7 month old!

I am writing this looking back the days of 7 month. They look chunkier compared to now. From the morning till night they sure keep me busy, non stop! Everyday is a survival game but these smile just make me forget all the hardship at times. I will do anything to keep them smiling!


Cja

in a walker, just "in" it.

good time with mommy, playing with camera

how do i look with new hat!?

*weight-- 16lb +
*clothes -- 9month clothes and #2 diaper
*Teething.. This month is all about her top front teeth. Total of 3 broke through, in addition to the bottom two she has already. Upper teeth seemed to be quite painful that we gave tylanol and orajel to ease the pain at times.  The upper 4th one gave her the hardest time, she was crying like no tomorrow one night.
*Food -- all 4-6month food clear! She is still exploring 6-8month food, continuing onto chicken, turkey, yogurt, maybe tofu if her tummy can take it. She did not like applesauce. Maybe I will have her try some other time !
*I taught her 'mama'. She answered "dada". She speaks her own language right now.

Kaci

sat up for the first time by herself!

Kaci won't let mommy eat her lunch!

hi baby!

*weight -- 14lb 4oz
*clothes-- 6 month clothes and #2 diaper. Kaci ends up with Cja's hand-me-down a lot... Sorry Kaci!
*Teething.. nothing yet!
*Fever-- had it twice this month. Her immune system is still up and down, not quite stable. She had on going low grade fever for a few days at times, but her activity level was just fine. One night her fever was 102, warm bath and Motrin helped that night.
*Activity-- In walker, Kaci kicks the floor with both feet together, going backwards. (7.5m)   Sits up by herself and scoots around.
*food -- Kaci so far dives into many food, including apple sauce Cja does not like... She sure has more appetite than Cja.
kaci is a lot more vocal. Now says "bwah bwah bwah",, which was what Cja was saying last month.
Kaci flips her head side to side like she is saying NO!

A video clip from this month :-)

Me,at 7.5 months, start really weaning process. 4-5x a day to pump. and reduce the length of pumping session each time.  now supply and demand is breakeven.

Thank you for keeping up with Kaci and Cja's fast growth! Next up is 9 month blog post!

Cja's TOUGH 8th month

Cja has been having tough 8th month. It started out from her eye check at pediatric. She gets eye discharge every once in a while so I went in. The doctor thought blocked tear duct so he referred us to opthamology. It was in fact the blocked tear duct. In a meantime Cja has been suffering from on going teething,,causing mild fever and loss of appetite. When that was going on, she got stuffy and runny nose for a few days which had lead to upper respiratory infection, acute bronchiolitis. We found that out by going to ER one night. Her fever kept climbing and meds weren't helping. So she got prescribed the breathing treatment via neubilizer from the ER. We followed up with our Pedi a couple of days later. He switched the actual meds for the treatment saying that the one ER gave was too strong and had more side effect. On this visit, we took Kaci because she was showing similar symptoms as Cja. Sure enough, Kaci caught the bronchiolitis from Cja.  So both girls were on the treatment twice a day for a week and half. This whole ordeal made her lost more appetite. There were days she only had less than 10oz milk only, for entire day, when she used to have 23-24 oz milk plus a few oz of solids. I was so distressed and worried about her that I hardly could work.

Cja on Neubilizer

Cja at ER

Feverish Kaci,,

Cja recovered from bronchiolitis and felt better for a few days. Then she had started waking up crying 2-4 times in the middle of the night. She wouldn't let us put her back in the crib so it took us over 1 hour each wakening to put her down. First I thought her teething pain kept her awake but last night she gabbled the whole bottle at midnight, which never happened before. And she kept kicking her legs and touching them as if something is bothering her legs. Then I thought she might be going through some growth spurt. I looked up online to see what other moms are saying. I might be right on this.
Also sleep regression is common in 8-10 month old babies. She did not co-sleep with us, did not let us put her down in crib... she only slept in our arms or in swing those days. My husband and I took turn sleeping on the floor and couch by her crib in the living room. 

They just turned 9 months! Kaci has been so good all around. Cja still has ups and downs when it comes to milk and solids consumption. But she feels so good and so happy these days. It seems I hadn't seen her being this way for a long time. She was such a trooper to concur her sickly days!

6 month old!

6 months have passed since I gave birth!? The hectic days are just flying by. 
The girls are doing fantastic!   When I read articles about monthly babies' development, which is a guideline of what to expect at certain age and months, I see Kaci is ahead of its description, Cja is somewhat late comer.  So much personality that I can already see who is gonna be a go-go-go one and who is gonna be a mellow one ;-)

 KACI,

 *weight －－14lb 4oz
* flips from back to tummy all the time. She pushes her butt up trying to go for what's in front of her, but she can't go forward as she wants so she gets frustrated.
* At the beginning of 6th month, she had stranger anxiety. Even if we are around, when someone comes close to her face, she got scared.  By the end of the month, she seems to be ok.  Maybe because we put them in daycare once a week. She might have gotten used to be around strangers.
*Hands and brain coordination. She is really good at it! Take a look at the video (6 month 1week),, "Kaci, the shredder"

*Teething...  runny nose, congestion and fever 99-101 and don't seem to be in pain but quite fussy especially in the evening. Once, her fever lasted for 4 days. She woke up screaming crying in the middle of the night during those days. We use orajel every once in a while. When fever is high (over 101) before bedtime, we give her Mortrin over Tylenol only because the Mortrin lasts 8 hours and helps her sleep. When it's 99-100.4, I just watch her level of activity, how she looks and all. Majority of the time, she is fine. I read that low grade fever is actually beneficial to the baby.
*Kaci called "da da"!
*Kaci is not so vocal compared to Cja.
*Kaci has new hair growth. The back of her head was kinda bald but now new hair is growing in.


CJA,,,

*weight--16lb
*Just into 6month, she started "bwah bwah bwah " sound with her mouth. Sounds like she is trying to say "mama" because I teach her to say the word! She've already called "da da"!!
*Teething--I saw a while dot on her bottom gum at 6mon 1wk--before turning 7 month old, she has 2 bottom teeth coming up half way out.  She is doing fantastic with this teething process. She doesn't run fever, she doesn't chew toys, she doesn't care about orajel and sleeps all night long. She drools a lot and occasional screaming.. She hasn't needed any Tylenol for the pain so far.
*Caught 2nd cold this season.
*She rolled from back to tummy at 6mon 4week! finally!

ME,,,
*I am still pumping breast milk. 5-6 times a day. I  have about 1 1/2 month worth of supply in freezer.
*I have been eating chocolate every single day for last 6 months. Also desserts after dinner is a must. I have 2 servings of dinner everyday.  These can't be happening anymore! Less pumping= less calories I burn. So I will start my exercise as less chocolate and less often of desserts. Yes, this is a start!
*I was down with fever this month. My car died on me one morning. I was late for work two days in a row. This is when Kaci had fever also. All these in just one week. Phew.

My motto : I try not to look or dress as if I just get ran over by train. Running all over the place for two babies should not stop from me tying to keep myself neat, though it happens quite often LOL.

How to 'UN'clog milk duct or milk bleb

I have been having lots of issues lately with clogged milk duct upon pumping. I have had days to where I had to leave work early because of the pain from the clog.  Break time at work is just not long enough for me to empty all the milk, so I stop in the middle of it. Because more milk is produced that what's been pumped out, it causes back ups and blockage at times. There are days when I am spending hours trying to unclog the duct. It stirs me away from spending time with babies. It really depresses me when it's happening. I always have long list of things to do especially on my days off but many times it goes undone. This really makes me think I want to stop pumping, thinking all these time I spend on pumping will be available to me to do something else and that how I won't have stress and pain caused by this. But at the same time I feel that I am cutting off my babies because of my inconvenience.
For the time being, I am still pumping. I have started weaning slowly, taking couple of month or a bit more.

Anyways, I have found the helpful way to unclog the milk duct.

If I have CLOGGED MILK DUCT,,,

credit: homeremediesweb

* Hot compress, Hot shower, is always helpful but not so promising to unclog.
* Massage circular motion toward nipple is the good way, but I have to do is AGGRESSIVELY.  I massage so hard that the skin gets red.

But, the best way is,

* In a large bowl, put hot water (not so burning).  Dip your entire breast (which has the clogged duct ) in and squeeze the clogged milk duct toward the nipple with fingers.  You are basically helping the flow of the clogged milk coming out. When I use glass bowl, I can see milk flowing out really well.  The other day, I heard "snap" when I unclogged the duct.

Now, If I have MILK BLEB,,

credit: Kellymom

Milk Bleb is a Milk pimple in the nipple. It's visible. It's like a cap causing the blockage for the milk to come out. When I pump, I can feel that milk in a certain duct trying to come out but it's not coming out because of this milk bleb. When you have this, massaging does not help at all. To uncap this milk bleb, I find the safest way is to use espom salt.

* 2 teaspoon of epsom salt to 1 cup hot water ( not burning). Dip the affected nipple before pumping or nursing. It will soften the skin including the bleb. You have to do this at least 3-4 times a day. Eventually the backed up milk will burst open the bleb and unclog the duct. You need patience on this one.

I have used sterile needle to "pop" it. but too risky. We don't want infection.

Im not sure how many times I have to deal with these problems, but I will survive!

5 month old!

This was on our holiday card! Kaci (left ) and Cja (right)

 Oh I am behind on my blog again! Sorry! Just the highlight of their 5month will do for now :-)

I am always curious to see how other parents' days are like. How do you juggle things between your work, babies and your own time (meal, shower etc)? Well here is mine...

Typical days...
Working 5 days a week. My mom watches babies during the day and she has professioned the twin baby-sitting. Once my husband and I come home from work, we take over from her, so she can rest for the rest of the evening. When I come home, he will be cooking dinner/watching babies and I go pumping right away for 30-40min. Dinner is about 6-7p. After that, dishes right away and we have 30min to 1 hour before bathing girls and feeding. Overall they are in bed by 9:30.
On our days off, we do lots of errands with babies. They love going to grocery stores, usually smiling away.  Total time of errands with them in the car seat is max 4 hours. Especially Kaci, gets really tired and fussy after a while.
Cja is really good about that, even she poops, she sits in it so quiet, like everything is totally fine!

So much has changed in girls developmental behavior by the end of 5 month. And the role of the easy and the needy baby has switched just within the 5th month. 

Here are my girls, they have grown so much!

First time being Grandma, handful with 2!

Big Steps of this month:

  * They started to eat rice cereal and oatmeal in the morning followed by milk. By the day 3, they get the idea of spoon feeding. they open the mouth and go for the cereal on the spoon!
* In mid weeks of the 5th month, we have added veggies. So far they have had peas, green beans and squash. They love them. But the squash seems to give them runnier poop. The next one will be sweet potato!


CJA...

with grandma!

camera eyes!

this is Cja, 1 week old

Cja 5 month old. Her feet is popping out of the swing!

*23weeks she weighs 15lb 3oz
* She is on breast milk 7.5-8oz each feeding 4 times a day.
*1.5-2TBSP rice cereal/oatmeal mixed with breastmilk in the AM, 2TBSP veggies in the PM before dinner milk.

*Some spots of her face is so dry that we apply a bit of Vaseline. It's helping a ton!
*She eats whole hands. does rarely suck thumb. No paci.
*She has discovered her voice. Talk till she gets attention.
*Her hair started to fall off on some spots. Kind a blotchy head right now LOL. Hoping to the part will grow back!
*She is on #2 Diaper! Maybe soon onto #3? 9 month onesie and pajamas and 12 month top shirts. Getting big!
*She can be on tummy for a while and move all 2 arms and 2 legs, like she is swimming on tummy. But she hasn't rolled on her back by herself yet.
*She loves bathing, nightly ritual before bedtime. She kicks in the water so much that I look as if I just take another shower myself :-)
*She is LOUD when she fights back from falling a sleep.
*She had ear infection, mild cold congestion.. She is good now :-)
*She can giggle

 
KACI...

I can eat my feet. Im that flexible now!

Kaci~???

Hi cutie!

 *She hasn't gone to the Dr as much as Cja, since Kaci has been so healthy, so Im not sure exact weight this month, but she's been always a pound smaller than Cja, so Im asuming 14lb???
*1.5-2TBSP rice cereal/oatmeal mixed with breastmilk in the AM, 2TBSP veggies in the PM before dinner milk.
*She is on breast milk 7oz, 4 times a day.
*Thumb is her comfort zone. She sucks to sleep. She keeps herself occupied and stay quiet with thumbs in her month. No paci.
* Kaci still has issue with her peacock hair. it still keeps growing upward! We have cute bows and it clips hair on her forehead, but it does not help on her peacock style.
* She rolls from back to tummy all the time. Not so much from her tummy to back yet.
*She is learning how to hold bottles. Caught her in action!

*She caught a cold from her sis this month.
*She also can giggle. So cute to hear it! Now they know what's funny and what's not. Milestone!
*She still can't sit up and stay still by herself but with the help, she stays upright and try to reach for the object in front of her with both hands.

They are doing fantastic without major health issue or anything. I am still pumping, though I have decreased to 6 times pumping a day instead of 8, (working days) which leads me to produce less milk for a day. My average used to be 72-76 last month. Now it is 65-72. My off days, I only do 4-5 times a day.  I have decided to slowly wean till they are almost a year old. If I get so little milk before reaching a year, that's ok. Anytime in next 4 months is good. 

4 month old!

Hi all!
Sorry for not updating for a while. I am so busy like no tomorrow. I seriously need at least 30 hours a day. I am a mommy on the run!

Let's see.. where do I start?

Well, I am STILL pumping milk, producing 70-75oz( a little over 2 litter) aday. I get surplus everyday that we had to buy a big new freezer to put in the garage!

My thought of this month...
Baby girl piercing. My husband wants them little ears pierced really bad. I am more toward not wanting it done. I know it won't hurt as much as immunization shots because the needle is not going thru the muscle. I am from the culture where no parents will do ear piercing to their children. It is taboo thing. We get in trouble even in high school if there are pierce holes in the earrobe, kind of considered to be

My regrets...
I have 3 furbabies. I feel as if Im abandoning them since I barely have time to go for a walk with them. They used to go everyday. I used to blush their teeth everyday, but now I am so exhausted at night that I get lazy and tend to skip the cleaning. I feel I always tell them NO NO NO, and am not showing enough love to them. I feel really really bad. I have to get better at this. They deserve my love. They are all being good boys!

Big Step!
We enrolled in the day care and they had 2 hours stay there! It went rather quick. Im sure it was too fast that they didn't know what to think of it. We wanted to enroll to reserve our spot in case we need it. Next month we need a few days there since mom is going to have a surgery.
I thought 3 month and 4 month old is a big difference. They have reached a couple of milestone this month!

4month shots..
UGH it was the toughest night for all of us. The girls were inconsolable that night, and we, parents, were in distraut. This was the worst night I ever had since birth.

CJA---

after bath tummy time

I kinda eat my fingers

oops! I look too chunky in this pic

mommy and me

im sitting up, but my head is still heavy!

*17weeks she weighs 12lb 2oz
* She is on breast milk exclusively. 7oz-7.5oz each feeding 4 times a day.

*Her forehead acne is finally going away slowly.
*She sucks her fingers, not thumb.
*She doesn't take paci at all. Just no interest in it.
*She is on #1 Diaper! Maybe soon onto #2? since her poop blows out and spill from the diaper!.  6 months onesie and 6-9months pants. Big girl now!
*She can do tummy time. Her head hold up high, but she seems no interest in it. lazy girl?
*She loves bathing, nightly ritual before bedtime. When I put her down to take clothes off, she knows what's up and make a crying baby happy all of a sudden.
*She is LOUD when she talks! When she is sleepy but can't fall a sleep, she talks LOUD but different kind from chatting.

KACI---

With daddy, at Pediatric office,,waiting waiting waiting

about to take bath!

life is good

hi! I like to sit up unlike my sissy, Cja

im not sure how to smile to camera just yet

*at 17 weeks, she weighs 11lb 1oz. She is always a pound smaller than Cja. Still going!
*She is on breast milk exclusively. 6.5oz, 4-5 times a day.
* Her hair was like a punk rock star last month. Now it keeps growing upward more and more. This month she has become a peacock :-) I ordered hairbow, still not here yet!
* She never liked tummy time. All she did was cry and got angry on tummy. At 18 weeks, she was the first one to roll. Since then, she rolls from back to tummy all the time. One morning, we found her this way.

 *Last month, she talked herself to sleep. This month, she sucks her thumb to sleep.
*She used #1 size diapers and 3-6months clothes. She can still fit certain 3month pajama.
*She learns things quickly. I hand a toy to her, she takes it and starts to play. It seems she has a good control of her hands and cordination. 


They are getting bigger and bigger everyday in front of my eyes. Next thing you know they are growing out of every cute outfit I have! I see why people always tell you don't buy too many. Some clothes went unused. Really, does anyone want them? I will ship them to you!

baby conference

hello~

sit up is fun

hi grandma~

and with daddy!

I'm little late for this 4 month old update. 5 month update is soon to come!