Almost three months ago . . . How it all began!

Wow! I was looking through the blogs that I have posted and realized that I haven't posted our story of how Sophia and Ethan came to join us in this big world. So here goes:

On August 30, I had a blood clot when I went to the bathroom, just before eight in the morning. I was a little worried, but I had a doctors appointment scheduled later that day at 11 am so Mark thought it would be okay. I was still worried so I decided to call the doctors office for some advice. They said that it was probably nothing but I should come in and get it checked out. I got there at about 8:15 am. When Dr. Driedger checked me out, I was already 2 cm dialated! He sent me to the hospital, mostly to try bed rest as he thought that might slow the process down or stop it completely. I went home to get Mark and we drove Drew to his grandparents. On the way to the hospital, my contractions started and soon were 2 to 3 minutes apart. Then we got to the hospital and were settled into a room to get checked out. I was also given a shot of steroids in the butt just in case the twins were born, to help their lungs develop faster. I was given a suppository to help the contractions to slow down and maybe stop the labor. It didn't work!!

We had been at the hospital for a little over an hour. My doctor and the medical staff were trying to arrange us to be transported to Vancouver because the nursery at MSA was quite full. I was getting worried because my last labor was really short and I didn't want to give birth in the ambulance on the way over, especially because I new I would need a C-section as both of them were breech! Then my water broke!! That was the deciding factor to stay in abbotsford! A nurse checked me out and Baby A (now known as Sophia) kicked her! The nurse jumped back, surprised, which made me jump. Mark and I wondered what was wrong! It was all quite funny. At that point there was no going back.

Soon my doctor arrived and the process began for my C-section. My labor was getting worse but not unhandable. I was more worried about getting the babies out before it was too late for a C-section. In the operating room, people were a buzz getting ready (Mark said later that there were about a dozen other people there - doctors, nurses, anest., etc. for me and for the babies). I felt more calm once they did the spinal. I was told this was better than putting me totally under, plus I'd get to see the twins right away. Mark really didn't want to be in the room as I was being cut open, but he was. He held my hand through it all and came close to my face . We talked about names for our children. It was a great distraction. We were told that they were probably two girls, but when they came out the second one was a boy! I was right! More about that later. And just like that we were a family of 5! We were quickly handed the babies. Mark showed them to me, and then they were whisked away for testing etc. But we were told they were doing okay. Sophia Grace and Ethan Brian were born at 11 am, weighing 4lbs 3oz and 4lbs 5oz!

A couple of weeks before they were born God had given me a dream. It was in a park like setting and Jesus was sitting on a bench holding my babies. One wrapped in pink and one it blue. He told me that he was holding on to them, taking care of them until it was my turn. That picture has given me a lot of peace, especially during the next weeks that they had to stay in the hospital. So when we were told 2 girls, I was a little disappointed because I was sure that Jesus had been holding one of each. I still had the feeling that it was one of each. Then I knew that God had given me that message. It is amazing how he takes care of us. At the time I thought it was related to dealing with a hard pregnancy, but now I know that it was meant for more than that.

Sophia had to stay in the hospital for just under a month and Ethan just over a month. It is sure good to have them both home with us now. What a great gift to bring them home! Now they are growing so fast, and at 3 months old are about 12 lbs each. Now I better head to bed as they are both sleeping :)

Baked Beans

I got this little story in an email and thought it was cute so Ill share it with you all . . . Have fun :) !

(This one is much too cute not to share. Enjoy! Be sure to grab a tissue; I think you'll be laughing so hard you'll cry!)

One day I met a sweet gentleman and fell in love. When it became apparent that we would marry, I made the supreme sacrifice and gave up beans.

Some months later, on my birthday, my car broke down on the way home from work. Since I lived in the countryside I called my husband and told him that I would be late because I had to walk home. On my way, I passed by a small diner and the odor of baked beans was more than I could stand. With miles to walk, I figured that I would walk off any ill effects by the time I reached home, so I stopped at the diner and before I knew it, I had consumed three large orders of baked beans. All the way home, I made sure that I released all the gas.

Upon my arrival, my husband seemed excited to see! me and exclaimed delightedly: "Darling I have a surprise for dinner tonight."

He then blindfolded me and led me to my chair at the dinner table. I took a seat and just as he was about to remove my blindfold, the telephone rang. He made me promise not to touch the blindfold until he returned and went
to answer the call.

The baked beans I had consumed were still affecting me and the pressure was becoming most unbearable, so while my husband was out of the room I seized the opportunity, shifted my weight to one leg and let one go. It was not only loud, but it smelled like a fertilizer truck running over a skunk in front of a pulpwood mill. I took my napkin from my lap and fanned the air around me vigorously.

Then, shifting to the other cheek, I ripped off three more. The stink was worse than cooked cabbage.

Keeping my ears carefully tuned to the conversation in the other room, I went on like this for another few minutes.
The pleasure was indescribable. When eventually the telephone farewells signaled the end of my freedom, I quickly fanned the air a few more times with my napkin, placed it on my lap and folded my hands back on it feeling very relieved and pleased with myself.

My face must have been the picture of innocence when my husband returned, apologizing for taking so long. He asked me if I had peeked through the blindfold, and I assured him I had not.

At this point, he removed the blindfold, and twelve dinner guests seated around the table chorused: "Happy Birthday!"

I fainted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Long time no hear . . .

Well it has been quite a while since my last post but there hasn't been much time to post. It seems that I'm either tending to a baby or having a nap. Hopefully things will get better soon. The last couple of nights the twins have taken turns with having fussy periods and not sleeping. So I have been getting between one and four hours of sleep during the night, before Drew wakes up at any where between 6:30 am and 8:30 am. Thank goodness for all the help from my family. I'm not sure what wee'd do without them. Seriously, I don't know how some parents do it, especially the single parents. Well, I hope to post sooner next time but we'll see. Please keep us in your prayers as we try to balance everything here and keep sane in the process. I keep being told that it will get better, so here's hoping!

I thought I would also post these pictures. It is the first time Sophia and Ethan are wearing "real" clothes. It makes them seem so much bigger. (And, really, I can't believe how fast they are growing!) And they look so cute! The pictures don't show how cute they really were. Sophia got this dress from her Aunt and family. Before you know it, it will be too small, so I wanted to get her into it quickly! I know the tights are a little big but she needed to wear them on these cold days.

Untill next time . . .

Growing, Growing, Growing!

Yesterday was the first set of shots for the twins. Can you believe it? They are already 2 months old. Mark came with me and Drew stayed with Tina and Luke. Thanks Tina! It was Mark's first time to see one of his children get shots! And I do agree that it is an evil thing to go through. But they were really troopers and made it through. In the evening they got a bit of a fever, had a bit of Tempra (Tylenol for infants) and then they were good. Sophia tried to sleep it off and Ethan tried to eat it off. The good news is that they got weighed. Ethan is 9lbs 15oz and Sophia is 9lbs 5oz. Wow! I couldn't believe how much they had grown! I knew they had grown but didn't realize that it was that much. They are doing really well. Now, if only Ethan could sleep longer at night!!

Drew, on the other hand is sleeping well at night but has regressed in the potty training department :( ! Very frustrating! I was hoping to avoid that by starting his potty training early on. But the twins came early. Now it feels like we are starting from the beginning again. I'm thinking about trying a sticker incentive program. Any other ideas?

This morning/early afternoon I was having a rough time with stuff. Just getting a little overwhelmed and a little sleep deprived. Drew's bathroom escapades and independance were getting to me, as well as life in general. Then Mom brought Drew back home and he told me that he had bought me something. He gave me this little pouch and then opened it up himself. It was a necklace from House of James! (By the way, it looks better than the picture, it's actually silver.) Mom came in quickly and said that it must be a message from God. The "necklace" was actually a dog tag with a picture of a football on one side and on the other side it said these words: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13. I think it was from God. It is also my first piece of Jewlery from my son, and I love it and I will treasure it always. Even though he is sometimes a hard kid, he is sweet and lovable and God works through him. And that touches my heart.