Merry Christmas!

Beautiful christmas with all of my kiddos! The big kids were so happy with the few presents they were given. The babies of course had fun with the boxes and the paper. We found out a few weeks ago they we are expecting our last baby!

Robbie was with us all this Christmas. Not a day goes by that she is not in my thoughts...the holidays even more so.

Ricky

2011 has been wonderful for us. I can't wait for 2012. Merry Christmas!

Glow in the dark bath!

I had seen something about putting glow sticks in bath water for toddlers so when I went to the store today I picked some up. After the "baby bumpkins" we gave them a fun bath...

I bought two but the other was a dud...

Reese is having fun..

Ricky trying to eat it! This was the one really bad part..

Ricky discovered his peepee a month ago and wanted the glowstick to find it too...

I loved the concept! They had a great time with it! The only yucky part is that they are still putting everything in their mouth and it could be dangerous if it broke. We had to fight Ricky to get it out of this mouth a few times. They loved the dark bath!

Making baby "bumpkins"... looked quick and easy...

Daddy holding Ricky down

Me painting his butt ;-)

Trying to figure out the best way to get the print...

Reese being patient while I painted his tush

Looking at our work

Have you EVER seen anything so cute?

Another print...

Look at Reese's face! LMAO!!

Gotta get the crack!

Daddy watching football while holding babies..

Crack painting isn't as fun in this position..

I love the end result but that was so much work! They were not having the best of times. haha. They did get to splish splash right after which they loved!

Reese learns to ignore his mommy!

This morning while Reese was eating a banana for breakfast he started throwing parts of it on the floor. When I told him "no" he started sneaking the pieces under his highchair and releasing them near his feet. I grabbed my video camera to capture what a stinker he is.....I had no idea what I was about to see for the first time!

He learned to fake cry, ignore me and almost seems like an eye roll!! If this is how he is as a small baby....I am in for trouble!

Walks with Mommy!

The weather here is finally getting below 100 so that means its walking time! I have taken the boys on walks most of the week and its amazing to see how much they are noticing. I can honestly say they are best behaved in the stroller!

On the riverwalk with our friends!



Yesterday we went on a walk with a set of twin friends Addy and Caden. Ended up walking 7 miles to the Rivercenter Mall! What a fun day! The babies were amazing and even napped a little on the way back. 

Just Add Children with the Lee Twins!

Today we met Angie and her twins Eli and Ethan at Just Add Children for a playdate! We had a fantastic time! The boys loved the slides and the play kitchen the most. Reese wanted to play on the kitchen so bad but a little too short. He was on his cute little tippy toes trying to reach. ;-) We met up around 11 and stayed until 2.

The boys eating lunch! No highchairs there, only bumbos!

I put them in socks from Switzerland with bell Cows....such a bad choice mom!

Reese loving the firetruck! Ricky climbing up the slide!

Reese is walking!

Reese is an official walker now! He takes about 7 or 8 steps at a time to get to someone or something unassisted! I am still waiting to catch him on camera because it happens so quickly! The look on his face is PRICELESS! He also flaps his little arms and hands around like he is flying. ;-) These are the best days.

Ricky is learn to take steps also! He is taking 2 or 3 steps at a time. Seems a little less sure than Reese but he also couldn't see either! The glasses are helping him build his confidence. I can't wait to see him on the move more.

A scare for mommy!

During a play date at our house I noticed Ricky was acting up. I grabbed him and he was on fire! My car a/c was out (great) so I grabbed the phone to call my mom. She wouldn't come so I called Elizabeth. She was on the way! I was terrified because Ricky has kidney reflux. Any fevers that are unexplained could be a UTI so he has to get a catheter. HELL on a baby and a mommy. I was a mess...crying and all upset. Thankfully he had an ear infection. We have been fighting the fever for two days and the meds make him throw up. The best bet so far seems to be putting the meds in his bottle. We will see. So thankful for a great friend.

Ricky needs glasses

Last week I noticed that Ricky's eyes seemed to be crossing. Not bad but enough to keep thinking about it. On Tuesday we had an appointment scheduled with Dr. Fierro so I decided to ask them about it. The nurse practitioner saw it right away. I called the eye Dr and they had a same day appointment. We went and after a LONG day we found out he is severely farsighted. Glasses have been ordered and we should see them next week!

I think he looks adorable! I hope that the glasses correct his eyes or surgery is the next step. ;-(

Playdate at Ethan and Elijah's house!

We had another fun playdate with our new friends!!! 4 moms and 8 babies....somehow we survived!!! Its great to hangout with a group of moms that have very similar days and nights. All of the babies are between 8 and 13 months old. Simply adorable!

That is only 5 of them....

So cute!!!

Rebecca brought us two little girls to play with this week!!! YAY!!

This week Angie, Ashley, Rebecca and myself had a few hours to hangout and watch the babies wear themselves out. ;-)

July 4th!!

Our first "real" July 4th!!! There was a ban on fireworks this year so unfortunatley the boys didn't get to see any but we still had tons of fun!!! The Tate's came over (Kristina, Josh and Nathaniel) and Louis for a BBQ. The girls and babies had a fun time in the house while the guys sweat their butts off outside being men. ;-)

We loved our food!!!

Our friend Nathaniel enjoying his FIRST cupcake!!!

The boys all had so much fun playing together! Mommy and Kristina had fun talking girl talk. I soooo love and miss adult conversation!

I see miracles everyday!

This week has been amazing for me. The boys turned one last Monday and it seems like they are growing up so fast. For the past year I have had a constant worry about my beautiful and sweet baby Ricky. He was in the hospital for a month past Reese, came home on oxygen and his brain bleed lasted longer. I have always know that he may have future delays so when he dose something....It feels like witnessing a miracle...every single time.

This week he learned to stand up and to cruise!! ALL IN LESS THAN A WEEK. Its like hes telling me "don't worry mom, I got this" in his own little way.

Reese started pointing at everything this week. We went for their one year checkup and the doctor asked if they point yet. I answered no. Reese then decides to pick up that beautiful little hand and point at daddy. Gotta love kids!

Our first time in a BIG pool!

We went swimming for the first time at Tiana's pool. All the kids came and it was REALLY relaxing! Ricky is a little fish. He kicks his legs the entire time....even when we lift him out of the water. Reese seems to relax and take it easy in the water. Its amazing how they are so different and both so wonderful.

Of course our big brother Cameron and big sister Zoe played and splashed with us! We are so lucky to have two older children that adore the babies!

These nights never end well..

I find myself tonight in a full house that everyone but me is sleeping in. This week/month/year has been so emotionally exhausting...the only way I think I keep it together is that I am so busy I dont have time to stop. And think. Like tonight.

My mind is constantly thinking of the past. The future. The what if's. The why me. The why her.

I can't live there though. I can't linger there too long.

I am the mother of 5. I have to keep going and stay strong. I can't make them live in her shadow. In my dreams. Its not fair.

So I will give myself tonight. And any other nights I am left alone. And I will leave it there. I will try. 

I am the mother of MICRO Preemies....you want to know how you can tell?

You will see the sparkle in my eyes every time they accomplish even the smallest of milestones. You will hear the love and joy in my voice when I see them after walking away for only moments....almost like a mother that had to walk away too many nights empty handed.

*You will also feel the cool sensation of the hand sanitizer before you even know its coming.*

Its amazing the difference between having a perfectly healthy newborn and having a 26 weeker. With Ricky and Reese I look at the small things. Did Reese grab both toys in both hands? Did Ricky just bang those two toys together? Check and check. The small things that most parents don't even notice are things that some of us have come to cherish.

I watched them learn to suck, swallow, breathe (remember that?). I literally watched what would normally be considered a fetus, grow right in front of my very eyes.

I look at these perfect little babies in AWE. They are so strong and so amazing. In 3 months they went through more than most of us have been through in a lifetime.

So...if you see me post a thousand facebook updates or get ten texts from me about how they are now looking to the left now or they can recognize names....know that they are still fighting each day with some of the cards they were dealt. I know in the future they may have delays because they were born with Grade 3 brain bleeds but for now THEY ARE RIGHT ON TIME.

Thank you Ricky and Reese for showing mommy how to stay strong and how to fight with everything I have. You truly light up the dark.

Let the races begin!! THEY CAN CRAWL!!!

The gate between the dining and living. HAHA. LOVE THIS GATE!!

My life will never be the same! They are now CRAWLING!!! Ricky was the first to start on Thursday and Reese followed the next day! We spent the day shopping for BABY PROOFING items so that we I will survive the next couple of years. Seeing these boys on the move is the cutest thing in the world! They look like little puppies or baby horses learning to walk for the first time.

The physical therapist said the goal was a year to crawl and GUESS WHAT?? They are 10 months!!! We did it!!! (Now can we slow down...mommy needs to catch up)

P.S. Yes I used cords to bait you both into crawling on camera. I will do worse im sure. :-)