Merry Christmas - *updated with pictures*

*Updated* (with pictures...lots of them!)

Wow! What a difference a year makes!

Last year I was laid up in my hospital bed cooking my three beautiful babies with the occasional and brief stroll around the hospital for a change of scenery. I went through very time consuming (as the nurses struggle to find/keep the babies' heart rates) daily fetal monitoring of the babies and monitoring of contractions. I had to take daily medication to keep contractions under control which left me feeling pretty yukky. I listened as Christmas carolers sang outside my hospital room. I struggled to eat my recommended several thousand calories per day due to my stomach being smashed by babies. I went through surprise room changes with no notice. I had several more visitors from my wonderful and thoughtful friends and family - my Mom, Craig's parents - Steve and Jami, Kyle and Michaela, John and Angi, Mike, Ame & Blake, Al & Faye, Matt & Sharon, and Jennifer.

This year I cleaned and decorated my home in preparation for my family to come for Christmas. I cooked turkey and dressing as well as a few sweets! I fed my babies their bottles and breakfast. Craig and I had our own special time with the babies and I helped them open their first Christmas presents. We all sat together in the dining room and had lunch together. Then, we all opened Christmas presents and the kids enjoyed their new gifts. We then played a game of Apples to Apples and had a very good time. After my family left to go back home or to another family Christmas, Craig and I played with, read to, fed and rocked our sweet little trio before putting them to bed. It was a wonderful first Christmas as a family of five!

This was a week early Christmas gift. They got it early because they needed some more age appropriate toys that would hopefully keep Tyler out of stuff... Didn't work!
This is Cindy, one of my helpers for the first several months after the babies came home. She stopped by last week to drop by a Christmas gift for the babies.

My 3 little elves.
Can you tell who is who?
Christmas morning we began opening presents after their bottle.
The best 3 Christmas presents ever!
Oops... no bow pic for Whitney. :(
Opening presents!
They really like their new keyboard.
We tried to get a pic of the 3 of them with their Christmas presents, but as you can see, they are too busy for that. Then, my family came over for lunch, presents and games... My Mom, brother Les and Whitney
After we finished playing games, we kicked back for a bit. Me and my SIL, Kimberly.

Les & Whitney and my other brother, KevinUnfortunately I do not have pictures of all my family that came. It was pretty hectic and rushed and weren't intentionally left out. My SIL, Jill, nieces Maddie and Haidyn and nephew Caleb were also there.

After everybody left, Craig read to the babies a little bit before bottles and bed. This was one of their Christmas gifts.

Then, Saturday we had a non-traditional Christmas lunch with Craig's family. We had honey glazed ham, chicken salad sandwiches, veggies and dip, and lots of other yummy dips and desserts. We opened presents and dug through our stockings with the family and had a great time. We also had an exciting scavenger hunt - thank you to my niece Victoria for being my good little helper! Then, we managed to throw together an impromptu and much belated Mother's Day picture of all the grandkids for Mamaw. Later in the afternoon, we played a game together and had a good time straining our brains a little! We very much enjoyed our time together - all 18 of us!


Hannah is the youngest of all so she got to open first.

Whitney 2nd...
Tyler 3rd...followed by 15 more people. Thank you everybody for the wonderful Christmas presents.
Sweet cousins. Michael and Tyler playing together.
Sexy Mama!

Craig was enjoying our new camera and it's close-up features. Picture of his brother, Kyle.
Look at all those kids! And there are 4 not pictured. Lisa, Kyle and Michaela

Papaw is getting beat up by Mamaw!
Mamaw and Hannah (being silly as always)
Aunt Lisa and Whitney
Mommy getting a little R&R with the back massager!
Feeding the chitlens.
Mamaw feeding Whitney.Papaw and Whitney

My scavenger hunt with my helper, Victoria.
All 10 cousins/grandkids!
Wow! What a difference a year makes!

Happy Birthday Craig! - More reflections & thank you's

My hubby, Craig turns another year older tomorrow (the 15th) and I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge him on his special day - the date of his birth. We started celebrating his birthday today (Sunday) including lunch at Uncle Julios, birthday cards, presents and cake and will continue the birthday celebration tomorrow with a nice dinner after he gets home from work. Then, I have a surprise planned for him that I know he will really enjoy but we will not be able to do it until probably Saturday. So, needless to say, his birthday celebration will be spread out over a week time.

He definitely deserves it after the birthday he had last year... I was in the hospital and had no way to do anything for him for his birthday (ie presents, card, cake etc.) so one of my very best friends, Jennifer offered to bring me a birthday cake for him from me. So she brought it up earlier that day including some "happy birthday" candles so I would have something to give him. Luckily, I am a planner so I had already bought him a gift prior to my being hospitalized but he did have to bring his own gift to the hospital to open it.

Even though his birthday wasn't the best last year, it was very memorable and special. We had several friends come to visit that day/weekend and it warms my heart so much as I take this time of year to reflect back on what my life entailed last year. I didn't know what the future would hold for my babies but I had so much love and support from friends and family. We had so many visitors and I just want to thank you for coming to support us during this time. This particular weekend of last year, I had visits from Chris and Amy, Jennifer and Lisa, my Mom, John and Angi and Megan (one of my MOM's pregnant with twins at the time) and many more in the weeks to come. Other visitors I had during this time included Michaela and Michael, Craig's parents, Les & Kim, Tamara & Elizabeth, Dr. Koster, Dr. Goldstein, Dave & Kim, Ryan & Marcy, Kevin, Jill, Maddie, Haidyn & Caleb, Bro. Robby , Bro. Dick, Lisa, Victoria, and Leah, Jody, Jennifer & Vickie, Keith & Jessica and Heath & Carla. These were some of my visitors during the month of November and December - I'll post some more later about my time in January!

Wow! We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends! Thank you so much for helping us through this difficult time with meals, books, lunches for Craig, birthday cakes, sweet treats, magazines, crossword puzzles, devotions, crosses to add to my cross collection, lotions, running errands, Christmas tree & decorations, crocheting materials, "girly" things, "Mommy" things, cleaning house, taking care of my dog etc. You know who you are and what you did to help us and we will never forget the things you did for us! But most of all thank you for your love and support. Also, thank you to those of you who called and emailed as well. I got many emails and phone calls from friends, family and church members and we appreciate you all.

Be sure and check back soon, as I plan to go down memory lane again reflecting on my life a year ago. Also, I have some more fun updates, pictures and video of the babies playing and interacting together and pulling up and inching closer to walking!

Until next time...

Pearl Harbor Day - Spiritual Birthday

Today marks the 67th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. It is also the day that I came to know Jesus, my "spiritual birthday" as my in-laws call it. I just had to share with you all - the bizarre and numerous reminders I received of this special day - that were brought before me.

I always remember my "spritual birthday" is on Pearl Harbor day and also the day of one of my previous co-workers birthday because I remember I was saved when I worked with her and I remember telling her, "we now have the same birthday".

Back to my story... It started this morning as I was driving to church and thinking about what the date is, going to church on my spiritual birthday was special.

Then, this evening, Craig and I randomly decided to watch a movie (that he had recorded a while back) together after putting the babies to bed. The movie was based on a true story and right at the beginning of the movie, they stated that the events taking place were on December 7th.

Later, I began going through some emails that I hadn't yet had time to read. One of which was an email of a Christmas poem I received from my sister in law. The poem is a military-based poem and references Pearl Harbor.

Finally, I read another email from another sister in law regarding gun control and it referenced Pearl Harbor.

Coincidence??? Maybe...

God speaking to me??? Probably...

2 down, 1 to go...

...pacifiers that is! Tyler is becoming such a big boy and is weaning himself from the paci. I started noticing last week that he would throw his paci (a bad habit he had) only thing is he stopped screaming for it after he threw it. I would come in their room and find him asleep with the paci on the floor. He had been in the habit of throwing it and screaming for it for several weeks, but I stopped running in there to give it back to him every time he cried for it. So maybe we helped some with the weaning but I think Tyler mainly weaned himself because he just stopped showing an interest in it. Maybe he is just outgrowing it or maybe it is because they only used them during naps and bedtime. Whatever the reason, I am so happy he is moving past this habit/comforter. It has only been a couple of days and he may have a relapse and want it back again but hopefully not.

Oh and before you ask or say anything... he is not sucking his thumb or fingers either! Hannah did give up paci's a long time ago and only wants her 2 middle fingers on her left hand. However, she only sucks them during her sleep or if she is really tired/upset. Whitney is the only one left who is very much attached to her paci and this is during sleep only.

Hannah is clapping

Just a quick blog to document that Hannah is the first to clap. I thought I noticed her doing it earlier today... or was it yesterday?? Anyway, I just saw her doing it over and over and it was so DANG cute! She loves to balance on one knee with the other leg extended out to the side and clap.

Also their 10 month weights are:

Tyler is at a whopping 20 lbs. 6 oz.
Hannah & Whitney at 16 lbs. 4 oz. (they went from 1% back to 4%, which is good)

1st Thanksgiving and 10 Months

Thanksgiving

With the holidays approaching, I have really been getting in to the spirit and the true meaning behind the holidays. My life has changed so much in the past year - for the better of course! At this time last year, I was about 25 weeks pregnant and spent the weekend directly after Thanksgiving, in the hospital. I remember it all so vividly... We had my family over at our house and everybody pitched in to help bring it all together as I sat on the couch trying to stay off my feet. We had a good day eating way too much, watching football and visiting with my family. Then, on Friday night or Saturday night, I wasn't feeling very well so I called my doctor and she told me to go to the hospital and get everything checked out. Off we went, around midnight, to the hospital. I was having contractions every couple of minutes so they gave me some medicine to stop the contractions and they gave me the steroid shots to help the babies lungs develop more quickly. I stayed in the hospital until Monday and was sent home on strict bedrest, which lasted 1 week before going back on hospital bedrest for the duration of my pregnancy. I'll stop my story there and pick back up in the next couple of weeks as I post more about the holidays (last year and this year) and reflect on all the things I am thankful for.

I also wanted to name a few things I am thankful for:

*The #1 thing I am thankful for are my 3 beautiful, healthy babies, Tyler, Whitney and Hannah!
*I am thankful for my husband Craig and all he does to support and provide for our family which allows me to stay home and raise our babies.
*I am thankful for my wonderful family - the babies have such awesome Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and cousins to grow up with and get to know.
*I am thankful that we have a warm house to live in and call home.
*I am thankful for our church and all the friends we have.
*I am thankful for God - I am thankful to know Him.
* I am thankful for our country and all the brave men and women fighting for our freedom.

There are countless other things I am thankful for but I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on a few.


Now, I'll get to this year's Thanksgiving... We had big plans for Thanksgiving, although all didn't work out quite as planned. Wednesday, we had planned to visit with some of Craig's families long time friends that were in town from out of state. Unfortunately, that did not happen because the babies all started getting sick. It started with Tyler on Sunday. He started sneezing and having a runny nose and struggling to breathe through his nose. Then by Tuesday, Whitney and Hannah had it as well. I was pretty bummed because I was so looking forward to celebrating the holidays with all the family, especially with it being the babies first Thanksgiving, and now we didn't know for sure if we were going to be able to go. Tuesday night was awful! Hannah kept us up most the night crying inconsolably. Then, Wednesday, she refused both naps and was worn out as was I. We decided to take her to an after hours pediatric office in hopes of finding out what was wrong with her. The diagnosis was a minor ear infection in the left ear. You would have thought the world was coming to an end with as much crying she was doing! Geez! Come time for bed time, she would do nothing but cry...even when we held her. Usually she did all her crying when we would try to lay her down, but I guess since she hadn't slept all day and half the night before, the sleep deprivation was really kicking in. Then I had an idea...drive around with her and see if she would calm down and go to sleep. Craig took her for a hour and a half "joy ride" and she did fall asleep, but as soon as he got home, it was back to crying hysterically. I made some phone calls in hopes of getting some expert Mommy advice and then sent Craig back out with Hannah to go get some other medication that would hopefully help with her ear pain. He was out until after midnight...poor Craig and poor Hannah. Although, she got more sleep being drug around in the car than she would have if she were home. Plus, I was trying to sleep since we figured we would have to "take shifts" for the night. Anyway, he got home, put her to bed and she slept the rest of the night just fine.

Thursday, Thanksgiving day, we still didn't know if we were going to be able to go anywhere. We first wanted to see how they did with their morning nap. All went well as far as naps, (except for Whitney but that is normal for her) so we decided to pack up and head over to Craig's cousin's house. We had a great Thanksgiving lunch, ate too much and watched the Cowboys game and headed home.

Then Friday, we went over to my Mom's house for my family Thanksgiving. My sister and her family came in to town from out of state. We had a non-traditional Thanksgiving lunch with a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but it was all good. No stressing over food! We had a good time playing with the kiddos, visiting with each other and having food fights! Yes food fights!

Saturday and Sunday were spent at home getting caught up on some much needed house cleaning and organizing. Sure feels good to get something accomplished. The kids are still sick but slowly getting better. Hannah is probably struggling the most with her frequent diarrhea and diaper rash from the antibiotic, but the yogurt is helping with the diarrhea - and she is still fighting the naps!


Oh... one other update off topic... Craig is postponing his shoulder surgery that he was going to have next week, for later next year. He will do some more therapy etc. in the mean time. Part of me is glad because I really wanted him to be feeling well for the babies first Christmas and first birthday, but part of me wishes he would go ahead and do it so we could get on the road to recovery and start healing and hopefully feeling better permanently!


A few random shots and video (this was before Thanksgiving. This post is out of order.)

First big bathtub bath

Video of the babies first bath in the big bath tub. Tyler cried at first, not sure why... he loves baths now. I guess the larger body of water scared him.

Hannah after her bath.

Whitney enjoying play time in the bath tub. Whitney, Tyler and Hannah having fun. Thank goodness nobody pee pee'd or pooped in the water!

10 Months

Hannah, my sweet, sickly baby. We are still working on self-feeding. Hannah's desire to feed herself is lacking but it is improving. :) She still tries to stand up on her feet and tries to balance sitting up on her knees or one knee and one foot without using her hands. She is becoming an expert crawler - getting pretty fast. Still has no teeth. As I mentioned earlier, doesn't like napping right now, although I think this will change once she starts feeling better again. Hannah and Whitney give kisses (or something of the sort); they put their mouth on my cheek and rub it back and forth, side to side. Craig said they will not do it for him so maybe its just a Mommy thing. They call him by name (or something of the sort) saying dadadada but they give me kisses. :)

My little rosy cheeked girl. She looks like a clown. She's had the rosy red cheeks ever since she got sick. Whitney is the most improved as far as eating goes. She is getting so much better at self-feeding. She still has only one tooth. Whitney likes to follow me around and often cries if I leave the room... Separation anxiety here we come! Also, we like to play follow the leader around the ottoman. I get down on my hands and knees and we go in circles around the ottoman chasing each other. It is so cute! Whitney loves to dance (ie. bounce on her bottom) again, so cute! She also loves to be held and seems to be the most calm and content when being held.

Tyler my little mo-hawk man/spiky haired dude. Still has only 2 bottom teeth but the two front teeth are SO close to popping through. He may just get his two front teeth for Christmas! Tyler is by far my best self-feeder; he does pretty well with almost anything I give him. Tyler is a sprinter crawler! He is SO fast! And yesterday he pulled up on his feet for the first time. I was sitting right beside him playing on the floor and he held on to the couch and pulled up and fell to his bottom literally a second later. I think he kinda surprised himself that he did that. He is also starting to try to balance on his knees without holding on to anything with his hands. Or he will try to do like Hannah and put one foot down and the other on his knee. Tyler is in the habit of screaming in a high-pitched voice. Kinda reminds me of an opera singer that constantly screams and never changes the pitch or tone in their voice. He continues to do it until you give him what he wants. It is SO annoying cute! He is also our little adventurer... he gets in to EVERYTHING, pulls up on EVERYTHING, crawls EVERYWHERE. The girls stay put a lot more than him. They pull up, just not on as much. I am about to have to baby proof for the next stage!

This was the first and last group picture we attempted this month. Nobody is looking, Hannah is sliding down and my camera is off center as are several of the other individual shots above. They are just too busy and I was tired of fighting them to stay still. It was bed time last night when I realized it was their 10 month birthday and since we had professional photos taken a week or so ago, I decided not to mess with trying to dress them cute and get super cute, at-home, monthly shots. Hope you enjoyed the pictures and updates. Oh and aren't those blankets cute??? A friend of ours crocheted them for us.

Family/Christmas pictures

It's about that time again... We haven't had family pictures taken since the babies were 4 months old (I think?) and we were due for some more recent shots. Also, with Christmas around the corner, we thought we would get a few new pictures for Christmas cards. Here are some of my most favorites out of all the different combos/poses we took that morning. As usual, the babies were too busy soaking in all of their surroundings so they weren't super smiley but I still think they turned out good.

Craig and Whitney hanging out in the tree! Me and Whitney on the wall... That was as much as I was going to do in a skirt and 3 inch heels...no tree climbing for me!

Me and Tyler having some one-on-one play time on the wall.

Craig and Tyler in the tree. Maybe they are planning how to make a tree house for the future???

Me and my trio. I love this candid shot...not sure what I was laughing at.

Boy was it tough to get down there on the rocks with a skirt, high heeled boots and a baby to boot! I love the background of the trees, waterfalls and rocks surrounding us.

Me and my girls. By this point, we had been going for a while and it was very cold up there on that wall. My poor babies were so cold. Notice I am holding their hands to try to warm them up?

These are obviously out of order but, this was the very last shot of the morning. The babies were getting tired and way beyond cold!

Me and Hannah on the wall.

Craig and Hannah in the tree!

I love this shot!

This one too! Except one thing is out of place. Can you tell what it is?

Daddy and his trio. Tyler would not stop eating leaves. He is SO busy!

Daddy and his trio again... Whitney is laughing because Hannah put her fingers in Whitney's mouth. :) Cute! Notice anything out of place in this picture?

This was something new Jill wanted to try. It was a cute idea, but I wish Hannah would have looked up also.