Update and iPhone pics

Yesterday, we had Henry's pulmonology visit. For almost three weeks Henry has been completely off the sodium chloride and hydrochlorothiazide and I was anxious to let his doctor examine him. So far, he seems to be doing great! Dr. Shumacher said his lungs sounded wonderful and for us to keep up the good work. He even cut his Flovent dose in half. So now, instead of 4 puffs a day, we can just do two! Yay!!!

Harper girl is still teething and poor thing is miserable. It's caused her little nose to be stuffy and she just doesn't feel good. We'll be so ready for this teething mess to be over.

One of the questions I get a lot is when EXACTLY will we be able to take the babies "out?" My answer to that question is that there really is no set date as to when we have the green light to get out and about. If it were summertime right now, then we'd be getting the babies out. Unfortunately, it's cold and flu season, and therefore we just can't. So, we are still on "lock down" until warmer weather or until RSV season ends. Let me tell you, I've never been more ready for warmer weather in my life! It can't get here fast enough! I'm so extremely grateful to so many people who have prayed and are continuing to pray for us. I can't wait to introduce Harper and Henry to those people that Mark and I love so dearly! Hurry up warm weather!!!

Below are just a few pics from my phone:

Henry didn't think this was funny!

Harper is getting a little hair, bless her heart.

Having fun with daddy

Big boy at the doctor

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The Short List

These little chicks have been teething like crazy! Harper girl cut her first tooth last weekend, and we are currently working on a second. Pictures to come! We haven't seen a tooth from Henry, but we can feel one. I'm sure it will make its debut soon. This momma is extremely tired. I've always heard my friends talk about how bad teething can be, but WOW, they really weren't joking!! Also, Henry has now been off of his meds (except for Prevacid and his nebulizer) for almost 2 weeks and he's doing great! Praise God for this milestone.

This may seem silly, but I read a magazine that does a "short list" of things that different celebrities love at the moment. I LOVE making lists, so I thought I would do my own version of a "short list!". Only this is a short list of baby/mommy stuff that I currently LOVE!!! So here goes...
1.)




Germ X- I have this stuff in every room in my house. I also keep it in my car and in my purse. From what I've read on LeBonheur's Facebook page, RSV is awful this year, so I feel like I can't use this stuff enough.

2.)



I love this stuff. I'm a hypochondriac, so any time I feel like I'm getting sick I drink this. (I drink it a lot!!)

3.)



The nurses in the NICU used saline in the babies' noses every day. So, I use this every day at home to keep their little noses from getting stuffy. I even use the regular version myself.

4.)



This is a liquid vitamin that the NICU used with the babies. I give it to them once a day in their bottles. I figure some extra vitamins and minerals can't hurt!

5.)



Right now, I LOVE this stuff! Poor Harper can hardly fall asleep without it.

6.)



I had a doctor tell me that she sees more allergic reactions from Johnson and Johnson products than with Aveeno products. Therefore, I use Baby Aveeno with the babies. Harper, unfortunately, is like her mom and has horrible dry skin. The baby Aveeno lotion is wonderful for her dry skin.

7.)



These are relatively cheap vitamins that give me a lot of energy! Right now, I'm needing all the energy I can get!

8.)



This is a white noise machine. The sounds seems to lull the babies to sleep. I can hear it through the baby monitor, and it even helps me fall asleep.

9.)



Speaking of baby monitor, this is THE BEST monitor in my humble opinion. Mark and I made a promise to each other that we would not let the babies sleep with us. This monitor allows me to see them, and hear every move they make. I sleep with it right beside me, so it really feels like they are right next to me at night. It's very comforting. I highly recommend this brand!

10.)



This jumper provides lots of entertainment for my two kiddos. It allows me to do a few things around the house, too! I'm very grateful to Santa for this awesome gift he left for the twins.

So, that's what I'm currently loving right now. I'd love to hear of some things that YOU currently love. Especially if it pertains to babies!!

Happy list making! :)


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8 Months

Woohoo!  This is the first blog post of 2012.  So far, this year has been great.  Yesterday, Harper and Henry turned 8 months old.  What a HUGE praise!  Their first year of life is just going by so fast.  

 This little monkey loves bath time.

 I would have to say that just in the last month, they have started really interacting with one another.

 Now, those interactions aren't always nice! :)

Some people tell me that Harper looks just like Mark, and that Henry looks just like me.  Then I'll have people tell me that Henry looks just like Mark, and that they don't think Harper looks like either one of us. (Note that no one tells me Harper looks like me!)  So, I thought I would include one of our baby pictures.  Decide for yourself...

Above is Mark and below is me.   (Pictures are old and fuzzy)

Harper, you weigh exactly 16 pounds 14 ounces.  You love food!  You will eat any fruit or vegetable that we put in front of you.  Last week I let you try "puffs" for the first time and you weren't sure about the texture of solid food.  You're slowly coming around to them.  You are sleeping better at night.  You love to bounce in your bouncy seat and you smile all the time.  You are so quiet, and when Daddy and I talk to you, you get so teased.  You can sit all by yourself, clap your hands, and give the best kisses in the world.  You love t.v., and will just about break your neck to try and watch.  You are on the verge of crawling.  I know it will happen any day now.  We love you baby girl!!

Henry, you weigh exactly 17 pounds, 1 ounce.  You, unlike your sister, do not like to eat.  The only vegetable you like is green beans.  You sleep like a little champ.  You don't make a sound, and Daddy and I usually have to wake you up in the mornings.  You are such a little flirt.  You can sit up all by yourself.  When I ask you what dinosaurs say, you answer me by roaring really loud.  You talk to me all the time.  You give the best hugs, and you pull my face towards yours and smile at me.  When I have to say, "no no," you just laugh out loud.  You really think I'm funny and you adore your daddy.  We love you so much.


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2011 in Retrospect

To say that 2011 was “eventful” for our family would be the understatement of the year (in my humble opinion).  2011 will be a year that I will say changed me more than any before, and probably any after.  I have learned so much about love, life, and what it means to trust in God.  In retrospect, 2011 was a year of trials and miracles for our family. 

May 11^th is a day that forever changed us.  It will always be the scariest, happiest day of my life.  The rest of May through August is quite a blur.  Those days were the darkest days of my life.  During that time I am certain that God was carrying me through it all.  For the better part of 6 weeks, every time I laid my head down to sleep, I was very uncertain that my little boy would still be with us when I awoke.  We also didn’t know the extent of damage that living without adequate blood and oxygen had done to Harper.  We didn’t know from day to day if she was going to have brain damage.  Living like that did something to me.  Having to watch my son’s little body shake from the machines keeping him alive was almost too much for anyone to endure.  To this day, I’m still not over it.  I’m not sure I’ll ever be.  Because of that, I may always be protective of these babies.

This is why I am unapologetic about keeping them both isolated until I feel comfortable otherwise.  I’m just so thankful that our family and friends are so understanding and supportive.  It is the very reason I keep this blog updated.  I am so grateful that so many of the people we love, love our babies and they’ve never even met them.   

I became a mother in 2011 under the most extraordinary circumstances.  It was not the way I planned on becoming a mother, but I’ve learned that the plans WE make just might not be as wonderful as the plans God makes for us!  I learned to trust in God in a way that I didn’t know was possible.  I experienced a peace from God that transcended all understanding.  For the first time in my 29 years of living, I truly feel like my life has purpose.  Mark and I experienced love, support, and prayers from our friends and family that we will NEVER get over, but will forever be grateful for.  I learned how if felt to love two little people unconditionally.  I fell in love with them the moment I laid eyes on them.  I realized that God’s love for all of us was even deeper than the love I felt for Harper and Henry.  Realizing this made me want to live a different way than before.  In 2011, our young marriage was tested in a way that we never expected, and only by the grace of God I can say that those trials made us stronger.

In a way, I’m sad to see 2011 end, but I’m so excited to see what this New Year will bring.  I’m not one to make resolutions and really stick with them, but I’m praying that in 2012, I will love others, and trust in God the way He has commanded us to do.

Please know that despite everything, Mark and I choose to see the JOY that this year has brought us and not dwell on the pain.  We are thankful for this year because of what this year has taught us.  God is real, and He is good!  Even in the darkest of times, He is with us!

If you have made it this far through this long-winded post, I pray you find JOY in the year to come, despite the hardships that this life can bring.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Below is a little video that Mark and I did for Harper and Henry.  It is terribly long, but so was the past year for us.  This is our 2011 through pictures…

Hanging out with Daddy

Pictures from Mark's phone...

Sweet Harper

She stopped smiling when she heard Mark say, "Yankees!" She's definitely her father's daughter!

Henry had to get in on the action!

He likes to wear his hat like Pedroia!

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