Perfectly Perfect

Cant believe it will be 4 weeks on Monday! Where did they go?

Alex & Emma will be 4 weeks old on Monday and they are doing GREAT! They have picked up on our routine perfectly. They are waking every 3 hours to eat, staying awake during the day to "play" and sleeping at night in between. I couldnt have asked for it to go any smoother. Of course we have a tough night here & there but if we didnt I would worry....they cant be too perfect! We were at the doctor last week and they had both gained weight. They are now above their birth weight! This week they started to take in more food. We are up to 3oz. a feeding...YIPEE!!
Reed & Eric are adjusting to the babies...it was much easier for Reed. They are now sharing a room and have new big boy beds! We bought a bunk bed and Reed would stay in it 24hrs a day if he could! He has become quite they helper and an amazing BIG brother to all 3 kids. Eric still has his days but each day gets better. My baby is no longer the baby and he knows it...and doesnt like it!
As for me and him....we are doing pretty good. Its been great to have him home and I will miss him terribly when he goes back to work BUT I will SURVIVE! We have ventured out a few times with all 4 kids and I must admit it hasnt been too bad. I think we will try the zoo before he goes back to work next week.
I am a lucky, lucky girl....
I have 1 amazing, supportive, loving husband and the best Dad to my kids (better than I could have imagined)
AND
I have 4 happy, healthy, beautiful kids who are PERFECTLY PERFECT!!!

Officially a family of 6

If you would have asked me 2 weeks ago, I would have told you that these kids were staying in as long as they could. I wanted them in there as long as possible. Last Sunday, I changed my mind...I was done! Well, the kids heard and decided to listen. I woke up Monday morning, expecting to go to my drs. appointment, run some errands, finish some last minute stuff at work....you know,, carry on like normal. As I was getting ready, I felt cramping. I thought, no big deal, I'm just hungry. As they continued to get stronger, I knew I was in trouble! I woke up Marc, told him the kids were coming today and left for the dr. The dr. checked me out and sent me to the hospital for observation. That was the longest, most uncomfortable 3hrs. EVER! Once they made the decision that I was really in labor and not faking it, I got my drugs and was prepped for my c-section. Of course I requested for Alex to be taken out first but Emma had other plans. She was on top and made her way out. She figured she was bullied long enough and was finally going to take control. It is truly the weirdest feeling, laying on a table, awake, while the drs. push and pull and cut and burn and stitch you up, all while taking 2 kids out of you and you can't feel a thing! Too weird!! Anyway, at 4:45p Emma Helen was born, weighing 5lbs 5oz and measuring 18in. At 4:46p, Alex Michael followed, weighing 6lbs 2oz and measuring 17in. We were in the hospital for 4 days as I recovered from my c-section. (By the way, if I ever were to have another child, minus the fact that it took all of 5 minutes, I would go vaginal birth all the way!) Both babies were doing great. They were never taken to the NICU. They were kept in the nursery Monday night just for observation because they were so early. The only issue we had was the fact that because they were so early, their "sucking" skills were not fully developed. Emma picked up on it real quick and was eating on her own. Alex was having trouble, only taking maybe 15cc's on his own and then was tube fed the rest. Again, Emma showing her brother up. I was discharged Friday evening, having to leave the twins behind. The neonatologist wanted to observe the kids for a full 24hrs. to make sure they could fully eat on their own. As I write this, we are at the hospital visiting the kids. We get to bring Emma home tonight but need to leave Alex again. I think Alex knows this because he has been eating almost a full 2oz every time on his own since midnight. He will (knock on wood) get to come home in the morning.

Little Princess vs Big Bully

With 4 weeks left I am now going to the dr every week. At my last appt. they noticed that my little princess was not gaining as much weight as she should and was now measuring 3 weeks behind schedule. My dr has paid extra attention to this all along because this is common when carrying twins....1 baby decides they want more food and takes it... In my case big bully brother is a pig! (Oh great, I can already see the future!) So, my dr decided to send me to a specialist
just to make sure everything else was ok and that there was no other reason why she wasn't getting the food she needs. I met with the specialist last Friday (loved him and would recommend if you need one) and he basically confirmed what the dr saw. He recommend two things: a non-stress test twice a week until I deliver AND take the babies a week early or somewhere between 37-38 weeks. (Really?!?!? I already gave up on my April babies by going with March 21st and NOW we gotta go a week earlier... That takes us somewhere between March 14th and March 21st. Well, I can tell you it won't be March 16th!)
I started my testing on Monday and all was well. Went for part 2 yesterday and big bully gained 12oz, officially weighing in at 5lbs 9oz and little princess gained 1lb, officially weighing in at 4lbs 12oz.(she now measures on schedule and is only a week behind big bully).
So as I get ready for week 2 of testing, I am excited to see my little princess take back what's hers from big bully and put him in his place!!

Friends

I had an unexpected, yet wonderful surprise visit from a friend today. A friend who I havent seen in 12 years. Someone who, until recently, I didnt even talk to. Someone I never thought I would see or talk to again! (THANKS Facebook....) She and I were once inseperable. We were roommates, then friends, then best friends, then sisters! She was my Laverne, my Ethel, my Thelma! Then something happened and we parted ways. We missed eachothers weddings, the births of our kids...those special events in our lives that we always thought we would be a part of.

We all have friends. Some we see and talk to more than others. Some that are our bestest friends in the whole wide world and some that we consider an aquaintance.  Some that come into our lives and never, ever leave and some that only stop by for the occasional visit. True friendship, no matter what label you put on it, will stand the test of time. All it takes is a phone call, email, text message, facebook post, to say "Hi. How are you?" or "I'm sorry".

So, to my dearest friend...It was great to see you today! I hope next time we can chat for longer and catch up on life.

I Am D-O-N-E!!

I LOVE being pregnant. I've been lucky and have had the 3 best pregnancies ever. No morning sickness, no diabetes, no high blood pressure or bed rest and no delivery complications! I have been blessed! (As my husband puts it, I was meant to have babies). I really never complained about anything....BUT this time, right now, with 6 weeks left...I'm done!! I'm ready for them to come out! I'm tired of the heartburn, the getting up 3 times a night to go to the bathroom, the way I am out of breath walking up or down the stairs! I am tired of being tired! I know I sound selfish but that's how I feel! Don't get me wrong, I hope they stay in there til they are good and ready to come out. And I'm sure these next 6 weeks will fly by and everything that we have planned and need to finish will help. And I know once this time passes and I start to think back, I will miss this time. I will miss being pregnant and feeling the way I feel now. I will miss feeling the babies kick and move around. I will miss hearing their heartbeats. I will miss the miracles growing inside. I will miss it all....

To work or not to work?

Everyone has some type of hidden talent...photographer, baker, some people have a good eye for decorating and are creative...

The latest debate in the house is about me going back to work once the twins get here. Me-definitely, it will get me out of the house a couple days a week for a few hours, keep me connected to the adult world! Him-no, I think you should stay home and raise the kids. You can go back to work when they get older.

I get his point and I would love to be a stay at home mom but I need something that's mine, that I can do and lose myself in for a few hours...a hobby! But a hobby that makes money would be even better. I love all the above mentioned things...baking, taking pics, being creative and decorating. I need to pick 1 and get really, really good at it and take advantage of the fact that I'm good at it and make some money! Ive always wanted to open my own bar (but I dont think now is the right time nor do I have the money)...I've always wanted to be an interior decorator (dont you need a degree for that??)...I would love to be a party planner (1st party you book is 1/2 off, haha)...Im pretty crafty (I'll make you something)...

So, I'm now taking any and all suggestions of how to be a stay at home mom AND be able to work at the same time....to keep me sane, to keep me....ME!

A big pot of Chili!

Last night we had some great friends over for dinner. I made a big pot of chili and some homemade cornbread. Just what the Dr. ordered for a cold, rainy day! I didn't take pictures as I created this masterpiece but I figured I would still share the recipe anyway. It's really easy but I can't take all the credit...it is my mother-in-laws recipe!

3 lbs ground beef (I've used ground turkey too)
2 large onions-chopped
10 cloves garlic or a head if garlic-chopped
1 bell pepper-chopped
2 cups chopped celery
2 packages of Chili seasoning mix
1 small can Las Palmas Red Chile Sauce-medium
3 - 40oz cans pinto beans
4 - 15oz cans tomato sauce (approximately 60 oz of tomato sauce)
1 tsp chili powder
Pepper
Salt

In large pot, over low heat, pour just enough oil to coat bottom of pot. Brown onions and garlic. Add salt & pepper. Once onions & garlic are transparent, add ground beef. Part way through browning ground beef, add bell peppers and chili powder. Stir. Once meat is completely brown, drain off any fat. Add 2 packages of chili seasoning mix, mixing well. Add can of Las Palmas Chili Sauce. Cook on low heat, stirring so everything mixes. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add all cans of tomato sauce and approx. 20oz of warm water.(add water a little at a time. You don't want it to be too watery) stir well and simmer on low to medium heat. Cook for 1 hour. After a hour, add drained & rinsed pinto beans. Continue to simmer for another hour. Stir occasionally to make sure there is enough liquid. It should have a soupy consistency. Add chopped celery and simmer for 1 more hour. Based on your preference you can add more Chile Sauce,tomato sauce, chili powder or water. It usually takes 3-4 hours to cook.

Enjoy!

Getting Organized... Part 1

A Few Things to Do....

1) Name the babies
2) Finish the registry
3) Clean Reeds room to get it ready for him & Eric
4) Clean Erics room to get it ready to be the nursery
5) Clean my room to make room for the cradles for the babies
6) Plan a night away with my husband...just me & him
7) Plan a day trip for me & him and the boys...1 last time as a family of 4

I consider myself a pretty organized person (you wouldnt know it right now because Im always too tired to do anything!) but I need to get MORE organized. Make a plan, put that plan into place, stick to my plan! I found some really cool organizational charts on Pinterest...which days to clean which room/part of the house, when to grocery shop, when to do the laundry...just something to help me keep it together when I have 4 kids, a husband and a house to take care of!

9 weeks to go

March 21, 2012...the big day, the final hoorah, the grand finale...the day the twins will be born! As I sit and write this I have many mixed emotions:

Nervousness: Can I really handle twins? 4 kids all under the age of 4? Can we adjust our lifestyle to fit a family of 6?

Sadness: This is it...on March 21st my last 2 babies will be born. No more pregancys, no more babies, no longer the option to have the option to try again!

Excitment: We finally get to meet our FINAL creations, to complete our family that we have always dreamed & talked about!

When we started the "talk" after Eric was born to have more kids, it was a huge discussion..me - "2 more kids, I love being pregnant" and him - "1 more pregnancy, I dont want to start ALL over again" Never in my wildest dreams did I think about twins...1 at a time, thats the way I do it! Not this time, God had other plans I guess. In the end we each got what we wanted, me - 2 more babies and him - 1 more pregnancy...its funny how things work out I guess!

So...here we go, the final countdown to "THE BIG DAY"! Follow me, as I take you on our journey from a family of 4 to a family of 6....JUST LIKE THAT!!