Showin' the Love

This

is what happens
when I leave the boys on the couch to nap
while I try to pick up the never ending pile of crap
that makes its way downstairs

I turn around
and Kenna
has "decorated" them.


They are tolerating it
in what has come to be their "normal way"


Keegan
continues to sleep
laid back and chill
even with the adhesives
that are being smashed
all over his face


Collin
is not okay
with being interrupted from his normal routine
in any way
even when it is his sister declaring her
"love"
for him.


He obviously doesn't realize the sacrifice
she has made for him
by sharing her beloved pink heart stickers
so he can know she loves him.

p.s. yes, it is a Monday afternoon,
and yes Kenna is wearing her velvet Christmas dress
and yes, Collin is wearing only a diaper currently.
please just remember that i have 5 kids
6 and under
and don't judge me too harshly

The Twins have Arrived!

This is Handi Andi's sister Rachel in Florida. Since I can't be there to help change diapers I offered to blog pics of these adorable boys so all Handi Andi's readers can see the rock stars. Andi will fill in more details when she can come up for air, and is maybe getting a hint of sleep.
(p.s. - All of these iPhone pics, better quality coming)

Without further Ado.....

Collin Joseph Price at 6 lbs 10 oz &
Keegan John Price at 5 lbs 9 oz

Kenna claimed Keegan as her own...
And of course Handi Andi's lookin amazing after giving birth to twins!
Envy... Green Envy...

Keegan and Mama
Collin had to be in the NICU for several Days...

First day home from the hospital, Eyes open, ready to take on the world!

Snoozin...

Aunt Holly, always ready to help,
and more then happy to love on the boys.

Bedtime

Snuggle Buddies

Big Brother Caden

Collin



Keegan's wide awake after meal time.



Taken today at 3 weeks & 1 day old.

Feel free to leave your OOoooo's and Ahhhh's in the comments!

36.5 weeks

After much debating,
and doctors calling each other
and much perinatologist to OB consulting
they have agreed to induce me
on Monday April 5th
as I am so ready to be done,
and Baby B is lagging behind
Again.

So,
four more days.
It seems like it has taken forever to get here
but now that its almost here
it seems to have flown by.

and it is Easter weekend
and Spring Break for my kids starts Monday.

Craziness, chaos, and sleeplessness
here we come.

I can't wait.
I work well under pressure.
Usually
This may be beyond me
We shall see.

35 weeks and 4 days

Nope.
They are still in the belly.

But I figured I should update the ultrasound pics
and the belly shots
before they are actually here,
so that I don't have to post them after
or wait to post real baby pics because I am behind.

33 weeks
in this one

Here are the stats.

Currently 35 weeks and 4 days
No bed rest, no restrictions
I would laugh
if they tried to throw them at me at this point.
Roll on the floor gasping laugh,
if they tried that now.
Because if it is supposed to make you go into labor,
I would pretty much do it 50 times in a row
just to move it along.

Cohen had the camera on Sunday morning,
told me to smile
smile bigger,
and this
is what we got,
Oh well,
belly shot courtesy of Cohen.
Just pretend you can see me smiling really big.

About 75% of my maternity clothes
do not cover my entire belly anymore
and comments swing from
"Oh you aren't that big"
to
"Honey, you look you are about to pop"
(Mostly towards the you're gonna pop side of the spectrum)

Even my shadow at twilight
which is normally more flattering than real life
is not so cute anymore.

My doctor is out of town until Saturday
and my mother in law is out of town until Sunday
so I have strict instructions
to not go into labor while they are gone
However I don't think I would feel one iota of guilt
if I went into labor TODAY.
Yeah, hmmmm... nope, no guilt would be felt.

Babycenter says this about this week:
he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds
(pick up a honeydew melon).
Because it's so snug in your womb,
he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore,
but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same.


Well let me tell you something.

At my ultrasound on Tuesday

Baby A was measuring 6 lbs 5 oz
(and they said that could be low and he could be closer to 7 lbs)
and
Baby B was 5 lbs 2 oz
(and could be closer to six)
since we could see chubby cheeks on both babies.

a little creepy, but here is Baby B looking right at us
eye and nose and sucking his thumb

and while we were there
Baby B
who was transverse across the top of my belly
did several somersaults
(that did not feel pleasant)
and is now head down again.

So pretty much
Baby center is full of crap.

The perinatologist did give me hope however
when she said that I should go into labor
in the next five or six days
because 90% of twin pregnancies deliver in the 36th week,
and my twins looked more than ready.
Bless that woman.

This would be Baby B kicking Baby A
right in the head
with his innocent looking little foot.

The poor kids are still nameless
I just can't decide.
So many good names,
only two cute little boys to pick for.
We aren't holding back,
I promise when we know,
we will let you know.

To everyone who has called and left comments
and who regularly checks up on me
you guys are priceless.
Thank you for your care and concern.

it makes the hard days not so hard
when I know that I am not the only one
anxiously awaiting the big day.

P.S. Ryan is excited too.
He keeps texting me every hour or two
to see if I am in labor.
at first I was a little annoyed,
now it just makes me laugh really hard.

Showin the Love

The only Valentines we got in the mail

were from Grandpa Rick and Grandma Becky


And man, were they a hit.

First,
because they came in the mail.
Second,
because there was a gold dollar attached to each one of them
Third,
Because they were good for one free donut
Fourth,
Because anything from Grandpa Rick and Grandma Becky
is priceless.


We called Holly up
and had her Bring Bryn to meet us
(she got a valentine too!)


And lucky us
The Hot Now Sign was on
when we pulled up



The kids were so enthralled with watching the process
we had to drag them away
to actually get the donuts.


They didn't get it that they got to pick one,
and that they got a hot one for free.

Kenna lost it
because we promised her one with chocolate
and the lady handed her a glazed one as well.

She did NOT WANT the one without chocolate.
I assured her that I would eat the "other one"
and then she was fine
and so was I
oh so was I

Cohen was thrilled with his "geen one"


And Caden was just excited in general

that we went out on a school night

that we got to use our valentines from Grandma and Grandpa

that the valentines included donuts

that we got some extra donuts for breakfast the next day

and that the girls sat at a completely different table
so that he could call his table the man table.

Thank You Grandpa Rick and Grandma Becky
We love to feel loved by you!

Today was one of those...

8:00
Woke up and guzzled Glucola
tried not to puke
Then got the kids up
Took kids to school.

9:15
Fabulous sister draws my blood for my glucose screening
from the comfort of my own couch.
(That is one major perk
of having the world's best phlebotomist as a sister)
(That and she never misses my veins...ever)

9:30
Kickin it in my jammies
when coworker calls and convinces me that no longer
can I put off my CNA Test
(Its been a year since I took the class)
Decide to study study study so I can go with her and take it tonight.

10:00
Shower for me
Then shower for Cohen
Thene studying for me
interrupted every few seconds
with requests for a new show, or juice, or potty time.

12:00
Get kids from school
Pizza for lunch at Costco
with Holly, Caitlin, Rachel, and all the kids.
then grab a few things and head out


1:50
Perinatologist appointment for monthly check.
Find out on the way
that bloodwork came back
low on iron,
no wonder I am tired,
high on sugar
crap, have to take the long glucose test.
grr...

2:05
Late for appointment
studying in the lobby
Weird and quiet ultrasound tech
not friendly.
Does a dopler on Baby B's umbilical cord
Thats new
Doesn't do one on Baby A
Make me a little worried?
yes

2:30
Perinatologist comes in.
Fabulous smart funny woman
who I instantly like
until
she tells me that Baby B is small,
not gaining weight like it should
and not keeping up with Baby A
and that she's trying to decide
whether or not to freak out
(this makes me freak out)

2:40
Measures some more
says meet her in her office.
Says Baby B's weight is sufficient enough
that she isn't freaking out today
She wants me to come back in two weeks
at which point she will freak out
if baby isn't growing better.

Evidently

Freaking out
means
Steroid shots
and
Hospital Bed Rest
and
Probable Early delivery

Fabulous

3:00
Driving home from appointment
and car breaks
banging, squealing, grinding
while trying not to cry on phone with dad.
Much mental cursing and frustration
Drive to Holly's at 5 mph
Promptly scare her to death
by walking in the door and bursting into tears

3:45
Husband comes to get me and kids at Holly's
Follow him in Camry while he drives van 5 mph
to the fix it shop
Kids fighting and begging for free hot chocolate
while husband tries to explain what happened

4:30
Home
No test for me today
Too much stress and not enough study
Major Headache from crying
and exhausted.
Lovely Husband makes dinner for the kids
and lets me crash on the couch.

8:30
Wake up from snooze
Still major headache
Help brush everyone's teeth
husband carries everyone to bed.

10:15
So tired,
and out of Tums
(which are essential to survival and sleep)
and milk
(which is essential to my children's morning happiness
and therefore my morning happiness)
Husband (who is super hero of the day)
drives to the store to save us
and he took the day off tomorrow
so I didn't have to stress about kids and babysitters
and getting to work at 7am.

10:30
Bed
where I will hopefully
slide into dreamless oblivion for 7.5 hours
(not likely)
but first
lots of prayers.
thank you
because today could have been worse
and please help me
because tomorrow has GOT to be BETTER!

Love

This man
This little girl
These two little boys
Sunday afternoons
Naps on the couch in a big pile

Little Buddy

Is sick.


Has had snots that won't go away
for what seems like WEEKS

But last night
we were up half the night
with coughs and tears
along with the never ending snot


and the only thing
that would make him feel better today
is
Apple Juice
and a movie.


However,
he had enough energy
for this little smirk at Kenna
when I said that he got to pick the movie
even though she was screaming her opinion
at the top of her lungs.

It gives me hope
that he won't be down for the count
much longer.

P.S. Little Mister Sick just came into the office while I was finishing this.
He saw himself
and said "Oh, Coco look sad."
"He does?" I replied
"Yeah, but he cute."
Nice
Not too sick to admire himself a little, evidently.

Lessons to be learned from an Action Figure and a 5 year old

You know how you love your kids?
Just have this unending well of love.


and sometimes,
it seems like there is a temporary shortage
(when they color the walls, or dump gallons of juice on the floor)
maybe not of love,
but definitely of patience.

and then other times,
there is nothing big enough to contain it.
It runs over and spills out
and you see them as they were created to be seen
and love them as they were created
by a loving Heavenly Father
to be loved.

We were Christmas shopping
(we had a gift card)
at a certain store


the collections of "stuff" there constantly amazes me
(Is it rude to say junk? because I think a lot of it is junk)
it is so eclectic, you never really know what you will find

and if you don't buy it then,
there is really very little chance of ever
ever
finding it again.

For some strange reason
I had taken all the kids in with me
(Don't ask me why, I plead temporary insanity)
and Caden found these.
Halo 3 Battle Helmets

I expected the begging to begin,
I was waiting for it.

and then in a voice of awe,
Caden said

"Mom, Dad would think these were so cool."

I glanced over and with a quick "uh huh" and kept moving.

"Mom, can I..."

"No Caden, we are not buying toys today"

"But Mom, for Dad?"

"Put it back honey, I can't find what we need, we'll come another time,
and if it is still here we will get it. I don't want to stand in line."

"Okay, I'll hide it so no one else gets it."

He talked about the stinkin helmets
non stop for three days.
Non-Stop.
How much Ryan would love them,
How cool they were,
How he was going to get them
and they would be
the best Christmas Present Ever.

How do you not cave to that?
So on Christmas Eve
I took him back to get the dang helmets.

He was so excited he couldn't even walk,
he had to run.

As soon as we walked in,
I knew we were in trouble.
Big Trouble
There was almost nothing left in the whole store.

He ran right to the hiding place.
Nothing.

We went back to the place we had found them.
Nothing.

We went through all of the empty toy shelves.
Nothing.

His little head bent
he quietly said
"I guess we were too late."
"I even brought my tooth fairy money to get it
so you couldn't tell me we don't have the money for that."
and the tears started rolling down his face.

I couldn't stand it.
It was all I could do
to keep the tears from rolling down my face.

That was it.
I called Ryan.
Desperate for something to fix it.

Fabulous man that my husband is,
he reminded me that there was another

in Orem
that we could check out.

We were on a mission,
with tears mopped up
and high hopes.

I was praying and crossing my fingers
that we would find it.
I didn't think I could take the heartbreak again.

We searched and found nothing.

Desperation.

I told Caden to walk through the toys one more time
and keep looking.

He came back with a huge smile on his face.

He had found this
the package was torn open
all the accessories were missing,
but it was a bonafide
Halo 3 Action Figure.

He was sure
that Ryan would LOVE it.
(he reminded me that the helmets were cooler, but...)

He held it tightly and marched to the front.
Where he pulled out his ziplock bag
that had all the money
that he had ever earned, been given, found,
in his short five years.
It totaled around seven dollars.

I convinced the lady that she should give us a discount
since it was open and missing all the pieces
and she rang us up.
I slipped the lady our gift card
and then took a dollar out of his bag
and handed that to her as well,
so that Caden could pay for it.


As soon as we got home
he carefully taped the package back together.
(used almost a whole roll of tape)
and then helped me wrap it up.
and signed the wrapping himself.

He was so excited
that he accidentally told Ryan
that it was an action figure
the second Ryan walked in from work.

When I gave him the eye
he quickly explained to me
that he didn't say what kind of action figure it was.


He was so excited for Ryan to open it.
He could barely sit still
and kept telling him how he got it just for him
with his own money
because he knew that he would LOVE IT.

Ryan loved it.


I love that little action figure
that lives on Ryan's night stand.

Because that little
Halo 3 Security Guard
reminds me how much I love Caden
and what he was willing to sacrifice
because he knew his dad would love it.


What a kid.


P.S.- That kid's birthday is coming up,
and guess what I found on Amazon.com
yep,
Halo 3 action figures
and Helmets galore.
I think,
he is going to love it.

I lied, but let me explain...

I told Holly that I have been too busy to blog.
I lied.
I used to make time.
I am just tired.
I'm not too busy,
I am just too tired.

So here is my reattempt
to not be too tired
for the important things.

Like,

playing transformers in the under the table fort.

Kenna and Cohen have reached the age
where they will take themselves off to play for bits of time.
Lovely break,
and highly entertaining to snoop on.

and fun moments like,

watching Avatar in IMAX 3D.

Philip (my computer guru brother)
convinced us that this was the ONLY way
to really see Avatar.

He was right
(he usually is)

It was really amazing
on the IMAX screen
with the super expensive ($70) IMAX 3D glasses.
An alarm went off
if you walked too far out the theatre doors with them on.

This was some serious business.
I would get so into the movie
I would forget I had them on
Then I would look over at Ryan
and chuckle because
we looked like such idiots.





I have also been trying not to be too tired to
work on some of the projects that have been piling up.

Like the Block of the Month
Quilting thing.
I paid to do it,
so I need to not procrastinate getting them done.


Cohen just dumped an entire gallon
of apple juice
all over my kitchen floor.

Emptied the whole kitchen towel drawer
trying to clean it up himself,
then splashed through the puddle
and tracked apple juice footprints
all the way across the kitchen
and onto the carpet
to tell me he spilled.

This is his face while asking if he can come out of time out.

See why I am tired?


There is also this excuse,


but it makes me feel like a whiner
to pull this one out.

26 weeks this week.

When I went in to the perinatologist
they gave us these pictures

Baby A Profile

Baby A sucking his thumb

Two baby heads
Side by Side

Baby B looking right at us

Baby B looking at us again
this time sporting the Alien Look

and she told me that even though on that day
I was only 25 weeks and 1 day

Baby A
was measuring 26 weeks and 3 days
and weighed 1 lb 15 oz

and

Baby B
was measuring 25 weeks and 2 days
and was 1lb 10 oz

both bigger than the average single baby at this point
and both bigger than my due date.

Fabulous.
Huge babies.

My OB then proceded to tell me at my appointment
2 days later
that my belly was measuring 31 weeks
(or what would be 31 weeks with a single)
even though I was only 25 weeks.

I told Ryan
and bless his heart
he said
"But, you don't look that bi..., well..."
"Honey, I think you look fine"

Meaning,
I really look that big.
Pictures are deceiving.
I am that big.

I sent the picture to my dad
and he said I should keep the mirror
because it was flattering.
Meaning what?
Not lookin so hot in real life?
Yeah, I got it.

One more time.
Suddenly I don't care if its whiny,
I'm using it.

See why I'm tired?

I'm hoping by tomorrow I will get over the tired whining
and have the energy to post something fun.
We shall see.