Monday, November 9, 2009

Chunky Monkey

Yesterday, as I was breastfeeding Maya (without the SNS, I might add! Woo Hoo!), I was telling Peter that I might start referring to her as "chunky monkey" on the blog. (This is what I call her sometimes... okay, a lot...) Well, she opens her eyes and gives me the "mean Maya" stare! She doesnt miss a beat breastfeeding but those eyes opened and then squinted. I chuckled and said "OKAY! No chunky monkey on the blog!" So, she closes her eyes and continues lunch. I whisper "But you're still my chunky monkey" and once again, those eyes opened! As her Aunt Sarah said last night when I told her the story, it was as if Maya was saying "I'll sacrifice because it's YOU but no one else!"

Our sweet girl was more hoarse this morning. They think the steroids are wearing off, so they gave her a shot of epinephrine and that seemed to help.

Bobby (who, to balance "chunky monkey" is my little "chipmunk" because of those gorgeous little cheeks that he likes to hide his milk in) is doing great. I think he is keeping his intake lower so that he can stay with Maya and not come home early. He takes his full bottles for us, yet wont always take them for the nurses. He CAN do it... he just doesnt. I cant help but wonder if it is because he wants them to go home together (as we want!)

One of our favorite nurses told us last night that she doesnt think she will see us again. She works again on the 16th. Could we really be home before then??? A week ago, one our favorite weekend nurses (who will be back on the 14th) said the same thing. We really hope they are right.

Bobby has his 2w eye exam today. Prayers that things are the same (or better!). Maya has her 1w post-op appointment tomorrow around 6am. We are making tonight a fairly early night (leaving after Bobby's 6pm care time, so around 7pm instead of our closer-to-midnight leavings of normal) so that we can get some sleep (well, so Peter can, I dont do more than my 3-4 hour stretch, due to my affair with MG) and get to the hospital in time for her exam. Please pray that things look great. We wont know the success of the surgery for several weeks, but we are hoping that what they can see looks good. The idea of putting her (or Bobby) through hell again is a lot to fathom.

Guess who will be here in a week.... MY MOM AND MAMAW!!! They are flying up next Monday afternoon and will be here early evening. They are staying until Friday and we are sooo excited! Mom had initially planned to come up with the idea that the babies would have been born around Saturday, so she'd be here to help them come home and visit. We assumed by their visit that the kids would be home already. We are still hoping. I'd hate for them to come all this way to have limited NICU visits, especially since there is a 2 person maximum per family. That means that I couldnt be with both of them and the kids (you'd think with twins that they'd give you 4 people since there are 2 babies but I digress...)

***

We are rapidly approaching Alexander's first birthday. I still havent figured out what cake I will make. A sailboat? A pirate ship? I'm waiting for a sign... I know he doesnt want a train (Nicholas) or a castle (Sophia). :) We're also trying to figure out where to spend his day. We went to the beach at Spring Lake for Nicholas's birthday and Coney Island (Brooklyn) for Sophia's. We havent felt "beach" for Alexander... We are thinking we may go to Jim Thorpe for a brief visit. Before he was born, we went and listened to Christmas carols being sung on Main Street. Perhaps. We dont know. He will tell us, I'm sure. We'll have his family dinner before my mom and grandmother leave (so, probably, the 18-19th, I have to confirm with Peter which night) and then we will do the 23rd in private, as we did for Nick and Sophie. We want the actual birthdays of our children to be ours. We will celebrate publicly with their grandparents, etc, on a day near their birthdays but the days themselves are something we want kept close to our hearts. Perhaps once Bobby and Maya are much older and birthdays become one of those things that is mostly just another day (because they have their own lives) things will change... But for now, this is how we feel, and such is life...

***

I read this post this morning. It was quite touching. Perhaps I will start bringing white roses home on their birthdays...

12 comments:

Heather said...

That would be so amazing if you are home before the 16th! That is so close, Michele!

I understand you wanting to spend their birthdays with just you and Peter.

Mother Knows Best Reviews said...

Congrats on things progressing so quickly - it's so great that they're hopefully so close to being home with you!

Bluebird said...

I think those are perefect names! But not if it causes her to give you that look, of course :) I will be thinking of you as you figure out a way to spend Alexander's birthday. DH and I have had similar conversations lately, but nothing feels "just right." But it will, I'm sure of that. . .

Donna said...

I love the little names you have for them! Yaya has several names - monkey, sweetie pete and scooter poot (Who knows where these things come from???)

T & I celebrated Ellie's birthday in private last year and are trying to figure out how to do it again this year. I think that is so important.

quadmom said...

How exciting that talk of going home is sounding so close! I bet you can't wait to have them both in your home where you can snuggle with them as much as you want.

Jim Thorpe is such a nice town (my sister and I did a girls' weekend there last March) -- that sounds like a great idea. I hope you find the perfect place and cake idea to celebrate Alexander's birthday.

Thanks for the comment on my blog. I guess I am just still so upset with God for all of this. I wish I had some resolution. If we can't have babies, I wish I could just know that so I could come to terms with it and be able to accept God's will for that. If we can, then I wish we would just hurry up and do it. This limbo state has me so confused and upset with God. Sigh.

joshbeth said...

Praying for their eye exams and healing. God can do anything. We have a five year old who is having eye issues as well. Hope to hear good news about your kiddos eye exams.

Mommy (You can call me OM) said...

Michele,

I'm thinking of you and your little babes, all of them. I stop by more than I comment, but I always pray. I hope you know that.

Peace, my friend.

Leah said...

So glad the babies are doing well! I like the term chunky monkey. . . but apparently Maya doesn't. Hee hee. :-D

Debby@Just Breathe said...

That was a beautiful post.

How wonderful that your Mom & Mamaw
are coming for a visit. I will pray that Bobby & Maya will be perfectly ready to go home. That would be so awesome. Praying that their eye test are excellent. I do love your nicknames for them.

Michelle said...

That would be so great if they could be home by the 16th. I am sending many prayers for that and that tomorrows appointments go very well!!

Reba said...

i love the daddy & babies pictures! the babies are soo big!! i hope everything continues to go well with the chunky monkey and the chipmunk :)

addingtothepack said...

I am so glad that they are thriving and it's so exciting to hear that they might be home within the week! I hope that Bobby's eye exam goes well.

I hope that Alexander lets you know how to celebrate soon. :)