visiting the twins at home

I went to John and Kim last thursday to visit my adorable niece and nephew! Had a great time holding, changing, and feeding them. My girls are so excited for the day they get to go see them too!


John holding Colton ( left) and Kate (right)


Kate sleep the whole time!

Colton was wide awake for me!

They are finally home!

The twins are both home!!! I am so happy for Kim, John, Kate, and Colt! I hope to see them this week and get some pics on here to share!

As far as my family, My little Lexi turned 5! WoW ! We had her party today, and there was lots of good food, friends, and family! My niece Jessica, brought her horse and gave all the kids a ride! The theme was horse/cowgirl, and Lexi has talked about this party since her last birthday. She had so much fun, and after a long day of fun a tired little girl while brushing her teeth tonight looked at me and said "Jessica can bring Jet(her horse) to my another birthday next time? right? Mom?" Happy Birthday Alexis Kalynn!

update Sept 19th

I talked to John this morning. Kate was suppose to be released today, but she stopped breathing last night, they call it a (brady) so she is in there for 5 more days, hopefully no more brady's! She is weighing 5 lbs, and Colton is right behind her at 4 lbs 14 oz. They are talking about releasing Colton on Friday, so maybe the babies will get to leave together!

pic of Kate and Colt

My oldest sister Danna got to go see the twins today and change their diapers. They are doing really good gaining weight and just getting stronger! So here is Kate on the left and Colt on the right.

update

I talked to Kim today and she said the twins are going wonderfully! Kate is weighing 4 lbs 1 oz and Colton is right behind her at 3lbs 14 oz. Jen and I will be going tomorrow and will get some new pics.

working on the twins room

So today Mom, Jennifer, and I worked on Kate and Cole's bedroom. Yvonne and Charles brought over the second baby bed and the changing table. I put up the baby bed. Jennifer and I hung the boy and girl john deere plates, and their names we found at Canton and had personalized for them. Jennifer brought her John Deere glass lamp and it looks great in the room. My mom is making the curtains 2 are up and 2 to go. We cleared out the dresser and started putting away baby clothes. The room is going to be adorable and hopefully ready when they get to come home.

update

Good Morning everyone! Sorry I have not updated for a couple of days. We were out of town this weekend. I talked to John last night, and he said the twins are doing good. They are out of their incubators now, and they are gaining a little weight everyday. Katherine has started to nurse some, but is taking a bottle too. John said he changed 5 diapers yesterday and 4 were dirty. I had to laugh, but he said it wasn't funny! But I think it is!! The family has been moved out of nicu, first to a very small room which was for one baby, but now they have a bigger room. Hopefully, the next move will be to their home.

update update, read all about it!

So much has changed since the last post. The twins are beautiful and GREAT! I will start with Colton! He is up to 3 lbs 7.9 ozs, eating 27 cc's in one feeding, he is off his oxygen tube, and they have moved the feeding tube to his nose. Here is before and after pic Monday and then last night. The first 2 pics are on Monday and then 3rd pic is from last night. You can see a definate change. He is filling out and less wires. Not that you can see, but he is more peaceful! He loves to be talked too and he moves his little head around now. He is wonderful, I just want to hold him and love on him.



Ok so now for Kate. She is 3 lbs and 11 oz, eating great, and she is so alert! She has been nuzzling with mom, taking a bottle now a couple of times, and it will be no time before she can nurse. She is an absolute doll. I am not bias by my nephew and niece at all but they are sooooo pretty! hahaha! I'm serious really they are!




So the best news is that they all may me moved today to level 2 care. Which means the babies are doing so great they don't need the NICU, and more room for Kim and John.

Kim is doing wonderful too, just trying to schedule her pumping and diaper changing and holding her babies as much as she can. She does have her hands full, tired and overwhelmed. John and Kim share and sleep on a fold out couch that makes a twin. Not sure how a woman can share a twin after an emergency c-section with twins. She is a strong woman! Lets all pray for the tired parents and for continued improvement on the babies health!

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Not sure when I will get to post next, but I will try to get something on here over the weekend. God Bless!

yesterday's update

Kate and Colt are improving daily. They are both off their picc valves, and they are both in the room with Kim and John. As of yesterday Colton is eating 25 cc's per feeding and doing good and oxygen is at 24. 21% is room air so he is close! Mom said Kate is very alert and looking around a lot more. Her feeding tube has been moved to her nose so she can nuzzle with Kim during feeding time to get ready for eating herself. Going to see them tonight and will not be back home till very late thursday so I will update friday and hope to have more pics.

update august 29th

Jennifer and I got to go the hospital today. Everyone is doing good, progressing steadily and we got lots of pics to share. Enjoy! I get to go spend the day with Kim and the twins tomorrow....yeah!

The first seven pics are of Colton!





Here is Kate!







Here are a couple of video's

august 28th update

The twins had a peaceful day. Kim got to hold Colton for the first time today, but he started sneezing and coughing. All he needed was his nose sucked out and then he was fine. The Doctor told John and Kim that the babies are out of the woods now just needing to weight and learn how to eat. They are still on feeding tubes, but the occupational therapist came by and talked to Kim about how to get them ready to eat. They may start that process in a couple of days. They are starting to gain a little. They are both over 3 lbs now and Colt is just 2 oz behind Kate.

August 27th update

I talked to Kim and the babies are getting stronger and stronger. They did get the garden room in the hospital to be able to stay by their babies. The room is small, but allows them to be right by their twins. Colton slept in the room with Kim and John last night. Kim said he was very noisey with his little sounds and grunting. John and Kim had a hard time going to sleep, because every time he made a noise they wanted to check on him. He was being closely monitored by the nurses so finally Kim said she made herself sleep, and everyone was fine the next morning. John did start back to work so he will be driving back and forth.

august 26th twins update

So this morning, Kate is off oxygen, and Colt is off his ventilator and just on oxygen. Oh! John changed his first poopy diaper! They are improving daily! There will be more to come tonight...

August 25th update on the Kate and Colt

Kate and Colt are both being treated for jaundice by the blue light. Jennifer said they look like avatar babies...haha!



Colton's ventilation rate was reduced, and his breathing is much improved. He is now eating milk, and sucking a pacifier. John changed his first diaper today!


Kate is off her ventilator and now in an incubator. Here are Kate's feet! and Kim holding her!They are all doing pretty good and since the babies are improving so is Kim's blood pressure. She will probably be discharged tomorrow, and hopefully the garden room will be available to her and John to stay in the hospital with their babies!

Tuesday evening august 24th update

The tests on Colt's lungs came back good and they got to pull the tubes. Colt is now down to 2 lbs 15oz , but he is very strong boy! Colton opened his eyes today, and his blond eyebrows are now very dark and he has dark hair on his head. Kate has lost 6 0z, and Kim got to hold Kate today for the first time for 1 & 1/2hour. Kate opened her eyes and lifted her head while Kim held her. Kate is now on full feedings and has her IV. Colt and Kate's veins on their hands kept collapsing so they put a picc valve on each of them and that should last 3-5 days. John also said Kate's hair is very dark.
Mom called and told me that the twins looked so much better today! I will going tomorrow and can't wait to see them again. I will take new pics and post tomorrow night for all of you!

God Bless, will get an another update in the morning.

Tuesday morning August 24th update

So the twins had a good night. Kate is coming off her C-pap this morning which will allow her to suck her pacifer again, and Kim might get to breast-feed sometime today or she will start taking a bottle. Kim has been pumping and they have been getting breast milk in their tubes. Colton had his drainage tubes cut off so they can x-ray his lungs this morning to see if the holes are closed up. Which we hope that will happen so he won't be in so much pain. The nurses told JP and Kim they have to keep him sedated until the tubes come out because it is very painful. Colt is also going under the blue light, showing signs of jaundice.

Kim's blood pressure are still in the upper 90's and they are working to keep her in the hospital until they get her blood pressure regulated and down.

Again thanks for your prayers and please keep it going! Stay tuned.....will update tonight.

August 23rd update on the twins/Colt and Kate and Kim

Kim got to lay her hands on Colton this morning, and she told me it instantly calmed her down. Kim's blood pressure is still in the upper 90's so lets keep those prayers going. She is suppose to be released tomorrow, but when her Doctor comes in the morning and if blood pressure still high she is going to see if the Doc will hold off on releasing her.

All over today for the twins, was the most stable day so far. Kate sleep very peaceful and the blue light she was under all day for her jaundice has seemed to help because they took it away and said she didn't need it anymore. Kate has been getting breast milk, and they told Kim they were going to start Colt with breast milk today.

The hospital social worker came by today and told John and Kim they have one room for premature babies that will allow Mom and Dad to stay with their babies. It is being occupied right now, but she going to try to get available for JP and Kim since they live so far away. I pray that will work so Kim can stay close to precious little ones.

That is all for now, will update tomorrow. Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts!

Colt and Kate

Thursday August 19th, my sister-in-law was put on full bed rest. Her blood pressure was very very high. She is now at 32 weeks, and the babies are doing great. Friday august 20th, my mom and I go to their house to wash baby clothes and Kim is not feeling well. The Doctor's office called and the tests came back showing damage to her liver, and if blood pressure diastolic is over 95 come to L&D asap. She checked the blood pressure and was at 106, but didn't want to go to the hospital, but when JP came in Friday afternoon, they were told to go to hospital for monitoring. A few hours later, Kim was care flighted to Dallas Pres. Hospital. Me, Jen, Danna, Jason, our parents and Kim's waited patiently all night in the most uncomfortable chairs(haha) and about 4 am John came down stairs and said the babies are here. It was worth all the waiting, the babies are so precious!


Colton John, born first 3 lbs and .06 oz, 16 1/2 ". John said he looked like a frog when he came out, long and skinny and all legs.
Kathryn Grace 3 lbs 6 oz, 16 1/2". Their features are very similar. They have long long legs, long fingers, long toes and the cutest little noses!!!


My new nephew and niece are fighting strong. They are both on oxygen, Colt is on a ventilator and has tubes in both lungs and is being sedated to not fight the vent. and to get much needed rest to get strong and healthy. Kate is a little more mature than Colt, but now being treated for jaundice, and she sucked on a pappy last night. She seems to have attitude already, John is calling her little Jennifer. Kim is having blood pressure problems, but is doing really well, and she is such a good mommy! Please continue to pray for Kim and John and their new little bundles of joy!

congrats

Hello all I just wanted to send a special congrats to my girl Devynna and her new addition who sounds like was forced to appear today. Also my Hubby's best man from our wedding gets a congrats on son #2 who also was born today!

And even though I am extremely excited and happy for all who are having babies, I just want to say don't drink the water!

How to motivate a little girl to clean her playroom? help me!!

So it has been a little while since I posted something, I can't sleep so I am up and playing on the computer. I was sitting here thinking about how thankful I am for my family. My daughter Alexis is really growing too fast. She also is becoming mommy's good little helper, and I love it. Lets see if that attitude will last through her teenage years. ha! Just a few things Lexi loves to do to help me out: wipe off the table, take dishes to the sink, remove sheets from the beds, dust, cook and she will do all this with a big smile on her adorable little face. And her smile will soon be followed by a "am I good helper mom?" However, when it comes to cleaning her playroom up, not exactly the same attitude. So I guess I won't have to wait for the teen years, but I just need new ideas to motivate my daughter to pick up her toys! any ideas?

Are you ready for a laugh?

Alexis has a new joke, I warn you now its not funny to anyone but her. What's funny is how it cracks her up.

"Why did the Cow cross the road?"

Why

"To find its milk!"

However, I went to visit my friend tonight and let my girls play with her girls. While they are enjoying a bowl of icecream she told the joke to my friend daughters and they all laughed and laughed, and they all started swapping jokes. None made sense but it was so fun to watch them giggle and be girls.

blessings for the school bus!

Alexis loves to say her prayers to our Lord! She is actually getting pretty good at it, but I think her prayer is too cute. We will sit down to eat, hold hands, and bow our heads, and this is Lexi's prayer as I can recall: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for my cousins and friends, thanks for the food and Jesus, thanks for my cousins, thanks for the school bus, thanks for the school, thanks for cousins and friends In Jesus name, AMEN and her sister Addison will shout a followed AME! Alexis prays daily for the school bus and school, but she has not attended yet. I wonder when she is old enough for school and the school bus she will so diligent to pray for them. I have even caught her at church during the prayer say under her breathe and the school bus. She has been crazy about school buses since I think she learned to talk, there is not a time that I can drive by a school bus that Lexi will not ask if she can ride one.

No One Tells you!

I No one tells you:

• You will feel like a pack mule for your kids. (I found myself carrying 2 backpacks, a purse, 2 bibles, 2 jackets, a stuffed animals, and my one year old coming out of church tonight)
• You lose all privacy that includes: showering, going to the bathroom, and so on.... (today in the shower, I finally thought I would enjoy a shower to myself and think, the kids were napping, amen! Well I get in, shut the curtain, and guess who comes home early, yes thats right my lovely husband and he wants to talk! I miss you too honey but please let me take this shower in peace!)
• You will become a constant worrier: how they eat, what they eat, are they old enough to eat that, when can I introduce that in their diet, does it have sugar or any bad stuff, can they choke on that, have they gone #2 or how many #1's, and so on....( in other words, its amazing how much concern you can have for someones digestion and really more than you have for your own. I think that is enough said...haha)
• You will find your child will think you are the best DR. in the world with just a kiss and bandaide. (Lexi tells me I am the best cooker and doctor all the time, I know it is coming from a 4 year old, but it feels good)
• You will find your heart expand like you didn't know it could. ( there are no words to explain this, except remember how you felt when they placed the baby in your arms for the first time)
• You will one day look at your child and wonder where the time has gone and be sad they are growing up. (like when your child will mispronouce something and you know its cute but wrong. Its a little bitter sweet when they start saying is correctly)
• You will find compassion for other children and their parents you never had before becoming a parent. ( I thought I cried in movies before, try watching Losing Isaiah or Steel Magnolias after having a child.)

I could go on and on, and I am sure as my children grow this list will change, but believe me the good out weighs the bad. I waited so long to become a parent and really now I don't know why.

I scream! They scream for ICECREAM!!

My girls got a treat last night after dinner. They ate a good supper and cleaned their playroom, well Lexi does the cleaning and Addi tries to drag it right back out. Needless to say, Lexi screams a lot while trying to keep Addi out while she puts it back up. There is nothing like watching two little girls eating a chocolate icecream and giggling. I had to take pics because the coach was at a ballgame last night and thought I would share. Enjoy!

Ps, this has nothing to do with icecream, but this is Addi having a hissy and telling on her sister while I was folding clothes because Lexi has shut her out of the playroom frustrated she can't keep the room clean. It must be hard to be 1. haha!

a great day!

What a blessed day! My day started out with making pancakes with my girls, and yes I finally tried chocolate chip pancakes for my lex and she loved it! Then I sent the girls off to play while I cleaned for a while, and I got a lot done. I am blessed that my girls love to play with each other. Actually, they are into playing "going camping" which they will end up in the bottom of my closet giggling. Then Addi took a nap Lexi helped me fold the laundry, and asked tons of questions. For example, Are you married to my Dad? Is Dad married to you? Can I marry Dad? We went to a wedding a few months ago and Lexi is mad about getting married, and I let her watch my wedding video which she insists on watching all the time. Anyways, the afternoon came and with it my 2 nieces Jenna and Hanna. We popped popcorn, and all watched Beauty and the Beast. I fixed supper and off to church. Church was wonderful tonight, one of song leaders picked some good songs which lifted me up, and I am so grateful. The sermon tonight was a parable from Matthew which I always enjoy those. After church, Seth and I went to see "The Blind Side" at the Caddo Rex. Which is the best little movie theatre! and the movie was GREAT! A wonderful feel good movie, which are my favorite! Thanks for a great day, Thanks for a great family, Thanks for my sister who stayed with my girls tonight, and Thanks for my church family.

Alexis you are the butter to my bread!

I have never known a child to love butter as much as mine does. It's almost like Paula Deen has entered her soul....haha! There have been countless times I will ask what do you want for lunch today....her response.....Buttered bread please!?! So today for Lexi's snack I made her buttered bread, while I am buttering her bread. She says, Mom I love you sooooo much! How much do you love me? I turned and handed the buttered sandwich to a little girl with such a loving smile and said, Alexis Kalynn I love you this much....you are the butter to my bread! You should have seen her gleam! absolutely precious!

dress-up and new year eve!

Alexis, my 4 year old, loves her dress up! She put together this outfit and then did a little performance with her"kittle dum" as she calls it. Which is a skittle tin lid getting beat down with a little plastic spoon. You wouldn't think something so small could make that much noise, but let me assure you guys it does!

Ok so this is what entertainment I got while getting ready to go celebrate new years eve with our church family. I made seven-layer dip and honey bars. My honey bars would have been a perfect pan except when I got out of the oven someone, and not naming names, knocked the salt shaker on it. So needless to say, I had a big dent in one corner.

We had lots of fun, the kiddos where caught jumping on the tables in the class room while the adults were eating and playing games. HAHA so happy new year Everyone!