A Tribute To My Peeps

Today, it is raining in Boston. It is one of those days when I look out the window and feel reflective for some reason.

Lately I've been thinking about how incredibly blessed I am. I really have a rich life. I have two beautiful little babies and a husband I adore. A friend of mine recently said that she feels like waking up to her little girl each morning is like Christmas everyday. Well, I copy that sentiment. It really is like Christmas every morning to walk in and see my two sweet little babes smiling back at me from their crib (okay, frequently at least one is crying, not smiling... but it's just as cute). I love spending everyday with them. We have lots of fun together. We like to take naps together, and read books, and vacuum the one patch of carpet we have in our apartment. We also like to go exploring on walks. It seriously is so fun to be with them. Even on days when we stay home all day, there is enough excitement and fun with two babies that it feels like we've done a lot at the day's end.

And, as for Alex, simply put he's the best and the greatest. He really loves his little girls. He loves to hold them and play with them and bathe them and sing to them and cuddle them. It has been fun to see how proud he is to be their father. We've been to several school functions where he just can't wait to introduce them to people. "These are my babies." And, it goes without saying, that he is always so sweet to me and treats me with complete adoration.

I feel pretty lucky to have the life that I do. Thanks to my peeps for making each day so wonderful.

Here are some pics of my cuties... all 3 of them!

Well, all my girls are finally in Cambridge. They showed up two weeks ago and my life has gotten a whole lot better. Zoie and Eliza are adorable little bugs. I love having them around. And Molly, she always kept my life together. I'm a happy guy.

We've been lucky to have some really warm days. Molly walked to meet me for lunch last week. On Halloween she brought the pumpkins in to school. Last night we took the subway to a hamburger joint. It's been fun.


Last weekend we picked a spot on the map, Keene, New Hampshire, and drove there in our last two days with the rental car. It was a huge party. Keene was having their annual pumpkin festival. http://www.pumpkinfestival.com/ We walked down Main street, ate at a family diner, and slept at the cheapest hotel in town. The girls were a hit. I haven't gotten that much attention in public since the fro. We got them little pumpkin hats.


We stopped at a bakery that changed my life. Mom, Grandma, Lizzy, someone, please. We've had not the truth only because we knew not where to find it. It was called Walnut Carmel Bar, but I would rename it Walnut Chocolate Chip Carmel Bar. As you can see from the picture, the crust is made of crushed walnuts. It has the consistency of a cookie. Then there's a thin layer of something carmelly. Then there's a thick layer of chocolate chips. Another layer of something carmelly, but this time with walnut chunks. And finally, the kicker, chocolate chip cookie on top.

Here's the conundrum. The cookie topping is cooked in place, but looking at the chocolate chips, they've melted a little, but clearly never been in the oven. How did the cookie get cooked on top of the chocolate chips and carmel? Here's a theory: the cookie dough is spread over the pan in clumps and pulled out of the oven about 30 seconds early. Before it can cool, it's draped over the melting chocolate chips that have just been spread over the cooling walnut bar.

I brought two specimens home, for Science, but we ate them. Sorry Science. Pictures will have to suffice. I'll give a big hug to anyone who can duplicate it.

More Pics

Here are some more pictures of the babes. Lots of people have asked me if they are identical. No, I don't think they are. They look really different to me. And, as their mother who sees them all the time, I think my opinion carries the most weight!!!

3 Weeks Old

Well, I'm finally getting around to posting again. I've been meaning to for some time now, but these babies have sure been keeping me busy! They turned 3 weeks old yesterday. They have already grown and changed so much. For those who haven't heard, we decided on names: Baby A is Zoie Grace and Baby B is Eliza Kathryn. They are the sweetest little babies ever! We just adore them.

Both babies are doing really well. We have been into the doctor several times to keep tabs on their weight gain. There was some concern about Zoie not gaining enough for a while, but she has now caught up to where she should be. Currently, Zoie weighs 5lb 12oz and Eliza is 6lb 1oz. They are both becoming voraciuos little eaters, which is good.

We were lucky to have Alex come visit this last weekend. We loved every minute together as a new little family of four. It was great fun and I was sorry to see him leave again. Here are some pics of the babes and our weekend with Alex. In the picture of the babies in the two pink onesies, Eliza is on the left and Zoie is on the right.

Baby A and Baby B

Well, there were two little munchkins in there after all. Yesterday at 1:00 PM Molly and I went in for our 36 week check up, losing hope that they would be born before I fly out on Sunday. So we were excited when the doctor said that she was dilated to a 5.5, 90% effaced, and that we were having babies that night!

From then until 7:00 PM there was a lot of this and that to do. People all over the place, lots of waiting around. Just after 7:00 she got an epidural. At about 7:30 the doctor broke her water. At 8:30 or so they put her on pitosin (to induce her). At 12:15 AM she was fully dilated and they took her into the operating room. I stood there and did nothing while Molly birthed two children. It was pretty amazing.

Once Baby A's head came out the rest of her just popped out. They rolled her up onto Molly's belly, all bloody and yucko-like. They had me cut the umbilical cord. She screamed. They put her on a table two feet away. People checked her out. Here's what she looked like:

Baby B started coming, but her heart rate dropped. After it was in the, I think, 80 range, for two minutes, Dr. Draper grabbed the forceps. Then the pediatrician people showed me Baby A and said they were taking her to the nursery. I opted to stay with Molly. Baby B got pushed/pulled out. They had me cut the cord. They put her on a little table. I got caught up in all the cord ends and stuff hanging out of Molly, and a few minutes later realized that the pediatrician people were poking Baby B to make her cry and breathe and stuff. They were worried about her so they rushed her off. I stayed with Molly, but here's what Baby B looked like:

I watched them stitch her up. I squeezed the umbilical cord some more. I played around with the placenta for a minute. Then I had someone take me over to the babies. They were so cute. I was surprised. I sort of expected weird, lizard-looking things. But they actually looked like little people. I was pleased.

Some superstar family members, who had been there with us all night, let me show off my two new baby girls. I probably had a big, goofy smile on my face all night.

After they monitored temperatures for a while Molly breast fed them and we all went to bed. At least I did, because that's the last thing I remember. It was 4:30 AM and I don't know what happened between then and 8:30. But Molly said something exciting happened and took the babies back to the nursery to put them under the heat lamps.

Baby A: 5 lbs, 7 oz, 18 inches

Baby B: 5 lbs, 2 oz, 18.5 inches

Freedom

Weeks 34 to 36 were amazing. Being out of the hospital was so nice. We went out to eat a lot. We went to a lot of movies. We went over to our house a couple of times. It was like vacation. Here's a picture of Molly right after we went to the 3D version of Journey to the Center of the Earth. Molly just couldn't get over the glasses.

We had a great place to stay, right by Lizzy's apartment. We were really grateful that our new best friends, Sterling and Linnea, let us live there when they didn't even know us.

After 10 Weeks ... We've Finally Left the Hospital!!

Here is a quick update for those who haven't heard. We were discharged from the hospital yesterday. It was quite the day for me. I can't quite explain what it felt like to actually get in the car with Alex and drive away from the hospital. It was glorious! Since I reached 34 weeks and have been relatively stable, the doctors saw no need to keep me there any longer. So, I'm still on bedrest, but it is less strict. I'm able to get up and walk around a little now. After tomorrow, I will no longer be on any medication to stop contractions and if I were to go into labor they would do nothing to prevent it. So, we'll see what happens!

Funny thing is, we weren't able to "go home" to our house because our renters are moving in tomorrow. Luckily, some really nice people who know Alex's dad are letting us stay in their condo while they are out of town for the next few weeks. The condo is close to the hospital and is working out great. It is nice to be here together and have a little privacy and somewhat of a sense of normal life before Alex takes off for Boston in a few weeks ... or before I deliver ... whichever comes first!

2 1/2 months ago, we really thought we would be having babies any time. We feel like we've witnessed a miracle. I'm really grateful to everyone for your support of us during this time. I also feel so forunate to have good health care. That is a real blessing.

Here is a picture of me and Alex sitting in our hospital room just before we left yesterday.

Today's Ultrasound

Just a quick post to tell that I just had an ultrasound today and found out the current estimated weight for both of the babies. One is 4 lbs. 13 oz. and the other is 5 lbs. even. Wahoo! They are really growing. It was great to find out about their progress over the last few weeks. From what I feel going on inside, it sure seems like they're growing! :) We're excited to meet them.

33 Weeks Down!

Well, we made it to our 33 week mark today. My doctor said again this morning, "I can't believe you're still here." We feel so blessed to have made it so far. Two months ago, we really thought we were going to be having our babies any day. We couldn't be more thrilled to be at the point we're at now. Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts, phone calls, visits, and prayers. I'm pretty hopeful that we'll at least make it to 34 weeks. Now, we wonder when exactly they will come. Will I have to be induced at some point??? That would make me chuckle.

Here are some pictures of me at my 33 week mark and Alex hanging out on his "bed" in our hospital room.

My First Post

This is my first post on our new blog. Hooray! I finally decided to join the blogging world with the arrival of our twins imminent. As I'm sure everyone who will ever look at this blog already knows, Alex and I have lived at the hospital for over 2 months now with me on bed rest. I have successfully made it to 32 weeks in my pregnancy and the babies are looking great. They have been growing and growing inside of me. Just in the past week or so they have reached a size such that when they move around a lot now it hurts! I think that's a good sign.

Anyway, hopefully I can keep this blog well updated. I'm looking forward to posting pictures of our new babes on here in just a short little while. Our lives are about to change forever ... from two to four in one instant! We are so excited to meet them!