a simple Mathematical Problem

If we're trying to leave the house at 1:30pm to arrive at a party at 2pm and the girls need to eat around 1pm, then what time do I need to start getting ready if I have to: shower, find something that fits, dress myself, change and dress Addie, get snacks/drinks together, pack the diaper bag (pacis, lovie, burp clothes, 2 sizes of diapers, wipes, camera, drink/snacks, etc), feed the girls, feed Addie, eat lunch myself, change and dress the girls, put them in their car seats, and get everyone in the car and out the driveway?

I hated word problems when I was growing up. Probably because I was never taught how to solve them. I loved teaching them though.

Clearly I have not given you enough information. You have no idea how long it takes me to get ready and complete that list above or how long it takes the girls to eat.

But I do, and anytime we want to go somewhere, I have to apply a not-so-simple Mathematical Equation to solve a similar problem and figure out what time I need to start things.

The answer: at least start by 10:30am, probably earlier, in order to build in time for the unexpected!

You know, the unexpected like when Addie decides to splash water out of the dogs bowl all over her dress and the bathroom floor while I'm changing the little girls!

Life is interesting to say the least!!! :)

LifeGroup

(I sure do love seeing this smile!)

We have had the joy of being involved with the most wonderful LifeGroup through our church this past winter and spring. For one of our last meetings, we met at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival for a picnic. It was a beautiful night and one of our little girls very first outings (besides the grocery store!).

Paul and I were just slightly proud at our teamwork: he got the stroller out, I got the little girls out, he got Addie out, I clipped the little girls' car seats in, I got the diaper bag and food out, he held onto Addie...and we actually made it all in one piece to the picnic table to eat!

Two of the other kids kept hovering around this stump and throwing sticks in it. Finally someone got up and realized there was something in there...

This poor mother duck was fearlessly protecting her eggs...

And Addie spent the rest of the time watching her duck!

Until she and her Daddy ventured off to play in the fountain!

Seriously fun times! :)

the Zoo

We love the zoo! Addie loves the zoo! So last week on the last day Daddy was home with us (during the week), we spontaneously went to the zoo! We were headed to get a chicken biscuit, it was 9am when the zoo opened; and when we asked Addie if she wanted to go to the playground at Chick-fil-a OR go to the zoo, you can imagine what she chose!

Doesn't she just look thrilled to be there here? It's because we were delaying her entrance to the fun!

My favorite: the Bengal Tigers. amazing creatures!

Checking out the zebras.

She talked about the lions the ENTIRE time we were there! They were one of the last animals on our loop around the zoo. So I pulled the little girls out to get a shot of all 3 girls. Addie looks SO grown up here to me! :(

Audrey Kate

Anne Perry

They had this beautiful eagle out getting some exercise (because apparently she's a little on the heavy side!). From what I remember, the Auburn eagle is her son (daughter/offspring?).

We went to see the black jaguar and found this! Paul tried to tell me that the black one must have changed to this. I may still have a pregnancy (ditzy) brain, but I'm not that gullible! He/she was lounging in the tree and actually fell asleep while we were standing there. Again, what an amazing creature!

We actually got brave and took all three girls on the train. It was the little girls first train ride (I'm sure they will remember it fondly)! It was packed with a school group, so we had people all up in our space (which doesn't make the mama of 2 week old twins real comfortable). BUT...it was fun!

I was totally shocked these turned out. It was pretty dark in the viewing area where the black bear is, but at the same time, there was this wild sunlight in random places; and I was shooting with my old camera. This bear was pacing back and forth, walking straight towards us over and over! Addie was completely enthralled! I loved capturing her expressions in the reflection of the glass!

Although not our first outing, it was one of our longest. The girls slept the whole time, and Addie was delightful! It's made me be a little more adventurous on my own now that I know she's not quite as much of a wild card as she was when we first brought the girls home!

On that note, I must say that Addie's been precious to the little girls; but her behavior has literally kept us on our toes for the past two plus weeks. She is testing limits and boundaries left and right. Exhaustion from having twins just doesn't compare to the sheer exhaustion of retraining a 2 year old! She can undo, mess up, and tear through a room faster than any human being I know...all with an attitude!

But we're making progress, chipping away, taking baby steps. And seeing results only makes us more determine as parents!

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

Flashback Friday: Addie

...at 3 weeks.

Our Little Girls

Having multiples can come with a wide range of challenges, the least of which are feeding and sleeping. We have been incredibly blessed that our girls started out a good weight. As a whole, neither of them have health issues that we have to be overly concerned about.

We went back to the doctor for another weight check last week.

Both girls are doing GREAT on their weight gain! Whoohoo!

Anne Perry (baby A) started out at 6 lbs 9 oz
At week 1, she weighed 6 lbs 1.5 oz (I had the numbers wrong on the last post)
At week 2, she now weighs 6 lbs 7.5 oz

Audrey Kate (baby B) started out at 6 lbs 6 oz
At week 1, she weighed 6 lbs 2 oz
At week 2, she weighs 6 lbs 10.5 oz

The goal is for each girl to gain at least a half ounce each day. They are both doing that and more!

Praise God!

And yes, Audrey Kate continues to out weigh, out eat, and out grow her older sister! 

Besides weight gain, there are a couple of other issues we're dealing with here. I haven't blogged about any of them because we wanted to find out more information before sharing. I've worked hard to be open with my health challenges, but it's different when it's your children. I know some of you can relate to that.

Anne Perry was breech for the majority of the pregnancy. She sat very low in my pelvis (thus explaining why I was running to the bathroom all. day. long.) in a very tight space. The new protocol for breech babies, whether they are delivered vaginally or not, is to ultrasound their hips due to the high rate of hip displasia or dislocation. We traveled to Birmingham's Children's Hospital last Monday for Anne Perry's hip ultrasound. According to the tech, her hips are immature and underdeveloped but not dislocated. So we will head back in about 6 weeks for a recheck to make sure they are developing correctly.

Audrey Kate started out a little slower than her sister. She had some retracting and slight difficulty breathing but recovered from that within the first 24 hours. She never had to have any breathing assistance, for which we are so thankful! They did, however, detect a heart murmur. I know what you're thinking: that's so common. They close up over time. Don't worry about it. They are very common, but they also typically close up within the first 24 hours of life. Audrey Kate's did not. They did an ECHO in the hospital and basically explained it to us this way: there is a small hole in between the upper and lower chambers of her heart (yes, there's a name for it but this makes more sense). When we visited the pediatrician the first week, it could not be heard; but when we visited again last week, it was quite obviously still there. Dr. B even let me hear it. Amazing but frightening. We will be visiting a pediatric cardiologist in a few weeks for another ECHO. Most likely, they will watch it for the first year and go from there.

And then there's the reflux...

So common in twins, but double the crying. Double the holding. Double the exhaustion. I knew Audrey Kate had it because she has always rattled when she breathed; but Anne Perry has it even worse now: coughing, stuffy nose, sneezing and all around pitiful! She doesn't handle the reflux as well, and Audrey Kate doesn't handle the gas as well! After holding upright, sleeping them propped up and trying anything we could, we've resorted to medicine. Two practically sleepless nights holding one or both girls most of the night in the chair, almost did us (me) in.  Thankfully my mom came to help me one of those nights! The past few nights have been better already! Whew!

We feel incredibly blessed to have such healthy baby girls. Please do not think that by sharing these health concerns that we are in anyway taking for granted these blessings. It's just the reality of things!

Overall though, I have to admit I think we're doing pretty well! The house isn't always straight, but everyone has clean clothes, clean diapers, clean sheets (for the 2.5 seconds before the little girls spit up on theirs), and clean dishes! My husband is pretty amazing (he gets up early with Addie every morning and is working 3-5 hours of overtime each night for work). And my mom is amazing too. Her calming nature always helps me put things in perspective! There's just nothing like having your mom around!

Am I tired? Sure. Do I sometimes (frequently) doubt my abilities? Absolutely. Is everything perfect? far from it!

But I can't imagine life any other way!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3: 20-21

Woeful Wednesday...

so thankful we LOVE our dog & know when we’re as much to blame as she is...

and we thought her breath was smelly before today!

Wordless Wednesday: Airtime!

In Love

The other day, I put the girls down unswaddled; something we rarely do. They are much much happier and sleep much better (and longer) when swaddled still.

But being able to capture this made their short nap worth it! They are so different and yet so similar!

And we are utterly and completely in love with them!

(anne perry and audrey kate)

My (New-To-Me) Camera

If your familiar in anyway with Canon Digital SLR cameras, then you know what the 5D is.

A quick explanation though (because I'm a dork): the Rebel is a basic digital SLR camera (which means it has a removable lens (I have an older model of this)). Things go up from there...the early 20D, 30D and 40D; the new T1i and T2i; the current 50D; the brand new 7D. Then comes the older version of the 5D, the Mark I, and the highly coveted (at least by me!) 5D Mark II. Above that is the 1D. Starting with the 5D, the cameras have full frames (more closely resembling the image sensor of a 35mm film camera, meaning you get more in the frame at the same mm than with the smaller sensor of the other cameras). I'm sure I've missed something, but that's the basics.

I decided last year that I would not upgrade to a newer model camera until I could upgrade to a full frame (um...never. just g00gle them!). There is no way on earth I'd be able to justify buying a new camera. Mine works. I've been given two awesome lenses for Christmas for the past two years, and I've been told by professionals to invest in the glass when you can't invest in a new camera. So I did...

But our friend and professional photographer DiAnna was planning to upgrade from her current 5D Mark I to a Mark II. She can justify it! ;) And I was first in line (of apparently about 5 people) to purchase it. I just had no idea it was going to be NOW!

So I introduce you to my birthday-you-just-birthed-twins-Mother's-Day-10th-anniversary present:

...like a kid on Christmas morning!

Popsicles!

I've attempted (and failed miserably) to spend some one-on-one time with Addie each day. I'm just now coming out of the fog of initial exhaustion and recovering from the c-section, so I hope to do a better job of it in the future! It makes a huge difference in her behavior and how she responds to me and the girls.

But one day last week I actually succeeded at finding the energy to take her outside while the little girls were napping. And this is what we did:

Amazing how appetizing a 2 year old can make a popsicle look!

I'm loving this picture: her expression, her eyes, the blurred popsicle, and the drips hanging in mid-air!

I had RieRie come outside to check out our little popsicle girl, and this is Addie looking at her (as well as her showing her the popsicle in the picture above). This is one where I just wish she didn't have red popsicle all over her!

 The last few bites were a little tricky.

But she was determine to get every last bit!

And this is the reaction I got when I told her there would not be a 2nd one!

As our friend Mary Michael said, without the popsicle stick, these pictures would look like something out of a horror film! Thankfully, each is sporting the popsicle stick, reassuring readers that I am not taking pictures of an injured child!

Can you tell how much fun she had though. This maybe a favorite summer past time, minus the cleanup. Baby pool, here we come!

Let's Go On A Walk

I haven't been able to take a walk with Addie in what seems like forever! First it was my surgery. Then it was too cold. And then I got put on stay off your feet and rest!

So I was thrilled the other day to take a walk with all 3 girls and Paul (even though the humidity had set in!). We literally walked up our street to the little triangle park and walked back.

Addie threw a fit because it was the wrong park according to her. Anne Perry was suffering from terrible gas and refused to take her paci, so she had to be held the entire way back. Abbey (the dog) was wild. And Audrey Kate slept. Whew...

I was really hoping I could swaddle (or not) the little girls and lay them in the back seat of the stroller for a while.  That way, Addie could sit in the front if it was just me with all 3. Well, it won't be long before the little girls outgrow that tiny space. So I'm pulling out the Ergo Baby Carrier tonight to figure it out. The next option: Addie in the front, one baby in the back laying down or in a car seat, and one baby in the Ergo Carrier!

But for now...this worked!

Thankfully, the little girls like to be close!

We Interrupt This Programming...

{again}

I once again have several posts written and ready to publish, but this must come first.

Tuesday was Paul's last day home with us.

We went to the zoo (post to come) and had a fabulous morning, lunch, and nap.

But somebody apparently woke up on the wrong side of the bed from her nap!

If you had been a fly on the wall in our house, you might have heard a few of these things:
disclaimer: no, the majority of what we say to our child is NOT negative; but this is certainly a conglomeration of primarily negative responses to her behavior. 

you may not jump on the sofa. stop or get down.

stop trying to pick up Fuzz by the head. let go of her tail.

leave the boppy alone while mommy is feeding the babies. 

push the swing gently. do not let it hit the wall. gently! (there was no baby in it)

yes, that is Abbey's eye. do not poke it!

do not take your diaper off.

stop kicking. stop hitting. do not hit your sister. that is not petting the dog, that's hitting.

you may not bite me. 

use your spoon in your yogurt. you may not drink it. no, we do not use our fingers in our yogurt!

give me the baby paci. do not put it in your mouth. take it OUT of your mouth and hand it to me.

yes, you can go potty but not with all your clothes on!

The various forms of consequences we employed were apparently inconsequential to her.

so...

Dinner. Bath. PJs. Teeth. Read. 

Poopy diaper?

No more nighttime {cloth} diapers. Make a nighttime diaper. Change diaper. Dump diaper. 

Put on sleepsack.

Anne Perry wakes up. Mommy holding her while finishing up cleaning the kitchen.

Daddy goes to find lovey #2. 

and this is what I hear...

CLICK

Daddy: Addie, unlock the bathroom door. Addie. Unlock the door. 

Mommy from the kitchen: You're kidding? You're kidding, right?

Daddy: Nope. 

Mommy continues cleaning to gather her thoughts. Daddy begins to freak out (his words, not mine). 

And we proceed to attempt to tell her how to unlock the bathroom door that she's locked herself in!!!!

Turn the thing below the knob. No, that's the knob. Turn the thing below the circle. Yes, that's the knob. Turn the lock like when we open the front door.   

FYI: our house was built in 1928. That makes the door, the handle, the lock and all its components approximately 82 years old. The door opens in, so the hinges are inside the bathroom. There is an outside window in the bathroom. No outside access. 

There are 2 screws that we can unscrew to take the outside plate off, but the bottom screw is stripped.

Mommy: Addie, what are you doing? 

Addie: Going potty. 

Mommy: No, let's not go potty. How about if you get in the {empty} bathtub and play with your toys. 

Mommy: Stop kicking the door. It's ok. 

Daddy: Bang. Bang. Bang. 

Mommy: It's ok, we're just trying to unscrew the door. 
(as we try to create a groove to use to unscrew the bottom stripped screw). 

Silence. 

Daddy: Addie, what cha doing?

Mommy: Are you playing with the dogs water? That's ok.

Hear the trashcan. Hear the water bowl. Hear the bath toys. Hear more water?

Daddy working on it. Mommy holding Anne Perry. Mommy working on it. Daddy holding Anne Perry. Mommy holding Anne Perry. Daddy finally getting the plate unscrewed.

...and after what seemed like seconds minutes hours...

allen wrench into hole inside door

click 

...finally

We had our girl out.

and that concludes not only this interruption but thankfully this day!

My mom assures me that we will laugh about this some day.

 Not today.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 
 Matthew 6:34

Our Newborn Session

I'm so far behind on my posts!

Last week DiAnna Paulk and Lori Mercer came over for the girl's newborn session, a sweet gift from both of them! It was a beautiful morning, perfect for pictures outside! Addie was fairly overwhelmed and pretty much refused to cooperate at all, but I'm pretty sure DiAnna got some precious shots of her and the girls in the yard.

I love this picture of Addie though!



But this has to be one of my favorites of the girls!

A few months ago, I sent DiAnna a picture of twins that I'd found of another photographers. They had on these adorable stocking hats! She loved them and found these on etsy.com and immediately ordered them with our girls in mind! Isn't this picture adorable!??!??! They look very similar here as opposed to the above picture, which really highlights their differences!

DiAnna's friend Lori had these cute red hats in her prop box. I love the expressions on the girls faces! I cannot begin to tell you the time it took to capture these shots. I knew, to some extent, how time consuming this kind of thing would be; but I had no idea the effort that went into capturing this kind of thing!

Audrey Kate (on the left) has to have the cutest pouty lips! Anne Perry just looks like a little girl instead of a baby here to me!

Abbey, our golden, was in rare form. We had banished her to our bedroom only to find out she had practically torn down the door trying to get out to us. DiAnna somehow (at some point) grabbed this sweet shot of our first baby! Abbey has always been good at flashing those pitiful looking eyes at you, making you feel terribly guilty for not petting her! Here is no exception! I'm so thankful to have this picture of our girl though!

You can see a few more of DiAnna's shots here.

Thank you, DiAnna and Lori, for a fun morning and these precious memories you captured of all our girls!