All This And Heaven

Where have Dad and Possible been?

2012-01-24T12:18:00.000-06:00

It has been evident from all of our pictures that a few very important members have been missing from the trip to St. Louis, and then onto the March for Life. We have missed Possible and Dad very much the past week. Dad had to work, when in sales you can't avoid a trade show given by your bigger clients. The fun news was that his trade show and meetings were held on the property of Disney World in Orlando Florida. J planned ahead and new he would have Sunday mostly free and Monday evening after the Trade Show he was free. We decided that this would be a great time for Possilbe to spend some time with Dad. So she got to have her first flight, some yummy foods, swim time, and a day and an evening at the parks of Disney World.

I do just want to say yummy to all the food they send picutres of. We can't wait to get back home to talk to Possible about her time at Disney World. None of the other children have been there.

A Look Into the Stars

2012-01-23T23:30:00.000-06:00

We often try to visit as many of the wonderful free museums when we are in St. Louis. They are all so well maintained and wonderful. Each visit we spend a little time at the St. Louis Science Center.

This visit I wanted to do something we don't normally do. We explored only the Planetarium. There was a cost but with only 4 kiddos we made the most of it. Miss Brenda joined us which allowed us to explore an almost empty exhibit with freedom to split up and see what ever we wanted.

Inside the unique shape is a theater that shows the stars in the night sky. So beautiful.

After the show we walked around and explored the exhibit. We touched a few meteors and even got to touch a small piece of the planet Mars.

We had a great day! It ended with a great meal, at our beloved Steak N Shake.

We miss the big kids but worked hard to enjoy ourselves and look forward to their return.

Mass at Home

2012-01-22T23:30:00.000-06:00

I got to do something that I normally do not get to do. I got the pick which Mass we went to and at the Church I most wanted to visit. I picked the parish that I remember as my home parish for years. I was three when we moved into St. Clement of Rome parish and moved out when I got married. Our wedding wasn't there and I kind of regret that. My faith grew strong at this place. I was blessed to have great priests throughout the years. I loved going to Mass every day when I was a child with the Catholic school. Now a days most Catholic schools start too early for anyone to attend daily Mass - very sad. I have so many fond memories of finding peace and knowing God inside that building. It was so good to visit.

I have forgotten how the stain glass all around the round building shine. I loved the shot of priest giving the homily. I remember it from all my years of formation growing up. To me the priest, next to the Easter candle with the cross and the Tabernacle behind him with the glass shinning above is the way it is supposed to look. I know that is just because I saw it everyday for several years.

This is a picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. This devotion is one that I love. I never see it in Texas but remember her helping me so many times with so many issues through the years. She is so beautiful and so loving. I was glad to show the kids this picture and introduce them to this image.

Looking for some Magic

2012-01-22T23:00:00.000-06:00

The big kids were gone so we headed to the Magic House with KeeKee and Tim and Em. When we lived in St. Louis we would go all the time with other kids. This group didn't remember it at all. The older ones had told them what to look for. The Magic House is room after room of hands on learning for kids of all ages. We explored and enjoyed for several hours. I will let the pictures tell the story. Thank you KeeKee and Uncle Mike for taking us as your guests. We had a blast until mom's coat was stolen. Oh well, it was still a great time.

They are Off!

2012-01-21T21:19:00.000-06:00

Friday started a simple morning of packing and preparing for the March For Life. The weather was looking bad and news reports of frozen rain were coming from all news services. Jumba spent the morning riding the little horse while Sugar and Jumba worked very hard on their "Flat Pooker" paper doll.

They were all so upset that Pooker would not be joining them so they created this wonderful doll with a great likeness.

The flat Pooker was now to be in every picture.

Jumba refused to leave poor Lucy alone.

Pickle was sneaking more juice as the rest of us were trying to get out of the house.

We arrived at Angela Merici before any rain started. It took all of us to get the luggage to the waiting area. Lots of pictures with the "Flat Pooker".

Oh yeah, three very excited kiddos getting ready.

The younger ones were very eager to help, as they looked forward to the time with mom being the only kids at home.

I do hope they are able to get in and out of the hotel with out all these little helpers.

Miss Brenda and I enjoyed loving on "Flat Pooker" as we both miss the real Pooker so much.

The doll doesn't pull away from mommy kisses either. We should have thought of this years ago.

The boys love their Pooker so much.

Last year so many people of the bus got sick. My kiddos had been preparing for this trip by taking extra vitamens for weeks in advance.

Fr. Tom try to prevent illness by spraying everyone down with lysol.

My March for Lifers all ready to go. They are even bringing Flat Pooker along to make sure she is included.

It may have been only those three in our family going but it took the rest of us to get them to the starting gate. I thought about that for some time. The rest of us will not be in Washington DC for the March but we worked had to get those there. They represent us as they will March in defense of the babies. What an honor.

Here the kiddos and Father are with our March for Life, St. Louis friends, the B family. Those 6 teens will change the world for the better.

Father Tom has always been a Pooker fan. He might even be keeping a secret about Pooker in this picture. Hmmm More on that later.

This is how I see the March for Life:

I am so proud to know so many people on the March for Life this year. This trip is nothing like one would think it is. People come back talking about the wonderful time they had but that is not what it is. It is not a vacation, it is not a planned trip, it is not a recreation time. Sure that stuff is built into to it to help you enjoy yourself but the trip is about SACRIFICE, it is about OFFERING OF YOURSELF, it is about PROTESTING an evil that is so nasty that we have a hard time understanding it. The March For Life is about loving your country so much that you are willing to travel thousands of miles without comfort to demand change. It is about nothing more than defending the unborn. It is all for the honor and glory of God. Anyone that walks away focused on not seeing the right things or doing the right activities is too selfish to see why they are there. You being there is about you standing for the hundreds that can't join you but stand behind you in prayer for an end to legalized murder. Thank you to the many people I know that are Marching tomorrow. Know that to March is an honor and part of loving a forgiving God. The truth is that in serving Him you will feel like you had a wonderful time.

A Day for rest and visiting family

2012-01-19T23:08:00.000-06:00

Our long trip was exhausting. The kids did not want to waste one minute of being near family. The first day in St. Louis started early with Mimi's neighbors and my Niece and Nephew coming over for a visit before school. We were all so tired but loved to wake up and give them hugs and kisses.

We spent the morning moving very slowly. We got to spend time with Mimi and her new love Lucy. Then we got moving because Dad's sister aunt Erica called and she wanted to meet us for lunch.

Uncle Resto is a favorite for sure. He happens to be Bagel's God Father so this is a great picture.

Bear is here with Georgie, my nephew and J's God son, with Jumba just grinning. He loves not being the youngest. Lunch was a great. I miss that family time so much.

My kiddos were still a little sleepy from our long journey but having a blast.

Back at MiMi's my brother stopped by with his kiddos and KeeKee's kiddos joined in the fun as well. T-Man is such a doll baby.

Goobers loved her Maddie time.

Pickle is just a silly one.

Miss Brenda came over and we had a blast talking with my brother Joe-Joe.

The kids all eating together is so precious and Uncle Joe is right there in the mix.

Yep, time with family is very very special.

Leg one - Get to St. Louis

2012-01-19T11:33:00.000-06:00

Our big trip has started. The first and most difficult part was the very long drive with just one driver, mom. The kiddos were very worried because my usual position while dad drives is to sleep. I defend that position by saying that I don't always love how J drives. I can't criticize him if I am asleep. I think I do him a favor by sleeping. That being said I couldn't keep my eyes open at all on our return trip from St. Louis. (I was just pregnant with twins people and now we are in trimester 2.)

We got up early and took off before the sun came up. It was an early start and hard leaving Pooker, Possible and J behind. I was looking forward to the trip until we left. Then the worry and stress of the drive got to me.

We had to stop way more than I would have liked. I had to use the rest room every so often. My belly needed to stretch too. It made for a long long day. I loved the time with the kiddos also. I got to pick the radio tunes and I like my selection tons. Now the kids were very honest and prefer Dad's music to moms.

It is really cold up here in the "Show Me State". Quit a chill after leaving 75 plus degree weather back in Houston. I am happy to finally have a real chill like winter should have.

Our last stop was because mom needed to get out of car and walk around. I admit that the last 2 hours were the worst. I was fighting fatigue but was able to rest once we arrived.

I am proud of us for doing so well on the drive. Bear with Goobers were able to keep the lights to the trailer on. They braved the cold temps to fix the connection several times during our drive. The kids were all well behaved and tolerated mom and her music. We have arrived and slept in late. Now for our St. Louis adventure and the departure of the March for Life travelers. We miss Possible, Pooker and Dad so much. Love you guys.

Wild Weekend

2012-01-17T09:35:00.000-06:00

We had a quiet weekend at home. We worked hard to prepare for trip while at the same time enjoying our time with each other. I worked hard on gifts for a baby shower. Our home school group has the wonderful tradition of having a baby shower for all the pregnant woman every year. This year it is a record number of pregnant moms. We try to give each other small gifts to just celebrate each new life. Everyone is honored, no matter if they have 10 or 1 already. I love this tradition. It is so very pro-life. We get together and pray the rosary for the unborn babies in the group and the moms.

I try to make burp clothes for everyone. I like making these ones that have Holy Mary on them. And the second one for each mom is a rosary. I paint these each time and I am amazed that how each Mary looks different, some look happy others sad, some are perfect and others are sloppy looking. All are done together and with the utmost care and yet they are all different. I explained how to do it in an old post check it out to learn more.

The comments I get from everyone lets me know that whatever one each person gets it is perfect for them. It is just one of those small God things that happens. I worked hard to make 17 sets this time. That was a lot of Mary's and Rosaries. So much work but so fun. Now I only wish I could make it to the baby shower where 15 babies are being honored (two are my twins.) Unfortunately we will be headed to St. Louis for the March for Life the day of the shower. I will miss this fun.

This was a huge football weekend for our corner of the world. The NFL Conference Championships were fought for this weekend. The New Orleans Saints and the Houston Texans were both teams that were fighting for their titles. Saturday the Saints went down and then on Sunday the Texans didn't do well either. It was very hard for my two little men and their dad. This has been a fun season for J. His boys took an interest and started watching with him. His girls always have watched, but for a dad he wants to share football with his boys! All football people were sad by the end of the weekend.

The highlight of the weekend was talking to Pooker and Linguini on Skype. The boys miss her much more than I thought they would. Everyone misses having her around all the time. Jumba asked dad on Sunday if it was time to visit her yet. Bear is constantly checking the front door to see if she is "home yet". I don't even think he realized how much he does it. I wanted a better picture but they got mad at me for taking pictures all the time.

We love seeing Pooker even if it is just for a short time on the computer. Another weekend had passed and we spent time with each other so it was time well spent.

Bunches and Bunches, Pooker!

2012-01-14T15:35:00.000-06:00

The day started with the three older ones taking Pooker's belongings to her car. They went with her to the University of St. Thomas to move her in before her classes or at least to locate a room. The rest of us loaded the van with the few suitcases that were left and joined them at lunch time. We got a tour of the dorms and were thrilled to learn that some how Pooker was assigned a roommate that was from Chicago and just happens to be a Cubs fan. I am amazed that in a school so small that there would even be another Cub fan on campus much less Pooker would be roommates with her.

We got to visit her new small room, then Linguini's room on another floor. We then got a quick tour of the small campus. I loved that we saw several priests on the campus. The Chapel was full of students for daily Mass. Pooker has found a wonderful place for her. I know that in a short time she will fit in and be a part of it. After the tour we took some pictures and then went to lunch. Arriving back at the campus was a little hard, our moods changed. We all knew that we were leaving soon and one of us would be home somewhere other than with the rest of us.

Jumba had a hard time and that surprised us. He wouldn't look Pooker in the eye. She got her hugs and kisses from everyone. We even made sure dad gave her a second kiss. As we got to the car most of the kiddos had red eyes and as we looked back to the curb we saw Pooker shedding a few tears as well. She had Linguini to help her through this. We need to thank him for making our day on campus so much fun. We love you both. I will let the pictures say it all.

We love you bunches and bunches Pooker. We always will. It took us almost 21 years to get to today. Mom and dad wouldn't change it for the world. You changed our lives and we have been honored to love you, guide you and cherish you. Now go show the world what we already know. You can and will change the world into a better place with your smile, your heart and your knowledge. May God Bless You today and always!

More of a Neen Update Week 14.5

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000-06:00

Still do not like posting pictures of my ugly self but I promised I would. I don't feel that big yet except when trying to get out of one couch that needs to be replaced.

I have had a very bad few days. I had been operating on the notion that the second placenta and two sacs were hard to see during the first few ultrasounds but would get easier to see as time when on. I read yesterday that the opposite is true. This broke my heart just a little. I am still holing that we find the two sacs at least. Babies that share both are very rare, like only 1% of all identical twins. A friend tied to encourage me by saying that they were rare yesterday and my response was that so was Possible's "1 in two billion" heart condition. God likes to send me rare.

The term is MO-MO babies and these are identical twins that split later, maybe as much as 8 days after conception. Any later and they could be conjoined twins, and we know ours are not Siamese by the ultrasounds. MO-Mo comes from the two words monochorionic-monoamniotic, one placenta - one sac. I am the type of person that must know what I am up against. I admit that if they are true MO-MO's I am very scared for them. I read that they have a 60% survival rate. Honestly that is better than Possibles was so we might be just fine in the end. Getting there might be difficult. They will require lots of monitoring. I read one woman was put into the hospital for observation around week 23 and then they did a c-section at week 27. That is a long time for a healthy person to be in the hospital. We will do what we need for the babies for sure. I am taken back by what all this could mean.

J is ignoring it all until the doctor tells him to deal with it. I am not way. I must know all I can up front. He will keep me balanced. Thanks for all my friends that listened to me worry today and prayed with me and for me. Let me just say that I know nothing more than I did at last week's update about our twins. I feel movement every now and then and look forward to feeling more of it. I can feel a cold coming on but it won't hurt any of us. I will do all I can for the twins with my diet and behavior and I will again practice my trust in God. Not easy for me but He loves me enough to continue to give me chances.

I am asking that our dear ones in Heaven will watch over these babies and help me to take care of them. Declan and David please pray for us and help us to keep these babies safe.

Pregnancy Dreams are starting!

2012-01-09T11:08:00.001-06:00

I have never really had vivid dreams when I was pregnant but boy the past two nights have been very different. Both nights a person from my past has been featured and I wake up with a need to talk to these people. It is so weird.

Saturday Night the dreams were all about a friend from here in Texas. We are in the same homeshcool group. We are in neighboring parishes. We shop at the same stores. I have not seen her in awhile but could see her any time. When we had Jumba she gave me a rocking chair that was in her garage at the time. She now has a young granddaughter with another grandchild on the way. This was all very vivid in my dreams. K actually got me started in blogging. I read her family blog before even knowing her that well. Then when we got closer I decided to try my own blog. I love that world that she introduced me to. Her current blog is mostly about running (a passion we do not share) and her precious family. Check out K and her family here. Now I need to be off to write her an email and see if she might want this rocking chair back for her daughter and grand babies.

Sunday Night the dreams were about a highschool friend that I have reconnected with over facebook and then through blogging. In highschool we were friends but didn't know each other as much as we do now. I remember her as having a passion for history and politics. She now lives in Kansas and has a beautiful blog about her faith, family and interests. She has three beautiful children on earth with more in heaven. I learned of her lost ones last night and could not get it off my mind. In my dreams we went to visit her. She and her very kind hubby served us every kind of meat possible. I dreamed of so much meat I woke up feeling full. It was so strange. Now I have a strong desire to go and visit Val. You can peek into Val's life and her family here. (I have never seen meat on her blog - don't know why it was in my dreams.)

Who knows what I will dream about tonight! Is anyone safe?

Was it a crazy Sunday? Or a normal one?

2012-01-08T21:59:00.002-06:00

Jumba will do anything to be like his daddy. He copied dad's outfit this morning.
So cute, both of them!

The kids gave their dad a written request at dinner time. Pooker and Linguini will be moving to the dorms this week. The kids kept saying this is our last dinner with Pooker. It isn't the last one just the last big Sunday meal before Pooker moves to the dorms. We hope that they will join us for a few meals here and there.

Anyway they all wanted to play "Simon Says". J leads a mean game of Simon.

The kids are so intense, it is so funny to watch.

They take it seriously with lots of protests when Simon says they are out.

They only played two rounds, with the first being practice and the second being 20 minutes long. These crazy kiddos. They know how to have a blast with their daddy, that is for sure!

God said, "Throw it out!"

2012-01-06T21:14:00.000-06:00

I still can't believe this. It was one of those really odd things that surprises you when it happens. I was getting out of the car the other morning. I had my decaf-coffee with me. It was a cup from McDonald's and it was about 3/4 finished. I paused after touching the ground and asked myself, "Should I take this into the park with me and finish it off or should I just pitch the cup right now?"

CLUNK What was that, I looked around and then at my cup. A few fine needles had fallen from the sky and right into the very small drinking opening to the lid. "Well I guess that answers that!"

Twins Update 13.4

2012-01-05T11:12:00.001-06:00

When you see the word "Twins" what comes to mind first?

Yep for me it used to be the baseball team. The Texas T's uncle Resto played for the Twins years ago.

Growing up I loved the cartoon about the Wonder Twins. My kids still wonder why every now and then J and I will pump fists and say "Wonder Twins Activate!"

I admit that another set of Twins often comes to mind as they grew up before my eyes and the rest of the worlds . . . Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen.

They are truly beautiful girls! Now another image comes to mind right off the bat.

This is what I was looking at when the doctor talked about the second baby. My twins. I also think of my expanding belly. This is the Belly shot from today Week 13.4

I am feeling great. I don't fall asleep all the time anymore. I am now going to try to take the next few months to prepare my home for either a move or for the twins. I am always hopeful we will move from Houston although it still doesn't look probable. We will also be pushing school work with lots of organization. I will need to update the plan for this year and create one for next year. I know it will likely change but if I have something in mind the kids won't go without after the Twins are born. I don't want to think that we could have health issues but I will feel better being prepared for the worst.

The official update is NO NEW NEWS. I was very disappointed in some ways after yesterday's uneventful doctors appointment and ultrasound. The great news is that J and I got to see two babies moving constantly. It looked like the two were jumping on competing trampolines. The down side of that is no pictures to remember or share. They moved so much it prevented a close enough look to determine sexes. The doctor was also unable to find the answers to my worries. He thought he saw a second placenta but then didn't think so. He really felt that when I go back in 4 weeks we will be able to determine a lot more. He is a little concerned that he didn't see a membrane between the two. Then he also noted that the placenta looked close to the cervix. I have read too much to know that a shared sack with a shared placenta that is placed too close to the cervix can mean lots of things that can go wrong. He mentioned that I might need to see some specialist later on. For now we will just wait and see. The good news to walk away with was what the doctor did see, "I saw two very active, very healthy babies that looked just like any other healthy baby at 13 weeks gestation."

Pure Love

2012-01-03T17:39:00.000-06:00

Jumba loves the twins so much. He doesn't understand it all but does love them.

I love that when I leave the house Jumba demands a kiss from me and then tells me to get up. He then kisses my growing belly two times and says, "I love you guys!" The twins are so loved.

Moms Catholic Coffee Club

2012-01-02T21:50:00.001-06:00

Sometimes it is just simple mom time. I love it and I really needed it!

Good Bye 2011 - Hello 2012!!!

2012-01-01T14:01:00.001-06:00

What a Great Night. It was different because Pooker was gone, but she did Skype us. Mom fell asleep long before midnight but the kiddos did wake me up in time. As the kids were running out the front door to watch fireworks from a neighbor, I heard someone say this will be even more fun with two babies next year. 2011 was full of surprises. I think that we do a good job of taking the bad news and making the best of it. We also had some woderful things come our way. God surprises us all the time. We look forward to the many surprises that 2012 will hold.

Happy New Year.

May God Bless you and your family!

Happy 2012!

12.4 Belly Shot

2011-12-29T13:46:00.000-06:00

I have never liked pictures of me, especially as I have gained more and more weight over the years. It is a very popular thing to take belly pictures of an expanding belly when mom is pregnant. This is something that I have never allowed to be done. This pregnancy is so different and everyone is so curious about twins that I decided I would take a week by week shot. I have pulled some from before I knew I was expecting, some just after the positive test, and then since that doctors appointment I have taken a shot every few days. I have still been way too prideful to post these shots. I didn't save them anywhere else but in that folder. Much to my surprise, as I went to add this weeks shot, I made a grisly discovery. The folder is gone. I must have erased it the other day as I was organizing pictures. So I guess I will go ahead and post this one right away so I don't loose it again.

The good news is that the babies are growing. I feel huge already. We go to the doctor next week with a 15 minute ultrasound check up on their growth and to check their placenta. If they do share one placenta their weight gain will be closely monitored to make sure one twin is taking all the nutrients from the other. If the sexes can be determined at 13 weeks we will find out. I have lost 6 pounds since learning I was pregnant. J says I am loosing fat from around the back end and the belly is taking it all. I am not trying to loose just eating better so I look forward to seeing two growing babies.

I am feeling a little more energy this week. I say a little more but actually I feel like it is night and day difference. I still need to rest during the day but it isn't an all day long nap. As I end the first trimester I am getting over the shock of it all. I had gone so long thinking no more babies, then I was pregnant, and then it was with twins. I have given up all my cokes and coffees for plain water with one decaf every few days. This was hard at first but not anymore. I have tried to make it a point to move more, walk a little farther and not just sit all the time. This is getting better as I get more and more energy back. I see twins everywhere now. I notice how the moms dress them, how they act and just how different it will be with two. I am most thankful that God is trusting J and I with the formation, care and joy of two more souls. I long to hold them and kiss them and I pray that is His Will. We will update you all after the appointment next week.

Santa Came

2011-12-26T17:06:00.000-06:00

Santa is always way too good to us.

The anticipation is just too much sometimes for Jumba, who kept trying to peek around the corner before dad would let everyone down.

Waiting is the hardest part.

Santa came and wrote us a note back.

Dad's favorite job is to pass out the gifts on Christmas morning. First he must stretch and antagonize the kids for as long as I can stand it.

After the gifts are open we eat our Cinnamon rolls and then nap or play the rest of the day.

The day ends with singing Happy Birthday to Jesus. We are so happy that He shares with us all the joy of His birthday.

Christmas Eve and the Traditions

2011-12-25T16:21:00.000-06:00

In our home Christmas Eve is the big part of the Holiday. When we lived closer to family we invited everyone over to our home for Christmas Eve and then spent the next day a little more relaxed. If we visited grandmas that was fine but we had already had our big celebration. We have continued that the past 10 years since moving to Houston. Everyone picks out a few of their favorite appetizers that we make after Mass. We have a little bit of every one's favorite foods. We eat all night and at some point open the gifts that were sent from aunts and uncles and grandparents. We also open our gifts to each other. This year we had the joyous addition of Mr. T with Kat and T-Man. (They were really missing Linda this year and we were thrilled to have them join us.) The party really started once Pooker's boy friend Linguini got here.

Lots of junk food makes lots of happy T's. yummy yummy.

In the end I have to say my favorite gift was this bag of Newborn diapers from the kiddos to mom and dad. Seeing those little itty bitty diapers makes me feel like all the naps and cravings I am fighting will be for a great cause. We are all celebrating the twins as they continue to grow. None of us can wait until next Christmas when we hope to be chasing two little ones around. Even little T-man said he can't wait until he has two new special friends next Christmas. God sent us all the best Christmas gifts ever, Friends and Family to share it all with.

The Formal Christmas Pictures

2011-12-24T21:00:00.000-06:00

Every Christmas we try to get some nice pictures of the group of each of the kiddos by themselves. I love these annual family photos. They really have become my favorite ones. I am so blessed with a beautiful family - INSIDE and OUT.

Mom and dad just can't figure out where all those good looking kids come from.

I love this picture! God has given me the best gift ever with my husband and children.

Pooker is a remarkable young woman. She has grown up way too fast. Her father and I are so proud of her and love her so much.

Moogie is a very happy and loving person. Her eyes say it all.

Bear has become a young man that enjoys life and can be a real role model for younger siblings.

Sugar has a joy about her that is contagious.

Possible has matured into a young woman this year. She is growing tall and so active in everything she does.

Pickle has discovered the world of sports. His dad is enjoying his sudden desire to play catch all the time with the football or a baseball and gloves. I love that he still gives mom some cuddles when I need them.

Princess is a energy filled young woman and loves her unique red colored hair and has become incredibly funny.

Bagel is such a strong willed young woman. It might be hard to get her to smile but once you do she lights up the room.

Jumba is our precious honey bunny. He is smart and fun to be around. I think he is very loving but still is all boy.

My house is full of beautiful young women and I am one lucky mom!

The boys are all so fun to be around. They have me laughing and crying at the same time.

So from our home to yours: Merry Christmas!

All Ready

2011-12-23T19:26:00.001-06:00

Yep the shopping is all finished, gifts to each other and from family under the tree, and the wall is full with your Christmas cards.

Testing

2011-12-22T21:16:00.001-06:00

J spoils me. New iPhone for Christmas. Just testing it out. His reason why I needed one, when the babies are born you will need to share pictures right away. Ok. Thanks honey, I am going to love this.

"Everything is different with twins."

2011-12-22T11:56:00.000-06:00

I am just pregnant but so far that statement is true. I have hit 11 weeks 5 days and I can tell I have a little more energy. I already feel like I can't get enough air so I am sure as they get bigger and bigger I will struggle with that. My belly is bigger and feel very pregnant. When I am hungry I am starving. When I get tired, I am exhausted. When I get emotional, I can cry, yell and giggle at the same time. The twins are already taking over. The kids say good night to be and then to my belly. Jumba will "cuddle" with me each morning and each night before bed and spend about five minutes just rubbing his hand over the top part of my belly telling the babies about his day or just saying that he loves them.

J and I have spent the past three days doing our Christmas shopping. My hubby refuses to shop early. Every year I stress about this and get very angry with him. Once we start shopping and get into the groove it all works out. We got three gifts for all 9 children in just 3 days. I was able to get some naps here and there and eat whenever I needed to. J was very respectful of my needs. The gifts we get at the last minute are always a million times better than the list I create in September. He insists on going with me and even goes into the perfume/makeup store he goes to help. I realized that this takes the pressure off. If someone doesn't like something it was mom and dad who picked it (with Santa). They all love each gift, though. J and I really do work well together when it comes to our kiddos.

While making our last purchase yesterday the lady in line behind us turned out to be an old friend. As we were catching up we shared with her that we were expecting twins. The lady in front of me turned around and exclaimed,

"You are having twins!!! Oh my gosh, EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT WITH TWINS." She didn't seam to be very encouraging and I was a little taken back. "I know about twins, I have a set." She continued. "They will change your entire life, good luck."

"How old are your twins?" I asked trying to recover from her short attitude about this topic that is now dear to my heart.

She responded by showing me the three sets of pj's in her arms. "They are 6 and they have an older sister. She was just two when they came, you have no idea what you are in for."

"Well we have plenty of help at home so I am not worried about the baby part, just the being pregnant part."

"That is the easy part, sleep now, it will be years before you rest again."

At this point the topic of twins opened up into a store wide discussion, at least to all those in line and behind the register. The girl behind the counter was the aunt of twins and after helping her older sister with the twins when she was 15 she decided she didn't want to be a mother at all. Another lady in line with a double stroller with two adorable boys ages 3 and 1 claimed that she would die before having twins now, just too much work.

At this point we just smiled and said, "We are happy about the twins. They will add to our already big family. We know that all the older brothers and sisters will help with the baby times. We do ask that if anyone here can offer a prayer for them and their health, please do, we are most grateful for all prayers."

We wished the woman well as she left the register and I know that being overwhelmed is part of being a mother of twins. I am glad that we have so many very eager hands that will help. I also pray that all those moms that focus on the bad part of having babies can train themselves to focus on the good parts and the good memories.

God Bless all Moms and Dads, especially those of twins. Please help each of them to see your love in their bundles and not the mess. Please help J and I to be good parents to these two and the rest of our crowd. We love each of them so much and strive to know them and see them as you do. Amen!

Rosary - Lights - Fire Pit

2011-12-18T20:13:00.000-06:00

Saturday night was the yearly hayride with some our favorite families. It is always organized by the Tobias family. We start with the Rosary. This was added after Linda passed away a few years back. She loved the lights and loved spending time with all the kids. She loved watching her children play with their neighbors and peers. Larry has continued the yearly party and hayride in Linda's memory.

I was too tired to make the trip on the trailer. Mrs. D and I followed the group. We also gave the sisters in the neighborhood a warning that a hayride full of of 50 or so Catholics would be stopping by to say hi and sing. Mrs. D and I met the crowd over there and a direct quote from the sisters was "Do You See What I See?" Silly quote but true.

After the Trailer pulled away the sisters invited Mrs. D and I in to join them for their night prayers. Peace and prayers with our Lord. It was wonderful. We arrived back at the Tobias house to find the crew enjoying cookies and hot coco. A wonderful night.