One Year Ago...

Today, July 29th, marks one year since the day I was hospitalized for going into pre-term labor. It is hands down, to this day, the scariest thing that has ever happened to me.

That day was not unlike any other. I felt so great and was just absolutely loving being pregnant with twins. I had just gotten back from a work trip in Austin, TX about 3 days prior. I even went to the beach that day with my mom and niece and we were feeling the babies move and kick.

I went home and showered and headed off to the Dr. for my routine cervix ultrasound. God protected all of us that day because had I not had that appointment, everything would be totally different. I am so thankful I had that routine check up that afternoon and that they were able to stop me from delivering that day.

Turns out, I was in labor and I never even knew it. Most women experience Braxton Hicks contractions at some point in their pregnancy (usually the 3rd trimester). I had been having them since I was 12 weeks pregnant. I was told it was normal bc I was having multiples. I was never, ever concerned about them. Uncomfortable, yes, but never anything more. Looking back, my time in Austin was full of them. Strong, longer ones and very, very frequent. But I had no idea it was a sign of what was to come. That trip is one I should have avoided. Flying, being in Austin in the middle of summer, walking around a lot and in that heat and probably being dehydrated...I know it contributed to my situation. I am just so thankful to my Savior for waiting until I got home for it to happen. I can't imagine how I would have gotten through it had I been hospitalized in Austin for over 2 months.

When I was in the hospital, it was then that I learned that the only difference between braxton hicks and real contractions is if it is changing your cervix. The contractions I had been having that day at least, were. But there was no way for me to know that. Again, a blessing that I had a check up that day. My cervix had shortened to a 1 and my contractions were 3-5 min apart. I was immediately put on bed rest and hit with everything but the kitchen sink. Multiple shots, medications and IVs. The worst of all was the IV drip of Mag which I was on for one month straight. It made me have double vision, flu like symptoms and I was on a big time fluid restriction.

I do not miss those days at all but I am eternally grateful for them. They were necessary for the health and lives of my babies. Had they been born that day or shortly after, they probably wouldn't have survived. Now I have two BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY, HAPPY, THRIVING 10 month old babies that were SO WORTH EVERYTHING I (and Randy) went through. I will never forget those days and how much they made me appreciate LIFE and all of the daily privileges that we may take for granted.

It is hard to believe it was a year ago already. I am already planning Kaden and Kaleiah's 1st birthday!

"And my heart will sing, how great is our God."

Some recent (fav!) pics!

finger foods

Over the past week I have started to introduce finger foods to Kaden and Kaleiah.
I usually break up their Gerber yogurt snacks into tiny pieces and stick em in their high chairs for a snack. They don't really know what to do with them yet. They are still getting the hang of coordinating the use of their pointer finger and thumb. Kaden mostly just moves the pieces around and they end up on the floor. Also, he is not used to having to chew his food so he usually chokes a little (not to worry, I am always supervising them and the pieces are so small that they can't really choke). I don't think he is quite ready for it, he doesn't show much interest. So I think I'll try more with him later.
Kaleiah shows much interest in my food when I'm eating. She also chews her yogurt melts and is good at picking them up! Still trying to get the finger and thumb thing down. Today I gave them little pieces of turkey meat. She liked it OK, Kaden not so much :) It will be another month or two before I give cheerios but in the next week or so I hope to give them steamed carrots and some banana pieces. Goodness, they are growing up!

Independence Day 2009

This was Kaden and Kaleiah's first 4th of July!
First we went to the Irvine Spectrum and had lunch. Then we walked around and enjoyed the beautiful warm weather. We got stopped a dozen times from people adoring the babies :) I must say, they did look pretty darn cute in their festive outfits! :)

After that we headed down to my parents for their annual 4th of July bbq! We enjoyed yummy food and fun family times. It is such a gift to live so close to my parents!

After the bbq, we went home bathed and fed the babies and once they were asleep we simply walked out back to the cliff and watched fire works over the ocean. It was beautiful! We saw 3 sets from right there in our back yard. No crowds, no hassles. It was great!

9 months!!

Today we turned 9 months old (June 30th)!!!
It's hard to believe we are already almost a year old! Our Mamma is always telling Daddy that she is going to miss us being babies and that she wants time to slow down!
We are so much fun these days. We are super playful, we love when Mamma hides by our exersaucers and we peer over to look for her and she jumps up and says boo! It makes us laugh! We love when Mamma takes us outside to play on the grass or takes us on walks because we love the outdoors just like her!
Kaleiah here, my new thing is crawling everywhere and I'm very good at it! I am fast and like to explore new parts of the house (before I get caught)! The furthest place I have crawled to is the kitchen to go find Daddy. I even crawled under the dining room table to get the kitty! I fall alot bc I am pulling up on everything! I am so strong and I love to see things from the new view! Mamma hates when I get hurt but it's part of becoming mobile I guess! I love to crawl to the couch and pull up on it. I lift my leg in hopes of climbing but I haven't been able to yet (and Mamma is glad). I take a few steps down the couch while hloding on so I will probably be walking early too! I am a very happy girl, I love to chat and sing and Mamma says I make her cheeks hurt. I think that's a good thing? I just got weighed at my 9 mo check up and I am 15.08 lbs and 27 3/4 inches! I am still just a little peanut, wearing size 6 mo clothing. I haven't gotten anymore teeth yet, just the two! I love my brother so much and we love to play together. I am so blessed to have a twin brother!
It's Kaden and I am such a big stud! I am 17.12 lbs and 28 1/4 inches tall! I am very happy and playful and Mamma says I have an awesome personality. She is ALWAYS kissing me to pieces! My hair is coming in and it's strawberry blond like Mamma's when she was a baby. I also have light eyes like her, I look so much like her. I haven't started crawling bc I am in no hurry. I love to just roll to where I want to go to. But I sometimes army crawl or scoot on my tummy, too. I love when I'm playing in my exersuacer and sissy crawls and stands up and plays with me! I love her so much! I always smile and usually yell at the sight of her bc I get so excited! I don't know why but she often cries when I do that. I think maybe it scares her, but I just love her! I don't have any teeth yet but the Dr. said it looks like I may ket my incisors first!? I would look like a vampire! I don't know if she is right though, Mamma and Gramma said they've never seen a baby get those teeth first! I am sleeping better than I was which makes Mamma and Daddy happier! I am a big Mamma's boy, I want to go to her when I'm crying bc she makes it all better. I love to snuggles and be loved on by her and sometimes I make her rock me instead of Daddy. I love being this age and learning new things! My sissy and I change every week! I love being a twin!