4 months old!!

Yesterday the twins turned 4 months! I can't believe how fast time is flying by... but it always does. The boys are doing great! They had their Dr. appointment today and here is where they are at:

Ian
16 pounds
26 inches

Alex
14 pounds 8 ounces
25 inches


The appointment went good.. the shots were hard... Ian didn't cry on the first shot but did on the second one.. they only each had to get 2 shots. Alex cried almost the whole time we were there.. he didn't nap much today so he is WAY tired.
We just have to work more with Alex on getting him to hold his head up more and work with him on grabbing objects - he doesn't do it much like Ian does. We also have to take Alex to UofM to get his kidney checked... he was born with an enlarged kidney and he had it checked at 1 month of age and now we have to go again... he might have reflux where the urine back flows up into his kidney and that might be the reason for his one kidney to be oversized. They will have to shoot dye into his system to see where the urine goes.. poor little guy! So that will be within the next 2 months... other than that.. they are both really healthy!


Both Ian and Alex rolled over for the first time a couple weeks back but have not rolled over since but they are very active so I am sure they will do it again. They LOVE their exersaucers and the jumperoo.. it is so fun to watch them reach for toys and play. They love staring at eachother - it is so cute... they will lock eyes on eachother and just smile away. Ian loves to be naked... when I take his diaper off.. he gets really hyper and starts kicking away and screaming out of excitment - it is funny!! Ian still loves to be held a lot... not very content on his own like Alex. They both love to watch their video show called eebee - it is super cute and they get all excited when I turn it on. They both love to sit in the bumbo seats. Ian holds his head up much better than Alex does... but Alex is getting there.. I just think he is so layed back that it just isn't on top of his list of priorities.

Naps during the day are very much hit or miss... I will maybe get a 1/2 hour out of Ian in the mornings - Alex could very well keep sleeping but I need to feed them at the same time so I am usually waking Alex up for a feeding. In the afternoon.. same thing... sometimes Ian will sleep an hour.. just depends on the day and then they cat nap for like 15 minutes a couple times before bed. They go to bed roughly around 9:30pm and then sleep till amost 8am. They usually get up a couple times during the night but putting their binky in their mouth usually works. Ian still needs to be swaddled at night... we don't swaddle Alex anymore.

They still eat every 3 hours.. about 5 to 5 1/2 ounces at each feeding. They are in 6 month clothes now... still wear #1 diapers but Ian is going to be moving on from those soon!

They are starting to really giggle now... they love being tickeled on their neck - they really laugh when I do that. They LOVE their little floor exercises that I do with them and giggle away when we do those.

Alex has figured out how to kick his leg in the bouncy seat to make it bounce - I remember Brevin doing this too.. so cute to watch!

They both love bath time - I have a good system down in getting them both their baths - it's a bit of a process but it works out well and they seem to love sitting in the tub.. they just don't like it when I take them out and they really don't like me massaging lotion on them so I usually hurry through that part.

They both drool a lot which is why I always have bibs on them.. otherwise I am changing their outfits way to much because they soak through them!

They really are such good babies.. happy babies. Brevin is such a big help.. if I am getting dinner ready and a baby starts to fuss... he will go over to him and entertain them for me.. they both LOVE to watch their big brother play. Brevin will even do the floor exercises with me... he will take a baby and so will I and we do it together. It is also cute in the car.. not sure if Imentioned this or not but when we are traveling somewhere... one of the babies always sits next to Brevin (we let Brevin choose what baby he wants next to him). If a baby starts fussing.. he will just lean over and put their binky in their mouth and just wait till they calm down.. he is always keeping an eye on them. He is such an amazing big brother!!

We are starting to go out a little more with the boys... I will admit.. it is hard going out with both of them... I still have not gone to the store with both of them.. there are no carts to hold both babies - I could take the stroller but then there is no room for groceries.. so I am still trying to figure out that whole thing. I usually just stay home and Mike will go on his way home from work. I am anxious for spring - just to get outside more and go on walks.. play outside..etc!

We are truely blessed.. I know I have already said this but I will continue to say it over and over again. We are so thankful to God for all our boys.

Karate

Almost a year ago.. Mike and I enrolled Brevin in Karate.. mostly because we wanted to boost his self confidence...his preschool teacher actually told us that he was very much lacking in that area.. we knew this but didn't know what exactly to do about it and she brought up Karate so we thought we would give it a try. The first few classes were tough - he sat on the side of the room or on my lap and cried... buried his head in my lap... he kept saying he wanted to do Karate but soon as we got to class.. he instantly was scared and just wasn't confident in himself that he could do it... it came to the point where the instructor told me that it might help if I was not at the class with him - when I was there.. he wanted nothing but to sit on my lap.. so the next few classes my friend Josie took him (her son Nick is in the class also) - it worked.. he was doing the class and soon I was able to come.. without him sitting on my lap and crying. He now loves it and does SO well at it... this past weekend was a belt promotion where he had to do his routine to earn his next belt - he did great.. we are SO proud of him!! Here are some pictures of him in Karate!!

Brev receiving his new belt

Me putting his new belt on him

Brev with Sensei

The class picture.. Brev is right next to the only kid in the dark blue uniform - on your right when looking at the picture.

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU BREVIN!!!

First time out in the snow...

So yesterday it got up to over 35 degrees and it was sunny so... I decided to take all the boys out! Here is Ian all bundled up... he was not so sure what to think at first!

Ian LOVED being pulled around on the sled.. so much so that he fell asleep!!

Alex didn't want any part of being on the sled so he hung out with me in the backpack.. he fell asleep to!

Brevin also had a great time playing in the snow with his friend Nick... they built a snow-fort... they are so much fun to watch!

It was a great day!!

January 9, 2010

It is still very weird to be writing/typing 2010... it has been a while since I have posted. We had a wonderful Christmas and New Year! The twins did so well staying at Grandma and Grandpa B's house... so well that they actually were sleeping 9-10 hour nights!! Christmas was so much fun... Brevin had a blast and he great with all the craziness!! The twins did well too.. if they got overwhelmed.. they just went to sleep.

We are getting back into a routine now... Brevin is back in school... he is still doing Karate and looking forward to playing soccer in the spring! We are working on getting the twins back into a routine also.. they have not been sleeping well at all.. getting up a lot during the night but last night they both slept 8 hours. Ian has decided not to nap during the day... he went all day yesterday with only 1/2 nap total... I thought night time was going to be horrible but he slept through... 10:30pm till 6:00am... Alex slept through also but we did have to get up twice to give him his binky.. we was stirring and starting to cry. Anyway.. we are getting there.. it is hard trying to get 2 to sleep through the night... but like I always say.. in blink.. they will be 5 and heading off to Kindergarten like Brevin!

I am really looking forward to this year... last year we did not make it up to Ludington.. to my parents cottage at all because of the pregnancy... I am so excited to take the whole family up there to hang out and hopefully relax a little bit.

I do love winter but honestly cannot wait for spring.. to get the boys outside and go for walks.. to go to Kensington park and hopefully get back into jogging.. just need to get a jogging stroller now for the twins. I am just itching to get back into exercising and get back into shape!!

The boys are growing SO fast.. their next appt is the last week in January.. can't wait to see how much they weigh!! They are in 3-6 month clothes right now and still wear #1 diapers but I honestly think Ian could go into #2 diapers.. he is a chunk!! Alex is still smaller than Ian but he is growing just as much! They still eat about every 3 hours.. drinking roughly 4-5 ounces at each feeding.. sometimes they go 4 hours inbetween but they are much happier if it's only 3 hours. They giggle now which is so fun and they smile a LOT.. they LOVE their big brother and love to watch him play... They are "talkers"... it is so cute when Mike and I hold them.. they look right at us and just jabber away.. like they are really trying to tell us something.. it is so cute! Ian is really becomming a momma's boy and Alex is more of a daddy's boy. Alex is still much more content to hang out on his own.. he still loves the TV and we have started putting the baby einstein movies in.. he will sit through the whole show and just smile and giggle away... Ian likes it too but he would rather sit on my lap and watch it!!

We think Ian is teething already... he drools a ton.. we have to keep bibs on him because he just soaks through his outfits!! He also will stick his fists in his mouth and just chew away so I am curious if he will pop an early tooth.... we will see!

Here are some recent pictures of the boys.

Happy New Year...

2009 had a lot of ups and downs for our family but I am SO excited to be bringing in the new year with my precious boys!!

Mike and I have been so blessed with these little guys... and our big guy Brevin.

Wishing everyone a happy New Year with lots of happy times to come!!

Merry Christmas

Just wanted to pop in to say Merry Christmas

to all my "blogger" friends....

I hope and pray that you ALL have a wonderful day...

knowing that this is a day that can be hard with loss of loved ones...

loss of jobs...

loss of a marriages...

loneliness...

heartache...

I pray that you all feel Gods loving arms around you!

Christmas Dream

Christmas is only 8 days away!! Amazing!! I am very excited this year to celebrate with my 3 boys (4 counting my husband). It is a dream come true that we have 2 more little ones with us. I never imagined that this Christmas, 2009, would be the Christmas that my dreams came true.. that God blessed us with three amazing children... Mike and I still cannot believe that we are the parents of 3 boys here on earth and one little boy in Heaven...

This Sunday is my wedding anniversary - it will be 8 wonderful years!! Mike is seriously the most amazing husband (and father).. we have been through a lot together.. with moving to Howell and making our home here... meeting new friends... the birth of our son Brevin... the miscarriage we had in 2006... the stillbirth of our son Troy last June 2008... the death of my father-in-law...and now the birth of our twins... and for so many more things...God brought us together for a reason and I could not be happier... all that we have been through.. the good and the bad... to have Mike right there next to me and me next to him has just been the best gift!!

Never did I think that I could love someone so much!

So... with all that said... I am looking forward to this Christmas... to have the family I have - how exciting it was for me to hang 2 more stockings up this year... I just cannot thank God enough for all that he has given me!!

Here are the newest additions to our tree this year:

Ian and Alex's ornament

Angel in memory of Troy

Brevin's favorite ornament.. Tom and Jerry!


Two new stockings hanging!!

WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

2 month check-up

The boys had their 2 month check-up - wow are they growing!!

Here are the stats:

Ian

11 pounds 5 ounces, 23 inches long

Alex

10 pounds 8 ounces, 22 1/2 inches long

It's funny because when I look back in Brevin's baby book - at 2 months Brevin was over 13 pounds!!

Their Appointment went really well - I was going to attempt to go on my own but after telling Mike about them getting shots... he met me at the doctor... I am SO glad he did.. the appointment took about 2 hours and the shots were not fun but they boys did so well!!

So what are they up to now? Well.. they still eat about every 2 1/2 to 3 hours and eat between 3-4 ounces.. sometimes they only take 2 ounces but they sure do love to eat... when they are ready to eat they are ready.. not very patient with me taking the time to warm up their bottles!

They love their bouncy seats and their playmat... Alex could lay on the playmat for a long time. Ian.. well.. he would rather me hold him and walk around. He will lay on his playmat but not as long as Alex does. Alex is more content on his own than Ian is.

They both hate the hiccups - soon as they start.. they fuss till they go away.

Ian still has more of a softer cry than Alex does.. when Alex cries.. he just sounds mad.. Ian sounds sad.

They both love music... right now I have Christmas music playing a lot and they really seem to like that. They love looking at the Christmas tree and all the decorations that I have up.

They both smile a lot now - Alex will smile at anything and it is easy to get him to smile... we still have to work a little bit harder to get Ian to smile but they both coo a lot and I love that!!

They both really don't like tummy time but it seems that they are getting close to rolling over.

Ian really loves his binky... Alex could probably go without.

They both love their bath now... I turn up the heat to get the bathroom really warm and I use an apricot baby oil in their bath water that makes them smell SO good.. they like their lotion massage after baths too.. I give them their baths on Mondays and Thursdays because that is when Brev is in school all day and I can take my time.

They both get mad at me because I kiss them all the time and they get a bit annoyed with that!

I could literally stare at the boys all day long - their facial expressions just make me smile and laugh... they are such good babies!!

Now for my 5 year old Brevin... I am so proud of him... a few nights ago he read "Go Dog Go" by Dr. Seus to Mike and I!!! I cannot believe he is reading already it is so much fun to see how much he is learning in school - he is doing so well and is such a good boy - we had parent/teacher conferences and his teacher said all good things about him.. he listens well and is doing well in class. He just loves school and keeps saying that he wants to go all day every day!!

Brevin is adjusting well to the babies - he is very patient with everything and pretty much goes with the flow... he is SO gentle with the boys. He loves to take my camera and take pictures of his brothers.


As for Mike and I.. we are doing well and getting used to two babies... feeding them at the same time is a breeze now.. we just put them in their boppy pillows and are able to feed them together.. I can usually prop up a blanket just right to hold the bottle so I have a hand free to burp the other baby. I do wish I had 4 arms to hold them when they are both crying but it is working out okay... it only gets a little tense when the babies are both crying.. the dog is whining to go out and Brevin needs lunch... well.. I first let the dog out because that would create more work for me to clean up a mess he would leave if I didn't let him out!! :o)


So that is what we are all up to right now... days are going by fast - I can't believe Thanksgiving is here and gone already... we had a wonderful time in Holland/Zeeland... we were busy needless to say but it was great to see family again... Mike made it upnorth with my dad and brother hunting... no one got a deer but they all had a great time... I stayed back and visited with family and friends... the one picture is of Brevin and my friend Heidi's 2 girls - what a great time to catch up and let the kids play!!


I can't wait for Christmas... we are going to try to make a visit to Santa this weekend - Brevin is making his list of what he wants Santa to bring him for Christmas!!


Here are some more recent pictures!!
Thanks for reading!!

The twins with Great Grandma and Grandpa GG

Ian with Aunt Marianne

Time goes WAY too fast...

I cannot believe my babies are 8 weeks old!!! It does not seem that long that I was in the hospital meeting Ian and Alex for the first time... times flies by way to fast.

We have had some milestones happen the past couple weeks... the boys are smiling!!! Alex smiles very easily - all you do is look at him and he smiles! It takes a little coaxing to get Ian to smile but they both LOVE to talk to us.. they "coo" all the time.. it is the best.

Alex, a few days ago, smiled at Brevin before Brevin left for school - Brev thought that was really cool.

They are just growing so fast.. we have an eight week check-up this coming Tuesday... I can't wait to see how much these boys weigh!!! Ian still is bigger and heavier than Alex.

Alex is still dealing with a cold - very congested... we are doing saline drops and have a vaporizor running 24/7 but he is still stuffed up so hopefully the dr. can help us with that.

We made our first trip to Holland/Zeeland last weekend (Nov. 14) with all 3 boys... Mike and I had a wedding to go to so my mom planned an open house at their place for our friends and family could come and meet the twins.. it was fun.. and great to see everyone again. Then that Sunday... Mike's mom had coffee at her house and the boys meet more family - they got passed around a lot but did so well.. it was a fun time... a great weekend.. plus the boys slept all the way to Holland and all the way back - the road trip was great!!

I can't believe the holidays are all ready here!! Last year.. at this time... we left for Pensacola, Florida to stay at Portofino Island and Resort, thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Bergerhoudt... they let us stay at their beautiful place for a week - free of rent. Last year we were honestly not looking forward to Thanksgiving - that was when Troy was due and we just didn't feel like celebrating with family so we decided to take a road trip with just the 3 of us to Florida - it was a wonderful time for our family and so needed for us to get away. Little did we know that while we were sitting on beach last year that we would have 2 little boys just a year later... it truely amazes me what God can do in our lives - how he can bless us so much when we least expect it. It will be so wonderful to celebrate Thanksgiving this year with our little guys.

On another note... this will be a difficult Thanksgiving for my mother-in-law.... my husband and all his sisters and families... for anyone that is reading this.. please say a prayer for my mother-in-law (Dorie).... that she gets through the first holidays that will be spent without her husband... She has such a supportive family and friends but this still isn't going to be easy for her... may she feel God loving arms around her and not feel alone... she is such a wonderful and caring Mom, Grandma and friend and I just hope and pray that she gets through okay!!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone - we all have SO much to be thankful for.. even in the midst of troublesome and sorrow... God is just so good - he sees us through anything and everything!

Now... I can't leave this post without posting some pictures of my boys... hope you don't mind!!

Love to you all!!!

An update

I just love this picture of all my boys!!!

An update:

Things are going really well... trying to adjust to the life of taking care of newborns AND a 5 year old... making sure Brev knows he is still very important and trying to give him the attention that he needs... it is hard I must say and I feel bad/guilty.. sometime Brev and I will be playing a game and then the twins start crying... I have to turn my attention to the twins and leave in the middle of a game but Brevin is doing so well with that... no jealous behavior. He really loves his brothers and I am just so proud of him!!

More update following the pictures.....

Both Ian and Alex are on the same eating schedule which is wonderful.. they eat every 3-4 hours and they eat about 3-4 ounces each time... I am able to keep up with pumping and giving them my milk during the day and they get formula at night. They sleep together in a crib right now that is in our bedroom - much easier for us getting up with them during the night. At this very moment.. they are doing pretty good at night - a typical night lately is feeding at 10pm... then again at 2-2:30am and then again between 6-7am... for the most part.. they go right to sleep after the feedings during the night (knock on wood!!).

I can't believe it has been over 5 weeks now since they were born... they are growing like crazy... Ian is no longer fitting in newborn outfits!! Ian has also already outgrown the newborn diapers! Alex is still smaller than Ian so he still fits in the newborn diapers and the newborn clothing.

They are more awake and alert - I just know they are getting closer to giving me a real smile!!

It is amazing how each of their personalities are showing through... Alex is more awake than Ian is during the day... one day Alex was wide awake and content for 3 hours straight!! I am lucky if I get a half hour of awake time with Ian... Ian LOVES to sleep!

Alex really does a lot of the same stuff that Brev did as a baby.. he sticks his tongue out when he sleeps which is what Brevin did and he has this cough when he cries which is exactly what Brevin did... plus... Alex really resembles Brevin when Brev was a baby. Ian has such a soft cry where Alex cry is really loud - it almost hurts your ears!!

They are both such sweet, sweet little boys... we just love them to pieces!!

My mom has been with us every week - coming in on Sundays and staying till Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately.. this was her last week doing that - We are really going to miss her.. having her here and having her help. She helped with all the night-time feedings and she helped with getting Brev ready and off to school.. taking him to the bus stop every morning. She made us meals almost every night and helped with cleaning and laundry... what am I going to do without her!! Thank you Mom for everything... please come back whenever you want!!!

Right now we are dealing with a couple of stuffed up babies so we are using a lot of saline drops and suctions for their noses... they HATE having that done!! Mike and I are dealing with cold so we are washing our hands like crazy but then again... I am a freak when it comes to washing hands... I almost cringe when someone comes over and they don't wash their hands before holding a baby... especially those that are coughing and sniffing...that is my pet-peeve right now... just so you all know if your going to hold our babies... please wash your hands... and if your the slightest bit sick... don't hold them... with all the stuff that is going around lately... I just cannot chance it with newborns! :o)

Just had to be honest here!

They had a doctors appointment yesterday for their tongues... if I didn't mention it before.. they were both born tongue-tied so they had to have that clipped yesterday... it went well... better than what we were expecting and they are eating just fine... it sounds worse than what it really is... both are doing great! They have another appointment on November 16 at UofM for their hips since they were both breech at birth... they want to X-ray their hips to make sure all is okay.

I really do love being a Mom to all boys... God has blessed us so much!! I still think of Troy through out all of this though - knowing that I gave birth to 4 boys - a mom to 4 boys.. makes me want him here with us but I know he is looking down on us from Heaven... he is our guardian angel!!

I so look forward to the holidays with our boys... it has been a dream for a LONG time to have more children to celebrate all the holidays with and now that dream has come true. I honestly dreaded the holidays the past couple of years because of my miscarriage in 2006 and the loss of Troy last year... but this year I can finally say that I am excited for all the holiday stuff... I am still not sure how I am going to get my shopping done but I will figure that one out... or there will just be a lot of gift cards going out!

Anway... I just want to thank everyone again for thinking of us.. for checking in with us with a phone call... for all the cards... for all the meals that came to us and just visiting us - we love having visitors and am just thankful for all our friends and family that have been there for us the past five.. almost six weeks now! I love you all so much!!!

Thank you God for blessing us with such wonderful family and friends!!

New pictures of my boys...

This is Alex
This is Ian
I already posted these on Facebook but I just love these pictures so I thought I would put them on my blog also.

Things are going good... lack of sleep is hard but these babies are just such a miracle... such a blessing... I know sleep will eventually come so we just have to enjoy a little more snuggle time during the night right now because before we know it... they will be 5 years old and heading to Kindergarten!!!

Brevin is still doing so well with the twins... he kisses them when he leaves for school and when he goes to bed at night... when things get a bit crazy he just plays by himself and he just knows to wait... sometimes I feel guilty but he is just handling it all so well... did I already mention how blessed we are??

I just love all my boys!

Update on the boys...

Just an update on the boys... we are all doing really well... tired needless to say but doing well. The boys feed about every 3-4 hours around the clock. It is amazing to see their personalities already coming through!

Alex.. he is SO layed back... we literally have to wake him up to feed him. He loves to sleep and he LOVES to be wrapped in the warmest blanket that we have.. he shivers because he is always cold. He is a sqeaky boy.. always making sqeaky noises... he can be wide awake looking around for a whole hour.. very alert!

Ian on the other hand.. is always hot and would prefer to be without a warm blanket. He reminds us of Brevin as a baby.. a little more on the fussy side. He loves to eat and is always first to be up to be fed. He is not a sleeper (at night) and he tends to be the one that like to keep Mom and Dad up at night.... he LOVES to be held and loves to sleep in his boppy pillow.

They are both doing so well and they both eat really well also... my milk had finally come in but they just don't want to nurse... they get SO upset when I try and it just breaks my heart so for now I am just pumping and giving them the milk with bottles but I am just so happy that I am able to pump and keep up with their feedings!!

Big brother Brevin is doing so well with the boys... he is a little leary with holding them.. he says he likes to hold the squeaky one (Alex)... Ian moves around a lot so he would just prefer feeding him the bottle while I hold him. He loves his brothers and does so well with them.

Wednesday we have an ultrasound appointment in Ann Arbor with Alex on his kidney so we are hoping that it goes well and whatever problem that Alex had has already corrected itself... I will post an update after we find out the results. We have another pediatrician appointment this Friday afternoon.. I am so anxious to see how the boys are growing!!!

So that is the update for now... I just want to say thank you to all those that have called and sent cards.. gifts.. and for all the yummy meals and treats - we are so blessed to have such good friends and family that check in on us all the time... thank you so much!!

Here are a few recent pictures of the boys!!

Ian and Alex

Ian

Alex