Back To The Doctors Office

Last week it was the big kids turn to get weighed and measured.  Esme and Chan had their 5 and 3 year old check ups with Dr Meurs and both passed just fine.  Esme was cleared for kindergarten and got all her paperwork signed.  Chan also got all his preschool paperwork completed.  And the best part was - no shots!  Esme weighed in at 48# (82%) and 44.5" (71%).  Chan was 31.5# (43%) and 37" (30%).  Next visit in another year for each kiddo!

The twins are doing well too.  Poppy continues to coo and smile a lot but Eve is still very serious.  She definitely has the Elvis smile down and will give you a opened mouth smile only every once in awhile.  You REALLY have to work at it with her.  They're both nursing fine but Poppy could stay on all day long and Eve won't.  That might explain why Eve is the thinner one thus far but I'm working on that.  Eve loves to stretch out and push off.  She's even rolled over a few times while doing tummy time.  She also loves to suck her first so I'm curious if she'll be a thumb sucker like Esme.  Poppy sucks at her first too but not as much as Eve.  

Listening to Dr Meurs tell them all about healthy living.  

Just chillin at home with the little girls.

Daddy doing what he does best with the girls.

Poppy, the next Dumbo ;)

Two of a kind.

Chan went on his first yellow bus ride for a field trip to the Panaewa Zoo.

He was SUPER excited!

This is how we protect the babies when they fall asleep on the floor.  Otherwise they'll get mowed over by the big kids.  

Personality shot.

Crazy but this is how momma burps two babies at once.

Esme and Eve again :)

Daddy and the kids.

Pretty in pinks.

When all else fails and neither baby can be calmed down, sitting in the rocking chair helps.

Chan and Poppy.

Finally Up To Normal

Normal?  What does that even mean anymore?  Ha ha!  Well for the twins it means they've hit some nice normal newborn weights!  The girls had their 2 month physical last week and Poppy is now 8.2# and Eve is 7.7# which puts them in about the 3rd percentile for weight.  They're just a little bigger than Esme and Chan were when they were born.  They've grown a little in height and head circumference too which means nursing is going well.  They're about 3rd percentile for height and 15th foe head.  They're starting to smile and coo a little which is fun to hear their voices.  And it makes all the hard days seems slightly worth it too :)  A little payback!

Chan still doesn't bother to tell the girls apart.  He always asks us if we're holding Poppy or Eve.  He just calls them his baby sisters and is very loving and helpful towards them.  He started preschool at Keikiland last week which was another transition for him.  Dropoffs have been slightly emotional but overall he's doing fine.  He was really ready for more stimulation at school.  There's just been so many changes in his life lately that they're taking a toll on his little 3 year old self.  He also started gymnastics a few weeks ago so him and Esme go to the same place.  He's still shy to start but he gets the hang of it after awhile and loves all the activity.

Esme is enjoying summer school at Keikiland before starting kindergarten this coming fall.  She says she looks after Chan at school and it's cute to see them playing together when we pick them up in the afternoon.

Nana has been sleeping over a few times a week so that Allen can get a full nights sleep (lucky guy!) and she can help me with nightime feedings.  The girls wake up about twice a night on a good night.  Usually around 1 and 4 am with a bedtime around 9pm.  Poppy recently caught the cold that's been circulating the family which is unfortunate since she's the one with the real small nasal passages and is always snorting even when she's healthy.  So far she's handling it fine though and can still nurse and take the pacifier.

This is my view when looking down into the Moby.

The girls

Their first soccer game.

The two E's: Esme and Eve

Chan and Esme each have their own baby sister.

Waking up with Nana.

His and hers Ergo's.

Eve punching Poppy.

Poppy punching Eve. Reliving their in utero days.

Look at their little rolls!

Little mama Mimi!

Chan testing the weight limits on the bouncer.  Also reliving his baby days :)

More mama Mimi.

The struggle is real!

The Latest And Greatest

Every time I think of the blog I feel like I should apologize cause I've been so neglectful but I guess you probably all understand.  Life is sort of a zoo nowadays :)  In the past few weeks Chan turned 3 years old!  For his birthday him and daddy went to pick out his own big boy bike and then we had a Dinotrux birthday party at our house that night.  We just had family over to our house for dinner and ordered take out so that was manageable.  And most importantly he had fun!  Esme also graduated from Keikiland Preschool where she's been for the past 2 years.  She'll actually continue there through the summer (and Chan will start there next week) and then go on to kindergarten in the fall.

As for the twins we seem to have hit a fussy period, at least for Eve.  It's hard to say if it's a growing period or maybe just digestion and gas but she's definitely been more needy lately.  And Poppy has decided to chill out a bit and eat everything she can while Eve is fussing!  And you can tell in her cheeks - Poppy is really filling out!  They're definitely gaining weight and growing which is so reassuring.  I hardly have to check the clock when I feed them cause I can trust that they'll wake or fuss on their own when they're hungry next and it won't be long.  Here's some pics:

Esme was so surprised with all the leis.  

This was the first outing for the twins. 

Happy 3rd Birthday Chan-Man!  He had a "dirt pile" Dinotrux/construction cake.

The girls chilling while mommy makes dinner.  

Hanging out in the papasan chair.

Hanging out in the Moby.

Aunties are the best baby holders!

Mommy's learned that if she puts both bouncers close together she only has to rock one and it makes the other one bounce too.  

Hmmm...another upside down picture.  Not sure how to turn it...

Chan, doing his best to get our attention with the twins around ;)

They're Getting Bigger!

We hit some big milestones last week - mommy's original due date, the twins turned a month old, and they gained back their birth weight and then some!  Finally they seem neurologically and developmentally ready to thrive outside the womb and it's hard to say if that's just cause they made the 40 week mark or because they're gaining weight and getting stronger.  At the docs office Poppy was 5# 9.6oz and Eve was 5# 11oz which was music to our ears.  Feeding every 1-2 hours is paying off!  They're also outgrowing their premie clothes and diapers and starting to transition into newborn things.  Yay!

Esme is still super concerned and involved with the twins.  She loves to help whenever we let her.  Chan is having a harder time adjusting to his new siblings.  He loves to kiss their heads and look at them but he's also needing a lot more attention.  Allen and him have been playing a lot of t-ball in the backyard and going for walks around the neighborhood.

On a sad note though, Ah-ma and Yeh-Yeh left last week after spending an awesome 10 days with us.  Esme and Chan loved all the extra attention and Allen and I loved all the extra help.  We can't wait for them to visit again!

The four Shih children.

Esme comes to see the twins every morning before school.

Eve and Poppy at the docs office. 

Hanging In There

Yep, we're still here.  Just incredibly consumed with trying to get our little girls up to speed in the real world.  Poppy and Eve are still not back to their birth weights yet but they're trending that way finally.  They continue to solely breastfeed and are getting much more efficient with their latch and how much they can take in.  I've also been able to pump off all the extra milk and start my next freezer supply.  We've been visiting their pediatrician weekly for check-ins but this week we were told we could come back in 2 weeks and hopefully by then they'll finally be over 5 pounds!

Allen and I are still figuring out how to juggle all four kids when we're home together.  Thankfully we've kept Esme and Chan in pre-school and daycare so their routines aren't too out of whack.  They have their moments of frustrations dealing with our new normal but for the most part they are excited to have their little sisters around.  Esme loves to hold Poppy and Eve.  She even loves to just sit next to them and watch them sleep.  Chan just likes to give each one a kiss on the head and then he's happy.  He finally held Eve yesterday (first time since the hospital) and was actually upset when I went to take her back.  The "big kids" have been having fun playing baby though and getting out their old tummy time blankets.

Tummy time for all.

Skin to skin on mom to help with feeding and growing.  

Proud big brother.

Our boy in blue.

They found the stash of pacifiers.

Poppy the peanut!

Perspective...

Esme happy to have a playdate when the Mitchell's were visiting.

Proud big sister with Natalie and Tosh.