Monday, April 30, 2012

More off to the college life

Today Pooker took Princess to campus for the day. We hear she fit right in.
Princess got to go to class with Pooker and helped her with a presentation.  She really enjoyed that part of her day.  That and getting treats, they all like that part.  Pooker is doing great at making sure each sibling gets to spend time with her.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Feeling Good at Week 29.7

My belly is super huge, I didn't think that being pregnant could hurt like this.  It never did before.  As each one moves I am falling in love with these twins just like their siblings.  I suspect these pains will be forgotten just like the pain of labor once I have the babies in my arms.  We had a busy week with kids running around everywhere and J and Maggie out of town.  I wish I had a day to sit and rest but so far I am still moving right along. 

I feel so blessed to have had a situation brought to me for the sake of conversation.  I have a friend that is in the baby business.  She met a woman that was earlier in the pregnancy and found out that she had the MODI twins like I do.  Unfortunately they also discovered that her baby babies were suffering from twin to twin transfusion.  Mom and dad have struggled with this knowledge for several weeks.  They were informed last week that the situation was extreme.  The were told that there is no possibility of both surviving.  I can't imagine hearing that both twins will pass soon.  The few techniques that exist to stop the TTTS would not work with this set of twins.  I don't know the details but I do know that this mom was encouraged to "selectively reduce" aka abort the baby that was not getting nourished. 

I admit that this story through me for a loop.  I didn't mind discussing it with my friend.  My twins are far enough along that if we had to take them today they would survive and probably do really well.  I am taken back by this because,  this other woman has been given the worse case scenario I feared when I first read about it.  I spent hours thinking about this and I still can't say I know how I would react or feel. 

I am thankful that I am a proud member of the Roman Catholic Church.  As I sat a debated in my mind every aspect of this case I got very confused.  My 16 year old son heard me questioning what I wold do and he said, "Well you would check with the church right?"  Duh, yeah I would but to be honest I wasn't even sure if I would find an answer in the catechism.  I did a small Internet search to known sources and found an answer that was in union with all other things I had read and knew. 

The church considers each fetus to have the status of a full human person. Thus, they are all considered to have full human rights, including the right to life. Fetal reduction is a form of selective abortion. Pope John Paul II stated:
"Therefore by the authority which Christ conferred upon Peter and his Successors, in communion with the Bishops — who on various occasions have condemned abortion and who in the aforementioned consultation, albeit dispersed throughout the world, have shown unanimous agreement concerning this doctrine ‐I declare that direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, always constitutes a grave moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being. This doctrine is based upon the natural law and upon the written Word of God, is transmitted by the Church's Tradition and taught by the ordinary and universal Magisterium"  
Then I saw these words and it all made perfect sense to me . . . " It is never licit to do evil, even in view of attaining a good."  I knew all this but the situation was so close to my heart that I grew so confused as to what was right and wrong.  Now I just ask that you pray for all mothers and fathers that are caught up in these tragic situations.  I pray that they can have the courage to let God work his own miracles and for us to stop trying to take control over life and death.  We ask God to grant his wisdom to the woman and men that face the worldly side of these situations.  I pray that God continues to remind us each and every day that Heaven is the goal so nothing else matters. 

Thursday, April 26, 2012

In my dreams!

Most every Catholic mother prays that one of her sons will end up becoming a priest.  J and I are blessed with a very close friend who is a priest, making the priesthood a very real part of our lives and the lives of our children.  We have been very open to life.  God could have sent us all boys and we would have formed them in hopes they all were open to His Call.  At this point out of my 13 children, 2 are in heaven, 6 are girls, 2 more girls waiting to be born, and 3 boys.  They are 16, 11, and 4 1/2.  I don't know if God is calling any of them to the priesthood but a mom can have dreams can't she?

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Adios! Safe Travels!

I am so thankful that Goobers was soooo willing to stand in for me during dad's trip to Mexico.  This was a business trip that he signed us up for over a year ago.  For some crazy reason my doctor didn't want me leaving the country.  Maggie is so mature now and so polite that Jason took her as his guest. 

I dropped them off at the airport this morning a little sad.  I am usually the one getting away from it all but this time Goobers gets to go.  She was so excited as well.  I know that they will have a wonderful time while still representing J's business in an appropriate manner. 

It is always hard to for me to send a child off, it is a little easier knowing her dad will be there to take good care of her. 

I  hear that they have landed and are going to tour their resort.  Please do not send them a text or a phone call, as each one will cost them extra money.  God Bless them and keep them safe over the next 4 days and nights.  I also ask that God watch over the family back at home.  We are looking forward to a very quiet few days.  Now only if the babies would settle down so mom could rest! 

Sunday, April 22, 2012

"You are so com-port-a-bull when you are preg-a-nut." Week 28.7

This has been an uneventful baby week.  I did not have any appointments all week.  I have tried to be very careful with my diet and have very little to no sugar.  I am still ending the day feeling very very tired. It is the 3rd trimester after all. My energy ended as we began to put the room back together, so my progress is much slower.

I need to get moving and to purchase the crib.  I think the final touches will pull the room together and make it feel like home and I will post the pictures soon.  I love the colors and I love the funtionality of the room as an office/school room and I hope that once we add the crib it will also work as the baby room!For now my incubating babies have a lot of energy.  They are very active and now push back when I lean against something that pokes them. 
My nights are a little better in that I am sleeping again.  I do wake up often to go to the bathroom.  Every night this little bundle shows up.  I don't remember him joining me but there he is.  I asked Jumba why and he says he just wants to be there to help me with the babies.  He is often seen sitting next to me rubbing and talking to my belly.  When I ask why he cuddles me so much he says it is because, "You are so com-port-a-bull when you are preg-a-nut." 
Then Jumba upsets me a tad when I catch him making fun of me.  I know my feet are huge and so far it isn't a problem but he is very aware of how big they got.  I caught him having "trouble" walking only to look at his feet and see why . . .

The little bugger has copied my swollen feet.  I made him sit with his feet up!  Silly boy.  I suspect that both of us will be healed when the babies are born!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

First Practice - Cold but Fun!

The first practice is always so hard.  The little ones come home so tired.  This year, even though the temperatures have been in the high 80's all month they dropped for this day and it was very chilly.  Other neighborhoods don't start this early but we do.  I wish we were a little less competitive but no matter we are proud to be Cuda's.  The first practice is here and I just can't believe it.
The Jr. Coaches (in my family that includes - Goobers, Bear, Sugar, and Possible) work so hard to help the younger ones adapt to all of the hard work they will expect everyday at practice.
 Jr. Coaches love their job.  This is Goobers friend A happy to be pool side again.
 Jumba
Pickle was nervous at the beginning this He moved up age levels from last year and he needs to learn the flip turn.  I think that has him a little nervous but he will get it in time.
 Bagel is a natural.  She just swims and swims well. 

 Bagel is at home in the water.
Princess is at home with her friends.  Our little social butterfly.
 Sugar and Possible are hanging out trying to stay warm while waiting for the next group to get in the water.
 Bear decides to direct from the side lines. 
 Go Bagel Go!

 I love that Goobers is willing to be cold but she still gives her all to help.  I had many a parent come over to me and ask about my kiddos.  Many positive comments, "My daughter didn't give up because of your daughter.", "Your son taught my son  so much last year, I am glad he is back.", "My kids couldn't wait to get back to see their Jr coaches again.  They love your kids."  I feed on comments like that.  It really does warm my heart. 
 Bear leads the pre-swim warm ups.
 Princess is looking for friends to show up.
 Pickle getting ready.

 Sugar still offering advice after getting out of pool.  The work of a Jr. Coach never ends.
It was a good practice and I think this picture of A and Possible sums it up well.  Cold say for sure, but it was great to be back to the pool with friends.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Week 27 - Hello Third Trimester

I knew we were leaving the "easy" trimester because once again I feel like my all my energy is gone.  My motivation and ability to stay awake seams to have disappeared again.  I barely fit behind the wheel so my driving time will be coming to a close soon.   Did I mention that my feet are huge and they hurt sooooo much.   My precious Jumba doesn't like to see me in pain.  When I complained about my foot hurting he ran and got some lotion and then very gently rubbed my foot.  He says that he hates feet but it might help me.  I am so lucky. 

All that being said we are doing great.  Even though my body hurts in ways that I never thought were possible, they are normal "pregnant with twins" pains.  I am sore because I am growing two babies and they take the growing seriously.  Our appointment this week went well.  Mom is healthy.  My feet are swollen but that is the normal swelling and not the dangerous kind.  My blood presure was normal and the babies are growing at a good pace.   Twin A on my left side was 2 lbs 6 oz and Twin B on the right side was 2 lbs 14 oz.  The difference is healthy so as of yet there is nothing to worry about.  I am told that making it to week 27 is huge.  The survival rate is now much much higher.  We did have ultrasounds but no good pictures.  There is just too much baby squeezed into a small area. 
I hope that I can find the stregnth I need to get through the last trimester.  I don't want to push my other kiddos away, as they have always been so good to me.  My goal is tune down the outside world as our redo of the twins room/office is coming to a close.  We will start some quiet school days with mom trying to keep her feet up.  We will focus on their reading.  The next 7 to 8 weeks I hpe to focus on the others so that when the twins are born we can all focus on them.  God help me, please.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Bagel Goes to College (for the day)


Pooker had a day with Bagel this week.  I am afraid that her favorite part was the cafeteria.  She had a blast and I have not seen her that tired in a long long time.  She was very spoiled by Pooker.  Bagel even got to go swimming and to play Frisbee.  She came home and got the Frisbees out the next morning to practice for the next visit.  Thanks again to Pooker for remembering how much these little ones miss Pooker being at home all the time.   We are a close family and Pooker is working hard to respect that and to find a new balance as our lives change.

Box Camping

With all of the new furniture we have added to our baby/office room we had lots of big boxes hanging around.  The little ones got so excited about spending the night in a box.  I was OK with it but had a mom's meeting so I left.  When I got home the house was quiet and couldn't even find my dear hubby. 






Then I looked in the boxes, yep there he was.  Apparently he moved from box to box so each child had dad "visit" their home for a few hours.  He moved to his bed around 4 a.m.  I don't think his back could take any more of it.  I get so upset with my hubby sometimes, as all wives do.  Then I discover what a fun dad he really is.  These kids are so blessed to have Mr. J T as their dad and I am blessed to have him as my hubby.  The boxes went to the curb the next morning in time for trash pick up but the talk of sleeping in the boxes lasted for several days. 

Thursday, April 12, 2012

New Easter Activities

Easter is such a big day but what do you do to celebrate when all extended family are out of town? J decided that this year it was time to try kayaking. The local lake was full of boats that day, so I guess it wasn't that crazy of an idea. The weather was warm enough to feel great outside but not too hot to make it miserable.  I stayed home to rest with Pickle.  Everyone else headed to the water.  All these pictures are Pooker's.  I hear fun was had by all.  The last picture was of dad regrouping in water after Sugar pushed him in.  I am glad I stayed home but equally glad that they had a blast. 











Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Easter 2012

Easter always begins with Mass. We were so happy to have Pooker home for the day from college to join us.
Mass did go long but Jumba had fun playing with his new tie.

We arrived early but the traffic from the previous Mass was just getting out.  By the time we got inside we were sitting on the floor in the back.  We had spent the past few days working very very hard transforming the old school room into the new baby room/school room/mom's office.  I was wiped out and I sat resting against a pillar thinking about how tired I was and how my Easter didn't feel like I had prepared enough for. 

My pregnancy started before Advent.  I have been "giving up" and offering my struggles for a little bit longer than 40 days.  Yet as Easter came my relief did not.  In fact that tired feeling is back with the beginning of the third trimester.

Then my Easter gift came.  I looked over at my hubby and kids, when all of the sudden all of the love of heaven hit me like a ton of bricks.  I cried and cried, I couldn't stop.  When my friend Linda was dying of cancer she explained God's love and I told her that I only hoped I could be loved that way.  She said I was but it wasn't my time to feel heaven yet.  I got a taste and it is so beautiful.
Thank you God for trusting J and I with these crazy kids.  We are so blessed to know them, much less to be a part of their beautiful souls. 
No picture turned out great and I love each one. 

I never would have planned to have this many children and over this many years.  Thank you God for following your own plan, mine would have been so boring.
Home in time for an egg hunt.  They wouldn't even wait to get inside to grab baskets which meant we got some funny pictures of them trying to hold as many eggs as they could.

The bunny went all out this year, hiding some way up high.

Eggs were everywhere and so were my kiddos while on the hunt looking for them.

I always love these shots from Easter to Easter, seeing kids all dressed up and looking fantastic as they run around playing. 





Not sure if we found them all, but if we didn't they will show up soon enough.  Now to the baskets.




OK Bear, let's cut back on the chocolate bunny, please.

Happy Easter from my family to yours.  God has blessed us in so many ways and I hope that you can see God's love in your life. 

Happy Easter 2012.