I got to spend some quality time with Gabriel and Zeke today. Daddy took Houston up to the mountains to visit Granny and Grumps, so it was just me and the boys for the afternoon and evening.

They were also on a different nap schedule, which is not the norm, so I got to do some one-on-one bonding, as well. It was nice, although certainly not a vacation … turns out that all the Dillingham dudes are a challenge, even when hangin’ solo with Mommy.

Zeke says, “Look at what a big boy I am!”

The major stress of my domestic life these days is the twins’ puke. I’ve mentioned if before, but it is completely insane. So much so, that my pediatrician referred the boys to a gastrointestinal specialist. Yes, they’re gaining weight and seem healthy, but they pretty much puke nonstop, no matter how much I feed them, how often I feed them, what I feed them, if they sit up for a half hour after I feed them, etc.

I know there’s always going to be some issue to stress me out as a mom, but this constant barfing sometimes has me at my wit’s end. We even chatted with our pastor to see if he had any pearls of wisdom as to how to cope with the stress of the incessant vomiting and the subsequent chaos it creates. He said to pray and read the Bible daily. I’ve been doing the former and started the latter a few days ago. Hope it helps me deal.

Silly-boy Houston says, “I’m good at making Daddy laugh.”

Tending to the puke can totally suck up all my time, if I let it. Luckily, Houston helps me clean it up when he’s playing with brothers. I also try to ignore it when possible, but oftentimes the liquid mess is so dangerous that I must tend to it immediately. In fact, Gabriel smashed his nose on the floor, Zeke bruised his head, and I almost bit the dust when slipping in the expansive puddles that tend to cover the nursery floor.

It’s so crazy that I felt compelled to warn Auntie Lisa about the severity of the situation before she comes to visit. Fortunately for me, she says she ain’t scared. She’s heading to Clan Dillingham tomorrow to help out with the boys, as well as have a little non-kid fun with Stephen and me. I am so looking forward to having an extra set of hands!

Other highlights:

• On 7/29, Houston had a check-up at the pediatrician. Now that he’s 2, we restarted his vaccinations; we picked up where we left off since putting his shots on hold after his 9-month visit last year. Houston the brave got three shots in the leg and is now to up-to-date on his vaccination schedule.
• That day, Houston also weighed in at a whopping 45 pounds and measured 39 3/8″ long!

Gabriel says, “Trucks are sooooooo cool!”

• On 8/1, Zeke’s two bottom teeth finally popped through his bottom gum. Now we have two snaggle-tooth babies!
• On 8/7, Gabriel pulled himself into a standing position in the crib for the first time. I’m confident one or both of the twins will be walking soon … maybe the erect walking position will help to curb the puke fest. One can only hope!
• Last week I began bathing Gabriel and Zeke in the bathtub at the same time. The real tub is so much more convenient than dealing with their little infant tub. Plus, cleaning both boys simultaneuously is a real time-saver for me and lots of fun for them.

A few new pics have been added to the end of the late-July gallery. Click the above photo of Gabriel to check ’em out. And click the middle pic of Houston and Daddy in the pool to view the August photos.

A week ago tomorrow was one of my worst days as a mom. It started off like any typical morning when the boys wake up simultaneously with with soiled diapers, hungry bellies and cranky attitudes — all demanding instant gratification from an avowed non-morning person, who’s armed with only a lot of love, but has only two hands and a shaky constitution, since there’s no chance of a coffee-making opportunity in sight.

Houston cools off in his kiddy pool.

After tending to everyone’s immediate needs, I decided to go pump, but got sidetracked when I had to stop and deal with (more) of the twins’ incessant puking. (Seriously, folks. Gabriel and Zeke’s reflux is so bad that I wiped vomit off of them, the mat, the floor, me, Houston and their toys for an hour and 40 minutes that morning, and that wasn’t even a notably pukey spell, just about average.)

While pumping, I remembered I had forgotten to put up the gate to keep the twins out of the kitchen. I called for Houston and asked him to check if Gabriel had gotten into the cat food — one of his favorite things to investigate as of late. Houston ran back to me and said, “Bruv-uhr cat eat.” I raced down the hall to discover that Houston was right. Gabriel had the food in his mouth, but luckily had not chewed or swallowed any.

I proceeded to scrape the cat food out of his mouth, but scared Houston and him in the process. Gabriel was screeching and Houston, who mistook that he had done something wrong, said, “Bad corner.” Poor child thought he was in trouble and was getting a time out when he was the big boy who saved little brother from choking to death.

Knocking things down brings much pleasure to bruiser-boy Gabriel.

So there I was, stretched thin, still without caffeine, boobs hanging out, breast milk dripping down my belly, screaming babies all around. And to top things off, Miss Heather was supposed to help out that day, but was running very late because her car wouldn’t start. Well, I called Stephen to “vent” (if that’s what you want to call it), so he decided to take a “vacation” day to come home and help me recuperate from my subsequent meltdown.

Since then, we have implemented a few much-need tweaks around the zoo.

• Containment policy: We now put the gate up in the doorway of the twins’ room, where Gabriel and Zeke can now crawl and puke and explore and puke and play and puke to their hearts’ content. Outside of the nursery, they can be held, sit in their high chairs, bounce in their jumpers or hang out in the pack-n-play.
• Guy time: Stephen is going to take Houston for an outing every weekend, whether it’s to the store, a baseball game, the park, a birthday party or wherever. That way, I can have a little break from the terrible twos and hopefully get a few things accomplished in and around the house, while Houston and Daddy can spend some quality time together.

Zeke has a blast exploring life off of the mat.

• More Heather = happy Mommy: We have trimmed some more financial fat so that we can now swing paying Miss Heather to help out with child care and household stuff eight hours a week, instead of only four.
• Free at last: On Monday, I officially kicked breast-feeding and pumping. Breast-feeding had become too painful, and pumping milk for bottles had become too tedious and time-consuming. So, I didn’t make it a year, but nine months breast-feeding twins is still pretty darn good, if I do say so myself.

Things have been going “bed-uhr,” as Houston would say, with our post-meltdown policies. Yes, it’s still a zoo, but a much more tolerable zoo, with two more relaxed and in-control zoo keepers and their three wild monkeys.

The nursery play area has also helped Zeke, who officially crawled a good distance from point A to B (not just around in circles) on 7/17. I think the smaller space inspired the physical milestone, since the nursery is not near as intimidating as our huge living room. Plus, he seems much less frustrated, since Gabriel can’t really leave him in the dust like he was able to do when the terrain of exploration was more expansive.

Houston & Zeke get silly outside.

Other notables:

• On 7/14, Zeke had his last post-surgical appointment with Dr. Petty, who reports that Zeke has done remarkable with his recovery. Soooooooooo glad that chapter of Z-Bird’s life is finally over.
• Today the twins had their nine-month check-up at the pediatrician. Gabriel weighs 18 pounds, 1 1/2 ounces; Zeke is not far behind at 17 pounds, 7 1/2 ounces. However, Zeke is longer at 27 7/8″; Gabriel is 27″. Both of their heads are 18 1/8″ around.
• Houston’s allergies and eczema are much more bearable as of late. We still do the treatments and meds when necessary, but not nearly as frequently as was the case in late spring and early summer.
• Houston is a man on the go. He has already attended one birthday party recently and has three more coming up soon.
• “Mock” is what Houston calls our celebratory fist bumps. Not sure where that originates, but it’s too cute!
• Click the above photo of Houston and Zeke to view all the July pics so far.