Found A Peanut or Two!

A Goodbye

2011-08-16T23:36:00.000-05:00

It's been a while. As you can tell I've not updated in a long time. I think this blog has ran it's course. It's where I came to talk about my boys premature births and the years that followed. They are five now, starting school next week as a matter of fact. Things are going great, but we are all at a different point in our lives and while my boys will always be remembered as tiny preemies babies in my mind, it's time to move past that. To celebrate their lives now as five year old healthy, happy growing boys.

I will keep this blog up. Blogs are where I went when my boys were born premature. I looked at many, many blogs of preemie babies. I drew encouragement from many of them and my heart broke for many more. If this blog can give some other parent that type of encouragement that would be wonderful. We are still here, enjoying life and all that comes with twin boys, but I won't be updating this blog anymore. I won't say never, because you never know, but it won't be anytime soon. I do still check my e-mail linked to this blog and I still am able to see when new comments are added, so if you find it and want to say something or email me, please feel free to do so.

Thank you for your support and encouragements over the years. I myself come back just to see how far we have come. Sometimes I leave with tears and sometimes with a smile. I'd don't regret starting this blog one bit and I'm so very glad it's all here in one place for me to visit and remember, because when you are in the throws of it sometimes you forget just what went on.

I'll leave you with a few recent picture of Kolton and Karter. Thank you again.

July 2011

August 2011

Happy New Year 2011

2010-12-31T20:18:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas 2010

2010-12-23T23:29:00.000-06:00

Gingerbread Houses

2010-12-22T21:42:00.000-06:00

These houses kicked my tail. I had to read and re-read the instructions and even then I didn't put the icing bag together right. After a bit of frustration and the boys saying a thousand times "when can we decorate them" I figured them out and away they went.

They had so much fun! They would eat some candy and then put some on the houses, eat some more, put some more on the houses. Both the boys are really enjoying Christmas this year and all the goodies that go along with it.

I enjoy seeing the excitement in their eyes as Christmas draws nearer. They can hardly wait to see what Santa has brought them. I can hardly wait to see their faces on Christmas morning!

Christmas Tour 2010

2010-12-17T20:20:00.000-06:00

I love Christmas time and I love all the twinkling lights that go with it. Each year I look forward to the Christmas Tours online. I'm nosy and I like to have a peek into other peoples homes and lives so these tours are right up my ally.

Here's mine, though it's late. You can see many, many more here. Also keep in mind I did not clean for you. So the toys and messed up tree skirt, is just keeping it real!

Please ignore the fact that the lights are starting to fall. I tried to fix them before the picture, but couldn't reach them on my own. Jimmy will have to do it and I was impatient so I just took the picture. Also ignore the bag of potting soil behind the rocker.

Entry table. I have some ideas for this area as I do not like the mirror or the lamps any longer. I'm wanting something a little more modern looking.

What you see as you enter through the front door.

Just to the left of the front door, through the french doors is what was supposed to be a dinning room. However, we have made it a family room instead and it gets much better use that way. It's were my computer is and where the dogs sleep.

Looking straight ahead from the front door is the main living room.

Lastly is the mantel. I've never really quite figured out how to decorate this area it's always a work in progress.

That concluded the tour. All photos where taken with my Iphone 4. It does not take the best pictures but I was being lazy and didn't feel like getting the good camera out and getting it all set up. Now go look at all the awesome pictures on the other blogs!

I Went With Fall Colors Too!

2010-11-01T21:35:00.000-06:00

I decided to change for Fall as well. I went from blond on over there on the sidebar, to red. So far me likey!

Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T17:20:00.000-06:00

Picture taken with iphone 4

We trick or treated at Nana's house this year. The boys were doggies and I made their costumes. We all had fun. The boys ate themselves into a sugar stupor. I sneaked two or four pieces of candy from them as well. Four year olds are so much fun! Highly opinionated and sassy to boot, but FUN!

Awesomly Beautiful

2010-10-25T19:38:00.000-05:00

One thing I love about our house is the view out our back door. I've seen deer, coyotes, wild turkeys, dogs, horses and cows as well as the farmer's plowing the fields for hay. I've taken pictures in pretty much every season and am always in awe of the beauty.

I thought I would share that beauty with you. Enjoy!

The April photo is the day after the fire I referred to here happen.

I've yet to catch a sunrise on film out the back, but I've seen a few and they are just as awesome.

I was however able to capture a sunset out the front door. Equally awesome.

Click any image to see in full size.

Meeting with the Teacher and a Flashback

2010-10-20T23:57:00.001-05:00

Monday, Jimmy and I attended our first parent/teacher conference. I'm happy to report that my former preemies are doing great in school! They are right where they are supposed to be. The teacher said they are a blast to have in class. Kolton is a jokester, which we knew, and Karter though quiet at times can already skip and snap his fingers.

She reported that they like to play with different kids, but always keep tabs on each other. They sit at separate tables in class and are encouraged to be their own person.Pre-school as been so good for them.

I went to their fall party last Friday and got to see them interact with their peers. They seemed to be well liked and unafraid to join in with the class.

These little guys who started out so tiny are running and jumping and making jokes and sticking wood chips in their pockets at school and bringing them home.

I've not shared these videos before. I don't even believe that our family has seen them. This was July 17 2006 , the day they were born. The video's where taken by Jimmy approximately 2 1/2 hours after their birth. I'd yet to see them and wouldn't for about 10 more hours.

The first video is of Karter and the second of Kolton both video's were taken with a cell phone.

They went from that to this.

Kolton

Karter

Words cannot express how proud I am of them. For that matter I'm proud of Jimmy and I for making it through it all with our sanity and marriage still in tact. We make a pretty good team if I do say so myself!

Fall

2010-10-11T15:46:00.000-05:00

Fall is my most favorite time of year. I was born in the fall. I love the crisp morning air, the sound of the trees dropping their leaves. I love the color of fall and tend to lean that way in decorating my home. I love the look of crisp whites and light blues, but I always come back to the richer, darker colors when decorating.

I loved this wreath from Pottery Barn, but not the price, so I made one myself.

Pottery Barn

Mine

I just got a grapevine wreath and a couple of leaves on stems at walmart. I cut the leaves off and hot glued them to the wreath. I like my version better, don't you?

I also dumped my dying ferns and put pumpkins in the planters. I love how they turned out. I need to get some pillows for the rockers and then it will be complete. I don't do much fall decorating in the house but I do like for my porch to look Fallish.

I'm just noticing the rug is off center and it kind of bugs me!

Finally Pictures

2010-09-30T23:01:00.000-05:00

The kids had school pictures scheduled for today, so while they were dressed for that I finally got my camera out. They were not really into having their picture taken by me that much, but I managed to get some decent ones.

:(

2010-09-28T21:55:00.007-05:00

Remember this post and how worried I was about the Masches. Well it seems my worries were warranted. Now look what's happening!

Go here to see.

Sad, but I saw it coming.

Today's Ramblings

2010-09-16T10:30:00.000-05:00

School is going so much better. They have stopped crying everyday, but still say they don't want to go. However, when I pick them up they almost always say they had fun. Our schedule seem to be busier at home too. I now have to schedule appointments around their schooling which has provided difficult at times, but we are managing.

I would love to say I have ample time to lounge in those two hours they are gone, but they are mostly filled with laundry, vacuuming, grocery shopping(which I despise) and all other errands that are usually easier to do without two four year olds trailing behind.

The boys have brought home their first art projects from school. They were learning the color green and how stop lights work, so they colored a picture of a stop light. It's so cute and they were super excited to show us. However, now Karter has become a back seat driver, and it's kind of funny. He tells Daddy to slow down that the light is yellow and he has to stop on red.

I've not had my camera out in weeks and all the pictures I took on my iphone from July on disappeared when I updated my iphone, along with all my apps. So annoying, but thankfully I didn't lose my contacts. I'm hoping to get some great pictures of them when it gets a little cooler. I've yet to take their 4 year old pics so I'm a little behind hence why there are no photos.

I've neglected this blog for awhile now and for some strange reason I actually feel guilty about that. I like this blog it's chronicled our lives since the boys were born, but thankfully our lives are pretty boring at the time. Boring is good considering how unboring life was for 3 years or so.

So that's all my ramblings for today. Time to go fix lunch.

Art

2010-08-25T22:28:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago the boys decided they wanted to decorate the front of the fridge with artwork. They got a few markers out some safety scissors and tape. Not just any tape, but red electrical tape. And this is what the front of our fridge has looked like for the past two weeks.

First Day Of School

2010-08-23T20:04:00.000-05:00

Taken with my iphone

August 17 was the boys first day of Pre-K. They did ok. Both cried when we dropped them off and had to be held by the teachers and both cried when be picked them up. I had to send daddy to the car during drop off because he was getting very sad about his boys having to go to school. I somehow managed to not cry. I'd been preparing for this day for a year or more.

Kolton has cried every morning not wanting to go, starting about 10:00. They are in the afternoon class and have to be there by 1:00p.

The first days were very hectic and included a lot of hugging and holding, explaining that they had to go and that they would have fun if they would just try and no I would not be staying with them, and no I can't pick them up in an hour it has to be two hours. Because of all of that, this is the only picture we have taken of them. I hate that, but at least we have this one.

Today, Kolton cried on his way to school, but when we got there he took his backpack to his cubbie and sat down to do a puzzle. He didn't even get his kiss he begged for in the car. Karter kind of look at him like what the heck and gave me two kisses and went to hang his backpack up. When I picked them up. Karter actually told me he had fun. Which was a change because last week Kolton said he had fun when I picked them up and Karter always said he did not. Today the roles were reversed. Kolton said it's not fun and does not want to go back. Karter said it was fun.

Hopefully, very soon they will both enjoy it. It's not easy when your kids are actually begging you to "please don't make me go."

So, that and trying to stay cool with the 104 degree weather we are having, is what we have been doing.

What have you been doing?

Please Let This One Work

2010-08-06T14:33:00.000-05:00

I've been watching Raising Sextuplets on the WE channel. Like Jon & Kate Plus 8, it stresses me the heck out. I know a thing or two about raising multiples. Now granted I don't have higher order multiples and I can only imagine the added stress it must be for there to be more than two, but I feel like I'm watching the demise of a marriage all over again. Except this time Bryan is the Kate in this relationship in some aspects. I'll be the first to say raising children is no easy feat. It's hard a lot of the time and it usually requires you to be unselfish and give up things such as sleep, and me time to do things that your kids want or need.

Their lack of team work drives me crazy at times. I'm not going to lie Jimmy and I don't always agree on what or how things need to be or get done, but one thing we always strive for is to be a team. I feel that's really, really important to everyone's welfare. While children do need to see some arguments and then the compromise that follows the stress that is in a divided household is felt by all. Even the kids, even when you don't think they know. They do believe me. I'm glad the Masches realize this and are going to a counselor, they need it, to work through some of those rough spots and hurt feelings that they are having. I would not for a moment hesitate to attend counseling if we needed it. To have an unbiased third party involved could work wonders. I'm no excerpt of course, these are just my opinions and based on my exsperiances as not only a parent but a parent to multiples.

I really hope they make it as a couple, they seem like nice people who adore their children. I just hope they can stayed married to each other!

Four Year Old Birthday Party Pics!

2010-08-03T23:30:00.000-05:00

The theme for the birthday party was Toy Story. My sister Keelan, made the cake and it was delish. I don't have photo's of the boys blowing out their candles, but I do have video, which I hope to post at some point. Karter was really into the birthday song this year! The boys where so excited for their birthday this year. They kept asking when it was time for their party and who was coming to their party. Everyone seemed to have fun. I believe it was a success.

DYI Shutters and Window Boxes

2010-07-18T05:00:00.005-05:00

On father's day, Jimmy built me these fabulous shutters and window boxes. Those two windows are the windows to the garage and looked so plain and bare in the backyard. They can be seen from almost every window in the house and I wanted something prettier to look at.

Sorry about the crocked picture.

I had actually seen this done by Thrifty Decor Chick about a year ago and I filed it away in my memory because I thought it was a fabulous idea. However, I didn't know where I would put them, that is until I noticed how plain these windows looked.

It was ridiculously cheap! We used fence slates just like Thrifty Decor Chick did and the total cost was about 12-15 dollars for the wood. I already had the black spray paint, and the flowers were a pack of 12 for 10 bucks at Lowes.

Ignore the old push mower in the back ground. Karter insists it stays and that it is his. He actually pushes it around the yard "mowing."

Now every time I look out any of my back windows I see this.

There where some problems we encountered though. The boxes are super heavy and we had originally wanted to use some window box hangers, which you can see pictured in the above picture.
It was all good until, while outside sitting on the screened in porch, I heard a loud thump. The thump happened to be one of the window boxes crashing to the ground and spilling both the flowers and the dirt. So, we had to screw the boxes into the brick. I say we, but I mean Jimmy. After doing that, we've not had an issue with them falling down.

Happy 4th Birthday My Baby Boys

2010-07-17T05:00:00.001-05:00

These will be the last pictures of my boys as three year olds. They are not real good pictures, but are the best I could get as they went out to play in the sweltering heat.

Today there will be a Toy Story birthday party, to celebrate their new age. In exactly a month there will be a new milestone. School. How did that happen so fast? I remember on many sleepless nights, while I was so tired, thinking that this stage would be over soon. At the time I was begging it to hurry up. I was dying from no sleep and worrying about having two preemie boys at home with me along with all the medical equipment and issues that accompanied that. Now I would like, just for a few hours, to snuggle those tiny little boys again.

Now days they are much too busy for cuddling, but every once in awhile one or the other will makes his way over to me, give me a kiss and say I love you momma.

I may have begged for the days to pass quicker when they were so tiny, but now would be a good time for it to slow down a bit. Four is a good age to stop time for awhile, don't you think?

Happy Birthday Kolton and Karter! You makes our days, happy and hectic and on the rare occasion down right awful, but your dad and I wouldn't change it at all.

Engineering

2010-07-16T05:00:00.005-05:00

Karter

This little boy is going to be a computer guy or some sort of engineer. He has always loved all things electronic. If it has cords and holes for things to plug in than that's even better! Jimmy has tons of electronic stuff around here. He even has a collection of "vintage" ,that's what he likes to call them, computers. Karter loves getting these out and pretending to hook them all together.

Daddy, I think is a bit proud of this and lets him drag all kinds of things out, much to my dislike. However, Jimmy claims how else will he learn. I mean what 3 year old has seen an Atari, much less played with one? Not to mention all the other "vintage" computers. He's talked Jimmy into plugging every single one of them in, they've all worked and he's played games on all of them. Tell me who else has had an old computer plugged into their 50 in TV? I imagine that's not a common occurrence, that is unless you live at our house!

He brought every single one of these into the living room himself and plugged them all in.

This is the Atari that the boys are allowed to play with. Jimmy has something called a "heavy sixer" hidden in a closet so that Karter cannot drag that out.

Funny side story. When Karter found the Atari he asked what it was and Jimmy told him it was a computer game he has as a kid. Karter then began to call it "daddy's kid computer", which was then shorten to "kid computer" when he took it over. He tells everyone who will listen that this is his kid computer!

I am forever picking up random computer parts up off of the floor and digging them out of toy baskets. So tell me, do any of your children play with any "vintage" things in your house?

Dinosaurs

2010-07-15T05:00:00.004-05:00

In May we also went to the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. The kids are kind of getting into dinosaurs, so we decided to take them to see some real dinosaur bones. The only part that held their attention was the dinosaurs, all the rest they could care less about. I would have enjoyed browsing around a little more and to actually read the plates with some of the exhibits, but this was also not too far from our house, so maybe Jimmy and I can go some other time with out the kiddos.

It was neat to see dinosaur bones among other things that had actually been found in Oklahoma. I mean when you think of Oklahoma I'm sure that dinosaurs don't even come to mind, but non the less they were here and I find that neat.

High Time

2010-07-14T13:58:00.000-05:00

I thought it was high time the blog had a new look. I've been neglecting it for awhile now. I just lost motivation to keep it updated. I wanted to but every time I sat down to do it, after the boys went to bed, I didn't want to.

I started 4 years ago with this post. Four years is a long time. Some of you have been reading since the beginning, some of you have left, and I supposed every now and again someone new comes upon it. I've never really had a large number of readers and that's ok because the blog is really just to record some crazy crap that goes on in our house every now and then. It also records the not so crazy stuff at times.

Our lives have changed so much since that first post on July 6, 2006. Some of it has been sad, but it all lead us to the crazy happiness we all feel now. That's all I can really ask for, that we are all happy and of course healthy.

And we are!

So, I can't promise a new update everyday, or every week for that matter, but I will continue to document moments of our crazy, wacky, happy lives.

Pops

2010-07-13T22:47:00.000-05:00

In May we went to Pops, which is on the Historic Route 66, not too far from our house. It was a neat place that was filled with any and every kind of pop you could want. It also has a restaurant in it and the foods pretty good. The grounds are gorgeous and it's right next to a tree farm and just down the rode from the historic round barn where my sister got married.

The kids loved it especially the pop! We hope to go back sometime soon, preferably on a weekday as it was a weekend when we went last time and it was quite busy.

July 4th 2010

2010-07-08T23:11:00.000-05:00

We had a wonderful 4th of July. We celebrated at our house with a BBQ and lots of family. All the grandparents, parents and great grandparents were there along with tons of cousins. It could not have been more fun. It did rain a bit but we didn't let that stop us.

As it got dark we popped all our fireworks and then watched all the surrounding neighbors.It was crazy how many fireworks were going off around us. Literally every direction we looked we could see huge, loud fireworks. It was awesome!

I was too busy talking and visiting and stopping the kids from drinking too much pop and eating too many cookies to get any pictures. I would normally be bummed about that but it was nice not worrying about my camera.

The kids LOVED the fireworks. This year they had no fears at all, which was both good and bad as I had to tell them several times that it was fire and they needed to not only be careful while holding their sparklers but also not to run up on any fireworks before, during or after they were popped.

It was the best 4th of July I can remember. At least since I was a kid and we used to have tons of friends and family over for burgers and fireworks.

Favorite Books-Berenstain Bears

2010-06-18T22:41:00.000-05:00

The boys are really getting into reading every night before bed. I've found some books that I'm really enjoying and the boys seem to like them as well. Not only are they fun to read but they teach a lesson as well. I've found that I've benefit from the books as well. I love the way Mama Bear handles some of the situations that we have actually faced in this house.

I highly recommend these books, they are fun for both parents and kids!

Summer Time

2010-06-02T22:27:00.001-05:00

A week or so ago I enrolled my little men in pre-school. We are all a little nervous about it but Kolton is warming up to the idea. Karter no so much yet. They will be attending the afternoon class and will be in school for about 2 1/2 hours. I think that's a manageable time for both them and me. It will get them ready for kindergarten the following year, which will be an all day thing.

I almost waited too long to enroll them and they only had a few slots left. I had no idea they had a pre-enrollment day a week or so prior to the day I enrolled them. Had I not gotten them in a class I don't really know what I would have done. I would have been irritated at myself though because I guess I should have checked on that sooner.

Other than that, life has been pretty slow go around here, which is the way I like it. We've been spending lots of time in the backyard and in the pool and playing on the tree swing and helping with the garden. Lots of outside time which sometimes is and inconvenience because I get nothing done in the house, but other than that life is good!

Some Where Over The Rainbow

2010-05-20T21:48:00.000-05:00

Yesterday brought another round of tornado's for our state. Thankfully we didn't have to hit the cellar this time, but tornado's were popping up everywhere. When the storms passed the sun came out and with that rainbow's. I haven't seen rainbows in a long time and yesterday I saw three. We took the kids out to see them and they wanted to know where they went. All kinds of questions ensued and they wanted to know if rainbow's were like on Mickey Mouse? There is an episode of Mickey Mouse with a rainbow and Pete is a leprechaun.

Anyway, here are some pictures I took of the rainbows.

Tornado's

2010-05-12T23:21:00.002-05:00

On Monday, Oklahoma had multiple tornado's. As a matter of fact a tornado hit in just about every town that I have family in. Some towns got hit worse than others, my town included. I'd been keeping an eye on the weather all day because it just had that feeling. If you don't live where there are tornado's you probably don't know what feeling I'm talking about. The air just has a feeling to it. Anyway, right after I finished cooking dinner the siren's sounded. It was raining and the wind was whipping around and we had a muddy walk to the cellar. Kolton was fine but Karter was none to happy about the disruption in his dinner time routine.

I had put the rest of our dinner in ziplock baggies right before we headed to the cellar, a) because we were hungry and b) I thought it might keep the boys minds off of being in the cellar. It was unpleasent to say the least we were all drenched and covered in red mud. Do I need to remind you I HATE red mud! We will be fixing that problem as soon as possible. After about 20 mins we were able to get out of the cellar. I knew that our house was ok because I didn't hear anything getting ripped apart, but I was able during the storm to text and talk on my cell from the cellar. That is until the lines got jammed but I was able to let everyone know we were ok.

Kolton is chewing some food.

The Loves store 5.5 miles from my house was not. Along with homes in the path of the tornado in my town and the next 4 over.

We drove around just a bit and took some pictures of the devastation that is a tornado. These are just a few there where many more some far worse that we could not get to due to the roads being blocked.

My cousin's house in another town was totaled . Tornado's are scary stuff and the tornado season has just started.

Porch Redo Part 2

2010-05-01T23:47:00.000-05:00

The screened in porch is all but finished. We've already used it a lot. The boys love to eat lunch outside now and it's nice that bugs no longer attack us and we can keep the dogs out while we eat. There are a couple of things that need to be completed such as caulking around the bottom and the rest of the trim placed on the outside.

I still have quite a bit that I want to do out there decor wise. I think the table is too big and I'm wanting something lighter not so dark, like the hunter green. We've had this outdoor set for years, all but the cushions that I bought recently at Lowes. It will take me awhile to figure out just what I want, but I'll be sure to post pictures when it's all done.

This is what it looks like for now.

Oh The Things They Say

2010-04-23T23:40:00.001-05:00

Some funny stuff the boys have said lately.

*While singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to Kolton one night before bedtime, he began to sing along and said "I sing it better than you mom."

*Someone put too much paper in the toilet and Jimmy had to plunge it. Karter said we needed to call the toilet people and if they didn't fix it daddy was "going to have to kick their ass!"

*Tonight after the boys and Jimmy came out of the home office(which we call the computer room) Kolton told me you have to have a ding ding to go in there. To which Jimmy laughed at and said he hasn't told the boys that in weeks, but they like to call it their boys club.

Tonight while putting Karter to bed he said " you have to have a ding ding to go into the computer room unless you are doing your paper thingy(scrapbooking).

*Karter likes to drag out old computer stuff. One morning he had the coffee table completely covered, I said Oh Karter look at all that mess, he said in an exasperated voice "I know".

Porch Redo

2010-04-12T22:32:00.000-05:00

We moved into our house just about two years ago. For about a year I've been wanting to screen in our porch, however I think I only voiced this once or twice to the hubs. While in Lowes last week I stumbled upon the screen kits to do it yourself and the hubs really liked the idea, so we started on it.

We've been working on it for two days now and I use we loosely, because Jimmy has done most of the work. I've done most of the painting. We have about a day or two of work left on the screen part and then of course I have to get it decorated and the floor done.

It's been a lot of work, but I don't think it's been too hard for the hubs. He's a jack or all trades that hubs of mine. You name it and he can pretty much fix it.

Here's our work so far.

This is how it look this morning at about 10:00am. Sorry about the quality of the photo, I had my camera on the wrong setting.

Here's where the door will be.

From the inside.

This is as far as we got today. I think it's looking really good and just as I saw in it my head. And I'm so proud of the hubs!

Pink In The Air.

2010-04-09T14:17:00.003-05:00

I've had a girl crush on Pink for several years now. I love the tone of her voice and how one song can be rockin and the other a nice ballad.

I didn't watch the Grammy's this year but I heard about Pink's performance. I just thought to look it up a few weeks ago.

Thought I would share. Maybe you will have a girl crush on Pink now!

Lovely

2010-04-08T22:47:00.000-05:00

Another pretty day outside today.

Spring Has Sprung

2010-04-07T19:15:00.000-05:00

People I can not tell you just how happy I am that Spring is here! As a matter of fact everyone in this house is happy about that, right down to the animals that live here. Winter seemed liked it lasted forever, after the first snow I was done, but alas I live in Oklahoma and you really never know what you're going to get from day to day here.

We are coming upon the rainy season, also possible tornado's here, so I'll probably be complaining about that soon. :) Anywho, we've been going outside a lot lately despite all of us being miserable from allergies at one point or another in the past week or so.

The boys are doing great and really nothing new has come up with them. We have been telling them that they will be starting school in a few months and neither one is very happy about that. Kolton keeps asking why he has to go and when I tell him to learn his colors and numbers and letters, he says can't you teach me those mommy. Well technically I could, but I'm not a teacher or home schooler nor do I want to be. Plus they really need the interaction with other children, both socially and mentally so they can began to branch out on their own, without each other by their side all the time.

I'm nervous about it too. And my sister who works in a pre-k class tells me they need to learn to wipe their own butts. That's got us all a little worried, because how well can a just turned 4 year old really wipe their behinds? I guess we will work on that and find out in Aug. huh!

So besides that everything has been going well around here. Boring almost and that's fine by me. I'm in no need of drams right now or ever for that matter.

For me I've been cleaning off the last remains of Winter from the front porch and getting some flowers ready to plant. Oh! And wearing flip flops.

The Worst Invention EVER!

2010-04-05T12:15:00.001-05:00

Men it's not cool. Ladies do NOT dig these. I could go on and on, but
I will not.

Why Yes, We Do Have An Arcade Game!

2010-03-25T08:54:00.004-06:00

Last Saturday after I got out of the shower and got dressed, it was too quiet in the house. I called out the boys names and no answer. I called for Jimmy, no answer. So I went looking for them.

I found them all in the office or what we call the computer room.

Here's what they were doing.

Yes, they are playing an arcade game,Ms. Pac-Man to be exact(hubby called me from work to inform me it was ms. pac-man not pac-man. I stand corrected). Would you believe that my hubby build that arcade game with his own two hands? He did, took him about 2 weeks and still needs to be painted, it works and looks and has all the games you could ever want like a real "vintage" arcade game.

Hubby has a love for "vintage" computers. Things that he could not afford as a child, or a young teen when he was developing his love for computers and I might add developing bad eye site after looking at all that tiny code. And those horrible greenish screens that always looked blurry to me.

We have quite a collection of old computer junk around here. The boys love it all three of them!

A Day In Pictures and a Few Words.

2010-03-18T21:29:00.004-06:00

Riding in big dump trucks.

Dirty door and door knob from dirty little outside hands.

Left the room for a moment, came back to find this tower of foot stools. Made by Karter.

A Change is a Comin

2010-03-11T19:01:00.002-06:00

Over the next week or so I'm going to be making some changes to the ole blog here. Nothing big, no redesigns, but I am going to be redoing the bloglist. I'm deleting some blogs that no longer update and I will probably be including some of my favorite non-mommy blogs too.

Along with that you might be seeing some more posts about things I like, such as books, photography or home decor stuff. I've tried to keep these separated, but it's too much work and this blog is about us, our family and what we like. So there you have it.

If you want to be added to my bloglist let me know, if you want to be removed let me know as well. I'm hoping by adding those things that don't exactly pertain to the boys I will be able to blog more. Because if you haven't noticed I've been a slump as of late.

Hide Away Bed for Two

2010-03-10T21:54:00.004-06:00

I don't know why I haven't written about this before. Maybe it's just because I'm lazy or busy but probably lazy. Anyway, it's been going on for probably six months now. What am I talking about you ask? Well let me tell you.

For about 6 months both boys have been coming into our room almost every night and wanting to sleep with us. For a month or so we would let them climb in bed with us. I tried putting them back into their own beds, but with two of them getting up at different times no one was getting much sleep. So we let them get into bed with us just so we could sleep, but that didn't work either. Kolton is a kicker and he turns sideways in the bed pushing everyone else out. Karter is a pillow hog.

So I racked my brain trying to figure out what to do. Then I remembered something I read a couple of years ago. I don't remember if it was online or in a magazine, but it was about the same thing. A child coming into the parents bed in the middle of the night. The person made a bed on the floor with a sleeping bag for the child and had them sleep on that. Another parent put toddler beds into their room for the kiddos. I didn't want to do that. The boys have their rooms and we have our room.

Then it hit me! I still had their crib mattresses. I could make those up with the crib sheets and some blankets, put it in the floor beside our bed at night and during the day push it under the bed. It worked!!!!

I told each boy that if they came into the bedroom at night that was fine but they needed to get in their "little bed" quietly and sleep there. I told them if they whined or threw a fit, I would send them to their own rooms. We've not had a problem since. Most morning we awake to a little boy in the floor beside us, and sometimes during the night they wake us to help cover them up, but it has worked for everyone. We have all slept better.

My sister tried it with her daughter who was hogging their bed and it worked for her as well. So to all you moms out there with kiddos who keep coming into your room at night and waking everyone up. Try this!

Let me know how it goes for you.

Karter's Room Redo

2010-03-08T22:43:00.000-06:00

The boys have had their own room for more than a year now. When asked they have no desire to share a room, at all. Karter's room had two outside walls, each wall had a window. His room was drafty and had quite a bit of road noise which I think had been waking him up earlier than he would normally wake. So, we decided to move his room across the hall to what we called the computer room. It only had one outside wall with two window's and was much quieter.

It took a lot of work because there was a lot of crap in the computer room that needed to be packed and moved across the hall, not to mention I wanted to paint Karter's new room.

It took me a full week but I got it done and I'm really happy with the results.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Karter helped pick out the color which is called Olive Martini and it's part of the Lowes Creative Ideas line. Everyone is happy with the redo. Next on the list is to paint the new computer room and finish painting Kolton's room.

My Ears are So Tired.

2010-03-05T22:34:00.000-06:00

For several weeks now, Kolton has talked non-stop, all day every day, from sun up until sun down.
Non-Stop.

Of course I love him dearly, but I find myself at times tiring of answering the same questions over and over or talking about the same thing for an hour or more. I don't want to discourage asking questions and learning things so I usually just answer them the best I can over and over. There are times when I try to distract him with something else. It usually dosen't work.

In all that talking they usually say something funny every now and then. The other evening while cleaning Kolton's room I asked him why he had all that trash in his room. He said because I'm slobby. I asked him why he was so slobby he said I'm just made that way. He has an answer for every single thing.

I on the other hand I love their vigor for life and learning even though it wears me out at times.

Hi, me again

2010-02-21T16:43:00.001-06:00

It might be helpful if I actually included the photo, huh.
Enjoy!
The End, again.

Owww!

2010-02-21T16:18:00.000-06:00

Besides the fact that I need a pedicure, this is what a broken toe
looks like. It will be preventing me from getting said needed pedicure
and excersising and walking normally for awhile.

The End.

Sent from my iPhone

The Doctor is In

2010-02-13T22:31:00.000-06:00

Paging Dr. Kolton.

While Kolton likes his bunny, Karter LOVES his bunny. His name is, you guessed it, Bunny! He takes Bunny everywhere and daily tells me that he loves his Bunny and Bunny is his best friend. He also adds that Bunny is so cute.

I think Bunny's owner is cuter, how about you?

I Got The Blahs

2010-02-08T16:58:00.004-06:00

It's snowing. Again. We have had more snow here in Oklahoma than I've seen in my whole life here. It's snowed 3 or more times in just a month or so. I realize that's no big deal to those of you who live east of us, but to us it's a big deal. I'm so ready for it to end.

Kolton asked several times, several days in a row if he could get in the swimming pool. The swimming pool has been put up for months and months, I'm assuming that's his way of saying he's tired of the white stuff too.

One day a week or so ago, when the sun came out for a mila-second Karter said it's sunny we can go outside. It started raining shorty after that.

It's giving me the blahs. I'm tired a lot because of the gloomy weather. I feel lazy all the time, hence not updating much, not doing much laundry and right now I should be cooking dinner, but it's snowing outside and I don't want to do anything. But it makes me sooooo bored sometimes.

Anyway, this post is about as drab as my winter blues. I long to be on a warm sunny beach somewhere.

The Blame Game

2010-02-01T22:57:00.003-06:00

Yesterday I found Jimmy's toothbrush and the Vicks Vapor Rub on the bathroom counter. The toothbrush was covered in Vicks and some shaving cream bubbles. I asked Karter if he did it and he said no, Kolton was hiding in his room and I didn't even get the sentence out when he said Karter did it.

We then had the little talk about lying and how it's best to tell the truth.

Today while taking my shower, evidently Kolton got the step stool out, got my gum off the counter and helped him self to a piece, however he brought he brother into it by sharing it with him. When asked who did it Karter said Kolton and Kolton remembering our talk about how it's best to tell the truth immediately took the blame but said I shared with Karter. Both had swallowed the gum by this time.

Tonight it's too quiet I don't see Kolton so I go look for him. I find him in my bathroom. He has gotten the child proof lock open and gotten into my make-up. There is blush and eye shadow on his hands, face and the floor.

When asked why he has done these things his response it always 'cause I wanted too."

Maybe this is paybacks for laughing at the boys when we were in the mirror house at the Science Museum the other day. Of course if they had gotten hurt it wouldn't have been so funny, but watching them bump into the mirrors was quite humorous.

Harmonica Debuts

2010-01-20T21:29:00.005-06:00

The boys got harmonicas for Christmas from my dad. They've been having a blast with them and wanted to play a little ditty for you all.

Introducing Kolton and Karter the harmonica twins.

Earthquakes

2010-01-16T10:04:00.006-06:00

I live in pretty much the middle of Oklahoma. We don't usually have earthquakes around these parts, except the thing is we have been having A LOT of earthquakes around these parts lately. In a week we have had four. I have felt every single one of them, one which woke the whole house up in the early hours of the morning. The magnitude has ranged from 2.8 to the largest yesterday a 4.0. Up until about 3 months ago I had never felt an earthquake, I didn't even realize Oklahoma had a fault line. I've lived here my whole life and not one shake had I felt. In the past three months we have had probably a dozen or more. They are quite un-nerving especially when they happen in the dead of the night. I would like them to stop now.

With that said the measly 4.0 that I experienced yesterday was NOTHING compared to the 7.0 that Haiti experienced. There was no damage here to anything but nerves, no loss of life. However, the story is much different in Haiti. People are dying, are dead, have lost everything, children are missing, hurt, going hungry. The people of Haiti are getting desperate, they have no where to lay their dead, or their own head for that matter.

So when I received and e-mail from the March of Dimes allowing me to donate via text I jumped on that. It was super easy and quick and so needed. Below is the information needed to text a donation. I vouch for the March of Dimes as I have be raising funds for them for several years now. I myself used this number to text and it's valid and they give you a chance to back out of it before it is finalized. Five bucks is a cup of coffee to us, it could be used for so much more in the effort to help the Haitian people.

The March of Dimes is always working to help mothers and babies. If you want to donate immediately, text the word BABY to 20222 and your phone will be charged $5.00 for a donation to the March of Dimes.

This is the link to the March of Dimes page explaining what they plan to do with the donations.

Snow

2010-01-12T19:56:00.005-06:00

I know I'm a little late posting these, but I figured better now than never right?

On Christmas Eve Oklahoma had a blizzard. Fourteen inches of snow. We don't get snow around these parts much so everyone was excited to see it but it made travel unsafe. We stayed in and watch the snow fall and then made the slow drive to my moms the next day.

We played in the snow for several days and there is still some on the ground in the shade.

The videos were taken on Dec. 26th. I almost didn't post them because I hate the sound of my voice. Ugg don't hold it against me ok. Or better yet turn your volume down you don't need to hear just see okay.

How to make a gingerbread house Kolton and Karter style.

2009-12-30T22:59:00.000-06:00

Here is Kolton and Karter's version of the gingerbread house.

I thought it was the prettiest gingerbread house around. The dog thought it was the yummiest when I gave it to him after Christmas.

Oklahoma Blizzard 2009

2009-12-24T13:26:00.004-06:00

Please do not notice how I have my eyes closed in the beginning and ending of the video. The wind was whipping around me and it was cold as I stupidly tried to take the video not only without a coat but without shoes as well. Okie dokie.

Merry Christmas 2009

2009-12-24T09:11:00.003-06:00

Merry Christmas to all my bloggie friends. I hope each of you get to spend time with those you love. Eat good food, laugh often, enjoy life for there are those out there who are not fortunate to have any or all the above.

P.S. The boys may be enjoying snow later on. It will be their first white Christmas, hopefully the weather won't be too bad and we will be able to travel to our families house later on.

P.S.S I am just now noticing that I have been using 's on our cards for a year or so. After much research I think it's actually just an s. This is not the card I sent to everyone on that one I did put just an s. Someone who is not grammatically challenged can you tell me the correct usage? The hubby and I discussed this at large a few days ago.

Kolton the Little Chinese Boy.

2009-12-20T22:46:00.000-06:00

Our nice Chinese neighbor who is very fond of the boys, and telling us we forgot to put out the trash, gave the boys a Christmas gift. You never know what you're going to get from from the nice Chinese lady.

These are the boxes that the gift came in.

I thought the printing on the side was interesting.

Kolton was the only one who would try it on. Karter was not having it.

I love that she is giving them a glimpse of a different culture.

Mr. Smarty McCat

2009-12-11T23:40:00.000-06:00

Remember this cat?

One night a couple of weeks ago he wanted outside. He was out there for and hour or so and before I went to bed I called for him but he never came so I went to bed. The next morning he was asleep on the couch. I paused for a moment but figured Jimmy or one of the boys let him in. Later in the morning I noticed the back door to the garage was open. I asked Jimmy about it he said he didn't do it, then I asked him if he let Slinky in because I was sure he was outside the night before and now he was asleep on the couch. He said he didn't let him in.

Hmm... I began to wonder if he somehow got in that open door and more importantly how did the door get open. Then it happened again in the daytime, however I still didn't see how the door got open. So that set me out on a quest to see if he was somehow opening the door.

This is what I found.

Please ignore the ghetto pool, that we have yet to drag into the garage. It's been there for a month or so, but pretend you don't see it mmkay.
Also, that's Wow Wow Wubbzy on in the background.

Look at Sparky(the dog) he's all what the hell?

Retro Park

2009-12-06T13:55:00.001-06:00

We've been in our small town for a little over a year now, and we are still finding things we didn't know about. As I've mentioned before we live in a rural community that basically has a few stores and most people live on an acre or a little less but the lots are still pretty big.

Not far from our house is the little pond I referred to in this post. On that visit to the pond we discovered the little park with old equipment. We went back recently and because there were not flying, stinging insects there this time we could enjoy the equipment.

I really like this park and will probably go back there this spring and summer to take pictures.

Never a Dull Moment

2009-11-30T23:21:00.001-06:00

Both boys have been sick last weekend and Karter is still running a low grade fever today. However that has not stopped them from being the little boys they are.

This post could also be titled why I love 3 year olds.

While walking by the Christmas tree today I notice this. I'm not sure who did it but they were sneaky about it. I supposed they felt it needed a little something else. I also need to add that both boys decorated the tree this year. They put almost all the decorations on. Here's the kicker I haven't moved a one. I left them were they put them. I figured once they were done I would move the clumped up ones around, but they boys were so proud I have left them.

The little green bulb came from this. It was thankfully sneaked(I thought it was snuck, but evidently there is no such word) out with nothing broken.

I found this in Kolton's room. A little blue watering pot with plastic dinosaurs and cars in it.

This was also in Kolton's room. Drawn on his chalkboard.

And last, but I'm sure not least, was this little addition to the entryway table. It was not there when I left to run to the store.

I find stuff like this around the house all the time. Just today I had to dump hot wheels cars out of my laundry basket before I could put clothes in it.

I love my little three year old's both of them and all their crazy, little things they do.

Chocolate Thunder

2009-11-25T23:12:00.002-06:00

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm of course thankful for all the normal things, my family and friends. However, I'm also thankful that I am able to have a home over my head and food on our table and no major worries. Some cannot say the same this holiday.

I'm also thankful for this cake recipe, which I'm going to share with you. It is very, very yummy!

Chocolate Thunder Cake

1 box German Chocolate cake mix
1 14 oz. Eagle Brand Low Fat Sweetened condensed milk
1 16 oz. Cool whip(can use low fat or no fat, it's still good)
2 8oz. Heath or Hershey Candy bars crushed
1 8oz. jar fudge ice cream topping

Bake cake in 9x13 pan as directed on the package. Let cool 25-30 mins. Poke hole in cake with wooden spoon handle. Pour sweetened condensed milk: spread evenly. Wait 5 mins. Spread fudge topping over that. Wait 5 mins. Spread cool whip over the cake then sprinkle with crushed candy bars. Chill thoroughly before serving

Makes 16 servings.

This is what I'm taking to the family dinner tomorrow. I don't have to cool anything else this year, just eat.

Have A Safe and Happy Holiday!

One of Farmer Ted's Friends

2009-11-18T17:04:00.009-06:00

My son, Kolton reminded me of one of my all time favorite shows today. While digging around in daddy's stuff one of the boys came across this headband light(not sure what it's really called). Kolton rediscovered it today and put it on. When I looked up at him I immediately thought of Farmer Ted, from Sixteen Candles and his nerdy sidekicks Bryce and Cliff.

Farmer Ted(center),Bryce(left),Cliff(right)

There is a scene in the movie, to which I can not find a image of, where Farmer Ted goes by his friends house late at night to have his picture taken with the blond and the Rolls Royce. If I remember correctly Cliff has a headband light on his head.

While we are on the subject of Sixteen Candles I have to address two things.

Firstly, was this not the best scene ever? Sam runs into the church to retrieve her drugged up sister's wedding veil thinking everyone is waiting for her. However, when she returns almost everyone is gone, until she see him. Jake Ryan, Lord have mercy I has the biggest crush on him when I was young and I LOVED that car. I'm a car girl. When the last car, full of her family is loading she see's him. He mouths "hey you" and Sam looks behind her, totally something I would do too.

I still get a giddy stupid grin on my face when I watch it, like totally.

Secondly, this scene always stressed me out. I'm not sure I would do this no matter how romantic it is. I might have to opt for the floor or the chairs. I've always worried every since I was young that that stupid glass table is going to break or Jake or Sam are going to catch on fire or smash the cake. Mostly I worried about the table. Still love the scene though.

And of course, Jake says "make a wish" and Sam says "it already came true."

And last but not least here is a picture of Karter because he said "hey you forgot to take a picture of me."

Fight For Preemies

2009-11-17T08:00:00.004-06:00

This post is in participation of the Bloggers Unite/Fight for Preemies.

Some memories fade and some remain fresh forever. June 26th and July 17th 2006 will forever be fresh in my memory. June 26th was the day that I went into preterm labor. Being pregnant with twins I knew that it was a possibility, but I was hoping I would be one of those who carried to term. My babies were only 26wks 6days old, way too soon to be born. I was sent to my local hospital, one who tried to stop my preterm labor, but one that was not equipped to handle infants that young. I was medi flighted to a hospital 30 mins away that had all the capabilities to handle infants 26wks and younger.On July 17th after a month of hospitalized bed rest and many medications to stop contractions my babies still came early 10 weeks early.

This is me at 26wks, just days before I went into preterm labor. This is also only one of a few photo's I have of me pregnant. After this point my mind and efforts were focused on keeping my two boys inside and safe.

Kolton day 3

Karter day 3

The fear, the worry, the uncertainty. No one will every know how it feels, unless you have been there yourself. Your children very small, on all kinds machines, the sounds, the the beeping of machines the swoosh sound of the oxygen, the crying parents, the silent sick babies.

The March of Dimes is near and dear to my heart. For the March of Dimes is just one element that helped my babies live.

Our family was honored to be the Ambassador Family for our towns Walk for Babies in September 2007.

Each year after we have participated and raised money to continue the March of Dimes research and to educate those who do not know of prematurity.

Allow me to share the speech I prepared and gave as the Ambassador mom to two preemie boys.

Hello, I’m Brandy, 2007 Ambassador Mom and mother to two adorable one year old boys. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to share with you their story, their struggles and their triumphs. We are honored to be this years March of Dimes ambassador family.

Before the boys came along, I had heard of the March of Dimes I knew they helped babies, however I didn’t know to what extent they helped them or all the research they have done. Unfortunately, I would find out the hard way. In January 2006 my husband Jimmy and I found out we were pregnant, we were excited and scared. We experienced all the normal feelings a couple feels when they learn they are to become parents. On February 28, 2006 on my first doctors visit, we found out we were having twins; we were shocked and very excited. Although, we had not thought of twins we where very happy to welcome two little ones to our family. My pregnancy progressed normally with no problems until June 23, 2006. I had been really tired that day and was feeling what I thought was the babies “balling or bunching” up. I know now that they were contractions. Fortunately, I worked in my OB’s office so I was able to be seen right away. I found out that I was in fact dilating. My greatest fear had come true. I was in pre-term labor. At 26 weeks and 3 days I knew it was way too soon for my little guys to enter the world. Sure I was excited and anxious to meet them, but I wanted to do so under better circumstances. I was immediately sent to the hospital and started on medications to stop my contractions. When it was thought that the medications might not work, I was medi-flighted to a hospital that had the capabilities and equipment to handle infants that are born pre-term. After an intense 4 days on all kinds of medications to stop contractions and labor, it appeared that the doctors and the medicine had succeeded. I was however told to expect to stay on hospitalized bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy. After 10 days in the hospital it seemed that all had calmed down and it was decided that I would be sent home with strict instructions to rest and not move around much. I did this for two days, and then I noticed that one of the babies was not moving around as much. I called my OB office and was told to come in. At that visit it was found that one of the babies was very low in the birth canal and it was best to be sent back to the hospital. There I stayed for 6 more days and then again was sent home for two days on strict bed rest. On July 17, 2006 one day shy of 30 weeks, my water broke at 5:00am I was rushed to the hospital once again that was equipped for pre-term births. I was once again given medications to stop my contractions, however since my water had broken, the doctors felt it best, for my labor to continue if the medications did not work. At 10:50 that morning the contractions intensified and I was rushed to the OR to deliver. At 11:30am Kolton Wayne, twin A was born by natural delivery. Twenty-seven minuets later at 11:57 Karter James twin b was born by c-section. I did not even get to see Kolton, but they held Karter up for me to see for a few seconds before he was whisked away to do life saving procedures on him. Jimmy and I were so scared. We knew they were small but didn’t know at that point how small. Once everything calmed down and I was recovering in my room we were told that Kolton weighted 3lbs 1oz and Karter 2lb 11oz. I was unable to see them until very late that night.

After all numbing medications wore off and I was able to stand on my own I was allowed to go by wheelchair to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or NICU to see my babies. When we arrived it was very late, we were required to remove all jewelry and scrub our hands up to our elbows with soap and hot water for 1 minute. We would have to do this each time we entered the NICU. The first baby I saw was Karter. He was very small and pink. He had a tiny diaper on him. As I looked him over I noticed that the cartilage in his ears were not completely formed yet, I had read about this in one of my many books about babies and what to expect about their growth at 30 weeks. He was hooked up to the ventilator which was breathing for him because his lungs where not yet developed enough to breath on his own. He had wires and tubes all over him and he was hooked up to a machine that would alarm if his heart rate went too low or too high, if his breathing slowed too much or if his oxygen saturation was too low or too high. Through all the tubes and wires I saw a beautiful baby boy that I was so in love with. Next I was taken to see Kolton who was in another room. He was tiny as well, but a bit bigger than his brother. He had dark hair and lots of it for such a tiny baby. I remember wondering how much he would have had, had he been born full term. He too was hooked up to a ventilator, due to his immature lungs, he also had tubes and wires all over him, but he had one thing different that Karter did not have. He also had the addition of a big lamp that was know as a bililight. This was being used because he was jaundice. He would have the light for a week or more. While on the light he had to wear goggles to protect his immature eyes. Because he was on the light for so long I rarely got to see his tiny little face for the first few weeks. Even though he was a strange blue color due to the lights, and even though he was hooked up to all the same machines as Karter I feel in love with him too. We began to affectionately call him our little monkey.
It was the next day that the doctors began to tell us of all the medications they were on and what to expect in terms of their care while in the NICU. On that day July 18, 2006 I heard of surfactant for the first time. The doctors explained to us what the medication was and how it worked and that our boys would more than likely be getting two doses of this. Later when we had the chance we researched exactly what surfactant was and what it was used for. That is when I found the March of Dimes website. I learned that surfactant, which is a soapy substance found in lungs is already present in full term babies and that when they take their first breath their lungs open up and the alveoli or tiny little air sacs stay open afterwards and are ready to receive each breath, however in pre-term infants, when they take their first breath their lungs open but with each exhale their alveoli or air sacs collapse making breathing harder and harder. This is also known as Respiratory Distress Syndrome or RDS. Both Kolton and Karter had this due to their prematurity. What surfactant did for my boys and for many, many preterm infants is it allowed their lungs to balance the pressure on the outside with the pressure on the inside of their lungs and remain open to incoming air. According to the March of Dimes website, surfactant began to be used in the 1980’s developed by Dr. T. Allen Merritt. Since its use the number of babies that die from RDS, has gone from 10,000 per year to less than 1,000. My boys fit into this statistic. My boys where saved not only by the doctors, but also by this wonderful discovery of surfactant, it literally allowed my boys to breath another day.

As the days went on we began to learn the ins and outs of the NICU. You are told up front that it is going to be an emotional roller coaster, and it is. Everyday is different, one day things are going good and the next something is not right. You began to think of each day as one step closer to going home. Karter spent 3 days on the Ventilator, Kolton spent two, and the next step after the ventilator is CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP does not breathe for you like the ventilator but it does create enough pressure when you inhale to keep your airway open. Kolton spent 2 days on CPAP and Kater spent 4 days on it. After CPAP is the nasal cannula. The nasal cannula is used to provide supplemental oxygen to a patient. Kolton spent 5 days with the cannula and at 11 days old was breathing room air on his own. Karter would stay on the cannula until he came home and after being home for one month he was able to breathe room air on his own. The boys spent 48 days in the NICU, while there both received many medications to help their heart rate regulate, head ultrasounds to check for brain bleeds, many X-rays to check their heart and other organs, blood transfusions due to low blood counts and the inability of their little bodies to keep up. Light therapy for Jaundice, heel sticks to check their blood gasses. Numerous IV’s in the head, legs and arms and a scar for each of those sticks.
This has all been as described to us by the nurses in the NICU, a rollercoaster of a ride, but the end result are two beautiful boys, that to this date have no lasting effects from their prematurity, they are healthy and thriving and we are so thankful, thankful to the March of Dimes for all their research, thankful for the Doctors and nurses that played a part in their survival and thankful to you, those who donate and volunteer in the quest to save babies.

Thank you again.

Aside from slight asthma for Kolton and an undiagnosed PDA for Karter that was closed in March 2009 my story ends well, many do not.

Please consider supporting the March of Dimes.

Kolton (Baby A) at 3 years old.

Karter (Baby B) at 3 years old.

Brothers Forever

Fight For Preemies // Bloggers Unite

2009-11-13T10:35:00.004-06:00

Fight For Preemies // Bloggers Unite

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Since I didn't participate in the Walk for Babies this year, I decided to join the Fight for Preemies by writing a post along with hundreds of others on November 17th telling our story and what the March of Dimes has meant to us. I know most of you have heard it before however it's an important cause and one that is near and dear to my heart. Feel free to visit were you are likely to see photo's of the boys in the hospital and pictures of them now in all there three year old glory.

Just A Pic

2009-11-06T16:11:00.007-06:00

Happy Halloween 3 Days Late!

2009-11-03T08:49:00.003-06:00

We started talking about Halloween at the beginning of October. Kolton decided he wanted to be a chicken. When I asked Karter what he wanted to be he said "nothing, I don't want to dress up." When I said well you have to dress up to get candy, it will be fun, he replied, "no, you can just go to the store and get some." He was dead serious. He didn't want anything to do with going door to door asking for candy, he figured we could just buy some at the store and by pass the whole ordeal.

As tempting as that sounded, Kolton wanted to trick or treat, and I wanted him to have fun, so I just told Karter he didn't have to dress up and he could stay in the car with me if he wanted, but that he would not be getting Kolton's candy.

He thought about this for a week or more and then one day he just decided he wanted to go too.

Thankfully I had bought two costumes, fire fighters, Kolton choose them.

We looked for a chicken costume, and I supposed I could have made one, but I procrastinated and didn't give myself enough time. When he saw the fire fighter get up he was all for it.

Halloween night Karter began to get a little scared and told us he didn't want to go, he said he was afraid someone might steal him. Daddy told him he would be with him at all times and he could sit in the car with me if he wanted. He decided to be brave and go on. That's all it took once he figured out you ring the door bell and get candy, he was literally running from house to house.

The both said they had so much fun and are already excited for next year.

Man Cold

2009-10-29T18:29:00.003-06:00

haha Found this at Dooce.

2009-10-27T12:55:00.002-06:00

Karter getting EKG for 6 month PDA Ligation follow up.

Typical Car Ride

2009-10-25T21:02:00.003-06:00

This video was taken about a month ago on our way to see Nana in a town about an hour and a half away.

Ignore the trash in the car.

It's been awhile...

2009-10-22T18:57:00.002-05:00

since I last wrote hasn't it. I'm not sure why I don't have much to say, but I suppose after 3 years, things have began to slow down and thankfully not much is going on.

The boys have been saying some insanely funny stuff lately. If you follow me on facebook you have read some of those things. If you don't follow me on facebook you should, cause that's where I'm usually at.

I hated facebook at first but now I find it much easier to give quicker updates and follow my friends and family and basically I'm addicted to Farmville on there which is a stupid, but fun little computer game were you are the farmer.

It's been raining a lot here lately and our backyard is a pit of red mud so we try to stay out of it if it's wet, but that makes for some LONG days in doors watching WAY too much TV and getting stir crazy.

I've not taken any pictures in awhile, but I need too because it's very pretty outside with the trees changing and all. I have taken some video but have been too lazy to upload it. It's just sitting there on my little Flip camera waiting on me.

Oh I gotta tell you I LOVE my Flip camera. I got it for my birthday and it's so easy to use and very easy to upload, unless of course you are lazy like me, then you don't upload it like you should. Anyway it's very awesome and has come a long way in the two years I've been eyeballing them. Glad I waited because they really do have much better video quality now.

So that's what's been going on around here. I have ideas during the day of things I want to post on but when I sit down to do it, I find other things on the computer to do or I forget what I wanted to say.

Oh and can I just say the whining that goes on in this house on a daily basis is INSANE. It's Kolton really, Karter rarely whines he just does stuff like pester the cats until they scratch him.

Ok time to go it's too quiet in the living room I need to go see what mischief the boys are in.

Today

2009-10-07T20:48:00.002-05:00

Today while in walmart I reached into my purse to find something to put my chewed gum in. It was starting to irritate me, the gum that is. Does anyone else know what I mean? You know, you chew it until all the flavor is gone and then you chew it some more and then it starts to get hard to chew and then it gets on your nerves. Anyway, while looking for something to put it in I discovered a taco in my purse. Yes a taco. The taco has evidently been in my purse since Sunday when we visited my mother and Jimmy put it in my purse for Karter. Eww an old dried up taco. Wonder what else is in there?

Interesting Article

2009-10-03T21:56:00.003-05:00

I found this article and thought it was interesting.

It's title is When Miracle Babies Grow Up. And it's about micro-preemies and how they are doing now.

Out of Sorts

2009-09-28T21:09:00.002-05:00

We've been slowly getting out of sorts around here lately. You know what I mean right? When you realize that you and your kids have been eating way too much sugar, staying up too late, and getting sassy with each other. The boys have had attitudes lately and I"m sure it's just an age thing, but holy moly!

I've been busy as usual, and all my extra free time is taken by laundry, TV,my DVR is running over time too many good shows on at one time. And lastly a silly little game on Facebook that is taking up way too much of my time, but alas I really like it. Have you tried it? It's Farmville and up until about a week ago I just ignored all the invites, but one day I clicked on it. HELLO time waster! I mean it's fun but really it does take up my time that I could be doing something else.

So, all that and I've been in a block slump for a couple of months now. I suppose that's good cause there for awhile WAY too much was going on.

Hopefully it won't be another week before you hear from me and hopefully I'll have some pictures to post next time.

A Typical Saturday Morning

2009-09-20T11:01:00.002-05:00

Kolton learns to ride his bike and Karter learns to run the power washer.

March of Dimes 2009

2009-09-14T12:48:00.003-05:00

You may or may not have noticed that up until this point I have not mentioned March of Dimes this year. That's simply because I chose not to participate in the March for Babies this time, I just needed a break. The first half of the year was extremely stressful around here. We had two houses on the market(still), our funds were dwindling, we had a pregnancy, a miscarriage and a huge fire that could have and came very close to burning our house down, and we decided to leave our church because it too was stressing us out.

After all that stress and emotion I chose not to participate in the stress and emotion of fund-raising and remembering just why my children needed the March of Dimes. With all that said I still support them and I still suggest that you drop by their website to see just what it is they do.

The walk I usually participate in is on September 26, the boys actual due date, the date it's been on every year since I started. We won't be there physically this year, but I'll be thinking about it on that day.

I would like to leave you with the a link to the past two years I participated with the March of Dimes. The first year 2007, we were the Ambassador family for our town, and I wrote this speech. The second year 2008, we just fund raised and walked.

Will I do it next year? I don't know we will have to see what next year brings.

Thankfullness

2009-09-10T22:58:00.006-05:00

Jimmy here..

Well, I'm 41 today! I'm not really that much into celebrating birthdays, one thing I do though at each birthday is look back and evaluate my life for the previous year. I also take some time to think about how good life is.

This year I thought I'd like to post some of those thoughts now..

Overall, pretty happy with the previous year, my life is nice, I have a beautiful family, make plenty of money, have a job that on most days I can't wait to get to, everyone is healthy and pretty happy. Raising twin 3 year old boys can be a challenge, but for the most part, I adore each second of it, and I miss each second that has left forever.

My lovely wife Brandy is awesome, this coming year, I think I need to tell her how great she is a little more often. She's amazing really, I think she has one of the hardest jobs on earth, but she does it with almost no complaining, she ALWAYS puts others before herself, and she juggles a lot and she manages to keep all the balls up in the air..absolutely amazing. All the while taking really good care of a pretty goofy husband. I'm so glad to have her as my wife, I doubt there is a better wife anywhere in the world.

My two beautiful children, I'm amazed by their antics and by how their little 3 year old brains come up with things. I can see why the duggars have 27 kids (or something like that), they're each a little world within themselves. I think we'll stick with two though. I can't wait for each new day with them and on some level, I grieve each day that has went passed, they're each magical in their own way.

My parents of course can't be left out. My mother is a saint, truly a saintly women. You look up christian in the dictionary, and her picture is there. My dad, he's come such a long way over the years, he's always been a great dad, willing to do whatever it took to keep the food on the table, even if he had to work his fingers to the bone to do it. You look up "work ethic" in the dictionary, and there is his picture. Without my parents, I doubt I would be where I am today.

Oh well, maybe I will post again next year..
Seeya,
Jimmy

We got schooled...

2009-09-06T20:20:00.003-05:00

We bought this little tripod at everythings a dollar about 6 months ago. We tried using it a few times but our camera is just too bulky and it just wasn't working out.

We left the little tripod on the table today and Kolton found it, 5 minutes later he showed us what we were doing wrong..

Neither Brandy or I had ever thought to pull the legs out (the silver part you see here, we thought the legs were the white part and that was it)....

Just Kolton

2009-09-01T10:17:00.004-05:00

Busy I tell ya! That's where I've been lately. Sorry for the lack of updates, just been BUSY!

He was just sitting in the floor watching cartoons in these goggles. He put them on himself.

Took them to their first bullriding. He was so cute decked out in his cowboy boots and hat.

Bitter Melon

2009-08-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

I think I've mentioned before that my neighbor is Chinese. She grows a garden every year, this year she has grown both American and Chinese veggies. There is something the Chinese eat called a bitter melon, it's supposed to be good for all kinds of things. Problem is its not good to eat. As a matter of fact it quite frankly tastes like poo. I didn't try it last year when offered, but decided this time I would. It was GROSS. She told me to make it into a soup, which I did and taste the broth, which I did, but wished I hadn't. Did I say it was GROSS!! It's very, very bitter and GROSS.

Thanks but no thanks I'll stick to my American veggies, like the okra and green beans she gave us the same day. Yummy and not GROSS.

Horn Head

2009-08-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

We've not had a mosquito problem this year so far. However, we've had lots of rain in the past few weeks with the rain came the mosquito's. With the mosquitoes came mosquito's bites. With the bites came horns for Karter. This happened once before and I called the doctor, who told me to give him and antihistamine. I did that yesterday after the picture and today and they look A LOT better.

The sore near his eye was a gift from Kolton, during a fight they had yesterday morning.

Slump

2009-08-19T11:16:00.002-05:00

I've been in a blog slump for about a month now. I don't have much to say and I've been super busy. Three year olds defiantly keep you on your toes! The house it the pits, I've not found proper time or energy get it all done. The laundry is piling up. The boys are fighting and eating and eating and eating. We have been spending lots of time outside, which is why I get nothing done, but being cooped up with two fighting bored children does not allow me the time to get it done either. So, blog friends I'm here, just busy and hopefully I'll have something to say soon.

Kolton the Cowboy

2009-08-14T21:34:00.003-05:00

Kolton loves his boots. His Papa had gotten both he and Karter boots for their birthday last year, Kolton wore them a lot, but outgrew them quickly. Karter never showed as much interest in them as Kolton but did wear his some.

When Kolton outgrew his boots he was sad. He tried to cram his foot in the too small ones and would cry when it didn't work.

Finally, I got the poor boy some more boots and he's worn them every day since.

When Kolton found out we were going to look at boots he was so excited. Karter not so much. Karter does have a sore on his foot and he kept saying he didn't want to try them on because they hurt his owie. I asked him a billion times if he wanted a pair and each time he said no. I asked him the day after and he said he would just wear his tennis shoes. So he's happy with not having any and Kolton's ecstatic to have some.

He was riding some suitcases he dug out of the closet. He said it was a motorcycle.

Karter being cute in his cowboy hat.

Kolton was done taking pictures. He didn't want to look at the camera, but didn't want me to put it up either.

Feeding the Ducks

2009-08-10T21:22:00.004-05:00

Our town is a rural community with some pretty neat things in it. We have splash pads literally down the street from us and a pond were you can fish, have a picnic or feed the ducks. Or let two crazy and wild three year olds run until their hearts are content and they are properly worn out.

The park even has some old school play ground equipment. I haven't seen a merry go ground like this since I was a kid. Although the playground was neat it did house several families of red hornets. Needless to say we didn't stay on the equipment long.

The Sneezing Baby Panda

2009-08-04T10:53:00.001-05:00

Holy Heck! Is it wrong that I found this funnier than the last video I
posted?

It's known in my family that I tend to laugh when people, or animals,
get startled.

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzRH3iTQPrk

Sent from my iPhone

Laughing Baby

2009-08-04T10:46:00.001-05:00

See if this dosent make you smile.

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6UU6m3cqk

Sent from my iPhone

Heard at the Dinner Table Tonight.

2009-08-03T20:22:00.004-05:00

Karter pooted at the table and I told him to say excuse me.

Kolton then chimed in "yeah say excuse me to your butt."

Giggles ensued all around the table.

Lately there has not been a dull moment around here!

Three is awesome, but what they say is true, it's worse than two.

Tables by Daddy

2009-07-30T21:00:00.006-05:00

I've wanted to get the boys tables for months, but didn't want to pay the high price for them. While browsing in Pottery Barn one day, Jimmy said he could make one for way cheaper, so that's what he did.

This was the inspiration table. You can see it here along with the price on Pottery Barn website.
Jimmy made both tables for roughly 100 bucks.

Kolton has one just like it, but it's cherry red. They seem to really like them and spend an hour or so playing with play-doh in Karter's room.

Karter covered his kitty up because he thought he was cold.

When it rains it pours.

2009-07-27T12:08:00.002-05:00

We've pretty much been up since 5:00 this morning. I used to LOVE the rain, thunder and lighting in the early morning, but not so much now. It used to be relaxing and enjoyable, now it means that one or two little boys are going to get up multiple times crying or scared and come to bed with us and kick us and keep us up and talk.

However this morning it was different. One little boy(Karter) decided that he was hungry at 5am and when I wouldn't fix him something that early he wanted juice. So I gave him juice, which leaked on our bed, I took it and put it on the night stand. A fit ensued and now we are all tried and cranky.

Also during my shower, Karter pooped his pants, still working on that part of potty training, he knows how but is afraid sometimes. Anyway he pooped, Kolton told on him and then Karter stood outside of the shower door smelling yucky and whining my whole shower about how I needed to "change my doo doo". Happy Monday!!!!!

Up Up and Away

2009-07-22T22:01:00.006-05:00

We had been telling the boys that it was time to get rid of the binkies. We at first tried telling them that when you are close to three your binkies expire. We tried putting the stuff on them called THUM that makes them taste nasty. At first both boys just sucked the yucky stuff off, then they got smart and went and washed them off, so that was a no go. I then thought of an idea that I had originally seen on Americas Funniest Home Video's. To release the binkies on balloons.

So, we had been prepping them for this by telling them that the day after the birthday party we were going to release the binkies on balloons, and then Jimmy got a brilliant idea. He told them that we were sending them to the moon. Brilliant, that husband of mine! The boys were all over this. So on Sunday we let them go. And on Sunday night daddy photoshoped a picture of the moon with their binkies on them and told them they had arrived. To this the boys said where's the balloons? Daddy said the balloons dropped of the binkies and floated away. They were cool with this.

And now it's been 3 days and it's going well. Karter is having the hardest time, instead of the Binkie at bedtime he is insisting he is hungry, even if I give him something to eat. So I have decided that he actually is just wanting something in his mouth. I tell him that I will check on him in 10 mins and if he's still up and hungry I will get him some food. He's been asleep every single time.

So that was the last baby thing remaining in our house. Both boys seem to be totally potty trained, in big boy beds, and now without binkies.

See the tiny little specks in the right hand corner? Those are the binkies. I believe you can click to enlarge.

3rd Birthday Party

2009-07-20T21:57:00.003-05:00

The theme for this years party was Mickey Mouse Club House. This is the boys favorite show as of right now and they loved their Mickey stuff. My sister made the cake and the boys got some really neat stuff. Now I need to go through all the old toys because we are getting way too many.

On their actual birthday, which was Friday, we took the boys out to eat were they wanted to go, which was Zio's. Then we went to the mall and they rode on the cars in the food court and then it was off to pick out their gift at the Lego store. Karter chose a train set and Kolton an airplane. They later fought over the airplane and Karter said he wanted to take his back and get an airplane. Because of the price diffrence Karter got two train sets and a little fire truck. It was a nice day and they really seemed to have a nice time. They also seem to be going through a growth spurt right now. Both boys seem to have gotten taller, talk more and speak clearer and are eating everything that's not nailed down.

Turning 3

2009-07-16T23:03:00.012-05:00

Tomorrow my babies turn 3. How did that happen? I feel both sad and happy about this. I think of that early morning three years ago at 5:00 am when I heard the audible pop of my water breaking. The strange calmness I felt knowing that this was it, this was the day that my 30 weeker babies were going to be born. The unbelievable journey that, that day started.

My babies turn 3 tomorrow. I look at them and no longer see babies but little boys, but they will ALWAYS be MY babies.

Kolton and Karter your daddy and I are so unbelievably proud of you both. You have triumphed many things in your short 3 years. I look forward to all the things to come even it they give me anxiety attacks thinking about letting you continue to gain your independence. I know they say that a mother should make sure she doesn't lose herself too much in her children. To maintain a sense of self, but the truth is I'm lost in you guys and I wouldn't have it any other way.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KOLTON and KARTER!!!!

love mommy

One of the only pics of me pregnant and about a week before the boys were born.

Karter July 20th 2006

Kolton July 20, 2006

Karter 1 year old

Kolton 1 year old

Karter 2 years old

Kolton 2 years old.

3 years old.

My Second Concert

2009-07-10T11:56:00.004-05:00

I think that I'm one of the only people on earth who has not gone to tons of concerts. I've been to one, a George Stait concert, for my 12th or 13th birthday. The second one I will be attending tonight. Yay me!

I love me some eighties music so when a friend asked if I wanted to go to a Rick Springfield concert I said sure. Now granted I'm not a huge Springfield fan, but I do like his music.

My friend and I joke that we might be just be the youngest people there. However it should be fun and a girls night out, which I've not had in well, since the boys were born.

I do hate that I will miss putting my little men to bed, something that drives me crazy and I love at the same time. I've not been absent at bedtime but once in their whole lives and that time didn't go smoothly. However I'm confident that daddy can manage and they will enjoy their time with just him while I'm out.

Ugg I act like such an old lady at times.

Good Thing We Bought A Warranty

2009-07-09T13:16:00.006-05:00

About three months ago we got a new table and chairs. We thought it a good idea to also buy the warranty that would cover the table and I hope the chairs(can't remember for sure, I'll have to look it up). You know since we do have two small children, who happen to be boys, who also happen to be quite rough with some things.

It's a good thing too, cause look what happened.

This happens to be the little boy who broke the chair. He's not too happy about it right now. He kept saying "fix it, fix it!"

It happened while the boys were eating lunch. I looked up to see Kolton leaning his chair back, just as I was saying "Kolton sit the chair down", he fell and I heard a crack. Thankfully it was not his head or other body part cracking on the tile floor.

Am I going to have a house full of broken stuff soon?

Silly Kolton

2009-07-07T21:39:00.001-05:00

Karter was too busy to put on these silly glasses, but Kolton was
happy to oblige.

Linkwithin

2009-07-06T21:33:00.002-05:00

As I traveled around the blog world I began noticing at the ends of their posts were three little pictures. If you clicked on one of them it would take you to an older, but equally amusing post. I wanted one on my blog too. Can I just say I'm loving that little gadget. I've been enjoying posts from a year or two ago, lovin seeing my little guys even littler and what kind of shenanigans they were up to then. So if you get board click on one of those little pictures and have a read.

Happy 4th of July-2009

2009-07-03T22:21:00.003-05:00

Our plans for the 4th are to have family and friends over to celebrate. Three years ago I was being released from the hospital on strict bed rest, hoping to keep the little guys in longer at least closer to their due date. We failed at that. This year I will be holding one little boy who likes fireworks, but is a little afraid of the loud noise. The other little boy, being Kolton, I will be telling numerous time to move AWAY from the fireworks, and NO he CANNOT light them, that is daddies job right now.

As we get closer to their birthday, I get a little sentimental. One reason being that my babies are growing up. They are no longer babies. I look at the pictures of were we came from and where we are right now. My how they've grown!

The second reason is unless we change our minds, these will be our last babies. This is a subject that I keep meaning to write about, but haven't done yet. Soon, soon.

Thankfully things are slowing down a bit in our lives right now. Don't get me wrong, I'm ALWAYS busy, but now with just normal stuff. Not highly stressful situations.

Please continue to keep Jimmy's dad in your thoughts and prayers. He's home from the hospital now, but still having issues.

I hope everyone has a SAFE and HAPPY 4th. A big thank you to all those who lay their lives on the line so that we might have the freedom that we enjoy today.

Request

2009-07-02T14:02:00.003-05:00

If you don't mind could you keep Jimmy's dad in your thoughts and prayers. He had a procedure to place a pacemaker on Tuesday. That went fine however he's not producing urine like the doctors would like. In fact he's gained 15lbs from all the fluids he's retaining. The doctors are getting concerned as are we.

Thanks bunches.

Trying to Stay Busy

2009-06-30T23:07:00.006-05:00

With it being so hot here lately we've had to do outside things earlier in the morning and try to stay busy inside in the afternoon. It's been hard trying to keep the boys from killing each other. Not really, but good grief, who knew that almost three year olds would pick on each other SO stinkin much. They hit each other, steal toys, try to push each other down, yell and tattle on each other, and when their not doing that they follow me around whining about this or that. There are some days that I look forward to their bedtime so I can have some down time, and other times when we are having fun and I miss them when they go to bed.

My little men like to be busy. I have noticed however that when they are here with Jimmy they play better, or at least they don't follow him around whining as much. However, maybe that's because he doesn't move around that much(love you honey:0), he's not going from room to room trying to clean. I have to add that I don't mean that in a bad way, he does work all day, and does do stuff around the house. Oh you guys know what I mean right? Kids seem to follow mom around more and whine, while with daddy they don't do that as much.

I hear it only gets worse on the fighting front. I don't look forward to that.

Crud

2009-06-27T17:43:00.003-05:00

I just realized that I made a big grammatical error on the boys birthday invites(and I read and re-read them to make sure I there were none). I used your instead of you're. Bad thing is I've already bought, paid for and sealed all 25 of them. So to our family and friends, I know, I know, what a big dork. I do know the difference, but don't want to spend the extra money or time to have them redone, so you get what you get. :)

Our Mini Vacation

2009-06-25T21:22:00.006-05:00

We have been wanting to take a little vacation, but didn't know how the boys would do and didn't have a lot of cash to blow. So we took a mini vacation within our state. We drove 2 hours or so to Tulsa and stayed in the Radisson. They had this really cool indoor mini water park within the hotel as well as an outdoor pool. We played in the water, had dinner with their Uncle Joey and Jaylee then visited Aunt Janell. They did wonderful in the hotel and feel asleep easily. The next day we went to the Jenks Aquarium and looked at all kinds of fishies. It was a huge success! Everyone had fun and it proved to us that it's not too difficult to travel, at least a short distance, and have an over night stay with the boys.

It was FUN and I can't wait to do something again.

Sneak Peak

2009-06-22T22:04:00.002-05:00

Absent

2009-06-21T14:50:00.005-05:00

I've been gone for a week. Not really gone from my house, well we did take a mini vacation which was nice and I will write about later, but gone from the blogworld. First we were on vacation and now I'm having some blood pressure issue that make me feel like dook, so I haven't wanted to write. And now I'm fixing to start supper which will consist of these and this and steak. If you haven't make these potatoes or shrimp(found at Pioneer Women) you MUST, they are divine.

Happy Father's Day too all the daddies out there!

Meet the Cats. (Alternate title I'm the Crazy Cat Lady)

2009-06-14T11:08:00.006-05:00

I've mentioned before that I worked at a vet clinic for 5 years. I LOVED my job and was very sad when it was time for me to leave. I've always been very passionate about animals. As as child I was the kid touching the stay cats, one time I got bit, my mom was so mad and I'm sure scared that I would get rabies. Anyway a vet clinic is a good place to work if you love animals and love taking care of them. I started in the back cleaning cages, walking dogs, and scooping poop. I didn't mind I got to see the inner workings of how a vet clinic worked. My intention was to work there for awhile and see if I wanted to pursue a career as a vet. That's what I had wanted to be since I was 5 years old. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up I would always say a vet. I still would like to be a vet. This is a dream I let go due to life. I don't mean that negatively, I just mean life got in the way, fears got in the way and now family and my age gets in the way. I realize I could pursue this if I REALLY wanted to and I KNOW I would be an awesome vet, but I have chosen not to. Do I regret this decision? No, working in the vet clinic confirmed this. You work L O N G hours with not that great of pay. You are on call at all hours of the night. You are taken away from your family A LOT. I realized I had a decision to make. If I wanted to pursue this I would have to do it for the love of the animals, I would have done that, no problem, but I had more than just me to think about. I was married, with no children, but I didn't want to move to a new town away from my family. I didn't want to get into huge financial debt or go to school for 7 plus years. I let my fears rule me.

This post has actually taken a turn. I really just wanted to introduce our cats. Ok, back to the story. I worked as the poop scooper for 3 months or so, then it was realized what a great worker I was(pats self on back) and I was promoted to receptionist. I liked this for awhile and was really good at the whole people person thing even though people annoy me sometimes, but I began to ache to be back in the back where all the action was. All the surgeries and emergencies, where all the animals were. Thankfully, once again I was promoted and I became the animal nurse. This is basically like the position of a vet tech, but without the degree and I wasn't allowed to do somethings, but I did a lot. I prepped for surgery, I assisted in surgeries, I was in charge of the care of the animals coming out of surgeries. I tended to IVs in sick animals and administered medications. I comforted animals as they passed and comforted their owners in their grief. It was my dream job and I LOVED it. The office I had worked in changed over those 5 years. It went from a small husband and wife team to a divorced single vet with an unknown future, to an engaged vet, to a vet with a new wife, a new building and bigger clinic, though endless hours of work and endless employees,(not everyone really wants to scoop poop you, know), until finally the office politics or lack there of or something, I won't further evaluate on this because you never know who is reading and I don't want to hurt feelings(I'm a people pleaser), got in the way and I was the last of the original team to leave. I was very sad, but felt it was time. I even mourned leaving this job, but it was the best move I ever made, the end result was my two little boys. I now had time to focus on something else.

So in conclusion(if feel like I'm writing a paper or speech) I learned a lot from that job, not just how to care about animals, but things about myself. The end result was I left the job I loved to pursue other things, I went back to school, to get my bachelors degree(in behavioral science), worked in an OB/GYN clinic, and had preemie twin boys. Through it all my animals stayed loyal, my kitties comforted me on my bed rest days at home and Jimmy and I got a pretty good friend that just happens to be a vet out of the ordeal. Yes, that's right I am now friends with my ex-boss, Jimmy and he get along good and email back and forth sometimes. I know I can always go to him for excellent vet care, he's a good man.

This post is not really about him though. Sheesh, how did I get so far away from just showing you pictures of my cats. Lets get to that shall we.

Slink is our newest addition. We got him four days ago, and he's totally my husbands fault. While in PetSmart a week ago, killing some time with the boys, we saw Slink except he name was Elvis. Elvis was an owner surrender to the Animal Shelter. He ended up at PetSmart to be adopted out. Jimmy was instantly drawn to him, which if you know Jimmy that's not something that usually happens between him and animals. He tolerates them and my craziness about them. He wanted him, but we decided not to. A week later we have to go back to PetSmart for dog food. You see where I'm going with this? Yeah, the cat came home with us and the dog food. So far so good.

Pogo was brought into the clinic as a tiny kitten injured, by good samaritan. His injuries were assessed and it was realized that the price was out of the clients range for a kitten that he found and did not intend to keep. Pogo was damaged and it was decided he would be euthanized. While this always broke my heart, I could not save everyone, even though I tried. I placed Pogo, who at that time had no name in a holding cage until the deed could be done. I passed by the cage several time about my duties, and each time I would stop and talk or pet the kitten. It didn't happen always but there were times when I would just connect with an animal. Pogo had the spirit and the will to live. He was full of life. Despite his horribly broken and mangled leg and his broken mandible he purred. Of course I could not allow him to be euthanized so I was given permission by the owner to keep him. The good doctor did not have high hopes for Pogo. I however just KNEW he would be fine despite his injuries. I was right his mandible healed without the surgery to wire it shut, not something the doc and I agreed about. He wanted to do it I didn't. He did however have to have his front right leg removed. Doc warned me that he might not thrive with his handicap. I felt differently. We almost lost him during the amputation,but once again Pogo prevailed. He has been an inspiration to many who enter my home. While he cannot jump as gracefully as other cats, he does not let his limitations stop him.

Crash came into the clinic very broken and on the verge of death. He had been hit by a car, he was bleeding from EVERYWHERE and his prognosis was death and probably soon. Another good samaritan brought him in and being we didn't know who the owner was we made Crash comfortable with pain meds, while we tried to find his owner. I did not have high hopes for Crash as I placed him in the cage. I said a small prayer and headed out the door. The next morning when I arrived to work early to check on Crash, I was surprised. He was up and walking and purring and ALIVE. I opened the door and he reached his paws up around my neck like he was hugging me. Myself and the rest of the staff begged the doctor to allow up to keep Crash as a clinic resident. He reluctantly agreed and Crash and I had a special bond from that day forward. When I left the clinic I was sad to leave Crash, but I left instructions that should Crash ever need a home they should call me. A month or so later I got a call. Crash had begun bolting every time the door opened and his safety was in jeopardy as the clinic was close to the highway. I brought him home and the rest is history.

Are you still reading this? I am surprised! This is the longest posts about cats that I have ever read.

I do apologize for boring you to tears.

HOW DID YOU END UP WITH YOUR PETS?

Milk Truck

2009-06-13T20:39:00.004-05:00

While driving down the interstate a week or so ago, we saw a big truck. I told the boys that it was a milk truck. They thought that was cool.

Flashforward to today : While Jimmy and I were playing on the floor with the boys, Karter climbed on my back and announces "I'm riding a milk truck." Yeah, I need to lose weight, but I had no clue I resembled a milk truck. Bummer for me.