pee pee in the potty!

HE did it again...

Allow me to brag-

Caden, my not even

1 and a half years old,

went potty in the toilet!

i've only done this parent

thing for 17 months,

but from what I hear

mr. caden is pretty young

to be going pee pee

in the potty.

This time he said, "poo poo"

as he was squatting in the

living room. So I excitedly

took him to his potty, undressed

him and sat him down. He

played around for a bit, so I

didn't think he was going to be

successful this time around.

Xander was screaming in the other

room, so I had to leave caden be,

and hurry over to him. (he was slipping

out of his chair). I suddenly hear music

playing (the toilet plays music when

it sensors liquid). HE DID IT AGAIN!

Caden was still acting interested

in pooping, so I left him on the toilet.

Again, xander needed my attention

so I left caden (for a brief second) to go

tend to him. I look over my shoulder

to the bathroom and I see caden fishing

in the big toilet. ayi yi yi. This, reminding

me that he is still, yet, only 17 months old.

17 months old, but pottied TWICE

in the toilet!

Proud momma here.

if only...

I try and try to not go through the "if only," "what if" thoughts in my head. But the truth is..there are moments where I am completely consumed with them. If only I would have taken that opportunity to go to the hospital and get monitored. What if I made my doctor put me on medicine to prevent contractions, regardless of her opinions ("not medically necessary if not showing signs of contractions"). What if I didn't walk to the bathroom, while on bedrest, but used a bedside cameoed? did I shower too often? The doctor gave me a choice to stay in the hospital (at 20 weeks), if only I listened to her. If only I wasn't so adamant about being home, with caden and my husband. Was I thinking too much about my already born child, and not enough about my unborn children? If only I listened more to my body and hadn't told myself, "tough it out".

As you see...exhausting. I know...I need to trust that God had a plan and still has a plan...that I did all that I was suppose to do. He did pick ME, to go through this for a reason. Just can't get past some of the guilt...

Teaching Time (pics)

Caden is having a teachable moment. He tuckered his little brother out. But from the last picture, you can see how proud he is.

so tired

is it possible to ALWAYS be

so completely tired!?

I mean....last night I went to bed

at 8pm and woke up at 4am.

(babies had to eat)

that's plenty of sleep, right?

but I'm sitting here dragging...

Perhaps it's because my babies

are SO high maintenance.

Seriously...I was so spoiled

with Caden. He was the easiest

baby of all time. So chill and mellow.

slept most of the day. Still quite the

mellow lil' guy.

Braxton and Xander requre such

particular attention. And when I

say particular, I mean PARTICULAR.

don't think you can pick them up and

hold them like a baby. NOPE. You must

hold them in a 180 degree position

with their head cocked just the right way

so that their faces are snuggled in

your neck. Cute, yes. but exhausting. uh huh

I always feel like a nag when I'm giving people

instructions on how to handle them. It's

not for my sake. But if we don't do it JUST

right...they are LOUD and tell you about it.

They are finally back to sleep...and i now hear

Caden. Not sounding so mellow at the moment.

The day has begun....

Early Start: Evaluations completed

We all survived the 2 hour assessments...It wasn't as scary or nerve wracking as I had predicted. In fact, it felt just like an IEP. There was a nurse/case manager and the infant development teacher.

Now, I have to say...I have really high standards and had a lot of questions for the teacher. (i mean...being a teacher myself, it's only natural, right). I didn't want to sound like, "one of those moms" (and you who are in special ed know exactly what I'm talking about). The moms that over advocate (well is that really possible. by that i mean, mom's who think they know more than the professional.) Don't get me wrong...the parents know the child better than the professional, but I didn't want to come across as closed minded and not open to professional opinions. First questions i asked the two that came were, what are your qualifications and what is your background in this field. I was impressed with their answers and ready to get the assessments underway.

Both boys were put in the 0-2 months old category. Which is appropriate seeing as how they are measured at their adjusted age (2 months old). They did not have any real concerns and were very impressed with how they looked. Their first comment was on their head shape. Most preemies have a very long, skinny head (known as "toaster head"). Sad, but true. Because they are on vents and confined for so long, their heads don't get to be manipulated much. However, I was on the nurses from day one about this and they did an awesome job.

Braxton's assessment:

-some tightness in the hip area

-weak eye control

-slightly stiff neck (right side)

-arching (stiffens backwards)

-good head control

-good positioning when put on tummy

Xadner's assessment:

-stiff back (likes to arch backwards)

-great eye control, tracks well

-starting to coo and smiles. Socially very appropriate

-coordination with suck/swallow needs work (lung issues relate to this)

We will have someone come next week to show us baby massage. This helps with gas issues and over all development. very calming.

The teacher will start coming weekly and will give us "homework" with what we can do to help the boys. They set goals and are to be reached within a year. Right now everything we are doing is just for preventative purposes. NO LABELS at this point :) The stiffness can be helped with daily stretches and exercises. The eye issue with braxton will be looked at more closely next week at his eye appointment.

Over all, I was pleased and am looking forward to the teacher coming to work with the boys. If at some point things get worse, then we will be referred to an OT/PT for additional services.

Thanks for the prayers...please continue to pray for these issues.

Regional Center: assessment today

Couldn't sleep too well last night. We are getting the boys assessed by regional center today. this is a state funded program that all "at risk" infants qualify for. Because the boys are so premature, they automatically get a case. Today, however, they will assess them to see if they need on going services; such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc. If the boys do need services, the case manager and teacher will come weekly to work with the boys and will develop goals. this is similar to an IEP which i'm all too familiar with being that I taught special ed.

I'm trying to keep an open mind, and realize that even if they see that they do need services, it's not necessarily a "bad" thing. in fact, it's a good thing. Earlier the intervention the better for their development. However, as their mom, and a former special ed. teacher, there's those natural fears, thoughts, that my children will be labeled. I have to remember though; those "labels" don't define who they are. In fact, from experience, I know many kids are labeled for the wrong reasons. And it's just that. A label.

Must end abruptly...caden is crying upstairs. Please keep the boys in your prayers that god would give the teacher/and case manager wisdom as they work with our babies.

check back for an update

Out as a WHOLE family (pics)

The Carmona family had their first outing together. All five of us took advantage of the 80 degree weather and went for a stroll to the park. The twins did fairly well...Braxton wasn't too sure about it at first. Popped a binky in his mouth and he was all good. Xander woke up towards the end of the walk and was not havin' it anymore. The stroller is so smooth that it didn't give them that soothing sensation they like (the bumpy, jolting motion). Of course the "driver" loved the way it wheeled around so nicely.

(excuse the poor quality pictures. Of course I left the house without my real camera, so had to use the mobile)

I want to give a special thanks to Life Church, Deaf Ministry for allowing us to buy this awesome stroller. You guys totally blessed us.