Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone!  I hope this past year was great and wish everyone health and happiness for 2011!  The babies are doing better, although Carson still has a lingering cough.  :-(  I hope it clears up.  My poor babies love to take medicine and open their mouths for it and Carson likes to turn on his own humidifier.  How mature.  Who knew one year olds were so advanced these days?  hahahaha...We only made it till about 10:20 at the New Year's Eve supper at my grandma's house.  We are party animals, huh?  It was the only place the babies have been in a week and probably the only place they'll really go for a spell.  We are seriously keeping them in more.....it's hard.  Anyway, hope everyone has a happy new year!!!! 

Christmas etc.

Christmas was good!  Last year, we brought Carson home on Christmas day.  It was a simple, yet perfect Christmas spent in the NICU.  It will always be one of my best memories because it involved no gifts, few decorations, just family.  I can't believe that was just a short year ago!  Now, instead of two teeny infants I have 2 rambunctious one year olds who could really get into stuff.  The only downside to Christmas this year was that all four of us felt bad.  Emilynn is still battling her ear infection and both babies have bad coughs.  No one wanted to nap on Christmas day, although Mommy desperately wanted one.  Anyway, Santa came and brought both babies an outfit, jammies, a new bath towel, a VT sweatshirt, a movie, a Fisher-Price mailbox, cars & trucks, books,a few other small toys and Carson got a Little Tikes shopping cart, Emmy got a doll stroller.  We gave them each a Fisher Price puppy that you use to learn body parts and Carson got a Lil' Zoomers race track, Emmy got a Little People doll house.  It was a lot of fun seeing them play with stuff and what each baby seemed to like the best.  I am amazed at how they've grown...Emilynn loves the doll house and flushes the toilet over and over.  She thinks it's funny because it makes noise.  Carson loves a Fisher Price gumball machine and he knows how to work it-he and I both clap each time he pushes the correct button to make a gumball come out (they are fake of course).  I will say that it has been a bit overwhelming with all the birthday and Christmas gifts at once.  I am very grateful for all of them, I'm just trying to put them away and organize them so the babies enjoy them all.  If they are all in a big pile they can't really get to them and don't know what to play with first and pieces get lost, etc.  I might be a touch OCD but I like to keep all the pieces together and organized.  I know, hard to believe I would say that...but it's true.   Oh, one of their favorite things is the Step 2 Doorway Playhouse Dustin & I gave them for their birthday.  Google it to see how cute it is!  They love it and play with it a lot.  They go back down the hall throughout the day to play with it and every child that has been here since we got it-no matter the age- loves it!  It's definitely worth the money and it is basically a "kiddie" door that fits into their doorway.  It makes their room like a big playhouse.  It has a working doorbell also which Carson LOVES to push.  A LOT!  You may want to leave the batteries out of that if you are easily annoyed, luckily I am not!  LOL>  What else did we get for Christmas from friends and family?  They each got a Little Tikes ridey-toy...Emmy's is the traditional beep-beep Cozy Coupe car, Carson's is a pick up truck which he loves.  Carson got a John Deere pedal tractor, Emmy got a Little Tikes kitchen.  They got a Laugh & Learn barn door which they loved-they can crawl in and out of it.  Lots of Little People stuff-which is funny.  Dustin says "It's the little people" in a real funny way.   Isn't it funny the sayings and phrases you come up with at home?  That other people would think you're nuts if they heard you?  They also got clothes, jammies, Carson got a workbench, Emmy a tea set, ornaments.....an activity table.  A lot of stuff.  The bigger items will probably be outside once it's warm-the ride ons, etc.  They got a lot of things they can kind of grow into, so that is nice since they won't really get gifts again till a year from now.  The only thing we plan to buy for them next year as far as toys go is a sandbox in the springtime. 
On another note, Dustin and I have decided they are hibernating till spring.  Seriously.  They have been fighting colds for over 3 weeks now and I am so tired of us all being sick.  I'm tired of hearing the coughing - it's pitiful.  It's been a pattern since fall- we get well, we go out, we get sick.  We have done that monthly since Sept.  It's really hard when they are sick because they just want to be held, they are cranky, and you just want to make them feel better.  I feel as though I'm constantly dispensing medicine, luckily they love it but still.  We are going to try to keep them at home as much as possible.  It's hard for me because I love taking them places-going to church as a family, out to eat, just anywhere.  I had hoped to get 1 year pics done this week, Carson a haircut (I don't mind postponing that one....not my idea!), and a trip to the Children's Museum.  We aren't doing any of that now...but that's okay.  I'll trade it for health.  I did want 1 year pics but I'll get over it.  We didn't get hospital pictures either and I'm okay with that.  Such as life....plans change.  So, we are home bound for quite a while.  Home's a good place to be though! 

One year check up

Just a quick update from our check up- Carson weighs 20 pounds, 15 ounces and is 28 inches long.  Emilynn weighs 20 pounds even (I think she carbo-loaded at cracker barrel before the appointment so she'd hit 20! haha) and is 30 inches long.  They are both really healthy overall.  I only remember 2 percentages...Carson is in the 10th percentile for his height and weight isn't much better.  He's a shortie.  He's really not that big for his age, even though it seems like it, I guess because Emmy's so skinny.  Emmy is in the 90th percentile for her height.  She is a tall girl! 
What we have to work on is weaning from the bottle and formula.  :-(  It's hard.  They say "ba-ba".  Milk is going okay for Carson, Emmy is hit or miss but we'll get there.  I know it needs to be done.  Carson's only issue is his eczema, it's gotten pretty bad lately.  Emilynn is fine except for her tear duct in one of her eyes is still messed up.  We are headed to a specialist for that.  I seriously don't know when I'd work if I was still working.  I feel like we are at a dr. once per week sometimes.  And we are healthy! 
The dr. is with me on the rear-facing car seats also.  I was kind of surprised because she brought it up to me,  and we are on the same page.  She recommends a minimum of 15 months rear facing. 
Today was a busy day-we had to run to Sam's club for Nanny and Marie.  Then we had lunch at Cracker Barrel.  We sat by the cutest older couple and the man came over to say how well behaved the babies were.  They actually were so good, they hardly made a peep.  Carson was grinning at the man and he kept rubbing Carson's head giving him a "noogie".  It was cute.  When they left Nicole was like "thank goodness, the pressure is off now. "  I was thinking the same thing!  LOL>  I didn't want them to misbehave after the nice compliment!  We also hit Target for a prescription-I forgot to mention Emilynn has her first ear infection!  Bummer....but glad we caught it cause she wasn't really acting sick.  A rite of passage I guess...first ear infection.  Carson's ear cleared up on it's own, so that was a praise!  Both babies got 2 shots and a TB test and we need to go for routine blood work but I can't handle that this week, maybe next week or the first week of Jan. 
Tonight we had dinner with Meme & Poppy and I must say, I'm tired.  Yesterday was busy with birthday stuff.....it was so nice though, it was casual and relaxed and we just had finger foods and people came and went when they wanted to.  Meme (my step-mom), Poppy (my dad), Papa (Dustin's Dad), Aunt Marie, Cousins Hunter R., Shelby, Kelsey, Hunter P, Aunt Nicole, Papa (my step-dad), Nannie (my mom), Big Nanny (my grandma), Patom (my grandpa), Aunt Amanda, Uncle Wayne all came by to see the babies for their big day.  It was a lot of fun. 
Tomorrow we are hopefully staying in and just relaxing at the house.  I have a few things I want to cook so hopefully I'll get that done but if I don't-no biggie. 
Dustin's grandmother (Nanny Bowlin) is in the hospital with some lung problems (she went in overnight)-so say a prayer for her.  Our family in general is having some health issues among our grandparents, the babies' great-grandparents so keep them all in mind during your prayers. 
I am off to bed...so tired from a very busy birthday week and long day. 

Happy First Birthday!

Happy First Birthday Carson & Emilynn!  I can't believe my babies are 1 year old today.  Boy times sure does fly!  We've gone from little 5 pound babies totally dependent on mom & dad to a big boy and girl that can crawl, climb, talk, laugh, and do just about anything they want to do.  They have opinions now, likes, dislikes, and are constantly keeping us on our toes.  You can almost see the changes daily in this first year!  We have a fun day planned with playing, an Elmo birthday DVD, a Sesame Street birthday song, more presents, food, and visits from family.  It should be fun and just a day to celebrate the twins!  Happy Birthday babies!!!!! 

1st Birthday Party!

We had the twins' first birthday party yesterday!  It was so much fun and really went well.  The babies did great (how much longer can I call them babies?).  We had a Pooh themed party with a Pooh cake that I made, two teeny Pooh smash cakes, and lots of Pooh decorations.  I had fun planning it, it was simple yet fun.  We had a pinata because I love them!  :-)  I think the kids liked that part and it was one of those pull-string ones (less violent than beating the pinata till it breaks I guess) and it actually worked.  I was impressed.  Carson & Emmy got lots of neat gifts.  As we were opening gifts I really just enjoyed seeing everyone's reactions to the babies' reactions.  You could tell everyone there really just loves them and sees joy in them.  I felt the same love at their dedication when we had all of our family together in the babies' honor.  I love those moments.  I guess it's easy for me to forget sometimes that while God blessed US with Carson & Emilynn to raise and love, they are loved by so many others and bring everyone such joy.  It's neat to see the world through a child's eye.  One of Emmy's favorite things was an Elmo card from Rawhide, Betty, and family.  She got so excited when we opened it.  Carson surprised us too, he got a whale teeter-totter from my grandparents.  He was possessive over that thing-he loves it!  He had the biggest smile on his face when he was on it.  I was actually glad to see him taking up for himself-he's usually so agreeable and lets Emmy get by with a lot!  ;)  Emilynn loved her smash cake-she ate almost all of it.  Carson hardly ate half and didn't get much on him at all.  I had predicted all of that.  It's so them.  All in all, we loved the party and had a blast.  It was so much fun and so neat to celebrate Carson & Emilynn.    They did get a little bit of a nap after the party but I think Em was on a sugar high, she didn't sleep long.  My friend Nicole and I opened all the toys while they were napping and put batteries in them and had them all arranged when they woke up.  Emilynn's mouth literally dropped in surprise when I brought her in the living room.  It was cute.  They played with everything and we had such a nice evening-Dustin, Carson, Emilynn and I just played and had a relaxed time.  None of us were hungry so we just played and snacked on leftovers whenever we wanted and kind of threw our schedule out the window for the night.  I can't think of a better day.  I've had the best year of my life being a mom.  To have a first birthday party for our twins is amazing to me when I reflect back on days when we didn't know if we'd ever get the chance to be parents.  We are so blessed it's overwhelming.  God is good.  He had dreams for us that we couldn't even imagine. 

Our busy day.....

Today was a very busy day...as I had predicted.  It started out normal enough, dropped Emmy off to play.  She was fully involved in playing about 2 seconds after we got there and never looked back for Momma. 
Carson & I headed to his appointment, which went really well.  Parking for his appointment, not so much.  It was insane there.  They had blocked off half the parking lot and so me and about 20 other cars were circling hoping to catch someone leaving to get their space.  I only had about ten extra minutes to spare, so I was a tad bit concerned we might be late.  One man jumped out of his truck and started screaming at a lady who wouldn't back up for him to leave the space.  I finally found a couple leaving and planned to take their space.  I had my blinker on and everything and here comes someone who thought they were going to steal it from me.  Well, the nice couple that was leaving threw their car back into reverse and gunned the engine-blocking the other SUV from getting the space till I could pull in!  They were my good samaritans for the day!!!  :-)  It pays to not get road rage!  I wasn't even losing my cool-we just kept singing our Christian music and I remained relatively calm-haha!  Anyway, what you really want to hear about-Carson's appointment went really well.  His thyroid levels are normal and he's doing great!  :-)  I knew all that but it's nice to hear it from a professional!  I have to say-I love that dr's practice.  They are SO NICE and they make over Carson like crazy.  Of course he eats it up and smiles and laughs at them.  It's cute.  A dr. we weren't even seeing came in to say "hi" and love on him.  They just truly seem to enjoy their jobs.  It makes all the difference in the world in the patient's care. 
We headed off to Chick-fil-a for lunch where I encountered my next crazy driver- someone broke in front of me in the drive-thru line!  Yes, you read that right.  Now, that really did annoy me-LOL.  It affected my food!  I am telling you all this because I truly can't get over how crazy people are acting right now.  I guess it's the impending snowfall plus holidays stressing people out, but if that's the case I think we all need to CHILL!  It was ridiculous.  We had 3 stops to make-Sam's Club, Target, and Walmart.  Carson did so good in Sam's Club that I for a minute thought about how much easier it was to take my kids places now and I had a glimmer of hope that I could take them to get groceries by myself now.  Well, after Target and Walmart that glimmer was gone.  He was done.  He wanted no more shopping and was very vocal about it at times.  He also dumped a whole bowl of puffs on the Walmart floor so I found a man with a broom to clean that up.  I was going to do it myself but he wouldn't let me.  He kept throwing off his hat and managed to get it under a car at Walmart....I had to go back and look for it.  Plus it's freezing outside so I look like a crazy mom with no cold weather gear on my child....because he's decided to throw it and deceive Momma.  I won't ever judge parents for not having their kids in proper attire-the kids just maybe have hidden stuff from them!  Anyway, we got home, collected Emilynn and Daddy and headed to Meme & Poppy's for weekly dinner.  We love our weekly dinners.  It is crazy, fun, LOUD, and just nice to enjoy some down time and visiting!  I'm so thankful we have such a close-knit big family!  All in all it was a nice day with some one on one time with Carson.  I always love one on one time with a baby.  It's really special and I think they sense that.  He was in such a good mood once we got to my Dad's.  He just laughed and played and was so silly!  He really does have Dustin's sense of humor....he's going to make us laugh a LOT!  :-) 

Food

Food is a major deal here right now.  We are in a transition phase where we are trying to go from baby food to "real" food and less formula.  It's not as easy as I thought it would be or hoped it would be.  But it's going well overall I guess.  What I can't figure out is why the babies will eat everything in baby food.  They've never turned anything down, and I must admit they've had some weird things.  With "real" food though, it's a whole new ball game.  Green beans for instance-they love green beans but seem to prefer them jarred rather than as finger foods.  I don't get it because they eat the organic baby food which has nothing whatsoever added to it.  It's all bland.  Carrots are the same way.  We are finally warming up to the green beans but it's a slow transition.  Bottles aren't going to be as hard as I thought to give up (hopefully).  They are depending on them less and less but the morning one is the one that is going to give us a problem I think.  Carson has started crying "ba-ba, ba-ba" from his crib when he wakes up.  It's the cutest thing ever.  I can hear him on the monitor. 
Oh, and Emmy's new trick- she gets down like she's going to do a flip over on the floor.  So, she has her legs up tall and her head down on the carpet....so her head is upside down.  And she just stays there a few seconds then gets up.  It's hilarious.  I have yet to be quick enough with the camera but my mom and aunt saw it tonight and they thought it was a hoot. 
Anyway, gotta go pack diaper bags for a busy day tomorrow.  Carson & I are headed to the pediatric endocrinologist and to get some last minute birthday party supplies, Emmy's headed to spend the day with her cousins so she'll have a ball playing with them.  We'll finish out the day with dinner at my Dad's. 

Here are the real foods both babies love:  yogurt (Yo-baby & Yo-toddler brand is what they love, any flavor....they will cry and beat the high chairs for it.  I guess that's a good thing), cheese, banana, macaroni & cheese, cheese quesadillas or grilled cheese.  Apparently most kids like cheese!   No veggies on the list...they do ok with green beans.  This is all stuff they feed themselves except the yogurt. 

Emmy likes carrots and green beans, and LOVES mashed potatoes, cake, rolls

Carson likes green beans OK and hasn't had mashed potatoes yet, doesn't like cake much. Rolls are okay.

I am still doing baby food for veggies till we get more variety we can feed ourselves.  I have sweet potatoes and butternut squash in the kitchen waiting to be cooked.  They like both jarred...we'll see how it goes in bites. 

We did it!

Emilynn and I went to church this morning and she made it through the entire service!  It was a "no-nursery" day!  :-)  I was so proud of her.  She was a really good girl!  I usually end up taking them out right before the sermon each week but my goal is always to have them in church the whole service.  I just think it's important from a young age.  Anyway, they must feed off of each other cause she was an angel without her brother. :)  Carson stayed home because he is still sick.  I took him to the dr. yesterday morning and he has a virus.  It just has to run it's course.  He has a cough, his throat is red, one ear is red but not infected yet.....I just hope everything gets better and doesn't go the other way, towards infection.  This week is a big week for them-their party is Saturday!  I really want two well babies for that! 
In other news-I finally have a tree up!  It is only 3 foot tall and on our island, but it is a tree.  Carson watched me work on it while Emmy was finishing up her nap.  It has been a really nice weekend even though Carson was sick because I got lots of alone time with each baby.  Carson spent time with me Saturday when I carried him to the doctor and we went in Target to get more medicine afterwards.  Emmy and I went to church and lunch afterwards today.  She ate like a big girl at lunch- she had mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green beans, cheese, roll, and cake!   It's so neat to watch them eating now.  It is very messy though, they like to feed themselves....we are getting so independent! 
Well, I'm rambling so I'm off of here.  Gonna go put up our nativity scene.  We have another busy week ahead with Alyssa's school play (she has a speaking part, should be fun to watch), Sunday School Christmas dinner, and a dr.'s appointment with Carson's pediatric endocrinologist.  Between all that I have to make food for the birthday party, mainly the cake, wrap Christmas gifts, wrap birthday gifts, etc.etc.etc.....  Lots to do but lots of fun stuff going on!

Pictures with Santa, etc.

Pictures with Santa.....did not happen!  We didn't get to go. :(  Bummer...I know.  Maybe next year cause it doesn't look like we're going to see him anywhere this year but I'm okay with that.  I certainly don't want to go to the mall to see him so we just won't have pics.  What happened?    We got sick.  Again.  Me & the kids this time.  Carson is still not well, he has a lingering cough I'm keeping a close watch on.  Emmy's better except runny nose.  I am better too.  This is I think...our 4th or 5th set of colds this year.  Urrgghhh..... I think we'll stay home till April!   I am hoping we'll all be 100 % for our big first birthday party next weekend.  I'm praying anyway! 
This has been a busy week though for me, tonight is parade night!  Our Relay for Life team made a float to promote the Relay and we are riding in the parade tonight.  Dustin is keeping the kids at home, so he hasn't even seen the float.  But, they will be right where they need to be.  I had hoped they could ride in the heated vehicle to be a part of the parade but it's just going to be easier to keep them at home.  We have worked hard on our float (esp. Dad) and I am excited about it.  I am not excited about how cold it's going to be, but that is okay.  It's for a good cause and maybe we'll get a few interested people from it.  People with cancer have it a gazillion times worse than riding in a cold parade so we won't complain.  We are blessed to be doing it!  :- )  That has pretty much taken up the whole week.....we are just trying to stay home and get well otherwise. 

This is too funny not to share....

I almost forgot...since we are going to see Santa, my little sister Alyssa made a Santa list.  She is 7.  She is very funny and whitty (not sure how to spell that) and Emilynn is SO MUCH like her and looks a lot like her.  We are in for an adventure!!  Anyway, on her list was......drumroll........."STAK".  As in "STEAK".   Steak that you eat.  Isn't that hilarious?  In kindergarten she did a worksheet and put her favorite food as "ribs".  The girl likes her beef....what can we say?  Can you tell our family likes to eat well?  :-)  Haha......
I thought that was something....and so Alyssa. 
P.S. A sister zapper was also on her list.  I won't say which sister she wanted to zap.  They were named though.... :-) 

Another Crazy Week....

Okay, another week is gone and I haven't blogged much.  I am going to try to do better....it's just been something going on all week!  I guess tis the season.  I can't believe Christmas is almost here!  I am excited about the twins' first birthday too!!!!  I can't believe they are almost a year!  They are so funny these days.  We are working on new words and I can only manage to focus on one word with one baby at a time.  It takes a little bit and then I move on to the next one.  So far, Emilynn says Da-Da, ba-ba (bottle), and she will sometimes say mama but not much yet.  She also is working on Bubba for her brother.  It's a variation of ba-ba but oh so cute.  She talks all the time!  It is so funny because she gives us earfuls all the time but you have no idea what she is saying.  She's very determined too, she repeats the same crazy stuff to us like "why aren't yall getting this?".   Carson says da-da and ma-ma.  He loves to say mama and says it all the time!  Of course....I just eat that up!!!  That's as far as we've gotten with words.  Emmy did say 'Uh-oh' tonight after I said it but I couldn't get her to do it anymore.  Carson is a man of few words and I'm not surprised.  He will talk when he's ready. 
Independence is a big thing right now too.  Carson had gotten where he didn't want me feeding him his baby food anymore.  Both babies would rather feed themselves finger foods than have me feed them.  He was pushing away the spoon and throwing a fit.  I decided to put his food on a spoon and give it to him and that was the end of our fighting at meals.  He loved trying to do it himself.  He of course missed his mouth mostly, but after that first time, I just give him an empty spoon and inbetween me feeding him, he just puts the spoon in his mouth to pretend to feed himself.  It's cute and he hasn't balked me anymore with feedings.  Emilynn is happy to have me feed her.  I am glad because honestly, the world isn't ready for Emilynn with a spoon! 
Carson also refuses to wear a bib anymore.  He ribs it off every time.  He is a fairly neat eater though, so it's not a big deal. 
We also tried to get Christmas pictures this week.  I don't know if we got any but I made a decision after we did pictures.  I don't think we are putting up a big Christmas tree.  I will probably do one or two small ones that can fit on the island or table.  My children demolished Meme's Christmas tree in record time!  Ornaments were flying and ornament hooks were flying and I was scared they were going to swallow something they shouldn't and I decided at that moment to save myself a lot of stress and not put up the big tree.  It just isn't worth it if I am going to be stressed and worried about them the whole time.  I had already planned to gate it off, but they can turn the gate over sometimes.  I love the Christmas tree and leave it up for a while (past New Year's anyway and I am not superstitious about that at all) but maybe next year.......
In the meantime our calendar is full of Christmas activities!   We are going to see Santa Claus tomorrow, we have the church cantata Sunday, Relay for Life Christmas dinner Sunday, Christmas Parade Friday, Christmas plays at several churches we might try to make....it's a fun time of year!!!  We have also been riding to look at lights-one of my favorite things.  We bundle the babies up in jammies and away we go. 
Hope everyone is enjoying this magical time!  :-)  And remember Jesus is the reason for the season!!!