Moving On Up....

(North that is).... That's right. We relocated, AGAIN. But this time hopefully for awhile longer. We found a cute house that has room for us to grow (and accommodate all those wonderful TODDLER must haves) just between Gettysburg and Lancaster, its absolutely perfect. We can spend our mornings eating breakfast while watching deer frolic just past our back yard and come night a calm passes over the town. Country living at its  finest.

With this move has come a cost though... currently we have very limited internet access, hence the lack of blog posts. Promise you wont forget about us. Just as soon as we can find a good solution I promise we'll be back to the regular posting.

So since my last post Addison is officially off and walking aka running and she has finally started to stand up and walk from the middle of the floor. Blake is learning all sorts of new words and recently told me "Not the boss." Yes my almost two year old (HOLY COW) told me I am not the boss. I am going to have my hands full. He is also learning lots of animal sounds and can "read" picture books to me by naming animals and things. Addison is taking cues from him and using words and signs to communicate with us more and more. She recently has learned "drink" and will use it when we are working on eating and she needs a drink to help clear her mouth.

As far as eating goes...I don't want to spoil things or jinx them so lets just say we are off and running again and making some HUGE progress. We'll leave it at that for now. But after a very in depth conversation with her Ped we made some decisions and changed the game plan. We'll see how it goes and see what GI has to say in December.

At her last Ped appt he also mentioned concern about Addison's left eye drifting inward. I called her eye doctor and was told she couldn't be seen until Feb so I made a few more calls and found another doctor here in near our new place who can see her next week. Ironically enough the "new" eye doctor did her residency etc at both Mercy and UMMC where we are allllllll too familiar. It's like it was meant to be. Her office staff was amazing on the phone so we'll see how our first visit goes. Hopefully it won't be anything too serious and we can just keep an eye on it for now.

I think that's all I've got for now. Looking forward to getting some pictures uploaded at some point so you can all see those adorable faces again.

19 months...and a cold.

It was bound to happen, but I really thought it wouldn't happen until later in the season. Either way we've got a cold. I am hoping it will be short lived. I noticed Addison was stuffy Saturday morning so I immediately started her on the nebulizer treatments 3-4 times a day. By Sunday she had shared her germs with Blake and what do ya know thanks to all the snot rubbing, Jake and I got it too. I am feeling better already I hope, and hope the rest of them aren't far behind me.

Let me tell you just how fun it is to convince two toddlers to stay still and not pull off the face mask for 15 minutes. Really fun. I don't recommend trying it at home lol. But its working and they seem to be on the mend too. I have been forcing two naps a day (or trying to) so they get enough rest too.

Anyway. All that being said, sometime overnight they turned 19 months old. Where has the time gone?

They are moving all over the place and CLIMBING on anything and everything. Still just a few steps here or there for Miss Addison, but Blake, man...whew. He is running everywhere. We have been trying to get to the park a few times a week and he enjoys chasing after the other kids and being "a big kid" or so he thinks. He is going so much that he literally wore holes in his "pre-walker" shoes. It was time anyway. Their feet are growing so fast. So we had to buy new shoes for both of them... SIZE 4...what in the world.

Recently Blake has mastered climbing on the couch and yelling.. "I jump" and trying to scare me buy pretending to dive. Today he did. And he cried, but he was ok. They both have figured out how to move their activity table and climb on to that to get a better look out the window.

And the sibling rivalry is in full swing. Heaven help me. Someone throws a tantrum 243542365426 times a day because the other has stolen a toy, cup, or Mommy.

I am really enjoying this age though. They are learning to communicate a little better everyday which helps A LOT. Blake also requested several times a day that I call Pop-Pop and he is actually starting to talk to him on the phone rather then just giggling and being silent. Addison, she is my Mom-Mom's girl and says "call mom momma" until I do and then she repeats "Hi momma, Hi Momma." Over and over. Tonight my grandmother said "Who is it?" And she answered "Adson" Melts my heart. I am blessed indeed.

Life Lessons... Toddler Version

Everything I ever needed to know I learned from my toddlers...

 Begin each day with a smile.

(Seriously how much better would the world be if we all woke up happy)

Eat with your hands...

Play Peek a Boo under the blanket.

Help Mommy clean the floors,

because one day you may need to eat that last cookie of the floor.

Help Mommy with laundry, because everyone needs clean socks.

Have some snacks

Pay attention, this one is important...

When Mommy says "Take one", take 'some', it's ok she doesnt mind.

Find the perfect reusable bag for toys.

Play in the dog's water bowl

Throw a fit when mommy walks out of the room.

Take advantage when Mommy comes up with a great idea

for afternoon play time.

Turn kitchen in to water park by splashing when Mommy's not looking.

Relax on the beach (at the make believe water park) 

Say "Hi" to the neighbors

Wear your favorite hat 

And just before bedtime, have just a little more fun.  



Happy 18 Months Our Precious Little Ones...

Where has the time gone? Seems like yesterday I was looking on from outside your incubators, like yesterday that we got to carry your carseats out and drive you home. Like yesterday that we were up every three hours for months on end, from doctor's appointments to therapy and everything in between.

But ya know what I wouldn't change a thing.

How amazing you both are and how you both amaze me. They have their 18 month appointments tomorrow so I will be sure to update with offical stats later but I can tell you they have grown.

I know longer see tiny babies. I see toddlers, big smiles, giggles, tears (when they don't get their way) and milestone after milestone.

Where are they now?

Blake: Eats anything and everything. Favorites include yogurt and waffles. Runs Walks everywhere, mostly. Has lots of words and phrases including "Wat Dat" or "Who Dat". Drinks from a straw cup (or any cup). Understands "Come to Mommy/Daddy" and loves to tell you "No, no, no" finger pointing included. Says and signs "all done" & "more" recent words spoken include "Cup" or "Puc" and "Milk". He has started "giving kisses" which consist of open mouth full slobber kisses OR turning his cheek for me to kiss lol. Master stair climber, loves bath time as long as the water isnt running, and will quickly try to jump back in when bath time is over. He also likes to tell me "I poop" and has been known to bring me a clean diaper.


Addison: Still mostly feeding tube fed but making great strides. HAS FIGURED OUT HOW TO DRINK FROM A STRAW (our baby who never knew how to suck.... SHE SUCKED MILK FROM A STRAW). Is eating an ounce to two ounces of food depending on the day. Crusing and finger walking. Has 9 words/phrases..."Up" "Ball" "Baby" "Mama" "Dada" "All done" "Good girl" "Hey" "Hi", all of which have been within the last month. She was evaluated by Speech today through Infants & Toddlers and the request of the Cleft Palate Team, becase during their appt two months ago, she didn't really have words and was doing minimal imitating. Do you want to know what the Speech Therapist told me today? "I am amazed at her beautiful language skills, just three months post Cleft Repair. She has adequet words for her age, and immitates well. I am beyond please and think she is well within NORMAL range for her age of 18 months." Get out of here! Talk about a heart swelling with pride. I was also told once again that had it not been for the medical documentation it would be hard to believe she had a bilateral 3/4 brain bleed. She climbs stairs well but does better when little brother isn't racing her to the top.

Dear Babies,

May you always know the joy you have brought to us and continue to give us. I love watching the world through your eyes. The discovery as you learn something new. The pride you show when you master a new task. The imagination when you play a game a peek-a-boo together or turn toys upside down in attempt of finding new ways to play. The love that you give unconditionally. I am forever amazed by your strengths and how you both over come any obstacle placed in your way. My heart swells with pride every time I lay eyes on you both. Daddy and I are very blessed to have you both. I cannot imagine things any other way.

With all my heart and love,
Mommy

Angel's Lullaby by Reba

Midnight moonlight shining through the curtain lace
Paints a perfect picture on your perfect face
One (two) sweet angel (angels) sleeping in my arms
You are the promise I knew God would keep
You are the gift that makes my world complete

And you'll never know how much I love you
But I'll keep on telling you my whole life through
Now I believe in miracles, and you're the reason why
So dream on while I sing you my angel's lullaby
- I just heard this on an episode of Reba and was literally brough to tears. Instantly made me think of Blake and Addison.

How did we get here?

April 7, 2007 we tied the knot after dating for 5 years. We always said that as far as children were concerned "whatever happened, happened" but after three years of "nothing" happening we knew it was time to seek help. We were no longer satisfied begin a childless couple, month after month we felt heartache and pain. So off to Shady Grove we went. (We actually had tried a few other options before even getting to this point, Shady Grove was a last attempt of sorts.) One short IVF cycle later, we got the phone call that we waited three years to get, "Congratulations, you are pregnant."

We knew that there was a chance for twins because we had decided to implant two embryos. (We started out with nine embryos and by the time we got to transfer day only two remained. And no we would not have implanted nine. Two was our limit.) My blood hormone levels were through the roof, and I tried for the better part of four weeks trying to convince Jake that it was indeed twins...I think he finally believed me when we saw that first ultrasound with two heartbeats flickering on the screen.

Fast forward to week 12. I was just outside of the first trimester when I had a bleeding episode that sent me to the ER and landed me on bed rest for my birthday. We were blessed and grateful that the bleeding episode was not a result of miscarriage but rather a small blood pocket that ruptured (common with twins and IVF pregnancies.) Things were going very well after that until we got some blood work results back that showed my AFP levels were elevated, indicating that one or both of the babies could have a genetic disorder.

Two days before Christmas I was sent to the high risk specialists (otherwise know as the Perinatologist or Peri for short) to be evaluated. At that point they could not find an genetic issues via ultrasound, but they recommended we have an Amnio done to get a definitive answer. The risk of miscarriage is 1 in 400 with Amnio, this was not an option to us. We did not need to know, our babies are our babies bottom line. We will love them and give them the best quality of life no matter what. At this appointment we also found out that we were having a boy and a girl. I still remember Jake holding his breath and waiting when they identified Baby A as a girl (he was convinced it was two girls, and as he put it...he'd need all the overtime he could get to pay for bail money when they started dating.) But lucky for him Baby B was clearly a boy.

I should mention that when we got pregnant I very naively though that after all it took to get pregnant, the pregnancy would be a breeze. Clearly I was wrong.

At week 21 I found myself making not one but two trips to Labor & Delivery before we discovered my water had broke with one of the babies (Baby A - Addison). I spent a weekend in the hospital for antibiotics and monitoring. We were told at that point that labor could possibly be occurring sooner then later and that there was a huge risk of infection for both me and the babies. If I went into labor, the babies would not survive...they hadn't yet reached "viability". We were also being told that Addison now appeared to have a heart defect and a disorder known as Micrognathia. The first words out of the Peri's mouth was "consider termination of twin A, it would be better for twin B and then we could test twin A for genetic disorders." And as Jake put it "Hell no. Our little girl is not some statistic or science fair project. She is a living human being, if she decides to give up then so be it, but right now today she has a heartbeat and is alive. Whatever comes our way, she is ours."

I am very happy to say that we were very fortunate to make it to 26 weekson strict bed rest before things got crazy. I spent another three days in the hospital for steroid shots to help develop their lungs just in case...and thank God we got the steroids on board. I was released on a Friday and that following Monday (2/14 - Valentine's Day), I woke up miserable. It was something I could not explain and then the pain started. Nothing and I mean nothing made it go away or eased it, Jake immediately took me in to be checked out. By 7:30 am, I was contracting 2-3 minutes apart. And 10:00 am my OB was standing at the foot of my bed telling me that it was show time and that our twins would be born via c-section by lunch time. We've never been so scared.

The rest was a blur...I remember being in the OR and hearing the doctor call out their birth times 1:10 pm (Addison) and 1:11 pm (Blake). Addison was in the room with me while they had Blake in another OR working on him. Both babies had to be intubated and never even cried at birth. I literally got a peek at Addison as they rushed her out to the NICU. Jake got a peek at Blake on his way to the NICU. It was 5 hours later before I got to meet our little ones for the first time. All I remember was seeing these two tiny little babies with all these tubes and wires and iv's all over the place. I wasn't able to stay with them long because I was still recovering from the c-section (the nurses wheeled me up in my bed as they were taking me to my room on the Mother/Baby floor), but in the time we were there we knew things were not looking so promising, especially for our little girl.

People kept telling us "she is very sick"...thankfully those words later turned into "she's come a long way". It is by far the worst feeling ever being told to prepare for the worse and be ready to make tough decisions in the morning. The biggest blessing to us was finding out the next morning that there were no decisions to be made and our little girl had pulled herself together and rallied. And as for our son...well he was quite the show off and left the doctors and nurses speechless.