Snot and hobbling

The title might give it away but it's been another kinda crappy few weeks. When last I wrote we were recovering from a stomach bug. Soon after that we went to Clarkes to buy Charlie his first walking shoes. 

I know that photo looks like it was taken in 1898 but I think the printer in Clarkes was running out of ink. Charlie looks super cute though. 

On that trip Matt was pulling the buggy out of the car and managed to damage his back. A few days later it was still bad and a trip to the GPs had him signed off for 2 weeks. He was also banned from lifting anything, including children. 

This left me. And Izzy a few days a week. So that was a tiring few weeks! 

Finally Matt's back got better and that weekend the kids all came down with colds! Sunday night at 2am I was driving Charlie into A&E as he was wheezing again. Luckily he wasn't admitted but it was a pretty tiring night!

Anyway in other news - 

The kids are still super cute as you can see. They are mastering the whole walking thing, climbing and moving onto running.  There are completely clear words coming from them randomly.

Beth has taken up reading books. See below...

http://youtu.be/xz_zipPW6OY

Sorry but embedding video seems to be a dream at the moment. Just click on the link. It's worth it.

Charlie has decided he doesn't believe in socks but he is all for glasses. 

Lex has decide family is for wimps and only climbing or cbeebies will please him.  We are working on this...

Matt's brother Andrew visited with his partner Jackie and it was lovely to see them. They are great with the kids and the kids love them. Charlie demonstrated his glasses love to them. 

We also met our friend Amanda at a soft play centre (and Uncle Chris came too). The kids were so excited and loved it. We did too but man were we tired by the time we got home!

So it's not all been crappy really. Remind me of this. 

It's been a bit of a week

The babies have changed - into toddlers. In the last few weeks they have become more communicative, more emotional and more into climbing. Some of it is wonderful and some of it is crazy difficult. 

I've discovered that the best thing to do when I'm having a day with the kids is to take them out. They don't want to be in the buggy anymore. They want to be out and about. 

I've started going to a toddler group - one for twins and multiples - so I'm not the only freak in the field. I've been twice and I think it's going to be great for all of us. 

I've also managed to meet up with some friend who had twins at the same time we had our kids. It's so nice being able to talk to people who understand the wonders and horrors of having more than one kid at the same time. 

Both of the above have been because a friend figured out how I could load the car with the kids. I am quite short (not remarkably short but really quite short) and this doesn't help in putting three kids in a Ford Galaxy! I could get them all in their seats with help of a portable stool (yes really) but I couldn't flip the handle down on Beth's middle seat because you need to be tall enough to press a button on both sides at the same time. I just couldn't reach so I've been basically homebound for months (ever since the kids were let out). Anyway Ruth, another twins mum, said 'why not do it from the passenger seat.' I'd never thought of that!'

So now me loading the car involves carrying out 3 kids, standing on a stool and then climbing in the passenger seat to flip the handle down. Only then can I drive away.

Anyway the reason for the ramble above is that last Friday I was due to meet a friend at a soft play centre for the first time. I was really looking forward to it. Thursday night though Lex was very full of cold and, super emotional because of it - as a result no-one got much sleep so I had to cancel. Grandma Cunnington came up to stay - after Filey we should have be warned what might happen...

By 3am the next night Lex was wheezing badly so we rang the out of hours doctors and were advised to take him into the Children's Hospital. 

Matt took him into the hospital and he was admitted. I swapped with Matt the next day and spent the next night in the hospital. They were talking about Lex coming home when Matt rang to say that Charlie was wheezing! 

So we ended up with Lex on a ward, Charlie downstairs in A&E and Beth at home with Grandma. In the end Charlie was admitted and Lex was released. 

So at that point we had Beth and Lex at home with mummy and grandma, Charlie in the children's hospital with daddy. Whilst putting the two kids to bed Lex did a very good impression of the Exorcist and mummy and grandma cleaned up lots of returned milk. 

I then went to pick up Charlie and Matt. We were all super grateful that the nightmare was over. Grandma went home, after a lovely visit. 

Tuesday night I started to feel extremely ill. It turned out we'd brought home a stomach bug! Oh the joy. Grandma also took it home with her. 

Luckily Wednesday Izzy, the nanny was working so she bleached everything while I lay in bed. Beth was ill that day. 

Thursday began with Charlie being violently sick and after cleaning this up, with Matt, I realised I forgotten to wish him happy birthday! So Happy birthday Matt! 

On the bright side Charlie decided to strike out for the great unknown in the centre of the room on Matts birthday. Here's the link to video proof (I'd google how to embed the link but I'm tired!): http://youtu.be/nEimd7FWdZk

Friday it looked like we were out of the woods. The kids seemed happier and we even had visitors - Jo and Chris - it was fun until Matt started to feel ill...

So now it's Saturday. Matt has been in bed all day. I took the kids for a walk today and an old lady took the time to say 'Oh dear! I hope you are not having any more!'

It's been one of those weeks...

Holidays within holidays

**WARNING** This weeks blog has mucho videos and pictures.

We are back from our holiday. Before we went Aunty Chrissy came to visit.

Daddy and Chrissy took the babies to the park and allowed Beth loose and boy did she take to this like a duck to water. She was rushing around like nobodies business. She made a bid for freedom toward the gate but was headed off at the pass by a quick witted Chrissy. The babies were whizzing up and down slides, swinging high and round and round on the roundabout.

The following weekend Grandma Cunnington came up and we all piled into the cars and zoomed up to Filey. We were staying at "The Bay" resort just outside Filey. The house was great, plenty of room for the kids to run around in and a beach nearby. The pub was just a minutes walk from the front door, hurrah.

The house was suitably baby proofed but Beth has taken a leaf out of the Velociraptor's book and was probing all the fences for weaknesses.

We spent the Monday on the beach. It was windy but we all had fun. Beth was zooming off in all directions with an ever vigilant minder alongside. Our Chaz joined in by crawling off the mat and head first into the sand which he found hilarious and somewhat tasty. Lex was a little less adventureous and stayed on the mat gingerly touching the sand to see what it did.

We spent Tuesday in Filey eating chips on the seafront. Lex especially liked this, he had many chips. Many many chips. Beth was in her element waving at everybody along the seafront and lapping up the attention.

Wednesday was not so good. Lex and Charlie woke up with wheezy chests. The boys were taken into Scarborough. The doctor saw them and decided they had to be admitted to hospital as he was not happy saying they had an infection and were only breathing easily with nebulisers. So off to the hospital. Each of the boys got their own ambulance, Daddy rode with Charlie and he got blues and twos to get through traffic and seemed very happy with this. Unfortunately the boys had to stay in overnight as the hospital wanted to monitor them. Mummy stayed with them and Daddy went back to relieve Grandma. Thank god Grandma was here to help. Beth seemed to enjoy her one on one Grandma time but kept looking around for her brothers and pointing at the door. The boys were happy with the fact they had on tap CBeebies:

The visit to hospital bought back a lot of memories from last year. The beeping machines and the worrying. After a very sleepless night for Mummy we were very relieved to be told the boys could go home with inhalers.

On the Friday the holiday resumed for its last day and we all headed back to Scarborough. This time to the seafront. Scarborough was lovely. Very old school seaside, lovely Victorian hotels and donkeys on the beach:

The holiday was over all too quickly thanks to our unscheduled holiday within a holiday at the hospital. Next year we have decided to try Great Ormond Street for the boys. Mummy and Daddy can stay at a nice fancy London hotel. We enjoyed it, Grandma loved making sandcastles, a little too much as she warned off Beth from destroying them :-)

We returned home and Lex decided that Beth was hogging all the limelight and decided enough was enough and lets get walking:

He is very pleased with himself but does look a bit drunk sometimes staggering around. He has though mastered going backwards, so much so he does a passable Moonwalk but we are yet to catch this on video.

The babies have also really started interacting with each other and mummy managed to catch this lovely video:

We call this "going gah". Its lovely to see them playing with each other. They have ready made playmates.

Finally the boys decided whilst they were away to form their own band:

Unfortunately they broke up due to musical differences.

Run, don't walk, from The Blob!!

Today saw the six monthly check up at the Jessops to see how the brood are progressing. We had to create a stockade within reception to contain the horde.When they are let loose they manage to ooze through gaps like the Blob. Luckily the staff at the hospital were, as usual, great. Whilst mummy and daddy were talking shop with the Consultant they looked after the babies, reading and singing to them. There was the usual weighing and prodding:

Lex, now weighs22lbs 13oz
Our Chaz now weighs19lbs 8oz
Beth weighs17lbs 7oz

The doctor said he was really pleased with their progress and (Mummy Daddy head swelling time) we had done really well and added together the babies would make one perfect baby :-) We have to go back one more time then hopefully we will be discharged. It must be stated that all the staff at the Jessops Wing have been fantastic and our children would not be where they are today if it were not for them.

Away from the hospital it has been a busy few weeks. On Bank Holiday Monday we all went to Millhouses Park and met up with Andrea, Simon, Lily and Alfie for a great time. Beth loved walking with Lily and getting shoulder rides. Friday Andrea, her mum and her children came round and gave the babies uber amounts of fuss.

The kids of course lapped all this up. When don't they like attention, if they don't get any then they look like this:

At the weekend Lex decided he had had enough of holding on to the edges and took his first proper steps across the room. Mummy and daddy were proper choked up at this, he has been trying so hard for ages to walk and suddenly he just burst on to the scene. We have tried to capture it on video but he won't play ball and do it when we want, selfish little bugger, much to the annoyance of his Aunty Bex.

After the hospital today we took all the babies to Weston Park for lunch, and met Claire's work colleague, Richard. He was soon roped into helping, I think he learnt that a third pair of hands are always useful. The babies were all safely on the giant rug until Beth decided she was off and toddled off into the park pursued by daddy:

Our Chaz decided that his sister was not going to upstage him so he then crawled off the mat and headed for the bandstand. We think he may want to go on to the stage. Lex was too busy playing with his toys to join in.

Beth has taken on a role within the house. It appears to be some kind of extra poo detector, as she appears to go round checking her brothers:

If anyone else has any other idea what exactly it is she is doing then please tell us because we are stumped!

Lastly, this evening we decided to change their bedtime routine and feed them in their own room to see if it could be done by one person in an emergency. The babies took to it brilliantly as can be seen here:

Hopefully it won't be long until they can put themselves to bed and then we can just relax and kick our heels up, oh we wish. They are coming on leaps and bounds, they have started trying to use cutlery with some, interesting, results. Beth seems to understand the concept, spoon in yoghurt then in the mouth. Our Chaz can take the spoon and smear yoghurt on his face and Lex is having a little trouble, he sees the spoon or fork and takes the food off it with his fingers and eat it himself. Every day is a learning experience for them and us.

Skype and shoes

The family

Matt went away last week and it was not as bad as last time. Thank god! We talked to him on Skype every night, which highly confused the babies, but I think it did help them realise daddy wasnt gone.

Beth kept trying to ring daddy on her play phone, which is what she is doing here. 

Beth has taken to the whole walking business and shoots across the living room now on a regular basis. We need to get her some proper shoes.

I don't think Lex is very far behind. He keeps launching himself a few steps and stand there unaided until he realises and falls over. 

Charlie is continuing to move from the floor to running in about a month. He's now hanging off the furniture just holding on with one hand. 

The side effect of all this moving is that it is really hard to get pictures of them all together now! The one below of the boys has them looking upwards as I am singing Twinkle twinkle (with hand movements). 

All the kids are loving the 'wearing a hat' game. Apparently it's hilarious. 

 

 

We're back to the hospital at the beginning of September for their 6 monthly check up. Hopefully they will agree that the babies are coming on well. We're more than chuffed. 

July Recap

Lex and his box

It's been a while! Sorry about that. Here's a quick recap of the last 6 weeks or so. My friend Anna came round with her baby Florrie - the kids were entranced. Matt and I managed to get out to a pub quiz with friends and won! Lex made friends with a box.

Charlie does not like grass

The babies have an irrational fear of grass. Mummy has a vitamin D and calcium deficiency possibly from growing 3 skeletons at the same time. We got a paddling pool and balls.

General Beth

Last week when we went on holiday with my sister Julie and her family and granny. We went to Bridlington and stayed in a huge house.

Beth accepts the fuss

The babies got loads of fuss from their relatives and we got to watch them loving that. Days out were a bit tricky thanks to the babies needing a sleep every afternoon but everyone coped very well with the many restrictions of multiple small people.

The babies, cousins John and Patrick, Daddy and Granny

I did also manage to pack a cold so me and the babies came down with it in turn. That meant a lot less sleep than we had planned but it was lovely to see everyone.

Charlie does like his ball pit

Here's where the babies are at. Charlie has moved from rolling to standing in a few weeks. He is now super excited by the whole standing thing.

Lex is stunned at Charlie standing

He is saying more words: 'wait' is still the favourite but 'hurray' and 'whoosh' have made an appearance. He loves watching cars and being tickled.

Lex

Lex is standing confidently and has taken a step or two. He is obsessed with 'round and round the garden' and comes over many times a day, looks up at you, and draws a circle on his hand. You must comply with his wishes.

Beth

Beth is walking 3-4 steps between furniture but is yet to strike out into the great unknown that is the centre of the room. She has started sorting things into colours and Matt was rather scared to see her sorting plastic dolphins and rings into a colour matched dolphin army. She loves building towers and anything we don't want her to do.

Lex, Beth and Charlie

Baby news and Father's Day

Lots of news and Father's Day to tell you about so let's get started...

First the bad news. I've lost my home start volunteer. Apparently they are losing part of their funding plus I am too organised. Boo! Jo came every other Friday and just helped out. Life in the baby zoo is much easier with another keeper at work. Charlie has a big crush on her and the rest of us will miss her too. She promises to keep in touch. Fingers crossed.

The two grandparents came up at the same time and chatted about their lovely grandchildren (all of them). They also discovered a mutual obsession with computer games - you didn't think Matt and I came from nowhere did you? We also got some sunshine and ran into the garden to enjoy it. 



Beth looking super cool

 As you can see Beth was in her element. She is very close to walking now. She pulls herself around furniture at great speed and has taken standing for long periods unaided then diving at people. She is super cute, when she wants to be, beeping her nose and doing 'round and round the garden' on her own hand whilst looking at you with those huge eyes. She's also what is technically termed a handful as she wriggles away when you are trying to dress her or throws toast on the floor like she is feeding ducks. The health visitor came today and she's still on the 2nd percentile at 16 pound 4. 

Lex enjoying standing

 Lex is teaching himself to stand up. He needs his hands holding to get up but is a little too optimistic because once he is up he tries to pull his hands away so he can clap himself! This does not go well. He is saying a few more words - 'gan' for 'again' and today he said 'Ma, Ma' for the first time. I got a little too excited by this. He does love his mummy so much that he has a habit of biting her. Izzy, the nanny, thinks he is confused about how to kiss. Very confused! He weighs in at 22 pounds and is on the 50th percentile - so he's average which means he's caught up with babies born at full term. 

Charlie enjoying sitting

 Charlie is crawling around like a loon and has decided he might try this sitting up lark. He said 'Ma,Ma' this weekend so I have the triple now! His favourite word is still 'wait.' This word is said to him a lot as he loves knocking down towers but won't wait long enough to let you build them before he knocks them down.  There is video evidence of this and I must work out how to get them on here. Charlie is now 18 pound 7 and between the 2nd and the 9th percentiles. Mummy and Daddy want him to get to 20 pounds so we can move him into a forward facing car seat. Come on Charlie!

Lex, Charlie and Beth

Sunday was Father's Day and the babies wore these tshirts for daddy. Daddy had been out the night before for a rare alcohol included night and so on Sunday whilst he was not tragic he could certainly see it from where he was. Luckily he rallied and we managed to wrangle the babies enough to get a photo.

Lex, Daddy, Charlie and Beth

 As you can see now they are moving it is a lot harder! 

Here is where I should say that it would just be impossible without daddy. Actually though 'it' just wouldn't exist without him (which is the same thing but sounded more romantic in my head). 

Mummy and Daddy's day off

For my birthday my special treat from Matt was a day off. We both took a day off work, Izzy looked after the kids as usual and we went to centretainment.

First on the agenda was bowling. Matt got frustrated that he didn't hit a strike and I got frustrated that I couldn't hit a pin! There was a kid next to us and he had little fences that came up when he bowled to keep his bowling ball out of the gutters. I was jealous! Anyway I discovered I was much better if I didn't think about it and just chucked it. It's much easier on the Wii.

After three games we turned our attention to air hockey - a game where we are more evenly matched, mostly because it simply involves randomised violence. I still lost but not as painfully! Well I say that but Matt took the opportunity to post my losing picture on Facebook so that was quite painful! 

Lunch was next and we had a lovely lunch in Bella Italia, after failing to eat in the Handmade Burger Co (they didn't cater for freaky coeliacs like me unless you like salad - and it was my day off). Finally we saw the new Star Trek film which Matt hated and I liked.

It was a lovely day and it was also great to come home and see our little beauties. It's great to have a day off (our first ever!) but also good to come home.

Big news with the babies is that Charlie has a new word...'wait!' This is because he is obsessed with knocking down towers of cups and I have to keep telling him to wait to give me a chance to build them before he attacks! Monday I kept hearing this tiny voice say 'Wait! Wait!' - I thought I was imagining it because it sounded so clear. But no...it's Charlie's next word. Who knows when he will say 'Mama!' It must have been very tiring for him because today he fell asleep in his lunch and Beth took advantage.

Lex is trying to pull himself up to stand. He can do this but I think he is freaked out once he gets there because he looks very confused and sobs a bit. I think the new perspective throws him! He is, as always, easy to cheer up though and at the moment if I adopt a Sybil Fawlty voice he cracks up.

Beth has taken up pointing and hats.