Things people say.

It has been an interesting year of comments from those who know us and those who are complete strangers. Some offer words of encouragement and others, well...don't.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

• Are you ready? What do you see...there's two in there!!!! (our awesome ultrasound tech)
• Boy have you got your hands full? (and about a 1000 variations of this statement)
• Are they twins? Are they identical? Do twins run in your family? (seriously, this isn't my favorite, but it has been said 1000+ times also, so I figured I would include it.)
• Twins? Are you serious? No, REALLY Serious?
• Twins? Now you are done, nice! (Owen wasn't with us and Jen wasn't showing for #4)
• You think you are busy now? Just wait until they start walking. (oh, so then I don't have to carry them everywhere?)
• You better buy stock in Academy Sports! (Lori M.)
• Sweet - 3 Rehearsal Dinners! (that was Jen and I in the ultrasound room when we found out it was twin boys)
• What you don't spend on dresses for little girls, you will spend on stitches and ER co-pays for little boys.
• I'm sure at some point, the cops will be knocking on your door bringing one or more of them back to you. (Great. Thank you for that thought.)
• Oh, wow (with a terrified look of disgust on her face), better you than me!! (Yes, thank you. We feel the same way)
• Oh God, I hope my daughter-in-law doesn't have twins!
• When are you trying for your girl?
• Oh, you gotta have a girl now. You can't not have a girl. (well, thank you, I guess time will tell on that one!)
• 3 in diapers? Ouch.
• Do you realize what the grocery bill will be when they are all in high school? (Me)
• You don't have to worry about paying for thier college, its high school thats expensive! You will have used up all the money you had set aside for college by the time they are Seniors. (Crap, never thought of that. That was from parents of 19 year old twins.)
• I feel bad for everyone who isn't a twin. You have your best friend where ever you go. (from a twin)
• Oh girl, how are you going to do it with them so close in age? (a woman at Sesame Street Live that said that when she saw Jen was preggers and she only had Owen!!!)
• I loved having my kids so close in age, they are going to be thick as theives.
• Penis Palace and Weiner Wagon (Jen's terms for our house and our car with our 3 boys.)
• You should have more children, you make the most beautiful boys, but I'm sure you would make a beautiful girl too.
• You guys make it look easy. (thanks, but it certainly isn't!!)
• How Do You Do It?

Zoo Fest

It is technically called Zippity Zoo Fest, but I can't remember catchy names like that with all the other mumbo jumbo that is in my head so I have to dumb it down in order to remember.

Everyone is healthy and happy and the weather has really been cooperating with us, so we packed everyone up and headed to the Baton Rouge Zoo with Katie, Rob, Mack-a-doo, and Kevin. It was the 40th anniversary or something so it was apparently the most people the zoo had ever seen. They even had Sheriff's Officers directing traffic and parking (seriously?), but compared to Audubon, it really wasn't crowded at all so it wasn't bad.

For those of you who don't know Jen too well, she is Billy Joel's definition of an Uptown Girl. She loves what she knows (everything New Orleans), and until you can prove her otherwise, her way is better than your way. So of course, Audubon Zoo is the best zoo ever - oh, because that is the only zoo she has ever been to. It is humerous sometimes, aggravating other times, but mostly, it boils down to her being a New Orleans girl and everything there is the best. Regardless, I love her for her loyaly, and in situations like these, her expectations are set so low that when things don't turn out as terrible as she imagines, it works out better for everyone (me). Love you girl!

Anyway, the zoo is about 25 minutes from our house, out in the Baker area of North BR. We became members for a low price so we hope to make it out there a lot. Owen loves all the animals and being outside in general and Park and Jack are going to be hitting the age where they will start to like the animals too, so it should definitely be worth it. We are also members in NOLA and with GaGa and Pops's house so close, we go over there quite a bit.

Me being a zoo aficionado (yes, I just Googled that in order to spell it correctly), and having been to zoos in Philly, Chicago, DC, and NOLA, it was actually a decent zoo, truthfully, it isn't Audubon, but they put on a nice elephant show and they are remodeling the Tiger exhibit. Outside of the zoo, we had really good weather, happy boys, and good company so it ended up being a huge Win.

Here are some pics from our adventure:

Feeding the Monkeys

Owen staring at the elephant show

Katie and Rob

Mack-a-doo trying to get close to the giraffes

This ain't your Momma's Radio Flyer.

Spoke too soon

Well, we have been fluctuating between 40-60% sick. One of us gets better and another one catches something. When will it end??

After we finished all our medicine in this post, the boys went back to Dr. George to get checked out and Owen still had a slight ear infection, so he went on different antibiotics (1 daily for 5 days...thanks doc), while everyone else was clear. Parker had some clear fluid in his ear, but it wasn't enough to worry about. I however, started a cough last Wednesday after work and couldn't get rid of it. It was pretty severe, but I didn't have any other symptoms so that is weird, I figured it was my allergies acting up. On Friday I got off of work and fever hit me and I was done for. Back to urgent care on Saturday and Bronchitis again. I guess it never cleared up for me the first time. More antibiotics and another steroid shot and I was done with my fever and feeling much better.

Parker woke up screaming on Sunday morning, and just couldn't seem to calm down. He just wasn't himself and we were at a loss for trying to figure out what it was. We thought it was just teething, but he wasn't better for the majority of the day on Sunday. Jen took him to urgent care and they saw a lot of fluid in his ears, but nothing was infected, so they can't give him anything. Some more Motrin and he was back to his old self. We are hoping that he stays that way.

Jack went back to the doctor after a 102.8 fever on Tuesday. Double ear-infection again. WE HAD CLEAR EARS ON FRIDAY!!! This is ridiculous, I am tired of ear infections. We haven't had to deal with these like other parents we know, but it has been off and on for him since December. He is back on a z-pack and will get checked out by an ENT for the possibility of tubes. Poor guy just needs to get better.

Jen finally caught my cough and congestion, but seems to have steered clear of the fever. She is slowly getting back to normal.

The past 3 months have been quite the adventure for all of us with the numerous trips to the doctor and/or Walgreens, it has seriously gotten out of control. I hope other parents out there have had better luck than we have had lately, but I am definitely looking forward to getting past this cold and flu season without any more incidents...

We're doing the Potty Dance!!

Since my parents have been in town, we (they) have been really getting Owen accustomed to the potty. He is really picking it up and we are very excited for this. Everytime he goes to the potty, the gets 3 M&Ms and gets to watch this video. He then proceeds to dance around like a fool. It is hilarious!




I will keep you posted on the progress, but so far so good. MawMaw, PawPaw, and Owen have been great, I just hope that Jen and I can keep it up!

No more pink MoMos

MoMos - (noun). Motrin, Tylenol, Antibiotics, or any other medicine that someone in Connisonville has to take. Derived from Motrin and pronounced kid-friendly so Owen can say it.

We finally took our last doses of antibiotics today. It has been pretty troubling over the past 10 days. Jack, whose ear(s) have been the worst, is the best medicine taker. Owen didn't like his at first, but through some serious encouragement over the past week, it isn't a fight with him anymore. Parker however, HATES medicine. We have had a few mishaps where his sleepsack or some sheets, or me, or something has ended up with pink amoxicillin all over it. We finally wised up and were able to sneak it into applesauce, oatmeal or whatever else he was eating, but it has been a fight the whole time.

Here is one question that has been troubling me after all of these illnesses have taken place over the past couple of months (mine included)... Why on earth do you have to take antibiotics twice a day, for 10 days? Isn't that a bit overkill for parents to have to deal with, especially since their kids are SICK? It sounds pretty ridiculous considering all the other medical advances we have today. Just saying. Luckily, Jack was on a stronger antibiotic (due to the numerous ear infections he has had) and his was only once a day for 10 days. Here is my request for doctors and drug companies - antibiotics once a day for 5 days.

In a similar medicine rant, why on earth is infant Motrin only available in such a small bottle? I am sure it is for marketing reasons, because it is expensive and customers don't want to spend $10+ on medicine, but I would be willing to spend $100+ just so we don't run out!!! Seriously, with two little guys getting it while sick and/or teething, we go through so much that it is ridiculous. As soon as they turn two and can use the children's version, they sell it to you in bucket form so what gives on the infant stuff?? Also, we have come to the conclusion that Tylenol is somewhat worthless; it helps out somewhat for teething, but does almost nothing for a fever. On the other hand with the Motrin, I am glad that with every purchase, we get a new plunger. We have a thousand in our medicine cabinet, but they seem to dwindle as time goes by usually due to them being thrown in the sink and finding their way down the drain where the garbage disposal decides to eat them.

That is all from the non-medical layperson. Jen, feel free to throw your two cents in as the medical professional of the family.

I don't feel my best...

If this isn't sad, I don't know what is.

After a year of twinkie craziness, we were supposed to be celebrating the birth of Parker and Jack this past Sunday. Unfortunately, P, J, AND Owen all came down with some serious funk. Sunday, Parker and Jack were two miserable, limp noodles that just wanted to snuggle/fall asleep on you. It was pretty pathetic and sad. Owen was more on the annoying side, just moaning and whining for the majority of the day, then he turned pathetic on Monday when he woke up in the morning saying "I don't feel my best" in a pathetic little voice. Jen and I tried to keep everyone comfortable on Motrin/Tylenol and some Benedryl. This only kept the fever(s) down a little so we all headed to the doctor on Monday.

It was probably the quickest doctor's wait we have ever had and we were very grateful. Let me paint the picture for you...both Parker and Jack needed to be held by Jen and I, both almost asleep on our shoulders, while Owen was whining about anything and everything, coughing, sneezing, etc...then Dr. George came in. At two different points, both Parker and Jack were asleep when the Dr. was checking them out. He actually woke them up by sticking instuments in them...not cool when you don't feel so hot. Everything at this appointment was x3. Height, weight, checking ears, throats, listen to their chests, flu swabs (negative for regular and swine flu thank goodness), perscriptions, and of course, co-pays. Shouldn't there be some kind of discount for that?

After a 25 minute fiasco at Walgreens, and them informing us that P and J were no longer on our insurance (thank you very much State HR dept.) we walked away with 3 different antibiotics, two humidifiers, and more of those plastic plungers than we know what to do with. Really, Humidifiers? You would think that Louisiana was one of the places that you were safe from buying one of them...you would have been wrong.

Anyway, the boys are finally on the mend and don't have fever anymore, but the congestion still lingers. Parker and Jack have been taking some lengthy naps during the day so it hasn't been terrible for Jen, but it certainly isn't a picnic either. Seems like Owen is the one causing the most trouble, but since he doesn't feel his best, I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

We have been lucky with everyone staying pretty healthy but when it hits us, it sure hits us hard. Luckily we will all be better by the time MawMaw and PawPaw get here this weekend!!

When Mommy or Daddy tells you to do something...

"...you must do it."

This is a phrase that we have been repeating again and again to Owen in order for him to learn that he needs to listen to us. The other day, Jen was cleaning up in the kitchen and heard the following one-sided conversation between Owen and Jack while playing at the train table.

"Jack, when Owen tells you to do something...you must do it."

At least he is listening to what Mom and Dad are telling him, even though he isn't following our directions!!!