How Time Flies

I have been neglecting my blog again and I keep promising I would be better at posting.

Here is a list of things we have been doing since my last post

1. Took a Family Trip to Florida. It was nice to get away but little dudes were a handful this year!
2. Liam and Tommy started Preschool!!! They love it especially riding the bus!
3. Little dudes started swimming lessons. They are usually off in their own worlds but love the water!
4. Tommy loves playing his CD's on his radio. It is his favorite thing to do now.
5. Liam will tell you that he is shy and won't ring his bells or sing at school. (Liam is not my shy one so that if so funny to us).
6. Probable Swine flu went through our house and somehow I escaped it! Knock on Wood!
7. RIP Samson. We said goodbye to our Big Guy. I still tear up at the thought of him. I loved that dog!
8. Redecorating the boys playroom. Taking me longer than expected but with me what else is new!
9. Starting to remodel upstairs bathroom, if only I could make a decision!
10. Loving life being a wife and mom! Nothing new there either!!

You are 3!

Happy Birthday Little Dudes (your birthday was yesterday but mom had no time to post)

to my dear William,

This has been an amazing year for you. You started it with very few words and now I can't keep you quiet. You nearly bring me to tears at night when you tell me "I love you too, Mommy".

You hate wearing clothes especially your shirt and shoes. You get dirty very very easily but you love getting "hot showers".

You love to help mom by stirring your own oatmeal, putting the dogs in their rooms and clipping your car seat. It can be a bit of a power struggle sometimes but mommy tries to be patient so you can learn and grow.

You always tell Tommy you are sorry when you hurt him and you love to wake him up in the morning by singing "tommmmmmy, time to wake up". You and Tommy have such a great bond and friendship. You laugh and play and wrestle with each other.

You love to watch TV especially, Dora the Explorer and Max and Ruby and Tom and Jerry. I have to drag you away sometimes or you would sit for hours watching it.

You have grown this year and now are on the growth chart for weight for the very first time.

I love you so much. I am so proud of you!!!

Happy Birthday William!


To my darling Tommy,

You are my cuddler. Your favorite place to be is in my lap reading books. You love books, all books. I don't even think you have a favorite. You can read books for hours.

You have grown so much this year. You started the year barely saying a word and now you can't keep quiet.

At night when you go to bed you say "just one more kiss mommy, one more kiss". It melts my heart and you can get about another 30 minutes of awake time playing this game with me. You so know how to manipulate me already.

You are great scooter rider and are still getting the hang of riding the bike. You like to "peddle, peddle , HONK".

You love to play with Bella and will often take her into your bedroom and close the door just to have her all to yourself.

You love to listen and dance to music at Grandma and Papa's but will instantly stop when you know someone is watching.

You tend to be a bit of a poke and it takes a lot to get you to listen. I am trying to be patient with you and know that you are doing your best to please mommy everyday.

I love you so much. You are growing up so fast and I so proud of you.

Happy Birthday!!!

Dear Blog,

Dear Blog,

I have to write to apologize for spending more time on other people's blogs than spending time with you. I guess looking at other people's lives believing they live these perfect lives with spotless homes and well-mannered children and not a care in the world has been easier than spending time with you deciding what to reveal about my totally not spotless home and my children that are known as a "handful".

So to update you on our lives here is what is going on.....I'll start with today. Today we had a family day and spent it going to Hartville Fleamarket. It was a little disappointing but I did manage to buy some great Amish fruits just to find out they are not even from this country...lovely but thank you New Zealand for the wonderful grapes.

They boys are learning to ride big boy bikes with training wheels. William has mastered it quickly but Tommy likes to peddle, peddle, STOP! They thought they were all that when they rode to the ice-cream store.

On a cute note.....William got this ice-cream cone went around the side to the tables and then said "I want to say Thank-You". So he marched back to the teenager at the window and said in the softest voice "Thank-you". It's times like this when I think I must be doing something right!

I had a week off of work and I purged my home and had a garage sale. A lot of work for a very little money. I do have to say that the weather did not cooperate. Feels good to have lots of closets on the empty side.

The boys are learning what they can get away with which parent. Mark was at work yesterday and I told the boys it was time for "hot showers" (as they like to call them). I let them hold the shower head and spray the walls. Mark does not!!! When I told them this William exclaimed "spray walls, daddy is not home".

Tommy sometimes now refers to William as Tommy and William calls himself Tommy so names get quite confusing in our house. Somehow they never forget that I am mommy and if I go missing for even a minute I hear shouting "Where are you Mommy?, Where are you Mommy?".
Never a moment of peace of Mommy but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am loving life. Life is indeed good but I think you have to know hard times to appreciate just how good Life feels to me now!

I'll try to be a better Blogger and not neglect you so much and I am going to try to envision everyone else's life just as crazy and messy as mine can be sometimes!

Karen

Miracle Babies Turn 3

I can't believe how fast this summer is flying by. We are having a great time and the little dudes are enjoying every new adventure.

Today was a very special day for us. It was the Miracle Babies Turn 3 birthday party. This is a special time of year for our NICU friends. We spend our summers celebrating the very special lives of our amazing children. These special children have the most amazing mothers. These mom's were all told at one time or another that their children would either not survive or would be severely multi-handicaped. These mothers all fought for their children and valued their life despite odds that would make anyone shutter and question every decision. It is amazing we all came together and continue to support one another. All the children defied the odds. It is truly a celebration of life and love.

This year we all pitched in and rented a bounce house. The kids loved it. We was such an enjoyable day! Thanks Carrie for use of your house.

At 3 years old we still can't get all the kids to sit for a picture. It was better than last year so maybe the 4th birthday we will them all looking and smiling.

One more note....William was sick and could not attend. Broke my hear to leave him behind but it was for the best of all the children.




Kiley and Tommy, One special friendship from the start (Kiley weighed only 14 ounces at birth)

Miracle Babies, Luke, Nicholas, Tommy, Owen (on couch), Kiley, Olivia, Conner (in front), Brigid (missing)

Weekend Photos Fun with Cousins

African Safari Adventure

I had the day off work today and we spent it going to a African Wildlife Safari about an hour and half from our house. The weather forcast was warm and sunny but as we were driving west the thermometer in the car kept going lower and lower and the clouds kept darkening. I got very worried our day would be a wash-out. I hate Ohio weather.

Well as luck had it, as soon as we pulled in the rain subsided. We paid our astonomical price to get in and got our cups off food and drove in the gates. We were instantly greeted by very friendly Elk putting their heads in the car to get the food. We all burst out laughing and the fun began. Little dudes were sooo excited and kept saying Hi to all the animals. There were Llamas and Deer and rams. Our favorite were the Buffalo. They were very friendly and surrounded our car.

Besides the car ride through the Safari, the Little dudes got Pony Rides. I can't believe how much they enjoyed them and they were not really scared.

All in all it was an amazing family day. We even were lucky enough to have Christopher with us. He is staying with us for a week! Love having him here with us.!

Enjoy the pics

Tommy did it

This morning started like any typical morning. I was racing around trying to get myself ready for work, the boys lunches made, the boys up and changed and dressed. Then out we go to the car to go to the babysitters. I get the boys in the minivan and then I climb in and get William in his seat. Tommy jumps into the front seat usually to press the hazard lights on. Well today, he pressed another button without me knowing, the door locks. So I get Tommy into his seat, I get out of the car and close the sliding door and then realize, I am locked out and they are locked in with my purse and keys. For some reason, I had both sets of keys in my purse today.

So I call the police and he arrives along with a big fire truck! They boys were sitting happily in their car seats smiling at the policeman and fireman. It took 20 minutes for them to get the door unlocked.

They finally get the door unlocked and then open the sliding door and William shouts "Tommy did it!". What a laugh that got but he has to learn not to throw his brother under the bus like that!

Too much excitement before 7 am for mom!

March for Babies 2009

Last Sunday was Cleveland's March for Babies. It was a 4 mile walk around Cleveland and for all those reading this that are curious, Yes, Mark did survive the walk even the uphill parts! LOL

It was an absolutely gorgeous day in Cleveland (well as gorgeous as Cleveland can get).

Since I am the Family Teams Chair, I got to thank the family teams and introduce the Ambassador Family.

We had a much bigger team this year. I'll have to count but I believe there were at least 20 walking for my miracle babies team! I am pleased to report that so far our team has raised $2700.00. This should put us in the top 5 family teams again this year. I feel very happy and proud in this economy that we were able to generate this much support.

At the post event festivities, Liam and Tommy chased around all the costumed characters such as the Chick Fil A cows, Kmart's blue light, McGruff the crime dog, and their personal favorite was the Energizer Bunny because he let them bang on his drum.
They were 2 tired little boys by the end.

Special thanks to Jen Lawson at the Northeast Ohio March of Dimes. She does an amazing job and just about single-handedly pulls this event off! Amazing!

Three Years Ago Today

Was one of the worst days of my life! This ranks right up there with the day my sister died. I do think that you have to have these days in order to appreciate the good days and the great days but this day changed me. Interesting, that I think it changed me for the better.

You see, on this day three years ago, a physician who i had every hope in, who i prayed would give me some hope, looked me in the eyes and said these exact words "I know it took you 3 years to get pregnant, but if you don't terminate this pregnancy and start over, there is a good chance these babies will die or end up in a nursing home the rest of there life'. i should add that he said this while tying his shoe. All i can say is "BASTARD".

Even after I am on the other side of a monoamniotic pregnancy and I know I have 2 wonderful beautiful and healthy little boys, these words can come back an haunt me.

The thoughts and emotions i had this day are unbelievable. Never for a minute did I think of terminating my pregnancy but the fear of bringing preemies into this world did scare the heck out of me. Was is fair to knowingly make them struggle those first months? But i think just has i struggled through the pregnancy with it only making me a different better person. i am hoping their struggles only prove to make them better people as well.

I think i had to get through this day so i would be passionate about saving babies, about helping other monoamniotic moms and never ever taking my boys for granted.

i will never forget this day. The day someone thought my unborn babies weren't worth the sacrifice. WEll, they were Dr. Emery, They were!

What's your name?

I don't think my boys look a like at all but I am reminded at family gatherings that indeed they are identical twins and others can't tell them apart.

So on Easter Sunday someone asked William what his name was and he responded "Tommy". A little while later my niece brought Tommy inside and she was calling him Liam. I said, "Lindsey, that is Tommy" and she said "He told me he was Liam".

Ugh oh, we are in big trouble that they are starting this at age 2! LOL!

Proud Mommy!

I have been a bad blogger lately but I want to write a story about my little dudes that I don't want to forget.

We had a March of Dimes function held at a daycare center and a little 5 year old girl was there who had severe Cerebral Palsy. My boys had not seen a disabled child before and they were looking her way curious. I took them by the hand and went and introduced them to Amanda. I didn't want them to be afraid and I certainly did not want her to feel left out. She smiled and knew we were there talking to her. I showed Liam and Tommy how she could feel a soft stuffed animal.

A little while later I was talking with some adults but then scanned the room to look for my boys. I found Tommy sitting next to Amanda with a big smile on his face helping her feel the soft toy. My heart could not feel more proud. He looked so proud of himself and so happy he was playing with Amanda.

William was interested in pushing her stroller around. He also tried to interact with Amanda and include her.

I am so lucky to be their mommy. They teach me so much and watching innocence is remarkable!

What happened to Jesus?

William: excited and running to me....."Mommy, mommy, what happened to Jesus? What happened to Jesus?"

Mommy: (thinking this was a learning moment, "He died for our sins and then rose from the dead"

William (pointing to blinds): "No Mommy, what happened to Jesus?"

Mommy: seeing crusifix lying on top of blinds "Oh William, don't throw Jesus on top of blinds, we need to put him back on the wall".

3 year ago today

Three years ago today at 3 am I had to pee. So I took out the home pregnancy test and peed. I couldn't believe what I saw. The slightest second line appeared. I couldn't believe it. I never dreamed this would ever happen. I got out another test and again a small 2nd line appeared. I woke up Mark and said "do you see 2 lines?" He had no idea why I was asking or what it meant. I think he thought I finally lost my marbles.

I called my mom to tell her. I went to work and called the doctor's office. They sent me for bloodwork. I couldn't wait to get the results. The nurse called and said "congratulations, you are pregnant". When I got the bloodwork results, I called Mark and said "you are going to be a daddy!". Turns out he was at duncun donuts, so he told the cashier. Funny, she was the second to get the official word on our pregnancy.

I had to go back 48 hours for repeat bloodwork to make sure the numbers doubled. Well they tripled. I was thrilled.

This day three years ago, began an amazing journey that has forever changed me in ways I never would have thought possible. This began months or challenges and life altering choices and decisions which had to be made. My faith in God and the love of my family and friends sustained me through this time. I am eternally thankful to have such wonderful people in my life. Somehow I made all the right choices and the rest is history.

by the way, today is my mom's birthday!! I found out twins on my birthday! I'll report on that day in less than a month.

Wow, amazing..three years ago today!

Yes we are this crazy, Introducing the newest member of our family

We have a new wonderful member of the Family to Introduce. Her name is Bella and she is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier or as people in the U.K. call her breed "the Nanny Dog" (due to their devotion to children). She is about 10 months old and we were lucky to get her from a friend who didn't have the time to dedicate to such a loving, energetic little girl.



She has fit into our family really well. She is house-trained and very well mannered. The only thing we really need to work on is jumping on people. She just gets so excited to see everyone.



The first thing the boys do when they wake up now is say "doggie house" and they head downstairs to get Bella out of her crate. The boys also like to play chase with her. They run and she chases. She knows to be gentle and she just adores them. The boys just don't like when she lays on their blankies but she just wants to cuddle with them.



Samson accepted her without any problems. He seems happier and more energetic. They already sun-bathe and cuddle by the back door (that is when there is sun)!



I do sometimes think that 2 dogs are easier than 1 although 3 dogs would be insane! So don't look for us to be adding any more dogs. Now considering fish or a turtle...so stay tuned!


Just a quick thank you to Laura for recognizing that Bella needed a family with kids and a quick nod to William at http://rockycreekstaffs.com/ who let us out of our deposit on a puppy puppy. The house trained puppy is a better fit for us. He has some of the greatest Staffy's out there! Bella is a Rocky Creek Staffie!

So here she is Bella!

March for Babies Kick-Off

Today, i am kicking off my personal March for Babies campaign. My goal this year is to personally raise $2000.00 for the March of Dimes.

I have donated to many charities over the years and what I have found about the March of Dimes is that the mission is always at the center of their fundraising. Every event I go to or meeting I attend, there is always someone their talking abou their experience with the March of Dimes. The March of Dimes is so much more grass-roots than other non-profits I have been exposed to.

I always say that if it were not for the March of Dimes, my boys would not be here. I don't always tell everyone why this is the case.

My boys needed Surfactant to breathe when they were born as they were born with respiratory distress due to their prematurity and small size. Without it they would have died!

This is why I am forever grateful to the March of Dimes research....

The March of Dimes has a long history of funding research on newborn lung development and has invested over $12.5 million in researchers studying this important issue. One of the most important breakthroughs in this field was the work of T. Allen Merritt, MD, at the University of California San Diego Medical Center. His research showing the effectiveness of surfactant therapy for premature babies with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) helped convince the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve surfactant therapy to prevent and treat RDS. Surfactant is a detergent-like substance produced in the lungs that aids in breathing. Since surfactant therapy became widespread, infant deaths due to RDS have dropped by over two-thirds. The March of Dimes continues to support research to develop new and more effective surfactant therapies.

The FDA didn't approve Surfactant until the 1980's. That is in all of our lifetimes. Had we been born this little and premature, we would have died. That fact always puts this into perspective for me. There is still so much work to be done so half a million babies have a healthy start in life.

Please help me support the March of Dimes by going to www.marchforbabies.com/karenuad

Here you will find my Walk team and how to sign up to walk with us or donate to our team.

Where is Santa?

I was telling my friend Heidi this cute story and she said "oh you have to right that down." I don't know why I haven't blogged this yet. So here it is..

I took the boys to the bank to deposit some checks. I thought the bank I went to had a drive through teller but it didn't so I was forced in 2 degrees weather to take the kids into the bank. I was giving the teller my checks when I hear both my boys shouting "HO HO HO". Everyone in the bank looks and they are pointed to a dear old man who was short, stocky with a grey beard and rosy cheeks from being out in the cold. I tried to quiet them down but louder they point and shout "HO HO HO". Everyone cracked up laughing while I shhhed them telling them it wasn't SANTA. In the end, I hated to spoil it for them so I decided to tell them Yes, santa is at the bank.

Just ask my kids where santa is...they will shout "AT THE BANK" with delight.

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a blessed holiday season. The new year is upon us and I have lots I want to accomplish this year.

1. I always have a New Year Resolution to send birthday cards out. I admire those people who always remember birthdays with cards that always make it to the recipient on time. I am always good for a birthday phone call and chat but cards have never been my thing. I say every year that this will change and I will again attempt it.
2. I want to get better organized. My new laptop will definately help with this. I can stay in bed and pay bills, blog, work etc. I just love this thing!!!
3. I want to work on my blog more. I want to customize it to fit my personality. Just have to learn how!
4. This year another mom and I who volunteer with the March of Dimes will be starting a NICU support group. This is a big project but will be so rewarding when it is up and running. I can't wait to report how the year goes with this.

5. This year I will get to my pre-marriage weight!! After years of infertility, twin pregnancy and emotional eating through 3 1/2 months in the NICU, it is about time I am able to fit back into my wedding ring. 15 pounds already gone, only 15 more to go!!!

6. This year Liam and Tommy will start pre-school. I feel the tears already welling in my eyes. Can't believe these were my 1 pound babies.

I won't bore anyone else with the rest. I am hoping for a highly successful and rewarding year. It is already off to a great start. Mark's new job is allowing for so much more family time which eases up so much stress on the both of us.

I also got a new digital camera for Xmas. I am just learning to use it so here are some photos during a pre-bedtime photo shoot!

TOMMY

William