Happy Father's Day

This is how this man has looked at each of his children.  He loves being a father and is so natural at it.  When the kids are upset with me and I feel like a bad mom I can just sit back and remember that I gave my children the best gift ever, I married a wonderful man.  He is a fabulous father.  

We didn't do anything special for father's day.  We went to separate Masses so the twins could stay home.  The big kids all had to work so off they went.  Later in the afternoon J took all the little ones to the pool where the older ones were working.  Pooker also joined them and the pool.  He was thrilled. 

Simple time with his children, that is all he likes.

While we were driving the kids home from the hospital the other day, I looked at Jason and asked what he wanted for Father's day.  He looked back at the 11 kids in the car and with a tear in his eye and smile on his face he answered, " I don't want anything, I already have it all!"

Bagel is 8!!

This little lady knew her birthday was coming.  She had a countdown going for days.  If the twins had still been in the NICU she would no longer have needed to have her temperature taken and she no longer needs to sit in a booster seat.  She knew all these changes were coming, and she couldn't wait to celebrate.  Her sisters did not disappoint, they decorated the house with streamers.  When they all woke up early for swim team she was happy.  She also had frozen cupcakes to snack on during the meet.

As soon as they got home we all headed out for a nice dinner.  We were going out to celebrate a birthday and this little lady picked the family favorite of the Olive Garden.

Look at all those people, we have a great family.  They were all willing to give up their afternoons to celebrate with Bagel.  We got the side room and it was perfect for us.

The twins were fine all snuggled in their stroller.  I was very glad that no one tried to touch them.

 The rest of us enjoyed a good meal and great conversation.

 We have such a neat group that we all enjoy our time together so much.

 I can't believe my little baby is already 8 years old.

 She was embarrassed by the cake but thrilled by it.

Happy birthday precious BAGEL!  We all love you.

There is No Place Like Home!!!

We end up at home and it was a great feeling bringing our little ladies into our home with all of their siblings there to cheer them on.  I think about how special the day was and my only response is to cry.  God has been so good to us.  We brought home two healthy little ladies and everyone was there to celebrate.  Pooker and Bear both had to get out of work for the day and we are so glad they did.   We all got to celebrate together.

The gang with Beautiful on left of dad and Adorable on right.

It all started with our late arrival at the NICU.  We had been without electricity because of a storm until early that morning.  Our cleaning took longer than we thought and that didn't include all the storm damage outside.  We couldn't worry about that,  we needed to head to the hospital. 

It was also fun that this was a Cuda mom that we knew from the neighborhood.

Jumba got his temperature taken for the last time as we entered the unit.  He was nervous every time that they might discover he was sick and not let him in.  He was good to go.

Twin Adorable

Goobers is getting Twin Adorable ready to go home.  Now is a good time to explain our "Home Coming Outfit - Tradition".  With every newborn, while mom is waiting to be discharged with baby, the entire family heads out to find the coming home outfit.  They kids must all agree with dad on the final outfits.  They must be a perfect match for each baby and mom will not know anything about it until the babies are dressed.  The kids and dad headed out last night to find the outfit.  Mom stayed home without any electricity and took a nap.  As soon as we arrived hospital the kids went in and immediately started dressing the twins and quickly announced that were not not attached to any monitors.  No cords at all!  Praise God!

We all started packing everything that needed to go home with us.  It was quit a bit after three and half weeks.

Twin Adorable

Once dressed the outfits were revealed to mom.  Very cute outfits were chosen, they complemented each other but were different, all while maintaining the country look that that the big kids like so much.

Twin Adorable - Twin Beautiful

 Once again the outfits that everyone helped to pick were perfect!

Adorable on left and Beautiful on right.

 The whole family.  The T family all together!

Every member of this family was happy to be taking our little ones home but also sad to be saying goodbye to our NICU friends.

Beautiful - Adorable

 Dad loving on his new little girls!

Beautiful - Adorable

 Dad with all of his girls.   There are a lot of those girls and dad could not be happier.

Beautiful - Adorable

 My oldest ones loving my youngest ones and each one is as cute as the next!

 While the babies took their last bit of medicine, mom got to sign them out.

Twin Adorable

 It took awhile to down their vitamins, maybe we were just very anxious to get out of there.

 No readings on our babies!  It was so nice to not have to look up at a machine to tell me that they were OK.

Adorable - Beautiful

 We all fell in love with these nurses.  They took such excellent care of the twins and of us.

Adorable - Beautiful

 Some of our wonderful nurses!

 Beautiful looking great in her outfit.

 Adorable in her special outfit.

 Goodbyes were hard, very hard!  These ladies taught me so much about my preemies and about life.

 Headed to the big old van.

 It was a production getting all 11 children into the van, while saying goodbye.

 No fighting over who would sit next to the baby because this time we have two to share the love.

 Before leaving they handed us the frozen breast milk that they had saved.  I had no idea was producing so much.  The cooler was full.

Beautiful - Adorable

 Dad was so proud to carry in his little ladies with the rest of the gang there to support him. Look at all those kiddos, wow, we are blessed!

Beautiful

 No one would leave dad's side.  They all wanted to be a part of this big day.

Adorable headed in the house first!

They were finally inside the home.  They didn't spend much time in their bed at all.  We did try it out at least for a few pictures with their special outfits on.  

Twin Adorable - Twin Beautiful

Then it was off to the family room.  We all watched the original "Cheaper By the Dozen" movies to celebrate our new family time.  At the beginning of Movie number one, the dad is asked if all 11 children are his or if it was a picnic.  The father responds, "These are my 11 children, sir and I promise you it is no picnic."  We giggled because we knew the dad in this movie loved each and everyone of his kiddos.  Life will not always be a picnic, that is for sure.  With 11 children we are sure to have hard times.  Together we will accomplish anything and knowing us we will have fun along the way.

The babies are a part of the big group now, and we are so glad to have them.  While we were enjoying the movies, Goobers went into the front room to change diapers.  She caught some neighbors (the J family)  doing our yard work they had decided to celebrate the twins homecoming by cleaning out all the storm debris out of our yard.  This was such a nice act.  The kids all went out to protest but they were sent back inside to enjoy their baby time.

Twin Adorable - Twin Beautiful

I am so thankful for all the prayers that got us to today.  So many people prayed for mom's health, the twins health and for them to continue to do well after birth.  All those prayers were answered.  These two precious little ladies are now home and making our lives even more full.  We thank each of you for everything that you did to get us to this day.  So many meals made, gifts given, yard raked (thank you J family) and prayers said.  This was not a celebration for just our family but one that we share we each of you.  Thank you, and please know we continue to remember your needs in our prayers.

The Twin will get to Come Home Today!

The summary is that the twins should be coming home today, Wednesday.

Smaller clothes than we have ever needed in this house!

After three weeks of very slow progress we have had 5 days of the girls improving at every hour. After Twin A/Adorable came off the assisted oxygen she took off with every thing else. They both improved constantly. They have been eating like champs. (Not surprised they are my daughters after all.) They have had all shots, all test, and even passed a car seat challenge. As of last night Twin A / Adorable weighed 6lbs 1 oz and Twin B / Beautiful was up to 5 lbs 2 oz. They are growing wonderfully. We will follow up with our own doctor on Friday to make sure they are still gaining.

Twin Adorable passing her hearing test!

We are thrilled and a little nervous. We have never brought home such a small baby before so this will be a little different. It will also be hard to leave our new friends. We have grown close to the labor and delivery nurses that helped me and we pass everyday on our way to the NICU. Then after 3 and half weeks in the NICU we have grown close to so many of the nurses. God has been so good to us. We never would have planned our time this way and yet we have been so blessed to see God's hand in all of it. So many new beautiful souls we have met and fallen in love with. Please join us in offering prayers for all these wonderful people that serve woman and their little babies, right here in our community.

Twin B passing her hearing test.

Now I am off to prepare the room. I was supposed to do that last night but the we had no power until a few hours ago. Cleaning out the fridge and raking the yard will now need to be added to our list of "to do"s.  All the kids want to be a part of their homecoming, and with everyone's schedules I am not sure how we can make that work.  We really are blessed that they want to be a part of it.

Two little ones need two car seats!  Oh my goodness, we really had TWINS!

Warning: In the past I have always been very open with new babies. I have allowed them to be passed around and shared with everyone. Like I have said before my babies have always been big and full term. With these preemies I will be very different. I ask that if you see us at church or around town please don't touch the babies. Please don't expect to hold them. They never got the added boast of mom's immunities before they were born because they came so early. This will be very hard for me as my inclination is to share but they are so little, so compromised and in some ways so weak. You are welcome to visit the house but know that you will see the babies but not hold them. I know this will be very hard on my friends, but please know it is hard for me to ask you not to hold them. They will need a few more months to grow and build immunity, and I will need more assurance from doctor and such before we will feel comfortable passing little ones around. Please know in advance that I am sorry.

Good luck girls, you are coming home to a very busy house, a over zealous mom, a nutty dad and a houseful of siblings.  We promise you will never be without love!

I know that my babies have done so well because of all of your prayers. Please thank your children for all their prayers as well. We should not be doing as well as we are according to everything I read. The babies were born so early and were expected to have so many more issues that we ended up with. So Thank you doesn't even seam like it is enough to cover how we feel. Love to each of you and please remember that God has listened to each of you asking for health for these twins. You are in our thoughts and prayers. As always I will be posting lots of pictures on blog soon.  

They are just too cute!

This is a silly post of just pictures.  I can't help it.  They are just so perfect.  I can't wait to get them home!  For now I enjoy these pictures!  I hope you will enjoy as well.  

Twin Adorable is on the left and 

Time Beautiful is on the right

 in each picture!