Busy, Busy

Geneva peaking...

Whiskey very hyper & wanting attention.

Twice the work but twice the love.
Yes, that's a cat in the TV cabinet.

Sister Geneva? Left alone for a few minutes & her gown is over her head.The past week or two have been a blur. Sleep deprivation is really catching up to me. Hilary was right, the first couple of weeks home from the hospital you are so excited & running on adrenaline & then you crash... Patrick observed, "man having one kid must be so easy because having twins requires both parents all the time." A fellow Mom's of Multiples club member also said, "I never want to hear a mom of one complain about sleep deprivation again!" Last week Patrick had to attend a teacher's training several hours away & thankfully his parents were able to come up & help us out. I don't know what I would have done without them. They worked so hard that they may not be back!! Granny Patti said a co-worker told her twins were no different than having one, Patti said "I can't wait to get back to work & tell her she is a liar!" Words cannot expresses my gratitude to you both!! Granddad Bill cooked, cleaned, & did yard work all week, including cleaning & organizing our garage while Granny Patti & I divided & conquered feedings, diaper changing, bottle washing, & rocking crying babies. I was able to get a break every now & then--Jazzercise three times, a run to Target, took a bubble bath, & even shaved! During the week Lexa learned a new trick... crying uncontrollably for hours on end. I am sure it is her acid reflux. I know it burns her throat & stomach & she is miserable. She is on every medicine possible & has added rice cereal to her bottles & the doctor simply states she will outgrow in time. Nothing we can do would appease her during these episodes. Yesterday was another episode with about 10 hours of crying on & off (mostly on) luckily during the day this time. Tomorrow is our 2 month check-up complete with their shots. They continue to grow & gain weight. Patrick's observation while gone a whole week... "the girls are SO big & have changed SO much & mommy has lost weight!" Good answer, Patrick!! The girls are now in Size 1 diapers & 0-3 clothes, not newborn sizes. I believe even with Lexa's stomach issues, she has surpassed Geneva in size. She is a chunk. Granny calls her the Gerber baby--the fattest cheeks you've ever seen with that bald blonde head. Geneva remains quite the character. We just stare at her constantly & crack up--the funniest faces & noises you've ever seen/heard. They are a handful but worth it.

Happy Birthday, Mom

Happy Birthday, Mom. We hope you are having a great day. This picture was taken Mother's Day. (I was about to pop but was able to eat a huge brunch topped off with chocolate cake!) Unfortunately my mom now lives 4 hours away. We miss her already. Looking forward to your weekend visit. We love you!

Happy 7th Wedding Anniversary

July 20th is our 7th Wedding Anniversary. Here is a collection of some wonderful memories of our 7 years. What a glorious day when we were united husband & wife, and it just keeps getting better & better. I love you, sweetheart & can't wait until you get home Friday.

Happy Due Date

Today, July 14th, was my actual due date. It is hard to believe that I would have still been pregnant this whole time & that these past 7 weeks I would not have known my girls. I celebrated my due date by going back to Jazzercise today. I was so ready. I have lost over 40 pounds, but still have a few to go, not to mention after 10 months of no exercise I am way out of shape. It was wonderful being back at class this morning. No one could believe I had twins 7 weeks ago! Jazzercise is the perfect combination of aerobics, dance, yoga, kick-boxing, pilates, & weight lifting. I have done it for 5 years & feel like a different person when I go to class. So now to the update that you really care about...the girls are doing well. Lexa has been a little fussy with more & more spit-up incidences. So the doctor has put her on a new formula & new medicines to try & control the episodes. The episodes are now down to about 1 a day, but other digestive issues are now present if you catch my drift. So we are monitoring that & may end up back at the doctor soon if not better. I had them both by myself all last week for 12 hour days while Patrick was at a workshop. It was crazy to say the least, but we made it. I have SO much respect for you, Hilary! My good friend, Hilary, has twins (Carter & Calla) & kept them all by herself starting the third day they were home from the hospital. I don't know how you did it & still do it! You are my hero. I couldn't wait until Patrick's class was over! Bad news is he has 2 more this summer. Everyone says "Sleep when they sleep" but the problem is by the time you change both babies, feed them both, burp them both, get them both settled, & wash the bottles, there is about an hour until you do it all over again, 8 times a day. We've had some visitors over the week. My cousin, Sandi, who lives in Texas was passing through & stopped by to meet the girls. Mauree & Libby also stopped by & brought us a much-appreciated & yummy dinner. Thanks! You are such good friends. Will update more pictures soon.

4th of July

We had a great 4th of July, although not our typical celebration.
The 4th is my favorite holiday. Other holidays, especially Christmas, are so overdone & commercialized.  I love our family gatherings at Dad's house-- summertime & getting outside, eating hamburgers, baked beans, homemade ice cream, & banana pudding & watching fireworks.  Well this year we have our hands a little full so we stayed home & welcomed company--my brother, Eric; sister-in-law, Amy; & nephew, Luke.  Luke celebrated his 8th birthday (July 5th) & loved holding his new cousins.  Luke was initially very disappointed that both twins were girls, but he is now very intrigued & extremely good with them--so gentle & loving.  The girls dressed up for their company.  Geneva's dress says "Miss Independent" & Lexa's "I love the USA."  So cute!  Aunt Amy & Uncle Eric are the best role models the girls could have.  I can't wait for the girls to get to know them.  Come back soon!  We love you. 

Check out Amy's blog for better pics:  http://amyericluke.blogspot.com/

Random Pics from Monday

Just some pictures from Monday---girls napping, me with no makeup and 3 hours of sleep, our neighbor & good friend, Ashley who came to visit, Geneva in a milk-induced coma, Daddy talking to Lexa before bed, & Daddy holding his 3 babies.

Mi-Mi & Pa Paw Here to Visit

G & L got all dressed up for their great-grandparents, who along with their great Aunt Jean, drove 4 hours on Saturday to meet them. The girls were good & Mi-Mi & Pa Paw fell in love.  I love my grandparents SO much & it was a wonderful feeling to see them holding their great granddaughters.  We had carry-out dinner from Olive Garden & we were all able to finish our yummy lasagna while the girls napped.  Come back soon Mi-Mi & Pa Paw.  We miss you already.