~A Glimpse of 2009~

2009 has been a life changing year for me. This is the year I became a mother. I have always known that I was born to be a mother, but I never imagined what it would be like. It is unbelievable how you can love someone so deeply and unselfishly. I have learned so much about my self this year. I have learned that I am  strong, weak, patient, impatient, flexible, routined, and many other things. Most importantly, I have learned how to be a mother and a wife (because when you have a baby - this role changes). Thank you for being on this journey with our family.

As you all know, Londyn & Livia came into this world a little early and a little differently than most babies. They did not begin their life in my arms or in our home. We spent 27 days in the NICU. Londyn came home four days before Livia. This experience is the hardest thing we have ever endured. Unless you have gone through this, you can't imagine not bringing your children home with you and learning the daily routines and trials and tribulations of late night feedings and crying. Instead, you worry about why they are hooked up to so many tubes, why do they need to do x-ray on their intestines, you are informed that she may need a blood transfusion before she leaves, they just aren't feeding well, they keep loosing weight, she is having lots of bradys or apnea episodes. You have an hour with your baby, then she needs to rest, find something to do for 2 hours and then come back. You are told that we are just "watching her" what does that mean? Taking one step forward two steps back. At the end of the day, you ride the elevator down to the first floor walk to your car and drive home -in tears. Praying so hard, please let them be okay, please. Then there are days when they take a full feeding, are taken off oxygen, have poops, moved into the same room with each other, then the same bed, they are regulating their own body heat, they get to take a bath, no apnea episodes, we are taking the feeding tubes out, we are removing the pic line, get their room ready - it's time to prepare for their checkout. Finally getting to take those horrible hospital pictures - 25 days after they were born, car seat checks, and then the checkout meeting. It is an emotional rolled coaster and something I never thought I would experience. When I look back at our time their, I can honestly say I was numb - going through each motion just to get to the next day.  So as 2009 has been the absolute BEST year of my life, it was also very challenging and emotional. We are so thankful for our babies and they have amazed us, they are strong! I love them so much and I know they love me too.

Thank you God for this year, for these babies, and for the new person that I am. I am forever blessed because of you and your gifts!

That my heart may sing to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give You thanks forever.

                                                         ~Psalm 30:12

It all began in the belly...

Londyn Paige

Livia Grace

tubes..

tubes...

tubes...

more cords....

Look how little....

~sweet little finger~

Londyn - first bath...

I can't believe how small she is...

Look at the skin on her knees

Livy Grace first bath - not liking it!

Hanging with the family!

Livy on oxygen

Always so alert!!!

First time together since my belly!

Londyn - left Livy - right

Feeding tubes in the mouth and nose...

Cobedding!!!

Soon time to leave...

First Photoshoot

Just laying the same way... we are twins!

Boppy - there favorites!!!

laying the same again...

Playing!!!

I love your ear Livy!

Hello Mom!!!

Shake it!

1 of 2

2 of 2

Loving on each other!!!

So Fancy!!!

GO OU!!!

Happy Halloween!

Meeeoooowww!!!

Ear Piercing

Child Dedications

Christmas 2009

~Goodbye 2009~

Every good and perfect gift is from above...

James 1:17

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Hanging with Mommy!

Luckily, I am off work until February - I got a long term sub position in a kindergarten classroom, I am extremely excited about it!!! But, in the mean time, I am hanging out everyday with my girls! I love it - and they love it! We are having soooo much fun together. Every morning when they wake up I bring them to my bed and we snuggle for a bit. Then, we go to the living room, play, sing (I sing - they watch), read books, eat baby food, jump in the jumper, swing, watch baby einstein, scoot around & anything else that looks fun. Around 11:00 the girls head off for a nap for about an hour and then we either do more playing or we hit the streets. I am so glad I am getting to spend extra mommy time with them, I am LOVING it!!!

Seriously Mom?

I will Smile!

Oops...

You found my new hiding place/favorite place!

Just Napping!

I Love You Mom!!!

I Love You Too Mom!!!

Playing together...

Daddy is home & I am getting some attention.

Don't forget about me...

Miss Helen came to visit today too

and it was a lot of fun!

We played with her and also

helped her think of ideas for her classroom!

It was FUN ~ thanks for hanging out Helen!

 love this picure!

Stop #3 ~ Lone Grove!!!

Stop #3, our final stop, Pamma & Poppa's! We had such a great time with them! We had a super casual, pajama kind of Christmas! After, traveling and two previous stops, this was PERFECT! We started the day with some super yummy food - brisket, corn casserole, green bean casserole, beans, and rolls, to finish up we had coconut pie and sop-ha pia cheesecake!!! Slap those calories on to the belly! Then we opened gifts, and played more wii! We played mario cart which was so fun - and hard! The girls got so many wonderful gifts and we really enjoyed spending time with our family. My camera died so these pics are from the iphone. 

Thank you to all of our family & friends for making this such a special Christmas for our family & especially our sweet baby girls. Each of our stops are so different and we are so glad because we have such a wonderful experience with each family. We are so blessed to be surrounded by those who love and care for us deeply. I hope that you all had a wonderfully blessed Christmas with family & friends. Merry Christmas!

Just waiting on the gifts!!!

Londyn in her cute little baret (sp?)!

Livy in her cute little baret (sp?)!

Hanging with the big girls!

Livy Grace's teeth were hurting....

Uncle Jeremy & Auntie M!

Getting the gifts!!!

Hilarious!!! Playing Mario Cart!

Pamma loving on Lu!

Poppa filling Livy's belly!

Uncle Jeremy & Livy Grace playing with a new toy!

Merry Christmas to You All!!!