the world of bottles

On Saturday, we decided that in order to get Saro to drink from the bottle, we would have to give him only the bottle. So, just like that, we are no longer breastfeeding the boys. It has been a difficult transition for us, but we are doing our best.

Saro has gotten used to the bottle and drinks when he feels like it. But if he doesn't want it, good luck - you will not be able to get him to drink no matter how hard you try (and we TRY!). If he isn't putting up a fight, he can even finish his bottle in 20-30 minutes... lightning speed compared to his brother...

Ari just doesn't like to eat from the bottle (which is weird since he used to be the one that didn't mind the bottle)... Every single bottle is forced. He cries, wimpers, whines... I've got a list of tricks i try like singing "Itsy bitsy spider" (boy am i getting sick of that song), talking to him soothingly, negotiating with him, standing and/or walking with him, putting him in the swing to distract him (and rest my tired arms), giving him a rattle to shake, etc etc. It always takes us the full hour to feed him but we do manage to get him to drink most of his bottle that way... most of the time...

The hardest part is that i have to feed them both (obviously) but there is no easy way to do it. I have turned my sisters' lives upside down as they have come over to help me out with one feeding each this week. But when i'm alone, i basically have to stagger their feedings which leads to a very crappy day. One baby will be eating while the other is still sleeping (if i'm lucky) or awake and playing on his own (hopefully not crying). Then i switch. Since they take so long to eat, i barely get to play with them which means they don't get to do a lot of the important stuff like practicing tummy time, sitting, standing, etc etc. I just put them somewhere where they won't cry like the bouncy seat...

i am hoping they will get faster and more interested in the bottle over time. I have to remind myself that we've only been doing this for less than a week and that the boys are adjusting very well for such a short period of time. I hope that we see major improvements in their growth at the appointment next week; that is the only thing that keeps me calm when i'm ready to boil over.

so our world has completely changed in the last week which has made me pretty emotional. We no longer have time or freedom to go out (ironic as i always thought the bottle would give me more freedom) so we have been home bodies all week. But, many have told me that just when you think you've figured it all out (with the babies), something will inevitably change and make you figure it all out again. I guess it was time for a new challenge!

off to go prepare some bottles...
arda

4-month checkup

Today we had our 4 month checkup and it wasn't a good day for us. Of course, we knew there would be vaccinations and i was prepared for that. What i wasn't prepared for is for the doctor to tell me the boys aren't growing well and she wants me to start supplementing with formula. Just when i thought me and the boys were in a good rhythm, i now have to go back and figure out how to get them to take the bottle again. (I believe I had posted about our bottle troubles a while back... well, they didn't get better so i gave up. i guess i'm not allowed to give up now...) She's especially worried about Ari, my little baby, but said that Saro isn't growing in height or head circumference much either (though he looks like a fatty to me!!).

So here are the stats...

Saro
weight: 5.98 kg (13lbs, 3oz -17th percentile)
height: 62.5cm (38th percentile) (~24.6 inches)
head circumference: 39cm (1st percentile!) (~15.4 inches)

Ari
weight: 5.43kg (12lbs - 4th percentile!)
height: 58cm (1st percentile!!) (~22.8 inches)
head circumference: 38cm (0 percentile!!!) (~15 inches)

I'm worried sick now. Anyway, so i started trying to supplement after feeds today. Saro refused all 3 times that i tried. Ari has been complying and doing ok. Not sure what i'm going to do about Saro...

We have a follow-up in 2 weeks. She hopes to see a difference by then.

signing off...
arda

a couple new pics

don't have too much to write... just wanted to share some pics while i'm on the computer...

Ari, giving some attitude (June 21)


Saro, giving some smiles (June 23)


Saro & Ari, hanging out on the couch (June 23)


my three adorable boys (June 24)

3 month checkup

Just a quick update from our doctor's appointment today. Both Ari & Saro are doing well, growing and gaining weight. Here are their 3-month stats.

Saro:
weight = 5.62kg (12 lbs 6oz) (25th percentile);
height = 57 cm (8th percentile)

Ari: weight = 5.12kg (11 lbs 5oz) (8th percentile);
height = 58 cm (8th percentile)

As we already knew, Saro is a bit "fuller" than Ari. That's why he's got those BIG cheeks :)

we're back...

ok ok, i'm sorry for not posting for so long! the boys sure have been keeping me busy!

Ari and Saro just turned 3 months old a few days ago and as their birthday gift to us, they have decided not to wake us up anymore. So for the past 3 nights, they have slept through the night!! They wake up just past 6am and in an excellent mood. Saro is usually the one that is awake and he doesn't cry, just makes some noise to let us know he's up... then he flashes us tons and tons of his beautiful big gummy smile :)

Other than sleeping through the night, they are also talking a lot more now, making all sorts of noises. You can even hold a conversation with them where they will respond back to you with gurgles of all kinds.

of course, with the good, there is always some bad... As they are getting older and more aware of what's going on, Saro has decided that he no longer likes the bottle. We have tried different bottles/nipples, and feeding at different times, places, by different people... Still he will usually only take an ounce or two and then refuse any more. Of course, this is already an improvement to the yelling he used to do when he merely saw the bottle... We're still hoping he gives in eventually so that I can go out and have Serdal feed them or just make going out with them a little bit easier.

Here are some recent pics (click on the pic to see bigger size):

Saro's famous smile - May 11, 2007


Ari, very intense playing going on - May 13, 2007


Mika holding Saro - May 27, 2007


Medzbaba with all his grandkids - May 27, 2007


Saro - June 3, 2007

Ari - June 3, 2007

Surfer dudes to be: Ari (left) & Saro (right) - June 3, 2007

2 month checkup

my little guys had a doctor's appointment today and had to get 2 shots each. They both handled it like champs, only crying for a little bit right after the shot. The doctor recommended I give them some Tempra before the appointment to help ease the pain and fight any possible fever from the shots and I think it has made them very sleepy. They last ate at 9:30am and still haven't woken up to eat again. (That's 4.5 hours - a long stretch between feedings for daytime!)

For those of you keeping up with their stats... Though they're both gaining weight, they are still in the pretty low percentile for their age. Their height has stagnated; they haven't grown in height since their last appointment. Dr. Silverstein said that she's not worried (yet) since they are gaining well and have gone up in the percentile standing for weight...

Saro: weight = 4.76kg (10 lbs 8oz) (25th percentile); height = 53 cm
Ari: weight = 4.41kg (9 lbs 12oz) (10th percentile); height = 53.5 cm

Saro, chillin':


The boys going for a walk in their new stroller (thanks Ara Medzbaba!! - we love going for walks now that the weather is nice!). Don't you just love Ari suckin' his paci? hehe.

new pix

it's late... i'm tired, but i'm using this quiet time to catch up on cleaning up, paying bills, and organizing a little. thought i'd quickly post some pix from the photographer we went to on Saturday. These are the raw images, the final image will have Ari & Saro together on a background (all digitally done by a graphic artist). Everyone at the mall was adoring our boys as they were in their most vulnerable, naked poses. Poor little guys!