Italy....cards for dad...MORE CLEANING

So we recently started a new curriculum called 5 in a row. I am lovin' it and so are the girls. You read one book a week, or however you like to do it, and each day learn something different about the story---Geography, Science, Art, etc....---So on Monday we started a story called, Papa Piccolo, which takes place in Venice Italy--we are learning all about Italy, eating Italian food, learning some Italian words and having a great time doing it. For today we were talking about a father's love and we decided to make daddy some cards and some of his favorite cookies. We were well under way when I realized I was out of eggs so I got the girls set with making their cards and walked next door to my neighbors house to ask for an egg, (I live in a townhouse, so when I say next door, I am talking 20 seconds or less) so I was in there maybe 4 minutes and when I should have known but YES, I returned to another mess....Marker EVERYWHERE! I guess it was time my counters needed a really good scrubbing.

Nap Time NIghtmare

Another 'nap time nightmare'....I allowed them to be up playing in their room during the second half of their nap. I was busy doing desk work downstairs and I heard Emma use the bathroom and didn't realize they followed her into the bathroom until I heard something roll across the ceiling where I was sitting and then I quickly sat up and realized---the bathroom---below are some pictures, after I removed them from the scene. I just refilled the Q-tips so there were about 100 of them scattered throughout, but mostly in the toilet, the floor was covered with water from the toilet overflowing and Nora's attempt to scrub the toilet--see the toilet brush below, they also emptied two containers of hand soap, a thing of bubbles, shampoo and an entire container of wipes. They work so fast....we are still working on a punishment for this one. Right away they smiled and said that they wanted to work for their punishment so I know that I working for wasted products is not going to work anymore. They had an initial punishment...I had to give them a shower and made them sit on the couch quietly till dad came home....we think we came up with something but if anyone has some pointers--Please pass it on.

Happy Thanksgiving

Here are some pictures from my mothers house. We had a very nice, quiet thanksgiving dinner early on Thursday morning. Everything came out perfect and it was a very relaxing time with Kevin and the girls. We ate early, cuddled on the couch to watch a good movie, then we had some hot drinks with dessert. Then we went to my mom's house to see the rest of the family--pics below.

Nora being goofy
My brothers--Ben and Chris
Their wives--Ashely and Mandy
My mom showing off her apple pie
Indiana being gorgeous

So I am still feeling sick. I haven't had energy to do much of anything lately. Thankfully the girls seem to be feeling fine. In the past every time I have ever been sick, they have as well and it takes everything out of me to survive the day. So, we have just been taking it easy the past few days, well really it has been a week that I have been feeling this bad, hopefully by Monday I will feel better and be able to carry on with life again.

Many years ago

Kevin's mom recently sent me some photos of her wedding. This picture is my favorite. I love the expression on Roy's (kevin's dad) face. Wow, does he look like a trouble maker or what?

Being Silly

Here are the girls being silly before bed. Not much to say today, I haven't been feeling very well and I am very tired, sorry. Should have some better posts soon.

Stolen material

Well my husband, Kevin, has started to blog again, which is great--he has a very unique view on the world and I love to hear his thoughts, BUT---he is starting to steal material! For example, yesterday 3 posts--The sleeping position of my darling Nora, The candy wrapper that would not open, and my painting experience last night. (OK, so in my defense--Kevin did not feel like helping at all and told me to paint the doors without taking them down, which I did....he fell asleep and when I got to the bathroom door and needed to paint the inside it moved every time I hit it with a brush, so I had no choice but to shut the door---and the rest is history.) Wow, I never realized fumes like that could take away feeling in your arms--it is unfortunate that 8 or so hours later I can still taste the paint in my mouth, so weird. So, if you would like to read about these things you need to check out Kevin's blog--I have it linked on my site or
http://pakinjaksramblecorner.blogspot.com/ click here.

A surreal morning

I am not a morning person. I have to be up because of Kevin, the girls, and to spend some time with God before I start my day, but if it was my choice, I would be in bed till at least 8. What makes it so hard is that I am a night owl so I am usually up every night till about midnight sometimes later--my most productive hours seem to be after 9. So, when Kevin's alarm is going off at 4:30....*roar roar*, I am not ready to start my day. Some mornings are God-given mornings though, and this particular morning, pictured below, the girls quietly came down the stairs, climbed on the couch with some books and were just reading. It was SURREAL and I had to capture the moment with my camera. Oh, I pray they are night owl's like me.

Oh, the SALT

What is it with the salt? They have been doing great not getting into things so I slacked....I used the mouthwash and left the cabinet door open when into my bedroom to get dressed and when I came out---SALT---and laughter. Yes, I know it is fun to watch it pour out all over the place and to rub our hands in it and then rub our hands in our hair--so, I was calm and I just put them to work...after having them vacuum it up they washed my walls again. Hopefully it will be a while before we see something like this again. ( They did try to clean it up themselves before I came out of my room, as you can see the wipes they used about 20 wipes trying to clean it up. )

Being kind to eachother

So, the girls have had some issues lately with being kind to each other. I think we were ALL PMSing together, because the house was full of emotions. We have also been having issues with our cats. We have two male cats---the girls named--Pinta and Iris. They have not been getting along either and Pinta is very dominant and we think stressed Iris out because Iris stopped using the litter box--over a MONTH ago. Oh, I hate pee---but cat pee, oh my gosh. *GAG* (on clothes, in bags, corners around the house, basement stairs, on top of my dryer---ROAR. So, we had enough. We are trying to finish our basement by the end of the month and we don't want cat pee all over the girls playroom. So, we brought them to the MSPCA and when they heard what Iris has been doing they told Kevin they are just going to put him to sleep. So, we still have 'pee cat'....we are giving him a week without his brother here to see if it stops. I really hate to kill a cat because of bathroom issues, ya know? So, we will see. So below is a CALM moment---the girls are getting along and being KIND to each other. Today was a better day.

BELAY SLAVE

Here are the girls practicing their tree climbing. Some day I am going to get them on 'the rock' and we will all start climbing together, except for Kevin, because he will be our belay slave, (he doesn't like that too much), but I have to be tied to a tree when I belay him because of the difference in our body weight.We have had some bad experiences in the past when I was not tied to a tree and he fell, I about met him half-way up the rock and one time I got the skin between by thumb and finger stuck in the belay device, thankfully some fellow climbers were close by to hear my screams.

The BELL

So a friend bought me a bell to hang on my front door, that way I can hear if someone is coming in and it doesn't take me by surprise--I don't really like surprises. Well, the girls heard the bell ring and all their faces lit up. It has opened a whole new world for them---playing school. Right away Emma thought it sounded like a school bell and set up a little school room for the girls. Other than getting chalk all over the walls at one point, that bell has brought many hours of fun. Funny how one object can make such a huge difference.

HANNAH AND NORA's journey to 3

So, here they are...I am 21 weeks along and we just NOW found out we were having twins. Yes, it is late! We were planning on going natural with a midwife and so we did not have an ultrasound till 21 weeks, SURPRISE!


So (below) I am now 26 weeks...right before going into labor
Here is Hannah
Here is Nora

Below...I went into labor at 27 weeks and I was on the MAG for 3 days--that was horrible--but they were able to get the steroids into me for the girls lungs and I was kept in the hospital in bed. I was able to convince them to let me go home on bedrest (to see Emma) and then days later, after an ultrasound, showing Hannah wasn't doing well, they sent me right in for Emergency C-section...I was 29 weeks. Below I am saying goodbye to my belly.
The first time I saw them...in the NICU. They are still incubated. It broke my heart to see them in so much pain already and there was nothing that I could do to help them, not even hold them. Hannah was 2lbs 7oz and Nora 3lbs
Holding a tiny little hand

Nora still incubated

'Under the lights' with CPAP--Nora
'Under the lights' with CPAP--Hannah

Nora still under lights but with only a nasal cannula
First time we could stretch the wires far enough so I could hold them together. They are about a month old here and Hannah is 2lbs 9oz and Nora 3lbs 2oz...I wish the picture could really show how small they are...if you look at my arms and picture on your own arms how long they were, it is amazing.
Holding Hannah 'wireless' for the first time---It was WONDERFUL. It felt 'normal'...I waited for that moment for so long.

oh, the crying...boy could they make each other cry, and they still do. They are finally home. They were born December 4th and were able to come home on January 18th--Hannah weighed 3lbs 5oz and Nora weighed 4lbs.


This was how I would sleep
This was how I would nurse, until they realized the other one was there and they didn't like sharing.

Our first hospital stay for pneumonia--not any fun. Poor things, they feel miserable. 1st Birthday---below is Nora
below is Hannah

Nora is kissing Hannah