picnic

On Thursday I decided I would surprise my husband with a picnic at the park, which we never done as a family. I also was excited to take the babies to feed ducks, which they've never done. I packed "dinner" of sandwiches and other snacks and when he got home, off we went. When we go out of our car, ducks immediately started walking towards us. I was so excited to have the babies throw crackers to them. All of a sudden, we were out numbered! There were some kind of huge birds, dozens upon dozen of ducks, some weird turkey looking guys and geese! I hate geese bc they are MEAN! I was so nervous and scared bc literally we were surrounded. And a goose was hissing! YES, hissing! We had to start shooing the birds away and got back in our car after 2 minutes. It was funny but seriously a little scary :) I've GOT to get the video up of the situation! Check back in a day or two for that :)
We decided to just go to teh playground and let K&K play and burn some energy. I saw a nice grassy area and decided that's where we;d picnic. It was perfect weather, at a beautiful time of day and just a new adventure for us where we made simple yet fond memories. I love having a family, so much!!!

Reflection

This date is always heavy on my heart, I think about it every single day when I look at the two little faces staring back at me. This date and the months to follow are ingrained in my heart and mind and I will never, ever get over them. They are my part of my story.
Kaden and Kaleiah,
Today, July 29th, marks 2 years. 2 years since the most frightening day of my life. 2 years ago today, I was hospitalized on severe bed rest because I was in pre term labor with you.
I was 23 weeks and 4 days pregnant with you. I was having a blissful, "perfect," pregnancy and I honestly loved every single moment of it. I absolutely loved being pregnant with you. Your Daddy and I decided officially in January 2008 that we were ready to start trying for a baby. We weren't sure exactly when but we knew it would be soon. You were conceived at the end of February after ONE try. Imagine that... one try, two babies, a boy and a girl!
I got the pregnancy test that can tell you 5 days before you are late. I took the test on the evening of March 12, 2008. I set it on the counter in the bathroom and Daddy and I waited anxisouly, nervously making small talk, knowing in the next few minutes our lives could be changed forever.
I crept in and slowly looked at the test and my heart started racing. Your Daddy and I could not believe our eyes! We ran around the house like little kids on Christmas Day! Then we read the bible together, Praising God for this blessing. We had prayed for you, and we were blessed <3

I never had a minute of morning sickness, my pregnancy was pure bliss. I felt great the entire time (aside from feeling like I had been hit my two mac trucks. My poor body was working so hard creating TWO humans...at ONCE!). I loved all of the changes that were happening, showing me that you were growing healthy and strong. I loved my belly! I was in love with being pregnant with you.



Only July 23, 2008 I woke up feeling great like any other day and went to the beach with my Mom and niece Crystal. We were having fun feeling you kick :) I went home and showered and headed off to the hospital for my bi-monthly cervix ultrasound. This check up saved your lives. Turns out, I was in labor. I was contracting every 3-5 min and my cervix had shortened to 1cm. People ask me all the time how I didn't know I was in labor. The contractions were nothing new to me, I had been having Braxton Hicks since I was 12 weeks along. They were much stronger than normal and did seem more frequent but how at just 23 weeks would I think to assume I was in labor? But, I was on my way to delivering you. If I hadn't gone to the check up that day, you would not be here today. Even typing that makes me cry. I am eternally grateful to God for protecting us that day.
I went to this checkup alone, normally your Dad always went with me. But since it was just to check my cervix and not an ultrasound for you two, I told him he didn't need to come. So, there I was, getting checked and the Dr.'s face said it all. Kaden, your head was right there. Very, very low. I was IMMEDIATELY put in a wheelchair and rushed down stairs. Everything happened so fast and there was so much unknown. I was terrified. I asked if I could at least call your Dad and through my sobbing I told him to get there right away. I was put in a room and told to change in to a gown. I called my parents from the room phone and shortly Daddy, Grandma, Aunt Molly and Aunt Traci were there.
I was immediately given two shots of terbutaline, had an I.V started including a drip of magnesium sulfate, had a catheter inserted all in about 5 minutes. The terb shots made my heart race and feel like it was going to literally beat out my chest. It made me shake uncontrollably. The magnesium creates flu like symptoms, burning up but freezing, nauseous feeling and it also made me extremely sensitive to light. My Dr. (who I just love) came in. No one could tell me what was next or how long I would be in the hospital. I had no idea if I was going to deliver you. The Dr.'s and nurses were grim on the situation. Soon the contractions died down which was a VERY good sign! The next few days and even weeks, are sort of a blur bc of the mag. This med made me so blurry eyed and out of it. I couldn't even let the shades me drawn more than a sliver or it would kill my eyes. I had to watch t.v with one eye closed in order to see. For the next month I would be on this medicine but thankfully they would lower the dose. I was inverted for the first night (head lower than my feet) in order to take the pressure off of my cervix. I was told I would not even be allowed to sit up or do anything that used my stomach muscles.
The first night was so, so scary. Daddy and I just prayed all night. We prayed and cried and prayed and cried. That was two years ago today. I can't believe it.



I will be recounting my days in the hospital for you over the next 2 months. I truly hope that when you are grown up and reading this, that you will know what miracles and what precious gifts you are. By the Grace of God, you were protected that day. I love you more than you'll ever know!
Love always,
Mommy

Our first pool!

Today was a new experience for my sweet peas. An inflatable pool! We've been talking about doing this this summer, for months! I about fainted blowing the darn thing up myself but it was funny watching them get so excited as it got bigger and bigger :)
It's made to have a hose hook up to it and it has a little sprinkler built in but hose water is too cold especially for a somewhat chilly day like today. Even though the sun was out (finally) it was still a little chilly from the ocean breeze. So instead I just filled it up with tons of warm water from the sink :) They had so much fun. I LOVE seeing them experience new things, their expressions are priceless.

Pirate Ship

K&K,
You love the pirate ship at Gramma and Grampa's house! It's actually a little fort but since it's made with pirate flags and my Dad loves pirates, it's called a pirate ship :) Yesterday Mommy went in it with you and it was quite fun :)

Tuesday Morning

Cold, salty air. Loud, crashing waves. Sweet, happy babies. Love.

Angels game date

2 of the past 4 days, Randy I an were out before, during and after K&K's bed time! It's been a huge step (for mostly me :)) and a whole new world for us :) I couldn't ever be away from them until they were 14 months bc they nursed every night before bed! And even though that stopped almost 8 months ago, I haven't been ready to let someone else put them to bed besides us! I love our bedtime routine. Also, I didn't know if they would go down smoothly or be anxious about where Mommy and Daddy were. But they are very close with my parents and I should have never worried, both times they said they went right down for them :) Now that we know they will go to bed for Gramma and Grampa, we have a lot more fun times to look forward to! Even my Dad said we need more date nights :) It was so nice not having to rush home and be there by 8. We really enjoyed ourselves! It's so funny how being able to be out past 8pm is such a thrill these
days :)
Thanks Mom and Dad :)

Fun at Nana and Papa's

They LOVE their play room Nana set up. It has "rock rocks," drums, whistles, puzzles, cars, baby dolls...they love it!


They love to play the piano :)

They love to play out back :)


Nans was showing them the apples in the tree


They always have lots of yummy things for dinner



Nana and Pappa toasted us to our anniversary, even gave the babies some juice to toast with :)

Kaden spilled his :)

Birthday Brainstorming

Yes, it's already time to start thinking about/planning Kaden and Kaleiah's SECOND BIRTHDAY!!!
While it seriously makes me want to cry (the fact that they will be two), I am BEYOND excited about the theme. Like, I'm obsessed. I can't stop thinking about it. I'm obsessed. I love it! Did I mention how much I love it? It's amazing and perfect and I LOVE IT!!! I have so many ideas running through my head. I love party planning. Oh, and I am over the moon with this theme! :)

If you know me even in the slightest, you know my affinity for owls. I love ALL things "Owl." This theme crept into my mind for their 1 yr but I wanted something more "Twin-sie" so I went with Thing 1 and Thing 2 (which was fabulous)!
This year, I was set on the theme as of about a month ago. Then tonight I got a wild hair and changed it. "Owls" I said. "I really want to do owls." I went to my most fav place to browse...Etsy! Typed in two little words and Viola! The most amazing, darling, adorable, to die for, perfect party pack came up!
I had to hold in my screams as it was 10:00pm. I feverishly showed it my my husband and he loved it, too! He said "hurry, order it now! There's only one left!" I love him :)

So THIS is the theme. ::Drool, smile, scream repeat::

Saturday fun

We love Target. We seriously go there for fun. We love taking K&K to the toy isles and letting them play! Yesterday the babies and I all tried on rain boots. I was in love with them (for all of us)! Mine had whales on them, I love whales! Kaden had on frogs and Kaleiah had on yellow Paul Frank ones but then they wanted to switch. They loved their "boots!" Thinking these need to for sure be a b-day present :)







While we browse, K&K love to sit in the cart w/ toys. Keeps them quiet and occupied for a good 15 min! :)


I got these cute summer sandals for $4.95, originally $20.00! I am a bargain hunter, I really try to only buy things if they are on sale. I love me a good deal!

I also made my husband buy this. We all know my obsession with owls! I was so jealous that they didn't have one for women!



After Target (at the Spectrum) we walked around and took K&K to the pet shop where they can look at lots of animals and even pet some doggies :) Kaden is so reluctant to pet them and after he does, this is his cute face!



Then it was dinner time. Kaleiah had fun feeding th birds while we waited for our food :)



Lastly we went to Carters where I died over all of the cute stuff. They have so much cute stuff for fall. We were there looking for a new jacket for Kaden...he only has one now that "fits" him and when it's dirty I'm out of luck. And Kaleiah only has one pair of jeans that fit her. Man, they are going through a major growth spurt right now!!! While we browsed they had so.much.fun at the kiddie table!


It was time to head home after 4 hours at the Spectrumm, soooo much fun had by all :)
We were half way home when my princess asked for her "boo." I asked Randy where he put it and we realized we had left it at Carters! Oh no! It was the longest 10 min back w/ Kaleiah crying for her boo! But they had found it and I ran and got it. Surprisingly enough, that's the first time we had ever left it some where! Just glad we remembered when we did or we would have had a rough night :)

I love our ordinary family days. No matter what we do, we just love being together :)