Hi all

Thought it was time we had another thread for those of us dealing with older multiples. Maybe we've all been too busy dealing with double or triple tantrums to post!

Things are going well at our place 90% of the time. But the other 10% is dynamite!

The girls turned 2 on 1 August and had a great birthday week - the party was on the 6th so they had celebrations all week. This is the first birthday or Christmas that they've had any idea what was going on so it was exciting for us to see them opening presents and cards and enjoying themselves.

We've had more sickness with Eleanor having another ear infection last week - that's 8 in 9 months! We're off to the GP on Thursday for a follow-up and to talk about options re specialists, grommets etc. Also Harriet has a follow-up as she's been on her asthma medication for a month now. She's been really well and takes the Ventolin so well through the spacer. Wish me luck for that visit. They're fine in the waiting room but get us into the doctor's office and the crying starts. Luckily the GP has 6 kids so she isn't bothered by the crying but the waiting room tend to look a little traumatised when we reappear!

Apart from that both Harriet and Eleanor are saying new words every day - I was worried that they were a bit slow with talking but watching other kids their age at coffee groups etc I think there's a big range of average and they're somewhere in the middle. New words this week are "turtle" and "pop". No two word combinations yet.

They're still loving their pretend play with the kitchen set, toy strollers etc. I was a bit worried that I was reinforcing sex stereotypes giving girls a kitchen set when I remembered that they've only ever seen me make cereal, toast and sandwiches and heat their dinner in the microwave! So I relaxed on that one. Actually last week I put on an apron to cook lasagne and they were fascinated - I realised it's the first time they've ever seen me in an apron - says something about my lack of domestic skills. I guess I should be embarassed but can't seem to muster any shame...

We've dealt with some whopper tantrums lately, mostly from Eleanor - I think she may be an Oscar winner - watch out in 20 years! We're learning lots about how to spot the signs and try to divert and distract - not always successfully. One tip we've been trying to use this week is not to give commands from a distance. If we see behaviour we don't like, we're trying to move to their level and speak calmly - for some reason yelling from across the room seemed to be escalating the situation!! LOL.

Anyway that's been a bit of an epic post - hope everyone's having a good week. Let us know how you are.

Cheers


Maree

Eleanor 1/8/03
Harriet 1/8/03

I haven't been on for a while I am so over sick kids LOL if it is not one it is another.

Maree welcome to the trying two's I love this age but also find it very challenging at times especially when they are sick. My tom keeps getting ear infections as well but my GP says he wants to leave it a while before we go to ENT but I know that he will need grommets he is excattly the same as my older son and it took four years until they finally sent me grrrr so he had already delayed speech.

We just try to keep busy to keep them out of trouble and If we are having a bad day I take them to the park or just get out somewhere - anywhere.

I am finding the double trouble saying so true and if the house is quiet you know they are up to something in the last couple of days they have tried to make breakfast - little in the bowl the rest on the floor, have managed to climb up the pantry and eat the left over drinking chocolate, fed the dogs brand new socks through the gate, tried to do the washing with a whole packet of detergent and last but definately not the last wee all over the floor and swim in it. So as a mother of multiples our life is never ever boring is it?
Love to hear the things all your little munchkins get up to as well.

At least at the end of the day we have three gorgous boys to hug and kiss so it is all worth it.

enough from me better go they are fighting over the toys (thought toy library would be a great idea but not having two of everything just causes arguments)

Kristy

Forgot to Say Happy Birthday to Nee's gorgous trio and congratulations for surviving three years so wonderfully'and helping us all out along the way.

This message was edited by crocks on Tuesday, 23 August 2005 @ 6:54 PM

Hi girls,

Well, I no longer have 4 kids under the age of three! I now have 4 under 4 lol! Their birthday was great, they had so much fun and the party was good too. There was madness and mayhem all around but it was good. I'll have to post photos of my cake at some stage for you all to see.

Well being three certainly hasn't changed the behaviour. They are still as cheeky as ever, but they do seem to be understanding a bit more now. Josh has started having night terrors now which I am finding a bit hard to deal with. He's waking about 3 times a night with them, couple that with Aimee waking 2-3 times a night and that makes for one very tired mummy! Other than that though it's all good here.

Maree - The tantrums are so hard to deal with aren't they! They have started to ease a bit here now with their understanding and language development improving. Hope you can get some advice for the grommets...8 infections in 9 months must be very exhausting for you.

Kristy - Thanks for the birthday wishes for my trio. Much appreciated. I had to laugh at your comment about worrying when it all goes quiet, because I do the same thing. If they are quiet then I know they are up to mischief of some sort!

Hi, I loved reading these posts... I'm not alone! Maree and Kristy we're so sick of being sick too! We spread our germs to each other and we get over one thing in time to get a new virus. Thankfully at the moment we've just got slight colds and that's okay. Sorry to hear you're having disrupted nights Nee- it makes it hard to cope with the daytime stuff if you haven't had a good night's sleep. And with four kids under four you're doing an amazing job.

Patrick has had asthma with his cold and so I've had to get up some nights to give him Ventolin if he starts coughing. So it's not his fault but it's hard to get out of bed after not enough sleep- do we ever get enough sleep? My boys come into my room when they wake up. Patrick is a total morning person and will greet me with "Good morning mummy. Did you have a good sleep? I loved the Werribee Zoo mummy. Did you like the camel mummy? Why was the daddy emu with the chicks?" He wakes up happy and very chatty!

I just find some days can be a rollercoaster. My kids can be gorgeous playing together one minute and then fighting the next. So I can feel happy, angry, amused, disappointed etc etc in the space of half an hour!

Yesterday they were beautiful so by the law of averages that may mean I'm in for a trying day today?!

Maycee

Maycee (35)
DH (33)
Twin boys (4/12/01)
DD (7/10/03)

Hi Mums. well I haven't been on for a while either. We got married on the 13th August and have been flat out with interstate guests, wedding plans, baptisms not to mention 2 year old twins!!!

The girls have handled everything quite well. I stuck to routine as much as humanely possible. Will post a new pic of the girls soon. They looked gorgeous in their little dresses. Had them baptized the following day. Now looking forward to settling back into normal life.

We left the girls with my mum overnight for the very first time!!! Although I put them to bed before I left and they slept all night so not sure if it actually counts. Felt sort of weird without them. But we did take them to Port Douglas for our honeymoon(hahaha if you can call it that with amber & livi in tow). So sorry to all of you down South it's 27 degrees in Cairns and we went swimming for the whole weekend. It's times like these I realise why we dont live in Melbourne anymore.

The girls health has been pretty good. Olivia will always have a zillion food allergies but at least she can tell me when she's sick now.Their speech has improved dramatically. Amber uses 3-4 word sentences and Livi always the more fluent of the two is having nice little conversations with anyone who'll listen. Admittedly there is alot that only i can understand. Guess it's cause i'm with them all the time.

Hope all of your munchkins get over their winter bugs.. Only a week till spring!!!!!!!!!!

So far still finding the over 2 age bracket much better than twins under 2. They are such nice little girls(90% of the time). And have become even more inseperable of late....

Think i'll be starting toilet training shortly.. ALL TIPS WELCOME!!!


Cheers Rebecca mum to Amber & Olivia 08/05/03

New sig time... A little fuzzy..

Rebecca 32
Nathan 28
Fraternal twin girls Amber & Olivia 08/05/03

Oh Rebecca they do look gorgeous in their dresses. Beautiful colour.

Maycee

Maycee (35)
DH (33)
Twin boys (4/12/01)
DD (7/10/03)

Hi everyone.

Becs - Congrats on your marriage and hope you had a wonderful day or should I say days. Your girls looked so cute in their dresses.

Maycee- I had a chuckle at your son what he is like in the mornings as my 9yr old was and still is the same.

Nee- I hope your little ones haven't done any painting in the kitchen today.

Tom has a runny nose and Jack hates it so today Jack went and got a tisse held it up to toms nose and told him to blow then Jack came and showed me the tissue saying "Yukky boogers" it was a priceless moment and makes up for all the not so priceless moments LOL

Hi Everyone,

I haven't time or energy to post much lately, my excuse is nowhere near as exciting as your Becs....Congratulations on your wedding! We have all be sick, for what seems like forever. The flu followed by a really horrible cold that we are only just surfacing from. Sounds like lots of us have been suffering the winter bugs!! The girls got over it much quicker than me and DH needless to say!

Sickness aside the girls have just been a delight lately, they seem to have made a huge leap in their understanding of things and their sentences are really quite complex now. It's really nice having proper conversations with them. They both like doing different things, Daisy loves helping cook, I should post a photo of our kitchen after Daisy has helped me make pastry....flour from one end to the other!! Sophie on the other hand can't really be bothered with cooking but loves anything to do with ballet dancers, and could spend hours watching The Australian Ballet productions we have on tape.

Becs- seeing your post reminded me of our wedding, we got married when the girls were 5 months old, its so nice seeing them in our wedding pictures.

Hope all those twins 2+ are treating their mums kindly,

Beth

Sophie and Daisy 9/4/03

Hello all

I am sticky-beaking in here tonight - we still have a month to go to. I am very much looking forward to an improvement in their verbal skills after 2! We are all getting a bit frustrated (kids included) with them not being able to tell us exactly what it is they are whining/having a tantrum about!

I am in birthday party planning mode (actually its more like thinking about birthday party planning mode). We are probably going to hire out our playgroup venue for the party so I will need to book it soon.

I have a question for all you wise mums of 2+'s...What time did you have your parties? My 2 go down 12.15 ish (notice I say 'go down' and not sleep!). They are at their best in the mornings but then I would have to be up and organised mighty early! So, I am toying with the idea of late morning for an early lunch/brunch type arrangement, and maybe skipping the nap if all is going well.

Love to hear what everyone did for the 2nd birthday party!

Nicolie
DDs Paige & Hannah (23/09/03)

Hi Nicolie can't believe your girls are going to be two. I had a little party with 6kids (all twins) for their birthday and had it about 10.30 as once get past lunch the kids are well and truly over the party mode. We have been to a few third birthday's lately and they have all been for early lunch and I find this time to be better for all the kids(mums included LOL)

take care

Kristy

DS 9
Twin Boys 2 1/2

Just popping in to say Hi. I havent posted for a while. Not much has been happening around here, except we have all been sick. If it isn't coughs and runny noses, it's ear infection and temps. Oh well winter is nearly finished and then I hope we will all be over these colds.

Becs - congratulations on your wedding, the girs looked lovely

Nicolie - When Nathan and Amy turned 2. Their party was after lunch, I think it was around 2 or 3pm. I got them to have a sleep around 1100am so they would be energized for the afternoon. They had a ball.

Anyway catch up with you again soon.

Lyn

Hi all, my gorgeous boys went to the movies for the first time today. Their aunt and grandmother took them to see Pooh's Heffalump movie as a special treat. I had read lots of reviews and talked to them in case they got scared (why are there always semi-scary moments even in Disney films??) and they had a great time. Patrick did get a little scared at one point and needed a reassuring cuddle from his grandmother, and by the end Michael was itching to get up and do something active... but overall they had a ball.
I had a ball too- I took my daughter shopping and we had a baby cino and coffee together. Mummmy and Sophie time. Very nice!
Maycee


Maycee (35)
DH (33)
Twin boys (4/12/01)
DD (7/10/03)

Nicolie - we had the girls' 2nd birthday party at 10.30 - they go to bed about 1 to 1.30 most days so they were in good form at 10.30. We had only 3 other kids and their parents and it all went really well. Have fun.

Maycee - good on you for being brave enough to try the movies - my two are going through a phase of being scared of strange and unpredictable things (anyone with a mask on is one, but Harriet was terrified of weed matting blowing in the wind the other day - very strange!) so I don't think I want to risk a public meltdown yet!

Hope everyone has had a good weekend. We went to a mall without the buggy the other day and things went really well - only one attempted escape (which I will blame on Daddy!!) but the girls were really good at holding hands. We kept the visit short (about an hour) and got going before they got grizzly but it felt like a real milestone going out without the double buggy.

Then of course on Sunday we were over-confident and tried a short (100 metre) walk from our house to the park - which went okay one way but Harriet decided she didn't want to hold my hand on the way back and I had to carry her kicking and screaming - lovely!!

Take care everyone

Maree

Eleanor 1/8/03
Harriet 1/8/03

Not much happening here. I just can't believe how much the kids have started talking though. They know so many words and it's hard to get a word in myself now! They are still very cheeky and pushing buttons, but they have so much more understanding now so it's easy to explain to them why I'm not happy with their behaviour. My MIL is coming over this arvo and we're going to do an "art" afternoon with them. They got heaps of paints, rollers, stampers etc for their birthday so I'm guessing we're going to have a very messy but a fun arvo! I have to take Aimee for her immunisations too which I'm dreading. We've just started getting a bit of warm weather so I'm thinking it might be time to tackle tt'ing. *ugh*

Crocks - Had a giggle at the "yukky boogers" comment. They come out with some funny stuff don't they?! And no more finger painting here. Thank God! It was such a huge mess!

Nicolie - I did the opposite to most of the girls and had the kids party as an afternoon tea. We had a start time of 2:00 which was just after their afternoon nap.

Hope you're all doing well.

Hi All,

I had to go back several pages to bump this up again, I guess we are all busy!! LOL

We have had quite a week this week. First of all the girls got colds again agggggggg!

But, more importantly, we now have 2 little girls sleeping soundly in big beds! yay It was quite a haul the first few days. The first night they each fell out once (we made the decision to put no sides on them), and the other night I went to check on them before I went to bed, they have a night light that doesn't do much until you're eyes get used to it, and as I walked in, I bumped into ALicia asleep on the floor! I have no idea how she got there, I didn't hear her fall out or anything. They also went 3 (long) days without naps, and just mucked around. Now they have worked out that they do actually need one and have spent the last couple of days catching up on the ones they missed.

Another thing, I decided to give the toilet training thing a rest while we did the bed thing, but Alicia insisted that she had undies, so the last 3 days she has managed to land all her wees (and one poo) in the potty - yay, maybe we are getting somewhere after all.

These were a couple of things that were eating at me over the last few months. We have had a bit of a tough week, but I *think* it was worth it.

How's everyone else going?

Cheers

Kate
Alicia and Sophie 2/12/02

Fingers crossed, touch wood, and anything else superstitious - I'm almost scared to write this in case I jinx things - we've had a fabulous last few days with the girls. They're both healthy and very, very happy. DH and I were talking about it on the way to work this morning - saying we'll make the most of it as we know they will be sick and grumpy again one day soon - we just hope it won't be tomorrow (when DH is away for the night for work).

Actually, I suppose it's all relative because Eleanor did vomit in bed last night (too much ice cream I think!) and we had to change everything - but even that wasn't enough to put a dampener on our good mood.

Their language is developing so well - they can both say "Eleanor" now (but not "Harriet", yet). And have just started to put two words together (Harriet said "sore eyes" when Eleanor had conjunctivitis, Eleanor said "no buggy" when she wanted to walk). Maybe the improved communication has made them happier? Their physical skills are coming on as well - walking up and down steps without holding on (scaring their mother!!!) and climbing ladders. Their fine motor skills have always been great so we're trying to encourage gross motor skills (running, climbing, throwing and kicking etc) as girls often lag behind in those things because they (like all of us) tend to stick with what they're good at. So it's off to the park in the weekends with the balls and I get to have a good run around, too! (I sound like a labrador!) ;p

Hope everyone else is having a good week.

Kate - great news on the beds and TT - both too scary to contemplate at the moment!

Maree

Eleanor 1/8/03
Harriet 1/8/03

This message was edited by nakigirl on Monday, 19 September 2005 @ 7:39 AM

Hi Mums, we've just had a great weekend with the girls as well. We took them into town for a long walk along the Esplanade(Cairns) and then sat down and actually had coffee & Cake while the girls had a little lemonade.THEY SAT AT THE TABLE THE ENTIRE TIME!!!!!! Then as they have both been a little under the weather we went to the beach on Sunday morning for a good long run on the sand a bit of a swim and lots of sand castles, they were great. DH and I shared a couple of knowing glances that thankfully after 28 months life is getting slightly easier.
And suprisingly I can say this whilst i'm in the midst of TT 2 year old twins. And believe me it has it's moments. Olivia is going really well all wee's in the loo we are still working on the poos. Amber is still undecided if she actually wants to wear undies or a nappy she use the toilet one day then the next become really hysterical cause she made a mess on the tiles. It's definately easier for me doing one at a time....

Hope you all have a good week mums... and the kids are little angels.

Rebecca 32
Nathan 28
Fraternal twin girls Amber & Olivia 08/05/03

Hi girls,

All is going well here. I'm in toilet training mode at the moment. I started training Monique last week and she's only had one accident since we started. We even went out over the weekend and she stayed dry and told me when she needed to "do wees". I'm very proud of her! I started tt'ing Steph today, but I don't think it's going to be as easy with her. She has had 3 successful wees on the toilet this morning, but did one huge one on the floor, she didn't even tell me she needed to go. We'll get there, I think I"m just a bit impatient! If Steph goes well this week, then I'll start Josh next week! How wonderful it will be not having four kids in nappies!!!

Rebecca - Doesn't it make you feel great when you go out and they behave?! Hope the tt'ing keeps going well for you.

Maree - It sounds like everything is going really well in your household atm! That's great.

Kate - You're a brave woman not putting the sides on the bed! I'm wondering when I should take our sides off. Sometimes I find Josh on the floor, and I think he just decides he wants to sleep there rather than the bed, so I just tuck him back into bed when we're going off to bed. Awesome news about the tt'ing. Sounds like we're all tackling the tt issue now.

Hello all

Can I come and play in here now? Our girls will be 2 on Friday! Nnnooooo! We have finally decided on an afternoon party so that the grown ups can have some drinks and nibblies while the kids are playing (in a fully enclosed playground with lots of toys - we have hired our playgroup venue). Another consideration was that the party will be the day after the AFL Grand Final, so many of the adult guests will be a tad under the weather Of course its turning out to be bigger than Ben Hur as DH keeps adding people to the guest list!!

All these grown up things we are going to have to start thinking about - TT and big beds!! I'm quite scared of both to be honest. I think I will try and hold off TT until at least summer, and big beds until they are about, oh, 16. I will be watching with interest, and picking your brains.

Rebecca it sounds like you had a lovely day out! We took the girls out for brekky last weekend and were impressed and very surprised that the sat at the table and ate scrambled eggs on toast without complaint. It remains to be seen whether it was a fluke...

Must go plan a party now while the angels are still napping (who knows how long I have?)

Nicolie
DDs Paige & Hannah (23/09/03)

Hi Ladies

I thought I should post in here (Nee's suggestion LOL).

Life here is busy as usual & my girls are pushing me to the limit some days still. That's one reason I haven't posted b/c I don't have lots of positive things to say about them.

Don't get me wrong, I do love them dearly but some days are still hard. I think I have 2 very strong willed girls that just love to push the boundaries a lot.

We have gone from them waking at 4am everyday to getting them to sleep till about 5:30am. Also have worked out if they do sleep (which they still need) then it's only a short nap. They go to bed about 7pm & then are not allowed to come out of their room till 6:15am when the alarm goes off. If they DO stay in their room, they get to pick something out of the "special box". It has hair clips & lots of CHEAP things in it.

Both of them are unwell again. Have been to the DR & another course of antibiotics.

I'm still struggling with keeping Danika dressed. At night she takes ALL her clothes off including the nappy. They still have a night nappy. Last night I left knickers in her under the nappy, to see what would happen. I woke to "Mummy I done a poo". She took the nappy off & then did a poo on the MATT in her room GRRRR. This is the type of thing I am sick of. She knows how to use the toilet & can, but doesn’t. Another thing they LOVE doing is getting into ANY water. They play in the basin in the bathroom & make a huge mess & go through clothes & they will also get into the washing up water. They like filling containers & tipping the water out somewhere like on the floor!

Ok, better check on them

Belinda

Aaagggg! I take it all back... I am up to my eyeballs in wee wee on the floor today. Help! Where did I go wrong. Alicia has fallen off the wagon.

Nee, how did Nique get it on one week with only one accident, what was your plan of attack?

I think that the novelty of going has worn off for Alicia already, she did 4 on the floor this afternoon - how did she have that much wee wee in her?

I must say that she is tired this afternoon though, and something to make you laugh, she did one on the potty, but she fogot to pull down her undies! - but at least she got it in the potty!

Help help help....

OK vent over, but I do NEED HELP!

PS - big beds still going well - touch wood.

Cheers



Kate
Alicia and Sophie 2/12/02

Hi Kate

Well I can relate with you LOL.

This last few days my girls have been wetting their pants :mad:. They ARE trained, but I think they are to lazy to go. It's very annoying!

I will remind them & they still won't go and then half an hour later wee on the floor. I KNOW they are just being lazy.

Mine are almost 3 & I'm still cleaning up WEE! SOOOO sick of it too, so I understand your vent ;p

Belinda

Nicolie - Ohhhhhhh you're going to have big 2 year olds!! I hope your party goes well. As for the toilet training, good idea to hold off until summer. And you are obviously a very very wise woman holding off with the big beds until they turn 16. I'll be keeping Aimee in a cot until she's 21!

BB - You know that I have no idea how you cope getting up so early in the morning. That's one thing I have to be thankful for. Although I can't wait for daylight savings to start because my trio are starting to wake at 7 am instead of 8am now because of the light. Not that I have anything to complain about 7 is heaps better that 5!!

Kate - I don't think there really was any trick to me training Monique. She was just really ready and she is also a "clean freak". She hates being dirty, everything has to be in it's place! I'm not having nearly as much success with Stephanie though, I started training her on Monday. She needs constant reminders to go to the toilet, and she never initiates going herself. I don't think she realises or knows how to empty her bladder properly. She also did a poo in her knickers today. So today she had 4 wee accidents and 9 successes which I guess is not too bad?? But gosh this toilet training multiples is absolutely exhausting isn't it?! I'm so tired by the end of the day and I feel like I'm spending my whole day in the toilet. Heaven help me when I start training Josh too! o: Perhaps we can just commiserate together??!!!

I do have to share something cute though. When Steph sits on the toilet and does a wee, she gets really excited and will yell, "Mummy, it's working! Mummy, LOOK it's working!!!". It's so funny and I smile every time she says it.

I'm having one of those days that we all know so well & it goes something like this:

God give me the strength to get through the next 10 mins. (I cannot even worry about the hours today..)


The washing has been ripped off the line

The kitchen tap for the 2nd time in a week has been turned on full blast and flooded the kitchen w/ 10cm deep of water & I once again have had to turn the power off to clean up. (I'm sure I will never learn this lesson)

One hit the other over the head w/ a saucepan then proceeded to chase the dog w/ it.

They poured a bucket of black dirt into their brand new sand.

They managed to fit a stuffed toy that had food on it into the video recorder.

Etc etc etc

Only 5 more hours until bed..

Oh, the sweet joys of having 2yr olds.

Hi there, it's lovely to read all your posts and hear what everyone is up to. Toilet-training is tiring and frustrating isn't it? My sons are TT for day-time but Michael still wets a pull-up during the night almost every night. I'm about to embark on the fun of TT all over again now with my DD- who turns 2 in two weeks. The boys weren't ready at this age but she seems to be so I'll give it a go during summer. With the boys I found TT lots better in the summer when they can get around in just knickers or something which is very easy to quickly pull down... as by the time they say "wee" it can often be too late!
(I am preparing myself for life with a 2 year old again- lately we've started hearing a lot more "No!" from my formerly very obedient little girl!)
My boys have been playing together so nicely lately. The other day they were playing kick-to-kick soccer in the backyard. Michael kicked the ball really well and Patrick ran up to him and said "well done- great kick" and gave him a cuddle and kiss.
But when they do argue now it's starting to get more physical. They really try to hurt each other. That's starting to concern me at the moment.
Well I'd better go and make sure everything's washed up and put away in the kitchen before I go to bed as we've been battling ant invasions lately. It's making me turn into a clean freak- take out the rubbish, put everything away, wipe down the benches... it's just not natural for me to be this clean!
Cheers, Maycee

Maycee (35)
DH (33)
Twin boys (4/12/01)
DD (7/10/03)

Hi everyone,

So good to read TT stories...my girls accidents seem to be very normal. They are generally pretty good but sometimes they get lazy and seem to be changing knickers all day! We have finally got poo's on the toilet too, my MIL suggested a stickers and a "star chart" on the fridge which has worked wonders. I'm pretty proud to have them both pretty much TT by 2.5!

We are still struggling with early getting up time, sometimes its 5am which is just too early, but then the next day it will be 6am which is fine. Now that they can recognise numbers we are going to out a digital clock in their room and tell them that its not time to get up until they see a 6! I've heard from friends that this can work. If only they were still in cots

The girls have been cold free for a few weeks now, yippy! It seems to have been a long winter!

Currently planning our first "road trip" holiday with the girls driving from Canberra to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road...should be fun.

Beth

Sophie and Daisy 9/4/03

Hi girls,

Well I had to go dredging for this thread!! Just wondering how we're all going with the TT'ing. Those of us who are trying that is. I'm doing ok with the girls. They are both doing really well, and are staying dry after a nap. They are still waking up with a wet night nappy though. Joshy is just not ready. Anyone with trained boys, got any suggestions for me??

Cheers,

Hi from me we are still around but always so busy

My boys have settled heaps in the past two weeks but I also have just read a book about food additives and am trying to take them off certain ones and I can't believe the change, they are just a lot more settled (most the time anyway)so fingers crossed it does help.

Nee great to see the toilet training going well no advice here as our boys only go every now and then but my older son was over three and then he was toilet trained within two days so my belief is when they are ready they will go.

hope everyone is well and your little ones are driving you all insane lol!



Kristy

DS 9
Twin Boys 2 1/2

Hi All,

Nee, our toilet training is going quite well at the moment (I am almost too afraid to type that!). Sophie is now in undies too as of the last week or so, and has only had a couple of accidents. Can't get the poo thing happening at the moment though, they are both doing it in their undies, or in their nappy when they have a nap. I will tackle that one when they have mastered the wees. They each have done a poo in the potty, but not on a regular basis.

Their big beds are also going well, although they have each fallen out a few more times. We just go and pop them back in and they go back to sleep.

We went up to the shack on the weekend, and bought the girls sleeping bags, Alicia loved it, but Soph wanted to sleep in her cot. I think maybe she felt that everything was disappearing too fast (nappies, cots, highchairs etc etc). Poor little thing!
Had a great time up there driving the tractor and the boat and just really running amok! - the girls had fund too (he he he).

Nicolie - welcome to the party!

Kristy - just out of curiosity, what are the food addatives, and what kind of foods do they come in?

Cheers



Kate
Alicia and Sophie 2/12/02

Kate - Glad to hear that your tt'ing is going well! Monique had an accident this morning. She had a play mate over, and I think she was so engrossed in playing that she didn't realise she needed to go! Steph is doing really well with poo now and will poo in the loo every day. Monique on the other hand hasn't been for 4 days!! She's holding on, I'm certain of it! Sounds like you're on a winner with the big beds without sides too. I wonder when I should take mine down. I'm a bit scared to take them away lol.

Kristy - I would be interested in hearing about the food additives too? I'm inclined to agree with you on the tt'ing boys too. I think Joshy will go when he's ready. I'm not pushing it, he seems happy in a nappy. He does occasionally ask to do wees on the toilet, but it's more when we're out and about just for the novelty I think.

Hi all

Thought I should actually post something seeing as how I was bugging you all about coming and hanging out with you!

Sounds like everyone is doing well on the TT, I'm still planning on waiting a little longer if they'll let me. They'll drop their dacks and sit on the potty but don't do anything. Paige has a bit of a personal space issue too - whenever she gets on the potty, Hannah will pull up her potty right next to her and Paige freaks out and gets off! Hannah decided yesterday was going to be "No Pants Day", which was OK as we weren't going anywhere but she had an accident on the floor and was very upset poor lamb.

Kristy, good to "see" you again! Good luck with the food additives. I reckon if I removed all additives from the girls diet, there'd be nothing left!

Kate, I am so jealous - you have a shack. Oh well, maybe one day... We are off to Margaret River next week for a little holiday ourselves. I can't wait! Its close enough to 4 hours in the car which will be interesting :confuse:. Wish us luck! Oh well, nothing seems as bad when you in Margaret River...at least you know you have a good bottle of red to crack open when the kids finally go to bed!

And finally, a little word to the wise...I'm sure you all know this already, but I'm a bit slow...

It is NOT a good idea to let 2 x 2 year olds out of the stroller in Ikea!!!

Nicolie
DDs Paige & Hannah (23/09/03)

Hi

just a quick one about the additives I have just read a book called "Additive Allert your guide to safer shopping" I found out it really informative it explains to you about the bad additives for eg some additives used are suspected to cause cancer, some are banned in other countries and some linked to hyperactivity.

I am doing the change for health reasons and am amazed at the amount of foods that these bad additives are found in and worst of all found in alot of the foods aimed at our kids.

It really is an interesting book to read I am hopeless at explaining things to people but this book does have a website and lists all the additives we should avoid - www.additivealert.com.au

I spent ages one day with my book and read alot of labels (obviously didn't have the kids lol!) and am slowly learing what foods to avoid and just changing the way I shop and I have not found it that hard. and the kids still do get to have a huge variety and junk food too.

Hope this helps Nee and Kate and if you want any more info feel free to ask.

Nicolie have a nice time in Margaret River we often holiday down there and the kids love it and of course so do we. WE are lucky with the drive as we have a dvd playerin the care so we have a Wiggles Marathon.

Take care girls





Kristy

DS 9
Twin Boys 2 1/2

This message was edited by crocks on Thursday, 6 October 2005 @ 10:35 PM

Hi everyone

It's interesting that the multiples aged 2 plus thread doesn't seem to be as busy as the other ones for younger kids. Maybe it's a combo of being too busy as the kids stop sleeping so much in the day and that the problems aren't new ones now but the same ones over and over (tantrums, TT and big beds seem to be the common ones). When the babies were little I was always asking questions as we reached a new stage - but as the developmental stages slow down, I don't have so many questions. Just "why me?" on the bad days. ;p

Things are going fairly well here. It's been a month since we visited the doctor, which is amazing for us (I've probably jinxed it now!). The girls' language is developing with new words every day and they're getting better at "taking turns". Although Eleanor thinks that running after Harriet yelling "swap" is a magic way to get what she wants from her - of course it only works if Harriet actually wants what Eleanor is wanting to swap (and if Eleanor has something to swap!).

We haven't started TT yet. Harriet has started telling us when she's done poos so I guess that's the start of getting ready. I can't say I'm in any hurry.

Hope everyone else is having a good week. We've had a nice family morning with a trip for bagels and coffee where the girls always charm the waiters (wee flirts that they are - wait until they're 16!). Then we went to the park and wore them out and they're now in their cots where they're meant to be sleeping but I can hear them singing and "talking". But at least they're happy. This morning makes up for yesterday when it took me 15 minutes to persuade the girls out the door, down the steps, into the car and into their carseats - by the time I got to coffee group, I was ready for a much stronger drink than coffee!!!



Maree

Eleanor 1/8/03
Harriet 1/8/03

This message was edited by nakigirl on Saturday, 8 October 2005 @ 10:49 AM

I am absolutely exhausted tonight. We moved 4 metres of mulch today and we had the kids out with us. Surprisingly, they were really good and didn't even try to run off on us! Joshy had his little wheelbarrow out and DH would put a bit of mulch in it for him and he'd push it through to the back. It was very cute. We're off to theh parents, babies and childrens expo tomorrow, so cross your fingers for me girls that the kids all behave themselves!!

We went out and about this afternoon and the girls didn't have any accidents. Very very pleased.

Nicolie - Good luck with your 4 hour drive. We are driving to Adelaide in December, which apparently is an 8 hour drive. I'm dreading it. LOL at letting the kids out in Ikea, I can only imagine what they got up to!

Kristy - Thanks for taking the time to write out that info about the food additives. I'll have to check that site out. It sounds pretty time consuming learning what is and isn't ok though? But I guess once you've got the hang of it you know what you should and shouldn't buy.

Maree - Our thread is nowhere near as busy as the other threads, and I think you're right that it is because the milestones really slow down. Fingers crossed for you that everyone stays well in your household!

Hi all, great to hear all your news. We are doing well here- just celebrated my DD's second birthday and had a great time. She and I share the same birthday so we had a party here for about 45 people. It was exhausting getting it all organised but my DD had so much fun that it was worth it. Planning on a play centre party for my boys' 4th birthday in December though!
Kristy- I was interested to read your post re additives. Must order that book for myself.
Nee- hope you had a good time at the parents etc expo.
Well better keep moving, hope everyone is having a good day,
Maycee

Maycee (36)
DH (34)
Twin boys (4/12/01)
DD (7/10/03)

Hi,

I have two and a half year old twin boys and used to come on here regularly but sadly I think that it has been a year or so since I last posted. With a new password Im back on track...

Alex and Josh are extremely energetic and spend alot of their time playing chasey about the house. They play tiggy all the time or are skooting about on their trikes. When or if they have an afternoon sleep I use that time to recover!

They go to daycare on Thursdays and Fridays and I have been getting nasty reports that they team crash tackle "innocent kids who are quietly playing alone". They (centre staff) do the same consequences as me for bad behaviour..quiet time, naughty corner ..the other gets special time.

Alex and Josh also apparently have alot of fights and rough play amongst themselves - this is much worse that what happens at home (I think it is because I do alot of different activities with them). The centres director wants me to put them in care on different days a week so that they only have to deal with one at a time..

I got so huffy that I went home and put their names on a waiting list for another centre!

Has anyone been through anything like this or have any advice on how I should deal with the childcares approach to the boys?

Thank you
Rachael

Not much happening here, other than me being sick. I have conjunctivitis, and sinusitis and I feel miserable. I have a terrible feeling the Steph is going to come down with croup during the night because she's running a fever atm, and normally when she gets sick, it's croup.

Maycee - Happy belated birthday to your DD, AND to you!!! I hope you had a great day. A play centre sounds like a great idea. Everyone will have loads of fun and you won't have to worry about planning and clean up!

Rachael - Welcome back!! I do remember you! 2 1/2 is a very fully on age isn't it?! I can't give you any advice on the daycare situation, but I have to say, I'm pretty shocked that they would ask you to put them in different days! What would they do if it was two children from different families - I'm sure they wouldn't ask one family to change days!! I think that's very very rude and unfair of them to ask you to do that. I would be applying for a new centre too. Grrrrrrrrr!

Hi everybody-looks like tting is whats happening with most people. J&C have now got a great grasp on it and we can comfortably go anywhere with just undies on (pull ups for long car trips and overnight nappies-I dont think thats going to change for a while but thats no drama).

DH took the boys on an overnight trip last week 2 hours away. I rang him that night and he sounded really down-they'd been the naughtiest he'd ever seen them-had to drag them out of this little country town supermarket-totally embarassing were his words-absolutely no control over them whatsoever. (he looks after them all week as I work full time so he's seen them at their worst and best)-the next day they were planning a train trip-45mins each way-he was just dreading it because of how badly behaved they were.

Anyway, they did the total turnaround the next day and they had the BEST day-really well behaved,polite, not grumpy...so thankfully they at least gave him one good day up there.

Rachael-I really do feel for you!....we had a similar situation at our day care-joel and cam ganging up on other kids-they really do work as a team.....and then this wrestling which is fine if its just them, but with other kids involved (who are invariably much smaller as joel and cam are monster size boys), it was constantly ending in tears. Day care did what yours did, but I think they maybe tried a bit harder!-I think yours is opting for the easy way out!

Joel and Cam were in a room for 2-2 1/2 yo's -10 kids-(on one day it was all boys in the room) so it was pretty rough there for a while. They ended up moving them into the 3-4yo room which has 20 kids in it-much bigger and stronger so it really bought joel and cam back a notch as far as the pecking order of things went. The staff also made a big effort to be right 'onto' the slightest rough behaviour and we also followed up at home-no rough play whatsoever (sounds boring but I think it really did help)

Good luck-it is a very difficult situation-



Caz Joel and Cam at 2 1/2years old-now 3 years old

Hi Rachael, sorry but I can't give you any advice re child care centres but just wanted you to know that I know how you feel. As a fellow mum of boisterous twin boys I can imagine what you're going through! With my boys they haven't been too rough with other kids but they can be very rough with each other. We have days when they're gorgeous with each other... and then days when they get on each other's nerves and hit or push each other when they're upset... and other days where they come up with fun but potentially dangerous things to do together! Sometimes I wonder how twins emerge from childhood without battle scars!?
Maycee

Maycee (36)
DH (34)
Twin boys (4/12/01)
DD (7/10/03)

Hi Mums. well it does sound like we're all busy TTing. my girls are going really well. can take them out in public by myself. As one of the mums suggested take them to the toilet as soon as we get to the shops and they seem to last the whole outing. They even get out of the pool( several times) to wee on the grass. No luck in the poo department though. They wait until they have a nappy on for sleep... but i'll tackle this another time. We're down to using 4 nappies a day which as you ladies know is remarkable. Nee none of the boys in my mums group are TT and they'll be turning three in November. I think i've guilted a few of the mums into TT as my twins are 6 months younger than all the other kids!!

We have to watch Olivias diet VERY carefully as she reacts to a heap of foods. So I do alot of good old fashioned baking. I bake biscuits a few times a week and cakes that she can eat. She pretty much cant eat processed foods, some fruit and vege and milk. We avoid anything with colours and although it does take a bit of time she's been a much happier child. I do find it frustrating when we are out as I really cant grab takeaway food for her. DH is a diabetic too so you'd be amazed at the sugar free,dairy free,wheat free products you can whip up!!

Summer has really kicked in up here.Thankfully we put aircon in when we bought the house amd although I didn't want a pool ( with toddlers) we are in it constantly. The humidity last night was 85% we didn't get the girls to sleep until after 1am. Amber said " is mummy very tired?" I told her I was so she asked to go back to her cot.... Some days i could bottle them.

Heading home to Sydney for xmas with my family. Will have the kids without DH for a few weeks he'll join us for the main days. And i'll be doing my first cairns Syd flight with the girls by myself. Lets hope the 3hours 15 mins goes really quickly!!!

have a good week/weekend Mums, hope the kids are good and the TT not too frustrating. Bec

Rebecca 32
Nathan 28
Fraternal twin girls Amber & Olivia 08/05/03

Wow, I go away for a couple of days and the thread gets busy!! We got back today and I should be unpacking and washing but I can't be bothered - plus DH has gone out for a few beers (I think he's sick of me!) so I am slacking off

Rachael - sorry to hear about your day care dramas. I think I would be shopping for another place too!

Nee - hope you are feeling better

Bec - send some of your summer over here please, I am sick of being cold I can do without the kids not being able to sleep though, poor you!

Our holiday was wonderful. The drive down had some dodgy moments (including one power spew :gasp:), but coming home was much better. Kristy - we ended up taking the laptop and playing Wiggles DVDs until the batteries went dead! We all had a great time away, including lunching at wineries, visiting a farm and feeding and cuddling the animals and even going down into a cave. The girls had a great time and were so happy and chatty for the whole holiday, it was lovely. Last night they went to bed at 7 as usual and were chatting and giggling away to each other until 8.45! That's when Paige fell out of her cot We think she was trying to get into Hannah's cot. Anyway, she was unhurt but gave us all a fright and they settled right down after that!

Must go throw a load in the washing machine before I hit the hay...

Nicolie
DDs Paige & Hannah (23/09/03)

LOL!! I've not discovered this thread before. I'm only on EB fairly sporadically (am desperately trying to finish a phd) and it must have always slipped off the page - I don't usually get past the first page!

But, all I can say is I laughed, maybe slightly hysterically at all the posts describing twin antics. I could have written them all! Particularly loved the one about swimming in wee - we went through a stage here where almost EVERY "nap" time Ella (or sometimes Grace but usually Ella) would paint with pooh. The cot, the walls, herself, thrown over the cot rails etc etc. Horrible! Thank goodness for tt. I think that's what cured her.

Our girls are just into EVERYTHING. They can't leave anything alone - all the stuff you guys have described. It is so good to hear that it seems to be a twin thing. do any of you watch desperate housewives? I seriously had moments watching lynette with the twin boys where I could have just cried - or turned the t.v off b/c it was too painfully close to home to watch!

My MIL said to us one day while we were staying with her that being a twin was like having a sleepover every single day and night. I thought that was a good way of putting it in terms of the level of activity and excitement that happens every day at our house. A good way of thinking of it from the girls' perspective too. They're not really just naughty, destructive children, at least, not more than other children when they get together.

Ella and Grace turned three on Monday and I *think* they've turned a corner a bit behaviour-wise. It makes such a difference to have them able to tell us what's wrong most of the time. Ella even told us she had a sore ear last week an it turns out she had middle ear infection. What a relief that she could tell me that her ear was sore instead of just crying, apparently randomly.

My main problem with them atm is that they will no longer sleep during the day (except occasionally for my dad, who looks after them tues mornings and at cc which is on a thurs) but they aren't really able to cope with not sleepign yet so get very CRANKY. A bit hard to take. And when they're cranky, boy do they fight!!

E and G are tt'd, but I dont' have any wisdom to offer. Grace spent a long time waiting for her nappy (at sleep times) to do a pooh and it's only in reading all the posts that I've realised that now she doesn't do it. It just gradually happened. What worked for my girls was that they really really liked to flush the toilet so I only let them flush it if they did a wee/pooh in the potty/toilet. In that sense I guess I played them off against each other a bit :0 You know, Grace would have more incentive to use the potty/toilet if Ella and used it and was allowed to flush it and got lots of praise.

Anyway, good luck, those who are tting! It's not a fun time but it does pass! And thanks agian for this thread, it just makes such a difference knowing that other mums and dads are encountering the same problems!!

Kate.
Ella and Grace 10/10/2002