NICU Birthday Party...We are 2!

It has been a busy weekend. Yesterday, we had a NICU birthday party with all the kids we met that were in the NICU together during the summer of 2006. It is amazing to see how well all these miracle babies are doing....Here is a run-down of the kids and why they are true miracles!

Liam and Tommy(my boys)--born at 26.6 weeks gestation, monoamniotic twins, 1 lb 12 and 1 lb 8 oz.

Kiley--27 weeks, 14 ounces

Olivia--28 weeks

Luke and Owen---33 weeks, twin to twin transfusion survivors

Brigid and Connor--27 weeks (have a great birth story but not my story to tell, trust me..true miracles!)

Nicholas--24 weeks

Nicholas--23 1/2 weeks

The kids were everywhere and so much fun to watch.

So here are pics of Friends from the Beginning

Olivia

Nicholas
Nicholas
Liam and Tommy
Kiley and Tommy hugging (they were meant to be together from the start)
Connor and Tommy

Trying to get a group picture (never was possible!)

Of course, my boys already have cake on their face (before the singing)
Connor
Brigid

Luke and Owen

Feeding the Soul

I spent my first night away from the kids since they came home from the NICU. It was a much needed 24 hour break. My dear friend Maureen invited me to the Chautauqua Institute to watch her brother conduct the Chautauqua Symphony.

The Institute is a place like no other I could ever imagine. Here is how their website describes it...

Many of the visitors who return to Chautauqua year after year describe it as an experience rather than a vacation -- a place for renewal. The Chautauqua Institution was founded on the belief that everyone “has a right to be all that he can be -- to know all that he can know.” The experiences come in many forms. A dramatic lakeside setting and the beauty of its National Historic Landmark architecture (it was designated a National Historic Landmark June 30, 1989) make the Chautauqua Institution a thriving community where visitors come to find intellectual and spiritual growth and renewal.

I think I got smarter just by walking through the main gate. It is a place in which you are surrounded by beauty, music, art and literature. I realize I don't feed this part of my brain or soul as often as I should.

It was amazing to watch a symphony and actually personally know the conducter (we went to high school together and he was my best friends brother!). We also got to meet the Cello soloist.

One thing is for certain...I have to go back to this place. It is indescribable.

Thanks Maureen and Family!!! You are all amazing!!!

Here are some pics...

Me and Maureen in front of the Antenaum Hotel
Relaxing at the after symphony party in the gazeboMaureen, Mary and Dan Meyer (the conductor)
Mary, Dan and Zuill Bailey (the chellist)

Wordless Wednesday--Fingerpainting in the Bathtub

My first Tag

I was tagged by Laura to post 10 things I can't do without so here goes...

TEN THINGS I CAN'T DO WITHOUT (I excluded family, faith and friends b/c that is a given). This is a more superficial top ten list. In no particular order.....

1. Tea (my usual drink of choice)
2. Sleep
3. Cup holder in my car
4. Chair at work (everyone knows not to sit in it)
5. The necklace Mark gave me for a wedding gift
6. Television
7. My porch swing
8. Aveda products
9. Online Banking
10. Heated seats in my car

Not real interesting but this was much much harder than I thought. I guess that is a good thing! I am not attached to much.

New Experiences

This summer has been filled with new experiences for our little dudes. If anyone knows how to get them to smile in a picture, please let me know. They are really happy and fun little guys but the pictures just don't do their personalities justice. They always look so scared....although I think they were at Kiddie Park and on the Pony's.

It is turning out to be a wonderful summer.

Riding the Rocket ship at kiddiepark
riding the race cars at kiddiepark
Powerlifting Liam....SOOOO strong!!!!
Jockey William proudly wearing his t-shirt from The Rocking Pony (thanks Karen!)

Jockey Tommy also in his Rocking Pony T-shirt...he is definately not a natural on a horse!

From the looks of it, I don't think either of my boys will be astronauts, weight-lifters, race-car drivers or jockeys...LOL....I think we can add model to that list as they never want to smile for pictures or maybe mom was just not meant to be a photographer!!!

Samson and Daisy

My husband (since he now is an avid reader of my blog) has been critiquing my blog postings (thanks, honey). He mentioned that I have never mentioned the other 2 members of our family. So here is a posting all about our first babies.

Samson is our 7 year old Bullmastiff. He weighs in at 150 pounds. He was born in California and we had him shipped on Continental airlines when he was a little puppy. He was so cute and tiny. He was purchased to be "my" dog but he bonded more with hubby and he doesn't listen to me at all. He loves car rides, begging for food and napping. He is a lazy dog who's snores can rattle the floors. He is a gentle giant.

Daisy is our pitbull. I never thought I would own a pitbull but my husband knew someone who had rescued her but could not keep her. He just brought her home without asking me and I fell in love with her. She jumped into my arms and never looked back. She loves to snuggle with me at night and she is excellent with the little dudes. She loves running up and down our fence and giving kisses. Liam loves running around the house saying "Daisy, Daisy". One of the few words he does say.

It doesn't feel right not to mention one more beloved doggie who has already gone to rainbow bridge. His name was Jackson. He was a Bassett Hound. He loved eating, sleeping and laying on my lap. There are too many good stories to tell about Jackson so I will save it for another post. He will never be forgotten.

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

Karen at The Rocking Pony had this on her blog and I liked it so I thought I would do my own. So here goes....

20 years ago--I was in high school about to start my sophmore year. I had found my high school BFF's. The best group of girls one could hope for in getting through the teen years and beyond. I think that summer I got my first job as a sandwich artist at the first Subway in town. I hated that job. I watched a lot of MTV and talked on the phone.

10 years ago--I lived in Fort Myers Florida. My sister was dying of tongue cancer so I traveled between Florida and Ohio every month. Mark and I were dating and as he recalls, I was pressuring him into marriage. LOL. I was making new and wonderful "Florida Friends".

5 years ago--Mark and I were married for almost a year. I was busy studying for my doctorate. We had just started trying to have a family.

3 years ago--Mark was starting nursing school. We were taking a break from trying to have a family.

1 year ago--I was busy preparing for Liam and Tommy's first Birthday party. We had 60 people plus a hayride!!! Life was working out so much better than I could ever have hoped for!!!! I was tired. Raising twins is so rewarding and so exhausting!

Yesterday--Mark worked as he is now an R.N. and I took the kids tokiddiepark
with my parents. It's now all about kids (the way it should be)!
Today--Family day, took the little dudes out to breakfast and we are just leaving for the zoo.
Tomorrow--Back to work after the holiday weekend. Snuggle Bugs at the library in the evening.