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This journal is about raising identical twins.Fifteenth Month
Previous entries
Tuesday, Oct 6, 1998 (14m+0d)
The twins are 14 months old.
Wednesday, Oct 7, 1998 (14m+1d)
We found a new budding tooth from each twin. Joanne has her lower left lateral incisor(tooth N) and Jasmine has her lower right lateral incisor(tooth Q). The score now: Joanne 6, Jasmine 7.
Saturday, Oct 10, 1998 (14m+4d)
Joanne has another budding tooth. Her upper right lateral incisor(tooth D) showed up as a tiny white dot. The score now: Joanne 7, Jasmine 7.We took the kids shopping at Home Depot in the morning. We spent most of the day working on the garden. I've added some lava rock to cover the bare soil in the rose bed, installed several low voltage lights in the garden. The twins banged on the windows to get my attention. Auntie Tina and cousin Natalie visited in the late afternoon. While they played with the twins, mommy joined me and planted some ground cover in the backyard at where the original plants had rotten and withered.
We later had dinner at Darda Restaurant in Milpitas Square celebrating grandma Chui's belated 76th birthday. The twins did not eat much, perhaps they don't like Islamic cuisine.
Sunday, Oct 11, 1998 (14m+5d)
We took the twins to the 1998 Fleet Week in San Francisco. I couldn't find much on this year's event, but I found an excellent site on last year's event and many other air shows. If I am not mistaken, the Fleet Week is the annual shore leave of the Navy's 7th fleet at San Francisco. Usually, there is an air show over the bay for the public and some ships are open for tours. I went on an aircraft carrier in one of the fleet week many years ago. They don't open the carrier to the public very often.I didn't know the location nor the schedule of the air show. We arrived at San Francisco at noon. The roads were packed with traffic, we found a parking space in the Embarcadero Center at around 12:45pm. We asked a family if the air show was over. They told us the Blue Angels would fly from 2pm to 3pm. We figured we have a lot of time before the main show, so we went to Harbor Village Restaurant for lunch.
In the middle of the lunch, we heard loud air plane noise overhead. I knew then we were misinformed. Mommy stayed with the twins in the restaurant and I went outside to check it out. I saw the Blue Angels flying in formation over the bay and they made loops in the sky. I knew for sure we were going to miss the show. We just relaxed and enjoyed our lunch.
After lunch, we walked out to the shorefront and we sat at a fishing pier (probably pier 5). We saw some air planes looping in the sky and they were flying above pier 39 (which is miles away). We tried to point the twins to the planes, but they didn't see the planes at all. It is understandable because the planes were just little dots in the sky and the twins were already overwhelmed by the unfamiliar surrounding.
We decided not to see the navy ships because the stroller would not get around on a navy ship easily. We have learned a lesson this time, the Embarcadero center is NOT a good spot to see the air show.
We left SF and stopped by aunt Tina's place. Then we went to Umi Sushi Boat for dinner. The twins didn't eat much either, perhaps they are tired of Japanese Cuisine. But they surely made a big mess because all that they didn't eat went under the table.
Wednesday, Oct 14, 1998 (14m+8d)
Mommy usually bathes the twins in the afternoon, one at a time, in the baby tub. We started to bathe both twins together in the big bathtub. But she cannot manage two wet babies by herself. It takes two persons to finish the bath. One stays in the tub with one baby to keep her warm and from drowning while one takes the other baby out to dry and dress. We can only do that in the evening when I am also home.Today is the second time we bathe the twins in the large tub. Both babies were scared and they cried and struggled to get out of the water. Mommy had to hug them for a few minutes before they started playing with the tub toys. It was kind of surprising to us because the twins were not scared when we took them to the swimming pool in the summer. I guess they were scared of the echoes in the tub enclosure and were particularly scared of the running water from the faucet.
Friday, Oct 16, 1998 (14m+9d)
After several attempts, we decided that the twins are not ready for the bathtub. Though they calm down eventually, it is still a struggle to get them in the water. We don't want to scare them every night.On the contrary, you can tell they enjoy their baby tub very much because just lie in the water calmly. Bath time is probably their quietest moment besides being asleep.
Saturday, Oct 17, 1998 (14m+11d)
We stayed home most of the day, except going out to dinner. I spent the afternoon going through and throwing away some old stuffs in the garage.Jasmine got a fever, she was at 102°F in the morning. She returned to normal in the early afternoon. Then after a nap in the late afternoon, she woke up at 103°F again. Despite her fever, she was as happy and active as usual.
We fed her regularly. We gave her a Tylenol drop before bed. She probably didn't like the taste of the medicine, and threw up everything that we fed her earlier. She spilled the stinky half-digested cheese-like stuffs all over our bed, carpet and her clothes too. She looked dazed and scared when all the stuffs gushed out of her mouth and nose, but she didn't cry. After mommy gave her a bath and a change of clothes, she was very happy and fell asleep right away. It took us both over an hour to clean up the stinky mess afterwards.
Sunday, Oct 18, 1998 (14m+12d)
Despite an empty stomach, Jasmine slept well last night. She recovered completely. We took the twins and cousin Natalie to Toys R Us in New Park Mall in Fremont. They played happily with the toys there. Grandpa is taking a trip to China for two months, we went to grandma Ling's place for dinner and said bon voyage to grandpa.
Monday, Oct 19, 1998 (14m+13d)
We called the doctor office when we noticed Jasmine had a rash on her body. We were told that she most likely caught Roseola, a contagious virus infection. She should be kept away from other children and pregnant women. Joanne has no escape because she lives in the same house. The key of the diagnosis was the rash just AFTER the fever is gone. The infection has an incubation period between five to fifteen days. She could have caught it more than one week ago. Joanne may have the same symptom in the next two weeks if she got it from Jasmine. Jasmine needs to see the doctor only when the symptoms continue for more than 48 hours.
Wednesday, Oct 21, 1998 (14m+15d)
Jasmine has recovered totally, the rash is gone. Joanne did not catch Jasmine's infection.
Saturday, Oct 24, 1998 (14m+18d)
A routine day. Stayed home most of the day; shopping at Costco; dinner at Umi; stopped by auntie Tina's etc.
Sunday, Oct 25, 1998 (14m+19d)
We had lunch with Hing and Lucy. We let the twins use their baby forks at the table. Both were not very skillful in sticking the fork into the food, but they were enthusiastic. Joanne pressed the fork onto the plate with so much effort that she clenched her jaws and her whole body trembled. After they picked up the food with the fork, they picked the food off the fork with the fingers and put them in the mouth.After lunch, we went shopping at Stanford Shopping Center. We met another set of twins at Bloomingdale's. They were 6½ year old identical Chinese boys. We went our own ways after we exchanged a few questions about the twins.
It was time to feed the babies, we took the twins to McDonald's where we got some hot water to warm the bottles. Mommy and Lucy went on shopping while I tried to feed the babies at the restaurant. When I gave them the bottles, they just shook their heads. They prefer to take the bottle from mommy even at home. They only let me feed them when they are very very hungry. The twins were excited about the surroundings and they climbed all over the place from the bench to the tables. While I was struggling with the twins, the family of the twins we met earlier walked in and sat down right next to us.
This time, I talked to the mother in length while the boys shared the toys from their McDonald's value meals with the girls. She told me their boys were born at 6 lbs. and were also 6 weeks premature like ours. The boys developed a secret language between themselves and they had some trouble with learning languages initially. The problem lasted till they entered kindergarten. Her advice to me is that we should talk more to our twins early on. The boys are now in first grade, they go to the same school in Cupertino but are in separate classes. She said they are the only twins in 1st grade of that school, but there are 5 sets of twins in 2nd grade. I asked if she has joined any local twins club. She said she liked to initially but never find the time to do it. Somehow I feel the same way.
After the boys had left, the girls became very fussy. I guess they were hungry, but they just refused to let me feed them. They cried and cried in loud surround sound. The entire restaurant turned their heads to look at me juggling two babies. I finally carried one baby at each arm and took them to the window outside the McDonald's PlayPlace in the restaurant. The girls stopped crying immediately and watched the other kids play in the room. At about the same time, rescue (mommy) arrived. The babies almost finished their bottle before we left. They took a nap in the car on our way back.
We had dinner at Champion Teppan-yaki in Fremont. The twins happily ate everything we put on their plates.
Monday, Oct 26, 1998 (14m+20d)
The twins climb up and down our bed countless times each day. They lower themselves to the floor feet first on their belly. The friction of the sheet slow their descend.Mommy made the bed with the satin sheets that we got as wedding gift. We have not used them for quite some time now. All of a sudden, the twins were falling to the floor out of control. And they can no longer climb up the bed because of the slippery sheets. For the safety of the twins, the satin sheets are returned to the closet.
Thursday, Oct 29. 1998 (14m+23d)
We took the twins to the NICU graduates reunion Halloween party at the hospital. Many babies were there, about a third were twins. Since most twins are born premature and need intensive care, that is reasonable to see a lot of twins in this type of party. We only recognized one nurse who took care of our twins in the NICU. We showed her our twins and she didn't remember them, though she is happy to see them. She also brought her 19 months old son to the party.Most of the babies were dressed up for Halloween. Ours and some others just dress normal. We spent some time talking to other parents and took some pictures of the twins mingling with other children.
We weighed the babies at Maternal connections:
Joanne weighed 17 lb 14 oz.
Jasmine weighed 17 lb 8 oz.
both weight included clothings and diapers. (those may count for up to a pound.)
Friday, Oct 30, 1998 (14m+24d)
The twins have not started talking yet. Our twins can say different sounds, but none are words that intended for communication. They say "ba" when pointing to a ball or balloon. They say "mom, mom, mom" when raising their arms and ask us to lift them off the floor. Their favorite word is "Er, Er, Er", they use it whenever they want something or when they ask us the name of the things they point to.A coworker of mine said her daughter started talking at the 8th month. We plan to ask the doctor at next visit for some advices on how to encourage their speech.
Jasmine got another tooth, the lower left lateral incisor(tooth N).
The score now: Joanne 7, Jasmine 8.
Saturday, Oct 31, 1998 (14m+25d)
As usual, we spent the morning feeding and playing with the twins. We went out to lunch and afterwards went to kiddie's world at Stevens Creek Blvd. and San Tomas Expwy. to shop for a toy for the twins. We bought the twin slide tunnel climber by Little Tikes. We set it up in the family room. We lift the babies to the platform and they would slide down on their belly. The twins were crazy about it. Since the twins don't know how to climb the ladder yet, it takes a lot of lifting and good exercise for us.Today is the twins' second Halloween. We did not go trick or treating. We think they are still too small. The twins curiously stood behind us to watch the trick or treaters when we handed out the candies.
Sunday, Nov 1, 1998 (14m+26d)
The in-laws paid a visit to great-grandpa's grave. Mommy didn't go last year because the kids were too young then and she didn't go when she was pregnant the year before. I was the stand-in for my wife for the past two years. This was her first time back in three years. And it was the twins first ever visit to the cemetery. Jasmine suddenly cried hysterously after we passed the gate. We still don't know why she cried though we were able to calm her down.We left the twins at grandma Ling's place when they were taking a nap. We went to San Francisco shopping. We bought some caps for the twins because the weather is getting colder.
We then had dinner with the in-laws in celebration of great-grandma's birthday.
Monday, Nov 2, 1998 (14m+27d)
The twins enjoyed the new slide very much. They climb up the slide from the incline and slide down all by themselves in laughters. They nag for a lift from us only after they got very tired.
Wednesday, Nov 4, 1998 (14m+29d)
Joanne got a fever of 100°F. It should be unrelated to Jasmine's Roseola over two weeks ago. The incubation period of roseola is between 5 to 15 days.Mommy got a runny nose.
Thursday, Nov 5, 1998 (14m+30d)
Joanne's fever is gone. Don't see any rash yet, so it might not be Roseola.The twins like to pull the CDs and videotapes off the rack. Today, mommy showed Joanne how to put them back on the rack. She enjoyed it and clapped her hands to praise herself each time. Jasmine does not fall for this type of chores.
Friday, Nov 6, 1998 (15m)
The twins are 15 months old.
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