All thru the night

I am sure this is a fluke and writing about it will just jinx it...but lately (at least the last 4 of 7 days) Jackson has slept all through the night. Maddy contributed yesterday as well- . It was so nice to get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. I still awoke at the normal feeding time, just thinking that my dear sweet husband was taking care of it. He, on the other hand, was asleep in the chair in the den. Last night Maddy awoke at her normal time, but Jackson stayed sleeping. Hopefully we are moving toward "all thru the night" sleeping. Fingers Crossed.


oh and for those of you not on facebook...here is my lasted picture creation.

The faces of Jackson

This and That

The babies appt went well. Madelyn weighed 11.01 and Jackson weighed 11.06! They got three shots and did remarkably well- just a few seconds of crying and it was over. Jackson had a fever the rest of the night and Maddy didn't act as if anything had happened. Since then we have been busy with pretty full days. They have started sleeping much more and that really helps.

This weekend Michael had to work, so I took mom to a few garage sales. I got a box load of clothes for Jackson and Evy. Thanks Traci and Amy for having such great taste in clothes. I also bought some Hanna Andersson pilot hats for the twins and bid on a lot of clothes and hat and won for 99 cents.

Jackson has an appt with the pedatric urologist in Tulsa in a couple weeks and we will know more about his condition at that time. I am pretty sure that surgery will follow before the end of the summer- but I am praying not.

Oh...and I am in the sexy black boot for another 3 weeks. Yeah Me!!!
I will post more pictures soon

My housework has been neglected lately as my little ones have learned how to seek attention- C-R-Y! We were use to Madelyn doing this- she has been the attention seeking child from the very beginning, however, Jackson has learned this skill. They seem a bit uncomfortable in their skin. Madelyn has reflux and we were able to start meds this week. Her amount of pain seems better- but she hates the meds-so I mix it with some apple juice. She is still spitting up several times a day, but it isn't followed by the terrible screaming. We still have screaming and body tightening, but that is when she has a gas bubble.

Jackson likes to be more alert lately and seems to overtire himself. Today was the worst...he was cranky and fussy the majority of the evening. Michael was finally able to get him down for a few short naps and now he is in his bed-probably snoring.


Tomorrow they go for their first round of shots and their two month check up. I have several questions for the doctor- concerning sunscreen, bugspray, swimming pools- you know normal summer stuff. It is hard for us to be tied down to the house. When Evy was born at the end of summer in 2005- we didn't take her many places that would require such things...however with an (almost) 5 year old, our lives can't stop. In fact, we let to babies take a swim with us the other evening. Madelyn loved the pool and Jackson was too hungry to care.


They are making more milestones each day. Jackson is rolling from side to back or tummy. They are both very active and can move themselves around the floor a few inches during tummy time. Jackson is pushing his head up and lifting his chest about 6 inches. He is also on the verge of laughing. Madelyn is cooing more and likes to lay on her side instead of participate in tummy time. She still needs to be swaddled at night to get a good sleep. She did sleep 6 hours the other night...my fingers are crossed that it will be repeated from 12-6AM.


This past weekend we went out to the Jayla Alexis Tuck Cancer Foundation kickball tournament. Superfun to watch- would have been more fun to join. I am getting a little frustrated with the broken foot thing. Today it hurts a lot and I am missing exercise. Before I got pregnant I was doing pilates with a trainer and loving it. I have lost a lot of weight since the babies and wish I could be doing some toning...but hauling the black boot around the gym isn't the most effective workout.

I am excited to have some people over this Friday for dinner. Michael and I use to have a very active social life- before kids. We had about 6 sets of military couples that we did things with. They have since all moved away and we have not really connected with other couples. This is partially because we don't want to invest and build solid friendships and then lose them. We know that it is easy with social media, blogs, email, texting and phones to keep in touch, but it takes effort to find the time during your busy weeks. When friendships are local it is easier because you run into them at church, restaraunts and around town. I am definately looking forward to cultivating new friendships.


And because I can't leave you without pictures...here are the babies with their bears at 6 weeks and 9 weeks

7 weeks!!!

On Monday Madelyn and Jackson were seven weeks old! I can't believe how time has flown by. Before I know it, summer will be over and we will be heading back to school- guess I should get daycare arrangements figured out.

At 7 weeks Madelyn and Jackson are:
~holding their heads up and looking around
~eating 4-5 oz every 3-4 hours
~are smiling Maddy 5/8 and Jackson 5/20
~have had their first cold
~sleeping in their own beds
~switched to soy formula since M spits up so much
~J has been cooing for a week or so M just started
~can roll from tummy to back and are very active
~have been to the splash pad, soccer games and to get snow cones- celebrating summer!
~J crosses his eyes frequently
~like to gaze at fans and lights
~J has slept up to six hours

At 7 weeks, Mom has
~lost all her baby weight, plus a few lbs
~broke her foot!

Blogging Backlog

It has been a couple weeks since I posted. It has been crazy busy around here. Not just with the twins but with life in general. The last weeks of school are always busy- so it shouldn't be any different on maternity leave- right?

Here is a run down of the past few weeks:

Both babies got terrible diaper rash, which has been linked back to the "new and improved" Pampers diapers. It was really more like a painful chemical burn on their bums. Thankfully it has finally cleared up- but not without a new diaper brand, prescription, lots of TLC and a couple messages for the doctor.

The babies had their check up last week. Madelyn looks perfect. Jackson has a hydrocele in his scrotum (a fluid filled sack around testicle) that may or may not require surgery. We are hoping for the later. It may have a hernia attached, which would require repair. We are recheck in June at the next dr. appt.

Evy had her dance recital and it was absolutely adorable. She really wants to do Jazz now, even though she really isn't into "touching her booty" She is pretty excited about summer dance and I hope that she can take the hip hop class they offer.

My dear, sweet, strong friend Chrissy and her husband Michael have been in the NICU for several weeks taking care of her premature daughter Lily. Lilian was born April 23- 9weeks early. The doctors discovered through genetic testing that Lily has Trisomy 18 or Edwards Syndrome. Babies with her condition, usually don't survive birth, much less days or weeks of life. They are very lucky to have this precious time with her. She is journalling her life here. Please pray for them. Right now they are doing remarkably well and are living under God's will. However, eventually Lily will take her last breath and go be her Father in heaven leaving her Mom and Dad to grieve.

I have been very blessed to have help with the babies and making dinner from several friends from church. It has been nice to have the conversation and a little pampering. Thanks ladies!

Wednesday I started a new Bible Study at church. I really couldn't decide what I was going to do about the time, but with Michael's encouragement I decided to go for it. I took Madelyn with me- as it is a woman's study. It was kind of precious to be there with my daughter and know that I have the great privilege and responsibility to grow her up in the Word. After that I realized that we haven't done a great job of growing Evy in the Word. We have started to read Bible stories from her bedtime bible devotion book and have spent time praying together as a family. I hope that we can continue this each night. Last night we read about the Widow who gave everything as an offering to Jesus. One of the questions to her was "What is the hardest toy for you to have to give up?" She wasn't too sure what would be hard- if you were giving it to Jesus- she didn't mind. It got me thinking about what in my life would be hard to give up. I am glad that my answer wasn't an earthly possession. I think the whole journey with my friend has made me realize that life is too short and precious to be concerned about the things that will not last. I would give away every possession, picture, garment of clothing, to save Miss Lily's or any member of my families life.

Evy and I also started our garden. We planted pumpkin, green and purple beans, squash corn, watermelon, lettuce and carrots. Michael is planning to get someone to till the ground so that we can plant soon. I will purchase tomato and okra plants once we get the ground tilled. I am so excited to see how they grow and to be able to give Jackson and Madelyn homemade baby food from my garden. I am also planning to learn to can- so we will continue to feed ourselves from the garden during the winter months. I am also thinking of planting more lettuce and carrot seeds in the front flower bed instead of flowers.

Hopefully the next weeks will afford me more time to blog. I have pictures and videos to share!

Super Mom!!!

Many twin moms refer to themselves as supermom! In some cases, this is a true statement. Even after the short time living with multiples, I have learned to accommodate both (and sometimes all) children simultaneously. But there are times that I feel like I am failing majorly. I am sure it is lack of sleep and showers!



This is how I spend part of my days...can't really get much better than that!

103!

Today would have been my Great-Grandma Lillian's 103 birthday...oh how I wish she were still here! I am pretty sure we would have made a trip to St. Louis to see her. But, Old Grandma went to be with the Lord a few days after Evy was born. I didn't even have a chance to tell her about my new daughter. And she won't get to meet the twins. I am sure she is too busy praising up in heaven to look down on us, but I hope that one day she will get to meet my whole family- including Autumn.

There is lots of things I remember about Grandma. She was a very independent woman as she lost her husband in her early 50s due to an accident. Of course I never met my great-grandpa, but I am sure he was a good man. She worked in factories and always wore polyester pant suits to church. She lived with or next door to her son and DIL after the accident. She ate well. None of this non-fat, low-carb junk. She ate bread and cookies. She baked cakes and made bacon and eggs for breakfast. For as long as I knew her only complaint was some arthritis and bunions-which she aided with 8 extra strength Tylenol each day. She lived 98 years in her own place. She liked to watch soaps and listen to Ray Stevens music and the Grand Old Opry. In the summers we would spend time at the farm and take walks down the road together- usually to get the mail. The smell of fresh woods takes me back to that place every time! She loved her dog Buttons and dressed a cement goose on her porch. She was afraid of falling and not being able to get herself up- so she devised a plan to scoot herself outside and use the goose to stable herself to be able swing her legs off the porch and stand up without help. This well thought out plan was going to be practiced, until we ratted her out. The only thing she didn't account for was how to get the front door open while she was laying on the ground... I have many treasured trikets from her that remind me of our days together. I am so thankful she was able to see me get married and follow my first pregnancy. Oh, how I wish she were here to share in the joy of Madelyn and Jackson too!

Happy 103rd Birthday Lillian Ann Mantle.