Tonight's Theme: Cuddling.

I'm about to get mushy.

Really mushy.

And I am not that type of person.

I like to get things done. I can't stand having items on my to do list and will would rock them out in a day. Since having the boys, I get one or two things done in a day versus the 13 it used to be. Sometimes it makes me feel very unproductive, but I get that I'm raising two newborn babies.

Wyatt

After I feed them, generally if they are happy I will set them down to "do as much as I possibly can before they start to fuss". Lately, however, I've gotten more sentimental and am trying to slow myself down. These babies won't be babies forever and I'm already starting to see the physical changes taking place. I'm excited for what's coming next but also so incredibly sad that they are growing up. I know, They are only six weeks old which is nothing, but it is still something.

Today, while Oliver was sleeping and Wyatt was falling asleep, I had the "good! They're sleeping, I can go clean the bathroom now." Mid thought I had another one. "No... Take time."

I took advantage of the situation my babies made for me and laid on the bed, cuddling Wyatt in my arms close to my chest and just kissed his bald little head smelling his babiness.

Oliver gets his cuddles, too. Plenty.

Oliver : Wyatt

I want to make more of an effort to be with the twins and soak up every last piece of them at the stage they are in because I know it won't last forever... Or for long.

I want to change my to do list from frivolous things like cleaning the floor and taking out the trash to take the boys for a walk and rock Oliver to sleep. It will mean so much more in the long run and I can remember how they stared into my eyes while we sat on the couch when I held him.

Wyatt

I want to block out my perfectionist and be okay with the fact that the dirty dishes from lunch are in the sink and coo and gaga and play with my little peanuts before they grow up and won't play with me anymore.

I want to enjoy every part of them being babies, even the difficult ones, because who knows if I'll ever get to do this again.

Wyatt

Jake laughs at how different this Christmas is from last for me. I'm much more enthusiastic about decorating the house, getting a tree, going out to see the Zoo lights!

Yes, they are only six weeks and do not know what is going on, but for me, every second of their to tininess counts and I want to take full advantage of every moment I have of their childhood.

Wyatt : Cuddles with Oliver

Now, please excuse me while I go pick my itty bitties out of their crib and surround myself with babies.

I'm a mom.

Warning: No proof reading happened. I don't care anymore.

The twins are now six weeks old. Six whole entire weeks have gone by since I laid on my parents green carpet in labor and then wet on their floor while crawling out to the car to ride back to the hospital for the third time in the most awkward/at the time most tolerable position possible!

Tonight, as I sat on the couch watching chopped while pumping out as much milk as possible with baby puke on my shirt and dripping down my what used to not exist but is now up to my chin cleavage I realized something:

I'm a mom.

Duh, right?

But seriously. I realized a few things have transitioned into part of normal everyday life that were once so foreign to me.

First off: Laundry. I know what you're thinking.

"well of course two kids comes with more laundry! Like... really?! You didn't know that?!" Insert valley girl head nod. I do laundry aaaaaaall the time. It used to be once a week was laundry day. Three loads folded and put away in one day. Bam. Done. Did. Now, I do many more loads than three a week and it often gets folded and put away all on separate days. I could not figure out for the life of me how I had so much extra laundry! The boys pee through many an outfit a day but not that many. I mean, come on! But like I said I was sitting there with spit up on my shirt... before babies it would have been clean enough to wear again (since today was the first) and I would have put it away, not in the laundry basket. However, not only do the boys go through their clothes more but so do we! Due to their bodily fluids instead of putting things away, they go to the laundry basket. Hence... more laundry.  Not only that but I constantly forget that there is laundry in the washer/dryer.

"So that's where my jeans are!'

Wyatt

Next: Pumping. While Wyatt was in the hospital I would feed Oliver then pump a bottle for Wywy. Then an hour later I would be so full I would pump another four ounces. No typo... four and keep in mind I still had enough to start the cycle over in another hour. Now that both babies are here, I nurse them both and then pump again in another hour and again in another hour nurse the boys till their bellies are full and happy. Anyways, my pumping capacity now fluctuates much more, and since Jake does the 3:30 feeding I need that leche for them and it becomes rather stressful when I don't get that much! Recently, I've noticed that I accidentally have started a competition with myself.

"That's so much more than yesterday! Yes!" Pat on the back, high five, grin.

"Crap, yesterday beat today." Self shame talk, slap across the rear, stub my toe.

If you had told me that I would be competitive about pumping my breast milk I would have thrown. up.

Third: Working out. Not much to say about this yet, but If you know me, you know I like to work out. Not being able to for so long kinda broke my heart a little, and last week I got the all clear to return to life as normal. Today I started up. It was a simple yoga class, but from what I had heard from everyone and their mom, honestly... and their mom, "you will pee your pants!" So here I was walking into yoga legitimately scared to death that I was going to wet my pants, so I placed my mat at the very back corner closest to the door just in case. I understand that there really was not a whole lot of jumping involved but at no point did I ever feel like I was going to wet my super cute, rather flattering, Lululemon yoga pants. Mission accomplished.

Wyatt:Oliver

On to...: iPhone pictures. What used to be a pretty normal photo album of pictures is now babies. To others, I'm sure all of them look the same but to me each picture is unique.

"What?! No, they aren't the same! Here they are sleeping on the couch, here they are sleeping on my bed and this one they have their eyes open."

Another obvious one: Going places/scheduling between feedings. I swear when I take the twins places with me I feel like I'm packing to go to battle and I have to do it strategically between feedings. Yes, I could nurse in the car but it is really hard! I tried it and it was a disaster... The steering wheel is in the way but I can't scoot the seat back because the car seat is in the way and I can't move to the back seat because both seats have a car seat on them and the other one is screaming laying on the seat beside me and I can't cover myself and people can see in and... trust me. I'm just not skilled enough yet for that to work, so I'd rather not.

Oliver

Gone: Clean Bed sheets. One of my favorite things in life is slipping into a made bed with clean bed sheets. Lately, it has become even more of a favorite thing because it is much more rare. I don't even think twice about climbing into bed when Wyatt had urinated all over my side of the bed and there is a crusty puddle of spit up next to my head from Oliver. At first I would wash and change them every time but I've since given up. Even though having clean bedding is one of my favorite things, changing the sheets is one of my most dreaded.

Oliver

And last but certainly not least: Cups. My ever changing cup size. I don't even know what it is anymore. A bra could fit me after feeding the wee ones and two hours later be ridiculously small. How on Earth do they get so huge in a matter of two hours?! I just don't get it. *sigh* so weird...

Wyatt

And there you have it. My current deep thoughts. Intriguing? Of course, I knew you'd think that which is why I was ever so kind to write them all down for you.

Oliver

My pregnancy was pretty normal and we anxiously awaited the 36 week to 38 week mark, which is when many twins arrive. Starting around 30 weeks I was having lots of irregular contractions so around midnight of October 18th, I ignored the pains I was feeling. Around 5am of the 19th I woke up and timed my contractions every 10 minutes for about an hour. I was nervous to tell Jake I thought I was in labor because he had a presentation for his business group at 8:30 that morning. I hesitantly woke him about 6:30 and told him what was going on. I asked if he wanted to take separate cars to the hospital in case it was a false alarm he could make his meeting and I could drive back home. We loaded our bags and car seats, turned on the dishwasher and headed out in the same vehicle.

We were in triage for about an hour, walked for an hour, and were finally sent home when nothing had progressed. I was so disappointed when the contractions suddenly slowed to one an hour. We went to my parents house to hang out for a little while because they live much closer to the hospital. I took a nap, watched some tv and ignored the cramping again. Late afternoon, we accepted that nothing was happening that day. Around 8pm everything started up again with a new level of intensity! We headed back to the hospital and were there for another hour. I was in so much pain and could not keep anything down, even water. I was given Morphine, Terbutaline and Ambien. Although none of them worked, I was sent home again! Because I was a few days short of 37 weeks (full term), they were not allowed to help me progress including breaking my water or giving me Pitocin.

Grandpa Lyle meeting Oliver

Again, we went to my parents house to wait to go back later. On top of my contractions that never stopped, I was having terrible back labor that could not be relieved by anything. I tried ice, heating pad, taking a bath, laying down, sitting, standing... Around 5am, we went back for the third time and I was finally admitted at 5.5cm dilated and 100% effaced. It was so great to finally be checked in. I was moved to a labor and delivery room and asked for an epidural as soon as I could speak through another contraction.

Oliver Lyle

That feeling of relief I got was the amazing! I don't know how I could have endured the rest of labor without it! While laboring, I was instructed to keep the oxygen mask on as both babies' heart rates were dropping during contractions. After the epidural, things starting moving very quickly! Oliver Lyle was born at 10am and was given the okay. Oliver had some low blood sugar and did spend a few hours in the NICU until it was raised. He cuddled with daddy while I immediately starting pushing Baby B. The doctor was worried because his heart rate was still dropping and was "sunny side up" and stuck on my tail bone. He was helped out with the vacuum in order to avoid an emergency c-section. Wyatt Daniel arrived at 10:21am and was taken to the NICU promptly.

Uncle Scott meeting Oliver

About an hour later while I was in recovery, a code blue came over the speaker which I immediately knew was for our baby. Jake and I were rushed to the NICU where he was surrounded by a team of doctors and nurses. We were told he had a seizure and stopped breathing. The two of us were able to hold him for a few minutes and he was then flown to Cardon's Children's Hospital.

Wyatt was accompanied by 4 nurses and a security guard which left no room for another passenger. Jake met the helicopter at the hospital to be with Wyatt. After several CT Scans and EEG tests, we were told there was no evidence of any permanent brain damage due to his episode. Wyatt spent 8 long days in the NICU.

Wyatt Daniel stretching out

Just as we thought we were out of the woods, we received a call that Oliver's Newborn Screening came back with a mutated gene for Cystic Fibrosis. We later took him to Phoenix Children's Hospital for a Sweat Test. The test later came back negative, meaning that Oliver is only a carrier for the disease.
These boys definitely keep us on our toes!

Oliver

Wyatt

Just before Wyatt's helicopter ride

Since then, our life has been a whirlwind of diapers, strollers, and bottles. It has been absolutely insane, but also amazing. I couldn't love these babies any more.

Wyatt and Oliver

Oliver and Wyatt

I hope to get better at this

I'm so bad at this blogging thing. Sorry. I've been waiting to blog about the twins because I want to include all the adorable pictures I have had taken of them, so I'll give you a small super duper oober gooey treat, and then post a really big long juicy meal when I get the professionals back.

These are my babies.

Oliver and Wyatt

Oliver - 5 pounds 15 ounces

Wyatt - 4 pounds 11 ounces

Oliver and Wyatt

Aren't they adorable?!

We are so happy that they are both home and healthy.

After our scary ordeal with Wyatt having a seizure and coding, then Oliver scaring us with a Cystic Fibrosis scare we are confident that all is well with their little bodies.

Wyatt had a seizure shortly after being born and was AirVacced to Cardon's Children's Hospital. He was escorted by 4 nurses and security gaurd. (details coming later)

Oliver's newborn screening came back with a mutated gene for Cystic Fibrosis. After a sweat test, it was confirmed that he is only a carrier which will not affect him unless he has kids with another carrier. Jake and I are now being genetically tested to find out who, if not both of us, is the carrier. 

It's pretty crazy the things I never thought would happen have happened and it hasn't even bothered me yet. For instance... I've slept on sheets that have peed on, baby poo on my arm, and a shirt covered in baby puke. 

Let the games begin!

Eric and Brenley's Adoption Journey

This is Eric and Brenley. They are our good friends and we love them.

Eric and Brenley have been trying to have a baby for a while now... like 3 or 4 years. (They also referred us to Dr. Amols who helped us obtain our wee ones.)

They recently were certified to adopt and I am so excited for them! I'm trying to do what I can in helping them become parents (which sounds pretty awkward) which is why I posted a link to their blog below. The more we can spread the word, the more likely they will be placed soon!

Check out their amazing story here.

Fall is finally here!

It's October, which means that fall is finally here! In other places, fall means cooler weather, cute changes in fashion and different colors on the trees. Here, it means cooler weather... and pants? Temps have reached the low 90's and upper 80's making it a much nicer walk to the mailbox.

Today I pulled out our fall decorations decoration. I've been thinking about getting more to festive up the place, but let's be honest here, I'm not huge on decorating and the storage capacity in this house has already reached it's limit so this will have to do for now.

I've finished up my projects and am prepared for the boys to get here. I have really enjoyed not working, but am slightly bored at times. There have been a few things around that I want to convert/paint/try but don't want to start anything new in case it doesn't get finished. I'm big on schedules. If I knew how long I actually had maybe I could do one or two.

Because of that, there has been a lot of cleaning going on around here. Partly because I'm bored, partly because I am OCD, and partly because I have this irrational fear of going into labor while the house is dirty and then I have to come home to a dirty house or WORSE other people will see my house dirty! I'm not even kidding, this runs through my head several times during the day. Because of this, the floor gets done almost everyday, the blinds are dusted weekly, the touch up paint gets used on a daily basis and the list goes on.

The boys are all packed for the hospital (come on, a couple of outfits and blankets set on top of the car seats was not all that hard), and I've started a bag. Yup, started. I have had lots of contractions over the past few weeks. You'd think that would make for many trips to the hospital for "false alarms", but instead I just think "oops, there it goes again". Hope that doesn't mean I ignore the real ones and end up having an accidental home birth.

Military Wives has helped me pass the time, too. It's a show. A fantastic show! Seriously, I blame it mostly on the hormones but I cry almost every episode. That show has some great writers, let me tell you.

I know this post has been way too much excitement for you to handle, so carry on.

Anniversary

For our 3 year anniversary, we took a nice little jont to San Diego. It was awesome to do what we wanted, when we wanted.

I was a little bit concerned about getting out of Dodge since they boys' are trying to make an early appearance but they stayed put! I have been on Iron pills and have had a couple steroid shots to help keep them baking which have both been very helpful.