Croup Coup Coop

Whew! It's been an exhausting 10 days or so. I've written about Veronica's flu. Well, it turned into a nasty cough. Saturday night it sounding like whooping cough! Fortunately, that only lasted an hour or so, but the cough stayed on and the fever started again. I had decided Sunday night that I was taking Veronica to the doc to put my mind at ease before heading to San Antonio on Thursday. Sunday, the middle of the night... Thomas had a TERRIBLE coughing spell complete with puke. For about 15 minutes Judson and I were certain we were heading to the ER. Then, he calmed down and his cough (sounded croupy) stayed, but he could breathe easier. So, Judson stayed home Monday and we all piled in to Dr. Cromer's office. Diagnoses: Croup x 2 and V with an ear infection. Antibiotics for the girl's ear, coughs to be toughed out.

Thomas continued to throw up all the way to Wednesday morning. That's when we realized it wasn't from coughing so hard. Only figures that since she had the flu the week before, he would too. He was so miserable - he could barely hold his head up. Veronica, feeling better from her antibiotics was enjoying the perks of popsicles.

Mamak was nice enough to come up Wednesday to help hold our sickly creatures. (Good thing too, as Veronica started incessantly crying for Grandma on MONDAY. Note to self - don't let Veronica go three weeks - or was it four? - without seeing Grandma.) Veronica was pretty satisfied to have Grandma there and this let my arms be totally open for Thomas who wanted only me. (When Daddy wasn't around.)

I was accepting that my role was not to be at the San Antonio wedding, but with my babies. Then, Thomas did NOT throw up and slept fairly well Wednesday night. He woke in a good mood and even asked for breakfast. When I told him I would go visit Jason and he would stay with Grandma, he smiled, waved and said, "Goodbye Mommy!" Just the cue I needed to quickly pack my bag and head to the plane...

Lions, and Tigers, and Hair - Oh, my!

Saturday, I hopped up and went to the biannual Southside Parents of Multiples club sale. I got a few fun toys and some extra summer clothes for Thomas (Veronica is well stocked in hand-me-downs).

When I returned the day was so gorgeous we had to do something outside. Judson required a haircut, so he drove the car two blocks over to see if he could get in for one. I walked the kids down to the barber shop. By the time we got there the haircut was almost over - good thing as Thomas was quite skeptical this was a surprise haircut for him or something. Veronica reminded us many times through the day, "That man cut Daddy's hair."

Since the timing worked out so well, we headed to the zoo. They each had their own agenda:

• Thomas to see the giraffes (pronounced giraffe - es), elephants, lions, and hippos (don't think they have hippos!)... these were all the animals on the great Sonny hand-me-down he was wearing.
• Veronica to ride the train. Unsolicited, she told us she cried last time, but would not cry this time.

They both faded pretty quickly from the sickly events of the previous week, but they enjoyed every second.

And a picture of Sunday night - just recaps how much we love spending time with Daddy.

Perky Princess & the Peddling Prince

With what was hopefully the end of the flu in Veronica (she's coughing, but it's likely her throat is irritated from "spilling"), I decided to try to keep it a low-key food day. I defrosted pancakes to stay away from milk on their beloved cereal. They both figured out how to take the caps off of the cups Paula gave them - fortunately I only put water in them today. Thomas is determined, frustrated when he spills, but God bless him - won't let me help him. I ate my breakfast in the kitchen so that they wouldn't see my milk (not enough pancakes for us all).

They were both soaking wet from drinking like me with cups without lids. I was just gathering up pants when V found me to ask me to fix a stroller. As I was adjusting it, she patted me on the arm and said, "I love you, honey."

During lunch, Veronica asked to listen to the penguins (a specific piece of music on the Mary Poppins Soundtrack). When the music started, Thomas said, "That's Daddy's favorite song!" He's right - it is Daddy's favorite scene in Mary Poppins!

It was a GORGEOUS day outside. 60s. We spent a good amount of it in the fresh air.

At some point I ran inside to put some dinner in the microwave. As I headed back to the door, Veronica was on the inside of the back door and Thomas was on the outside.

V: Stay outside, OK?
T: Bye! See you later.

V: (upon T's return) It's nice to meet you!
T: It's nice to see you! See you later!

Trying out some new bikes...

We got a bath in tonight. Bathing is not bad. They like baths. When I mention taking a bath, Veronica perks right up and tells me she wants to watch Thomas take a bath. She refuses to get undressed, watches Thomas for a few minutes and then wants to get in. Washing hair, on the other hand, well, they are truly terrified.

Tonight when Daddy got home, Veronica was proud to tell him that Thomas didn't cry when he got his hair washed. Shortly after this update, came another, "I cried." She did, but at least she was willing to let me do it and admitted it wasn't so bad! Progress. Baby steps, even for toddlers.

Lately when brushing their teeth, they jump on my bath-giver's kneeler and stand next to each other while Thomas to squats in rhythm to our "Brush your teeth, chh-chh-chh-chh, chh-chh-chh-chh-chh" song. Tonight, Veronica insisted, "Take our picture, Mommy!" I believe that's the first request they've ever given to have their picture taken - and there was no camera in sight to prompt this.

A Puny Princess

Veronica "spilled" yesterday, as she would say it. Not good to have the flu.

Everything happened in convenient timing as I was supposed to go to a viewing of my friend, Andy's father. Carolyn was going to watch the kids for me but we didn't want to pass it to Robert. Fortunately Judson had a lighter day and was able to spend some quality couch/movie time with the kids.

Veronica would beg and beg for something to drink, "please, please!" Pitiful and heartbreaking - but we knew she couldn't keep it down. She was even asking for macaroni and cheese. Well, how do you explain to one two year old that she can't eat but we'll feed her brother? Before I left for the viewing, I pulled Thomas into the kitchen and explained that Veronica was sick and her tummy can't have any food or drink. I showed him a cup of water and some crackers on the counter. I asked him to not mention food in front of Veronica as it would make her very sad. I told him he was to just come in and help himself, but to keep it in the kitchen so Sissy couldn't see him. I got home during nap time. Judson said he was able to hold Veronica the entire time and that Thomas never asked for anything. He would simply disappear for a few minutes for a snack and then return to watch more TV. (That boy knows how to watch TV! A good thing when we are trying to take care of V!)

Today, Veronica was still "spilling." She is so cuddly and wants to be held. Thomas is concerned about her. He will come over occasionally and pat her - and cuddle with both of us. He seems extra patient as if he understands.

Toward the end of the night. Veronica wanted more than TV. She insisted on painting. Good to see some spark in her!

Opie No Do That

"I want to see Deanna's doggie," was my greeting from Veronica this morning.

"Amber's doggie is at Amber's house." (See yesterday's blog for info on Amber's dog. And, yes, I guess Amber and Deanna do have similar characteristics.)

"I want to see the doggie."

"We are going to see a different doggie today. We are going to see Opie ."

"Opie no take Thomas's hat."



later at breakfast...

"I want to see Opie. Opie no take Veronica's cereal." (and so on and so on.)

So we did make it to Opie's house (and got to see Emily, Hannah, and Blake). Took them a while to warm up to Opie, but Veronica quickly became his shadow.

Thomas took to being able to cover himself up on Hannah's big bed all by himself.

Hannah charmed us. Blake flirted with me. (Or, I flirted with him - who's to say?) It was another wonderful visit with the Conleys!

Exercise. Lounge.

This morning I told the twins they could exercise in front of the TV with me. I went to put some work-out clothes on and returned to find Veronica lounging on the couch eating a box of Teddy Grahams. My kind of exercise!

I explained that we only eat at the table and she cheerfully put the box on the table, hopped back onto the couch and Thomas joined her. They watched me for about 2 whole minutes before I ended up being a human jungle gym for both of them. Pilates is not easy to do this way. I switched to some bridges with them on my belly and some sidelying leg abduction. They are heavier than I remember - I haven't been using them as weights regularly enough to gain strength proportionately to their weight gain!

We had some special markers today - so special Thomas decided he needed to carry them around the house - against the rules. Especially since these were NON WASHABLE Curious George roller stamping markers. When he wouldn't put the marker away, I took it from him. He got incredibly worked up. He's teething some molars, so I was going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I went to get him some ibuprofen. Got the first drop in - while he was still screaming - and as Veronica says, he "spilled his medicine." All over himself, me, and the floor. Once I got it all cleaned up, however, he was back to jumping around the house - those are some powerful emotions!



Veronica and Thomas had not had the fortune in their whole lives of meeting our friend Amber yet. Amber had spent a lot of their lives doing volunteer work in South Africa. They warmed right up to her! (They seem to do this with my friends - I must have great taste! That, and I'm really lucky to have such wonderful friends.) Amber had brought her laptop to show me pictures of her experiences. While I cleaned the table, the kids were treated to pictures of Amber's "new" dog. He was soon a hit and I'm certain we will hear more about him for days.

The Dinosaur on the Side of the Road

Our weekend, let's see. I guess we could start on Friday. I took the kiddos to Gymnastics Unlimited for an "open gym" for kids 18 mo - 5 yo. Both Veronica and Thomas found the trampoline first and didn't leave it for at least 20 minutes. They both carefully jumped into the foam block pit (I'm sure that will change after a few more visits). They even had a bouncy house. So. much. fun. We will go back there!

Quotes of the day:

Thomas: "Let's see... I want to read that book. That's a great idea!"

Veronica: "Is my brudder's stinky?" [No Veronica, it's just wet.] "My brudder is stinky." [No, he is just wet.] "My brudder has a wet diaper."

I had the blessing of my husband and the good fortune to attend St. Matthew's Women's Retreat with Deanna at Fatima. We got to create a book of "Our Story." It was nice to be creative and to talk to such wonderful ladies. To save money, Deanna and I opted not to spend the night, but had a slumber party at her apartment instead. We stayed up way to late playing with a Facebook program called FotoFlexer - I helped her make a picture of her on a date with Gerard Butler and a poster to promote raising funds for her trip to Jerusalem this summer.

What happened during my absent 24 hours to the kids sounds like a lot of fun - Daddy time! Upon returning to the ranch, I got a spa treatment from Thomas and Veronica. Lots of hair brushing and washing. They seemed quite excited about all they'd done with Daddy. And, in their book, I was quite a hero for having spent the time with Deanna. Win-win!

Sunday, my ever-so-gracious husband got up with the kids again and gave me some time to sleep in. When I awoke both twins were fully dressed and ready for the day. Judson and I privately discussed going to Madison to visit his folks. When Veronica noticed Judson on the phone, we told her he was calling Mamma. "I want to see Mamma!" Decision made - a Sunday trip to Madison.

We left at nap time, hoping to make most of the trip one of twin slumber. We hit Hwy 56 to cross over. They woke up very pleasantly when we got off in Scottsburg. They were very interested in the landscape and all it held. At one point Thomas did a recap, "We saw cows, ducks, and dinosaurs." Seriously - we did! He said it so matter-of-factly though - like an everyday occurrence! (There were some brightly painted concrete dinosaurs on in someone's yard.)

Veronica and Thomas took to Mamma and Daddy Gayle without skipping a beat. Daddy Gayle met us at the car and Thomas made a bee line for him. Upon entering the house, Veronica's first priority was to figure out where Mamma was. After the formal hellos had been had, they headed straight for the toys, but were happy to share their pleasure in them with the grandparents! We shared pizza, cookies and even... marshmallows suckers! (Do those two know kids or what?) We brought Mary Poppins so that Mamma and Daddy Gayle could witness the twins' musical numbers. This time they pulled Judson and myself into the act - first dancing on top of Judson (who was laying on the floor); then pulling us up to dance with them. It was a grand visit full of dancing, laughs, kisses, and cuddles.