Our star player

I have to brag about my child for a moment. Payton scored 6 goals at his last soccer game. He is a scoring dribbling machine. He weaves in and out of people like it is his job. I am very proud of him until he starts crying like a little baby when he doesn't score (not everytime, but even once is too much for me). I guess I can't have a tough kid and an athlete at the same time. Hopefully that will come later.

New on Face Book

So, I don't quite understand FB. Is it kind of like instant messaging? What is all the different hugs and treats all about. I don't quite understand why people do it. Not to say I have an opinion about them but I just don't understand why you would Care Bear hug someone or send them a candy that they can't actually eat. How do you follow conversations too? I am so clueless it hurts. I need to be enlighten on all these new cyber lands. I feel like a stalker too which is actually kind of fun but I am too scared to contact people because I feel creepy doing it. Is there such thing as FB and blogging etiquette? Who do you not contact? What are your thoughts?

Mama's Little Helpers

Payton and Tate are doing such a great job helping. Tate is very willing to share his special filthy blanket and Payon will let them cuddle his lion, Caesar. Payton does a great job holding them and even changed Tess's dirty diaper all by himself. Tate is my alarm too if someone is crying he says, in his broken English, "ohhh, b.b." and runs to try to consul whomever it is. I definitely have to watch Tate to make sure he doesn't shove binky's down any one's throat's.

Cohen is definitely packing on the pounds. He is a total chunk and only wakes to eat or let you know he needs a change. Tessa is gaining too and is one that I want to have in church during a diaper filling. She is the nosiest pooper. It is somewhat shocking. I remember sitting in church next to my best friend at a really mature stage in my life (18) and a baby next to us let it rip and we could not hold ourselves together. We were convulsing trying not to make a scene. Tessa would be that baby. I am quite proud.

$62,395.41...

Is our total bill SO FAR. Thank goodness for health insurance. I don't know how anyone can afford to have twins or any type of complication with pregnancy. The week I was on bed rest was over $23,000. CRAZY!!! It makes our $5,000 portion look like pocket change. You would think the beds were made of gold and they served 5 course meals to you with that price. It is amazing how much they think they can charge. I think it is a little over priced what about you?!? I completely understand neonatal cost being expensive but the other stuff, YIKES!

Pool time

I love this picture of Payon. We got this pool in July and it was great. Unfortunately it doesn't get hot enough here for it to warm up for the kids to enjoy but it was great for my back while pregnant. The kids were only able to last 20 minutes MAX before they turned purple.

We just had to drain it this week. It wasn't making the most attractive pond. Hopefully next year it will get great use like this year.

Tessa awake?!?

"Oh, Ma!"

I'm an embarrassment to my kids, I know, but it all in good fun. I had to post their nudie pics. They are both doing great. It seems they are starting to wake up more each day so I am learning how to juggle a little more. Tomorrow will be the first day without help so it will be a big test. But it is only for a day.

I am having trouble with this whole nursing situation. I have been pumping this whole time because up until a week ago the doc's said I shouldn't due to their size and the energy they spend trying to nurse. So, when they gave me the O.K. I thought I would start right away but it wasn't that easy. I can't seem to get a groove or have the desire to work real hard at it. I really dislike nursing so I don't have the motivation. I just don't like throwing my bosom's at something and have it chase them. Pumping has been doable for now while I have someone hear to watch the crew while I take 10 to "milk" (as Payton calls it) 8 times a day. What do I do? Do I give the nursing a real go? Or keep pumping? Or take the easy way and give up (which sounds nice)? Any advice, pointers...anyone??? I don't think I am ready to bag the benefits that nursing has with weight loss and eating like a pig though so if I could do both that would be great. So, I do have to say that life it not too shabby if this is my biggest complaint right now. But I do need help with it so if anyone has any ideas my ears are open.

Cohen's 1st bath

Tessa's 1st bath

Two peas in a pod

Cohen making sure his binky stays put

Tessa & Cohen (3 day's old)

Tessa's 1st Fake-n-bake session

Announcing.....

Sorry it has taken so long to update but we have been a little busy having babies. That is right, on August 26th, 2008 ( Tate's 2nd Birthday) Cohen Jared and Tessa Brylee were born. Cohen came first at 9:16 am weighing 6 pounds 11 oz. and Tessa at 9:51 am was 5 pounds 6 oz. Tessa was having a hard time keeping her blood sugars up so she had to be in the NICU for 2 days then to return to the NICU for another 2 days for severe jaundice and low weight. Everyone is home now and doing great. They just sleep all the time and barely wake to eat so it is a good transitional period. I am learning how to juggle both. Luckily, for now, one will wait for the other to finish. Since they were premature I can't nurse just yet so I have to pump & bottle feed. Next week I will have to start teaching them to nurse (not looking forward to that so much).

So the birth story goes as follows...
All day on Monday the 25th I was feeling strange and really worn. I was having some signs but I was really hesitant to call the doc because I knew what she would tell me, "you need to come in and be checked". I was right, I called and sure enough I was headed to the hospital at 10:30 PM. When I got there they hooked me up to all kinds of monitors, like usual, and checked to see how dilated I was. At that point I was an 8-9 cm. My contractions were the same as they had been so I didn't really know what to think. With my history of fast labors they gave me the epidural and started IV's. Around 8:30-8:45 am my doc came in and ruptured my water and my contractions took off. I was shipped to the OR and put on this flat uncomfortable table. The doc's and nurses were awesome, there was music playing, everyone was laughing and it was really layed back. It made it really nice. I pushed twice, I think, and out came Cohen. Tessa was being rotated while I push Cohen because she was breach. Her delivery was more work because she didn't want to come down and my contractions faded. The doc was up to her elbow, literally, turning her and pushing placentas out of the way to make room for her. Her heart rate started to drop so the had to whip out the vacuum and pull with all their might to get her to come. Her coming out face up was definitely a factor in why she wouldn't come out so easily. She had/has a huge bruise and swelling on her forehead. It is getting better now. I can't tell you how relieved I am that I opted for the epidural. I would have literally died with what they were doing. I have it on video to remind me how rough it got.

I have recovered really fast and am doing great. There are all kinds of amazing people bring in meals for us. A huge THANK YOU to everyone for their love, support, loving phone calls, gifts, and most important prayers on our behalf.