Yesterday(Tuesday 21st) I fed Samuel his dinner at 1830. His favorite food is mac and cheese. He has not yet taken to eating vegetables. So we had the idea of buying macaroni made of vegetables. Good idea, right? Well, for the first time Samuel refused to eat his mac and cheese. Half of the macaroni is green shaded not the normal yellow color. He refused to eat any of the green macaroni. If he was able to separate the yellow macaroni from the green he would eat it but the green macaroni never got close to his mouth. I also gave him a vegetable medley(peas, green beans carrots, potatoes) in addition to the mac and cheese. The good news is that he picked the carrots out of the vegetables and ate those. A light finally came on and we thought lets buy vegetables that aren't green and see if he will eat non-green vegetables. So we will be going to the fruitier to buy whatever non-green vegetables they have in stock in the hope that Samuel will eat them. Anyone have any advice as to how to break a toddler of a green food phobia?
The evening was better. Julia had gone shopping earlier in the day and bought two slices of chateaubriand. So I was outside grilling the meat and corn on the cob when the moon rose over the river and shone through the cherry trees in our backyard. Very beautiful, serene and calming. The memories of the fight over dinner quickly faded into the grey recesses of my mind.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Samuel has another girlfriend.........
All three boys have been going through adaptation at the halte garderie this week. The halte garderie is a state subsidized day care. It costs us 10 euros per hour to have all three boys looked after. The adaptation is a process where the twins have started by going for a hour on Monday and they worked there way up to 3 hours by Friday. Next week they will go for 3 hours on Monday & Tuesday, then 6 hours on Wednesday and Friday. If they adapt well the week after they will begin their full days on Wednesdaya nd Fridays.
Yesterday(17th) Samuel was in HG from 0900-1600 and the boys were there from 1300-1600. Which meant that we had a few hours without a child in the house for the first time since April. It was eerily quiet in the morning while Samuel was away. During the afternoon Julia had a doctors appointment so I walked the twins to the HG. After dropping the twins off I walked to the brasserie California and sat at an outdoor table drinking a beer and doing the IHT crossword. Julia joined me after her appointment and we both sat in the sun enjoying the sites and sounds of Chatou.
We both walked to the HG to pick up the boys. Another couple was there picking up there 15 month old daughter. As they and we were getting organized Samuel and their daughter chased each other around the entry way. Twice Samuel gave her hugs during this time. When the other couple was ready to leave Samuel chased after them and gave their daughter a final goodbye hug. Very sweet.
Benjamin is now in 9 month clothes. On Wednesday I went to pick up the twins at HG and they brought Benjamin out to me and his pants were unbuttoned and unzipped. This was the subtle French way of telling us that they thought his pants were too tight. We took the hint and dug out the 9 month clothes. Now Benjamin is in 9 month clothes while Nathan is still in 6 month clothes.
Samuel is still a challenge when eating. I am very happy about one development. Samuel still loves cheese but now he only eats american cheddar cheese slices. His favorite meal is mac and cheese where we melt a cheddar cheese slice over macaroni. This is the only meal he eats regularly eats.
Yesterday(17th) Samuel was in HG from 0900-1600 and the boys were there from 1300-1600. Which meant that we had a few hours without a child in the house for the first time since April. It was eerily quiet in the morning while Samuel was away. During the afternoon Julia had a doctors appointment so I walked the twins to the HG. After dropping the twins off I walked to the brasserie California and sat at an outdoor table drinking a beer and doing the IHT crossword. Julia joined me after her appointment and we both sat in the sun enjoying the sites and sounds of Chatou.
We both walked to the HG to pick up the boys. Another couple was there picking up there 15 month old daughter. As they and we were getting organized Samuel and their daughter chased each other around the entry way. Twice Samuel gave her hugs during this time. When the other couple was ready to leave Samuel chased after them and gave their daughter a final goodbye hug. Very sweet.
Benjamin is now in 9 month clothes. On Wednesday I went to pick up the twins at HG and they brought Benjamin out to me and his pants were unbuttoned and unzipped. This was the subtle French way of telling us that they thought his pants were too tight. We took the hint and dug out the 9 month clothes. Now Benjamin is in 9 month clothes while Nathan is still in 6 month clothes.
Samuel is still a challenge when eating. I am very happy about one development. Samuel still loves cheese but now he only eats american cheddar cheese slices. His favorite meal is mac and cheese where we melt a cheddar cheese slice over macaroni. This is the only meal he eats regularly eats.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The worst of having a baby in a foreign country.
Sorry, again, this is being updated in August, almost 5 months after the boys arrived.
Sorry for having been gone so long but we have been enjoying our new family.
Benjamin and Nathan are both over 3 kilos now. They are doing what babies are supposed to do. They eat, sleep and poop. They are spending a few more minutes each day awake so that we can see their beautiful eyes. I think they are already smiling but it is not yet possible.
We have been working on entries describing the birth and the days after but I thought I would share the worst moment of the birth.
They boys were born at 1056 and 1058. We were told that they would be allowed to spend an hour with us before they were to be taken upstairs. As we were sitting in the delivery room holding the boys, Benjamin developed a slight rasp to his breath. Our midwife said that he probably had fluid in his lungs and that it would take time to work its way through his system. During this hour the staff told us that Julia would stay in the delivery room until 1300 and then be taken upstairs to her room.
At 1200 the staff came and put the boys in a cart to take them to the neonatal unit. We told them that I wanted to go with the boys. They did not say that this would be a problem. We then left and took the elevator to the second floor. When we reached the neonatal unit they then told me that I would not be able to enter for 20 minutes as they needed to run tests and prepare the room. Feeling frustrated that they had not bothered to tell me this before I left my wife in the delivery room I decided to return to the delivery and wait with Julia. I returned to the first floor only to discover that the door to the maternity area was locked with a secure keypad. I waited a few minutes but no one entered or departed through the door so I decided to return to the waiting area outside the neonatal unit.
After waiting the required twenty minutes I pushed the button and they let me in. Being extremely tired I failed to notice the signs that I needed to wear protective clothing. As I started to walk down the hall and very frantic nurse came yelling toward me to return to the entrance and don protective clothing. I was then taken to the nursery where I was shocked to find only Nathan. Luckily a nurse spoke passable English and was able to inform me that Benjamin had been taken to the intensive neo-natal unit and that I would not be able to see him until his status had stabilized. Needless to say my heart rate and blood pressure rose exponentially. She told me that the problem was not life threatening but that he was having problems breathing. This was occurring around 1230. I sat down and held Nathans hand through the incubator. He was responsive and alert. It was distressing to see your newborn son with tubes attached to his nose and monitors placed all around.
For the next hour I constantly asked about Benjamin and was told that he was okay but that I was not allowed to see him yet. By now it was about 1330 and I was also beginning to become anxious about Julia. I had been told that she would stay in the delivery room for about an hour before being brought upstairs to see the boys. If that timetable had held she should have arrived or be arriving soon.
Around 1345 an intern, who spoke some English, came to take me to see Benjamin. It broke my heart to have to leave Nathan but I was overwhelmed with worry and guilt concerning Benjamin. As I walked into the intensive care neo-natal unit that held Benjamin I almost fell to the ground. There were two nurses and one doctor hovering over his incubator. He had at least 4 tubes and monitors connected to his 2.5 kilo body. His incubator was a boiling 36 celsius. The new staff did not speak English and all I was able to understand was okay and not urgent.
The staff left me alone with Benjamin and I sat holding his tiny little hand in mine with my mind racing between Benjamin in front of me, Nathan in his own unit and worrying about my wife who should have arrived by now. About 1430 a nurse entered the room and I was able to communicate to her that my wife was missing and that I needed to find her. I was able to have her take me to a phone and call Julia's cell. I have to admit at this point in time that I had done a very stupid thing. When Julia's water broke I had taken my phone and plugged it in top charge so that the battery would not die during the time at the hospital. Unfortunately, during the rush to leave the house I forgot my phone.
I used the phone to call Julia's cell and my call immediately went into voice mail. Of course, the nurse had walked away while I was waiting for the call to connect. After this I returned to Benjamin's room as I was unable to find any staff in the ICU neo-natal. After a few minutes a male doctor entered the room and thankfully he spoke some english. He told me that Benjamin was having respiratory problems but that it was nothing to be concerned about. After feeling re-assured about Benjamin's condition my thoughts settled on Julia. I told the doctor what I had been told about Julia and that she should be with the boys by now. He, in typical french style, said "Yes, she should be here" and he turned and left the room.
At this point I was mentally and physically drained. I made the decision to leave Benjamin alone and returned to the neo-natal unit to see Nathan and the english speaking Nurse. When I found the nurse and explained to her the situation she immediately grabbed another nurse and had her take me down to the delivery room where I was shocked and relieved to see Julia laying back on the delivery table. I pushed my way into her room and told her that Nathan was okay but the Benjamin was in ICU. She immediately began screaming for a nurse to take her to the ICU. Please understand that this now nearly 4 hours after the birth of our twins.
A few minutes later I was pushing Julia into the ICU neo-natal and with communication established we were able to ascertain that Benjamin was not in danger but they were just being cautious. It was then that we had to make the difficult decision to part as Julia stayed with Benjamin, due to being able to communicate with the staff, and I returned to Nathan's side.
It was only later that Julia finally told me that the english speaking nurse told her that she had never felt sorrier for a new father than when she saw me come back fro the ICU. I have never felt so helpless and torn. Who was my priority? My newborn son in ICU or my wife who may have been in the delivery room hemorraging blood.
Of course, the next 5 days were extremely trying as we had to balance two newborn twins in separate neo-natal units with maintaining our connection with Samuel. All of that will covered in another post which I promise will not take another 5 months to write.
Sorry for having been gone so long but we have been enjoying our new family.
Benjamin and Nathan are both over 3 kilos now. They are doing what babies are supposed to do. They eat, sleep and poop. They are spending a few more minutes each day awake so that we can see their beautiful eyes. I think they are already smiling but it is not yet possible.
We have been working on entries describing the birth and the days after but I thought I would share the worst moment of the birth.
They boys were born at 1056 and 1058. We were told that they would be allowed to spend an hour with us before they were to be taken upstairs. As we were sitting in the delivery room holding the boys, Benjamin developed a slight rasp to his breath. Our midwife said that he probably had fluid in his lungs and that it would take time to work its way through his system. During this hour the staff told us that Julia would stay in the delivery room until 1300 and then be taken upstairs to her room.
At 1200 the staff came and put the boys in a cart to take them to the neonatal unit. We told them that I wanted to go with the boys. They did not say that this would be a problem. We then left and took the elevator to the second floor. When we reached the neonatal unit they then told me that I would not be able to enter for 20 minutes as they needed to run tests and prepare the room. Feeling frustrated that they had not bothered to tell me this before I left my wife in the delivery room I decided to return to the delivery and wait with Julia. I returned to the first floor only to discover that the door to the maternity area was locked with a secure keypad. I waited a few minutes but no one entered or departed through the door so I decided to return to the waiting area outside the neonatal unit.
After waiting the required twenty minutes I pushed the button and they let me in. Being extremely tired I failed to notice the signs that I needed to wear protective clothing. As I started to walk down the hall and very frantic nurse came yelling toward me to return to the entrance and don protective clothing. I was then taken to the nursery where I was shocked to find only Nathan. Luckily a nurse spoke passable English and was able to inform me that Benjamin had been taken to the intensive neo-natal unit and that I would not be able to see him until his status had stabilized. Needless to say my heart rate and blood pressure rose exponentially. She told me that the problem was not life threatening but that he was having problems breathing. This was occurring around 1230. I sat down and held Nathans hand through the incubator. He was responsive and alert. It was distressing to see your newborn son with tubes attached to his nose and monitors placed all around.
For the next hour I constantly asked about Benjamin and was told that he was okay but that I was not allowed to see him yet. By now it was about 1330 and I was also beginning to become anxious about Julia. I had been told that she would stay in the delivery room for about an hour before being brought upstairs to see the boys. If that timetable had held she should have arrived or be arriving soon.
Around 1345 an intern, who spoke some English, came to take me to see Benjamin. It broke my heart to have to leave Nathan but I was overwhelmed with worry and guilt concerning Benjamin. As I walked into the intensive care neo-natal unit that held Benjamin I almost fell to the ground. There were two nurses and one doctor hovering over his incubator. He had at least 4 tubes and monitors connected to his 2.5 kilo body. His incubator was a boiling 36 celsius. The new staff did not speak English and all I was able to understand was okay and not urgent.
The staff left me alone with Benjamin and I sat holding his tiny little hand in mine with my mind racing between Benjamin in front of me, Nathan in his own unit and worrying about my wife who should have arrived by now. About 1430 a nurse entered the room and I was able to communicate to her that my wife was missing and that I needed to find her. I was able to have her take me to a phone and call Julia's cell. I have to admit at this point in time that I had done a very stupid thing. When Julia's water broke I had taken my phone and plugged it in top charge so that the battery would not die during the time at the hospital. Unfortunately, during the rush to leave the house I forgot my phone.
I used the phone to call Julia's cell and my call immediately went into voice mail. Of course, the nurse had walked away while I was waiting for the call to connect. After this I returned to Benjamin's room as I was unable to find any staff in the ICU neo-natal. After a few minutes a male doctor entered the room and thankfully he spoke some english. He told me that Benjamin was having respiratory problems but that it was nothing to be concerned about. After feeling re-assured about Benjamin's condition my thoughts settled on Julia. I told the doctor what I had been told about Julia and that she should be with the boys by now. He, in typical french style, said "Yes, she should be here" and he turned and left the room.
At this point I was mentally and physically drained. I made the decision to leave Benjamin alone and returned to the neo-natal unit to see Nathan and the english speaking Nurse. When I found the nurse and explained to her the situation she immediately grabbed another nurse and had her take me down to the delivery room where I was shocked and relieved to see Julia laying back on the delivery table. I pushed my way into her room and told her that Nathan was okay but the Benjamin was in ICU. She immediately began screaming for a nurse to take her to the ICU. Please understand that this now nearly 4 hours after the birth of our twins.
A few minutes later I was pushing Julia into the ICU neo-natal and with communication established we were able to ascertain that Benjamin was not in danger but they were just being cautious. It was then that we had to make the difficult decision to part as Julia stayed with Benjamin, due to being able to communicate with the staff, and I returned to Nathan's side.
It was only later that Julia finally told me that the english speaking nurse told her that she had never felt sorrier for a new father than when she saw me come back fro the ICU. I have never felt so helpless and torn. Who was my priority? My newborn son in ICU or my wife who may have been in the delivery room hemorraging blood.
Of course, the next 5 days were extremely trying as we had to balance two newborn twins in separate neo-natal units with maintaining our connection with Samuel. All of that will covered in another post which I promise will not take another 5 months to write.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Random stuff
Have been remiss in not posting to blog. We are now on facebook and facebook is more convienent to our current lifesyle. Short blurbs that can be quickly shared. It is hard work to keep the blog updated and interesting with 3 young boys but we will try.
Yesterday (19th) we had tp take the boiys to the doctor for their month shots. Since the boys were receiving shots all 5 of us go to the doctor. It is unfair to the doctor and to the one of us that would take them to the doctor to do it with just one of us. Once the first twin receives his shots, if he does not react well, it is difficult to comfort the first while the second is receiving his shots. So our solution is all five of us go to the shot appointments.
Benjamin went first and weighed 7.57 k.. He has almost tripled his birth weight. His growth chart is practically vertical. From 10% at birth to 85% at 18 weeks. We are amazed at his growth. Considering that he was 5 weeks premature his growth is nothing less than phenomenal.
Nathan is growing but not at the pace of Benjamin. Nathan weighed in at 6.8 k. He is at the 75% but his line is not nearly as steep as Benjamin's.
The sad part of the trip was when we returned home. I got one of the boys out of the passenger side of the car and opened the gate and walked toward the front door. Julia got the other twin out of his seat and helped Samuel out of the drivers side of the car. As I reached the front door I turned around and Julia was placing the twin on the stoop, the gate was closed and Samuel was nowhere to be seen.
As I was asking Julia where Samuel was I saw his head pop up through the gate. He had been locked out.
Julia immediately unlocked the gate but Samuel ran away from her. Apparently she had closed the gate in his face as he was following her into the yard. Samuel ran directly to me and refused to look at or hug his mummy for at least five minutes. All was soon forgotten by Samuel. We tried to explain to him that it will not be the last time that he is forgotten and left behind. It will happen again.
Samuel does not like watermelon. Very disappointing. He loves what are called in France Yetigel. I cannot remember what they are called in America. Yetigels are the summer treat of fruit flavored frozen water in small tubes that you slowly suck on until they melt and then you drink the sugar saturated water.
I get my 36 hour break for August next week. I will leave for Antwerp on Wednesday morning and return early Thursday evening. What we have learned over the last 5 months is that Julia and I love each other and our boys very much but we have been together under the same roof since February 1st. We decided that a quick remedy is that each of us gets a 36 hour break every month. Our trip coincides with a visit by the garde de nuit so the one of us that stays behind is not left completely alone with the boys. In July we both spent our trip in Brussels. We try to visit spots that are within a 2 hour train ride of Paris.
Samuel can now say I love you. Well, almost. He says "I la."
Nathan is a smiley baby. Subsequently his nickname is Smiley. Samuel calls him "Miley."
Yesterday (19th) we had tp take the boiys to the doctor for their month shots. Since the boys were receiving shots all 5 of us go to the doctor. It is unfair to the doctor and to the one of us that would take them to the doctor to do it with just one of us. Once the first twin receives his shots, if he does not react well, it is difficult to comfort the first while the second is receiving his shots. So our solution is all five of us go to the shot appointments.
Benjamin went first and weighed 7.57 k.. He has almost tripled his birth weight. His growth chart is practically vertical. From 10% at birth to 85% at 18 weeks. We are amazed at his growth. Considering that he was 5 weeks premature his growth is nothing less than phenomenal.
Nathan is growing but not at the pace of Benjamin. Nathan weighed in at 6.8 k. He is at the 75% but his line is not nearly as steep as Benjamin's.
The sad part of the trip was when we returned home. I got one of the boys out of the passenger side of the car and opened the gate and walked toward the front door. Julia got the other twin out of his seat and helped Samuel out of the drivers side of the car. As I reached the front door I turned around and Julia was placing the twin on the stoop, the gate was closed and Samuel was nowhere to be seen.
As I was asking Julia where Samuel was I saw his head pop up through the gate. He had been locked out.
Julia immediately unlocked the gate but Samuel ran away from her. Apparently she had closed the gate in his face as he was following her into the yard. Samuel ran directly to me and refused to look at or hug his mummy for at least five minutes. All was soon forgotten by Samuel. We tried to explain to him that it will not be the last time that he is forgotten and left behind. It will happen again.
Samuel does not like watermelon. Very disappointing. He loves what are called in France Yetigel. I cannot remember what they are called in America. Yetigels are the summer treat of fruit flavored frozen water in small tubes that you slowly suck on until they melt and then you drink the sugar saturated water.
I get my 36 hour break for August next week. I will leave for Antwerp on Wednesday morning and return early Thursday evening. What we have learned over the last 5 months is that Julia and I love each other and our boys very much but we have been together under the same roof since February 1st. We decided that a quick remedy is that each of us gets a 36 hour break every month. Our trip coincides with a visit by the garde de nuit so the one of us that stays behind is not left completely alone with the boys. In July we both spent our trip in Brussels. We try to visit spots that are within a 2 hour train ride of Paris.
Samuel can now say I love you. Well, almost. He says "I la."
Nathan is a smiley baby. Subsequently his nickname is Smiley. Samuel calls him "Miley."
Saturday, July 3, 2010
I love France.....
I love France! Never thought I would write those words. We had a garde de nuit last night. Translates as night duty. A young woman, says she 21 looks about 12, stayed with the boys from 2200 last night until 0700 this morning. We both were able to get a good nights sleep. All for only 50 euros.
Old post that was not posted timely.
Old post that was not posted timely.
A typical day....
0700-Wake up and feed the twins. One feeds from a breast and the other gets a bottle. When finished with feed, Julia expresses milk.
0800-Wake up, dress and feed Samuel.
0900-1100-Do laundry, play with Samuel, clean up after Samuel, wash bottles and pump parts.
1100-Feed the twins. One feeds from a breast and the other gets a bottle. When finished with feed, Julia expresses milk.
1200-Feed Samuel.
1300-Put Samuel down for his nap.
1300-1500-Julia and I eat lunch and talk(imagine that!).
1500-Wake up Samuel from nap. Feed the twins. One feeds from a breast and the other gets a bottle. When finished with feed, Julia expresses milk.
1600-Feed Samuel a snack.
1600-1830-Do laundry, play with Samuel, clean up after Samuel, wash bottles and pump parts.
1830-Feed Samuel. Every other night the twins get a bath. When preparing Samuel's dinner we also make and refrigerate Samuel's lunch for the next day.
1900-Feed the twins.
1930-Take Samuel upstairs for bath, book(s) and bed. The one that does not take Samuel upstairs prepares dinner.
2000-Eat dinner.
2100-We alternate the evenings. One of us goes to bed while the other stays up and does the dishes and prepares the bottles for the evening feeds.
2300-Feed the twins. The one that feeds the twins then tries to sleep in the downstairs guest room or on the couch. We keep the boys downstairs so that the one who went upstairs at 2100 can, hopefully, get about 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
0400-Approximately. When the boys wake up hungry, the one that was downstairs goes upstairs and wakes the other up and we switch positions. We are trying to get the boys to sleep through the night so we let them sleep as long as they can.
0800-Wake up, dress and feed Samuel.
0900-1100-Do laundry, play with Samuel, clean up after Samuel, wash bottles and pump parts.
1100-Feed the twins. One feeds from a breast and the other gets a bottle. When finished with feed, Julia expresses milk.
1200-Feed Samuel.
1300-Put Samuel down for his nap.
1300-1500-Julia and I eat lunch and talk(imagine that!).
1500-Wake up Samuel from nap. Feed the twins. One feeds from a breast and the other gets a bottle. When finished with feed, Julia expresses milk.
1600-Feed Samuel a snack.
1600-1830-Do laundry, play with Samuel, clean up after Samuel, wash bottles and pump parts.
1830-Feed Samuel. Every other night the twins get a bath. When preparing Samuel's dinner we also make and refrigerate Samuel's lunch for the next day.
1900-Feed the twins.
1930-Take Samuel upstairs for bath, book(s) and bed. The one that does not take Samuel upstairs prepares dinner.
2000-Eat dinner.
2100-We alternate the evenings. One of us goes to bed while the other stays up and does the dishes and prepares the bottles for the evening feeds.
2300-Feed the twins. The one that feeds the twins then tries to sleep in the downstairs guest room or on the couch. We keep the boys downstairs so that the one who went upstairs at 2100 can, hopefully, get about 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
0400-Approximately. When the boys wake up hungry, the one that was downstairs goes upstairs and wakes the other up and we switch positions. We are trying to get the boys to sleep through the night so we let them sleep as long as they can.
Samuel is French.....Oh no!
When Samuel and I are outside kicking or throwing a ball around he does not say ball, he says "ballon." Not only does he say ballon, according to our neighbors, he says it with a perfect French accent. The battle is lost before it has even begun.
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