Merry Christmas!

Ok..so I am a little late. Merry Christmas to all! I feel like I have had a million zillion things on my mind, so many things to accomplish and so little TIME to do it all! Thankfully I was able to accomplish a lot with MANY MANY thanks to Jake's cousin, Leighanne, who came over the other day so I could get some baking and cleaning done (the laundry folding, ironing, and cleaning of MY room and bathroom is put off to another time however).

This post may be a little random as random thoughts have filled my head for the past two weeks and I want to post them. I will post how our Christmas was once I get some photos uploaded to show with it.

So here are some things I've been thinking about. I know, I'll admit it, I'm wierd.

1. I wish I had a recorder embedded in my brain that could transmit my thoughts to a computer and sort them out for me...you know, grocery list here, blog comments here, to do list here...what a handy little thing that would be!

2. Is it bad that the new Mariah Carey Christmas song makes me feel like a high schooler again? Probably bc her first Christmas cd came out when I was IN high school...that makes me feel old!!! But the song doesn't!!!

3. I love the song White Christmas. I love Bing Crosby. He has a voice that makes me just melt. I love watching the movie too. He reminds me of my Grandpa...especially when he whistles.

4. I love the movie Elf. I don't know why. It's another Christmas favorite. I have to watch it numerous times during the season. It makes me cry. Why..I don't know. I always get choked up when they start singing outside of the park.

5. Speaking of Elf my friend answered her phone all yesterday by saying "Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?" I wish I had thought of that!

6. I can't stand some Christmas songs. I don't know why. "Last Christmas, I gave you my heart, but the very next day, you gave it away" Really? As a Christmas song? Hmm...dislike.

7. I really love holiday dinner. Both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I love lots of food to choose from. I love leftovers. I wish we could have more holidays if they involve lots of food.

8. I am very sad to see the holidays end. It just seems like BOOM everything is done. I don't know why..I just get depressed...and then BAM my birthday. Used to be special..now not so much.

9. If I wish hard enough will my personal house cleaning fairy appear?

10. Do those little octagonal playpen things work?

11. Where can I buy magic beans to grow a money tree?

12. When will they develop a transportation device like on Star Trek. I would like to go home to visit but a 3 day car ride or 4 hr flight + airport security with 3 children under 3 does not sound like fun....and it's not cheap either.

13. I miss my family a lot. Sometimes I wish we had moved to Florida so that we would only be a days drive from home.

14. I miss snow...sometimes. I really just miss that stillness you feel at night when it's snowing and you go outside and it's so quiet. Unless you've experienced this you have no idea what I am talking about.

15. I love being married to Jake. I love him. I love having someone to talk to. I love being near him. I enjoy having fun and doing things with him. More days off together would be appreciated.

16. I love my kids. I wish I knew how much fun they would be. I wish we had them sooner. I would have a dozen if we could financially afford it AND I could stay at home with them.

I think it's funny because random things just pop into my head all the time. I wish I could record them sometimes. Jake thinks I'm funny. We'll be talking about something and then I'll blurt out something and he'll just look at me. I have to go through the whole process of how I got to that. An example of this..when I was typing about White Christmas my thought went to the movie Elf because it's a favorite then The Muppet Christmas because it's Jake's favorite then my comment would have been "I didn't like Animal when I was a kid". Jake would have been like "We were talking about White Christmas! What are you talking about? What animal? There's no animal in White Christmas!" Tee hee. I know...I'm wierd! 

Christmas Photos

We had our photo shoot last Saturday and this is our results. I LOVE THEM! What an advantage it is to have a photographer for a husband. I can't imagine having to take the kids to have someone else shoot them. Just getting these was a lot. Trying to get two babies to cooperate...phew! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

My Jonah

My Noah

Twins!

Gotta Love Us!

Brothers!

I may not be a baby anymore but I'm still CUTE!

Elijah kinda likes the boys

So I caught Elijah "tickling" or what looked like attempting to tickle Noah yesterday. He was talking to him in a high pitched voice saying "Noah...ticka ticka...you gonna smile? I your big brother...I love you..you gonna smile?" It was soooo cute!

conquering the world

sometimes i wake up and feel i can do this. i have this list of things to do that i am determined to whittle down bit by bit. and then reality sets in throughout the day and i realize i was a fool for thinking that i could actually get something done.

christmas is coming and everything is hustle and bustle. i am almost finished shopping. believe it or not, its easier to shop than get things done at home. did i go shopping on black friday...no..for the first time in years. i just didn't see anything that i really wanted to fight for and quite frankly felt a little depressed and overwhelmed. i figured i would do a lot online. i felt a little better on saturday and ended up taking noah and leaving the other two with daddy. surprisingly by 2 i was home and pretty much done. sunday we put up the tree. now there are boxes everywhere to go through and put away. it will all get done...soon..maybe..but not today. oh well.

Busy Bees

I figured I would do a quick update while I feed the boys and Elijah is quiet before all of us go to take a nap.

To say that it is busy at our house is an understatement! The boys are awake for longer periods of tome now andduring that time they have decided that they want social interaction. I don't know who told them that they were entitled to this..teehee. It nakes it a little more challenging for housework as before I could put whoever was fussy in the Moby Wrap and still pick up things or fold laundry. Their desire to interact has led to decreased productivity on my part hence me having to use Noah's crib as an overflow storage unit for my clean laundry awaiting its folding time. I have somewhat kept up with dishes as we only have so many kids cups/plates. Anyway just don't pop by my house expecting anything remotely clean.

Yesterday I decided that since I really don't get much done at home it might be a good time to do some Christmas shopping done. I work every other day for the next 2 weeks and after that I'mm sure it will be a nightmare...especially with 3 kids and a double stroller. Anywho..I did get some things and think between online and a few things on black Friday I should be set. I have 4 people completely shopped for. Yeah!

I said a little about the boys but really they are doing great. Still spitty and snotty but gaining weight (13lb7oz and 12lb12oz this am) and REALLY starting to interact. Sunday school Noah kept gurgling at me when I looked away from him bc he wanted me to smile and interact with him.  Just too cute! Jonah does the same...just want to squeeze them!

Elijah keeps getting bigger and bigger. We got himsome shirts while shopping. 3T..what a bgi boy! He started to imaginitive play. Way cute to hear! He wanted me to be his horsey today. He had his Jessi hat on and his pop gun. He said he wanted to go shoot his brothers. Lil' rascal! I made his cardiac cath consultation today...December 2nd...We have to go downtown to PCH for it. Jake's (Lord willing) coming with me. It sounds like they are looking at February for the procedure...just keep us in your prayers for that.

Well,better go. Gotta try to catch a nap before I have to leave for a meeting and then work.

Aughhhh!!!

I am having a rotten day. I woke up to two little ones on my chest, mostly because starting at 2am they woke up every 2hrs. Its on the chilly side...70degrees in the house. You laugh but our heat is set at 68 and we require sweaters indoors for that. Arizona wimps. Anyway. Got us all dressed. I am quite dismayed everytime I go in our closet Not only do so  few things fit me but on top of everything else that has broken inour house, the rod desided to bust off the wall and so all of my clothes and Jakes pants are lying on the floor. I had already decided today I would clean up our front and backyard. Ouur house is a pigstye but I really donmt want our neighbors to know it if you know what I mean. I have all sorts of garbage outside that needs to be thrown away but can't find large garbage bags. I found a dead bird I had to dispose of...gross. Everything is filled with dirt from our last dust storm. Elijah will not just play with his sandbox and car and let me pick up stuff. I am afraid the things he is trying to get into may have spiders under them. Weeds are amuck. I have half of a tree , branches and all sitting in my side yard that have been awaiting being choppped up to put out for the trash. My front watering system is broken and squirts water all over...Currently I am feeding thee boys which is why there are so many typos. Noah is crabby and won't stop screaming Elijah insisted on shutting the storm door and now canMt open it up again. I told him to leave it alone so now he is whining he wants to come in and watch a movie. I am a mean mom and keep yelling at him to play in his sandbox. I think I am going to go looney. i just want things fixed in my house and for itt to be presentable. I am tired of feedinf babies all the time and having puke on me and constantly telling a 2yr old to stop it or be quiet.  I just want to run away...far far away.

A Note from Fuzzy Lil' Heads

Noah and Jonah here to update you on our wonderfully fantastic lives.

This is us right after our warm baths. Mommy calls us stinky babies. How rude is that? Can we help it that spit up is not the most celebrated scent? We have tried to protest that it's really not that bad but our Mommy insists on stripping us naked and putting us in the tub. It's warm water, so it's really not that bad but we can't let HER know that...so we have to scream like banshees. It's really quite fun and amusing to see her try to hurry to get us both cleaned, dried, and dressed...shushing at us all the while. We can't admit that bathtime is fun...at least not yet anyway. Check out our fuzzy heads Grammy...we may look bald in the pictures but really we have soft fuzzy hair you can rub and smell to your hearts desire...that is if you would just move out here..hint, hint.

 I guess being twins and all Mommy feels the need to dress us alike. We want to know what a "thing" is and why are we numbered? Did we miss something?

We try to smile every now and again. We make Mommy and Daddy really work for it. Somehow that baby voice of theirs just cracks us up. We have to be serious for awhile to get them to finally chalk up and talk in funny high pitched voices..but it's worth it.

 

Our Brother is on to our attempts to take over the house. He is forever making us truly work for sole attention. He thinks because he's two and has teeth to eat good things like cookies and ice cream he's got it made. Ok, so we're a bit jealous he gets the goodies but hey, we have a party in Mommy and Daddy's room at 3am and he's not invited! Well, maybe we should rethink that...he has all the toys...and he can be pretty funny. If only he would stop flicking us in the head...

2 Months Old!

Time flies when you are in the feed, burp, play, put to bed, feed the big brother, play with big brother, put big brother to nap, wash dishes, do laundry, feed, burp play, put to bed...etc...etc..mode. Jonah and Noah are TWO MONTHS OLD TODAY! Wow! And to celebrate...Jonah smiled...at me...at Jake...not gas...not sleeping...real smiles :) It made me feel better. I wasn't having such a good day yesterday. I haven't been having good days lately. I think everything has been snowballing and everything is catching up with me. I feel like I am in zombie/autopilot mode. I get up with the boys and before I know it I am still in my pajamas finishing MY breakfast when I realize it's 11:30 and almost time to start over with lunch. Before the twins I would do roughly 3-4 loads of laundry a week. Lights. Darks. Sheets/towels. Rags. Now? 1-2 loads A DAY! And then you have to find time to fold it..and don't even bring up ironing....we don't do that around here anymore. Dishes...you know, they pile up like crazy but then add to that nipples and pump parts...it's insane! Praise the Lord we use Playtex drop-ins to decrease on some washing. I just feel like I want to live somewhere else. Somewhere that is clean. Somewhere that I don't have constant crying or whining. Somewhere that I don't constantly smell like au de vomit. Somewhere where I could fit clothes that make me feel good about myself. Don't get me wrong. I love my boys to death. I just am having a little trouble adjusting. I have found myself to be quite opposite from the last time I was going through the postpartum stage. I am not crying all the time, sitting on the couch watching "A Baby Story" holding MY baby. I don't have time for that. Instead I find myself constantly frustrated. Frustrated in how time flies by and yet I get so little accomplished. Frustrated in trying to keep Elijah 1) occupied 2) fed 3) feeling loved 4) disciplined which is quite the obstacle right now. Frustrated in how fast 3 hour feedings come. Frustrated in how I feel about myself. Frustrated in having time for not only myself but Jake and I. To be honest, I'm frustrated with a lot. I find my fuse to be much shorter than normal and have to really watch myself so that I don't take it out on Elijah and yell at him unneccessarily. One thing he does is CONSTANTLY take things and put them where they don't belong. It is very easy to yell at him for moving something when I can't find it instead of realize that I was the one that misplaced it. I am still trying to find a balance in caring for the twins, giving Elijah the attention he needs and caring for the house/making dinner all while now working. Jake helps A LOT! He comes home and pretty much takes over caring for them all so I can either go to work or finish dinner, clean up and try to get the last of the laundry done. He is SUCH a good Dad. Everyone says it gets easier. I hope so. I feel bad letting Jonah and Noah just sit in their bouncy chairs or on their playmat much of the day. I just don't have time to interact with them the way that I did with Elijah. I guess that's what comes with having twins and a two year old. I sometimes just feel like such a failure as a mom. I want to be a good mommy. When I was driving to Jake's Mom's house to drop Elijah and Noah off so I could take Jonah to his hearing screen Elijah said "Mama, no weave (leave) me. You weave me too much." I felt terrible. What do you say to that? I can't blame him. He must feel like I leave him a lot. He just wants me to be his playmate 24/7. Oh, if only I could buddy...if only I could...

Letters

Dear Grumpy Man at Costco,
I am sorry I inconvenienced you and made you wait an extra 5 seconds because you had to go single file around my cart parked my my picnic table. You muttered I should have parked somewhere else. I am SO SORRY that I wanted to park my cart with my 2 month old in it by me instead of parking it with all the other carts and eating in the center area. If only you had looked in to see my little Jonah's sweet angelic sleeping face and let all your cares melt away now while he's still too young to throw temper tantrums in the store, throw a ball through your window, or cut you off while changing lanes with his teenage friends snickering in the backseat. I feel sorry for you because you obviously let stupid things bother you and unfortunately have to voice your crabbiness to everyone around you.


Dear Noah,
Please...stop puking in my hair. I already have a poor self image and au de vomit is not the scent I am going for.


Dear Jonah,
 You are such a good boy. I feel badly that I am not able to snugle you more. Thanks for neing so good and passing your hearing screen today. Just work on closing that pfo of yours in the next couple weeks before we go to the cardiologist and we will be all set. Thanks for snuggling with Dr Hamburg and brightening her day.

Dear Elijah,
I love you to death. You make me laugh...but please just behave!!!

Dear Jake,
You're doing an awesome job with the boys! I love you! You're a great Dad!

Dear Bed,
I'd like to see more of you...let's work on that.

Dear house,
Where is your self-cleaning function. I thought that came standard. I want a refund.

Dear self,
I know this is hard. I know you have really bad days. I know you get really sad, frustrated, angry...it's ok. You can do this. The house won't be clean and the dinners may not be the best but your family will be loved. Hang in there....

wish I could post pics from my phone!

I haven't been posting as many pics as I want but to be quite honest we havenmt taken that many pictures! Not enough time I guess.
a couple conversations with Elijah lately:

Lady at Red Robin: What's your name (to Elijah)
Elijah: Be Quiet

Me: Elijah, come here buddy
Elijah: I no buddy, I a boy
Me. I know you're a boy, but you're my buddy too
Elijah: No, I Elijah

He's so funny!

More posting later

MIA

I've been mia lately. Jake and I took a much needed break and went to San Diego for the weekend thanks to wonderful childcare provided by Jake's Mom. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We were able to get a great deal on the Hyatt Regency  and since it's only a five hour drive it worked out nicely. We were able to spend some time with Jake's cousin, Steve who is in the Navy and stationed there. In fact he just graduated from the Seals program last week. Congrats to him! We were able to do a little shopping and sightseeing and enjoyed some good food and company.  It was hard to leave the boys but since I will be going back to work Friday we thought it was a needed break. I actually got 5 hrs of sleep in a row! I would have slept longer but 15 oz  of milk are kind of a "wake up and pump" issue. I am very thankful I was able to keep up my milk sujpply while we were gone. In fact we bought some dry ice and a cooler and I ended up coming home with a BUNCH of milk. Just in time for working.

Speaking of working...I went to my annual education today. Boo! I love what I do but I wish I didn't have to work full time...not to mention go back after only 7 weeks. My boys can't even smile at me and I have to leave them!!Really? Iwill feel terrible if I have to miss their first smile. I belong to a message board for mommies of babies born in September and so many are smiling  and cooing. I guess I have to think that gestationally they are 3 weeks behind.  I hope I can see a smile soon..and not just from gas!

Well, I better go. I'm tired and the boys will be up soon...

Apple Orchard

We went to the apple orchard today and had somme great family time. The orchard was two and a half hours away but we were able to pick our own apples and asian pears.We ate some applewood smoked hamburgers and had applecider donuts and pumpkin ic cream. We did NOT have apple cider. I refused to pay $8 a HALF gallon. No way!  There weren't all the bells and whistles like th cider mills in Michigan but at least we had some good family fun.

One of those days!

I am a little discouraged. The boys play tricks on me. They have one or two nights of waking up after 3hrs then they go back to basically letting me sleep an hour or two the whole night. I only have 2 weeks until  Jake is on his own and I am worried they will do that for him. I'm not saying I want them to sleep all night but at least 4 hours would be nice. Also, I would like to get through a day without getting puked on. Yesterday I had to change twice AND wash my hair...only to get it all in my hair again last night. I use burp cloths but between the two of them..sigh....

I am hoping tomorrow is a fun day. We are going to go to an apple orchard. I'm skeptical being from MI they have great cider mills...I'm afraid I will be disappointed. We also will see how it goes on our first big outing with all the boys. I wish we were going on vacation :( Jake and I haven't been on a vacation, other than visiting family in MI since we went to S. Africa in Feb 2007. Jake hasn't been on a vacation, even to MI since last April. We were in line at Frys the other day and they had a big picture of the Disney castle. Elijah says to me, Mom, I wanna go to Disney World...peeeeze! He doesn't even know what it is, his friend Brandon just went and he knows it must be fun. Oh well. Maybe one day. I just need to save up more personal time.

More Pictures

My Sleeping Beauties

Having twins is amazing! It is soooo different from having just one infant. Unfortunately it's something that I can't really explain to you and to be quite frank only families with multiples would understand. I thought I would use this post to show some of the differences and similarities of my two boys.

First the similarities. They both have the same eyes, nose and ears. Their eyes are both a grey/blue color right now. They are snugglers and love to be swaddled. Noisy little thing as well. They grunt and groan constantly. Loud burpers and gassy as ever. Spitty too, which is quite different from Elijah. Both are still long and lean with not much fat on them...but they are working on it! Right now they still like their pacifier and I finally converted them from the green hospital binkies to the mini mam binkies. I hate the green ones bc when they fall on the floor they roll all over the place AND it seems like they can never stay in their mouth.

On to the differences.

My Sweet Jonah

My middle boy. The one I was not worried about the majority of the pregnancy but then gave me a scare after birth. He's bigger. He sleeps for longer periods of time..4 1/2 hrs on a few occasions. He can give you the most serious expressions and then suddenly throws in an almost smile. He is very alert and has longer awake sessions in which he seems to be taking everything in. He really tries to interact with us and has a good disposition. He has a larger head and a double chin. His profile reminds Jake of Alfred Hitchcock. He has long, fine, straight BLONDE hair. He also has stork bites on his forehead above his nose, on the back of his head and neck and angel kisses on his eyes...just like big brother. He was so bruised onhis face after he was born I joked he was my little plum while Noah was my pumpkin. He is growing like a weed and went from 6# 11oz at birth to 8# 12oz at 4 weeks!

My Lil' Noah

My lil' guy. The one I worried about most but showed me he was A-OK when he got 9, 10 apgars. He makes me work the most as he often still wants to eat every 2 hours..especially at night. He is the grumpiest as he has even more gas than brother. He often just cries and cries or grunts and groans in pain...poor baby! He has a tinier face...his soft features just make you melt into a big AWWW! He even has a "model pose" as we call it. He has BRUNETTE  hair that is short and fuzzy and I think has a bit of wave to  it. He is finally getting some meat on him and now actually FITS his newborn clothes. Though he was 5# 14oz at birth, at 4 weeks he weighed in at a whopping 8# 1oz! 

Well, I best be going. Have to get big brother down for a nap!

if only dreams came true

Last night I had a dream that someone threw me a baby shower. Apparently someone I work with came into a very large amount of money and bought us an astronomical amount of cloth diapers AND a larger more appropriate family vehicle. If only dreams were true. Not that I necessarily want to be washing that many cloth diapers but my laundry has basically doubled so I guess it wouldn't matter too much. At least we wouldn't be buying so many diapers!

On another (sad) note I will be going back to work officially October 22nd. WAAHHHAAHHH!!!!!! I just want to stay home with my babies longer...at least another couple months..I'm so bummed.

Elijah

Just a quick post about a couple things Elijah has said these past couple  days.

There is a McDonalds commercial with happy meals talking about hope. Elijah telss us. I wanna go donalds get hope..in a box. A few days later we're coming home from church and Elijah says "want donalds, get a hamurger". Jake gets him a happy meal.  He comes in the house "mama! I got hope...in a box!"

Today I catch him putting baby lotion on. He comes over to me with a very cute little grin and looks into my eyes and says "Mama, I CUUUTE!" Yes you sure are little buddy!

All about ME!

OK, enough about the kids for now, I'm going to post about ME and how I am doing. Truth be told..I don't know. As wierd as it sounds I feel like I am still a little bit in shock mode. I've kind of felt that way since delivery. It all happened so fast I feel like it DIDN'T happen. I heard 2 crying babies at once and said out loud "oh my God, those are mine..what do I do with them!" and I was being very sincere. Then Jonah got taken away and it wasn't like there was 2 babies any more. We had to visit them separately so it didn't really sink in until we took Jonah home a couple days later. Even then they both slept a lot and rarely cried, just made grunting noises and sucked on their hands when hungry. I tried to take it easy while Jake was home. This whole past 10 weeks has been a little odd for me. I went from doing everything myself to being able to do nothing and be totally reliant on others to be the main caregiver to 2 totally helpless beings (I say that bc Jake took care of Elijah while I did most of the work with the twins since I am nursing) and now I am taking care of Elijah too. The boys have now both found their voices and do cry..especially Noah. He has a lot of gas and this morning cried for an hour before the other 2 woke up and NOTHING I did helped him.
On Tuesday Elijah begged me to go out. He wanted to do something. He cried and cried he wanted to see Daddy so I figured ok, I need to go out with the 3 of them sometime and haven't been out except to the hospital or dr in 10 weeks..lets go bring Daddy lunch. So we did, and went to pick up something fromBuy Buy Baby and Costco. Then we dropped of some goodies for the nurses at the hospital. I found out that we need a bigger vehicle. It is a pain in the butt to get out the stroller. It fits the trunk but just barely. It literally takes like 15 min to get everyone in and out of the car. After our excursion I was a little unsure about myy decision. I felt empowered for doing it, glad to get out, but exhausted and  left wondering how  I am going to do this alll the time. As much of a shock it is to lose some of your freedom when you have one kid, its fifty fold when you have a toddler AND twins! I tried to go to CVS to buy diapers  bc they are on sale...yeah that worked. They have mini carts so i had to take one of the car seats and carry it and then the other I had to keep picking up off the cart to put the goodies in it. I will only be running in there by myself or when Jake is in the car to watch them.
Being home with them all by myself has been a challenge.  It seems like Elijah wants soomething the same time that the boys are both crying and he wants it now too just like them. Also he has been really stubborn so when I tell him no, or he can't do something he will yell very loudly I CAN!
I am very homesick for Michigan right now. It's been a year exactly since I saw my parents. I wish I was there to help them as they are going through a tough time. A week and a half before the twins were born they got in a major car accident and were injured. My dad fractured his back and my mom fractured her pelvis. They don't really have a lot of help as my brother just got a "real" job (he gets to go to Barcelona for it..lucky duck? and my sister just started college. They can't cut their grass, get softener salt or anything heavy..I feel helpless. They didn't tell me about it until last week bc they didn't want me to worry. I wish I had money to fly out there with everyone and help out. Plus everyone on facebook is posting about caramel apples and cider and donuts. I just miss home. I always miss the fall because thwre is really nothing like it here.
Well, I guess i should stop droning on. One good thing about me right now...I fit into all my old clothes again. I've lost 35 pounds and 11 inches. Still got a little more to go but I'm not rushing it. All that came off just from birthing and nursing.

Here is a very sweet photo of Jonah and Noah cuddling.

Jonah kicking back and relaxing. It's a common pose by him, he is very laid back.

Noah is the little munchkin so very fitting he looks like a little elf in his hat.

Jake's decided every baby at our house gets a new bear and a balloon from his Daddy.

I like this picture. Jake does not because I used HIS camera to take it.

Big brother with "the boys".

I like this one a lot. I just love them to death.

I have a lot more but need to try to download the pictures I have so I guess the others will have to wait.

Be sure to look at a couple older posts that I just posted as well for some other cute pictures.

Cute JUST DELIVERED pictures

I didn't get to post a couple of my favorite pictures right after their delivery. I just love them!

My Elijah

These are a few of the shots we got of Elijah. They look great don't they?

Photo Sessions

We have been shooting pictures nonstop at the Baldwin house. I have to say though it is extremely difficult to get the "perfect" twin photograph. If one is quiet and cooperative the other is not. We do have some good individual shots though..those are a little easier. Elijah surprised us and wanted a photo shoot as well so we got some great ones of him. Now we just have to download them...that's going to take forever witth as many as we have!

So how has it been going here? Better than I thought it would. Am i sleep deprived? Yes. Emotional? You bet. My patience has gone on a diet and has become so thin I think it has vanished. I hope it comes back soon :)  The boys do not sleep very well at night and want to eat every 2 hrs if not sooner. When I put them back to bed they grunt and groan and whine. If it's not one it's the other. Little stinkers. Today they've been kind of fussy and seeem to be very gassy. Hmmm...I wonder how this will end. Probably not well. At least probably not in much sleep for me.

On to Elijah. He has been doing and saying some funny things. To the McDonalds Happy Meal commercial he says he wants hope in a box too. Whenever we say no he can't do something and he wants to he tells us "I CAN"! Just tonight he cried out about an hour after we put him to bed and said that there was a monster next to his bed under his blanket. When Jake checked it was his stuffed moose. Elijah didn't seem scared at all like he usually does. We figured out that he had been up the whole time scheming a way to get out of going to bed. What a little monkey! You should hear him pray before bed or for dinner. He prays for everyone in the family...even Uncle Barney (Bryan). Sometimes there is some additions..like Popeye the Sailor Man or Monkey and Moosey. I don't know where he comes up with this stuff.

Liife with 2 babies

I realized I forgot to mention that we are now home with BOTH our boys. Noah and I were dischaarged on Sunday but Jonah was still getting tachypneic and had an IV. He was just starting to eat so we were hopeful he would go home soon. They both were circumcised on Sunday and Jonah was a little swollen so they thought he may have an inguinal hernia but praise the Lord he doesn't. Yeah! One surgery this year will be enough thanks! AAnyway it was hard to leave Jonah but helpful to know the people caring for him are thebest. He actually got spoiled by everyone wanting to hold and feed him. I have to say it was helpful to have one home first to get a taste of the new baby at home feeling. I think it was harder the next day to go and visit him because we had Elijah and Noah and live a ways away. I have more compassion for the moms I work with now.

In any event we were thrilled to death when they called and said Jonah could go homee. Yeah! Our boys together again! So how was our night? Lets just say I am glad the first night is over. They both decided that they are night owls. from 11-3 they were up. If it wasn't one it was the other...or both! YIKES! I was so tired by 230! I changed each of them twice, and their sheets..and in the morning our bed bc they decided night time was the best to either spit up on or pee on everything, including each other. I finally figured out I couldn't wrap them together, instead I had to wrap them separately and then put a blanket around the both of them. Then they slept. We will see if that works tonight. I think they were kicking each other. They are both on the same schedule, which is good bc I am trying to tandem nurse them. At first I thought it was not going to happen. Unfortunately I hadn't really been able to nurse Jonah so he was kind of like, what is this, where is my bottle? Thankfully now he is doing better and I have been able to nurse them together. Noah still is the better nurser so he is still going when we get a bottle to supplement Jonah.

Well, thats it for now. Everyone here is snoozing so I think I'm going to get in on that!

Long awaited pictures

ok. for some reason the words i put aren't working and I can't figure it out. Sorry. Will have to try a new post later.

Labor Day Weekend Babies

Well, we have a Memorial Day weekend baby so it's only fitting we have lLabor Day weekend babies, right? That's right, they're here!

Here is the birth story. It started (kind of) yesterday when i went to the ob. Although I hadn't noticed as many contractions I was having a lot more cramping and appparently it was doing something bc my doc said I was at 3-4cm and 70% effaced. He thought I would deliver soon..I though yeah right. I was like that with Elijah for 2 weeks He said twins are different. He told me to go walk around. I was a little nervous to bc he had told me he was going out of town one day and I really wanted him to deliver. Not everyone is so gungho about vaginal twin births. Anyway. I ended up coming home, vacuuming, sweeping and after dinner I walked Elijah to the park. Got home..notta..no contractions nothing. I thought bummer and went to bed.

Now for all you that have ever been preggo, you know near the end you wake up constantly to go to the bathroom. Well, I kept thinking why can't my water break and I go into labor. Well, at 445 I woke up thinking oh no, I peed myself. Then I realized, no, I still feel like I need to go to the bathroom. Then I was enlightened. Jaaake...I think my water broke. He woke up and took a quick shower while I ran around with a towel between my legs trying to pack some last minute things like phone chargers. At this point I wasn't contracting much at all. We got settled in the car about 20 min later and dropped Elijah off at Jake's parents. We had to buy gas bc we weren't really planning on Jakes car being the getaway vehicle. While he was pumping the contractions started 5 min apart. They progressed quickly to 4, then 3, then 2 min apart and 1 min long. I ended up calling OB triage to tell them we were coming bc I was thinking that this was going fast. When we got to the hospital we didn't even get a room in triage..it was straight to L&D!

My nurse checked me and said I was at 5 cm. I was surpised..I thought I was a lot further. My doctor had jjust come in for the day (perfect timing) and wanted everything done right away stating this was going to goo fast. I thought I'm only at 5, how can that be but he actually stayed in the room to make sure thing were happening. He even went so far as to get one of the nurses to get the anesthesiologist to come RIGHT NOW as it was shift change and he didn't want them gabbing. There was sooooo much going on. Labs were drawn, IV started, consents signed, all th while I was my usual wimpy self barely breathing through the pain. Thankfully I had Jake reminding me to breathe and a nurse reminding me to relax my muuscles. I got the epiduural...what wonderful inventions...and started feeling the pain subsiding. It took about 5 minutes to completely work and then my dr checked me. I about died when he said allright you're complete, lets get you to the OR. Seriously? I was just 5cm!

It was very surreal being wheeled back. Someone got Jake XXL paper scrubs to change into. Hehad to do the MC Hammer in them. There were tons of people present just in case they had to do an emergency c-section. My favorite ultrasound tech Ramona was there to verify the babies were head down. We started pushing and very shortly Jonah Paul was born measuring 6lbs 11oz and 20 inches long. I got to see him very briefly bc it was on to the next baby. It was a very odd feeling for Jake and I bc we have this beautiful baby but wait, don't rejoice yet, you still have another coming. It all was like a whirlwind bc after Jonah was born my doc and Ramona were quickkly trying to find Baby B's position and heart rate. He was still head down so my doc broke his water and I pushed a couple times to bring him down. He started to drop his heart rate and so my doctor told me we really needed to get him out. He didn't have to tell me that twice. Noah Joseph was born at 0729 with a tight nuchal cord. He weighed 5lb 14oz and is 18 1/2 inches. I was able to hold them both togeether briefly and then we went back to th L&D room. There Joonah started acting naughty. He wouldn't pinken in coloring and when my coworkers checked his oxygenation he was in the 60's (instead of 90's). He was taken to the NICU where he still is with some minor breathing issues. He is in an oxygen hood and is not eatingso he has an IV. I am verfy thankful to have wonderful people to help care for him but wish he had behaved so he could be in couplet care with us. Now it kind of feels like we don't have 2 babies.Unfortunately it doesn't look like Jonah will be coming home with Noah and I. He is just doing what we call sitting on the fence...not sure if he wants to get better or worse...stinker!

I am doing ok. I'm very tired and feel like a bus hit me. I was able to see Elijah yesterday so I am happy. He is a good big brother. He even held Noah (with help).

I guess I better go on and post this. Pictures wsill follow when we're discharged.

You know the saying when it rains?

...it pours? well, that's what it felt like today.

It started out ok, Elijah and I headed for his dr appointment and they got us in right away..early in fact. Elijah did NOT want to stand on the scale though so we had to do the whole weigh me with and without him. Not exactly a time I want to be showing off my weight! Thankfully he let the girl do the EKG without any problems bc we told him to pretend he was a robot. He was especially good for the echo bc they put Sesame Street on. I watched while they were doing it and could see he still had a VSD...I did ask to be sure that's what I was looking at. Well, then we waited for the cardiologist to look over the results and talk to us. Not good news. He still has a PDA and a VSD so there is mixing of his oxygenated blood and nonoxygenated blood. Now, Elijah is growing great and doesnMt show any symptoms of this BUT his left side of his heart is enlarging to compensate for this so eventually he probably will. SOOO this means he needs to have a cardiac catheterization done in the next 6 months or so to fix the PDA. Once this is fixed he is hoping the VSD will close. They fix the PDA first bc its the easiest..the VSD needs surgery to fix. A cardiac cath still means risks, IVs, sedation, overnight observation..and at the hospital downtown bc my hospital is working on getting it but probably not by the time he needs to have it done. It's funny bc it didn't worry me that this might happen but now that I know it will, I'm nervous.

So on the way home, a mile from my exit, my car breaks down. I donMt know what it is..I thought it sounded like a belt at first. Pulled over, called Jakes Mom and Uncle (he knows cars but wasn't in the area). I looked under the hood just to ee if something hit mme in the face. Do you know not a single person pulled over? Anyway, Jake told me just to try driving it home so his Mom followed me. Now I'm thinking something like a muffler or whatever is related to that system bc thats kind of how it sounds.

Also, Kitty hurt her front paw..not sure how. Hoping not from a scorpion or spider bc that means one is loose in my house.

Bad news from Jake's family. His Nanna has been battling cancer and they found another spot on her lungs. More chemo..poor Nanna. Please pray for her and her family.

It just feels very overwhelming. I came home in tears, dehydrated, tired..just beyond myself. I drank some water, talked with a good friend, got a nap and now feel better. I know I need to trust the Lord. I just got a whole lot of things at once and kind of lost sight of that. I am glad I have the Word of God and can rely on all He says.

Well, thats all. I am still hoping to go into labor soon. I feel miserable!

Waiting for Thursday

Everything is the same here. I had another nonstress test today and found out my contractions are not quite 5 min apart like they were but are stronger and longer. Because I was having them she said she could check me but I figured there wasn't a point. It would probably just bum me out. She said we must have scared them so now they don't want to come out. The bad thing about preterm labor, meds, and twins is that there is a very short window of time to deliver. They don't want you to deliver before 36 weeks or after 38. My nurse wanted to know if any plans were in action for helping me along. I hope to find out on Thursday. Hopefully I have progressed a little. I'm wondering if he will strip my membranes or tallk about when we will induce. All I know is that I am 38 weeks on 9/11. Who wants to have twins on the anniversary of the twin towers coming down? Not me! How about 9/9 or 9/10 instead?

Now I can't go into labor until tomorrow afternoon bc Elijah has a cardiologist appt tomorrow morning and you know how hard it is to get in to see specialists. We've had this appt for months and I would rather not have to wait much longer. I want to know if his VSD and PDA have closed.

All for now.

No Babies Yet

Ok. I have to admit, I totally though the babies would be here by now. I have to say I am very disappointed. I did a few things on Saturday including walking a bit around Target hoping I would go into labor. It was funny bc I had a lot of femmale workers ask me if I was ok and needed any help. Probably bc I would grab my belly and double over quite a bit. Yeah..didn't go into labor. I thought maybe bc I had contractions 4-6 min apart and increasing in intensity but after 2 hours they just went back to their normal intensity...which is beyond annoying and uncomfortable. Not only that but I was kept awake all night with them so I was very tired yesterday. Thankfully last night I was only awakened for about an hour with them. I would love to say that I have been doing things all day trying to encourage contractions but to be honest making some jello and puting a load of laundry in the washer is exhausting. I have absolutely no endurance. I am a little scared of having to be in hard labor with no energy.

Elijah updates. He decided he wanted to talk to Grammy this am so we called her. He didn't really say much to her but when she asked where Kitty was he said on the couch. She asked if Kitty was sleeping and he said no..even though she was. He then proceeded to go over to Kitty, get in her face and roar like a dinosaur. Kitty woke up and looked at him like what the heck are you doing. He then let out this big belly laugh. my Mom got a kick out of it. My little instigator. What am I in for?

My friend Julia brought over some goodies for me and the babies and Elijah decided he liked them. He was very pleasant until she left and then he turned into the MINE, GIMMIE IT monster. He told me they were not brothers, mine. AUGH! We have been warning him that Mommy and Daddy will be going to get the babies soon and he will be staying at PaPa and GaGa's house to which he replies, no, I come too.

What will we do?

When will these babies come?!

2 more days!

In 2 more days I will be 36 weeks and can come off of the terbutaline and do whatever I want around the house. How exciting! On Tuesday I had to go to the cafeteria from L&D after my test and felt like I was going to die so I don't think I'll be running any marathons or anything, but at least I can do SOME things. I have started on my list. Top items are putting the car seats in (which I'm not sure if I'll be able to physically do, but at least I can try and if I can't Jake will be there..they have to go in now), making cookies, and going to Target. I have been Target deprived. I don't really NEED anything, but I would like to take Elijah for popcorn and an Icee and walk around a bit (which will probably turn into not very far). Of course my list of things I would like to do is endless but I know I won't really have the physical stamina to do it. I can dream though, right? My doctor and my friend Julia are both on this weekend so I have my OB and night shift high risk nurse covered. Sounds like the perfect time to go into labor. Otherwise I am sooo over everything. You've heard all the complaints before so I won't go into them.

Enough of that. On to Elijah. He has been SUCH a good boy. He has been so flexible with all that has gone on. Despite all this he has still decided he wants to go pee on the potty. In fact today it has turned into constantly wanting to go pee on the potty because he has learned to stand up and pee to make bubbles in the toilet. Ahh the little things. He is turning into such a big guy! He's growing like a weed! Now he's this tall, skinny thing. His shorts and shirts are starting to get small on him. I guess it will be time for size 3's this fall! They grow up WAY too fast!

I guess that's all. I told Jake that my luck will be I go into labor in the next 2 days and all the things I want to (attempt to) do go out the window. Oh well, at least I'll have the little munchkins.

forgot to mention

i forgot to mention that as of saturday night elijah is pacifierless. it happened by accident. i wasn't pushing it bc of the boys being born but we had gotten to sleeping only. well he had one paci left and he had it saturday morning but saturday for nap we couldn't find it. we looked everywhere so he had to deal with it...and he did great. he still asks for it but we just remind him that he lost it and he does ok.

well, i guess that's all. ihope maybe the next time i post it will be bc i have some progress notes on the babies. i am soooo done. why did it work out i am done cooking them but they aren't done cooking? grrr.

seriously

yet another nonstress test and again the boys did well. still showing contractions but not terrible, although this time there was a lot of irritability. i am surviving but barely. my back and ribs are killing me and i have alot of trouble sleeping. this past couple days i have been getting headaches but i am wondering if its weather related. my blood pressure has gone up a little but not terribly and i still have no swelling whatsoever so i am not concerned it is preggo related.

my main somewhat vain complaint is i just popped up with stetch marks today. seriously. up till now i just had a miniscule mark on each side from elijah. grrf. i guess its bc i am now 44 inches around and measuring 42 weeks. i will be very glad when this is all over. i'm tired.

all for now.

out of the mouth of babes

kids say the craziest things. maybe they wouldn't be crazy for an adult to say but coming from a two year old they are. so what do i mean? well, last night jake went on a scorpion and snake hunt. it was almost time for bed so i just put monsters inc on for awhile. well, after a bit elijah left the living room, i assumed to get his blanket or binky. when he didn't come back right away i went to his room to find him, but he wasn't there. instead i found him in the babied room pulling all the clothes out of the drawer. i asked him just what did he think he was doing. leave me alone mom, i busy. i dooning someting was his reply. seriously? i couldn't believe it. another thing he says to us, which is not a very well received comment is when we correct, ex tell him he needs to eat his food, he points to us and says, i tell you. character i tell you. sota mica. thats his word for motorcycle. some of his favorite phrases are what dooning and where goning..meaning what are you doing and where are you going. anyway..that's all for now.

btw i hate all the lower case letters.

very hot!

another update via phone so please ignor the grammer.

today was another long day of tests and dr appts. the boys look great by ultrasound and they did not even need to be buzzed for their nonstress test. the past few days i have not had to take the terbutaline every 4 hrs during the morning bc i haven't really started contracting until the afternoon..and we won't get into the nightmare evenings/nights we have..lets just say uncomfortable is not nearly a strong enough word. poor jake..home for the crappy part. anyway..so i thoughtmornings were my good time..until the nurse hooked me up tothe nst and we saw nice little waves every 5 minutes. not irritability..contractions, but mild..and i couldn't feel them at all. i wonder what my night ones look like. anyway, now i have to take the terb every 4hrs regardless of how i feel. my cervix is now dilated to two which is good considering all the contractions i have...it makes me say really? are you sure? he cannot believe i have no swelling whatsoever. he says its unheard of. i told him i wanted the motrin back. i know i can't have it but i hate the terb. it makes me jittery, my heart races, and as if its not hot enough here itbmakes me feel like i am in a furnace.

getting discouraged

as much as i would love to carry these guys til the end i am getting sooooo tired. now that i am off the motrin i realize how much the meds hid my discomforts like back and rib pain. now i am on terbutaline which makes me jumpy. now its harder to tell when i am contracting vs having the uterine irritability. i used to be able to go by back pain and nausea but now i have back pain all the time and am nauseated bc of al the reflux. there's just not much room in there. i know i don't have much more time and am very thankful for that. i miss being able to play with elijah and doing things for myself. i know when i have them though it will be just as hard..just in a different way. i feel like i whine about things all the time now. i feel bad but it often just comes out. jake has been a great support and i feel bad that he has so much more on his plate. just a few more weeks. it's so hard to wait.

sorry for all the lower case but i just got an update on my phone so i can post now but for some reason it won't let me do upper case or exclamation points. all for now.

Scary Day

Yesterday I had a little scare with the boys. I had a nonstress test and while I was on the monitors Baby A's heart rate started dropping a little...then a lot..from 130's to 74! It stayed there for what seemed like forever to me and then started climbing back up but stayed in the 90's for awhile. I was expecting someone to come in to check on me or tell me to get on my left side but nope, nothing! Then I started second guessing myself and kind of going into a mini freak out session. Finally after over 30 minutes the nurse came in and said that it was taking longer because they had to call the doctor on call and were waiting for her to call back. She was "stuck" on what to tell me so I interjected and said "because Baby A had a decel and took awhile to recover." She was a little taken back and was like, yes, and because Baby B has only had 1 heart rate acceleration since we've put you on (which I was kind of wondering about because his strip was pretty flat looking). I kind of was wondering why she didn't try giving me juice or ice water but whatever, I'm not an L&D nurse so I can't claim to know everything. I told her I was a NICU nurse upstairs and she was like, oh, that explains why you know that. So then I had to wait for the doctor (not my doctor mind you) to call back. Finally she came back in and said that I was going for and ultrasound to get a biophysical profile. Okay, I figured that much. So then I waited an HOUR for them to get me into ultrasound(which I must say was NOT comfortable because since when are gurneys comfortable..let alone when you're pregnant..and with twins)...AND pretty much the whole time the monitors kept coming off of the babies which freaked me out because I wanted to know what baby A was doing. Well, a couple times I fixed them myself because I was so worried about it. Really, I thought they would come in to fix it but they never did..the entire time! A few of the times I got it back on his heart rate was low 100's so then I was worried he had been down for awhile. I know, I know worry, worry...but what was I supposed to do? No one was coming in, I didn't have Jake with me, and really my only concern was the babies. When I finally got to have the ultrasound I was very happy to see Ramona, my favorite ultrasound tech. She is super nice and always shows me exactly how the babies are laying and if she can get a face shot she will give me a picture in 3D. I haven't had her for awhile so I haven't had an US picture for a few weeks. I know, poor baby..hey I'm paying $15 bucks each time..I'm entitled to a picture! Anyway. The ultrasound turned out okay. They were moving enough but they wouldn't breath until their 30 minute time frame was almost up. I'm relieved about the ultrasound but I still am a little nervous now. I am a little worried about our little B baby because of him having to be buzzed during the last US and then the nonstress test I had when I was 31 weeks the nurse made the comment that the goals were increased from increases in HR from 10bpm to 15bpm and that baby B would have to step it up a bit. Now I hope he's getting the oxygen and nutrients he needs. He doesn't move nearly as much as Baby A. You know I always try to teach parents not to rely on monitors but they at least have a baby to look at...I can't see these guys. I'm not so sure I like this anymore. And why did Baby A drop his heart rate? It's not like I am in hard labor. Sigh. I'm not sure I can take 41/2 more weeks of this. I'm going to be a wreck! I have to keep telling myself to trust God but it's very hard to do! I will be glad when I can see them and hold them!

33 weeks Saturday

The other day I told Jake that I didn't think that I was that big...that I was MAYBE the size I was when I had Elijah. He hated to burst my bubble but said, NO WAY. So we got out pictures from a week before I delivered Elijah. Yeah...he was right. I am definitely bigger. I still didn't think that I was that big though...until I took pictures. I think this one shows off the best.

I had my ultrasound today and found that I am actually carrying about 5 oz of baby more than Elijah, not to mention one more placenta and amniotic sac. I actually weigh exactly what I did when I delivered Elijah. Some very nice people have said I am all baby and don't look pregnant from behind. You all are too sweet! Once you get to be about this size though, you tend to feel like a big fat oompa loompa. You're clumsy, waddle like a duck, and can never get too comfy.

How big are they you ask. Well, Baby A is measuring 4 lbs 12 oz and supposedly has a big head and is measuring like a 34 weeker instead of 33. Baby B is smaller, weighing in at 4 lbs 3 oz...no big head. He is the quieter of the two and for the first time had to be "buzzed" in order to wake up and pass his test via ultrasound. So far the amniotic fluid is still good which is a very good thing. It allows me to stay on the Motrin until next week. After that the plan is to take me off the Motrin and give me oral terbutaline for a week, maybe two but probably not...we'll see. I might know more but I didn't get to see MY doc today. I hate that. I was supposed to but he left in the morning and his partners took his patients. Don't get me wrong, they are all great OB's but I picked mine for a reason. I love the fact that he is constantly updating me with my progress; how my blood pressure is, where my weight falls, how I'm measuring, what our goals for the next week are...that kind of thing. When I see someone else I never get any of that. Oh well. I am praying that I get to have him see through the delivery like he did with Elijah. Everything else will be so different from last time. It will be weird to deliver in the OR (so far heads are down so it's just a precaution in case Baby B flips and he doesn't respond to an aversion) and to have a NICU team there. I guess I am very blessed to know everyone up there and have the best neonatologist and nurses ever!

I am starting to get a little nervous about caring for 2 babies and Elijah. I am praying God gives me the ability to get through it all. I think I am even more worried once I have to go to work after only 6 weeks of being with them and trying to get them on some sort of schedule. Elijah slept pretty much through the night by the time I went back to work. Sigh. I am also quite concerned about the postpartum depression as I already am feeling myself slip into some depression.

One positive thing that has happened is that I FINALLY got approved for my short term disability. Only took almost 4 weeks. Oh well, at least it is taken care of...or so they say.

I am still trying to keep busy. I have knitted 43 hats and 4 pairs of booties. No, I don't know how to knit...it's a cheater loom but it keeps me occupied. I do have to say..there are NO GOOD TV SHOWS ON during the day. AUGH!

I have a Droid smart phone now and found out from a mommy group that I belong to that they have an application to count your contractions and kicks. I downloaded it and it is pretty cool. I tried it out and realized I have WAY more contractions than I realized. To me they weren't anything more than normal but now I'm thinking how in the world am I going to know when I am really in labor when I already feel like I'm constantly contracting. I'm praying my water breaks so that I can be sure. Odd prayer I know but I already go to triage enough for tests, I don't want to show up for false labor. The last stress test they did the nurse discharged me and told me that I was starting to contract a lot so come back in if they increased. Ok...really? Cause I really have no idea that I am even having some of them. Oh well. Like I said, water breaking would be a really good sign. Just not in bed...that might get a little messy. Maybe a little trickle...on the tile, cement, linoleum. Better yet, at the doctor's office. Hey it happens! I was seeing him once and he told me he just had a twin mommy's water break when he checked her. I could go for that. At least I'd know what's going on!

Well, I probably should get going. I wish I had some better preggo pictures but Jake will have to take those.

On an ending note...WHY IS IT SO STINKIN' HOT ALL THE TIME! I need a personal fan! 112 degrees is not fun!

Some more updates

We are still doing well here at our house. We are starting to get into a routine with the changes that have happened. On Mondays we go to my friend Clarinda's house so that Elijah can get out and play with her kids and I can lay on her couch and get a change of scenery and some conversation. It's nice too because I miss being able to play with Elijah and this way at least I can watch him a little. Clarinda's amazing because she already has 4 kids of her own, including a 7 month old and she takes on Elijah and I and feeds us and cleans her house and does her laundry without missing a beat. I appreciate it.

On the remaining days Elijah goes to his GaGa's house to play all day. He loves their house and thinks Papa and GaGa are the best. I do too. I had a wonderful blessing of a cleaning fairy (aka Mom) on Saturday. Not only that, when I came home on Monday I found that my nasty, dirty carpets had been cleaned by the carpet cleaning fairy (again, aka Mom).

I get out of the house three other times during the week all of which started this week. Once for a non-stress test at the hospital (bummer, can't get it at the dr b/c they don't have a twin monitor), once for the dr and once for a biophysical profile at the hospital. Yikes! 45 min drive plus waiting for the appointments...which the past couple times at the hospital has been an hour because now they no longer have a separate fetal assessment center so basically I'm seen in between triage patients. Anyway. So far all of my tests are good and the Motrin that I'm on is keeping the constant contractions at bay. I am starting to be a little more uncomfortable but when I think about it, even though I technically am measuring about 38 weeks or so, my discomfort is not as bad as when I was 38 weeks with Elijah. These guys seem to be a little lower though so I can breathe better (with the exception of the humidity which has aggravated my asthma a bit). Even though I feel more like they are falling out, being on bedrest helps with that b/c I'm not on my feet enough to have it bother me.

I have also been blessed with WONDERFUL ladies at church that have been taking time out of their busy schedules to make us some excellent and tasty meals so that I don't have to rely on what Jake may concoct. While he's not a bad cook, cooking everyday in addition to working and taking on added responsibilities at home may not be the best thing.

Here is Elijah enjoying some of his cool new "paints" from some of my awesome coworkers. They have helped keep him occupied on the rare instance that I am left home with him by myself, when Daddy needs to get some things done, or just plain because he likes to do them.

These next pictures are a little older...from when we went to the boot store a few weeks ago and he wanted a "Jessi" hat. We happened to be on the phone with Grammy who just couldn't stand to hear him cry and pointed out that she and Grampy had sent out some birthday money that maybe he could buy his hat with. Well, he loves it as you can see.

He also got a Jessi and Woody doll from his friend Caitlin. These are the real things from when Toy Story 2 came out. He loves them and takes them everywhere. Thanks Cat!

Here's an infrequent smile for the camera.

And this is him after a long and hard day at Papa and GaGa's house. Jake and I were just talking on the couch and turned to find him asleep like this. Crazy goose.

Well, I guess that's it for now. I was hoping that I could update my blog from my phone now that I have the internet on it (YEAH!! gives me something to do!) but for some reason I can't. Boo. Oh well. I will do my best to keep it updated.