14 Weeks Old

By Cyndi
March 22, 2011

I have officially survived a 5 day work week. It wasn't easy or fun, but the first of many, many more is completed. Let me try to recap in as few words as possible.

Monday: Waking up on Monday morning sucked. Period. We had an appointment with a different orthotic company regarding the boys heads. They were measured, and while the measurements were lower than the previous place for the cranial asymmetry, the numbers are still above the threshold that is considered symmetrical, and bands would help to correct this. In the many conversations Matt and I have had, along with the a discussion with the pediatrician, we've decided that we are going to wait a month and then have them remeasured. Why? Why not start now? Well, in the past two or three weeks, the boys have finally had more awake time. They are starting to lift their head up while laying on their tummies. We are also doing neck stretches 5 times per day. We hope all of these together, every day for a month, may help allow them to correct it themselves. Plus, even to start a band before 6 months is considered early.

Wednesday: Pediatrician visit for one more vaccine and a long list of questions with our favorite Pediatrician. Yup, we've found her in the practice of 11 doctors. We love her. Yes, we still enjoy Dr F from our first visit, but Dr S is great. Her bedside manner reminds of my primary OB Dr S (yes S again). (Note: I am not typing their names so my blog doesn't come up in google searches. If you want to know who they are, email me) We are going to continue on the 22 calorie formula to help with weight gain. Breastmilk is only 20 calories, so it will help them gain faster. Only problem with this ..... its $15 / can and we use a can every 2 days and that is with me breastfeeding. Ouch! Formula companies send out checks that you can use to pay so I am working on trading checks I get for other brands for Enfamil. I think we will be on this formula for another 2 or more months.

Thursday: Half way through the work week and wow, it is crazy busy. I am still catching up on what happened while I was gone, what needed to be fixed, and getting all of my systems privileges back to the manager setting. Ugg, I return from maternity leave and have no employees reporting to me and it took no less than 10 phone calls and 10 emails to get it all back. (they are identical) I left work, picked up the boys and went out to Leesburg to a friend's house for dinner. It was nice to see everyone since it had been a few weeks.

Friday: TGIF is all I could think all day long. Matt was working the eve shift (normally he works 8a-4p), so after a long week, I was all alone that night. It wasn't too bad and Stacie came over to hang out and help with tummy time after Lincoln went to bed.

So what's your prize for reading this long and wordy blog .... if you read carefully, I slipped in the answer to fraternal / identical!!! Honestly, I am sooo surprised. I did not think that and still question it. I can't wait to see what they look like in a few more months. And, since being identical is "a fluke of nature," Matt can't blame me and I can't blame him. If they were fraternal, that is all my body. So, we are still even .....

What's coming in the next few weeks: Uncle Dave & Aunt Lauren are coming to visit us and see Lauren's brother who is about 30 min away from us. There is a consignment sale next weekend that I will be going to. Last year, I scored some great deals on stuff and I'm making a list. I will update you next week on my take and how much I spent. Lastly, our trip and first flight with the boys is less than two weeks away. Thank goodness Matt is premier on United, so we can check two bags each for free. We have so much stuff to bring to be able to survive.

PS. Since the time we have to cook is limited, I am searching for good crockpot recipes. Please share!!

We have a messy eater

They love tummy time!!

Ummm ... no thanks Mr. Pacifier, I'd rather have my thumb!!

Here is the proof that they are identical;  I'm still in disbelief!

And since they are identical, can you tell who is who??

13 weeks old

By Cyndi
March 15, 2011

I have survived the first few days back at work. I wasn't bothered too much by my boss or the plant manager, but come the third day, they laid it on! I have to get my department back in order quickly to achieve the goals for 2011. Not exactly looking forward to the chaos, but the days pass very quickly. I have managed to maintain my pump schedule somewhat at work, which, for anyone who knows the culture where I work, is a huge achievement. Though, it is very tough to keep up with it over the weekends when Matt is at work and I'm doing feedings, stretches, tummy time & pumping all in a 3 hour time window.

We've had quite a week of achievements. As you saw in the previous post, Tyler rolled over on Friday evening. It was awesome that both Matt and I were home to see it. We were in disbelief and when we turned him back on his tummy, he did it a few more times! Zach followed suit the next day while Matt was at work. I put him on his tummy and went to record his feeding on the computer and when I turned around, he rolled off the play mat and was looking at the ceiling fan. It took my brain a few seconds to realize I didn't put him like that and became super excited!!

Zach's first time rolling over

Feedings on Saturday weren't going well and I was frustrated, but when Zach did that, the feedings didn't matter as much. I sat there for 30 minutes trying to get a video and of course, he didn't do it again. I did score some AWESOME pictures.

Caught again!

This is SO much better than tummy time!!

On Sunday, both rolled again, we were able to video Zach and took tons of three month pictures. (Sorry, this post is picture heavy).

Look how big we are ... three months old!

Tyler (left) & Zachary (right) - Three months old

Uncle Daniel and Aunt Jill stop by for a visit and they brought Atticus to play with Meigs.  It was exhausting watching the dogs play - they had so much energy!!

We will update you next week on our appointment for a second opinion on the boys head shape & the big fraternal / identical announcement!

PS.  Happy Birthday Saba!!  Maybe you won't have this crazy beard when I see you in a few weeks :)

Uncle Jim (left) & my dad, Saba (hebrew for grandpa is on the right)

We are in trouble now ...

Not even three months yet and just over 2 months gestational age and Tyler rolled over!!  Not once, but 4 times last night during tummy time.  Here's a few pictures and the video .. enjoy ...

 And here is the video to prove it ...

12 Weeks Old

By Cyndi
March 8th, 2011

It's been quite a week of ups and downs ...

Well, tomorrow I return to work.  Seriously, where has the time gone?  The boys have survived their first day of daycare.  Zach didn't eat as well as normal, but I'm sure it is an adjustment to someone new feeding him. To distract Matt and I, we went out for a nice lunch in Arlington at Willow.  I have mixed emotions about returning to work.  Yes, I want to return to work, but I am not looking forward to the commute, stress and waking up at 4am every day.  Hopefully, the transition goes smoothly, because I was just getting the hang of our schedule and being home all day.

Late last week, we received the sad news that one of Matt's coworkers and a mommy friend of mine's three year old daughter has been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  She has already started chemo treatments.  Matt and I dropped off a package at the hospital for her on Monday with gifts from all of our friends.  We are going to give them whatever support we can!!  Stay strong Isabelle ... 


After that visit, we had an appointment for Tyler & Zach at Cranial Technologies.  I have been paranoid about Tyler's head shape, due to a flat spot in the back and the side of his head.  I wanted to have them evaluated to see if they need a helmet.  Zach's head was less concerning to me, but figured if we were there, we might as well have him checked too.  Guess What?  They have recommended helmets for both.  To be quite honest, I am upset over this.  They said especially with twins that don't move around while in the uterus, this is common. During all of the ultrasounds, they didn't move much and were generally in the same position most of the pregnancy. We have another appointment next week for an evaluation with a different company, so we will see what the results are there.  It is also unclear at this time if our insurance will cover any of these expensive helmets.  After we have the second evaluation, talk with the pediatrician and find out our insurance coverage, we will make a decision.  Hopefully in the next week or so because the sooner you start treatment the better.


We were also given stretches to help their necks for both boys that we are supposed to do three to five times daily.  So along with feeding every three hours during the day, pumping, and simply trying to breathe, we are very busy here in the Alderson house!

12 weeks, Tyler on the left, Zach on the right

Matt took Meigs on a few errands.  Meigs LOVES car rides!!

Zach on left, Tyler on right -- the starting position of tummy time

The ending position

And don't worry, Meigs was there watching them and ready to pose for the camera

Matt has more hairstyles than me!

Let's take a look over the past 10 years ...

Oct 2002

Feb 2003

He cut his hair without telling me, March 2003

Oct 2004

March 2009

August 2010 ... next hair cut, FEB 2011!!!!

Feb 2011 ... some things will never change!

I can't wait to find out if either of the boys will have the curls I love so much!!

Happy Anniversary!!!

By Cyndi
March 1, 2011

It is hard to believe that it has been three years.  It feels like one or two ... time flies.  Let's do a quick recap of the past three years ...

Our initials designed by my then 89 year old grandpa

Our amazing wedding party ...

It was actually 32 degrees outside and I couldn't breathe through my nose (only to find out that it was actually a sinus infection!)

Signing the Ketubah

Our surprise waltz & swing first dance

One of my favorite wedding pictures

We bought a house!

Matt is going to kill me for posting this ... but this is the first night we really talked -- a Hillel bowling event in the fall of 2001!

Our surprise old school black & white photobooth at our wedding

Honeymoon - Machu Picchu

Meigs at 3 months - June 2008

March 2009

May 2009

Meigs meets Butkus, my dad's labradoodle June 2009

Dec 2009 at the National Menorah Lighting

Jan 2010, our godson Lincoln is born

Well, we know what this results in! April 2010

First Ultrasound and found out there are two!  May 2010

Dec 12, 2010 - 36 weeks 2 days - the day before Tyler & Zach were born

I can't wait to see what the next 30 years brings!!