Sunday, November 30, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!


This year we got to host Ben's family at our house. It was so great to have the whole family together for the first time. We had a great time; cooking, eating, playing games, watching football, and making gingerbread houses!
Thanks to everyone for traveling to our place and making it such a memorable year!
Love to all!!

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Look who turned SIX!!

Abbie got to celebrate her birthday for whole week this year. We started with a party at The little gym, she got to invite all of her friends from school and around the neighborhood. The kids had a blast, it was the best bday party ever!! Ben's parents got into town just minutes before the party so we could leave the twins at home and go party (thx guys!) We also got to have cupcakes for breakfast on her bday, what a hit that was!!!

Then the tea party at the Gardner Village Protea shop. It was so fun, Ben's mom and sisters were in town for Thanksgiving so we all got to spend a ladies afternoon at tea to celebrate Abbie turning six. They have all the dress ups and served us pink hot chocolate!! Abbie's school class had taken a field trip there a couple of weeks ago to learn manners so Abbie was watching our every move and helping us all with keeping our elbows off the table, no slurping, and make sure you dab with the napkin so you don't mess up your lip gloss. SO FUN!

Happy Birthday Abigail, we love you to pieces!!
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Thursday, November 20, 2008

Baby Emily's Heart

We had our cardiologist appointment today... It was pretty rough. The hole in Emily's heart it too big and will require open heart surgery to close. We were devastated. Her lungs are getting too much blood pumped into them and it is making it harder for her to breath. She is now on medication to help keep her lungs clear so she can eat with out any distress and gain enough weight to have the surgery. Emily is still very small and the doctors want us to fatten her up with higher calorie formula for the next few months. The more she can grow, the bigger her heart will get which will make the surgery easier and most likely have less complications. We will take her in for more weekly weight checks and doc appointments. As long as she continues to gain weight, they will wait until she is close to 6months before surgery, if she slows in her weight gain we will do the surgery immediately. We are grateful for her great doctors and know that we are all doing everything we can for her, its just hard to watch your baby and not be able to protect her or take away the struggle. She is a sweet baby and a fighter, we are so grateful for her! She has taught us so much in the last four weeks, we are humbled by her strength.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Four Weeks old!

Just when I think time is flying, it starts going even faster!! The last four weeks have been an adventure, so rewarding, life changing and just awesome!! Everyone is adjusting to their new roles in the family; Iz being a big sister now wants to hold them and asks them whats wrong when they cry, she will even help feed them for about 30seconds before getting bored with it. Abbie is of course loving it, she is so naturally great with them (I need to relax and let her do more). Ben has been so helpful with everything, its so fun to watch him with them.


Weight checks, we have had to take Emily in weekly to make sure she is gaining enough weight on her limited amount of fluids. Because of the hole in her heart she is only allowed to have 55-60cc of fluid which is about 2oz. So she is on higher calorie formula. The doctors do not want to over work her heart with too much fluids. (We go to the cardiologist on Thurs to see if the hole is any smaller and all the other details, when they did her Echo cardiogram after birth the hole is actually bigger than they saw on the fetal monitor.)
Emily's birth weight: 4lbs 3oz Today's weight: 5lbs 13oz = gained: 1lb 10oz
Olivia's birth weight: 5lbs 7oz Today's weight: 7lbs 8oz =gained: 2lbs 1oz
They are both doing great!!!! Yes!
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Thursday, November 13, 2008

more pics!!!!

I have been dying to see these pics........ The photographer went out of town after taking them so it has felt like years waiting for them. anyhow, check them out on her blog....
http://www.photosbypicme.com/blog/

ps. you may have to scroll dwn on her site to see them :)

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

OOPS!!!!

Today was one of those days and I think it was only 7:45am.... yikes! Lets see... the girls are up and coloring by 6:30 am. Then the twins are ready for feeding by about 7am. Abbie is in the shower and upset with me because I didn't get her a towel.... got that remedied just as the twins began to fuss. Izza was all over the place as usual singing dancing etc. Abbie is getting dressed, I am feeding the twins the doorbell rings, Abbie (who I have educated on not answering the door) ANSWERS the DOOR!!! I am shirtless and Izza is in her panties Abbie just barely dressed. I throw on a shirt and run to the door, just in time to watch the cabinet guy leave. Abbie told him he was at the wrong house.... (he asked for the contractor that is finishing our basement .. of course he doesn't live here so she sent him away) I ran outside to catch him. PHEW!! we are hoping to have the basement finished in time for Bens fam that is coming in for Thanksgiving (its major crunch time and if we missed the cabinet guy it would be another big set back!!)all the while Iz decided to get her own breakfast......... Twins fussing, me sweeping, Izza putting the cheerios back in the bag, Abbie laughing, and then I realized today is the first of ( i am sure) many more crazy days! I look forward to everyone of them.. I know the time will fly by and I will be wishing for cheerio messes and fussy babies that NEED me.

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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Life at home


Life at home is going great. The twins came home from the hospital on a eating schedule so that part was already done for me (yeah!) They are great sleepers and really never fuss unless its eating time. They eat every four hours which is perfect for me. I can sleep a few hours between night feedings and still be ready to go in the mornings with my other two. I think we have a good system down. Don't get me wrong, I am tired, but who isn't after having a baby, right? For now we are having a lot of fun enjoying the babies. Abbie is super helpful and Iz is finally starting to care that they are here. Its been a crazy transition for her but we are getting there!

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Saturday, November 8, 2008

A few pics..... I LOVE!!

We had Vanessa take our maternity pics and now she is taking the twins pics....... We got a good start on them, but had a hard time because there wasn't enough natural light coming in. We will have part II another day when there is more light... I can't wait to see more. Here are a couple of shots...... I LOVE THEM!!!! check them out:
http://www.photosbypicme.com/blog/

Sunday, November 2, 2008

The welcoming committee

When we got home from the hospital, my mom had the girls waiting for us on the front porch with their "proud sister" balloons. It was such and exciting day for all of us!!!
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Fun pics

Ben got Olivia dressed and ready to go when he got the word that Emily was cleared to go. He was so excited!!!! Look how tiny Olivia looks in Ben's hands!! She went home 5 lbs 2oz, Emily went home 4lbs 8oz

This is a pic on the way home from the hospital. Ben looked back to check on them and both their headbands fell over their faces. It was so fun to drive home with both of them and know we didn't have to go back to the hospital!!
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Emily is home!


We are so excited to have our girls back together again!! It was so hard to have them separated from each other. They always have to be touching and cuddling each other. It is so awesome to just watch them together. What a humbling experience to have everything out of our hands. We had to just depend on the Doctors and nurses and know that everything is in the Lord's hands.


I would go in every 3 hours to feed Emily, Ben would pace the floors the whole time. He had to stay out of the Nursery with Olivia. He would peek in the windows and look at the nurse and wait for a thumbs up or down from them. I was so nervous every time going in knowing that if she didn't finish her feed that we would have to start the 24hour period over again.
Olivia was fussy without her sister, you can see the big grin on her face when they finally got to snuggle together again.
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