1st Birthday and More!

It has been so long since I've posted! I've been very busy lately. Brennan and Ava has their 1st Birthday on November 7th! We had a Backyardigans party. They love the show! We celebrated with lots of family and friends. They got SOOOOO many new toys. After the guests left, Cory and I just sat there staring at all the stuff, wondering where we were going to put it. We turned our dining room into a playroom, but there was so much stuff! Luckily, with a storage bin and a relatively large room, it worked out. It's funny to me how no matter how many times I put a certain toy into the playroom, they just bring it back in the living room. It's also funny to me how they have so many toys (new and old) and love to play with the dog food dish, electrical cords, remotes, etc. One thing is for sure, Bren and Ava are loved by so many!




The day after their birthday, Brennan woke up with a terrible seal like cough. I thought to myself "Oh, Lord: it's croup!" We treated the symptoms he had and took him to the pediatrician on Monday afternoon. Sure enough, he had the ugly Croup. He was prescribed Prednisone and Motrin for fever control. He HATED the Prednisone and threw up after every dose. We put it in juice and the same thing happened. We then mixed it with his beloved bananas and it stayed down. The Prednisone made him mean and an insomniac! He is not a great sleeper anyway, but he just couldn't be still in bed AND he was in the bed with Mama and Daddy. I knew how ugly Croup could be, so I couldn't put him in his own bed upstairs. Ava has a little cough, but nothing like his cough was. Friday evening, we took Ava and Bren outside in the cool air, since this makes Croup symptoms better. We took them for a ride in their new wagon. I have to share this adorable picture!


***Thanks, Joyce and Todd for the great ride!!!!***


Anyway, 1 week later, he is better. He still has a dry cough (not the Croup cough), but feels SO much better. The Prednisone is stopped, so I feel like I have my baby boy back! For any of you who have taken an oral steroid, you know how crazy it makes even us adults! I took a steroid for bronchitis once and I could have killed someone!

Our babysitter and my other Mama, Toni, is back in the hospital. She has multiple Pulmonary Emboli (blood clots in lungs). Please keep her in your prayers! Thanks to great friends, we have the babysitter issue resolved. Ava and Bren sure do miss their Nana Toni, though!

Thursday Cuteness

Not much to blog about today, but had to share a few pics. We are now bathing the babies in the tub together. We used the sink after they had outgrown the baby tub, but they made a HUGE mess, splashing around, so we decided to use the tub in our bathroom. Anyway, here are a few pictures of their cuteness!

Rainy Friday afternoon post..

I haven't posted in so long. I'm very busy these days. Busier than I ever imagined. I spend 3 days of my week at work (7a-7p) and the other 4 chasing around two 10 month olds, who are into EVERYTHING. I can't believe in a little over 1 month, they will be 1 year old. Where has the time gone? Where did my babies go, I often ask myself, as they are pulling up on everything in site, cruising around on furniture, and crawling everywhere. They always seem to find things that they shouldn't. They love electrical cords, electrical outlets (Brennan has figured out how to remove the baby proof covering), and have a new found fascination with pulling up on the fireplace. Brennan is still very impatient and demands our attention all the time. He lifts his arms for us to pick him up, then he wants to dive out of our arms. Ava remains the sweet, calm, beautiful princess she has always been. She has learned to dance. I have to record it! It is hilarious and she dances to all music, especially a certain song her gammy sings to her. "Callll the Doctor, the doctor said, feed that baby some shortening bread!"

Cory and I both took the week off to be together as a family. Of course, it has rained ALL week and we all had the stomach virus. I have been lysoling like a man woman! Seeing your children sick is terrible, especially with a stomach virus, because there is nothing you can do but give them pedialyte. So sad!

I'm now headed to get ready for our date tonight. HA! Sam's, target, dinner. Gammy and Pops are babysitting. Have a great weekend!

I'm alive!

So, I haven't been much into blogging lately. I've been reading others, but just not into posting one. I have NOTHING to do, you know. I sleep until noon and sit around and watch tv for the rest of the day. HA! I couldn't tell you the last time I sat and watched TV, uninterrupted for a 30 minute show. And, the sleeping until noon thing is enough to make even the most depressed among us, laugh! Ha!

These days, I'm busy being a wife to my husband, who amazes me more and more everyday with his patience and love for his children. I'm busy being a registered nurse at a job that I enjoy, although physically and emotionally difficult. Most importantly, I am busy being a mother to the most beautiful babies in the world.



They keep me very busy. They are "army crawling" and are into EVERYTHING they have no business being into. Brennan loves cords to the tv. He gets behind the entertainment center to get them. A great friend of mine (Aunt Nikki) has told me to crawl around on my hands and knees to find things they can get into and fix them. Maybe I'll work on that today.

Cory and I went out to dinner last night. No babies, just us. The babies were with Nana and Papa G (Cory's parents). We had such a good time, but could only talk about our precious babies. Oh how things change when you're a parent. Ava and Brennan are our lives now and I couldn't imagine them not being around. It is nice to have a break, though, since Brennan has decided he doesn't like sleep. He wakes up sometimes two times during the night, sometimes zero. It is so unpredictable. To get him back to sleep, it takes Cory gettting him out of bed and patting his back for about 5-10 minutes. I've been researching this and everywhere says I need to let him cry and get himself back to sleep. We may try this tonight. I don't know if either on of us can do it. Something has to be done, though! He needs rest, as does his parents! :)

I have lots to do before the babies get home...laundry, laundry, more laundry, and maybe a nap.

Have a great day!

It has been a while...

On my last post, I had asked everyone to pray for sweet Kayleigh. As many of you may already know, Kayleigh passed away this week. I can't imagine what her parents are going through, although I'm sure they're thankful she doesn't have to suffer anymore. Adam, Aimee and the rest of the Freeman family are still in my prayers.

So, last weekend was Mother's Day weekend! I had a great first Mother's Day. Last Mother's Day was when I found out I was pregnant. Wow. Anyway, apparently Cory thought I needed some R & R, so he bought me a massage from Ava and Brennan . I am so excited to be massaged! It will be so wonderful to relax! We also went to Red Lobster with my parents and then to Cory's parents house. It was a great weekend!




I worked Monday and Tuesday. Monday was a horrible day! It seemed as though everything that could have went wrong, did! Ugh! I had three patients, who were very sick and just kept going bad. I was ready to throw my hands up and leave! I do like my new job, but it's very emotional and hard work! Tuesday was a little better. I had the same patients, but since I was familiar with them and their needs, it wasn't so bad. The 12 hours are great, though, as I get to be at home more with my favorite people in the world!

Speaking of my favorite people in the world: Ava and Brennan are 6 months old! I cannot believe it! I never understood the true meaning of "time flies" until I had children. I wrote another letter to them a few days ago, so I will share. Enjoy! :)

Dear Brennan and Ava,

Today, my sweet babies are 6 months old. I can't believe it's been a whole 6 months since my life changed completely. You two have brought so much joy to Daddy and I. There is never a boring moment with you two around; you make life worth living! We can't imagine the two of you not being around. We love you more than anything in the world, and look forward to the rest of our lives together. Here are a few things you two can do. I will begin the list with Brennan. It's only fair I start with him, he IS the oldest. :)

Brennan:

*You respond to voices, but you LOVE Mommy and Daddy's voice. When I come home from work and you hear my voice, you smile and laugh and talk to me.
* You are a Mommy's Boy through and through!
* Your favorite words right now are "Goooooooo, Ahhhhh, OoOohhhh, and "Daaaaaaaa"
* You spit your paci out when we try to give it to you. You prefer your fingers and your arm.
* You put everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING in your mouth. You even grab other peoples' fingers to put in your mouth.
* Your favorite toy is a chain (links hooked together).
* You are constantly moving!
* You love toys that have lots of colors, light up, and make noise.
* With help, you can stand. You make this brief grunting noise when you stand. You seem so proud of yourself.
* You flip from your back to stomach and your stomach to your back. You love to sleep on your stomach.
* You sleep all night.
* You prefer baby food to formula. You love bananas and any kind of juice. You get babyfood twice per day and formula the rest of the day. You always eat at least 8oz and most of the time, you eat more.
* You are fed in a highchair now. You're such a big boy! The mere thought of you being a big boy brings tears to my eyes.
* You are trying to crawl. You scoot around on the floor.
* You can sit up by yourself for about 5 seconds and then you topple over. You get so mad when this happens.
* You are such a morning person.
* You were recently changed from a size 2 diaper to size 3. You wear 6 month clothes.
* You are a happy baby. You only get really fussy when you're tired or hungry. You do fight sleep.
* You LOVE your sister! You two have your own language with each other and like to hold hands.

Ava:

* You are definitely a talker! You talk to strangers, your toys, your mobile in your bed, your clothes, and always to your family. Your favorite words are "Ah goooo, Ahhhh, and daaaaaaaaaaa"
* You talk, smile, and always try to put your brother's clothes in your mouth.
* You love your Baby Einstien ball. You kick the ball and when it's lying beside you, you pick it up.
* You roll from your back to stomach and stomach to back. You love to sleep on your stomach.
* You sleep all night.
* You love to eat! You like all veggies, but you love fruit! You also love juice.
* You eat babyfood twice per day and formula the rest of the time. You like babyfood a lot more than formula. Actually, you don't let us give you formula after babyfood! You scream at us!
* You stand with our assistance and you, too, always seem so proud of yourself when you do.
* You hate socks and shoes. You always kick them off. You have the cutest shoes and princess socks and you hate them!
* You can sit up briefly, but you topple over. You always get so mad when you fall over!
* You never really liked the paci, but you definitely don't now. You love sucking on your index and middle finger. Sometimes you put your whole fist in your mouth.
* Your fingers and toes interest you so much.
* You fight sleep! You take one nap during the day for maybe 20 minutes.
* You are trying to crawl!
* You eat in your highchair. You're a big girl! The thought of my babies being a "big boy and girl" is breaking my heart.
* As was typing the last sentence, you were talking as usual. You said "Daaa Daaa" between the "Goooooooo." Your daddy is ecstatic! I called him just to tell him.
* You're a happy baby and you love to laugh. You only get fussy when you're tired or hungry.
*You wear size 3 diapers and 6-9 month clothes. You've done quite well at catching up! You and your brother have gotten SO big!
* You are a Daddy's Girl all the way! You smile so big when you see him.

Well, duty calls! Brennan needs a nap and is refusing to take one!

Take care! :)

So Thankful...

As I got home last night at 7:30pm from work, I complained that my feet were hurting from the long day, despite me wearing my dansko shoes. I complained about being tired. I then walked in to the living room, where my beautiful babies were sitting with my husband and I suddenly became thankful for everything I have. I'm always thankful, but this was different. Cory and I argue a lot, but the truth is, I love him more than he knows. I also appreciate him more than he knows. He is such a huge help and he is the best Father i've ever seen. I am also thankful for Ava and Brennan, of course. Being born at 29 weeks, I know their story could have been horrible. I am so thankful for their health and growth. I am thankful for the opportunity to be their Mommy.

I've been reading about and praying for little Kayleigh Freeman. I can't imagine what her parents are going through. NICU is such a rough road alone, but then to find out your child is brain dead and hearing that it's basically "just a matter of time now" has got to be the most horrible thing for a parent to go through. I know these parents have done everything in their power to try to save their precious baby girl, even when others thought it was hopeless. I admire them so much and I don't know them.

So, as my son is lying in his boppy pillow, kicking me and screaming (no tears at all), I am going to hold him, kiss him, and love him because I'm sure that's all he wants anyway. Then, I will hold Ava and do the same, but I'm sure Brennan will get mad, so I'll probably be holding them both.

Please keep the Freeman family in your prayers. Have a great day!

Saturday Night Blogging...

Well, it's 9:47pm. Ava and Brennan are sleeping. Cory is watching some stupid movie, and I'm blogging. Before the birth of the most precious babies in the world, I would have never been home on Saturday night! Isn't it funny how things change? Anyway, while we were home this evening, we took some pictures of our growing babies and I thought I'd share a few.

Gosh, aren't those beautiful babies? As you can see, Ava is such a daddy's girl. Brennan is MY boy! :)