I’m thrilled to say we’re all getting so much better! Tracie and the boys are almost better from their nasty cold/flu thing. They’ve all still got a few lingering symptoms (cough, runny nose) but seem to be feeling so much better!
Last week Tracie went back to work for the first time since about 6 weeks before the boys were born. For those that don’t know, she’s also a nurse, and will be working in the same hospital as Sal. Tracie is a theatre nurse, where as Sal works on the medical oncology ward. Sal has dropped her hours from 5days/week to 4days/week to allow Tracie to work on her days off. Tracie will work about 4-6 days a fortnight as a casual. We will work different days so we can each stay home and look after the boys while the other works. We’re not sure if this plan will work or if we’ll never see each other, but we’re going to give it a try!
The boys are also feeling much better and have gone back to “work”. Their days are very busy. They spend hours walking around the house, exploring, harassing the cats, reading books, playing with their toys, building block towers, looking out the window, and moving items (remote controls, phones, zinc cream etc) so mummy can’t find them later. They provide a running commentary most of the day and are learning new words all the time.
They (Benjamin in particular) LOVE to read books. They bring books to their mummies and nudge you with the book until you read it to them. They have several favourites, and can go find them when asked. Their comprehension has made HUGE leaps since they’ve gotten over their illness They can point to various objects when asked and follow several simple one-step verbal commands. They can also answer a variety of yes/no questions appropriately.
Some examples of things they understand:
They can point to the appropriate object when asked - Where’s the light? Where’s the TV? Where’s the remote control? Where’s the window? Where’s outside? Where’s the tree? Where’s the kitty? Where’s mum? Where’s Ethan? Where’s Benny? Where’s the ball? Where’s your belly/teeth/mouth/nose/hair/eyes/feet/legs? Where’s the green sheep book? (they can get about 5 of their favourite books if you start reciting the words) Where’s your xxxxxx (name any of their favourite toys and they’ll show you).
They can also follow simple one step verbal commands without gestures. For example if there’s a sock on the ground you could say “pick up the sock” and they will. We’re trying to teach them to then put it in with the other dirty clothes, but this command still requires you to point at the clothes basket for them to understand.
Other simple commands they understand include: Stand up/sit down.(and they will) Go get another book. (and they will)Ride your bike. (and ben will get on his bike and ride it around the room) Pow pow pow (and they will hit something like the table to make a good noise) shake shake (and they’ll shake the object they are holding to hear the noise it makes) Stomp stomp stomp (they stomp their feet) clap clap clap (they clap!) Wave bye bye (and they sometimes wave their hands) and many more….
Ethan’s new favourite word is ‘yes’. Which sounds like “yeah” or “dare” which he says while nodding his head once. He will also shake his head for ‘no’, but doesn’t say ‘no’ yet. He will answer simple yes/no questions, mostly in relation to what he would like to eat, or what he’d like to do. Most of the time, the answer is yes!
Ben also shakes his head for ‘no’ and manages to communicate ‘yes’ by whinging. Both boys are very good at letting us know what they want, most of the time! They often point at what they want and we have to offer various objects in the direction of their pointing until we get it right. They have many likes and dislikes and are defiantly individuals.
Ethan’s words that he uses consistently and appropriately at 15months– yeah(yes); dare(yes – if said while nodding); dare(there – if said while pointing); ki-ey(kitty); ba(bottle and many other things that we’ve yet to decipher and that change depending on his mood) mum(applies to both of us at the moment)
Ben’s words that he uses consistently and appropriately at 15months– ki-ey(kitty); wiggle(in relation to the kids show ‘the wiggles’); mum(in relation to both of us). Ben chats/babbles all day (more than Ethan) and i’m sure there are many other words he says that we haven’t deciphered yet. He will also says “nan nan nan” (nana) and “eeeee” (Ethan) if we ask him to.
Both boys are great sleepers. If they are healthy, they go to sleep at about 6:30pm without crying/whinging (sometimes they'll 'talk' for a few mins) and sleep 12-14 hours without waking. They wake around 7:30-8am at the moment. In the last 2 weeks they've been extra tired from their illness they were waking at 8:30-9:30am. Today we were back to 7:45am. They nap once a day for about 2-3 hours after lunch (12-2:30ish).
The boys diet is slowly growing in variety. They still have many restrictions, but each week we introduce new foods. Ethan eats more than Ben, sometimes twice/three times as much as his little brother. They like weetbix, porridge, rice bubbles, toast and yoghurt for breakfast. Mid morning snack is often some crackers or fruit (blueberries are by far the favourite). They'll eat bread, veges and meat for lunch, and similar for dinner. They love chicken and will also eat beef, veal, lamb and pork. We often make meat into rissoles with some veges as they are softer and easier to freeze and reheat. Veges are a staple in their diet. Ethan is a champ and veges and gobbles them up. Ben is a little more picky and will eat them if he's in the mood, otherwise he prefers to squish them into his tray or throw them on the floor, or give them to Ethan. They can eat potato, choko, swede, carrot, sweet potato, pumpkin, peas, corn, zucchini and parsnip. They also love cheese, milk, custard and a variety of fruit for desert. Benjamin's latest favourite food was pumpkin risotto that Sal made last week. He gobbled it up and then threw a HUGE tantrum when it was all gone and cried and cried and refused to eat anything else that night. Ethan loves risotto too, but managed to control himself and eat the rest of his dinner!
Both boys are still drinking formula from a bottle 3 times a day. We saw our allergy dietician when they were 12 months old and she has recommended them to continue formula until 18months to ensure adequate nutrition with their diet. Their diet is much more varied now than it was at 12 months, but we'll continue the formula until we see her in November. We need to try and get the boys off a bottle and drinking their formula from a cup - that'll be the next challenge now they are healthy again.
I know I haven't posted many pics of the boys lately - mostly due to their recent illness..... so here's some new pics.........
Ethan
Benjamin eating a rice cake
Ethan (in the red top) and Benjamin (in the blue top) looking out the window. 
Benjamin - sitting in a box that's too small to sit in (silly boy) 
Going for a walk. Ben is helping Tracie push the pram. Ethan is lingering behind. 
On our way to the park. Ben is still helping to push. Ethan didn't want to walk, so he's in the pram now. 
Ethan
Further down the street. Ben is still helping Tracie push. 
At the park. Ben playing with the swing
Ethan playing with the ball. 
Ben at the park.
Exploring the park.
Ben.
Ethan.
Ben in the house.
Ben.
Ethan climbing up the stairs, Ben walking around the side.
Again in the house!!! 
Boys in the house - something interesting happening over there mum.
Ethan and Sal playing 'peek-a-boo'.
Ethan going down the stairs. He hasn't fallen - this was his technique to get down. He crawled down face first!! (silly boy) 
Ben and Sal playing on the slide.
Ethan's turn on the slide.
Ben on the swing.
Ethan on the swing.
Ben and Sal.
Ethan and Sal. 
Ethan and Sal - Ethan is telling his mummy a story.
Ben, Ethan and Sal.
Tracie and Ethan.
Ethan.
Ethan and Ben exploring the ground over here now!
Ethan and Ben exploring this toy now.
We had a great fun at the park. The weather has been so nice lately - We're making the most of it, taking the boys outside to play.
We’re looking forward to the summer and consistently warmer weather!
