Baptism Pictures

Here are a few pictures of the babies' baptism on Christmas Eve...

The family - Ryan at some point lost his socks.

With Gigi

With Gigi, Steve, Aunt Lacey & Uncle Rykert

Q - who was soooo good during the entire service

Ryan and Daddy

Poor baby was starting to get sick at this point :(

With our Pastor who prayed endlessly for these kids.



What a special moment to have these children dedicated into the Hands of our Lord and Savior. We are so grateful to God that He has entrusted us to raise these precious children of His.

Blessed,

A Few More Pics...

I'm trying to be better at putting pics on here and not just on facebook, so here are a few new ones... and yes, the obnoxious barrage of pictures continues. I don't even apologize for it. :)

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Quick Update... Just in case you were wondering. Which you probably were not.

I've had several people ask why I haven't updated recently (well, actually it was just one but whatever). Anyway, what can I say? The New Year has started off somewhat strange - I've felt out of sorts for whatever reason. And it didn't help that I came down with an awful case of the flu last week (yes, after just bragging about not getting sick when everyone else in the house did). Matt was able to help me for one afternoon, but for the most part I was just trying to survive the days with two increasingly active babies.

 I felt like just about the worst mom that week --- I was so exhausted and achy and not to mention I wanted to touch them as little as possible to avoid giving it to them... so I just would let them play on the floor and watch from the couch buried under blankets, robes, and hoodies to ward off the chills. Fun stuff. Thank goodness neither child got it - they had just finished their 2nd dose of the flu shot the Friday before so I guess it worked. Thank God!

So this past week was spent catching up playing with my kids and just enjoying them again. And then there was the mounds of laundry, organizing, cleaning, paying bills, and the other joys of being a SAHM (which I really do love by the way). Thus, I am behind on my blogging, chatting with friends, emails, and just about everything else. Life happens, I guess. Working hard this week to catch up!

Anyways - quickly -  this is what else we have been up to. The babies were given the go ahead a couple of weeks ago to start solids besides just rice cereal. It's been such a kick to see their faces. Some things they have really liked (Quinn LOVED peas & Ryan LOVED green beans) and other things not so much (neither kid was a big fan of squash). But even though it has proved to be pretty time consuming, especially during the morning feeds when I am on my own, it has been so much fun to watch. It also is making me very excited that one day soon I can toss all these bottles in the trash and get them on a 3 meal a day schedule with us. Oh, and I have a countdown clock until they are a year old when Matt and I will get a massive pay raise in the form of chucking the Good Start for whole milk. Just about 4 more months!!!

Another little update - we've had people asking about Q's surgery date. Bottom line is we still don't know. However, we head down to TCH tomorrow (for the first time since October, praise God!). The plan is for them to do all of her pre-op work ups like an echo, EKG, xrays, etc. We will meet with our cardiologist and discuss the results. What we are anticipating is this - that she will be put on the schedule with Dr. Fraser (crossing fingers!) for sometime in the next month or two. She should now be just about big enough for the full repair so anything beyond what she gains now is just gravy. Her stats have continued to remain stable so unless her echo shows a big surprise or something, that should be the plan. Or at least the plan I have in my head based upon my last conversation with the cardiologist.

 Yet, I feel like I am always thrown some sort of curve ball so I am trying to prepare myself mentally for tomorrow. And I'm also going to try not to cry like I always do at these appointments. I really am not too emotional about this surgery on a daily basis but the reality always hits me when we are back in the room talking about it with him. And now it's becoming even more real. But since we have known about this for almost a year, I am getting pretty eager for Q to be able to put this behind her. She's a tough cookie and she has the best doctors and care you could ask for, so I know she will be just fine. And I know that God continues to protect her and has allowed her to simply thrive these last few months.

As soon as we have a date, we will update y'all with that ---my best guess is that we probably won't know for a week or 2 more, depending upon how long it takes to secure the surgeon's schedules and allow for Q to be presented once again at their weekly meeting.

Please pray for the wisdom of the doctors on the timing for her surgery and let it be His perfect time for her. Pray that if she is not assigned to Fraser for whatever reason, that Matt & I will have full confidence and rapport with the new surgeon (I know they are all wonderful). And please pray that Q's echo and appointment goes well tomorrow with little or no surprises. They have to put her under briefly to do the echo and last time they did that, she was so disoriented and out of it the rest of the day. Pray that she recovers quickly from the sedation and is back to my babbling, fiesty girl by evening. Thank you as always to my prayer warriors for your constant prayers for our family. We are blessed beyond measure!

Here are a couple of recent pics of the kids. I have some fun new videos but Matt has to update me on how to download from our new camcorder to the computer. So for now, here's a few...

Just chillling

Ryan was not a fan of the rocking chair :)

Q chowing down

R not so sure about the peas

We sit now (well, we "tripod" but still!). Pardon the outfit. Guess who dressed her that day? It wasn't mommy....

We like sweet potatoes much better!

Flashback Videos

So Matt was going through our camcorder and finally categorizing some early videos of the babies. I started watching every single one of them and was absolutely mesmerized about how far we have come, especially little Quinn. Here are a couple of their early ones, followed by the most recent Cotton Bowl face-off. Unbelievable to both of us how much they have grown and thrived. This is God's work in action and proof to me that He is still in the business of making miracles.

Ryan at 1 day old (June 4, 2010)

Quinn at 1 day old (June 4, 2010)

And 7 months later.. Cotton Bowl Face Off

Gig 'Em, Tigers! :)

 

A House Divided - Cotton Bowl 2011

For 9 years, Matt and I have waited for the day that LSU would play A&M. It used to be that our teams had quite the rivalry, but it's been YEARS since they've played each other.

Finally, our football dreams came true and they met last night in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

Ironically, any other year we would have made the trek up I-45 to whoop it up in the Big-D, but with the twins around this year, we decided to stay put in Houston.

We were going to throw a big party in honor of this momentous event, but at the last minute we just decided it wasn't going to happen. After a crazy December with my surgery and long recovery and having hosted both Thanksgiving & Christmas here, and then the subsequent colds that followed for everyone (except me for once!), it just seemed like, well a lot of work.

So instead we had a relatively calm day, save for the occasional trash talking - mostly from me via facebook. Then we met my friend Ash & her son J up at a local wing joint for an early dinner with the twins, and headed home shortly after the game began to watch it from the comfort of our living room. I will say I was COMPLETELY outnumbered at the restaurant - the ratio of A&M to LSU fans was at least 10 to 1. Not incredibly surprising considering Houston seems to be a mecca for "former students" --- and any LSU fan worth their salt were probably drinking it up at any number of cajun type restaurants or the Big/Little Woodrows areas around H-town.

Anyway, a game like this certainly called for dress up for the babies. And Matt's sister Emily came through in spades with the cutest "babies divided" outfits. So precious - thanks, Em!

Most of you probably already know that after a relatively scary 1st quarter, my Tigers came through and showed the Aggies how to play SEC ball with the big boys (sorry, I couldn't resist). The second half of the game ended up being even a little boring but it was still fun to watch it with my husband.

It should be duly noted that towards the end of the game, Matt went and put on his LSU 2007 National Championship tshirt, because and I quote, "It was the only shirt I could find." Now that boy has at least 2 drawer fulls of neatly folded tshirts in all matters of color and graphics. I am not sure where his head was on that one, but I'm pretty sure the Former Student Association could potentially consider that a very serious case of treason. Either way, it was amusing to me.

Unfortunately, I don't have photographic evidence of him jumping ship, but we did "manage" to take, oh 35 pictures or so of the babies last night. Here are just a few. Consider yourself lucky that you didn't get the entire album.

And may I add, GEAUX TIGERS!!!! Can't wait for September. Let the countdown clock begin.

Quinn in her precious "baby divided" outfit. It was chilly, so she had to wear jeans with it but you could still see the ruffles.

Ryan and his sweet laugh. I was jumping around like an idiot to get him to smile like this while Matt took the picture.

Geaux Tigers and Gig 'Em, Ags!

Ashley and me. Ash is due in a couple of months with a sweet baby girl - can't wait to mee her!!!

The family divided. Just for the night.

I cheated and put them in Tiger gear all day Thursday.

This is actually an old picture from when they were about 3 or 4 months old. Quinn just looks plain scared and Ryan looks all tough.

My brother and sis-in-law gave Ryan this outfit when fball season began. How prophetic it turned out to be!



Team Quinn, est. 2010

A few months ago I was surfing the Texas Children's Hospital website, specifically hitting on their resources around their heart center and support groups. I came across this organization called "It's My Heart", a non-profit group "created to provide support to and advocating for those affected by Acquired and Congenital Heart Defects" (from their website, http://www.itsmyheart.org/). It's a national organization but has one of it's largest bases here in Houston. I noticed back then they had a support walk called Keep the Beat coming up in Feb. 2011, but not knowing Q's surgery schedule I didn't want to commit to participating.

I did, however, notice in all of the pictures of past walks, all of the participating teams had matching T-shirts... Team John, Team Jane, etc. And as I have read some more "heart family" blogs, I saw that many of those families created "Team" shirts in honor of their child affected by a CHD. So of course my wheels started turning and I started designing a shirt in honor of Quinn.

With the Christmas season approaching, we decided to hand them out as part of their gifts to our immediate families. Our goal at that point was to simply have everyone wear them on the day of Q's surgery whether they would be at the hospital or not. I thought it would be a cool way to connect us all in prayer for Quinn across the miles.

We were pretty tickled about the results of the shirt (pictured below). The obvious choice for color would have been red given the heart thing, but we really wanted something different. We decided to go with green for several reasons --- first of all, our family's last name is very Irish, as are Ryan and Quinn's names. Secondly, it looks like her surgery will be in the Spring and I just associate green with springtime. And allergies. But that's a different story.

But most importantly, as I got more nerdy researching the meanings of various colors, I found that green symbolizes growth, hope, endurance, protection, healing, and LIFE. Wow. I'll take it.

Lots and lots of nerdiness abound for just a tshirt.

Anyway, the front obviously has "Team Quinn" pictured with a big heart with a cross in it. The back has our favorite verse that we have continued to recite and claim repeatedly through this entire journey...

Jeremiah 29:11.

 

Front



Back - we claim that verse daily for Quinn

Well, now we will for sure wear them on the day of her surgery and throughout her recovery process, but many of us will also band together and wear them for this walk on Feb. 19th in downtown Houston. I am so excited that many of our family members have already agreed to attend and we are looking forward to this day of bonding, and most importantly, raising money and awareness for congenital heart defects.

If you are a friend our ours living in the Houston area, we invite you to join us as well on this special morning. Registration is $25, but if you donate $50 you get a free tshirt - whoo hoo! :) ha. However, this is not a plea for donations or even participation. I simply ask that you be in prayer for this event and for all of the families affected by CHD's that will be walking. I know that I am honored to walk shoulder to shoulder with all of these amazingly strong families. I also know that I have a lot to learn from them in the way of grace during extreme adversity and maintaining the most incredibly positive attitudes.

If you are interested in supporting Team Quinn with a donation to "It's My Heart" or even participating in the walk that day, click here. So many of you have already helped us during this roller coaster year, I really don't expect y'all to do much more, so please don't feel like you have to do anything but just pray for us! You have already been there for us by flooding Heaven with prayers for our family, and really, that's all I could I ever want. I am deeply grateful to all of you for your support, friendship, and love. Team Quinn loves you!

In Him,



We are 7 months old!!!

Ok, so I won't say it again... "where did the last 7 months go???".

Ooops.

Anyway, here we are on 7 months and the babies are making strides everyday. They amaze me with what they are able to soak in and it seems they have a new trick for us each day.We had several milestones this month - namely we had our first dinner out as a family of four. We have kept the twins pretty sheltered so it was a big event for us. The first night we went to a local Mexican restaurant and they did wonderfully. Better than we expected actually.  It's so nice to feel normal and get out like a little family, just as I had always dreamed of. We get no shortage of stares which is amusing - but at this point I am growing accustomed to it.

We've also made strides in finally getting big enough to use the Exersaucers and some of their "bigger" toys and actually have them be entertaining -- before now they would just kinda slump in them and not have a lot of fun. But now they are full-fledged enjoying the heck out of them. 

We are now rolling EVERYWHERE. So much so that we finally had to break down and move out the coffee table and a couch to give them more room. Of course, no matter how much room we give them, they always seem to head straight for where everything is, so they are always getting wedged between toys. Long gone are the days where I could leave one on the play mat and go change the other. Or even leave them to use the restroom. Next step will be putting up the playpen gate, but I am delaying that little milestone as much as possible.

Ryan & Quinn are both starting to shine with their personalities. While they are very (very!) different babies, they are both wonderfully sweet and happy. In fact, I was telling someone the other day that I don't even think about them so much as "twins" anymore. To me, they just seem to be two very different babies who happen to be born one minute apart :)

All of that said - here's what they are up to at SEVEN months old!

We are 7 Months Old!!!

This pretty much sums up their personalities --- Quinn alternating screaming (with joy!) & laughing and Ryan just chilling with a bemused look on his sweet face.

I think they love each other.

I realized when I was getting them dressed for their mini-photo shoot that I haven't thoroughly embarrassed them and posted a naked baby pic. So here ya go.

These aren't exactly "January"-type outfits, but I was afraid they would grow out of them before the weather would be appropriate. My mom & I bought these for them when I was still pregnant at the most adorable boutique in Rice Village.

Hey, brother! Pay attention to ME!

Ryan: What You Are Up To @ 7 Months Old!

Usually Ryan is all about looking at the camera --- he wasn't cooperating this go around.

In his favorite "superman" pose - he looks like he is ready to fly away!

 - You weigh about 16lbs 9oz now - my big boy! I have to say that you are in a "growing out" stage and not a "growing up" :) Your legs get chunkier every day and I love it. You are most comfortable in 9 month sleepers now, although you can fit in some of the stretchier 6 month ones. But I have a feeling that won't last long. You are fully in 3-6 month pants, but those are starting to get tight on your waist. But when we have to move up to 6-12, we won't be able to see your feet! You are 100% wearing 6 month+ tops and sweaters. I had to pack away all of your 3-6 month tops which broke my heart.

- You are getting your THIRD tooth. I don't know the technical term for that particular tooth, but it's on the top row to the left of where your middle front teeth will be. You have dealt with getting your teeth pretty well & haven't been too fussy thankfully! The week that 3rd one came in you didn't eat great, but you are back on track now.

- You still eat between 6 and 7 ounces every 3 hours or so. I've tried stretching you into every 4 hours so we can drop a feeding, but you are not quite ready for that. You are slowly getting the hang of spoon feeding & you actually get excited now when we put you in your high chair. You also got your first taste of "real" food this month - smashed up peas. You were not a fan and quite frankly, I don't blame you. Peas Schmeas. Yuck.

- You are making the funniest faces now. You do this "fish face" thing, where you smack your lips - "open, close, open, close, open, close." Repeat 100 times. You also make the strangest and coolest noises. You don't open your mouth to make them - you just do this ventrilioquist thing with the sounds. It's awesome. You make a lot of "mmmmmm" sounds, as well as some double syllables, "ga ga ga ga goo" and "ba ba" and a few others.

- You are still a great sleeper. You are pretty much dead to the world by 7:20ish and typically can sleep until 6:45-7:00. You had a few rough nights when you got sick over Christmas but we are starting to get you back on track.

- Speaking of sick, you have now had 2 awful colds :( It makes me so sad to see you so miserable. The first few days of this most recent one were AWFUL. You couldn't breathe well and so you just kept waking up and crying. So you spent your first night in Mommy & Daddy's bed and we took turns holding you all night upright so you could sleep. This particular cold has seemed to linger and you are still coughing some (although it doesn't sound croupy or anything) and are still a little snotty. Hope you feel better soon!!!

- You are really working on the crawling thing and trying to lift your butt up to move. You sometimes get frustrated when you can't scoot the way you want but then you figure you'll just roll to what you want :)

- You can now sit unassisted for a good 30-45 seconds. I was so excited when you did it for the first time that I yelled for Daddy to come see and scared you and then you fell over. Ooops, sorry, Son!

- Ryan, you remain my sweet little cuddle monkey. I love your sweet smile, the way you search for me when I walk into the room, your adorable laughter and just your overall peaceful and happy spirit. Your daddy and I are so lucky to have a special son like you!!!

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Quinn: What You Are Up To @ 7 Months!

What's up, Mommy?

 - Quinn, you are about 14lbs now (I think - I'm guesstimating a bit). You are wearing 6 month sleepers all the time but some of those are even getting a little tight. You can still fit in some 3 month Carter's stuff, but most of your things are now 3-6 months. Your cheeks get chubbier every day & your arms are getting these precious little rolls. Love them!

- You are eating about the same as you were last month, bottle-wise. You have good bottles and bad bottles. Good days and not-so-good days. But GONE are the days of hysterical screaming during your feedings. When you are done, you are done and we don't fight it. Most of the time, you will just make up for it later. Plus, I figure that if you have as much energy as you do, you definitely are not starving!

- You are such a great spoon feeder. You absolutely love feeding time and you get really mad when your bowl is empty. You always finish before your brother and then you bang your hands for more. It cracks me up. I had always prayed you would be a good solids feeder after all the struggles we had with bottles, and it seems like my prayers have been answered. Next up, we are trying some veggies this weekend once the dietician comes and puts her stamp of approval on it. I bet you will love that, too!

- You don't sleep very late too often, but usually will make it until about 6am for me. Thank you, sweet girl! Your bedtime is a little later than your brother's, but that kind of allows you and your daddy to have some bonding time. He loves to lie with you next to your nap nanny and just hold your hand as you digest and drift off to sleep. Melts my heart. You are 100% a daddy's girl, through and through!

- You are making tons of noise and sounds these days. Lots of good ole fashioned babbling and double syllables. You like "uhhhh, uhhhh, uhhhhh" and "ppppp, ppppp, ppppp". You are doing this new blowing bubbles and sucking air thing that is the strangest sound I've ever heard. You also like to chirp like a bird for some reason, and sometimes I swear I hear you make "puppy" sounds as well. Quite the menagerie in our house these days.

- Speaking of sounds... you have 2 noise levels. Loud and LOUDER. You laugh loud, you giggle loud, you scream with joy loud, you scream with anger LOUD. Little girl, I love your personality. You are truly starting to shine this month and all I see you in is this fiesty, wonderfully sweet, and incredibly happy baby. You smile huge at us all the time and constantly want us to be watching you do your tricks. If we aren't watching, you will kinda scream for our attention, then give us a sweet, gummy grin, and do your trick (which usually consists of banging stuff around in the exersaucer or rolling yourself from one end of the room to other)

- Speaking of tricks, you are so good on balancing on your feet. You get your back so straight and you can grasp onto a table, my leg, a bouncy seat or whatever happens to be available to stand up for minutes. You definitely prefer being on your feet than on your butt. You are not a huge fan of sitting yet. I think it's because it requires you to stay still and you would prefer not to do that very often :). But I think you have the strength to do it - you are just a teeny bit stubborn.

- You are still hanging in there like a champ with your heart. All glory to God for that one. Your stats remain stable and we will see Dr. S at the end of the month to start all of your pre-op stuff. I am soooo proud of you for being so strong through all of this --- I know this is just going to make you even more courageous and brave!

- Quinn, you truly are our "fiesty angel". I love how you have rallied to beat out the predictions of where the developmental specialists said you would be at this point. I think if they saw you now, they wouldn't believe how far along you are. You are so smart and must be into everything - and I actually adore that about you :) Keep growing, sweet one. Love you with all of our hearts!

 

Love you, my sweethearts!!! Daddy & I could not be more blessed with wonderful children.