Mini Studmuffin Update

Cory has nicknamed himself Studmuffin, so our boys have become my mini studmuffins...hence the title of the post.

There has actually been a lot going on with the boys of late.

REFLUX... As I mentioned before, they were diagnosed with reflux last month. So...it has really messed with their sleeping. Around Christmas time, they were sleeping a 6-7 hr stretch (upright in their bouncers). After Christmas, we moved them to their crib and they did okay for a few nights but then started waking up every 1-3 hrs again. We played the binky game for a few weeks then tried the cry-it-out stuff for a night. The next day we took them to the Dr and she told us it was the reflux that was waking them up b/c they were in pain. We couldn't let them cry it out anymore, so it was back to the binky game. The Dr gave us medicine, but said it would probably take about 2-3 weeks to help. We started them on cereal and propped their crib up which did seem to help a little. We were still getting up 8-10x's a night though which was NOT FUN!! The pharmacy forgot to flavor the medicine, so it was a JOKE trying to get them to take it (not to mention EXPENSIVE!!!). We have since gotten it flavored and they LOVE it now.

SLEEP...After a few weeks, the reflux seemed to be a LOT better, so we went back to cry it out b/c in my opinion, asking for a binky 10x's a night is just ridiculous. It worked really quick with Noah, but Micah seems a bit more stubborn. They have also started rolling around in their sleep, so especially with the incline, they were rolling onto each other. We moved Noah to the pack and play and then he started waking up all over again. (I think a second crib is in our near future). We made a barrier out of a rolled up blanket (under their sheets) and moved Noah back to the crib. It seems to be working for now. They each only woke up once last night (other than 2 feedings). I swear I never thought I would still be feeling lucky to get a couple three hour blocks of sleep when they were 5 1/2 months old! I thought is was supposed to get better around 3 months! I'm still waiting for that blessed 8 hour block of sleep! It will happen eventually though, right? Cory has been wonderful. He takes half the night and I take the other half (which really is a sacrifice b/c he has to go to school the next day). He also still gets up to help me feed them at night.

Wow....this is getting a bit long, sorry! But since I am trying to make this more of a family journal, I guess I will continue....

FORMULA....I have been having some health problems (recurrent mastitis...like 6 times now), so my doctor thinks I need to stop breastfeeding. Honestly, I am SO sad. Although I REALLY wanted to do it at first b/c I believe it is important, I didn't really ENJOY it. Lately though, I have actually started to like it. However, I was already considering switching one feeding/day to formula so that I could get out a bit more (I need friends...). It is so tough to breastfeed them in public. Anyway, long story short, we are trying to switch them over. They DO NOT like it! The first few days, Noah just sat there with the bottle in his mouth, refusing to suck with the most disgusted look on his face. I started mixing formula with breast milk and Noah has started taking it. I just dilute it less and less each day. Micah, however (stubborn) WILL NOT drink a drop no matter how diluted it is. He just screams and screams and screams. He takes breast milk just fine from the bottle, so I know it isn't that. He just doesn't like the formula. Any tips would be appreciated!

FUN STUFF...They are learning SO much every day! Tummy time is starting to become easier. They can sit up for 10-20 seconds with a pillow behind them. They put EVERYTHING in their mouths and can even take their binkies in and out (now if they can just find them at night). They smile and laugh ALL THE TIME. They both (but especially Micah) love to stand while we hold their hands. Micah will just laugh and laugh. Cory was doing it with him the other day in Sacrament meeting and it got a bit loud. Cory even started laughing, but it is just SO cute! Micah can actually stand on his own for a while if you give him something to hold onto. They are getting SO BIG and have grown out of a bunch of clothes. They make funny sounds with their lips and coo and talk a lot. Noah especially will just talk for 20-30 minutes sometimes. He makes the sweetest little sounds/squeals. Micah's talking seems frustrated to me. I think he just really wants to be able to communicate. Noah also loves grabbing at everything with his hands and toes (you can see it in one of the pictures). They LOVE their cereal and get really impatient when eating. They just can't wait for that next bite. It almost always gets pretty messy...especially when I am alone trying to feed them both at once, but it is really fun. They love their baths and kick and squirm and squeal and laugh during them.

Overall, we are loving being parents. They are becoming more and more fun everyday. Now, if we could just get some sleep!!!

Enjoy the slide show!