is that a shadow?

When I got pregnant with the twins...I went in for an u/s at 5.5 weeks. There was one sac. Marcin came with me to the first u/s and he asked the doc repeatedly if that meant there was just one LOL The doctor said that yes for now there was just one BUT there was still time for another to implant or the egg to split...who knew?!

I went back for my 6.5 week u/s on this day one year ago...Marcin didn't go with me because this being our 2nd pregnancy, the novelty was sort of worn for him (I guess :-P) so I went by myself. My two favorite nurses came in to do the u/s, as soon as she started I saw the sac from my 5.5 week u/s and then I saw another one, I said 'Is that a shadow?' LOL The nurse said 'Um nope...that would be another baby!' WHAT?!

I swear I almost fell off the exam table, a million thoughts went through my head at once and I started to cry :-) I was happy and I just couldn't believe we had been blessed with TWO babies!

Marcin was in a meeting that morning and it lasted f.o.r.e.v.e.r.....I was waiting for him to get out and that was THE longest wait ever! So in the meantime I went to get some goodies to leave on his desk..I got a pack of Doublemint gum, some double heart candies and Sugar Babies candy :-) And a note to call me :-)

He finally called and I told him it was twins and for the first time since I met him...he was speechless LOL I don't think he really believed me, but I had had a few hours to let it sink it hehe He said he needed to call me back in a little while LOL

And that was the beginning of our crazy adventure! And what a pregnancy it was....6 trips to triage, alot of days trying to entertain gavin when I could hardly walk, the aches & pains, trying to find clothes that fit me at the end, the endless nights, 2 weeks of constant contractions 24 hours a day, much help from family to play with gavin and just clean our house and they were born at 37 weeks healthy. I can't ask for much more than that!

Gavin shared the exciting news!

Baby A - Kaleb

Baby B - Jakob

Completely outnumbered!

This morning we went to my friends, Hillary, for a playdate and my goodness we were outnumbered! We had 8 kids all under 3 years old...it was crazy but fun at the same time!

The kids have so much fun and so do the adults...it is a win/win situation!

And honestly, I'd be lost without my friends and an added bonus we have kids the same age. I truly would be..it took me a long time to meet people after gavin was born and we decided I'd stay home. At least a year of networking, meeting at parks, playdates, etc. You think high school is bad with cliques? you should have been at some of the playdates I went to...shew! I met all sorts of people LOL

Not only are our oldest close in age but some of us had 2nd babies and they are close in age....we are REALLY going to be outnumbered when all these babies start moving around!

And we know we can count on each other, when we get together we all watch one another child which was super helpful when we were pregnant and even now that we have little ones to feed multiple times a day or at playdates when someone is busy with one baby...someone else can keep up with the toddler :-) I know for me its a huge help and not nearly as stressful having 2 babies to tend to and then try to keep up with silly Gavin turning on every single light on in Hillary's house ( I think I managed to turn them all off before we left!)
And most importantly.....GIRLS NIGHTS OUT!!! or girls day out...whichever we can coordinate :-)

I am getting all sentimental but I have the bestest friends!!!! And I have the bestest husband because I get to go out tonight with some more wonderful friends for yumminess at the Melting Pot! we decided to skip the entrees and go for the good stuff...yep just the cheese and chocolate :-D

and now all my children are waking up from their nap-a-thon :-) they had a busy morning!!!! can't beat a 2.5 nap and 2.5 of time to MYSELF :-)

gavin when he was 4 months in his jumper...they grow too fast!

I just can't get enough :-)

most of the time ....everyone needs a break every now and then! But I love Jakob and Kaleb's age right now, so much fun!
Here is Kaleb in jumper, he just figured out the jumping thing and will even try to jump when he is laying down :-) sorry its side ways  but you get the idea lol

Woody needed a diaper change...

I love that Gavin's imagination is coming out! He is usually creative and I sometimes don't have a clue what he is talking about but I try my best to go along with it!

This time, I knew what he was doing! He likes to pretend that Woody is his 'baby' like Jakob and Kaleb are our babies. He will put Woody in the jumper, exersaucer, bouncy, give him toys to hold and today he told me 'Woody dirty diaper, new diaper!' He went in the kitchen got his stool, took it to the changing diaper and then went to get Woody.

Woody got the full treatment from Desitin cream to Saline drops and even some Vicks Vaporub because 'his tummy hurt' LOL

27 trips....

...up and down the stairs today. And I still need to make one more to go to sleep!

I never thought I would say this with twins but I CANNOT wait for them to start walking! My lower back is killing me by the end of the day! Carrying a 36lb 2.5 y/o (who likes to think he is 5 months and wants to be carried), then a 20lb 5 month old and another 5 month old at 16lb up and down stairs all day is tiring...a good workout but tiring all the same!

they need to learn how to crawl up and down steps...yes at 5 months, they can do that right?! lol

I am loving this!

I can remember not long after the twins were born thinking, 'How in the hell am I going to do this?!' And being so scared. Even though I knew that this being the 2nd time around with babies that it wouldn't be like that forever...things would get better, I would sleep again.

Although some days are still 'challenging,' it is awesome to be able to stay home with my boys and watch them grow and develop!

Gavin is a great Big Brother! of course, right now it is on his terms :-) I have a feeling when the babies are able to take things from him that will be another story. But for now, he loves to plays his instruments in front of them and watch them smile! He can just simply jump up and down, J&K find this hilarious and just laugh. Not just a giggle but those belly laughs :-)

Jakob and Kaleb are so much fun! They find each other sometimes and will smile at one another or laugh, so cute! Sometimes Jakob will be in the jumper while Kaleb is beside him in the exersaucer and Jakob will start cracking up, so cute!

Here they are being silly! I feel like I never catch Gavin on video or camera as much as these two but he just doesn't sit still long enough!

I don't want to wish the time away but it is going to be so much fun watching these three grow up together! I still remember all too well in the beginning how scary it was and everyone asking me or both of us, 'how are you going to do this?!" and honestly...we just do. You do what you have to do and find your rhythm. Some days are better than others, some days are complete chaos but I just have to remember that bedtime will come eventually LOL

J&K are also feeling much better! they seem to be recovering just fine from the RSV,YAY!! of course now I think Gavin has a stomach virus, ugh! will this winter EVER end?!