Happy Birthday!!!!

                                     James "Luke"                                    

September 13, 2011

8:35 a.m.

7 lbs. 12 oz.

19 3/4 inches

                                          "Della Rose"                                          

September 13, 2011

8:37 a.m.

6 lbs. 7 oz.

19 1/4 inches

We are home and doing well.  The babies are 2 weeks old today! It is already going by too fast! They are perfect and I am in love.  Here is the sweetest moment we have captured thus far...looking forward to many, many more.



quick update

The amnio results were not high enough for us to go ahead with the c-section.  A "passing" level is 2.0...ours was 1.7.  So close!! We were so disappointed at first, but after a FEW pep talks with each other we both realized that we want our babies as healthy as possible even though we are so anxious to meet them, hold them, kiss them....  So, the new plan is next Wednesday, September 14 FOR SURE! We are on the books for 8 am. 

corn casserole makes for good comfort food

So, tonight our small group had a Mexican theme for dinner. I volunteered to bring corn....something I thought would be quick and easy.  Since I haven't been working I thought about kicking it up a notch and found this super easy...SUPER delicious corn casserole (Paula Deen) recipe. I wanted to share it with all of you...I hope you can try it....it would especially be good if you could get some fresh corn since it's that time of year...mmmmmm.

Ingredients

• 1 (15 1/4-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained (I used Mexicorn to spice it up a little for our Mexican theme)
• 1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
• 1 (8-ounce) package corn muffin mix (recommended: Jiffy)
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, stir together the 2 cans of corn, corn muffin mix, sour cream, and melted butter. Pour into a greased 9 by 13-inch casserole dish. Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and top with Cheddar. Return to oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Let stand for at least 5 minutes and then serve warm.

**Click HERE to follow a link directly to the recipe on the Food Network website if you would like.**
 

light at the end of the tunnel

This pregnancy is winding down. As much as I am looking forward to meeting the babies and not looking and feeling like I swallowed 2 watermelons, I am starting to cherish every kick and roll that goes on in my tummy.  Next Wednesday my tummy will be empty and my arms will be full.  I am sorry that I haven't updated in a while....but somehow I managed to work until yesterday, so by the time I would get home I just CRASHED.  The doctor wrote me out because my blood pressure has become a little elevated.  She also scheduled an amnio for next Tuesday (September 6) to check lung development and as long as all is well with that, the c-section will be Wednesday, the 7th!!!  I was thinking about all the "predictions" we have made about Luke and Della Rose....personalities, looks, sleep schedules, etc.  I thought it would be fun to document them so that I can look back to see how close our predictions really are. So, here are a few.....

• Luke will be shy and laid back. Della Rose is going to want to be the center of attention and demanding (I might have a diva on my hands...lol).
• Luke will be our night owl, but Della Rose will not slow down one bit until bedtime.
• Della Rose will look like her grandmother, Norman's mom. She may be fiesty just like her as well.
• Luke will look like his daddy. 
• Luke is going to be our Mr. Piggy and eat whenever and whatever food is available. (I predict this because at one ultrasound he was trying so hard to get his umbilical cord to his mouth)
• They will both have heads full of hair....oh dear.

Now, for the things that I am still wondering about....

• Which one (hopefully both) will have their daddy's beautiful singing voice?
• Will either one be a picky eater?
• What traits will they share so that people know they must be brother and sister?
• What do their eyes look like?

And I thought about making a list of my hopes and dreams for them. But that could go on forever. I could wish for prestigious educations and careers, lots of friends for them, a happy and healthy life..... but are those things really what is going to be most important in our home?  I hope not. My biggest hope/dream/prayer for their lives is that they learn from their mommy and daddy what serving Jesus looks like, sounds like, feels like. We will not be perfect parents....I just want my children to serve Jesus and know they were created for His glory. I am sure this will be a resounding prayer  in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. Wow...it is really sinking in what an important job I have in front of me.  God is entrusting me with two precious souls....what a blessing.

Coming soon.....more belly photos. 

another good book

A story set in 19th century China that tests the readers emotional stamina with graphic descriptions of foot binding and the hardships endured by the two main characters (Snow Flower and Lily) during the Taiping rebellion.

Following the everyday lives of these women from age 7 into womanhood as they learn "nu-shu" (the secret writing of Chinese women) share their secret dreams, and confront the day to day challenges of being wife, mother, daughter-in-law in a culture where women are prized not for their intellect or talents but for the size of their feet.

This detailed examination of the suffering which Lily and Snow Flower experience in their laotong relationship(laotong = a liaison made by choice for the purpose of emotional companionship and eternal fidelity)is a major focus of the book.

Moving and sorrowful in it's exploration of female friendship Lisa See's story makes the reader question how much of a person's life is guided by tradition, by fate and the expectations of others and how much by freewill and choice.

* Picture and description from amazon.

counting carbs

Sorry I did not update yesterday...I was exhausted when we FINALLY got home.  I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and met with a nutritionist.  It really is not a big deal...just a little inconvenient.  I am counting carbs and checking my sugar 4 times a day.  So far, my sugar has been great!! Most importantly, the babies are doing well.  They are BIG (which is a side effect of the GD).  Luke weighs 4 lbs. 11 oz. and Della Rose weighs 3 lbs. 15 oz.  I am no longer on bedrest...yay!!  My doctor said to just take it easy and listen to my body.  I just wanted to post a quick update....wishing you a wonderful weekend!! Eek...I will be entering the last year of my 20s on Sunday.....I'm getting old!!

30 weeks

Well, I am on bedrest.  I had been noticing some "different" pains over the past two weeks. As they started happening more often I decided to call my nurse. She told me it sounded like contractions and to start timing them.  I did and they were coming every 15 minutes....so off to the hospital we went (Monday). It caught me off guard because I was expecting it to be like the movies where you are doubled over in pain doing those breathing exercises.  Not the case! When we got to the hospital they hooked me up to the monitor and sure enough they were contractions.  Both babies were doing great...they were moving around like crazy and their heart tones looked great.  So, they gave me a shot to stop the contractions and ordered bedrest until I see my regular doctor tomorrow (Thursday).  So, I am hoping that he will lift some of these restrictions tomorrow. Below are more belly pictures and some pictures from my wonderful shower this past weekend.  I guess the babies saw all the gifts they got and wanted to try to come and join us. I don't think so!!!  


29 weeks




I will update again after my appointment tomorrow. :-)