All in a Day's Work

They are laughing so hard here because they are playing the game where they kick Mommy while swinging and she over-reacts in pain. Sweet, Right??

They had their first experience with crunchy leaves and at first they didn't want me to put them down but once I showed them how they could crunch them up in their hand they were thrilled and didn't want to go back inside.

I just finished talking to Jared about how this "job" called motherhood is the greatest privilege and blessing and at the same time it is THE most challenging job I have had in my life. The boys have ear infections, something respiratory(ish) and just in case that was too mundane they are also teething. Yahoo for us! It made for a long day but it made for such a fun day too. I had to laugh as I looked at my pics from the day and the adventures that made it what it was. Only in this gig could I have such a wide array of challenges, heartaches and triumphs and for each one I am thankful! :)

These pictures had to be added. We tried on our costumes for Grandma today and Eli crawled off to play in his room. I went in to find this. He played in his costume for at least a half an hour. So funny, this one.

Our 2nd Annual NICU Reunion

Dr. Clark (neonatologist) and Jared with the boys

Eli wasn't "feeling" the nostalgia like Mommy was.

Jared exiting the NICU and Me and the Boys next to the NICU graduate sign!

Exiting the NICU with Alex and Eli is always a liberating feeling.

Me and My Puppy

Oops! Did I mention it was a Halloween themed party?

We attended the NICU reunion today. We had such a great time. The boys were more into it this year and loved watching the Magician which kind of surprised me. They also had a life size Elmo dancing and I thought the boys would LOVE that and although they didn't dislike him we are definitely not ready for Sesame Street Live or anything. I was happy to learn this fact for free :) We saw our Neonatologists and NICU nurses which is always so nice. The main thing that I love about visiting the NICU is just the appreciation you feel not only for the people who helped your children but for your children themselves. I am amazed all over again that these 2 lb. creatures turned into little boys with double chins and pot bellies who are all over the place. We always get a little overwhelmed by our emotions while entering and exiting the boy's first home, as we like to call it.



Among others one of the cool things we experienced was that we ran into a Mom who Jared had talked to a couple of days after Alex and Eli's birth. Sandy (one of the nurses) called Jared out of the NICU and introduced him to this woman who had her then one year old with her who was a 27 weeker also. It was so nice to be able to tell her that we were those people she talked to and encouraged and that these were our now 18 month old boys who were doing so well. It was just one of those experiences we like to call a "God thing" (although in reality all things are). He had our paths cross for a reason and we talked and discovered that she too had developed HELLP syndrome. It is just always an encouragement to talk to others who have had similar experiences. Her 3 year old son is doing wonderfully also. The whole day was a success!

You know you need out when...

You know you need out when you notice a character's nail polish on Sesame Street and wonder where you could find it b/c you really love that color. You find yourself singing with great conviction (after the boys are in bed) "Murray had a little lamb". This is not a typo and those who watch the new "hip" Sesame Street know that this is a rap that opens a little skit about Murray and his little lamb and their trips to different schools. Yep it was official Mommy needed out. Jared and I always make an effort to get out together but one of us or more has been sick for quite some time and I realized that I hadn't been without my kids, even to run an errand, in over a month which was for Jared's birthday. YIKES! So I planned a girls night out that involved food, games and lots of laughs. I seriously have the funniest sisters and friends. It was so great and I thoroughly appreciate the fact that Jared worked a long day and then took care of the boys. I don't know what I would do without him. I didn't write a b-day post for him and for that I feel a little guilty so I thought I would throw a little love his way for Sweetest Day (tommorow, I know)! I love you babe and am blessed that you are the devoted man that you are.
All my love, Becky

Little Li-Li's Update

We had our neurosurgery appointment today and I am SO pleased to say that it went really well. This (other than the lung issues, which are par for the preemie course) is our last major health hurdle in this preemie world. We are not discharged yet but won't that be a blessed day? The chief of neurosurgery indicates that he doesn't want to see Eli again until he is 2 and he believes that the fluid issue will be resolved by then, meaning NO SHUNT!!!! I am just so thrilled with this appointment. I headed home from the appointment totally light hearted and feeling great. Alex fell asleep (which usually happens if we are in the car for more than 10 minutes) and I sang along to some Jack Johnson in celebration. I looked back at Eli and he was bobbing his head and humming along with Mommy. It was definitely a moment when I stopped and thanked God for this gift. It is always a humbling experience to go to these appointments because you are in a waiting room with other families whose children have severe disabilities. You almost feel guilty that your children are running around and terrorizing the office because theirs are not and they never have. I know that God gives grace to those who need it in a way that I cannot comprehend but it is, again, truly humbling.

As I mentioned I did let the boys out of their stroller to play. I have never done this in a Dr.'s office, much less in a Dr.'s office when I have them by myself but it wasn't a busy waiting room and I figured it would be a new experience for them. Let's just say I was sweating like I had run a marathon (not that I would actually know what that feels like but just imagine with me). The boys did really well. I was impressed when another child came and tried to play with the toy Alex had because he didn't do his pterodactyl impression or hit anyone. I was starting to feel pretty cocky about my boys and their sweetness until...dum, dum, dum, dum,....they called Eli's name. He wasn't exactly thrilled to be put back into his stroller/prison after tasting sweet freedom. It resulted in a minor "flipper" impersonation and then we were on our way. All in all a good experience. I also like the fact that I feel like I got a decent workout.

Great Weekend!

This has truly been a good weekend. I always dread weekends when Jared works but I then quickly remind myself that part of me being able to stay home involves him working. Isn't it crazy how it works that way? :) Anyways, on Friday I met Kim (Jared's sister) at her house and we let the boys torture, I mean "play with", Dusty their sweet dog and then headed for the park to let them swing. It is absolutely gorgeous right now in Michigan and we thoroughly enjoyed being outside. We then headed to pick Amanda up from school and then all had lunch together, including Andrew, before the boys had to have their nap (which lasted more than 3 hours, Hallelujah!). It was nice to get out and I don't have to worry about kid germs too much because Andrew and Amanda are older and don't put toys in their mouths :)


Yesterday, we went to Colin and Celia's soccer game which was great because AGAIN it was a gorgeous day and we were able to get some fresh air. Although I am careful with the boys I have a theory that outdoor air and other kids is safer than indoor air and kids and their toys, etc. I hope that this theory holds true. It was fun because 1/2 of our church's kids play in this league and we got to all hang out for a bit. Callie (my friend's daughter) and Collin (my nephew) went head to head more than a few times and I must say Collin does have some competition but he did great, as did Callie! I believe when I left that they were the only scorers for each of their teams. The boys had a great time and AGAIN a 3 hour nap followed.


Today I attended church and as I say on here often it was wonderful. I cannot say enough about the fellowship I have there but most importantly I cherish the time that I was able to completely focus on God. The boys stayed home and played with Daddy and then they had grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch. This facts seems meaningless but it was their first time. Still meaningless, yeah, OK, but it is my blog and I was excited :) They also replaced their bottles with ..... sippy cups! Which is the true triumph. I tried it in the morning and they could not have cared less so I figured let's just do this and we tried it at night with the same success. I guess this means we are done with bottles. I am guessing I could have done it sooner but oh well I am glad it went so smoothly because that was not expected. Now, if the weaning from the binky could go as well I would be thrilled. The boys continue to do this growing up thing on me and don't seem to care whether or not I am o.k. with it. :)


*The first pic is of Aunt Kim with her Eli. Kim would go feed, rock, sing to Eli when Alex came home from the NICU b/c I was unable to go up during the day. I was so grateful to know that someone was holding him for me when I wasn't able to.


**The second pic is Kim's daughter Amanda with Alex. I am sure she would appreciate me saying that this was her school's spirit week and that she typically dresses differently. :) But doesn't she look cute?

Flashback Friday

Alex (Dec. 07/8 months old and Now/almost 18 months old)

Eli (Same month/Same age/completely different child :))

We tried on winter hats last week. This one didn't quite fasten under Eli's chin and allow him to breathe (minor detail, I know) but I am on a mission to find his (that was Alex's) from last year because I think it is bigger. When did my babies get so big??? They are such big boys that I forget sometimes that I have to watch their little hands while we are shopping. It is a regular occurrence right now that we don't realize how long their reach has become. Last night, for instance, we were at our pharmacy which is a little family owned place and I heard a crash. I look at my sweet, Eli boy only to discover that he had pulled a rack of candy over. I quickly crouched down and began to pick up several boxes of candy. Unfortunately, it was not regular old boxed candy it was silly, little, cutesy candy that comes in various sized tubes. Thankfully the employees took over and refused to let me continue to pick up each candy toy and put them in the proper box. The boys just watched us from the stroller as these funny adults "played" with the candy. You gotta love toddlers.

Thank You!

This "thank you" thing is going a bit far. I love that my boys have begun to say this and I am finding it funny to see how they are using this phrase. A couple of days ago in the bathtub, for instance, Alex ripped the tub plugger thing (I'm tired, and yes, I do know there is a real word for that thing. I just don't know what it is right now.) out of Eli's hand and kindly said "thank you" as if this somehow cancelled his grabby behavior. As you may have read in a previous post this is similar to what I do when one of them steals a toy from the other. Tonight, Eli heard the beep, beep, beep of the microwave signaling that his nightime bottle is ready. This would normally throw him into a mini-crying-frenzy because the putting in the vitamin/putting on the lid process is never fast enough for him but tonight he pulled up to the counter and just kept repeating "thank you, thank you, thank you". I guess he thought maybe Mommy would speed things up a bit if he was polite. I hope that they will always use their manners but I am not sure they have grasped yet that it isn't a magic word that gets them anything that they want :)