30 Days of Thanksgiving

So, I saw that everyone was posting on Facebook what they are thankful for and most of them doing a sort of "30 Days" type thing. Well, I'm in. I have so much to be thankful for and this is a great way to keep me fervent in my thanksgiving to Jesus.


November 1- I'm thankful that my husband makes the best sweet tea. Sounds silly, but I love sweet tea, a lot. If you are a tea drinker, you've got to try his. It rocks.


November 2- I'm thankful that I have two beautiful, healthy children. My heart aches for those who are/or have had children whose lives have been taken by cancer or other illnesses.


November 3- I'm thankful for my education. I'm literate. I'm thankful that I'll be able to educate my girls and instill the value of literacy into them---starting NOW :) I love going to the library with Brenlee and Cadence and they always seem to enjoy it, too. Very powerful I am in their lives....wow.


November 4- Faith. I'm thankful that my Momma and Nanny Fran taught me all about it. Faith is believing, without seeing. Faith is a pulling in my heart that is constantly reminding me that there is a God and that Jesus is here with me always. Faith can move mountains. Faith can bring happiness. Faith is knowing that God answered my prayer when I asked for a beautiful, healthy, strong, smart, courageous child. Faith is knowing that He provided me with TWO. Thank you, for faith.


November 5- I am thankful that I'm able to stay home with my girls. I get to watch them grow second by second. I can't imagine my life any differently.


November 6- My sister. Randi. I don't have enough words to express my gratitude for her. She is easy to talk to, always there to listen and I enjoy hearing about her life, too. She's been the biggest help to me since the twins came into our lives. Aunt Randi will be a "favorite" for the girls and that is exciting to me! 


November 7-I'm thankful for 4 sets of grandparents. It's somewhat of a blessing in disguise that comes with having divorced parents. 4 sets of grandparents, means quadruple the love for Brenlee and Cadence. My girls will know what love is, that is for sure!


November 8- Water. Yes, I can just go to my faucet and drink some water....or buy a few bottles at the grocery store. Some are not that fortunate! I'm thankful to live in a country that I don't have to worry about contaminated water.


November 9-Be thankful, even as you are going thru a time that you don't feel too thankful. Brenlee is screaming in the other room, fighting a nap......I hate to hear her cry. BUT I'm thankful that she is learning to sleep on her own. My cousin, Amy, says that sleep deprivation haunted her for MANY years. I don't want that. I'm thankful that she supports my decision to "teach" the girls how to sleep.


November 10- I'm thankful for Mexican food. I love the combination of tomato, cilantro, onion and peppers. 


11/11/11- I'm thankful for the Veterans that served our country. Selfless, to say the least. 


11/12/11- I'm thankful for free time with Brent. Every now and then it is nice to just relax, like old times, with him. Of course, we talk about Brenlee and Cadence almost the whole time!!!


11/13/11- I'm thankful for Charlie, our next door neighbor. I know that if I ever need anything, and I mean anything, that he'd be there for us. Tonight he brought us over some Pecan Pie and it was the best one I've ever had. This week, I'm making him some Blueberry Pizza to return the generosity.


11/14/11- Squeals and giggles from Brenlee and Cadence. As I'm sitting here typing this blog, I can hear the girls in the hallway squealing and giggling with each other. When I peek around the corner, they stop to look at me, so I'd rather just sit back in a dark corner and listen to their sweet serenade. 


11/15/11- I'm thankful that I have a hard-working hubby. Brent is the provider for our family and without him, there is NO way I'd be able to stay at home with my babies....


11/16/11-If you add up all the numbers in today's date (1+1+1+6+1+1) you get 11....and we are in the 11th month. I'm thankful for my mind. Although it's not as sharp feeling as it once was, I'm grateful to be able to think for myself. Did you know that women who give birth to twins, or other higher order multiples, use more of their brains than that of the average person?! So, there you have it.....I'm thankful for my mind :)


11/17/11-I'm thankful that God only gave me twins, and not more.


11/18/11-I'm thankful that we have a warm, nice home. 


11/19/11-So very thankful for modern medicine.


11/20/11-Got to go to the Sunday matinee to watch Breaking Dawn, thanks to my Momma who kept the girls.....and not to mention, did all my laundry!


11/21/11- I'm thankful for my crock pot. Lunch/supper pretty much cooked itself.


11/22/11-For internet and technology. Without it, I don't know what life would be like!


11/23/11-I'm thankful that my girls have been taking naps this week. They've done wonderfully going to sleep on their own without crying!


11/24/11-I'm thankful that Brenlee and Cadence have become great road travelers. They make a 7 hour trip with absolutely no problems.


11/25/11-I'm thankful for Brent's family, who have become mine. 


11/26/11-I'm thankful for sleep. I never really appreciate sleep until I lack it. Thank you beautiful baby girls for allowing us to sleep 12 hour nights.


11/27/11- I'm thankful for our ability to buy groceries. A lady approached us in the grocery store parking lot with a sob story about how she needed to get back home to San Antonio and didn't have the money. While I didn't buy the story, ( as she was dressed nicer than me and driving an Expedition) it did make me thankful that I don't have to worry about finances. 


11/28/11-I'm thankful for warm, cozy blankets. I have so many quilts that were made by Nanny Fran and afghans that were crocheted by my mom and Randi. I love snuggling up in them during the cold, winter months.


11/29/11-I'm thankful for the past 10 months. I simply can't believe that the girls are already 10 months old.....some days were long, but the months have been short. Happy 10 months baby girls!


11/30/11-I'm thankful for our climate here in Texas. Yeah, maybe I'm nuts, but I like that I can still go outside without a jacket....and in flip flops! That said, I wouldn't mind seeing some snow this winter! ;)

Involution

Involution: Retrograde development, degeneration. 

Brenlee's Strawberry Hemangioma birthmark has been going through a period of rapid growth, called the proliferative phase. It was just the size of a pin dot when we left the hospital. At the beginning of last week, I believe that phase ended and we are now headed into a period called the involutive phase. The term "Involutive" just means that it is in a period of shrinkage. In most cases of infants that have these benign vascular tumors like Brenlee has, they begin this phase of shrinking from 4-6 months after appearing. The stage that we are entering does take much longer than it did in the proliferative phase where it grew larger. It can take as long as 10 years in this phase. Even after involuting, some fatty tissue and tiny blood vessels may be left. In our case with Brenlee, I don't think we'll have any issues, as it never got really big or deep. It's remained superficial, near the skin's surface. Anyhow, I know you, as well as me, like to know more about Brenlee's Strawberry. It's very concerning to MOST people, as it looks scary. If you'd like to read more about it, find information here: Information about Brenlee's Strawberry


Here are pictures, starting with birth and going thru a few months, showing the proliferative phase:

Justification.

I just need to write a blog that helps me feel better about NOT doing the long list of stuff that needs to be done around the house. Here are the things I have accomplished today-

1. Changed 12 diapers.
2. Cleaned the floor about 20 times, due to slobber or a leaky sippy cup.....that is supposedly "No Spill."
3. Made oatmeal and sliced bananas for girls breakfast, fed it to them.
4. Rubbed Orajel on Brenlee's gums 3 times.
5. Adminstered teething tablets twice to Brenlee.
6. Washed Cadence's hair since it had food all in it.
7. Washed our bed sheets. Dried them.
8. Washed our HUGE quilt. Dried it.
9. Line Dried the clothe diapers and took them of the line...
10. Made grilled cheese sandwich for the girls and tore it into small pieces.
11. Cleaned the high chairs twice.
12. Swept the floor in the kitchen twice.
13. Cuddled Brenlee when she gave me the opportunity.
14. Practiced "standing" with Cadence.
15. Got the girls dressed in DRESSES and lotioned them up.
16. Spayed out two poopy diapers.
17. Gave girls gerber snacks.
18. More water in the sippy cups.
19. Prepared 6 milk bottles.
20. Washed dishes in sink twice
21. Consoled crying babies a handful of times
22. Went to the library with twins to do Pat a Cake time
23. Took a few videos and pictures for family
24. Put make up on
25. Brushed my teeth
26. Washed my face.
27. Brushed my hair!
28. Clipped Cadence's finger nails.
29. Prevented Brenlee from crawling into the bathtub
30. Taught both girls not to touch the litter box and cat food.
31. Got the girls to take 2 naps.
32. I ate a full lunch. All at one time.
33. Drank a glass of water.
34. pureed some pears and fed it to the....
35. fed twins some pudding
36. wrote a blog, AND finished it with baby in lap
ok, so i havent been totally lazy and i did deserve to sit down for 40 minutes!

Get Ready to GiGgLe!

After 7 months and 9 days, Brenlee and Cadence are starting to really interact now! Check out these videos of them laughing at each other! Brenlee is quite the ham and Cadence just thinks it's TOO funny!

After Cadence fell and cried a little, she got right back up to laugh a bit more:

I'm enjoying these girls more and more every day that goes by. They are so smart, so sweet and I love them so much!

Making it BIG with the Twins.

Ok, I can safely say that after 7.5 months, I finally am getting to know my girls. They are tricky and I'm still learning them myself and, of course, they are forever changing, as expected. So, that being said, here are some "don'ts" for you to try out so that Brenlee and Cadence will enjoy you:
1. Don't wear strong cologne or perfumes.
2. Don't talk loud or laugh hysterically.
3. Don't get in their faces.
4. Don't talk baby talk to them, Momma, Aunt Randi and a only a select few can without making them cry.
5. Don't try to hold them right away.
6. When you are holding them, hold them facing away from you. Don't hold them facing you.
7. Don't reach out for them, if they want you, they'll reach out or crawl to you.
8. Don't wipe their faces.
9. Don't sit down while holding them.
10. Remember, they don't typically "cuddle," so don't try unless they've just woken up!

Here are some tips you SHOULD try:
1. Talk in a regular voice but quietly, they love whispers.
2. Carry them outside and keep on moving.
3. Sit in the floor beside them and play with their toys.
4. Keep them together for the most part.
5. Play Pat-a-Cake with Cadence
6. Play with Brenlee's little piggies.
7. Smile at them.
8. Blow kisses to them.
9. Bounce them.
10. Saved their favorite for last: Stand them up facing out and let them "jump."

Now, these are just a few tips and tricks that will keep them happy. I haven't made these "rules," rather they have shown us! I'm not kidding when I say that our girls are strong willed.........they know what they want!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Clean Your.......Tray!

Cadence cracks me up with her Brown Rice! Supper is her favorite meal and we have been feeding her Brown Rice for several weeks for this final meal. Tonight as Brent was feeding her, she was squealing with delight after every bite and fully satisfied while she was eating. This picture shows her sucking some rice cereal off the tray of her high chair! She didn't want to waste any of it, she's her Daddy's daughter for sure!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Forty

Have you ever wondered what a challenge it is to keep 40 nails trimmed?? Well, let me tell ya, it feels like I'm constantly trimming lil finger and toe nails!! I try to wait for nap time at least once a week to keep 'em manicured! Today was the day. I get the girls both asleep in my lap and attempt to cut and file their nails. I get a few grumpy sounds out of Cadence and Brenlee keeps pulling her hand away from me.....but I eventually get them all trimmed without waking anyone :) Mission Accomplished! I would have taken a pic, like normally, BUT my phone bit the dust!

Question for you:
How do you trim your little one's nails?