Turning the Blog into a 365 PHOTO blog!

I really want to start using this blog again and will be turing it into a picture a day blog. I want to take more pictures of the kids and include more people into our lives! Enjoy

And we are moving!!

Here are a couple more videos of the babies, please don't mind me talking, you can even mute it and just watch the cuties in action!!! I promise I will post an actual written blog about us soon!

Video of the twins

This is for all our family that doesn't get to see the twins very often!! We love and miss you!!!

Olivia not to happy :)

Enjoy

Wilson's

Family Time!

Mom and Dad with the twins! Photo taken by Leah!

Olivia loves sticking her tongue out at people!

Erik is trying to crawl!

More pictures of the family over the last couple of days!

At the park!

A fun day at the park!

The Okkatots Baby Carrier

I have been looking for a baby carrier for the twins for quite some time. Being not too sure on the style that I want, I have been constantly researching! I came across the Okkatots baby carrier and couldn't be happier! To top it off, there is a contest going on now where I could win a free one. How great would that be, I am all about free!!

Here is the link

www.okkatots.com

Check it out, amazing baby carrier!

Eriks Lip Repair

Erik had his lip repair surgery on August 5th. It is never easy to see your children go in for surgery, even though, the end result is always for the best!

Here is Erik with the nurse who was about to take his to the operating room, the hardest part of the day! Watching them walk down the hallway, hearing my baby boy cry the entire time!

Here he is in recovery! His lip looks amazing!

A couple weeks post op. It is amazing the difference you can see in him!

My boys

Wide Smiles

Today Leah and I were playing with Erik, smiling at him and in return he would giggle and smile back! I told Leah that his surgery was next week and I was going to miss his 'wide smile'. She didn't really understand what I meant, asking if he wouldn't be able to smile anymore, or if his mouth would be different. I explained that right now when he smiles, it is huge and contagious! Literally takes up his whole face! There is going to be a change after his surgery because the cleft will be sewn together. Leah went on about how she is going to miss his smile as well, and even told Grandma on the phone tonight how she was going to miss Erik's wide smile! It made me smile, made me proud of my girl who is learning compassion through her brother who looks a little different, yet loves the things about him that make him different!

I know that all kids ask questions and always make comments about people who look different. It made me sad when a little boy at the pool said that Erik looked gross. I am glad that his smile is going to be 'put back together', but I am going to miss it, and I am always sad that people are ignorant and will continue to be ignorant, especially when it comes to adults and the quality of life my children will have. Do they seriously think that my kids cannot and will not have a 'normal' functioning life because they look a little different. It pisses me off and I am hoping I can teach my children compassion and love towards others so they will be able to look past the differences and get to know the person for who they really are and not only for what they look like. I guess the greatest way I will be able to teach them is if I convey that myself.

This wasn't meant to be a rant tonight, but I guess that is what came about!

Just an update

I have realized that other than facebook, I have no records of the babies growth and development. When they are older I am going to have to search old facebook pages searching for mildstones and growth records!!

This makes me sad. Not only becuase the twins are my last babies, but because I don't want them to think that I didn't care!

July 25th 2010 Stats!

Erik James

age: 4 months 2 weeks old

weight 13 lbs 6oz

length: 23" long

Erik is eating anywhere from 7-8oz each feed! I feel like he eats so much, but I think it is because he sleeps so much that he eats when he can!! He is sleeping 12-13 hrs in a row at night! I love that no matter what time he goes to sleep at night, anywhere from 7-9, he will be out until the morning. Plus he usually has one super long nap during the day, 5-6 hrs, and maybe a cat nap or two. We are able to put him to sleep awake and he will fall asleep on his own, the times he doesn't just fall asleep we know there is something wrong, either needing to eat more or have his bum changed. He is a happy baby who is always smiling and happy! He loves to suck on his fingers and is always trying to stick as many of them into his mouth as he possibly can. He loves to watch people and has started grabbing for toys or people, or anything he sees. I must admit, I am slightly worried about his lip repair coming up on Aug 5th, because all of this may change. I put him to sleep on his tummy (ya ya I know) and he sucks his fingers. After his lip repair he will have to wear arm restraints and won't be able to sleep on his tummy. I know that we will get through it, we did with Caidy, but that is what I think about!

Olivia Joyce

age: 4 months 2 weeks

weight: 12 lbs 12 oz

lenth:22"

My baby girl is growing like crazy! She is my chunky monkey who started out so small, 4lbs 14oz, and has grown to be my biggest baby girl! She is very scheduled and structured. Olivia is eating 5 oz at every feed and takes her bottles every 3-4 hrs like clockwork. She has been putting herself to sleep for months now, sucks her thumb and prefers to be put down in her crib rather than cuddled to sleep. There are times I find myself missing her, or wanting to cuddle because she is so self suffcient! Olivia has the most beautiful smile, but does not give it away easily! She reminds me so much of Leah who would scowl at everyone, kind of choosing who she was going to smile at. Olivia loves to lay on a blanket kicking and looking around, she will look at toys, but doesn't grab yet. It is awesome to listen to her babble away and yesterday started blowing raspberries. It is so cute listening to her making noises, talking away! She is also very demanding, if she is hungry she wants it now, although she won't eat her milk cold, so she has to wait while it is warmed up!

Elijah's 6th Birthday!!

It's hard to believe that Elijah is 6 now!

Beautiful Quilts!

Thank you Joan for the Beautiful Quilts!

Tired...

I feel tired today, not that I have any reason to be. The babies have been sleeping well, they are both averaging 7-10 hrs in a row. Plus when they wake, usually between 6 and 7am they will go right back down for 3-4 hrs. I have nothing to complain about... just feel tired! I want my hair cut and a pedicure!! HA those are the last things that are going to happen with fathers day this weekend, James and Elijah are going camping, leaving me home with 4 kids ALONE!!! AHHHH
It will be good, though. I am excited for James to be able to relax, I have been going to Jazzercises for a couple weeks now, that is my out!!

Thats all... not very exciting, just tired!

Beautiful Babies

Picture taken May 29th Grandma Jolene's class made these blankets for the babies. I finally tried to do a mini-photo shoot and as you can see it did not go well!! I will be trying again!! :)

Daddy was holding both babies and was able to put them to sleep!

June 11, already 3 months old!

Olivia taking out her brother!!

Erik Update

Erik James is already 3 months old! It is so hard to believe time is passing so quickly. He is a very happy baby who loves to sleep!! A mothers dream ;)

Every three weeks we are having appts in Vancouver at an orthodontist for the mouth piece he wears. You can see it in his mouth here, the purpose of the plate is to bring the cleft closer together so when they do his palate surgery at 9 months the 'hole' won't be as big. In the picture you can also see the nose stint that is attatched to the plate. This is to stretch the nostril up, making it look more uniform with the other nostril. We are also taping his lip, the tape pulls the skin together, stretching it so there is more to work with. I am finding it very hard to believe that next month he will be having his lip surgery already! He will look so different, it is kind of bitter sweet, I will miss his wide smile, but look forward to seeing his smile together! :)

Few and Far Between

I know, I know. I have been awful at updating about the babies. Life has been so busy, I never feel like I can just take a minute and think of something clever and witty to write. James is constantly on my case to update and write, but I always think of some excuse as to why I can't.

So today I will! Not only because I can't think of an excuse as to why not, but also because I don't want the twins to think their childhood was negative. It has been busy and chaotic, and a complete whirl wind, but not bad and not anything that we regret.

I want to write about our large family. We do have a very large family now and although it is crazy busy at times and the kids may feel like they aren't getting the one on one attention that they were used to before, this is good. WHY you may ask could something that sounds so negative be good.

For me it is because we are teaching our kids to be self-less. Not only have James and I learnt this, or are constantly having to learn it daily. We are having to put our own desires and wants aside for these two little ones who are totally worth it!

I remember seeing a family with two older daughters that had adopted a set of toddler twins. At first I felt so sorry for the girls, how they were missing out on their teen years having to now help take care of these younger children. I thought how I would react, saying no, fighting my parents to have to do anything. BUT then I got to know these girls. They are the most thoughtful, caring, giving people I had ever met. They were able to put others before themselves, think beyond their own selfish desires and love people for who they were, rather than what they were able to get out of the relationship.

Seeing this family made me realize I wanted a larger family. (ok I wanted 4 kids! But will gladly accept the 5 given!) Not only are my children growing up with an attitude of 'its not about me', but they are learning the importance of giving rather than receiving. Of putting others before yourself, and even if you don't want to do something you have to do it!!

Now, please don't think these lessons are coming easy. In fact it is the hardest thing any of us here have had to learn. I have had to put my desires on hold, James has had to give up so much to help with the babies. There is never a moment that we are both able to have time to ourselves. We are always on. The kids have had to learn that if they want something, they have to wait, or if not willing to wait they have to go without.

Our house has been in a constant state of change these last 12 weeks and I pray that it would continue to change us for the better. That whatever we are supposed to be learning when our whole house is in chaos and both James and I want to step away, but are unable to; will give us strength and help us be better people.

Romans 5:2-5

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Some pictures of the twins!

The twins are both over 10lbs! 11weeks old!

Here Caidy has figured out a way to keep the babies quiet so that she can watch her movie! Smart little girl!!

An update of the twins!

Here is a rare update of the twins!

Happy 4th Birthday Caidy!

It was great to celebrate Caidy's 4th birthday! She was so excited and spent days before hand making lists with Leah about what she wanted at her birthday! All in all it was great, she was spoiled rotten and loved by so many people! I am so proud of my baby girl and so excited about the beautiful, witty, fun loving girl she is growing into!!

The twins!

Well here I am at 33 weeks! Crazy to think about how quickly this pregnancy is going by. I had an ultra sound today and the tech measured the babies femurs, stomachs and head circumference to estimate their sizes. I was shocked at how big they are already! Baby A, our girl, is estimated at 4 lbs 10 oz. Our baby B, the boy, is estimated at 5 lbs 8 oz!! That is huge! Not only am I carrying the 10 lbs of baby, each placenta is 2 lbs, there is most likely 2-4 of fluid, so 18 lbs in my stomach alone and the rest of the 27 lbs I have gained is all in my face! :)
I am getting very excited for them to make their appearance, although I still have so much to do to prepare. I still haven't gotten the shelves or dresser to house the babies clothes. This has been a 3-4 week battle with every idea of mine being ruined by either time or our own stupidity! We bought what we thought was a dresser from Costco, only to find out we only bought the drawers! Who does that!! I think both James and I have pregnancy brain! Then the shelves for the closet are being made by a friend of ours and I think we regretted to inform our single guy friend that you need to have things ready BEFORE the babies arrive and not whenever it suits you! ;)
I think other than those minor things we will be ready! On monday I have an appt with my OB to talk about a birth plan and maybe if I need to stay in the Vancouver area until these little ones decide to make an appearance. I am really struggling with not being able to have things planned out. I always knew I was a control freak, of sorts, but this is pushing me way to far! I really feel like a fool for having nothing planned, and as soon as I think I do, something happens to throw all the plans out the window! Hmmm maybe a lesson to be learnt there, not sure! ;)