Halloween

Halloween subway art:  Perhaps I'm not the most talented graphic designer but I do enjoy playing with anything that allows me to be artistic enjoy!

Crazy lady Update

So another couple weeks have passed and our boys are now SEVEN Months! It seems just as shocking each month... For reals I just can't get over it!! They had a baby well check up last week that didn't really go as well as I would have hoped. Tristan is gaining weight but very slowly and is still 9 pounds Atti, also did not gain as much weight as the Dr. would have liked. I FEEL LIKE A FAILURE!! I felt so bad like I had to some how justify why my kids are little twerps!!! and to be honest I didn't have an answer!! I feed them as much as they like when they like!! and Tristan is gobbling down baby food like a maniac!! so whats a girl (mom) to do?!! so needless to say they will now be having weight checks every few weeks... AWESOME!!!

The last couple weeks have been "Frustrating Mom" weeks. My kids are really cranky and cry all the time (teething.. perpetually pissed off I haven't decided) unless I hold them.. and having twins is starting to become more challenging. Its not like I can just sit and hold them both and stop the wailing its a "I am sick of you (other brother) I want JUST my mom and want to snuggle and be rocked ALONE!!" . I totally thought I had this twin thing down.. and I am getting a nice BIG FAT JUICY slice of humble pie. Which is why it drives me crazy when every lady in the grocery store, department store Dr. office, etc. comes up to me and says "OMG like I totally wish I had twins!" I really just feel like handing them over and saying here, I help you fix that problem:) OK not really but seriously it really makes my jaw drop every time some crazy lady comes up to me while both my kids are screaming and I am trying to juggle the cart both crying babies and rush out of the store and and someone says this to me?!!
along with this crazy statement something about seeing twins really makes people loose their common sense here are a few of my favorite things people say to me in public

"are they twins?" (this happens EVERY time I'm in public) I have started saying no.

"are they identical?" I say yes and then they ask "is it a boy and a girl" REALLY people?! So I say yes.

"do they like eachother" I dunno ask them.

"how do you do it" (stupid question)... Um.. I seriously considered giving one up for adoption, its still in debate.

"well if they are identical why are they different sizes" :One's a midget

ok ok so realistically I am super nice answer everything with a smile and give honest answers but REALLY people If I was a little more balzy I really would answer with the previous.

Ok.. so its probably wise I end this post now, but that is the honest truth about how the last couple weeks have been sorry for the dramatics!!!

Tristan

Tristan Atti Exactly 7 months

as you can sorta see tristan is quite unhappy and atti is asleep.. go figure

Ps.. I really do love my children and wouldn't have my life any other way!!  but I would be a liar if I said everything was a tea party with crumpets all the time!

Going Private

Going private, not something I had initially planned on doing but due to Devin's new job it is necessary that we keep as much of our personal lives private. Any who better safe than sorry! Devin is however loving his new job and doing very well so far!

The last two weeks for the boys have been very monumental, Tristan got very sick  last Monday and had to be taken to the E.R. He has a hernia and a birth defect that will be corrected around his first birthday that makes him more prone to infections and such, any how he contracted a pretty bad testicle infection that required a sonogram and a couple hours in the hospital and a round of antibiotics. Its really hard to see your baby so upset and sick and feel so helpless luckily he is doing so much better!, unfortunately however this happened the first day after my health coverage ended with Wells Fargo and in a two week window before Devin's health benefits kick in!! Really SUCKY!! we had just gotten all our medical bills paid off from the NICU C-section etc. but hey what can you do about it.

Tristan has however made some really great strides in growth and developmental progress! he can now roll from is back to his tummy (atti has been doing this for almost a month now) the next step is crawling which neither have done yet and I'm not gonna lie.. I hope they don't for a while!! its gonna get crazy when they are crawling all over the place!!



Tristan eating his first sweet potatoes



He also started eating baby food and were not talking a couple bites here and there we are talking SLAMMING several jars a day!! he has never been the best nurser so I figured that baby food would be more his thing and it surely is he LOVES it!!! Atti however thinks it is the most disgusting thing ever!!

That is pretty much it for US!



the boys hanging out one morning





Tristan pulling on Atti's shirt





Atti likes to lay on his boppy and suck his thumb

just a few 6 month old pics

Atti is starting to roll around A LOT!! and is making small attempts at crawling here he is caught in the act!

6 Months old already?!

6 MONTHS!

Our boys are six months old!! every little piece of their lives has just flown by, they are such sweet babies and they are so full of personality here is a little bio of each

Atticus:

we mostly call him Atti

he loves to play with his toes

very talkative ans squeals like a little girl!

Loves his brother Tristan and prefers to sleep in his bed and be by his side as much as possible and if he is next to him they link arms (possibly the cutest thing I have ever seen)

He hates baby food

loves to swim

quite the mommas boy

quite the snuggler will hold on to your neck and suck his thumb for a long time especially if he is sleepy.

loves blankets and covers his face while sucking his thumb when he sleeps

he is quite a happy camper most the time!

Tristan

Nick names are: Tristy or Tristy boy

He sucks his right pointer and middle fingers (atti sucks his left thumb) and can be found with his fingers in his mouth pretty much all the time!

loves the pool

he doesn't especially love baby food either but does like chocolate shakes

has a BIG temper.. if I pick his nose or lotion his face or brush his hair... he loses it and his face turns bright red but as soon as I quit he is fine!

he loves to snuggle in his blankets and be swaddled he especially loves to sleep on his side suck his fingers and cover his face with his other hand its really funny

he is not as fond of atti, gets ticked if atti is in his bed, or if atti is touching him too much and will grunt and squeal at him it quite hilarious.

that is pretty much it!! they are so funny and so full of personality!! we just love them!

Me and my husband have been married nearly two years and have been without a table the entire time.. I wanted so bad to buy a table dirt cheap and re-paint it myself!! So when I was 7 months pregnant we finally bought a table! but being rather pregnant and on bed rest you can imagine the redoing process would have to wait.This "project" has turned into quite the ordeal. My husband and my father in law have tried very hard to take over "MY" project I have finally succeed and finished it!! not without some help.. which I am thankful for.. (my husband truly thought I was joking about doing it myself and thought I would be thrilled if he and his father finished it without me knowing...that idea ended poorly...) any way ITS DONE!! and I'm happy to say I really did quite enjoy this project and I can't wait to start the next!It was originally terrible stained with about three coats of gunk and we stripped it about three times before painting it with Black Valspar gloss and then I sealed it with three coats of polyurethane. here are the before and afters

Before:After:

It also came with six chairs but they were falling apart and not worth the time, so for now we have some very classy folding chairs. I re covered the seats to make them a little better.

Couponing Failure

I STINK!!! not literally but when it comes to couponing I am terrible, I started watching Extreme Couponing and decided HEY why not get a news paper subscription for 4 Sunday papers every week?!! WORST IDEA OF MY LIFE!! I tried to make it happen I price matched, I clipped coupons every week, I organized them and did EVERYTHING those crazy Lady's and that one weird guy with all the toothpaste did on that show and bottom line... If your store does not double.. IT IS NOT WORTH IT!! SO for all you lucky folk out there who have stores that double GOOD FOR YOU! (I'm highly jealous) but I am OFFICIALLY a FAILURE when it comes to coupons!!

I COOK?

Um.. It was good?!

I COOK??!!
so as some of you may already know, I LOVE to cook. Almost every good childhood memory (more than I can count) revolves around good food and cooking! My mother is the Queen of cooking and I have taken it upon myself to tackle some of her most notable recipes and incorporate them into my family traditions and new memories. I also like to try new things and re create some of my favorite dishes from some of my favorite restaurants!! So to kick it off here is an awesome recipe I stole from Jessica Hays featuring this AMAZING Cilantro Sauce ENJOY!!

the recipe by no means takes a genius but its DANG good and I doubt you'll ever make Mexican food without it!!

1cup ranch

1cup salsa Verde

1bunch cilantro

splash of lime

WARNING Bosch Snob Moment: Blend in Bosch Blender to perfection and WHA LA

MOST DELICIOUS.. seriously had to stop myself from drinking it straight!!!

this meal was super fast, I heated up some fajita chicken from Costco, made some rice added some lime, salt and cilantro, and put together all our favorite fixings as well as blended up some rather tasty Root beer floats in my Bosch and we ate until our hearts were content!!

Summer Lovin

Wiped out after all the Easter Festivites

Me and my little "Tristy Man"


Devin and his boys... aww aren't they all just so cute?!

Our Easter family! crazy to think that we went from 2-4 in 2 minuets.. we sure do love our new little family :)

Last Friday the 1st was my LAST DAY!!!! on top of my last day going um less than smooth I am so glad to be done!!! Devin also finished his last day at his security job and we kicked our celebration off by going to Phoenix! Saturday we spent at my little hottie Grandmother Bethanne's house where we had some awesome food and hung out with my family and my Aunt Lisa and her family, as well as my great Aunt Molly and Uncle Tony who came all the way from Tennessee.

Sunday we went to church with my brother Bryson and his wife Kassidy as well as my parents and brothers and sisters. After wards we were heathens and went to Peter Piper Pizza. It was a good day since we got to hang out with my family but our little boys were rather uncooperative to say the least. Lets just say no nap plus 100+ degree weather would make anyone cranky!!

We stayed the entire weekend with Matt and Jessica Hays. They have Four kids three boys and an adorable little girl who kept us laughing all weekend! Jessica is an incredible host, she cooked some incredible meals and it was fun to catch up and chat!! On Monday Bryson and Kassidy came over we had some awesome Mexican food and went swimming which the boys actually enjoyed this time. We then set off our own fireworks in their neighborhood that night. It was a great trip to say the least!


I also found our camera!!! so here are some over due photos from easter!!

5 Months Old?!!

Tristan and Grandma Laura
Atti boy and Devin



Tristan... poop face:)







Both The Boys Atti is helping a brother out and picking Tristans' nose

Our boys are FIVE MONTHS OLD!! I still am completley baffeled by this?!! Its so crazy to think that a year ago from this very moment I was pregnant with twins and completely oblivious!!! Its incredible how much your life can change in just one short year!!

Just a small update on the boys they are laughing which I love and they went to the dr. monday and Atticus weighed 11.1oz and Tristn weighed 9.0oz. man I love my boys!! Here are a few pictures from their first swim at Grandma Laura's house and some others as well:)!

Oh and Im down to only days of work left before I get to stay at home with my boys!!! I can hardly wait!!

family photo shoot by Ashlie Hilton

New Happenings

Its been far too long since I last posted but I've been rather busy. s I can officially stop working July 1st. AHH!!! I am soo excited. Its been a great blessing to have had my bank job, and even better that it was able to work with my schedule, but lets face it I would much rather be at home with my boys.
Our little boys are getting big but are still pretty little. They are going to be 5 months old this month!! its so crazy how the time has just flown by. Atticus is now 10 pounds and Tristan is now 8. Its crazy to think that they are still the size of some newborn babies at 5 months!! They are starting to smile a lot now and are so close to laughing. Its so cute when the smile and "talk" Atticus especially likes to jabber, he has a fondness for classical and church music and gets excited and talkative whenever he hears any. Tristan is a funny little guy he lays on one side of his head and no matter how many times I go in and turn him or put blankets behind him so she doesn't lay on it he finds a way around my contraptions and the back of his head is flat as a board... so He will most likely be getting a helmet..He already kicks his pants socks and anything near him off when he is mad.. so we will see how well he does with a big old helmet strapped to his head. I really cant express how wonderful being a mom is, it probably helps that I have really good babies, they have been sleeping through the night for about 2 months now (if you haven't read "baby wise" you should). which lets face it makes a huge difference and luckily even though I have been working I have still been able to keep breastfeeding them both without supplementing formula, this personally has been the greatest achievement because I know I am incredibly lucky to be able to provide for not only one but two babies. They both contiue to grow and learn and its so incredible to watch this amazing process I love them so much and couldn't be more grateful for the beautiful family and life that I have been blessed with.

Conference Weekend

A nice brotherly conference nap

every now and then Atticus finds his thumb and goes to town!

Devin with the boys on their blessing day The Twin gravitational pull

I LOVE CONFERENCE WEEKEND!!! thinking about conference six months ago things were so different. I was living in a different appartment scattered all over our living room floor with string, needles, and fabric all over the place five months pregnant! sewing the crib bedding for the two beautiful boys I am now holding today. Life is good:)

our lives

atticus

blessing day

Tristan and Atticus

Tristan

Atticus

Life... I started back to work last week... Soo sooo sad, I had worked at Wells Fargo as a teller before I was put on "bed rest" 9 weeks into my pregnancy. Luckily my benefits covered me the entire pregnancy and when Devin lost his job at Wells Fargo in January and all the medical bills began to pile up my plans of being a stay at home mom changed. Unfortunately Tristan still has some lingering medical problems and we can not afford to be without benefits. I can't lie it is hard to walk out the door 4-5 days a week for several hours knowing my husband has worked all night and is tired or rely on one of our mothers to watch them, I know that they will be OK and the people taking care of them love them and that they are always well cared for. But when it comes to being a mother it really feels like no one could possibly do the same job that you do.. so it sucks.
They boys are growing like crazy! Tristan has finally reached six pounds which seems crazy for a 2 1/2 month old but when you start at 3.7 pounds its pretty excellent!! Atticus is also over 8 pounds.. it feels like every moment of their lives has flown past I wish I had a pause button!! Tristan had a dr. appt last week where he had a series of ultra sounds, and he has a pretty bad hernia and has some fluid in his right kidney, a hydroseal in his right testicle as well as some other plumbing problems he was born with that will require surgery when he is 8-12 months old. The hernia may be fixed at that that time or sooner depending on how bad it really is. The fluid in his kidney is from what the dr thinks is reflux, which means when he uriniates some of the urine is refluxing back into the kidney. The dr. said it did not look very serious if it was he would not be thriving, however it can cause greater chance of infection and could potentially damage his kidney if it gets any worse. They hydro seal is fluid trapped in the testicle/abdomen and should absolve on its own. Tristan will see a pediatric urologist here in town next Friday and they should be able to give us some time frame as to when the hernia needs to be fixed as well as his other issues, and they will run a test to see how much he is refluxing to determine how bad it is and if some intervention needs to take place.

The were also blessed this past Sunday it was wonderful!

That's pretty much it as far as our lives go.
oh and the boys are now sleeping 6-7 hours straight at night!

Picture Update

Life with the boys

So both of my boys are finally home!! Atticus was discharged Valentines day, it was wonderful to bring him home and just snuggle and hang out at home for a change instead of the hospital, it was also bitter sweet leaving Tristan behind, luckily he was able to come home only 2 days later on the 16th. Having just one baby home first was a nice little transition. Both of the boys have now been home two weeks and its crazy how fast the time has flown by. As much as I wish the boys could have come home with me right after they were born the three weeks they spent in the NICU were really beneficial for me as a new mother. The way the NICU is set up really caters to helping teach parents how to take care of your new baby, everything from CPR classes, to lactation specialists you name it I was taught so many valuable things while they were their that have made having two babies home so much easier. It was like having a three week trial run of being a mom, before I was on my own. Both of the boys are doing wonderful gaining weight and eating like little piglets, I spend most of my time nursing and have to say its such a special experience to share with my boys, although tandem nursing is more time effective, I prefer to do each one at a time, this gives me special one on one time with each of the boys that otherwise I would miss out on. They are so beautiful and sweet, and really are good babies. For having two babies at home I am surprised at the amount of sleep I am able to manage each day. I am able to get about six hours a night between feeding and burping them and a little nap during the day if I want so I really have nothing to complain about.

Because they are preemies I was told by several dr.'s not to take them out in public at all until RSV season is over so we have not been out and about and have been cautious about taking them around to show them off to family and such. We have had a few visits with family that were great, and it will be nice when they are a little bigger and this season is over and I don't have to hide out with them in my apartment. But for now keeping them healthy is much more important.

As far as personalities go they are both so different, Tristan is much more patient but has a little bit of a grumpy old man attitude at times its so hard not to laugh some times when he starts grunting and making his "angry" face this is probably horrible for me to say but he looks just like Uncle Arnold (Archie MacGregor) from how to lose a guy in 10 days when he gets upset, he even farts like Uncle Arnold too, so he has sort of earned himself the nick name. Atticus is much sassier and is not as patient, especially when he's hungry. They both are very fond of each other however, after months of them beating each other up while in my tummy I thought for sure they would come out punching and kicking, but this is NOT the case. Atticus will not sleep in his crib unless he sees Tristan laying next to him, Every time I lay him down he opens his eyes to peak and see if Tristan is there, more often than not once he as established Tristan is there he will fall right to sleep. I have them in the same crib right now and I put them on opposite ends but they gravitate towards each other and stretch their arms out to touch each other its the sweetest thing. I went in to check on them last night only to find Atticus holding in Tristan's pasfiar for him and their arms were inter locked, it was so cute. I am really taking in all these sweet moments before they get bigger and start beating on each other once more!

On a sad note, I must return to work... Its something I have gone back and forth with for a few months now and due to finances and the fact that our insurance is through my bank job I really have no choice. Luckily I will only have to work 2 or three days a week 20 hours max and Devin works nights so he will be with the boys during that time. Its sad but hopefully it will only be for a short time.

THEY ARE HERE

Tristan and Atticus Tristan had ripped out his feeding tube so he has a red mark on his cheek from the tape... poor little guy! first time after a week apart co-bedding

Tristan and Atticus snuggling in their bed

Tristan Atticus 2 weeks old already!!!

Baby Shower

Atticus first time he successfully breastfed 6 days old :)

So several weeks have now passed and I have quite a bit of catching up to do. First I just have to say thank you to everyone who came to my baby-shower!! So many people came and with not a lot of notice! We received tons a gifts and it was good to just be around so many good friends and family! thanks everyone!!

Friday the 21 Sonogram:

Well just like everything else in my pregnancy what happened at my sonogram I could never have predicted. Two weeks prior to this sonogram Tristan had taken a two week break from growing which put all my Dr's in a frenzy scheduling sonograms and C-sections, adding NST (non stress tests) to my already weekly slew of NST's and just putting me and everyone one else on edge about when these boys would be arriving. So this sonogram would be the determining factor of weather or not my Dr. would go through with my C-section the next day. Results??: Tristan measured a near 2 pound growth in just two short weeks.. Yes Shocking but it gets weirder Atticus was now showing no growth in the last two weeks... So after several Dr.s and Techs came in and re-scanned and re-checked the sonogram and realized it was not a mechanical error that the results really were the truth I really didn't know what to expect.. and I was thinking I'd probably get sent home for another two weeks. Fortunately my Dr. had mercy and after telling her I had already been showing signs of labor and unfortunately toxemia she decided that everyone had had enough of this "growth non growth" nonsense and it was just time to pull the plug.

D-or should I say C-day

So C-section was scheduled for 7:30 am.  meaning I had to be at the hospital by 5:00. So I set my alarm for four, I woke up went potty decided I still had time and laid back down and hit the snooze, before the alarm could even go off MY WATER BROKE... AT this point I have water gushing every wear and I'm telling Devin to hurry and get out of bed before he gets soaked (too late..)!! and he grabs me a towel I hobble to the bathroom completely drenched and sit on the toilet.. Where I start laughing hysterically because I honestly should have known this would happen! My mom comes in and is frantic (we had been staying at my parents house so my mom could help me while on bed rest) and she starts telling me to quit laughing and hurry because my contractions (which weren't really hurting at this point) were going to start hurting and fast! luckily Devin had packed the car the night before so I just changed my clothes and got in the car. My mom was right my contractions got harder and harder the whole way to the hospital and by the time I got their I fallowed Devin all the way up the Elevator to the third floor, when I had already been to Triage twice and knew it was right down the hall on the first floor!!! anyway luckily my nurses and the team that had originally been planing on me to come were already there and waiting for me. By the time the nurse checked me I was already to a four. Luckily it was wasn't long before I was on the OR table and my BEST FRIEND that whole morning (my anesthesiologist) was administering the drugs that was putting me into the most pleasant mood! Atticus was born at 6:01 and Tristan was born at 6:02!!

I had been preparing myself for this moment and this day for forever it seemed and nothing went the way I had planned it would (but what ever does in life right?) I had braced myself for the worst.. the babies would be taken straight to the NICU I wouldn't get to see them, I probably wouldn't see them till the next day... they probably would be on oxygen etc etc.. Well Atticus came out crying (best sound in the whole world) and Tristan didn't take to long to get started either. The nurse came and let me see both of them before they took them to the NICU. I also was able to go visit them in the NICU that very afternoon. Neither of them had to be on oxygen and they were just perfect Atticus was 5.1 and Tristan was 3.7

They are still in the NICU and doing really well they both off IVs and had to be under jaundice lights for only a few days. Atticus is nursing like a little piglet and is completely free of his feeding tube. Tristan has taken a little longer to catch on to breastfeeding but he is also a lot smaller so I cant expect him to do anything at the same rate as Atticus. The Dr. is already talking about kicking Atticus out of NICU but once he is out I will have to juggle trying to see Tristan in the NICU and have a baby at home.. So for now having them both in the NICU where I can sit with them all day and nurse them both and be with them both is the best thing. They have the best Dr's and nurses and they will try to get them going home at the same time but insurance may kick Atticus out since he really does not need to be their anymore. So we will see but for now I'm happy they are here, healthy and I get to be their mother:)