No Better Snow Day

It has been snowing all day long. There is no way to spend a snow day then going outside to play in it. I of course didn't get to enjoy that today but miss Payton did. We had seen the weather report and was hoping that it would snow before Mitch went back to work. Payton was excited from the minute she woke up until Mitch finally took her outside to play. They got all bundled up and ready to embrace this beautiful winter day. They had a great time playing in the snow.
We even had a great surprise, before Mitch had even made it outside our neighbor's boys were shoveling our driveway. We have some of the greatest neighbors you could ask for. Within the last 24 hours our driveway has been shoveled 3 times and none of them done by Mitch. Once was done yesterday and then twice today. We are so grateful for such wonderful neighbors.
Payton enjoyed hot chocolate this afternoon after her snow adventure. She loved it, and even left half of it on her face. She also showed us her new way of feeding her baby. She wanted to feed them like as she said"I feed my babies like you feed the babies". It was hysterical!

look at my muscles

father daughter playtime
ready to go

after making snow angels

Daddy pulling Payton in the snow

after drinking hot chocolate to warm up

Payton feeding her baby( the newest method she has learned)

2010 Ending

We had an excellent ending to the year 2010. We made it through Christmas, which we were hoping to do before the boys arrived. The week after on 12-28 we had our 35 week check up. We left the doctors office with our c-section scheduled for the next day at noon. My OB had concern because the boys were both breach, that if my water broke that either umbilical cord would prolapse and give major threat to the boys. Due to that worry I was to be admitted that night. We had to head home and get our hospital bags and eat dinner and head up to the hospital. I was so excited to have the end in site. We got settled in and I got hooked up to all the monitors. Mitch and I tried to get some sleep and I showed not a lot of action that night having minimal contractions through the night.

Due to the great news that I didn't contract much they decided to cancel my section. They decided that I was in a safe place since I was in the hospital and if I wasn't going to contract very much then the boys were better off staying in as long as possible. I was needless to say devastated and upset. My contractions started up at 9:30 and they said unless they got hard enough to start true labor I wouldn't be having my section until there was another sign they should come out.
With that said the boys didn't like that option. My labor continued throughout the day and got more intense. That evening a specialist Dr. came to see me who makes decisions on when preemie babies should be taken if it is better for them out of the whom. Once he finally came to see me I was dilated to a 4 and 80% ephased. He said" Ok, we will be taking you back and have the babies out in the next 30 minutes". I was in love at that very moment, he instantly became my favorite person in the world.
Everything during the section went smoothly. We only got to see the boys for a split second before they took them away into the NICU to be checked out thoroughly since they were so early. Cooper came out first and came at 10:18pm and was 6lbs. 11 oz and 18.5inces long. Cohen was next and came out at 10:20pm. and was 6lbs. 11oz. and 19inces long. They shocked all the nursing and Dr. staff. They didn't need any oxygen or help with anything. They spent the night back with the NICU staff until the next morning. They came wheeling into my room at 9:30 the next morning. They looked beautiful and I was so excited they got to come out and stay in our room. They kept up their body temperature and all vitals looked perfect. ( I thought they would be perfect in every way)
We got started right away with breast feeding and again another surprise, they did great. Babies at 35 weeks usually don't do any of these things.

night before the c-section a bare belly shot before the section
proud parents waiting patienly

our precious angels!
first time holding our boys first time holding our boys Mitch and Payton admiring the babies my big baby girl and her momma Now I have 3 of the most amazing boys in the world. Cooper on bottom and Cohen on top momma's boys
Daddy's too Thank you to all who have kept us in our prayers and we were blessed with these two wonderful baby boys. God has blessed us with these miracles of life. We are adjusting to our new way of life and new schedule. It is a little overwhelming but we are figuring it out along the way.

The Adventurous Christmas Week

We enjoyed a wonderful fun filled week of Christmas. We started with celebrating Christmas with Mitch's family the Saturday before Christmas. We opened presents at their house and ate dinner. We watched a Tinkerbell movie, of course was Payton's choice. Payton was Santa's helper and handed out all the presents with Uncle Sean. The tradition of opening presents at their house is opening in order from youngest to oldest. Payton obviously got to open all of her presents first. Next year I don't think she is going to be as excited when her brothers get to go first.

Mitch and I

last Christmas pic of only the 3 0f us
watching the Tinkerbell movie

Payton opening her jewelry box

I got my handle bar tray for my BOB!

Payton listening to her V-reader she got

The next day Sunday we went to church as normal and then came home for only about 1 hour or so. I had been having some back pains, which turned out to be contractions. By the time we got home they were about 10 minutes apart. After we called the doctor on call they told us to go to the hospital. Once we were there I got hooked up to the machines and the contractions turned into about 3 minutes apart. They tried 2 methods to stop them but they didn't work. So the last result was Magnesium Sulfate. They let that run into your body for a minimum of 24 hours. That wasn't started until 7pm. Along with that drug they gave me my first dose of steroids to help with the babies lungs. Then Monday night they stopped my magnesium and let me go through the night and see how I did on my own. I made it through the night well but they started up strong the next morning. So I bought myself another 24 of magnesium and night in the hospital. That also got me to get my second dose of steroids, which they give 48 hours apart. That is the most they can do for the boys while they are still cookin. I finally got to go home Thursday morning. My contractions continued to come and go but weren't strong enough to send me into complete labor. Since there are 2 babies and my uterus is huge, they said they aren't probably going to stop. So if things got worse or my water brakes then I am to go back in. I was hoping to get through Christmas which we did!!!

Payton seeing what Santa brought her

She got a chest of dress up clothes, look a pretty princess

Christmas morning all together

After our Christmas at home, on Christmas day we went to my parents for the day. The girls had a great time opening all of their presents together and playing with their new toys. They had tons of boxes to open and they through them so fast. We all watched Toy Story 3 together and enjoyed a great Christmas dinner. We got the pleasure of having my grandparents spend the holiday with us. They have been here this winter even though they are usually in Arizona. They have stayed in town to help us since I am so pregnant and now on bed rest. They have been our saving grace, we are so grateful, words can not explain how grateful.

Payton before going to Nana and Papa Jim on Christmas day.

the girls waiting for their presents

mema and poppop getting their stocking bags

dressing up again the minute we got home from Nana and Papa Jim's

First Build-A-Bear trip

We started a tradition you might say when Payton was born. A couple of weeks before we had her Mitch and I went to Build-A-Bear and made her first stuffed animal and got to put in it's heart and make a wish. We thought we would make this a tradition and do the same thing for the boys. We let Payton help pick the animals, name them, and help stuff them. In doing this of course hadn't thought it through and then also had to let her make her own animal to keep and play with. She wasn't real fond of the idea of making 2 animals and not getting to play with them. We let her help make one for each of the boys and then she got to pick one that she wanted also. We had to help guide her away from the pink peace bear for the boys. She did great and had a ton of fun. She also got to ride the merry-go-ride because when we should up to the mall the store wasn't open yet and she found this while we were waiting. It was a great morning and I am sure her brothers will appreciate all her help.(someday)

Payton and Mitch on the merry-go-round

stuffing all the animals
washing and scrubbing all the animals

getting the animal birth certificates made

Visiting Santa

We went to visit Santa pretty early this year. We wanted to make sure that I got to participate in the event. Payton is at the age when I wasn't sure how she was going to react to seeing Santa. We saw some kids in front of us crying and scared of Santa and some did just fine sitting on his lap. We were getting closer and closer to it being our turn, Payton didn't even want to stay in line. Surprising a 2 year doesn't want to hold still. Once we approached Santa and it was finally her turn Mitch set her down and she ran and JUMPED into his arms. I am glad he had quick hands to grab her before she landed on the ground. She sat very well on his lap and looked right at me for a picture, luckily I had quick hands to because it only lasted for about 45 seconds and then she was ready to get down and move onto the next adventure. For her that was seeing the fish in the fish tank at the Bass Pro Shop. That is one of her favorite things to do with her daddy is getting to see the fish tank and the huge fish. The things that keep a little girl happy!

Payton before we left to see Santa

look at the really cool train

Payton on Santa's lap

8 Months and Counting

We are getting closer and closer. I am happy to say the boys are doing wonderful. We are officially past our 32 week mark. I am so blessed that they have been doing so well and I have been blessed for not having to be put on permanent bed rest. Thanks to baby boy A who is still breech, because of this he isn't putting pressure to make his way out, that has kept me off bed rest. They boys as of last week were measuring 3lbs. 15oz and 3lbs. 13oz. They are growing well and staying where they belong. I have been resting well, since I really can't stand for long anyways because of all the pressure on my lower back. My belly is so much heavier with 2 of them in there.
We now have less than 5 weeks left. We are crossing our fingers that we make it through Christmas. It would be nicer to have their birthday's after the holidays. I will be having a c-section for sure if baby A doesn't flip around. That would put me in the hospital longer, for 4 days instead of 2. That hopefully would mean all 3 of us would get to go home together. That is my ultimate wish, that they come out healthy and we all can go home together and not have to leave anyone behind.
I am still going in for check ups twice a week. The moment something changes or if they look stressed, or my pressure starts to creep up like it did with Payton, they will be taken out. So now we are just on a week by week basis and we will see when it is their time to come. I have been nervous about a c-section but am starting to warm up to the idea. I would still prefer natural but every one's health is most important. We even hung up each of their stocking just in case they make it here before Christmas.

32 weeks (8 months)

Can you tell how much weight I have gained?

by request an actual belly picture, yes I know it's huge.

Grammie and Papa Phil Fun

We celebrated Thanksgiving with Mitch's parents the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I of course am just now getting around to blogging about it. Well, better late than never. We spent the afternoon at their house and had a wonderfully prepared Thanksgiving dinner, thanks to Grammie. It was nice and relaxing and then we all got to enjoy watching Tarzan while letting our food settle. I am sure that was the highlight of Payton's evening.

Payton with Grammie and Papa Phil

Daddy's girl all the way
Payton deciding she was done taking pictures. Nice family pic.

Last weekend Grammie and Papa Phil came over to babysit and have a fun filled night with Payton. Mitch and I went to an Ugly sweater Christmas party. I had a hard time fitting into sweaters at this point. So thanks to my husbands creativity we had Grammie draw a snowman head on one of Mitch's white t-shirts. Mitch thought it would be funny to paint my stomach white and paint a face on it. The t-shirt worked out much better for me. We had a good time getting to visit with some of our friends. While we were gone Payton got to punch out sugar cookies and decorate them with Grammie and Papa. They brought over all the fun stuff and made a big mess but enjoyed every minute. I have to admit they taste great too, they did a great job.

Payton modeling the sweater that doesn't fit me.

our look for the night

Payton hard at work following Grammie's directions(most of the time)

Sharing bits with the head baker