2008 August « Gemini Girl

Archive for August, 2008

Questions & Answers

August 29, 2008 at 11:17 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged Q & A

On to the questions & Answers!!!

Question #1 comes to us from Anns. Anns just had a beautiful baby boy and moved into a a great new home.

Q: How do you like wordpress?

A: Anns, I’m glad you had the courage to ask this question

WordPress is OK I guess. I think Blogger is much easier and more straightforward to use than WordPress. I do like that WordPress keeps track of how many hits you have to your site every day and what people googled to get to you.

Question # 2 is from Rachel

Q: “My question- why do you sometimes put a period in place of a letter? I think you do it when it’s a proper noun or a name brand of something…”

A: I usually put a period when it’s a brand name or company because I don’t exactly want people to google a store name and end up in my site- they would be disappointed!

Question # 3 came from my friend Kristen. Kristen too is the mother of twin girls who were born 8 weeks premature. They are now over a year old and are gorgeous

Q: 1)What is your favorite part of having twins? 2)What is the most difficult part of having twins?

A: Favorite part… I mean, if you’re going to raise one baby you might as well raise two at once. I love the fact that they will have one another for the rest of their lives- a companion, a best friend- something I never had (as I only had an older brother). To get pregnant I had to undergo IVF- so who knows if I will be able to get pregnant again. If I wont- at least I have these two angels.

Difficult: Two babies are not easy. At times, I feel that the difficult outweighs the good. You always feel like your short changing one of them- if you pick one up, the other looks at you… and you feel guilty. Plus the fussy baby is the one that always manages to get your attention (so you feel bad for the quiet one). It’s also not too easy financially when you have two infants, and live in NYC.

Question # 4 (well, technically more than one question but I’ll let it slide) comes from Heather of the famous Spohrs. Heather has an incredible daughter Maddie who was born 2 days before my daughters and was 11 weeks premature. The girl is just AMAZING.

Maddie- how could you not want to kiss that face

1) Ideally, how many more children would you like to have?

A: Ideally, I would like to have 4 total- preferably not at the same time. If and when I undergo IVF again, I will only have one embryo placed.I already know that my body could not handle a twin pregnancy. Just because we got lucky once (with the girls overcoming their premature births)- does not mean it would happen again. I’m thinking of having another one when the girls get a bit older- maybe when they are 5. This way, they could be like little mommy’s helpers. Plus I’ll try to have a son for my husband- it must suck for him being outnumbered and all.

2) What is your dream job?

A: Dream job? to creative television programs- cartoons- and see them on air.

3) How did you pick the girls’ names?

A: hMM… When I was a teenager, I wanted to be an actress. My last name was just too ethnic and complicated to pronounce- so I was told to consider using a stage name. I didn’t know what to “change” it to. As I was driving in a car one day the name Soleil popped into my head (As an alternative last name- as if that is any less harder to pronounce…). I fell in love with it and decided that if I were to have a daughter that would be her name. Getting my husband to agree- that was a whole other story…

Neve came about in 2004. I was up all night painting with late night tv on in the background. C.onan Obrien was telling the audience that he had just had his first baby- and he named her Neve. I truly liked the name- and made a mental note.

* The names also worked out well- since Soleil’s name means sun in french and Neve means Snow in Latin (my name & my husband’s name both have nature meanings as well)

4) Where is your favorite place to shop for yourself?

A: Shop- I wish I could do that more often. I really like H&M and Forever 2.1. Great stuff that is reasonably priced.

Question # 5 comes from Pillarr1

Q:. What is your sleeping routine with the girls – bedtime, do they get up at night, how many times, what time do they wake, do they eat at night, etc.

A:We usually start our bedtime routine at 5:30pm. We feed them a solid- usually a baby yogurt, give them a bath, and give them their last bottle for the night. They fall asleep between 6:30pm- 7:00pm (with Soleil falling asleep first as Neve cries every night). They usually sleep until 6-7am (knock on wood). They have started waking up a bit at night now because of their teething- but if they cry for a long time- 10 minutes- then we give them a bottle with something to drink- but not formula. At this age/ weight they don’t need to eat in middle of the night.

2. How are you juggling working and mothering? I am considering going back to work and would like your thoughts (I only have one child who is 7 months old)

A:This question is tough to answer as everyone is so different. I went back to work when my girls were 3 months old. I had been on bed rest for 6 weeks before they were born- so with the added 3 months maternity leave- it meant I was out of the office for 4.5 months. I don’t think I could be a Stay at home Mom. I truly believe that is the toughest job. At that point my girls were hardly sleeping and I was so frustrated and sad all day. It was NOT EASY taking care of two screaming babies when you are home alone (my husband worked). I just wanted to be out of the house and to be amongst the living again. I wanted a reason to get dressed and shower. Plus- I am not in a position to not work- we need it financially.

For me- it was a really easy decision. I do leave at 7:15am and return at 6:30pm. It’s hard not to be with them- and only see them in the mornings and at night. I just know that the alternative would not do me any good- for my sanity. I see them on the weekends- so it makes it a better.

3. Do you get to go out a lot at night? If so, who watches the girls? I don’t go anywhere at night so I am considering a babysitter.

A: I don’t usually go out at night. I am away too tired. But when we do have an occasion my mother is nice enough to babysit. I definitely believe that you need to go out at times- for yourself. Make some you time.

4. Do you let your girls watch cartoons/TV and if so how much? I let my daughter watch Spanish cartoons only and the occasional Mickey Mouse Club.

A: They do watch certain cartoons- The LOVE Sup.er Why (PBS), Ses.ame Street & Curio.us George. Other than that they don’t really watch too much. I try to limit it in some ways- but I am def an advocate that TV can be educational. Besides, I work for a media company who may or may not specialize in animation..

The girls go crazy when this comes on

5. Do you cook dinner every night or does your husband cook?

A: This question made me laugh. I do not cook every night- just on the weekends. I mean who has time to work almost all day- take care of the kids at night and then cook? I am by no means superwoman- and neither are most people that I know. I am no Donna Reed.

My husband usually makes himself “dinner”- sandwiches- but he refuses to cook because he says he’s lazy. I know this will change when we HAVE to cook for the girls

Not me

6. How do you find time to do all of the things that you do in your life? You must have a lot of energy!

A: This made me laugh harder. I do NOT have energy- I am pretty much running on empty. I have become so robotic in my daily life- Wake up, feed the girls, go to work, come home, feed them, bathe them, put them to sleep, shower and I am off to bed. I don’t have time for myself- as most new parents dont. I try to get through each day. That- and I am hyped up on caffeine.

Question #6 comes from K- of Roleplayingwiththekids. K has a 4 year old daughter, twin boys that are 2 years old, and a new set of twin boys. Yes- two sets of twins- you read right.

Q:My question is the same as always. Will you please post a picture of you smiling ? with teeth ?

Backstory- I HATE smiling with my teeth. It’s a long story and started in kindergarten. So you will NEVER see a picture of me with teeth.

k- I say this with only love in my heart-You truly are becoming a pain in my tush- so just for you:

Only reason this was taken with teeth is bec I didnt know they were taking it

Question # 7 Comes from Sharon

Q: Do u have any favorite toys your girls just love to play with?

A:My girls love their jumparoo. I have many toys in the house but this is the one they adore.

Jumparoo

Play Yard

Last Question comes from Mike of the Newborn Identity also of the famous Spohrs

Q: Have you ever met Paul McCartney (he asks, fishing for the story to be re-told)?

A: Mike, glad you asked as I love rubbing in Celeb encounters.

A few weeks ago I was getting off at my subway stop in Manhattan. As I was about to exit through the emergency door (I’m lazy to exit through the turn rail), someone was standing in my way. As I looked at the person in question, I realized it was non other than Paul McCartney! He was asking an attendant for directions and holding his adorable daughter’s hand ( Beatrice-Heather Mill’s spawn).

I stood there dumbfounded- with my jaw on the floor. Everyone around me noticed him, but walked by- of course, i was the only one gawking. He realized this, smiled at me and waved. Yes he waved. A Beatle waved at me. Then his daughter smiled at me and I waved to her. She waved back- her blond pigtails beautifully coiffed.

Paul & Bea my new BFF

AND of course because I HAD to add some pictures of the girls…

The girls at the park today:

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School

August 27, 2008 at 7:43 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged Husband, School

So it’s been three days and I am STILL sick.

YUCK.

My body has definitely changed since having the girls. I get sick more often- as if my immune system is out of whack.

My husband started school today. Very proud of him.

I don’t know how much I’ve discussed his schooling on this blog.

See, my husband’s mom died in a car accident when he was a child. She was 35. She left behind her high school sweetheart and her three children- My husband’s older brother S (who was 12), My husband (10) and the little girl she so wished for (2).

My husband’s dad didn’t know what to do with his children since he wasn’t the primary caretaker- his wife was.

So he sent my husband and his brother off to boarding school while he tried to raise his young daughter with the help of his own mother.

My husband heavily disliked boarding school- so he dropped out when he was 16 years old. His father nagged him to go back- but he didn’t feel motivated. Once he hit 18, he was enlisted into the army (As everyone in Israel is) and he did that for the next few years. After he was released from the army, he traveled around the world, and then we ended up together. When he got to the US (after I forced him to come be with me) he didn’t know what to do with his life. He was 24. I convinced him to take the GED and enroll in a 2 year. He didn’t want to hear it. He finally came around 2 years later and took the test. He passed with flying colors and so he enrolled in school.

People have any misconceptions about those who drop out of high school- he is embarrassed by it. He doesn’t let it define him- as he is one of the smartest people that I know. He had family problems where no one cared about his education- and therefore dropped out.

The first year in school was all about remedial courses that he was NOT getting credits for. But we figured that it was fine- that he had to pay his dues for dropping out of high school. He started at the age of 27.

He hates that he is the oldest one in his classes- but I encourage him.

He is studying to be a mechanical Engineer since he is AMAZING with his hands. He can fix anything and find a solution for anything.

So far he is getting A’S & B’s in all of his classes- including English (which is not his first language).

He took the spring semester off because the girls were just born and were not sleeping through the night. There was no way he could juggle full time work, school and no sleep.

His boss let him go (bec he needed someone full time and not part time)- so now he is no longer working. We are pretty strapped and a bit stressed from this situation. I don’t make enough to support us. If I lived in Tennessee or Utah- I would be able to afford A LOT on my salary. Alas, I live in New York- where everything is way to expensive- and we have no plans on moving. Hopefully he will find some part time work. I would love to be able to support all of us- but I cant.

Anyway- the whole reason I am telling you this?

Well- he will only now get home Mondays & Wednesday’s at 8:45 pm!!! This means Mommy is on duty for the night feeding/ bathing/ putting to bed…. not an easy task AT ALL. Tonight I am on such duty (being sick and all).

Wish me luck as I brave the waters of two infants alone!!

*Will answer your questions in next post**

*PSS- Lost 8 pounds in 6 weeks now…. very exciting… pre prego weight here I come***

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I’m sick

August 25, 2008 at 5:57 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged SICK

Don’t feel too well- coming down with something fierce….

Send chicken soup….

*My next post will be a Q & A- If you have any questions for me about anything (ie- religion, work, mothering, ivf, prematurity, marriage etc) send them my way!!!

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Fall Clothing

August 23, 2008 at 3:58 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged Clothes

Did a little fall clothes shopping for the girls at the Ch.ldren’s Place. Here are two different looks and their prices- in case you wanted to know!

Top: $7.99 Pant: $12.99 Headband: $1.49

*Baby not included

Jumper: $19.50 Headband $1.49

*Suspicious look not included

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Picture Thursday

August 21, 2008 at 4:09 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged Pictures

Soleil after her Bath

Neve

What did you just call me?

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Nurturing Individuality

August 20, 2008 at 2:22 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged Individuality

Not me

As a child I was never good at sports.

While all of my friends played jump rope during recess, I sat with my other non-athletic friends eating snack and talking about boys (since it was an all-girl school).

I tried playing dodge ball- that was our grade’s thing to do (6-8thgrade). At the time I attributed it to the fact that I was already fully developed with c cups at the age of 12/ 13. I was also never a skinny girl who was light on her feet. I was definitely someone- still am- who tripped over her own feet.

But the funny thing is, the best dodge ball player on our team was MUCH heavier than me.

I remember feeling left out when it came to sports. I wasn’t picked last because I was semi popular. But I always wished I knew how to jump rope like all the other girly-girls.

I have no coordination.

I cant swim, I cant dance, I cant play a sport- hell, I can hardly walk in a straight line.

I haven’t been into the whole 2008 Olympic hoopla thing at all although I did watch women’s vollyball over the weekend. It looked like such a fun sport to play. I just know that I would not contribute anything to a team I was on.

But what I WAS good at was art & music.

I remember when I was a child a friend of mine bribed me with cash to draw a picture on a card for her mother that was supposedly made by her. I think she wanted a skunk on the card if I remember correctly. I drew it- and took the dollar.

I took acting classes and painting classes as a child. I did it on the weekends, and my mother would leave my brother at home and the two of us would travel into the city for the courses. That is one thing I can say about my mother- she did nurture the artistic side of me.

Speaking of which- my aunt is amazing. She has three boys ages 15, 11, 10. Her middle son has always been a bit effeminate. As a child he only wanted to play with dolls, had a phase where he wanted to put on make up, wanted (and had) many girl-themed birthday parties. He (until today) doesn’t have any guy friends, but has several girl friends. He has always been into dance and theater. Now, many parents seeing these qualities in their son would try to steer them toward what society labels “boy activities” such as karate, soccer, baseball. Not my Aunt. She has always nurtured her children’s individuality. Instead of signing him up for karate with his brothers, she took him to dance classes and to theater classes. I know he will grow up feeling loved and accepted- no matter who he is.

Back to me…

Once I realized what I was good it (art etc)- I kind of gave up on the parts I wasn’t, and that’s OK.

So no matter what my children decide to do or NOT do, I will nurture what they enjoy and not force feed them what I want them to do. Just like my aunt.

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Kindness of Strangers

August 19, 2008 at 12:12 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged Topcat

My lovely Topcatsent me a BEAUTIFUL package that arrived this morning from Australia. If you have yet to go to TC’S blog, go… go now.. OK not right now, after you read about the beautiful things she sent me. TC is a beautiful strong woman. I feel as though she is a close friend although we have never “met” face to face. This is one reason why I love blogging so much- the people that I have met through this medium are women and men who I would never have met if not through blogging. I am richer having known you people.

A Gemini painting

Tim Tam cookies with instructions on how to eat them

Presents for the girls

Soleil trying to eat the lovely card that TC wrote

Neve enjoying her card Tiny bracelets

TC Sent us shirts!

But not just any shirts- shirts with fairy wings!

: Soleil testing out her new wings

: Mommy & her tired fairys

Thank You TC- Sending much love from across the world!

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Picture

August 18, 2008 at 1:41 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged Picture

Last night we walked into the girls room to check on them. At first, I couldn’t see Soleil. It was as if she wasn’t in her crib!

On closer inspection, this is what we found:

Today's Letter is L

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Check Up

August 16, 2008 at 2:59 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged Check Up

OK- Mommy post. I warned you.

So yesterday was the girls 9 month check up. I took the day off from work- thank heavens…

Not happy they got shots.

NEVE

No flash photography please

Stats:

Weight: 21.2 pounds (75-90th percentile)

Height: 29 inches (90-95th percentile)

Head Circumference: 45 ( 75th-90th percentile)

Worries:Neve has an inverted nipple but the doctor said not to worry. He said it may fix itself over time or she may have to get it fixed down the line.

I was also worried that she often tilts her head more to the right, he said that she will eventually outgrow it

SOLEIL

Stats:

Weight: 21.0 pounds (75-90th percentile)

Height: 28.4 inches (50-75th percentile)

Head Circumference: 42 ( 10th-25th percentile)

So I just plugged in those stats and Soleil’s head seems to be pretty small for her age. Weird. I just thought Neve’s head was huge.

Concerns: The girl hardly poops by herself. She literally poops HUGE rocks. We have to give her laxatives most of the time (poor baby). The Dr. said it was OK and that she will eventually be able to do it by herself.

So apparently I have not been feeding the girls enough solids. They get 2 solids a day in the form of 1 STAGE 2 baby food jars. He wants me to feed them 3 times a day.

He said it start giving them mashed potato’s, eggs, cottage cheese, chicken etc… I worry about choking hazards. So I tried to get over that fear and gave them some mashed potatoes yesterday. They both started to gag! I did wet it for them but it didn’t seem to help. Soleil liked it when we mixed it with some pureed sweet potato, but Neve was not having it. The faces she made were priceless! So any advice on what and how I should introduce thicker foods to them? I mean, they cant eat pureed foods forever. Like their Dr. said- they have teeth for a reason (although soleil still doesn’t have any).

I also find something else that happened very creepy.

So my girls pediatrician was my pediatrician as a child- and I only have good memories of him. When I ask him questions about the girls, he always answers nicely but then looks at the girls and then throws in a remark like- ” Tell your mommy to stop stressing. You are beautiful and healthy, If not- I will take you home and raise you”…. which pisses me off because it’s as if he is dismissing me and my fears and concerns.

And then he said something SO STRANGE. As he was checking my girls he was calling them delicious – but then said to them that they were sexy little girls.

OK- Since when does a pediatrician call 9 month olds sexy? I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt that maybe he didn’t find the right words to say- since english is not his first language (although he has been here since 1970). But you know what they say- you always have to be weary of the people who work with children (esp considering we just found out that my mother’s best friend’s husband has been a child molester for years and is now behind bars). So I am keeping my eye out. If he says those words again, I’m going to tell him I find that very inappropriate. I just think that he is a really great doctor- esp considering he was the head of my hospital’s NICU for many years.

Anyway moving away from weirdness…

I have now lost 7 pounds in a little over 4 weeks (Je.nny). This new program is very exciting and apparently works. I still have about 25 pounds more to go, but at least I know that it’s working!

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