Good or bad present giver?

So I completely struck out with Abbi this year and I thought I was doing so well...

When we were over there a couple of weeks ago she started bringing out toys and I saw that she had the one that I had purchased and wrapped in lovely birthday paper. The one that was patiently waiting under the tree for it's shining moment. Crappy! So I got her some Po-pos, (My Little Ponies) that didn't make it in time for the family celebration, but they made it for Christmas Day.

So there I am holding her NEW birthday present and the Christmas present that this slacker of an Aunt forgot at the family thing and we go walking in on Christmas Day to a whole pile of presents, THAT INCLUDED MY CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR HER! Can you believe it! BOTH presents she had or got for Christmas. BOTH! Does that make me a good or bad present giver? A bad one at this point since she still doesn't have a Christmas present from us... So I guess I mean, a good or bad present picker-outer? Seriously, what are the odds?



And I loved this little lesson about the Twelve Days of Christmas Carol from my e-friend Brittney's blog, in case you missed it...

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas!

Spoiled, but not rotten... yet...

First... Seriously... Need I say more?




Mary bought these guys these outfits last Christmas and Duncan, at a scant 5 pounds, and Dylie... probably just breaking 3.5 (and still in the NICU), they were just too big! But, and who woulda thunk it, not for this year! Isn't she cute?! I am not ashamed to admit that she wore it Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I hurried and ran the laundry through Christmas morning and it was so worth it! So thanks Mary! It's darling! (I know, I know... first I make them wear the silly, awesome hats for the Christmas card and then this? Yes, I am officially one of *those* moms!)

Two kid/picture items before we move on... First, what is it with kids and drool? Do they just drool way more when they know they are getting their pictures taken and you want them to look half decent? Because seriously, all of our Christmas pictures, both babies have this soaking wet shirt. At what point is baby drool not cute anyway?

And Secondly, at a certian age do all moms just have pictures of the back or tops of their children's heads? Because there is really not a good picture of Duncan (at least the front of him) on Christmas morning. He's just too busy and all over the place. That explains why you're about to see more of Dylan than Duncan. I snapped one of him yesterday that's adorable, so that will have to do as far as Christmas pictures go of him!

Let's cut little Dylie a break though, she has more teeth coming through then we thought, she actually has FOUR just breaking the surface and I can feel a couple more. CORRECTION, FIVE. Two one year molars.... Poor thing. And in this pic, look at her fuzzy head!


And it begins!


Anything with wheels... I told you a wheel thing! And these soft cars are great because they wind up. I have noticed that they get away from him sometimes and he hasn't quite figured out why.

Lots of big ones too! I had to clean their room and get it more kid/toy friendly so it's an extention of the toy area in the living room!

This would be Duncan playing with Dylan's toy, there's no boundries, just twice as much fun until she starts fighting back! He loves this!

A new tractor that makes all kinds of fun noises and sounds! And it has wheels!

Elmo make-out session... Who doesn't love Elmo anyway?!

A new baby! She does this with the new glow worm from Shane and Traci too!

Okay - one of the front of him, and it's not that great! But we captured the stocking moment. (Man I need to get my hair done, Christmas photos prompted a call to Jill, Wednesday can't come soon enough!)

Cute little stinking monkey isn't he? Seriously... adorable. (If I do say so myself!) And Trina got them monkey PJs to boot!

Santa's a smart one. These are the winners... Bangles. Nine of them... hooked together. Both kids love them! Even though, technically, they were in Dylan's stocking!


And on a seperate note, the project... So when Jessica gave Dylan that beautiful blanket last time she was in the hospital I thought it would be fun to put one together for Duncan. So, I invested in a new hobby and I am finally done! The blanket actually went really quickly, but I was holding off on making the pom-poms because I didn't want to mess things up. Then, they sat on my counter for ages and finally this morning I bit the bullet and finished. Here's a picture, and grandma, you know this is for you! I hope you like it!

Also - I was in the NICU today and ran into the couple who are adopting those twins I mentioned a few posts ago. They are WONDERFUL! Within one week of hearing about these little ones they were on the plane here (from Seattle) and now, within two weeks, things are almost final. She was in kangaroo-ing the little guy and loving every minute of it. They have a five year old daughter who, not just two months ago or so was lamenting being an only child and wanting a baby brother or sister. Then she had a dream. She said "Mom, I had a dream I had a brother and a sister, twins, and they are coming soon!" And what do you know... It's meant to be, they really are a great family! Hooray for that little update!

Happy Christmas Eve!

I am sure everyone has nothing to do but go blog stalking today right? So I thought I would put up an update since we have been silent for several days! Oh well, something to read at work when you go back! At least while I wait for my sugar cookie dough to get cold. I am on batch # 2 (and I double them!) today to take over to the Anderson's tomorrow. Shhhh, don't tell them... it's a surprise.

Sunday Matthew sang in the Choir Program at church and was fabulous of course. LouAnn came with me to help juggle babies because there was no way I could do it by myself. She offered to stay home with them but they had Christmas outfits! So no way! They had to go make an appearance! It was crazy, Duncan's all over and it's kind of hard to pay attention while watching LouAnn try to entertain... but from what I saw and heard it was great!





Then we went over to mom's for our Christmas and Abbi's birthday and we were all spoiled. It was super fun. We might go out to Shane and Traci's tomorrow but it's supposed to storm right? So maybe not so much... I guess we will see. Tonight we are hanging out with the Fischios, maybe at Matthew's mom's house. They're family, who knows when the plan is, I am just along for the ride!

Dylan's getting not one... but TWO new teeth. One on the left of her doofus on the top and I think a one year molar down on the left. Her teeth are crazy... she had three on the bottom off center... so I guess they are just going to come in on the left side and not the right? So far any way. Don't go exploring or you will lose a finger. Just ask Melissa, I tricked her into poking around and Dylie got her good! It's not really fair that the baby that doesn't need the teeth yet is the one suffering right now! Duncan's stuck at six, four on top, two on the bottom.

I gave Dylan a biter biscuit the other day and that was a messy bit of fun. She did really well with it. Kind of made her mad she couldn't get the whole thing in her mouth so I am pretty sure she liked the taste of it. Well, considering that and that she kept eating after she was so tired she had to close her eyes! It was so cute, this eating stuff is hard work you know! We went straight in the bath after!





When we change the dressing on Dylan's button we make a tic-tac-toe kind of shape on the gauze so we cut strips of Mefix, which is this stretch, skin friendly tape. Well, months ago Matthew found out that Dylan likes to suck/chew on the tape backing, that strip of paper. She used to just gum it until it curled and then she woudl spit it out and he would turn it around and stick the other end in. It's become this game... and she loves it. Random, I know... But she opens her mouth when she knows it's coming and everything. So I had to document it. So wierd!





Duncan started clapping yesterday, that's his new trick. He needed one since he got really really good at waving, did it ALL the time.

We went out to eat yesterday with Jessica and Steve who have been spoiling us with their company the last couple of days. It's been nice. I think Duncan's totally crushing on Jessica. He sat between her and I and when we were all talking he would reach out and put his hand on her arm until she looked at him and talked to him and then he would go back to playing. I think he did this like 20 times. Steve better watch out!

Saddest... picture... ever...

No I didn't pinch him... We have this fuzzy key chains that play a really high pitched song if you squeeze it and he really didn't like the song. He was holding it and when I pushed it he furrowed his brow and stuck out his bottom lip. Then he let it all go.

I made caramels!

And in doing so learned a very valuable Christmas lesson... it's not the making of the caramels that keeps everyone from doing it, it's the wrapping of them! I didn't get the memo... so there I am wrapping and wrapping. Oh well... the first batch went so fast at the Anderson's on Sunday (and the days before just sitting on the counter here) that I made a couple more batches. One for the rest of the holiday and one to take the NICU gathering tonight. All of the volunteers are supposed to bring goodie to share and it just doesn't get much goodie-er then homemade caramels.

So my boy is so sick! He is hacking away, they are very productive coughs and I guess that's good right? Abbi's sick too and Traci's taking her to the doctor so I will be anxiously awaiting those results before I decide what to do about my little guy. He isn't sleeping well at all because he can't breath and/or suck on his binki and when you get him he just complains. Course his complaints are 'dadadadadadada...nnnnnandadadada' which is even more sad I think. So he's been keeping me up at night since Monday night. Poor little dude. Hopefully he will start getting better soon.

Duncan loves wheels. Any wheels... just wheels. He's so random. He will take all of his pull toys with wheels and flip them over and play with the wheels. Even on Sunday at grandmas I looked over and he had a bunch of wheeled toys surrounding him, all upside down. I guess this is a boy thing? He will take one finger and roll them. More then this, he has realized he can crawl while pushing the pull toys. So uhmm... yea.. that silly lawn mower that he got for his birthday? Yea, the one the makes that really loud popping noise? He pushes it all over the kitchen! And in case you're wondering, it is as loud as ever.

Everyone done with Christmas shopping? I think I am but I am sure something else will come up and we will need to run out. Matthew pulled several angels from the Angel tree at his work. I miss the angel tree I always loved going down so I was really glad when he did it even without me mentioning it. Just goes to show how great he is. Anyway, we went shopping for a lot of coats the other night. He got a couple of toy ones but said once he saw the coat ones it was over, he had to grab those. From what I understand the clothes angels go to families and the toy ones go to a school that allows the parents to shop. It was fun shopping even though we were rushing to hit there and the grocery store in one night. (Which doesn't sound to complicated until you weigh in the twin factor).

We had to be back early because a different quartet had to practice "Oh Come Emmanuel" for the Sunday program. I LOVE that Christmas song, it's my favorite so if any of you know of a good version of it leave me a note, I am still looking for the best one.

And I threw this picture in of me attacking Duncan - Who is obviously tired of being smothered - not so you could see his cute face (although isn't he so cute?!) but so you could see "toy land" behind him. Seriously, is this place heaven or what? And in our defense, a lot are hand me downs from Abbi, or borrowed from Aunt Jill!


There is one thing that we have learned and that is that Dylan loves Care Bears. I think she thinks they are her babies. She gets so excited and pulls them close to give them nice open mouth kisses. Don't get any idea's people, we have them all. Some from Shane and Traci - a lovely donation from their cousin Giselle - and of course the crystal Anniversary Cheer Bear from Aunt Jessica.


Okay - and just because they are super cute, here are a couple of new videos of my cute sick boy. This morning he was willing to do his tricks on camera, briefly... I always kiss his hands when he tries to play with my face while I am nursing and yesterday he stopped and gave it a shot himself... It's super cute because it's so new he still has to concentrate and how to get his lips just right to make noises.

Hi mom!

Oh yea... I saw you. Thought you could sneak in but I saw our little visit from Australia. Hope your having fun, envision Duncan waving. (He kind of does it with both hands if that helps.)

Christmas is coming too fast!

I finally got all of our Christmas cards out but we had a little problem with a a shortage of envelopes. I was just using what we had and not wanting to run to the store. So, some will be hand delivered, that means I love you that much more right? I am willing to get envelopes (or steal them from Michael and Megan) so if I forgot you, it doesn't mean we don't love you, just let me know mkay?

Speaking of the love birds, they are coming over tonight so I can do their invite. They waited too long, seriously... they got their pictures taken a week ago and the very minimum to get invites here is two weeks! That's practically the eve of their union. Crazy... anyway... so I will do them and we will get them to Costco for printing and hopefully they can get them out on Monday. Crazy kids... Seriously. They are just lucky they are sweet and funny and have random people they can call in favors from.

I forgot to mention that we went to the pageant last Sunday with Matthew's extended family. This little event is one that everyone always complains about but when it comes down to it, oh yea... they are singing. Personally, I love it... because they all can sing really well which allows me to sing even louder because my voice is masked. So there were all the adults happily singing along while 30 or so kids ran loose and wild tearing apart the church. I am sure every child there slept quite well. I just can't wait until next year when I can let mine loose too, then I can focus on eating the yummy food!

Doug and Sharrie came down on their way to Mexico last night and it was a nice little visit. They got to meet the babies for the first time (last time they came down the babes were in the NICU). Duncan was too busy exploring Shane and Traci's house to be terribly social but he was still cute. At one point Abbi waved to him and he waved back which was my proud parent moment since he finally learned to wave this week. I will go into his room to get him from a nap and he will wave to me. So freaking cute... Anyway. Like everyone does, they were just loving up Dylan all night. She really has this little baby girl thing going for her and I think she knows it. she works it.
Duncan and Uncle Shane


We brought home hand me down toys from Abbi and one is this laughing Cookie Monster. Seriously, have any of you seen this thing? It's HILARIOUS! He throws himself down on the floor and rolls from side to side. I think it's more of an adult toy since I was the one getting the kick out of it. Matthew showed it to Dylan who thought it was funny at first but then it quickly turned into just sheer terror. It was terrible. For the record though, she thinks it's funny again today, maybe she was just tired last night.

This morning we went to the church for a brunch where Matthew sang some Christmas music with a quartet that they put together. They did really super well, but I knew they would they practiced over here! I love it when the entertainment comes to me, I can just sit in the next room with the babies and listen. Santa came too, but it was nap time so we didn't stay to freak out the kids. Besides, I figure if I get pictures with Santa every year, I will have to do it with every kid and why set such a high precedence? Last year only Dylan saw Santa because he came to the NICU at Primary, Duncan was sequestered at home. See, already the scales are tipped, I don't know how parents do it.

The other day Dylan was sprawled out on the couch sleeping and Duncan came over and would tickle her hand until she moved it and then laugh and laugh. She would put it back and relax again and then Duncan would do it again. That was pretty cute. I am trying to put Dylan on the floor more and more so she becomes less of a novelty to Duncan. But I will walk away and hear Duncan giggling and come over to him poking an eye out.

Yep, this was the day, in her new outfit from Aunt Jill.


It has ears!


Daddy and daughter moments.

What a busy weekend!

Saturday we went to Ben's baptism which was so fun. He had so many family members there and was so excited. It was pretty cute. Afterwards we headed over to Ami's, it was a housful and somehow we were the last ones to leave. Not sure how that happened but it did. Apparently we were having too much fun and the party left us.

Then I went over the NICU for a little while and was reminded why I do it. When I went into one of the rooms a nurse said to go into a room where the curtain was drawn. I usually don't go in when it's closed off like that because sometimes the mom is sleeping or nursing or something but then nurse went in ahead to make sure all was well and I went in.

In the room there was a young couple with their friend. The mom was so grateful when I said I was from Parent Support she said "Oh, I am so excited, you are exactly who we wanted to talk to, someone who has been here." As we were talking it came out that their baby will probably be in the hospital for a while even though he was a 37 weeker. He's going to get a treatment for a virus that likely caused neurological and developmental problems. Normally I don't talk about my kiddos because the focus is really on these parents and their new babies but I was compelled to share a little bit about Dylan. There were just too many similarities to ignore, the unknown, the rareness of the problems and the lack of support groups. I shared with this mother that even if there were support groups for my daughter I wasn't sure I would want to know because there isn't a lot of positive stuff out there.

Then we talked about the future and how the doctors diagnose problems, and tell parents what they have to, they aren't taught to believe in miracles and exceptions. I just told these parents to take things one day at a time. Focus on their baby's needs now, get him home and then just focus on what's next because you never know about these special little ones. I shared how much joy Dylan brings us and our extended family and assured them that their little guy will do the same for them no matter what his challenges are. These kids write their own books and none of them are alike, or even similar for that matter. It was such a fabulous conversation and she told me that I was the most inspiring person that they have talked to so far. Not necessarily that their son won't have problems, but they were assured that they could handle whatever he had for them. The nurse caught me a few minutes later and thanked me. She said when she heard who I was she knew she had to get me in there since someone from Parent Support was who this family was waiting for.

So now you have it, that's why I do it... I am selfish. I left with such a wonderful feeling knowing that I was able to talk to this family and help them try to adjust to this huge task that has been given to them. Ahhh... I can't get over it really, it makes me want to go back. I am sorry I can only catch a couple families each week and that I rarely, if ever, talk to the same parents twice.

Saturday night I went to Megan's bridal shower over at Kristen's. Dylan and I left the boys at home an went over for the girl party. It was a nice little get away for the two of us and we just chatted it up for a couple of hours. Matt Christensen did their engagement pictures that morning and we should have them by Wednesday. I am excited to see them! I love Matt's pictures anyway but when they are of people I know and love it makes them all the better!

I tried to give Duncan a little fauxhawk this week and it looked terrible. Between the fine hair and his father's hairline it ended up looking more like a white trash mowhawk. Boo! Hiss! Jill told me that it will look better when he has more hair, that boys all start out like this but I can't imagine... I guess I will try again in six months!

I did my Christmas cards this week too, Ami took the picture when we went tree shopping. I just love to do these and baby announcements, it's a throw back to my working days! It keeps up the Adobe skillz if ya know what I mean!

Almost forgot, Dylan's head was infected! Seriously, if it's not one thing it's another with this little girl. I am so glad I took her in! She had a staph infection which her Ped said is a typical hospital infection. Poor kid. Good thing they put her on that antibiotic!

Mayo shots

The babies got their Synagis shot (RSV Vax) yesterday and boy was that fun! I called on Monday because Dylan had some left over stitches that looked like they might be getting infected, they were certianly irritated, and the nurse told me it was officially RSV season and they needed to come in anyway.

Dr. Wirkus made a quick appearance to take the stitches out and get some of the goo (nast!) to culture and then he was on his way. I was teasing him because he just popped them right out and I swear I tried! He said "Why do you think they made me go to so many years of med school! I obviously didn't miss that day!" It was cute. I really like him, and the nurse Eldine, even though she pokes the kids and then leaves me with them crying! So we added an antibiotic to her daily medicine and it became that much more nasty the it was before (I think this new one is supposed to taste like grape, key word 'supposed'.) So again, thank goodness for the medicine port.

We went to the Festival of Trees today which was fun, man there were a lot of trees... and stuff. I didn't remember it having so much stuff but I haven't been in a few years. Shelly gave me the tickets as a thanks, and I am glad we got the chance to go. Obviously, so were the kids (ha!):

Here's mom though!

And time to go, look at these cheekies!

Big day... (This by the way, is the blanket Jessica made for her and brought to the hospital last time. It's darling! I love it, and she loves to eat the scallops!)


Before we went though, I did try to get some pictures of them together. I will never learn that this isn't a one person job. But I have Christmas cards to think about people! And so, I will just keep trying. I did get a lot of her by herself, but only one keeper of them together.

So much to say!

She's looking at Duncan, I love it.

And a shot of the forgotten baby. Who seems to think I put these blankets on the floor for him... and not so the kids have a clean (and easily cleaned!) place to play. Nice.

Welcome to Holland

Earlier today, I told someone about this little story that I found when Dylan was in the NICU and we were discovering all of her challenges. It's so good, I wanted to put it here... where I can share it with all of you. I kept meaning to, but then I would forget, or someone would get a new tooth... but since I was reminded of it. Here we are:

WELCOME TO HOLLAND
by Emily Perl Kingsley.

c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David.
The gondolas in Venice.

You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Shopping shopping shopping!

News flash! Matthew didn't get hurt this year! i think that might make two years in a row! So the Turkey Bowl curse might have lifted! I was surprised he even played since he's just getting over this illness that's kept him laid up for 2 weeks but apparently he felt well enough to give it a shot.

Thanksgiving was yummy but neither of my little munchkins took their naps and Duncan was a wreck! Traci and I had big plans to snap a picture of the four kids together, sounds easy no? Well, Duncan was in no mood and we left at like 7 and he was asleep before we hit the end of the main street in mom's neighborhood. It was crazy... I woke him up to change him and make him eat and then he slept all night.

I finally dug up some friends who would dare go shopping on Black Friday and welcomed me. I went with the Kougioulis ladies after effectively inviting myself along. It was so much fun! We started at 3 in the morning and hit the mall, then at 5 we went over to Walmart, at 6 Target.. at 9 or so breakfast at IHOP. So yes, not only did I invite myself, but Eileen also bought me breakfast. This means that it's now a yearly tradition, they have been warned.

Since I was nearly done with the Christmas shopping I basically bought a bunch of stuff that I didn't need. But it was a great deal!? I have to give myself that one... even if Duncan won't get the Thomas the Train set until 2 years from now (assuming I follow the age requirement on the box.) I couldn't resist. It was $15 ya'all! $15!

We went to Matthew's mom on Friday night for Chinese food which was yummy. Along with the normal fried yumminess Kristen got Orange Chicken and fried rice from Panda. I don't think I have had Panda since the babies were born. I rarely eat when I would actually have to walk in and order these days, that's reserved for date night.

On Saturday it was my turn to get sick I guess, and it was bad! I was so sick with some 24 hour flu like illness I couldn't even sit up! It was ridiculous! I very rarely get sick to my stomach and this was the most recent time I guess. Matthew was so nice to me, going to the store for Sprite and letting me stay in bed all day. I couldn't function anyway, it was terrible.

Most of you know this already, but I give milk to a lady who I got in touch with through our Physical Therapist. She adopted little 24 weeker who can't have formula for some reason and she has been lucky enough to find donors so far and little Haley is almost one. Anyway... Shelly came over on Saturday to pick up more of the goods and she told me that they have little 25 week twins at the adoption agency that she works for that they can't get adopted. Isn't that terrible! So sad... There are fewer parents adopting because the economy and people using second mortgages to finance adoptions, so already they have a lot of babies. But no parents will look at these babies because of their potential problems. The 19 yr old mom, who already has a 4 yr old knows she can't take care of them but is staying here until they find a family. Anyone want a couple of tiny itty bitty twins?


What you don't get with this picture is the image of Duncan shaking the bouncer madly trying to get it to sing it's little 'look at me, I am jumping' song. He was... and Dylan was along for the ride. She didn't seem to mind though.


When I run the bath water Duncan crawls to whichever bathroom it's in and does his little 'I get to take a bath' happy dance. (Yes, that's drool!)


Matthew's not as fond of little nekked babies as I am but Duncan peed through his jammies and I was on to feeding the next baby in line. Seriously, his tiny little shoulder blades... I can't resist and sometimes I strip him down for the fun of it.

The cutest hats on the block

Dylie's new tooth has been totally trumped by the new hats that Jessica made for the twins! These hats are fabulous! Stop, I know you all love them and want some of your own, I know... I know. Maybe someday J-bird will teach me how to make them and you will get one. Until then, my kids have the cutest hats on the block, enjoy these cute pics!











They are going to learn to love them because *we* love them. So they have no choice!

Thanksgiving's going to be late this year, 5 or so at mom's house. Normally we do it early so we can go over to Matthew's mom's house at night for Chinese food but for some reason this year they are doing Chinese food on Friday. It's kinds of sad actually, Chinese food on Thanksgiving was unique and charming but now it's like having it on any old day of the week. Oh well. One house to shuffle to, can't really complain about that right?

Matthew will be playing football with a bunch of people that he grew up with Thanksgiving morning. It's a little tradition they have and it's the only time that he sees some of his old friends. He will inevitably get hurt so stay posted.

Abbi and Traci came over today for a serious labor of love project. It took a little longer than we expected but both Abbi and Duncan were very patient while we worked on it. Dylie, as usual, slept the whole time. Her and Matthew, who was home sick from work, were banished to the bedroom for the party.

Hopefully Matthew will get better soon, he is sick as a dog and has been for nearly a week now. I think he's just running himself too thin because no one else in the family is sick yet. Knock on wood.

Dylan has been eating for a couple of weeks now! The home health people called me for a refill of supplies and I told them to call back next month. I think we will be done with them. Wahoo! I do like the little medicine port though, I will admit. Pop it open, dump it in, on our way. Every kid should have one of those, well except for the minor surgery required, that part kinda stinks.

I haven't posted in almost a week so I figured I would make up for it by posting pictures. You'll have to let me know if this actually works and ya'all forgive me!

PS Dylie now has three teeth on the bottom and one on the top, how weird is that? It's almost as bad as Suzi's kids getting their canines first!