THANKSGIVING

Today I realized that Thanksgiving dinner isn't near as good as it use to be. I love turkey; and I am a big fan of sweet potato casserole and green bean bundles. I use to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal twice, and come away from the table each time stuffed. But today I found that having toddlers and being away from home and off of our schedule all day really changes things! I didn't stuff myself at either meal. In fact, I kind of inhaled my plate of food quickly and didn't return for seconds, because my girls haven't quite learned the tradition of sitting at the table and enjoying a good large meal while visiting with family and friends.
But even through all the kaos and noise that my girls caused I was able to think of how blessed I am.

My God has done a lot for my family, and for that I am thankful.

I am extremely THANKFUL for these girls that kept me from eating a lot of food today; that made a lot of unpleasant noise; and that ran to me with open arms to give me a kiss and an "awe" (hug); that say "mom-ma" and "uvvvv u"; and that look at me with a big smile right at the moment that I am ready to loose my patience.

I am THANKFUL for the many nights for several years that I cried as we were trying to conceive, because that helped me develop a tighter bond with my husband. And for the tears that now often fill my eyes as I think of how great my job is, because there are lots of women in this world longing for my job as a mother.

I am THANKFUL for the fussing, fits, screaming, and kaos because in the same hour there are smiles, laughter, hugs, and kisses.

I am THANKFUL for the long hard hours of work my husband crams into one day, that leaves me home alone with no adult conversation and no me time; because it puts a roof over my head, food on my table, and a running vehicle in my garage.

I am THANKFUL for my sweet husband who is a hard worker, a deer hunter, a fisherman, a duck hunter, a good cook, a story stretcher, a joke player, and a great dad; because he is follower of Christ that leads our family and loves us dearly.

And I am most THANKFUL for my God that guides and protects us, and made all the above possible and most importantly promises an everlasting life!

I am also THANKFUL for my awesome mother that is a great seamstress, who sewed the cutest Thanksgiving dress for my girls!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Ohio Trip - part 2

On Friday of our trip, we celebrated my cousin Amy's 12th Birthday. We ate dinner at their house, and then had cake and opened presents. Her actual birthday was on the 17th but since the whole family was coming in town my aunt decided to have a family party for her. That was probably her first family birthday party. We just all don't get together that often.




Amy with her new green plaid shirt.



Aunt Sharon and Lexyn



Grandma and Brittyn, I have never seen Brittyn sit that still for that long.



Grandma and Lexyn, it was past bedtime and the girls were starting to get tired.

My cousin Lisa entertained the girls by shredding wrapping paper. They had a blast, and it helped me not have to keep chasing them all over the non baby proofed house.

Brittyn

Lexyn

My Uncle Peter made a new friend when he started feeding Brittyn some of his cake. The girls stood off from most of the guys, but if you offer sweets they will come around!

Ohio Trip - Part 1

Last week on Thursday, November 19th, the girls and I, along with Gamma, took a trip to Columbus, Ohio for my grandma's 80th birthday party. It was quite an adventure; because we flew to Columbus. My girls have never been on an airplane before so we were a little anxious to see how it would turn out. Let me just say 2 things: thank goodness their ticket was free, and NEVER fly with two busy 17 month olds!!!! It was not the best experience. The airplanes were tiny. They were tiny for an adult alone, not to mention having a toddler sit in your lap the whole time. The first flight was 2 hours travel time, and it put our patience to a real test. The second flight was about 45 minutes travel time. The girls had some time of good, but for the most part they were pitching fits and crying. There wasn't room to let them up and walk the isle, and there wasn't room to dig toys out to play with. It was miserable for all. I felt sorry for the girls because they didn't understand why they couldn't get up, and I felt sorry for the people sitting around us, and really everyone on the plane! It didn't help that on the first flight my mom and Lexyn got sat by a young scrooge. He huffed and puffed at every noise the girls made, every time his chair got touched, and when Brittyn accidentally touched his head. If looks could kill, we would have been dead for sure! Due to safety reasons, 2 lap sitters are not allowed on the same row. Therefore, my mom and I weren't able to sit together which made it a little harder.

Once we got to our destination the girls were almost perfect angels. We were there for 4 days, and we packed lots of visiting into those days. The girls weren't really on their schedule, they would just nap here and there, and when we had time; and they never went to bed before 9:00. With all the new people, the different toys and places to discover there was hardly any fussing. They did great, and were enjoyed by everyone. They met some of my relatives that I haven't seen in over 10 years. It was nice to see everyone again.



Aunt Sharon playing with Lexyn.



The girls found a new favorite toy, mommy's water bottle.

Brittyn talking to grandma.

Grandma had a fish tank in her living room, and the girls loved watching it and asking "whats-tat?"

At the party on Saturday we took family pictures with Grandma, here is all that was able to make it from my family.

This is my mom's brother, Steve's family.

This is my Aunt Sharon's family.

This is my aunt Marsha's family.

Not the best picture, but the only picture of me with my girls at the party!

This is my Uncle Jim holding Brittyn, it is very rare to see him smiling at a camera.

My cousin Brenda holding Lexyn.

Brittyn

Lexyn

The girls playing together outside at the party.

Brittyn drawing with my cousin Amy. I hadn't seen her since she was 2 years old.

My aunt Diane trying to keep the girls happy.

This is the last smiling picture before we flew home. Poor babies!

Happy Birthday Brinlee

Today is my niece Brinlee's 4th birthday. I can't believe it. She is like my own, and to think that she is already 4 just blows my mind. It seems like just last week that I drove 4 hours away to see her grand entrance into this harsh world, and then get to hold her before any other family members did. I guess time flies by in this crazy life.

She has always enjoyed coming to my house; and gets the biggest smile on her face when she sees me. When I was pregnant, she was excited to play with "Wexyn and Bwittyn", and would talk to my belly and tell them she loved them. I knew it was only a matter of time until I was replaced by my girls, but really she gets excited when any of us come see her, including Ben.

Over the course of the years I have been "Kiki, Pisty, Prissy, Kissy, Kwisty", and now she almost has it clear. I remember being sad the day she started calling me "Kissy". It meant she was getting too big and was learning her sounds more.

She has always wanted to help with Lexyn and Brittyn, and is even learning to share her toys better. Although the jealousy still shows through now and then, but that is to be expected since she doesn't have full attention from everyone anymore. She likes to wear matching clothes as "her babies" when she isn't fully decked out in her princess dress up clothes.

She is a sweet girl, and we love her!

Happy Birthday Brinlee Ryan!!!





This was last year on her 3rd birthday. She had played so hard at my house and with my girls she finally passed out in the recliner with me. And by the way, she has lost the passy over her 3rd year of life.



Loving on "her babies" (as she calls them) in August 2008



Brinlee and Lexyn in April 2009



Brinlee and Brittyn September 2009

National Prematurity Awareness Month

November is National Prematurity Awareness Month. The March of Dimes has organized Fight For Preemies, and we are encouraged to all unite today, November 17th, and blog about our preemies and our experience to help raise awareness of the crisis. Prematurity is the #1 killer of newborns, and the number has increased 31% since 1981. The March for Dimes has funded most of the research for the medical equipment and knowledge that helped keep my preemies alive.

My girls were born 11 weeks premature. Lexyn weighed 2 pounds 13 ounces and Brittyn weighed 3 pounds 3 ounces. They spent 6 weeks in the NICU at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. My God, the ultimate physician, guided the neonatiologists, and the nurses to help my girls survive. But without the help of March of Dimes the knowledge for all the medical advances wouldn't be as good. They were on the nasal cannula, and a feeding tube and pump for 3 weeks, and on a heart monitor for 8 months. They faced lots of bumps in the road to recovery, but overcame them all. I am so thankful that I gave birth to premature babies at this day and age; the medical equipment has come a long way.

Lexyn an hour old

Brittyn, 1 day old, holding daddy's finger

Brittyn sucking her thumb

The way to give a bath in the NICU was very smart. It kept them warm and relaxed.

Giving Lexyn her first real bath at 10 days old.

Mommy and Lexyn at 8 days old.

Remember all the premature babies in the world today, and their families. It is a hard journey for everyone, and some babies don't win the fight.

Professional Pictures

On November 4th, we had the girls pictures taken outside at a local park. We haven't had their pictures professionally taken since they were 6 months old. I have had trouble finding the right photographer who has a great personality to take pictures of busy twins, and has descent prices. Kari Wright with Wright Image Photography was just that! She is a local photographer that does a great job and has the calm and patient personality, which was put to the test by my girlies.

We had 2 outfits to shoot the girls in; the first was their Guess jeans with a pink sweater and the second was the adorable tutu made by Liz. When we changed their clothes and put them in the tutu, they were done! They got crabby and upset then began throwing fits. I wasn't sure if she got any good pictures in their tutu's, but she did. Today Kari posted the sneak peek pictures on her blog. Click here to check them out. She did a good job, and from the sneak peek it looks like she caught some good shots. We definitely know that trying to capture two very active 17 month olds is not an easy task, but she managed to get some cute ones.
Let me know what you think.

Pat the Bible

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

So today Brittyn found her Bible in the closet. We never play with our Bibles, they just don't understand how to be easy with them yet. But she picked her Bible up and before I could take it away she starts saying "Bii-ble" while patting it. It was priceless. They do a song in Sunday school about patting the Bible, and she is catching on to it. I love it!

Halloween Party

After trick-or-treating we went to Ben's parent's house to hang out with friends and family. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, and enjoyed snacking on s'mores, cupcakes, chili, cookies and sweet potatoes. All the kiddos enjoyed playing together and being able to eat pretty much whatever they wanted for one night!

Lexyn and Brittyn enjoyed eating their first marshmallow along with getting daddy and uncle Zach covered in sticky.

We had lots of fun, and can't wait for the many more years of trick-or-treating and partying we have with our girlies.