Tuesday, December 23, 2008

don't do drugs

Just a warning.....

After going to the doctors last Wednesday the babies were prescribed Albuterol to help them breath better. Lonnie went and picked up the prescription on Wednesday night and we started the babies on the breathing treatments on Thursday. The medicine is administered though and inhaler attached to a tube and then a mask. It looks kind of like this (only our kids don't sit quite that still).

Unfortunately one of the possible side effects of Albuterol is nervousness and hyperactivity. Which is exactly how Maya reacted. She was actually in a pretty good mood all day but wiggled and wiggled and would not stop. When we tried to put her to bed and her normal 7pm bed time she fought going to sleep for more than 5 hours. She would fall asleep exhausted and then wake up again screaming less than 30 mins later. They only thing that would calm her down was holding her close. At about 1am she finally feel asleep for the night, I put her in the pack and play in the spare room and tried to get some sleep myself, but I could heard he wiggling all night long.

Just what we all needed while we were trying to get over being sick, staying up all night with a hyper-active-drugged-out-7-month-old. When I called the doctor on Friday morning the nurse said that this side effect is fairly common and we should try Xopenex instead, which does not have the hyper-active/crazy-child side effect. Why we didn't start out with this prescription is beyond me.

Thankfully the new meds and time seem to be working on running the course of this demon illness and the babies are breathing better now. Maya, who is a couple of days ahead of Max in the illness, seems to have gotten almost over it and Max is finally starting to show improvement. I unfortunately have lost my voice almost completely. So if I haven't answered your phone calls please understand, I sound like Darth Vader and it is quite frightening.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Names

Lonnie
Gender:
Boy
Origin: German
Meaning: Noble and ready

Alisa
Gender:
Girl
Origin: German
Meaning: Noble, light

Maya
Gender: Girl
Origin: Hindi
Meaning: divine creative force in everything

Max
Gender:
Boy
Origin: Latin
Meaning: the greatest

This is what Baby Center has listed as the meaning of our names. I never knew that both Lonnie and noble as the part of the meaning of our names...I guess we have a lot to live up to. More later on why we chose to name the babies Max and Maya.

top baby names of 2008


Girls NamesBoys Names
1EmmaAiden
2SophiaJayden
3MadisonEthan
4IsabellaJacob
5OliviaCaden
6AvaJackson
7MadelineNoah
8AddisonJack
9HaileyLogan
10LilyMatthew
11KaitlynNicholas
12ChloeRyan
13AbigailBrayden
14EmilyMichael
15RileyGavin
16MiaDylan
17EllaLucas
18HannahCaleb
19KayleeAndrew
20SarahConnor
21AlyssaAlexander
22MakaylaJoshua
23MackenzieTyler
24LaylaNathan
25GraceDaniel
26KylieMason
27ZoeEvan
28SamanthaZachary
29NatalieWilliam
30PeytonLandon
31ElizabethBenjamin
32AnnaJames
33AveryCameron
34TaylorLuke
35IsabelleGabriel
36LaurenAnthony
37AlexisJoseph
38BriannaOwen
39SydneyElijah
40KeiraChristopher
41AubreyChristian
42AriannaLiam
43SophieSamuel
44AllisonJohn
45GabriellaBrody
46KaylaCarter
47LillianDavid
48SavannahHunter
49AudreyIsaac
50BrooklynAustin
51ClaireSean
52KatherineChase
53JuliaTristan
54JordanWyatt
55BaileyJonathan
56KaelynAlex
57BrookeThomas
58MorganColin
59CamrynJordan
60AaliyahCole
61VictoriaMax
62MayaCooper
63LeahDominic
64AbbyHayden
65KateBrady
66JasmineBrandon
67AmeliaCarson
68CharlotteIsaiah
69MeganJake
70ReaganAaron
71CadenceIan
72CarlyNathaniel
73LilaAdam
74LucyRiley
75JaydenJustin
76MariaParker
77KennedyColton
78MollyJason
79SadieJulian
80CallieDevin
81PaigeBlake
82AlexandraXavier
83AshleySebastian
84CarolineHenry
85GracieEli
86MckennaCharlie
87GiannaOliver
88RachelRobert
89EllieAdrian
90AshlynNolan
91KatiePeyton
92LilianaKyle
93JocelynGrayson
94GabrielleMiles
95AdrianaBryce
96RebeccaEric
97NevaehWill
98JadaJosiah
99JennaMicah
100EvelynSteven

Thursday, December 18, 2008

sickos

After spending three hours at the doctor's office in a waiting room full of sick kids, we found out the the babies have RSV. Thankfully they aren't bad enough to be admitted the hospital and we are doing at home breathing treatments, but we all feel miserable.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

getting bigger

Max and Maya sharing their swing- 3 months old

Max and Maya sharing their swing at 7 months old.

We aren't quite as little as we used to be mom!!

Monday, December 15, 2008

sick again....

The kids are sick again.....
It started a couple of days ago. I thought it was just stuffy noses, but then yesterday they were coughing and not eating very well.


I think they might be faking it just to get attention.

Friday, December 5, 2008

family photos




Ann took some photos of us while we were in Utah. We especially liked that she happened to have a Texas themed room to celebrate our two little Texans. Thanks Ann!
http://stuckiphotography.blogspot.com/

welcome to the table babies

Christmas has arrived early for Max and Maya. While we can still get away with it the babies are going to receive practical gifts for Christmas this year, we might as well enjoy the fact that they are just as happy with a piece of paper as an expensive toy. Santa arrived via UPS while we were gone on our trip and brought the babies booster seats. Now these aren't just any booster seats these are the new red booster seats that were just released from Fisher-Price. I've been pretty cheap about most of the gear that I have bought for the babies. Having to get two of things makes the price tag seem all the more daunting. I have been happy with second-hand toys and cribs, but I decided to splurge (it is the holidays after all) and get the booster seats that match our kitchen. So now the babies and the parents can all enjoy sitting at the table together in matching red seats. I look forward to may wonderful, interesting, engaging, happy, peaceful (I can dream can't I??) dinners together.

The babies playing with their carrots and oatmeal.

I love Max's face in this photo.

We are ready for some food mom!

Max and Maya enjoying pleasant dinner table conversation.....
Maya: "What do you think about Obama's cabinet picks so far?"
Max: "I'm impressed that he is keeping up his promises to chose the best possible candidates without regard for political loyalties, he reminds me a Lincoln and his team of rivals...very impressive, I must say"
Maya: "I agree, very impressive"
Max and Maya: "Um, excuse me Mom, but can we please be excused from the table?"

Thursday, December 4, 2008

flying with twins

We just got back from a great trip to visit family and friends in Utah over the Thanksgiving holiday.

This was the babies first trip outside of Texas...or even really outside of the Houston area. We were more than just a little bit nervous about the flight. The babies did fairly well. They didn't cry or even fuss on the take-off and landing, it actually put them right to sleep. On the way out to Utah we were even fortunate enough to get an extra seat so we were able to take one car seat on board which allowed Maya to sleep in her chair and then Lonnie and I were able to take turns holding Max.

We don't have any photos of us on the plane or awkwardly trying to get through the security line or waiting at the airport. Our hands were full enough as it was. I will also spare you the details of me trying to use the airplane bathroom while holding a baby in my arms.

Some advice on flying with twins:
1. Give both babies to one parent to walk through security (make sure to take off your shoes first) then have the other parent put all the gear and bags through the x-ray machine.
2. Pack two diaper bags, there is a good chance you will get separated.
3. Fly at a time of day that your babies are most likely to be in a good mood.
4. Bring a couple of bottles, even if you nurse. You might have a hard time nursing while in your seat or you may not be able to get to one of the babies if the fasten seat belt sign is on for a long period of time.
5. You and your husband can not sit on the same row. There is only one extra oxygen mask in each row (in our case this was also only on the C/D side of the plane) so only one lap infant can be in each row of seats.
6. There is a good chance that even if you reserve seats that you will be reassigned when you get to the gate so arrive early.
7. Hope that you sit next to someone who has had children, preferably a grandmother. (The poor single businessman who say next to me on our flight home didn't know what hit him.)
8. Consider sitting a couple rows apart, that way your neighbors won't have to deal with two crying children.
9. Go to the bathroom, eat and drink BEFORE you get on the plane. Trying to do any of these things while holding a wiggly baby in your arms is almost impossible.
10. Changing a diaper on an airplane is next to impossible. I had to change Max's diaper while he was laying on top of the toilet lid. Poor kid thankfully didn't fuss too much about it.
11. Different airlines have different policies on the documentation required for flying with an infant within the US- Delta doesn't require anything , Southwest requires a birth certificate or vaccination record.
12. On most airlines, currently, car seats and strollers do not count as baggage. You can take them up to the gate and check them right before you get on the plane.
13. Try to fly in the middle of the day or on Saturday during non-peak travel time. Flying with babies is much easier if the plane is not full.
14. When you check in ask if the flight is very full. If there is a possibility that there will be extra seats bring the car seats with you to the gate. We have had very good luck with being able to bring the babies' car seats on the plane. Car seats are not only safer, they also give the babies a great place for the babies to sit, nap and give the parents an extra set of hands.
15. Make friends with the flight attendants.


One more I had to add on.....
Don't forget to clip the babies finger nails before your trip. The only thing harder than holding on to a wiggly baby is holding on to a wiggly baby with razor sharp claws.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

great-aunt virginia




While we were in Utah we were also able to visit with my great-aunt Virginia. Virginia is my grandmother's sister. We had a wonderful time talking with Rex and Virginia and singing along with the player piano.

happy birthday willa and tom


Sunday, November 30, 2008

great friends

We had a great gathering of friends at Ann's house while we were in Utah. Thank you to the Hinckely-Stuckis for welcoming us all into your home. It was so nice to get caught up with great friends. Brian made wonderful apple pie, homemade bread and pumpkin soup. We had a wonderful post-Thanksgiving feast.

All together I think there were 19 adults and 15 kids (if you count the ones in utero).
Alisa and Lonnie, Max and Maya
Ann and Brian, Collin and Jane
Tiffany and Mitch, Timshel and James
Leah and Partha, Om and almost-baby-#2
Andi and Marco, Xanny and Zina
Dave and Jaclyn, McKeenen and Gabe
Emily and Lyle, Eva and baby-on-the-way
Malcolm and Veronica
Tara and Jeff
Zendina and one of her sweet babies

Thank you to all of you for coming out and spending some of your holiday time with us. We missed those that weren't able to come.

This photo is of those who made it all the way to the end of the party. We should have thought of taking a photo earlier on in the evening....but most of us had our hands full with food and babies. Top: Ann and Jane, Malcolm, Lonnie, Parth Bottom: Dave, Jaclyn and Gabe, Alisa, Leah

A photo of my long-time friend Tara and her husband Jeff. I actually set the up on their first date in 1994, on their second date almost ten years later and they finally decided on their own to start dating again and got married in 2006.

This post might also be in commemoration of love connections. Not only did I set up Tara and Jeff but Jaclyn and Dave also meet each other at this same house at one of my birthday parties. I also introduced Leah and Parth to each other. I guess you could say that I like to keep my friends linked together by having them marry each other.

Hooray for great friends!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

thanksgiving


Alex, Max, Reggie and Maya

Grandma Patsy and the babies

Our newest cousin Kalia.

Baby push-up contest.

Aubrey, Marci and Maya.

Marianne and Maya.

Great-grandpa and Max

We had a wonderful time with family over the Thanksgiving holiday. It seemed like the parties never stopped. The kids loved the attention but were a little overwhelmed with the constant partying. I am afraid they will be bored with just me at home now. Thank you to all of you for making our holiday so memorable. We miss you and wish the distance between us wasn't so far.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

goopy eyes, snotty noses, crappy bums and then some.....

We are sick...all of us. The babies started getting congested a couple of days ago. Lonnie and I had a very long night on Saturday as we took turns taking care of our poor little snotty nosed kids We decided to stayed home from church on Sunday because of their coughing and whining. We actually had a nice relaxing day taking care of the sick babies.
Then very late Sunday night I started to feel rumblings in my tummy. I thought about getting out of bed and getting some antacids but I was too tired to do anything about it. Soon enough I was out of bed and worshiping the porcelain god. Monday the kids came down with the stomach flu too. We heard from other friends that we had seen in the past few days that they also were sick with the stomach flu.
As of this morning all four of us have had this terrible stomach flu and Lonnie and the babies are congested. Thankfully Lonnie and I were able to somewhat stagger our illness, my worst day was Monday and his has been today. Hopefully we are all on the tail end of a rough 24 hour flu. The babies have been great sports about the whole ordeal. They seem quite happy most of the time but their poor little runny noses and upset tummies along with worn out mom and dad make us into quite the sorry looking bunch.
Maya has had a hard time going down for naps. I have had to carry her in a sling to rock her to sleep. Here she is passed out on her bed, still wrapped up in the sling.

On a much happier note.... My dear friend Jessie was in town visiting her sister for Thanksgiving and she was kind (and brave) enough to come and spend a couple hours at out house. Jessie is a sweet city woman, now living in Palo Alto. She and I lived in the Laird House with two other great women in Salt Lake before Lonnie and I meet. Jessie taught me what real wind is, how to see art in everyday life and about Billy Collins, among other things. She brought love, tenderness and macroons into our home. Thanks for being a wonderful friend Jess!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

on a roll

I'm a winner, again. First Obama, then the Utes....now this....I think Maya and Max are good luck.

Thank you to everyone who helped save our sweet little babies' heads.

The Obama, Utes reference is for you, Emily. You know you secretly love them both.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Go Utes!




No, I didn't go to the U...but Lonnie did, and that is what is important here. I had never attended a college football game or even really watch one on TV until I started dating Lonnie. Since getting married I have managed to learn to enjoy a good football game (as long as I don't have to sit out in the freezing cold). Our home is a much happier place when the Utes win....so go Utes!

(thanks Lee Mercer for the great photoshoping)

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

six month check-up

The kids did great at their 6 month check up. They have both grown more than 10 inches in the past 6 months as well as gained over 10lbs. They have almost quadrupled their birth weight. Lonnie had a meeting planned so I took them myself to the doctor's appointment. Thankfully they didn't even cry much when they got their shots and they eve feel asleep waiting for the appointment.

The kids are growing like weeds. Max now has two teeth and the doctor said she thought that his top teeth wouldn't be far behind. Maya has one bottom tooth that is just starting to poke out and the second one is almost there too. Max out weighted Mays for the first time. We were also all quite surprised to find out that somehow Maya is also in the 90th percentile for height. The doctor even did a second measurement just to make sure.

Maya-
height: 26 3/4 inches 90th percentile
weight: 15 lbs 1 oz 25-50th percentile
head: 17 inches 75-90th percentile

Max-
height: 26 1/4 inches 25-50th percentile
weight:15 lbs 41/2 oz 10-25th percentile
head: 17 1/4 inches 50-75th percentile

(the percentiles are different for boys and girls)

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

First Half Birthday

The twins just had their first half birthday last Friday. It seems like they've grown so fast, and yet it seems that the last six months have comprised a huge chunk of our lives. Funny how life is that way. Anyway, we put together a short video of the twins to mark the occasion. Enjoy.



Or you can click on this link to youtube and watch the video in higher resolution, if you select the option below the video.

Monday, November 17, 2008

the list

Emily had this on her blog and I thought it was a fun and interesting quick post.
The things that I have done are green.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Visited the Grand Canyon
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

clarification...#3 I didn't play in a band but I sang in a blues band, once. They didn't ask me to sing again. I got a lot more nervous than I thought I would.

71 out of 99...not bad, but I am still glad that I have a lot of life left. If I were making my own list I think it would add a couple of other things like visiting a country where I don't speak the language, falling in love, been in a parade, climbed the tallest mountain in your state or country, run for public office, etc...but that would be another post. What about you guys, what have you done? What would you like to do? Leave me a comment about your list.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

mommy time


Ian and Maya playing together.

Max and Maya thrilled to be able to jump to their heart's content.

The kids had their first time hanging out alone with out Mom or Dad. Emily watched the babies for an hour and half while I tried to get done some of the projects that I stopped working on about 12 months ago. It looks like the kiddos had a great time and didn't even realize that I was gone and I finally started to paint the back entry way.

Thanks Emily for documenting the important event!

kicking my brother

One of Maya's favorite activities is kicking, especially her brother. Now that she has gotten better at rolling she likes to use him to help propel her even further. Thankfully Max doesn't seem to mind too much and just enjoys his sister's attention.