It may look beautiful, but......

It can be quite a pain, literally! Monday we got some snow, it looked beautiful. Many of you may already know but we have a very steep driveway so when it snows it has to be removed or you cannot drive in the garage (a necessity with little children). So I went out monday morning to shovel something I get the opportunity to do more than I would like. It always seems to snow while Alan is at work, and I am not comfortable with the snow blower on our hill. Anyway, I noticed quickly that this snow was not only a lot in volume but it was full of water and was extreemly heavy to work with. I only did half the driveway because it was terrible. Long story short.... even though I could not feel it at the time it ruined my back. I have been out of commission all week. I mean out! It's been terrible trying to take care of the kids and the house with this issue. I just couldn't do anything. My mom and my inlaws had to help with laundry, cooking etc.... thank goodness for them. Anyway, after a lot of pain I am finally feeling better, but I have now had to begin digging out from this terrible mess. The dishes, the laundry and toys are everywhere! Anyway below are some pictures of the kids. Sydney and Hailey tried on their spring and summer outfit and would not take it off they said, "Princess" when they had it on and I decided not to fight them about it. They were not going outside so why not celebrate warm weather thoughts inside. It's been quite a week!

Jacob racing around the house with his speedcar (opps twins strollers). I swear he is going to break them with all his monster truck like antics.

The twins "cleaning" for me....

Can you tell by her face that Hailey is not suppossed to be in there?
These pictures are of the girls getting ready for naptime together....

Unusually easy to get to bed this day!

Sunday best.....

Hailey (L) Sydney (R) on all shots

Jacob, Hailey and Lindsey (Sydney already ran off).

A little behind with my blogging....

Here are some shots of the kids before church yesterday My group picture was just a picture of all of them running out of the shot, LOL!

This morning we woke up to 8 inches of heavy snow, so much for our spring like weather!

Will you be mine?

Happy Valentine's Day! Every year Alan/Daddy buys the girls roses. I got two bouquets this year (minus three). The girls each got one pink rose. Jacob got candy. They love this, exspecialy Lindsey. She does inquire why I get so many more than her, but Alan explained that very well.

We had a good day Alan and I went on a two part date. Monday we went to dinner, and Friday to a movie. We like to avoid the crowds.

Sydney(L) Hailey (R)

Maybe they are a little too young to appreciate the flowers properly?

Lindsey

My flowers before I arranged them.

Jacob with his cookie.

The Little Things....

The Little Things (for all of us with our hands full)

The work undone, the beds unmade,
The floor unswept, the meal delayed,
My food is growing cold,
The laundry I have yet to fold.
"I'm hungry Mom," the children say,
A thousand and one times a day.
And "Mommy will you read to me?"
And "Mom, why can't I watch TV?"
And "Mommy, hold me on your knee."
And "Quickly Mom, I have to pee!"

Then finally everything is set.
The children's needs have all been met,
And I can really sink my teeth
Into my work with great relief.
Another sound. "Oh Dear," I sigh-
My newborn daughter's plaintive cry.
Now I must sit amidst debris
And nurse this infant quietly,
And dream of who I'd rather be,
Disdaining mediocrity.

But as this angel snuggles in
And I caress her silken skin
And meditate on beauty here,
This tiny hand, this perfect ear
This life, this love, this holiness,
I can forget about the mess
And know with utter clarity
My life is rich as rich can be.

I wonder when I'm old and gray,
Will I look back upon today
And wish I'd been a better Mom
By getting all the housework done?
I'd much prefer a memory
Of children smiling up at me,
Of walks and hugs and moments shared
Of taking time to show I cared.

Author Unknown

The tooth fairy debacle............

So... last week Lindsey lost another tooth while she was at lunch, tooth #5 for her. She came home showed it to me and said nothing else about it. I guess she felt the whole process this time would be bettween her and the tooth fairy. Fast forward to the next morning (its sunday Alan has already left) 6:30am I hear hysterically crying. Lindsey eventually enters my room, tear streaked and crying, the tooth fairy forgot her! Oh my, I am SO mad at that tooth fairy. So ... I am forced to go to investigate. She shows me where she left the tooth. She left it in bettween two pillows so it was not under actual pillow, she concludes that is why it was forgotten. Of course that is why right, I mean how is the tooth fairy suppossed to know where to look if you have two pillows. Anyway, fast forward another night. She spends the day composing a note and tapes it to her door. The babies are sick, Jacob broke his foot that day, and I am tired. So... I go into her room to check the tooth (wink wink) and "checked" just fine or so I thought. As I was walking out she sat up and inquired about what I was doing. I told her I was checking her tooth, and went back in showed her the tooth and replaced it to its spot for the tooth fairy. She then goes back to sleep. Who knows if she bought all this. ADVICE for all parents. Find somewhere to put teeth other than under the pillow, its tough to not wake the sleeping child. When I was kid we had a cute pillow with a fairy girl she had a pocket for the tooth, I better ask my mom where that is. Second advice... don't forget to do it. LOL

The Good and The Bad..............

The good and the bad... first the good. Jacob saw the Orthopedist today. They took another x-ray and the foot was indeed fractured and needed treatment. He was a real trooper this week but it has been tough on him (and me) staying home and being unable to walk. So... the doctor said he would be treating the fracture with a walking boot. The good news is that he can walk, eventually run and do almost everything with the boot on. The first two weeks he needs to lay low and rest more, but eventually he can do almost anything (except sports (like snowboarding and possibly spring soccer), trampolines, and monkey bars). The bad news... he came home and hobbled to the snow shovels so he could begin chipping ice etc... apparently he was waiting to get back to his job. Unfortunately the boot is not water proof, maybe I can rig it with a plastic bag? If the kids wants to work again, who am I to stop him?

Lastly these pictures are evidence of the twins in our house from today. I love these girls dearly and each and every act of trouble is proof to me that even though their pregnancy was very high risk, and their early birth left us with huge worries over their future growth and development, they are indeed healthy! We suffered with difficult questions like, Would they be born alive? Would they born extreemly premature? Would they be healthy? Would they be normal? Very horrible worries... Now, They are normal, even wildly advanced in the mischievous area, this may make me crazy but... my prayers have been answered a million times over. I will take this anyday, considering the alternatives I worried and cried over for those dark months!

We had only four rolls of toilet paper left, and here are where I found three of them!

Babies, Babies, Babies everywhere!

Sydney once again undressed after her nap! No clothes and freezing! See the duct tape did its job though. Hailey also was undressed but she was so sick she was being held while I photographed this. All of todays mischief is brought to us by Sydney, Hailey is on a cuddle only routine and was out sick!

Next post... pictures of my precious Lindsey's artwork!

Stick and Stones and BROKEN BONES!

Is that what boys are made of? Yes Jacob broke something, well actually he fractured his foot. Yesterday while we were having a relaxing morning at home bathing babies and cleaning up ink (ha ha), Jacob was on a playdate. Turns out love can hurt. When I arrived to pick Jacob up he was crying and I was told that during a agressive hug from his friend Anna he was knocked to the ground. I didn't think much about it and carried him to the car. He cried desperately for me to remove the shoe that the other mother had forced on his foot, which I did. Once we were home he continued to carry on and seemed to be in a lot of pain. Eventually he took a nap, but he kept waking up in pain. At that point I knew something was wrong and we went to the doctor. So... after an afternoon of x-rays and wheel chair rides, both of which Jacob loved! We find out he fractured his foot. He is hurting but its a small fracture. Today we went back to the doctor and had them splint it, he is suppossed to stay off the foot completely till Thursday when we see the Orthopedist who will make the next move. At that point we could have good luck and get it off and it will have healed mighty fast (I so wish) or he will have a boot walking cast for 4-8 weeks. I am so praying for the first option but the doctor tried to tell me it was unlikely. I am not sure how Jacob will manage being home all day unable to walk. He is heavy too! It's so sad to see my boy hurting! We have a had a lot of ice and some small snow perfect for his snow shoveling, its been hard on him not to be out there working! He really has a heart of gold, the minute it snows he is anxiously waiting to get out there and he works hard for hours! Anyway.... what a year back in October he had his first stitches and we had complications with the removal. When we arrived at the doctor today we saw a doctor we don't normally see, but she remembered Jacob and the stitches. I was a bit suprised and she informed she would never forget it, it was a legend around there. Great... it did heal ok though. Anyway... its been an exhausting two days. Sydney and Hailey are still into everything and we will be home all day everyday next week experiencing their antics, I hope I make it out of that!

Yesterday in his wheelchair ride to x-ray. My cell phone camera is a bit blurry.

Jacob waiting for the splint, he was very nervous!

I told him to smile, and he said he was...

He loves his x-ray! He got to take a printed copy home.

I had to add these pics of his stitches in October, the day before we left for Disneyland! Never a dull moment around here!

Opps Mommy.........

Morning bath, I love fresh clean babies! I took a picture they looked so cute... so we get all dressed for the day and do hair and then...

Sydney (L) Hailey (R) even the baby has been markered!


Hailey was obviously the real culprit!

Note to self for today... make sure all the pens are put away, again! All washable, thankfully!

Opps Grandpa.......

This is a Opps Grandpa post. So... yesterday as we are on our way to the Japanese Steakhouse for Grandma's birthday Grandpa asks the kids if they would rather go to Chuck E Cheese or Mcdonalds (see he was teasing Grandma). Jacob begins going out of control with delight, chanting "Chuck E Cheese" over and over. Needless to say it didn't go over well when he informed he where we were really going, LOL! So... Grandpa being the unusual Grandpa he is, requested Jacob today guess where they went? He is one lucky kid. Anyway, thanks Grandpa for a wonderful time for all the kidlets.

Lindsey and her cousin Andrew
Jacob

For the love of drive thru shopping....

I think some stores have missed a huge market, drive thru shopping! Have you ever woke up and had a plan for you day and just slowly watched it fade away? It's my mother in laws birthday (bless her heart) and I have been searching for ages for a present, somehow day of I am still without one. So I wake up this morning with big plans, first I think we will venture to the decorating store and get her a cute nic nac, then I think we should go to the mall because afterall there has to be something in one of the shops there. So... I get the twins up and dressed and begin getting myself ready. While getting ready, the girls managed to dump an entire glass of water on the floor and themselves, get into the pantry and smash chips all over the kitchen, spill the last of Daddy's hot chocolate on the carpet, he unknowingly left on the coffee table (that was the worst of their disasters). This all before 10:30am. So after loosing my mind we went to the mall walked in to Macys bought Lancome Mascara (my favorite) and ran right back to the car. Who would have thought you could be so tired from that. Atleast mother in law got a gift, and thank goodness for gift reciepts in case it stinks for her. What I would give for drive thru shopping.. no unloading just pay and go.
I have discovered a wonderful thing though the girls love the kids care at my Gym. I mean love it! They squeal with delight just when we drive by my gym. So I think we will be making a lot more trips to the gym. They get out of the house (therefore they cannot create diasters) and I get my work out... WIN WIN. I am SO tired of winter, the cold, the indoor confinement. Having two toddlers with nothing to do inside is getting old. I am ready for pools, parks, and just a whole lot of SUNSHINE! How about you?
Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my mother in law and my Grandpa who is 92 today!

Random moments......

Hailey, Jacob, Sydney

Hailey (L) Sydney (R)

Hailey (L) Sydney (R) Ring around the rosies...

Sydney giving hugs...

Hailey kissing Sydney ( I think... not sure)

Just some random pictures. The first picture was just how they looked when I found them. All snuggled with Jacob. When Jacob arrived home from Preschool he said, " I am so excited to see you girls, I have been waiting all day". He really loves them! Sydney and Hailey were being cute for me. Sorry Lindsey isn't in the pictures she is at school a lot of the day and when she arrives home the other kids are napping. I need to get more shots with her. Oh and Angie not everyday is bad... today was good.

Twin Antics

Sydney pushing HaileyHailey pushing Sydney
The girls decided to use their shopping cart in a new way. They climb in and take turns give one another rides. They were having such a fun time, until Hailey tried to lift Sydney out! Not safe! I felt bad when I had to put a stop to it and put the shopping cart away for now. They sure think of new ways to work together to play with things.

Twins times two

These pictures are of Sydney and Hailey with Brooklyn and Jocelyn. These litte girls were destined to be friends. Their Daddy's have been best friends since childhood and us adults we have remained very close. When Brittney told me she was expecting twins , we were so thrilled for them. About three months later we announced we were also pregnant. At my first appointment I was given an ultrasound and was floored when I found out we were also having twins! It was almost more shocking because it was happening to both of our famlies at the same time! We both had different challenges with our girls... ours was getting them here (Monoamniotic) you probably already know that scary story, and her girls really challenged them the first year being in and out of the hospital. Brooklyn and Jocelyn were born at 35 weeks spent two weeks in the same NICU Hailey and Sydney would be born at two months later. I remember being able to visit Brook and Joci in the NICU while I was monitoring my girls, they were so beautiful, and filled me with hope for my girls safe arrival. Jocelyn barely made it into this world alive and had to resuscitated at birth (very scary)! After they went home Brooklyn spent several months challenging her parents. She had several episodes where she went blue and stopped breathing which resulted in many scary ambulance rides and hospital stays at Primary Children's Hospital. Eventually she was put on a feeding tube and had to sleep on a special back board. She really scared all of us, and Brittney spent months never leaving them at all. Two years later we have the blessing of meeting together and watching four healthy, active, toddlers who are all miracles in their own way! We are so blessed to have these little girls and we feel lucky they were born at the same time and can grow up together. I hope they will all know how much they have overcome!A special celebration at La Caille (very expensive restaurant). We made it through the first year and all the twins are healthy!!!!

These are pictures of the girls most recent playdate.

Brooklyn, Hailey, Jocelyn, and Sydney