Four Month Checkup

Here comes a long post with no pictures (sorry about that...I'll try to post some pics soon) talking about everything that happened at the twins four month checkup. Last week, Amy and I took the kids to the doctor for their four month checkup. I can't believe it has already been four months.

Caroline was awesome at tummy time for the doctor. It was the best she had ever done. Caden, on the other hand, was very upset about something and cried the entire time. He didn't pick his head up at all. Caden calmed down soon after that.

The twins needed to get another batch of vaccines at this checkup. Once again, tough Caden didn't make a peep at the first shot and only started crying after the second shot. Caroline screamed immediately but it was slightly quieter than the last time.

After asking about how much the kids sleep, the doctor told us the twins were sleeping very well (it doesn't always seem that way to us) and it was time for us to start trying to get them on a better sleeping schedule. Caroline normally makes it through the night. Caden will sleep most of the night but will wake up between 2 and 10 times wanting a pacifier. The doctor recommended that we let him cry for a little while before we rush in and give him the pacifier. So far, that has not gone well but we will keep trying.

During the two month checkup, the doctor told us to give the kids vitamins. Well, those vitamins make the twins breath stink for hours and permanently stains anything it touches. Amy ranted to the doctor for several minutes about this and the doctor suggested another brand of vitamins we could try. We are hoping the new brand works better. Also, the doctor gave us a speech on why we should not give the twins rice cereal yet. I think she expected the need to convince us but we plan to do whatever she thinks is best. Also, I think it is easier to not introduce some new food. We are still struggling enough with just breast milk.

Below are there stats from this visit (and the previous visits).

Caroline

four month:
weight: 13 lbs 6 ounces and 45th percentile
height: 25 inches and 75th percentile
head circumference: 41.3 cm and 50th percentile

two month:
weight: 11 lbs 12 ounces and 75th percentile
height: 23 inches and 75th percentile
head circumference: 39.4 cm and 53rd percentile

one month:
weight: 9 lbs 1 ounces and 50th percentile
height: 20.5 inches and 30th percentile
head circumference: 36.5 cm and 25th percentile

two week:
weight: 7 lbs 10 ounces and 25th percentile
height: 20 inches and 50th percentile
head circumference: 35.4 cm and 25th percentile

birth:
weight: 7 lbs
height: 19.375 inches
head circumference: 34 cm and 25th percentile

Caden

four month:
weight: 12 lbs 11 ounces and 10th percentile
height: 24 inches and 25th percentile
head circumference: 41cm and 20th percentile

two month:
weight: 10 lbs 4 ounces and 25th percentile
height: 22 1/4 inches and 25th percentile
head circumference: 38.2 cm and 12th percentile

one month:
weight: 7 lbs 13 ounces and 5th percentile
height: 20 inches and 5th percentile
head circumference: 35.8 cm and 6th percentile

two week:
weight: 6 lbs 4 ounces and 5th percentile
height: 19 inches and 6th percentile
head circumference: 33.9 cm and 5th percentile

birth:
weight: 5 lbs 10 ounces
height: 18.125 inches
head circumference: 32.3cm and <5th>

Both kids dropped a little in the weight percentile but held strong in the height category. I think the weight was affected by when they were sick. Both kids barely ate anything for a week when they were sick. Also, according to our sheet, there was only a 0.3 cm difference in their head circumferences but 30 percentile points. I'm thinking the nurse might have written one of them down wrong. I think Caroline's head looks more than 0.3 cm larger than Caden's.

We don't have another planned doctor visit until they are six months old. I wonder how big they will be by then.

The kids have been great the last few days since the four month checkup. The vaccine did not affect them adversely at all. Both have been eating better than ever before. They consistently drink the entire bottle (which was rare before) and they do it in 10-20 minutes (which never happened). They even get a little upset when will pull the bottle out to burp them. Caroline has even stopped her happy spitting (mostly). Caroline has also improved greatly at tummy time. We now have hope that she will learn to crawl someday. :) As for sleeping, all of a sudden, they go to bed earlier, sleep longer at night, and have long morning and afternoon naps. It is not all to regular yet, but we are getting there. Maybe Amy and I are starting to get the hang of this parenting twins thing.

...okay, maybe I should have said that last part.