Nine years ago my life changed for the better...

Nine years ago I had no idea that I would be where I am today... and I am SO happy!!

Nine years ago I met my husband and 6 months later... yes, 6 months... we got married.

Yes.. it was a fast courtship and maybe we were both a bit scared with how fast things were going but WOW.. God knew what he was doing. Every year with my husband just gets better and better. Here I sit looking at all that we have gone through these past nine years - yes.. some hard times... some very hard times... but many more good times. I am so blessed to have Mike in my life and I love my life with him.

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband.... and here is to many, MANY more!!!

Love you!!

Thanksgiving...

I am seeing a lot of posts and blog posts about Thanksgiving and what we are thankful for.. I want to do the same thing but I am going to do this in one post... so... here I go.

First and foremost.. I am SO thankful for my God. He has brought me through so many storms and has blessed me with so much - I am thankful for all that He has given me and all that He has taught me and continues to teach me.. He is always listening and there for me. Thank you God.. for my life and everything that is in it!

I am SO thankful for my husband... you know what.. he really is the best - I am thankful to God for putting him in my life. He is always there to hug me.. support me.. and hold my hand whenever I need him to. He has helped me through some difficult times and NEVER leaves my side. He works so hard... SO hard to provide for us and so that I can stay home with the kids. I can't imagine my life without him! I love him SO much!!

I am SO thankful for my sons... Brevin, Ian and Alex.. and for my little guy in Heaven, Troy. All my boys are such miracles - they make me smile and laugh - I love the hugs and kisses I get from them and I love watching them grow and learn new things. Nothing could ever prepare me for motherhood - I had NO idea what to expect. It is literally the best thing and so rewarding. I have the best kids in the world. I am so blessed... a thousand times over each and every day!

I am SO thankful for my family... Mike and I have such great and caring parents - they love their grandkids unconditionally and do such wonderful things for them and with them. I am so thankful to have the best babysitters in the world - our family!! They never hesitate when we ask them to watch the kids and always seem excited to come and help - yes.. they do leave tired and exhausted but they always come back!!! Thank you!!!

I am so thankful for friends.. we have some of the greatest friends... I get calls everday from friends that just check in with me to see how things are going...that means the world to me. I still get some yummy lunches from a friend knowing that I am usually to busy to make myself lunch. Those friends near and far - you are all the best - thank you for being you!!

I am so thankful for our home - like I said before.. Mike works so hard so that we can have the home that we live in and I am proud of our home and all the love that is filled inside of it!!

I am so thankful right now to be listening to Christmas music - I LOVE the holiday season!! Please don't get on me for listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving.. if they played Thanksgiving music.. I would be listening to that.

There is so much to be thankful for... I could go on and on. I am just so thankful for all that I have gone through to get me where I am today - I would not change anything. I really sincerely hope that everyone that reads this post has a very happy Thanksgiving.. a Thanksgiving that is full of family and friends and lots and lots of love!!

Thursday, November 4... Surgery

Yesterday Ian had surgery... similar to a hernia surgery to correct a right communicating hydrocele. I was so nervous about this because his surgery was scheduled at 10:45am at UofM health center in Livonia. I was a little mad because they told me his surgery should be first thing in the morning and 10:45am is not first thing. He could not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before - how in the world do you get a one year old up in the morning and not give them a sippy of milk or even water? Mike came up with a plan to put Ian to bed at normal time (7pm) and then wake him up at 11pm to feed him and give him some milk and then hope and pray that he would sleep in the next morning - well... Mike's plan worked!!! We woke Ian up at about 10:45pm.. gave him some cereal and fruit and a sippy full of milk - he ate and drank and played a little.. then Mike put him back to bed around 11:45pm and he went right to sleep - he then slept in till 8:15am!!

Mike took Brev to the bus stop and I got Ian changed - kept his jammies on him... got his coat and hat and soon as Mike got back - we loaded him up and we were off to Livonia - my Mom came in to help us.. she stayed back and took care of Alex for us. Thank you Mom!!!



Not a peep out of Ian the whole drive over. Soon as we got to the Health Center - we checked in and a nurse came out almost immediately and brought us to the "prep" room. We got Ian undressed and put on this cute little toddler gown.




For not having anything to eat or drink.. Ian did AMAZING!!! He was walking around visiting everyone that worked there and even visited a few patients. They all seemed to love him! We waited literally till almost 10:45am.. so from 8:45 to 10:45 we waited and waited - the dr. was running behind and the anesthesioloist was sick that day so they had to call another one in. I still am in disbelief with how well Ian did for 2 hours.. again.. with nothing to eat or drink - we walked the hallway a million times keeping him as entertained as possible and he did SO well.


At 10:45am... the Dr. came and talked with us and then a nurse came to give Ian some liquid drug that made him really woozey - after about 15 minutes 3 nurses came and to take Ian - it was hard leaving him and I got really teary but he did great - he was already groggy that he didn't even care who was holding him. Then Mike and I walked to the waiting room - it was hard for a little bit so I went out into the hallway to call my mom and to walk around a bit and that helped. The time went by fast - the procedure was about 45 minutes. Soon as that time was up.. the Dr. came in and brought us into a conference room and told us that everything went great!!! He told us exactly what he did and what we need to do with Ian over the next few days. He then told us that soon as Ian woke up.. someone would come and get us - he told us that would be in about 20 to 30 minutes. Well.. we waited and waited and waited.. an hour went by... the Dr. came in and said that he was doing great but that he just didn't want to get up - he was taking advantage of getting that nap in!! After another 15 minutes a nurse finally came in to get us. I was really nervous walking to the recovery room - I have been told my many that most kids wake up screaming and just out of control. As we walked into the recovery room - I heard NO noise.. I looked around and there was Ian.. laying on a bed with 3 nurses around him and he was just looking around not making a sound. Soon as I walked up to him and he saw me.. he started to cry a bit but the nurse immediately picked him up.. had me sit in a recliner and placed him in my lap - it was such a sweet moment for me - knowing he was okay!!



He cried for a little bit but not much - he kept leaning his head way back.. he was still so out of it. Mike got his sippy of milk out and gave it to a nurse to warm up for us and he drank that fast - we tried giving him some snacks of graham crackers and blueberry bread but he really didn't want that - we have him more milk and he loved that. After about 10-15 minutes we were told we could go home... so we got him dressed and they gave us a prescription for some pain medicine... took the IV out of his hand which made Ian a little mad.





The nurse went over a few things with us and we were on the road by 1:30pm!! The whole day went so fast - God is SO good... I prayed and prayed and I was not expecting the day to go well at all but God had different plans He made it so peaceful for us!!


Ian didn't make a peep the whole way home... he was so relaxed and layed back - he had his eyes open but was totally out of it. Mike dropped us off home and then went out to get his prescriptions. I sat in the rocking chair with Ian for about 15 minutes... My mom made me a grilled cheese sandwich but Ian pretty much ate the whole thing so she made him another one - I put him in his highchair and let him eat his sandwich and a few cheerios - he was doing great!!! The Dr. told us that they gave Ian a spinal medication that made him numb from his tummy down so he would be wobbley for 6-8 hours.. until that wore off. He was trying SO hard to stand and walk and his legs just were not letting him do that - but he was crawling around like nothing ever happened.. he was so happy. Here is a picture of him about 1/2 hour after we got him home.




I was excited for Brev to come home. It was hard trying to explain to a 6 year old what Ian had to go through - that he had surgery.. that he was going to have an incision from being cut by the doctor etc.... so it was nice to show Brevin how well Ian was doing - he was very interested in seeing his incision and his hospital tag on his foot and the bandage around his hand from the IV - I kept it all on Ian so I could show Brevin. He was glad his brother was okay.


All-in-all it could not have gone any better - all the prayers that were prayed for Ian were definitely felt by Mike and I. Thank you God for getting us through that day and mostly.. getting Ian through. We are so blessed by Him for a wonderful experience. Thank you to everyone who kept Ian in their prayers!!

Busy Busy... what we are up to

This past couple weeks have been one thing after another!!! Last week Thursday morning Brevin woke up and was very teary - not really crying but very close - I asked him if he didn't feel well and he kept saying he didn't know... so I decided to keep him home from school and I am glad I did. He took a nap in the afternoon and when he woke up - he was screaming and look terrified - I felt his head and he was burning hot so I gave him some motrin and that did the trick. The twins were also not feeling the best because they are cutting their one year molars so their noses were VERY snotty!! Anyway.. that night we had an appointment for family pictures - we loaded the kids up on meds and off to the park we went - I think the pictures went well - we will see in a week or so how things turned out.. it was a beautiful day!!

That night I had Brev sleep in our bed - he was only asleep an hour and he woke up again screaming but this time he was shaking and talking really weird... it scared Mike and I, so Mike picked up Brev and off to ER they went - he must have spiked a really high fever and had almost like a seizure. The Dr. checked him for strep throat because his throat was red but it came back negative.. he still put Brevin on an antibiotic - he was such a brave boy in the ER - that is a scary place for kids - I am so proud of him. He had another repeat of Thursday night on Friday night - woke up screaming and shaking but this time we gave him meds... the dr. told us to alternate Motrin and Tylenol for a good 48 hours... that seemed to work. So that weekend Judy and Roger came into town to watch the kids while Mike and I went to a wedding - a co-worker of mine got married. The wedding was fun and it was fun hanging out with "Gold's gang".. here is a picture of some of us girls.

Brevin was still not feeling the best but better than he was the night of the wedding. Thank you SO much to Judy and Roger for still being willing to come in and watch the kids for us so we could have a date night - it really was nice to go out.. especially after being stuck inside with sick kids for almost a good week!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Brev is back to feeling great and back to school - so happy and relieved that he is all better!!

Now onto Ian.. we had an appointment yesterday with the urologist - Ian does have a communicating hydrocele that needs to be fixed.. so surgery is scheduled for thursday, November 4 - I am really scared about this.. I thought I would be fine - after doing research online I kind of knew that he would have to have surgery but to have the dr. actually tell me and then going over things with the nurse - I am really nervous and overwhelmed about this.. Ian is going to be put out for this so the wake up and recovery is what really worries me.. but I have such wonderful family and friends so I know I will have the support that I will need.

Now about Alex... I am SO excited to report that he FINALLY pulled himself up!!! On 10/10/10 he pulled himself up on the couch to get his blankie. Then the next day I went in to get the twins in the morning and there was Alex standing in his crib!!! He pulled himself up on the window sill to look out and now today is pulling himself up on his toys!! We are so excited about this because he should have been doing this by now.. the pediatrician wasn't too worried but she wanted to see him doing this by 18 months!!! Yeah Alex... here is a picture of him standing!!

I think this is about it for now. Life is crazy but life is so good!!!

I love my kids!!!

Dr. appointment

Ian and Alex had their one year check-up today - with one round of shots :o(

We decided to go back in a few weeks for the rest of the shots because all the shots at once seems like a little much for their bodies!!

Here is where they are at:


Ian
25 pounds 1 ounce
32 1/2 inches long


Alex
22 pounds 14 ounces
31 inches long


The appointment went pretty good - we found out that Ian has a Communicating Hydrocele.. so I am a little worried about that but it is correctable and he might have to have surgery to correct it - I don't know how to describe it so here is a definition of it.. sorry if this is TMI for some:


Communicating Hydrocele - this is a hydrocele that has contact (or communication) with the fluids of the abdominal cavity. A communicating hydrocele is caused by the failure of the processus vaginalis (the thin membrane that extends through the inguinal canal and descends into the scrotum) to close completely during the prenatal development. IF this membrane remains open, there is a potential for both a hernia and a hydrocele to develope. (this is taken from the Cleveland Clinic website)


Our Dr. said that if this is left untreated then his testicle can eventually "die" from this. So... we have an appointment with a urologist from UofM next Wednesday to figure this out - luckly he has an office not to far from us.


Alex has an appointment with the same urologist next March to have the cathedar dye test done again to see how his kidney is doing... we are hoping it is getting back to normal size and that we can be done with the antibiotics AND seeing a specialist!!


Other than that stuff - they twins are doing well. We were concerned because Alex still will not pull himself up onto his feet - won't even stand alone or with support or help from us. The dr. didn't seem to concerned - if he isn't doing any of this by 18 months then we might be referred to a neurologist but hopefully he is just being his layed back self and will do this when he is ready to.


As far as what the boys are up to... here is where we are at.


Ian.... he is still my On-The-Go boy!!! Always moving and never sitting still for 1 second!! He LOVES to empty out the tuppeware drawer on the kitchen floor and play with it all. He still loves to play with the door stopper in the bathroom and his bedroom - it is so cute watching him do this - he will sit and then lay down and then sit again all while playing with the stopper. He still loves bath time - he barely sits while taking a bath - he likes to turn on the water and then turn it off and then repeat non-stop - he is always standing in the tub. He loves to still walk behind Alex in the walker. Loves it when I read books to him and when I sing - I will start singing when he gets upset and it usually calms him down - he loves Row Row Row your boat and twinkle twinkle little star and he also loves the elephant song.

Ian.. to this day.. still hates going down for either a nap or down for the night - he will always cry - most of the time it is only for a couple minutes but there have been times where it seems like forever for him to calm down. I haven't changed the way I put him down - always the same - I give him his binky and blanket and lay him down awake - still cries everytime!! :o)

Ian loves to eat -he gets really upset when I put him in his highchair and there is no food on is tray.. so I have leaned to put food on his tray first and get all the other food ready... then put him in. He loves to eat with his eyes closed.. he will put food in his mouth or I will put the spoon in his mouth and then he will close his eyes and smile and then chew and then open his eyes for more food.. it really is funny to watch! Ian is still a chewer and a biter. he still loves going for a stroller ride - no matter how cranky he is.. a stroller ride always calms him down - as long as he has his binky!! He gives us a battle every time we change his diaper or clothes - he almost have to literally pin him down to do this!! Ian is such a happy and outgoing boy - I have started going to the gym with a friend and have been putting the boy in the nursery there - Ian does great -has no problems when I leave - he is just a busy body!!


Alex... still my layed back little man. He is very leary of strangers and doesn't like loud noises.. he is more sensitive. He is strong willed though - if he doens't want something he will let us know - he gets upset and will throw stuff or push us away or push away any toy that he doesn't want and he is strong!! Trying to wipe his nose or his face after a meal is a huge battle - he is fast with his hands and will grap the tissue or cloth away from me!!


Alex loves bathtime - lately he will just sit and splash his hands non-stop - getting me and everything around me soaked!! He always stays seated in the tub. He has NO desire to stand or really to be on his feet - he doesn't want to walk with our help - everytime we try.. he pulls is legs up or just lets them fall back to the floor. He is a little more picky with eating - lately he won't eat bread or the cinnamon bread that I give them in the morining.. a sure thing though is graham crackers -he loves those!!


Alex will clap his hands and if I ask him where Momma's nose is.. he will point to my nose.. still trying to teach him but he is more interested in my nose than his. Alex will lay still for the most part when we change his diaper or clothes. Alex loves to go to bed - he hardly ever cries when we put him down - he is very much a blanky boy and binky - he will only take the binkies that the hospital gave us when they were born. Alex also loves it when I read - sometimes when I sing but he will let me know if he is not in the mood for me to sing - he will start crying soon as I start and I know he is not up to listening to me.

Aex loves to put his hands over his ears and then make some noise - I think he likes to hear the sound of himself with his ears plugged - this really is funny when he does this.

He loves to go into the bathroom and open and close the drawers and cupboard doors.


It is amazing how opposite the boys are - nothing they do is alike - personality to what toys they play with - it is usually always different.



So I am still wrapping my head around the fact that it has been a whole year since they were born - each day with them gets better and better - they learn new things everyday and watching that is the best!!! What also is the best is how Brevin LOVES to play with his brothers - he is so amazing with them - lately he has been playing more and more with them - they just laugh at Brevin and love to watch him. I know I have said this MANY many times but I seriously am so blessed to have my boys - they are the best!!!

Here are some picture we had taken at Portrait Innovations for their one year!!

One year ago today...

A year ago today.. I would not let myself believe what was about to happen... I was a little in denial.

A year ago today... I held my husbands hand tightly as we walked into the hospital

And a year ago today... I held two tiny miracles in my arms and was just blown away.

Up to the day that I gave birth to Ian and Alex... I could not bring myself to get things ready for two infants. I didn't wash any of the clothes that I had received... I didn't open up diapers and wipes and put them nicely away in the drawer of their changing table. I didn't get bottles washed and ready. I could not bring myself to believe that everything was going to be okay and that I WAS going to bring my babies home with me. But I did!!

Ian and Alex were born one year ago today... on Monday, September 28, 2009. Ian at 10:37 am and Alex at 10:39 am. I remember leaving home at 6:30 in the morning.. we wanted to leave a little bit earlier... before Brevin woke up for school... it was hard leaving and I didn't want Brevin to be worried since I was in tears.. I was really scared and it was just really hard leaving Brevin... knowing that his life was about to change dramatically!!

We arrived in Ann Arbor early so we ended up going to Rite Aid to get some magazines for the hospital stay and we stopped at McDonalds so Mike could eat some breakfast. Then I remember getting to the hospital and walking in, shaking... literally shaking. I was so scared to have a c-section. We sat in the waiting room for a short time.. then 3 nurses came to get me and we walked to the prep room... a very small room. I was given a gown to put on and then layed on a bed. Then I was hooked up to monitors to check on the boys. Even though I was SO huge.. the boys still found enough room in me to roll around. The nurses could not keep track of their hearbeats because they were just rolling around. I remember one nurse saying "obviously they are doing just fine because they won't stop moving".. she ended up taking the monitors off because it was pointless to keep them on.

After a short time the anestegiologist walked in and went over things with me... then my doctor walked in... I felt both relieved to see his face but SO scared because the time had come. They were about to put me in a wheel chair to go to the OR but I asked if I could walk.. and I did.

Mike walked with me but they made him stop right before the doors and sit on a bench while they prepped me... I walked in with my doctor into the VERY bright and VERY cold room. They had me sit on the bed and was ready to put my spinal in... knowing what I have heard about that spinal.. my whole body started shaking. My doctor put his hand on my shoulder and told me that everything will be okay... then the anestegiologist told me to hunch over so my back was curved - very hard to do with a twin/37 week belly infront of you... I asked for a pillow to hug and that helped. I closed my eyes and held my breath... I felt the prick and I what felt like a balloon being inflated in my back... just as they said. But pain? I felt no pain. The doctor then told me that he was done with my spinal... I remember saying "that was it"?... they then told me to go ahead and lay down but the medication worked really fast and I was so numb that I couldn't move my legs to lay down so they had to help me. Then things moved fast... a blue sheet was put up infront of my face... the anesteologist was right next to me and soon as he asked me to tell him if I start feeling sick... I started feeling sick - he put something into my IV and the sick feeling was gone instantly. They had a fan like thing blowing warm air on me... I asked them if they can make that air cold.. I was getting hot... the doctor laughed because he never had anyone ask for the air to be cold.. usually everyone is cold in that room and wants heat on them. Soon Mike walked in and sat right by my head.. camera in hand. I asked Mike if they started yet... either the doctor or nurse heard me and said "not only have we started... we are almost to baby A". I could not believe how fast things were moving.. then I felt sick again.. and again the doctor took care of that fast! Then I heard a cry and I started crying myself... such relieve came over me... Mike got to his feet and was off to see Ian - after a quick check and a rough cleaning.. they brought Ian to me so I could see him and give him a kiss.



Then another cry.. and more cries from me. Mike again almost running around to see both babies and get pictures... comes back to me and tells me that Alex looks beautiful too!! We hadn't totally settled on a name yet for him so I was surprised when Mike said "Alex"... We were a little worried about Alex because we never got a good shot of his face in any of the ultrasounds that I had and I had one every 2 weeks of my pregnancy. But he was fine... a little bruised up from being so high up in me.. it took the doctors quite a bit of pulling to get him out.

We were done... the babies were here and I could not believe it. I remember being wheeled back into a little recovery room.. the same room where I was getting prepped.... both Ian and Alex were brought in. I could not wait for Brevin to come... I wanted us all to be together and I was so excited to see Brevin's reaction to his brothers. Brev had school that day so my parents picked him up.. got him lunch and came right to the hospital... it was SO great to see them!! My mom started crying soon as she walked in... the babies were both with us. Brevin was a little timid and not so sure about everything but he loved looking at his brothers. Shortly after their arrival.. I was ready to be put in the mommy/baby room that I would be staying in for the next 3 days. The nurse handed me both babies... I had one in each arm and they wheeled me on my bed to my room.. I remember the long walk... I had tears in my eyes... I was so proud.. so happy to be holding my sons and to have my other son Brevin there.



My dream of having another child came true... times two!! Leaving the hospital WITH my babies was the best moment - I could not wait to go home and start living the life I have been dreaming about. And here.. right now.. as I write this.. I have 3 beautiful children sleeping peacefully.. I am so blessed... SO blessed. Thinking back with what we have been through but not regreting one single thing - I only wish Troy was with us but I know the sacrifice that had to be to have Ian and Alex here... God gave me 4 beautiful boys.. one in Heaven watching over us... our guardian angel... and now we celebrate the twins first birthday... what a special day this is.

ALL I can say is... God is SO good!

Happy birthday Ian and Alex!

You two and your big brother Brevin have changed my life so much... you have made me a better person. You have made me so happy! How blessed I am to have an amazing husband and now all my beautiful boys!!

Fun in the light!

I took this a little while back and had to share.. who knew that playing in the sun light was so much fun!!! Love these little guys!

First Grade

I still cannot believe that my baby is in first grade - the years go by SO fast... it is scary!!

Brevin was really excited for today and he picked out his clothes last night. I had to wake him up this morning at 7:30am (the kid never sleeps past 7am... except for today). When he came downstairs.. he was already dressed and ready to go. He picked out his two snacks for today - snack 1 = grapes and strawberries and snack 2 = vanilla wafers. He decided to get hot lunch today... pizza was on the menu. He is growing up so fast and it's so bittersweet but we are SO proud of him - he is becoming more and more independant (which is hard but a good thing) and is just such a good boy.

I am going to miss him during the day!! He keeps me company and helps a TON with the twins!

Happy first day of First Grade Brevin!

We love you and are SO proud of you!!

11 Months

Where has this past month gone?? I have zero time to blog anymore... let alone read all the blogs I am following. We have become one busy family!! Today the twins turn 11 months - hard to believe only one month away from them turning one years old!!

Here is what they are up to...

IAN

Ian is a busy body... literally always moving - never sitting in one spot. He LOVES it when Alex is in the walker... he crawls up to him and walk behind him hanging on to the walker - we just laugh because sometimes Alex gets moving pretty fast and Ian is almost running behind him hanging on as tight as he can!!

Ian loves to stand up on things and then lets go and stands without any help... he took his first step yesterday but it was a step backwards... not forward.

He is still a biter - loves to bite and chew on anything - you should see the front of our entertainment center - in one minute that I turned my back.... he stood up and scraped his teeth on the front and we have all teeth scrap marks now. He bites and chews on the rocking chair and pretty much anything else he can crawl up to.

He loves to laugh and is smiling all the time!!

He still loves to eat and will pretty much eat anything!!

He is a hugger - he will wrap his arms around my neck and just squeeze - I can't tell you how much I love this!!

His still only says Dadda.

His favorite toy is the door stop in our guest bathroom - he will crawl in and just play with it non-stop. He has actually done this and shut the door playing with the doorstop in the dark!

He is a fighter when it comes to going to bed - on a rare occasion will he go to sleep without making a peep - he most likely will cry or just "talk" really loud.

He does really well with a sippy cup but I have to give him a cup that has a hard spout.. the soft ones he has learned how to bend the spout and get the water to spray out... leaving him soaked and me changing him often. He loves to drink water!!

ALEX

Alex is still our layed back boy - he will watch what is going on and sit and play with a toy for a long time. If I lay down a blanket in the grass.. he will just sit and play with his toys where Ian will be crawling off and grabbing fists full of grass and eating it!

Alex finally learned to feed himself.. we have been working on this with him and he will finally put food into his mouth without our help.

He is a very sensitive boy. He is not fond of strangers or any loud noise. We even have it where he will drop his sippy cup... Mike and I will say "Uh Oh" and he starts crying... he doesn't like us saying that.

He even cries when I finish reading him a book.. that is really upsetting to him!

Alex loves bathtime - he will sit in the tub.. in one spot and splash the water with his hands.. over and over and over again... leaving whoever is giving him a bath soaked!! Where Ian is constantly standing up and trying to turn the water on.. and then off and then on again and off again - falling on his butt and almost falling out of the tub. Alex gets a little annoyed with this because Ian will fall back and land on him.

Alex loves to chew on books - if he finds a book.. he will chew on the corner and then gets mad if I take the book away.

Alex still wants no part of being on his feet.. he would rather sit on his knees that pull himself up to a standing position.

Alex only word that he says is Momma - it is so cute when he says this.. I love it! It is funny because Alex will say Momma and he is such a daddy's boy and Ian will say Dadda but he is such a momma's boy.. I guess that balances things out.

Both boys LOVE to play with the sunlight that comes in - we always get a certain spot on our living room carpet where the sunlight comes in through the sky window - they love to crawl into that light and lay on it... it must feel warm to them... they just giggle when they do this.

They both love to play in the dishwasher - soon as I open it up to empty it.. they come "running".. it is play time for them!!

Ian still have 8 teeth and Alex now has 7!

They are following a pretty consistant schedule...

7am - wake up - Alex has an 8 oz bottle and Ian has a 6 oz bottle
8:30am - cereal with fruit and the love pepperidge farm cinnamon bread
9am - nap.. up around 10:30am
12 noon - veggies and a 5 oz bottle
1pm - nap - up around 2:30 - 3pm
4pm - veggies with a meat - some more fresh fruit
7pm - cereal with a fruit and a 5 oz bottle
7:30pm - bed

Although I think they are about ready to give up their morning nap... today they went down at 9am and they were still awake and talking an hour later!!

I am excited because they now drink their noon bottle with a sippy cup and they are doing great with it!!

Both are in a #4 diaper... still a little big on Alex but like I said before... we need to stick with one size or we are going to get confused!

I think that is it for now... no dr. appointment this month so I have no idea where they are with height and weight - that will be next month.

Happy 11 months boys!!

10 Months

We are at 10 months!! This summer is flying by but we are having so much fun!! The twins just made their first trip to Kensington water park.. they have played at the park and gone swimming in the lake. Everyday is something new!!

Ian.. he is our.. well... I guess you say busy guy. He gets into everything!! He is on the move NON-stop. He loves to pull himself up to a standing position on everything.. even things that move like the dog.. Ian falls down a lot and has already had his share of bumps and bruises but he just keep going and going and he doesn't stop.. even with changing his diaper.. he has made that extremely difficult lately... he will not hold still. It is a struggle everytime!!

Alex... he is more mellow. He will actually sit and watch Ian as entertainment. Alex wants nothing to do with being on his feet. We try to get him to stand but he pulls his legs up or sinks down onto his knees.. he is just not ready yet for standing.

Both twins are good eaters but Alex still will not pick up anything and put it in his mouth.. we have to put puffs or pieces of bread in his mouth for him.. he won't do it. Ian on the other hand will shove a hand full of stuff in his mouth and gets upset when there is nothing on his highchair tray.

They love to play with all my measuring cups on the tile floor in the kitchen.. they love banging them on the floor and just being really loud!

Alex really likes to play with all the doors in the house... open, close, open, close - he could do this all day.. I just have to really watch those little fingers so they don't get caught in the door.

Ian is in 18 month clothing and Alex is in 12 month. Both are still in number 3 diapers.
They LOVE strawberries and peaches that I cut up for them and banana. I have tried cous cous with them and avocado.. Ian really likes it but Alex doens't. Alex loves the jar food that I spoon feed him.

Alex now has 6 teeth.. 4 on the top and 2 on the bottom... I feel more coming in so we will see what next month brings! Ian still has 8 teeth and I don't feel much coming through so hopefully he might be done for a while.

They are both WONDERFUL sleepers... still taking 2 naps a day and sleeping about 11-12 hour at night.

They both love sleeping with their binkies and blankies... I love watching them sleep!!

Both Ian and Alex are really loud.. they love to yell and scream out of excitement... poor Brevin.. some mornings I think he could sleep in but the twins are just really loud and wake him up.

They are just happy boys and SO much fun... yes they keep me busy but I wouldn't have it any other way... we are SO blessed with our 3 boys!!

9 Months

Wow...life is CRAZY but SO good!! It is getting harder and harder to get on my blog to update.
I can't believe that in 3 months we will be celebrating the twins 1st birthday!!
Here is what the boys are up to:

The twins are both crawling now and I am chasing them all over!! I have never vacuumed so much in my life... I vacuum everyday.. if not twice everyday... they find every single piece of lint.. anything and it immediately goes in their mouth.

It is so much fun watching them move around and explore... their favorite items are the remote controls AND anything that is Brevin's toys!

Ian has 8 teeth and he loves to use them to bit anything and everything.. including me and his brothers.. occasionally he tried to bite Blue's tail but so far I have caught him before clentching down. ALL of his bottles have scrap marks on the bottom because soon as he is done drinking,... he turns his bottle up-side-down and scraps his teeth on the bottom... he does this with his sippy cups and even the remote controls for the TV have teeth scrap marks in them.

Ian loves to make noise and loves to be loud at doing that. He loves to eat and will eat anything that I put on his highchair tray.. he loves pieces of bread and his puffs.. he has tried some pancakes and biscuits and loves it all!

Alex still doesn't like solid food.. he can handle a few puffs but he gags really easily and prefers the soft spoon foods.

Ian is a hugger... when he wakes up in the morning and from his naps.. he wraps his arms around me.. I just love it!! Alex has started to give kisses... a couple times now I have asked him for a kiss and he leans into me with his mouth open.. it is so adorable!!

Alex and Ian have both started pulling themselves up.. we had to lower both cribs.

They have both graduated from their infant bath seat to just sitting in the tub.. they love it!! Alex will sit so nicely and play with his toys the whole time.. Ian, on the other hand, will not sit and is always falling backwards or forwards.. trying to crawl to each end of the tub.. getting his face wet.. he is just a wild child!

Both Ian and Alex love to pull binkies out of eachothers mouth.. it is like a game to them.. so funny to watch!

I am trying so hard to get them to take sippy cups and lately it is working.. I tried putting their milk in it but so far that just makes them mad... I pretty much had Brevin off the bottle by the time he was one but I am not thinking that is going to happen with the twins.. they LOVE their bottles!!

They are wonderful sleepers.. sleeping almost 12 hours at night and 3-4 hour naps during the day!

Ian is in 12-18 month clothing.. Alex is in 9-12 month clothing... both in #3 diapers although Ian could move up to #4

They just had their doctors appointment.. no shots this time.. whew! They are growing up fast and are doing well. Here are their weights and heights:

Ian
22 pounds
31 inches - 75% for weight and 97% for height

Alex
20 pounds
30 1/2 inches - 50% for weight and 95% for height

The twins LOVE being outside.. riding around in their wagon.. in the jogging stroller AND in the burley that I pull behind my bike. They love watching their big brother run through the sprinkler and riding his bike and scooter.. he is great entertainment for them!!

They are doing something new and different everyday.. I know I am forgetting some stuff to add to this post... I will probably add as I think of more.

Two years ago...

Two years ago today... a piece of my heart left me. Troy was born still into our hands. I can still feel the emotions and feelings from that day. I still feel the sadness that we felt that day. I still miss my little man. You would think that having the twins would totally make all the sadness go away but it doesn't. I still wish with all my heart that Troy made it in this world.. that he was alive and playing like a 2 year old should play. It still just breaks my heart. Please don't get me wrong... I know how blessed we are to have a healthy 5 year old boy and 2 healthy twin 8 month old boys. I am so happy to have the family that I have.. God has blessed us SO much! We still have an empty spot in our lives though because Troy isn't here. The fact that we held him and touched him made him such a big part of our lives and he still is and always will be... I still think about him EVERY single day.... there will always be a special place in our hearts for him. We miss you Troy and love you so much. Thinking of you today and always!!

8 Months

Here we are at 8 months already.. it always seems like I just posted the last months update and we are already on to the next month!!

Ian and Alex are learning new things everyday... I could just sit back and watch them all day long discovering new things.. it is amazing!!

Here is where we are at... Both Ian and Alex are now saying "da-da" and just today Alex started saying "ma-ma".. I love it!

Alex still likes to clap his hands.

Ian is still so close to crawling but hasn't figured it out yet... he scoots backwards but that is it... he loves to get on all fours and rocks back and fourth.

Ian LOVES to be as loud as he can... LOVES to scream.. he sometimes screams so loud that he makes Alex cry! Ian still wants to be held a lot and not very content on his own.

Ian is a biter!! He has already grabbed Alex's leg and put teeth marks in him.. that was not fun. Ian will grab my face and try to bite me.. he is fast and strong and has already bitten my nose, chin and my ear! His teeth are sharp! We have to watch him close because he is so quick to pick something up and put it in his mouth!!

Alex finally has some teeth.. he has 2 now.. on the top.

Alex is a lot more calm than Ian. Alex can easily play by himself on the floor or in his exersaucer for a long time. He loves to watch eebee and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse... I do admit.. I put these shows on to get a little bit of house works done.

Both Ian and Alex smile a lot and love to giggle!

Alex still doesn't care for his fruit puffs.. we keep trying.. he may eat one or two but then that is it... where Ian will pick up a fist full and shove it all in his mouth!!

They each eat cereal in the morning with one fruit each.. then at lunch they each get 2 veggies and then at night before bed.. they get more cereal with another fruit. They still get about 5 bottles a day.. I am trying to get rid of the noon bottle but they are having a hard time with that.. they love their bottles!! They drink about 4-5 ounces at each bottle feeding.

They are on a pretty good schedule. They each take a 1 1/2 hour nap at 9am and then another nap at 1pm and they will sleep till 2:30-3pm. They are in bed for the night at 7:30 - 7:45pm and then on the good nights.. they will both sleep till 6:30am. They are doing great on this schedule!!

We just came back from Memorial Day weekend up in Ludington at my parents cottage.. we had a fabulous time.. the weather was wonderful... we were able to go to the dunes off of lake Hamlin and play in the sand and water... we also went to Ludington State park beach. Ian and Alex both experienced the sand for the first time.. it was fun to watch. I filled up buckets with sand and they just kept putting their hands in it and feeling the sand. I put their binkies in their mouths so they wouldn't try eating the sand.

At the state park the boys experiences the lake for the first time.. we put them in the water. Ian sat down and loved it.. he kept grabbing at the sand in the water and tried putting it all in his mouth!! Alex took a little while to warm up to the water but after a bit he loved it and had so much fun!

Brevin also had a great time.. the water was nice enough to go tubing so he did that with daddy while Grandpa drove the boat. Brevin also played on the blow-up jet ski... played in the water and also built a few sand castles and played with his new buddy Dylan. It was hard to come home.. we just love going to Ludington and can't wait to go back!!

Here are some recent pictures of the boys on their 8 month birthday and pictures up at the cottage.

Ian

Alex

LUDINGTON