Let Them Be Little

My poor Sweet Girl has really had to endure the brunt of my learning curve of being a mom to three kids. Because she's the oldest and she's really smart, I often treat her like she's older than she actually is and expect more from her. Which is not fair to her. I'm really trying to improve in this area. I've been pondering about it a lot. The other day the phrase "let them be little" popped into my head. I've heard it a million times, but it really struck me at that moment. I NEED to let her be little! She's only 3, she's still little! She's still learning, she's still growing, she still needs my help. She can do so many things, but (as I often have to remind even her) she still needs help with a lot of things. And I GET to be that person to help her! I prayed to be that person to help her and love her and teach her.

This has really been a learning year for me and I've really noticed that the cleanliness of my house REALLY affects my mood. If it's total choas I feel so out of control so I'm often so focused on trying to clean it which in turn frustrates me because it is immediately messy again. But after "let them be little" popped in my head I've really tried to let her play. I do still clean, but I try not to be crazy about it. I let the mess stay until it needs to be cleaned up. For example, she's really into making tents out of blankets. Usually we make them in her room so they can stay up for a long time, but today she wanted it by the kitchen table. So I let her put it up. It stayed up all day until just before dinner. We had the sister missionaries for dinner and we need the space and the chairs, so I explained this to her and she was totally fine with cleaning it up! I let her be little and it paid off! I was happy and she was happy!

Another way I've tried to really let her be little is to let her wear whatever (within reason, she needs to be modest and not be super cold) she wants to things that don't really matter, like running errands and play dates. She dresses appropriately to church. But I remember how my mom would let my little brother choose these hilarious outfits when we went places and those are some of my favorite memories. Sweet Girl has this same effinity to accesorized outfits. I love it!

Letting her be little has really made us both happier when I remember to let her be little!

Also, another plug for the Happier podcast, I applied the one minute rule today and it really kept my house much cleaner so I was happier overall throughout the day!

Happiness

Hello. ....is anyone still checking this? If not, oh well, if anyone is, welcome back! I've decided I miss the outlet to write more of my thoughts. I like to use Instagram, but you can't write as much.

This week I discovered the podcast "Happiness with Gretchen Rubin", oh my goodness, it's SO good! This week was pretty challenging around here, but this podcast has helped me really choose to be happy and recognize happiness in little ways and really understand what makes ME happy. One of those things is wiring on my blog. I kept wanting to write, but it's really hard to sit down at the computer and write these days. But I realized, I have tons of time while I'm breastfeeding two babies, so I re-downloaded the blogger app and hopefully I can start writing more regularly and hopefully I'll get caught up. ...a lot of things change in 10 months. ..lol!

So seriously, if you haven't listened to that podcast, go and start listening to it! And if you want more podcasts recommendations I'd love to share a few of my other favorites! What are some of your favorite podcasts?

Welcome Baby Boys!

Things don't always go as planned. You'd think I would know this by now. Life, just doesn't go as planned. And it's okay, it works out. Our baby boys' birth story did not go as planned, but they are here and they are healthy and safe. That's what matters.

If you'd like to know all the details, keep reading, if not, you can scroll down and just look at the pictures. No judgment either way!

So where did we leave off...ah yes, dilated to a 7 with the intention of inducing labor the next week. Well, we went to that appointment fully ready to have our babies. We didn't sleep much the night before because we were so excited for the next day! But when we got there we learned that the babies had moved up, I was no longer dilated to a 7, now I was only at a 5. I had undilated... I didn't even know that was possible! So we decided to wait, obviously they weren't as ready as we thought. We were bummed but eventually realized it was a good thing. However, my doctor had me schedule for the day before her scheduled on-call day at the hospital so that she could induce labor the next week, since my body was being so confusing. So we did that. At my 37w5d appointment I was back at 7, so we decided to go with the plan. The hospital would call and tell me when they had a bed available and we would go in and she would break my water when she started her shift Wednesday morning.

The hospital called around 10 PM Tuesday night to tell me they had a bed available, after I told the nurse that my doctor was going to break my water in the morning, she recommended that we wait until first thing in the morning to come in. We were happy to do so and sleep in our own bed that night.

So we got ready for bed and laid down.... anticipating another excited sleepless night.

Which is exactly what we got.

After laying in bed for about 15-20 minutes I had a pretty strong contraction. And then my water broke on its own! So I called the hospital back and told them we were on our way. The nurse laughed and said, "I knew that was going to happen!"

We got in the car and headed to the hospital. We had to go through the emergency room since it was now midnight and the main doors lock at 10. As I got into the emergency room waiting area I had a contraction, and just leaned up against the wall during it. The security guard asked if I needed help, but quickly put together what was going on... I mean I had a towel between my legs, I was heavily pregnant, and I'm sure I had a look of pain on my face. So he got me a wheelchair and wheeled me over to the admitting lady. She called labor and delivery and they quickly came and got us.

All of the nurses were certain that we would be holding one of the babies in our arms as we came into the birth center... thankfully that was not the case. They were so sure, in fact, that they had one of the baby warmer cribs on and warm to put the baby in, if that were the case! Again, thankfully, it was not the case. However, I was dilated to a 9 at this point. They got me all hooked up and then they started prepping me for the epidural, I got my epidural, and then let us sleep for a few hours. I'm not sure how or why we got to wait some, but we did. And the little bit of sleep was nice. Then around 4 the nurse came in and said it was time to get the babies out. Since we were having twins we delivered in the OR in case they would need to do a c-section. Both babies were head down so we didn't think that would be the case.

But like I said, things didn't go as planned.

They got me on the unusually small operating table. I'm not a big person, granted I was bigger than normal, but still not a big person and I felt like I was going to fall off of that table at any second. But we had other things to worry about. It was time to push. After 3 or 4 pushes at 4:23 AM Baby A came out, totally healthy! Tiny, but healthy! He was 4 lbs 12 oz and 18.5 inches long! From now on he will be called

Baby B stayed head down after Baby A came out, with a little help from the nurses, who pushed on my stomach to keep him head down. And we started to work on getting him out. Two hours later, he still wasn't coming. My cervix was closing and Baby B's heartbeat was starting to decrease with each contraction... slowly the room started filling up with more and more people (there was already a fair amount of people in there). The doctor decided that we needed to get the baby out via c-section. I really didn't want a c-section, but I wanted a healthy baby more than I didn't want a c-section, so they prepped me for a c-section. I was aware of what was going on, but it is all pretty hazy. I remember everything but I felt like I was in a fog or mostly out of it for the rest of the day. At 6:37 AM Baby B came out healthy as well, weighing 6 lbs 4 oz and 19 3/4 inches long!

The babies were in the nursery while they finished stitching me back up and while they took me back to my room. The boys joined me in my room not long after that and we worked on feeding them. I was SO out of it and also starving and had horrible cotton mouth. But we all made it!

After lunch my parents, Sweet Girl, and my Sweet mother-in-law came to visit us in the hospital. Sweet Girl was so in love with her brothers! Baby A was having a little trouble with his blood sugar level and regulating his temperature, so he pretty much stayed with me so I could keep him warm and fed. After a little while they all left and the nurses let us know that Baby B was also having a hard time regulating his temperature. They let us continue to try to get everyone regulated on our own, but sometime in the evening it was decided that they needed to go to the NICU for a little extra help.

This was definitely not in the plan! They were 37 weeks and 6 days! They were supposed to be perfectly healthy and come home with us after a night in the hospital.

But, you know what, it was okay. It all worked out.

Our parents worked out a schedule for them to take care of Sweet Girl while we were in the hospital. I was in the hospital for 4 days since I had a c-section. After I was discharged we rented a hotel room near the hospital and Sweet Girl and Pa came down and stayed with us, so we could be together (Sweet Girl was missing mom and dad and we were missing her). We were able to go to the hospital and feed the boys when they needed to eat and still be with Sweet Girl when we weren't at the hospital. It was such a blessing!

Other blessings about the boys being in the NICU is they got on a pretty good schedule, they had wonderful nurses who took great care of them and us, and they got out of the NICU pretty quickly! I was released on Saturday and they were released on Tuesday!

The day after we got home Sweet Girl got sick, so we've kept the boys in their room and Sweet Girl has been really good to not go into their room! She's been on antibotics for several days now and seems to be on the mend, so hopefully we can let her enjoy her brothers a little bit more soon! (I wrote this out a long time ago but got distracted and never finished it... she recovered and loved on her brothers ever since!)

Like I said, things didn't go as planned, but they've all worked out.. or are working out!

I didn't add the pictures in the story because it was easier to put them at the end. Also, because I didn't take many pictures. I was SO out of it the day they were born! And then I usually had my mind on other things when I was in the NICU, but thankfully my Sweet husband, parents, and in-laws were more on the ball.

Apparently, this is huge... that they are sharing a crib. The nurses told us it used to be acceptable but some regulation was made to stop nurses from doing it; however, do to so many babies born in the hospital, they didn't have enough beds so they had to put them together. Then they found a loop hole to keep them together... the nurses were abuzz with talk about what the doctor would say when he came in.... guess what he said... absolutely nothing...lol! I thought it was hilarious!

 Sweet Girl climbed up on this and said, "It's coronation day!"... watched a little Frozen lately? 

 Close up of the boys... the pictures are blurry because in the NICU you have to have your phone in a plastic bag.

Finally breaking free!

We were only in the NICU for 6 days, but it was long enough and as we were walking out I kept thinking that someone was going to stop us and make us take them back in. 

But thankfully, that wasn't the case and we were able to go home!

I'm so grateful for my parents and my Sweet in-laws, I have no idea how we would have survived January or February without them!

Christmas Break 2016

Before Church on Christmas Sweet Girl decided to play Chinese Checkers with sixlets!

 After church we headed to my Sweet in-law's home.

Sweet Girl and my Sweet Husband wore their matching shirts I made for them.

 Monday evening we went to the beach and had dinner and roasted marshmallows. 

Sweet Girl immediately started playing in the sand and played until it got too dark to see. 

That week we also went to this awesome park! Sweet Girl asks if we can go back to rocket ship park all the time!

It was a great week and we loved all the time we got to spend with family throughout the week!

Pregnancy Update

The best and most common advice I get about twin pregnancy is "get a lot of rest" or "just rest"!

I got this awesome book toward the beginning of my pregnancy that several people recommended about twin pregnancy. And it recommends that after a certain time you shouldn't be on your feet longer than 30 minutes at a time and that you should have your feet elevated the rest of the time while you are sitting.

So, with all of this, I've done a lot of resting.

Poor Sweet Girl, she gets pretty tired of her boring mom.

But we've found some ways to keep it fun,

she sits with me in my chair often and brushes my hair

or we read books,

or watch too much Netflix... lol.

But as a sweet friend reminded me, "it won't be forever".

But even with all this resting I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions for a long time.

They started pretty early,

but my OB told me as long as they don't hurt not to worry about them.

So I've tried not too stress out too much.

But on Friday the 13th, I started to get some pretty mild pains with those BHs so I called my doctor's office.

They talked to the nurse and she said I should come in.

So my Sweet Husband came home from work and took me to the doctor.

I was 34 weeks and 1 day.

The doctor checked me and shocked us all with the news that I am dilated to a 4 or a 5 and 100% effaced! My doctor's face was priceless as she was checking me, "Baby A is down (with a look of surprise), wow, he's really far down (with even more surprise)!"

She told me that I couldn't do any heavy lifting or really any housework.

My doctor told us not to delay coming back if my water broke and told us she'd see us every week from now on.

And we were on our way!

We've tried not to freak out too much since we were in a similar situation with Sweet Girl for at least 3 weeks! But now it's winter and our quaint little town often closes the roads when  even the smallest amount of snow is on the freeway... lol, so that has given us a little bit of stress. 

At my 35 week appointment, we commented on the weather and roads and my doctor laughed and said, "then you just stay inside, keep warm, and stay down!"

My Dad came the same day as my 35 week appointment and has been such a great help with Sweet Girl! Now she has someone to play with during the day and doesn't get quite so bored! Also, it's so nice to have someone to help her on and off the potty because crouching down isn't the easiest thing these days! Lol!

I've now had my 36 week appointment and when my doctor checked me, she said,
"You need to sit up."
So I did. And she hid her face in her doctor's coat and shook her head.
Then she asked me again if I was having any contractions.
I told her about a few I had a few nights previous, but it was seriously like three and they went away.
She said, "I'm not old enough for this".. lol!
I told her to just say it, let it out!
She said, "You are dilated to a 6 or a 7... I don't know what to do with you, you aren't having any contractions, your water hasn't broken, everything is ready to go, it just isn't."
We all let out a nervous laugh and kind of looked at each other.
Then my Sweet Husband reminded her about what happened with Sweet Girl, how she ended up just breaking my water, granted I was further along with her (39w5d).
My doctor said, "well, schedule your appointment for next week, if you have ANY signs of going into labor, go to the hospital, if not come to your appointment and I'll probably admit you and break your water to save myself the stress!"
Lol, we laughed again and said, "Your stress!?! What about ours?!"
So, here we are, just waiting.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning 2016

Christmas Eve was really productive at our home this year.

We meant to have a big dinner and read the nativity and watch a fun Christmas show together as a family,

but the day really got away from us. 

Sweet Girl and my Sweet Husband played in the snow for a while. 

Sweet Girl loved to eat the snow!

 Sweet Girl insisted on an entire family, 

you have to look closely but there is a mom, a dad, and a baby.

My Sweet Husband said she wanted more people, but he was getting tired.. lol!

 I went outside with them for a little bit, but since I don't have snow clothes that fit at the moment I opted to go in and make hot chocolate for all of us.

They still let me be part of the snowball fight.. lol, look above my Sweet Husband's head and you'll see the snowball they threw at the window at me. Plus the one that already left its mark on the window.

After playing in the snow we worked on texturing the walls, 

if I remember correctly, my Sweet Husband also worked on the counter tops.

And I think he worked on a few other things.

So we had a very special dinner of McDonalds and watched If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie while we ate. Then we read the nativity in our New Testament Illustrated Reader.

And quickly put Sweet Girl to bed because it was getting pretty late.

Even though it wasn't exactly how we planned, it was a wonderful day together as a family!

Santa came during the night and we woke up early Christmas morning 

and opened presents before church.

 Sweet Girl was so excited about everything, it was so fun!

 We had plenty of time, so if she wanted to play with her toys in between opening more presents we let her.

 

 Then we tried to take a family picture with the Christmas tree

and remembered once again we forgot to take it before we opened presents.. lol oops.

Also, sometimes your belly is so big that's all that makes it into the picture.

 Take 2

It was a wonderful Christmas morning with our little family!

Survival

As I was thinking about goals for 2017, I started thinking about the goals that I set for 2016... and I honestly couldn't remember exactly which goals I set... which made me realize that I probably didn't do very well with them. But as I was rereading my post about my 2016 goals, I realized I did pretty well in some of them and ebbed and flowed in others.

I trained for and ran a half marathon! It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed running with my Sweet Husband and Sweet Girl! I hope that sometime during the year I get to start running again, but I'll get to that in a minute.

My Sweet Husband and I weren't super consistent with dates, as in we didn't have a certain day every month or week that was date night, but we did pretty well. And I think we were able to spend a lot of time together this year, so I think we can count that as successful too!

I definitely ebbed and flowed with the putting the phone down goal. For a while I was really good at only looking at my phone when Sweet Girl was sleeping, but then she started taking fewer naps and I started to get lazy with that.

Blogging... I struggled but I did catch up there at the end. I have a few house project posts to write but other than that I hit the main things from the year.

Reading the Bible, I started off really strong and then lost where I was and forgot what was going on... and yeah.. it didn't quite happen.

Thinking and speaking well of others will always be a work in progress I think.

And we are getting super close to having house projects finished!

My word for this year... survival. Lol, my Sweet Husband and I were talking about goals for 2017 and we both said that was our main goal for the year... lol! But I do have other things I'd like to do this year as well.

1. Our stake is challenging us to read the Book of Mormon this year, so I want to do that.
2. I want to work on putting my phone down more again.
3. Get Sweet Girl potty trained.
4. Have healthy baby boys.
5. Have a positive attitude.

I hope you all have a wonderful 2017!