Yesterday, Noelle & Lucas attended baby story & rhyme time at the library. The sessions are only 15 minutes long since babies aged 0-18 months have rather short attention spans. Five other baby/mom pairs were in attendance, along with one rather bored 4-year old brother. I debated whether or not to take NL out of their double jogging stroller, feeling unsure that I could handle them both in free range. Everyone was assembling into a small circle, so I unbuckled NL and we joined the group on the floor. The librarian read 2 stories and led us through various songs and rhymes. In addition to being the most adorable babies there, my tiny twins were very well-behaved. They stared in wonderment as they often do when facing new people, places, or events. When the time was up (and it was up very quickly), we were invited to stay for a bit to let the babies mingle. I guess 15 minutes was enough socializing for the other moms though; they packed right up and headed out. That's ok, I told my babies- we didn't want to play with them anyway! We perused the children's book section briefly (of course, the twins tried to eat every book I handed them), then headed home for feeding time and naptime. Later, we went for a long walk to Delaney Park and Thornton Park where I met some of the moms from a new meet-up I recently joined. It was a fun, busy day. We already have plans for next Friday. Who knew there'd be so many activities for small babies and new moms!

Kel's Philosophy

For me, life has slowed down just a little bit in these last few weeks since I now only work 24 hours per week. It took about 7 months but I finally convinced 'the man' that this could actually work (the man at work, NOT the man at home; he was all in favor from Day One). Since the new schedule began, I have 1-gotten a much-needed haircut, 2-taken WT on their very first play date, and 3- published my first blog entry in about 8 months.

I'd say the most important thing I have learned in these past months is just how quickly time passes when you're busy and yes, 'having fun.' While I worked full-time, rushing from home to work and back again, I kept thinking to myself, one day I will look back and regret what I am doing now. I felt stressed, too busy, and it seemed that I was simply going through the motions. I now have a balance. My goal is to spend as much time as possible with my babies while they are small. Once day, when the economy improves and NL are in school, my priorities and ambitions will shift once again and I'll be back in the workforce, clawing to get ahead like everyone else. For now, it's songs, nursing, naps, and playdates. Life is good.

The Return of Kel

Note to WT regulars: the deluge below is the result of seven months of pent-up memories by the main creator of Noelle and Lucas. Known as "Kelly" or "Kel", she's been referenced in various posts and even appears in several photos linked from this blog. Kel The Blogger has been absent since before June 25, owing to her motherly duties and nursing-time devotion to Desperate Housewives. For a break from the ordinary obnoxiousness, read on:


Yes, this post-partum post is a little delayed. In these past 7 months, free time has been extremely hard to come by. So I'll skip the apologies and excuses and get to the point. Here is my summary of the birth:

Tuesday, June 24: 36 weeks, 2 days gestation. I dutifully reported to work at 8am. I had recently returned to work, 24 hours per week, after staying home for 2 weeks due to high blood pressure. At about 1:00pm, I left work, making sure to leave everything on my desk organized and neat, 'just in case'. I picked up Karl and drove to Dr. C's office for a check-up. The nurse and Dr. C each took my blood pressure about 4 times before I was ordered to report directly to Winnie Palmer Hospital. We were permitted to stop at home for a few necessities: the bag I had yet to pack, a snack, and of course, the trusty video camera. Karl seemed somewhat frantic but surprisingly, I didn’t feel very nervous. We weren’t even certain I'd be delivering right away..maybe we'd be back home in a few hours-who knew? I had an induction scheduled for the next Monday and darn it, I was determined to make it to then.

I called my mom on the way to the hospital and she met us there after we checked in (about 3:00pm) and were shown to a room on the ante-partum floor. I put on the hospital-issued gown and sat on the bed, not sure quite what to do with myself. The nurse said she needed to draw some blood- that was fine, I'd had gallons drawn over the past 8 or so months. But-why was she drawing it from my inner forearm?! Before I realized what was happening, I had an IV in my arm. How could she trick me like that? Oh well, what's done is done, I thought. My blood pressure was monitored every hour and heartbeat monitors were taped on for Baby A and Baby B. I started to feel a lot of pain and pressure and the nurses confirmed that I was having contractions. That was when I realized I wasn’t leaving the hospital until after the babies were born. So the contractions continued to intensify and become closer together. At around 9:00pm, I asked for pain medication but the nurses said that my doctor wanted them to wait until I got to the Labor & Delivery floor and then I could get an epidural. Ok, what?! So when do I go to L&D?, I asked. 'As soon as a bed opens up', I was told. So for the next 3 hours, I alternatively asked for the medication and asked when my bed might be open. I got neither until after 12am. In retrospect, I think I'd have asked, even at that late date, to switch obstetricians. Hand me a phone book or Google directory and I'd be on my way to relief. Our Lamaze instructor had assured us nervous pregnant women that we'd get pain relief as early as we asked for it but I guess I was misinformed!

Wednesday, June 25: The Twins' Arrival. Finally, after I was moved to L&D and got my epidural (hey, I never said I was brave) all in the world was OK again. Dr. C came to check on me at about 4:00am and again at 12:00pm and little to no progress had been made. In between, I vacillated between continuing with labor or giving in and going for the C-section. Even with the epidural, I was rather uncomfortable, plus exhausted and hungry. But what made the decision for me was that I could no longer deal with the unknown. Already, after about 20 hours of labor, I was only dilated to 3cm. Would it be another 20 hours before the final stage where, finally, all the Lamaze practice would pay off? What if, even then, the twins refused to budge and I ended up with a C-Section anyway? Or worse, if one budged and one didn’t, I'd have double trouble- 2 recovery areas and 2 babies!?

So, in the end, it was my intolerance for the unknown that made the decision for me. One thing I didn’t expect was just how anxious I'd get over that decision and then, the realization that someone would be cutting into my abdomen. I honestly didn’t think about the reality of this until I was right there in the moment.

I was prepped for the surgery while Karl & Mom gowned up. I have to say, I just wanted it to be over as quickly as possible. And it did-before I knew it, the doctor was lifting up Noelle, Baby A, and announcing that she weighed 6 lbs, 4 oz. Then Lucas, Baby B, came out screaming, his hands on either side of his face (he still does that when he is crying). I have pictures of the babies being held up by my face, and pictures of Karl and I with the babies. Mom even videotaped the birth. Still, it seemed strangely like a dream. All I was thinking at the moment was, could these babies really be mine? Is this really happening?

The babies were whisked away to the nursery, while I was whisked to a recovery room. That darn blood pressure was up again, and so I was kept there for a few hours, hooked up to IV medication. As the nurses bustled in and out of the room and down the halls, I grew more and more upset and frustrated. I'd barely even seen my babies and hadn’t held them at all. I needed to get out of here. Once again, the permission from my doctor could not come soon enough. Jeff and Liz came to visit, and headed up to my room. I was actually crying in despair by the time I was wheeled up to the mother-baby unit, and to my room. The babies were there, along with Karl, Jeff, and Liz. My mom had gone home to rest. I was still in disbelief that these beautiful tiny creatures were ours. Noelle & Lucas looked so much alike at first that I worried I'd never be able to tell them apart. Jeff proclaimed that Lucas was the tiniest human being he has ever seen.

Thursday & Friday- June 26 & 27. Over the next 3 nights, I recovered, nursed, and began learning about baby care. The nurses showed us how to hold, burp, and swaddle the twins, brought them to and from the nursery, and helped me stand, walk, etc. The babies were taken to the nursery for daily weigh-ins. After a rough, painful, first day, by the second day I was up and walking around, even outside the hospital. The babies received several visitors: first came my boss Brenda and co-worker friend Cheryl. Next was my good friend April and her mom (her twin girls were born 10 days later). Denise & Shyam and Steffani came later that day. Mom, of course, visited daily.

Saturday, June 28: Homecoming…and the Life Beyond. Discharge day was here at last…at last?? What would I do without the 24 hour assistance from the nurses? Who'd handle the dreaded 2am feeding and take care of the babies when I was tired? And most of all, what in the world was I to do with 2 newborn babies? Once again- realization. I didn’t know the first thing about babies and now I had 2 of them. Thank goodness for my Mom. A voice of reason, someone experienced and remarkably patient with 2 tiny crying infants. I don’t think Mom left at all for the first month, and then gradually after that. And yes, Karl- who knew even less than I did about baby care but who was always willing to pitch in and help out when told what to do. The first few weeks were difficult, as predicted. How do you do it? You just do-you don’t have a choice! Listen to the advice of experts and twin moms alike-sleep when the babies sleep, accept help, let the housework slide. Eventually, we got into a routine and the babies began sleeping through the night (yea!) at around 4 months. Nursing, while at challenge at first, gradually became easier for all of us and now is like second nature. Solid foods have gradually entered the mix since about 5 months and now, at 7 1/2, the twins have tasted about 10 different types of veggies, fruits, and grains in addition to milk. They are into a regular nap routine and, in fact, are about to wake up from one anytime now. So, I will use my remaining last few minutes to do some laundry and cleaning. I am hopeful that it will not be another 7.5 months until my next blog entry. I'll be optimistic and try for next week.

We Have a Crawler!

Those familiar with There's Something About Mary may connect this blog title to a line early in the film. Though, instead of a painful rush to the hospital, what we have on our hands is a darling seven month old chubster inching along a kitchen floor. Yes: after a half year of remaining in the location she was last deposited, Noelle is now mobile and about to be outfitted with a global positioning system. Lucas, meanwhile, says bah to that and just lunges forward repeatedly like a runner preparing for the starting pistol.

On top of physical achievements we have some impressive acoustics to report. Noelle is a hair away from the second half of the alphabet and produces "meh meh meh". Mostly this is overhead just before a feeding or in the midst of a bottle refill. It seems to be her gentle reminder to us that she's hungry and won't take it anymore. As much as we'd like to pretend, the new sound is not quite "mama." But, she's got the right idea. Before long it'll be mother, mumsy, then monkey, and on to rhubarb, Roquefort, and voracious. Lucas isn't that interested in verbal gymnastics. He's just fine with his easy smile and giggle.

As for teeth, not a one. The pets' tails and ears are safe for now. Though NL have moved into their eighth month, their baby choppers are still hibernating. I do a daily check and will update the blog in the event of a breakthrough.

Golden Gate Angst

NL's uncle Jeff has stationed himself in Orlando for the weekend. Naturally he couldn't do without a dose of the twins for much longer. We promise to return the favor in mid-April. That's right: the Wieleckis will abandon all grips on sanity and load up luggage, kids, stroller, and Costco-sized Advil for a transcontinental voyage to the city by the Bay. This endeavor will require that our 20-lb. packages of delight will rest on our laps from takeoff till touchdown. The kicker here is that while I'm already dreading all thought of the ordeal three months before it's reality, NL will remember none of it.

Isn't that something? No matter how hard you furrow your brow and scratch your head, it seems beyond the scope of human capability to recall anything from your first two or three years of life. So, all this giddiness we experience with the kids--all their smiles and chortles, tearful tirades, oopsie-daises, shameful defeats in thumb wrestling contests--all of it stays in their memories just temporarily, to be recorded over by new experiences later in life. They'll remember none of these minutes, days, and months that are so monumental to us parents. Naturally we'll relate these happenings to NL over a Flag Day dinner in 2017 or during a contemplative stroll through a shady pinewood forest. But--they'll have to take our word for it; they'll have none of their own genuine sympathies for dad's three month anxiety over a six-hour stress yet to materialize.

Disclaimer:
Oh, but the delight of spring in San Francisco! And of all the time spent with my newest family. I may carry on like a complainer, but I complain in jest (or, in "jape" (as I can now proudly use a word lately used against me in Scrabble)); I'm grateful beyond measure for my 'ordeals' since last June 25th.

WT (Finally) Acknowledge 2009

This is my first and likely last post generated at work. It's about time I inform of NL's 6-month pediatrician visit and time is currently out of stock at home. Still, as blogging from the office requires repeated screen minimizations it's turning out even less relaxing than blogging from home, where I type in constant dread of the next pained wail from the kids' room.

So, to the point: at their January 6th appointment, Noelle weighed 17lb 3oz, and Lucas 16lb 13oz. There.

Feeding: For a few weeks now we've been interspersing the kids' milky diet with thicker fare from jars, with flavors of sweet potato, sweet corn, sweat pea (too many sweets, in my opinion), and an occasional avocado/banana medley. Bibs and diapers have changed colors accordingly.

Facial Maneuvers: Lucas has grown into quite the smiler. Now the happy-neutral-displeased proportion of his disposition is roughly equal. Noelle, meanwhile, casts a leery and suspicious eye at all who venture into her field of vision.

Travel: On New Year’s weekend we vacationed in Clearwater, my former place of employment. It was but a one-night excursion, though our strolls along the beach-walk next to grassy dunes and a quick knee-high dip in the chilly Gulf were relaxing enough. There’s something about the atmosphere of the shore that resets my circuits. En route home we toured the Belleview Biltmore Hotel, a grand century-old wooden complex that effuses history from its creaky wooden floors. Its long, dim corridors and 20 ft. ceilings are eerily reminiscent of The Shining.


Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/NewYearSDayInClearwater#