The boys seem to be growing so fast. Caleb and I have been enjoying them so much. It is fun to watch them learn and slowly figure things out on their own. Also, both of their little personalities are starting to shine through more and more. I love the fact that we had twins that are so incredibly different. It makes it very fun and interesting. I am really happy we have twins now. Honestly, it's taken me a little while to feel that in some ways, but now... I really wouldn't change it for the world!

I sat the boys down to play tonight and looked back over and this is what I found... Max figured out how to pull himself up. He just got frustrated enough with his mother selecting his toys and decided to take matters into his own hands!

Luke, ready for church!

Max-Man or Maxer... not Maxy, ever, FYI. I mean, really, does he look like a Maxy?! haha!

Listening to Dad.

His new cheesy grin. So funny! Can't really see his two bottom teeth here, but they are there. Trust me.

The best invention, ever, for Luke. Mr. Busy-Man gets in this thing and jumps, jumps and jumps until he falls asleep. Literally. So sweet! :)

And once again!

Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. Psalm 127:3-5

I wonder if arrows are really cheaper by the dozen?! :)

Double Bubble

I have waited and anticipated the time when my boys would take baths together... the time is here! We have outgrown our baby tubs and kitchen sink. (the kitchen sink issue is the splashing more than their size!) It is so fun to see them splash around together!

In other Max and Luke news... we finally got the results back from Luke's CT scan. Looks like he will not need surgery! Such a relief! We might still go get a second opinion at Children's in the Cities, but at this point we are so relieved and thankful that his skull is shaping appropriately! Thank you, Lord!!!!!

Also, I got word from the doctor the other day that we cannot get another cycle of RSV shots this year. Usually they would get shots through April, but for some reason the way insurance works they only will do five shots, so we are done. Just hoping and praying that the boys make it the rest of the way through RSV season healthy. They have for the most part come out of their colds. Both still have very sporadic lingering coughs, but seem to be recovering well!

Update in a Hurry

So I have been meaning to get on here quick to update on how the boys are feeling...

We ended up taking Max into the ER also on Monday night because he had been running a fever and his cough sounded terrible. I just assumed he would be sent home with the same diagnosis as Luke from Saturday night. Wrong, again. He was sent home with a cold... just some type of viral bug. Most likely the same strand as Luke, but it just didn't hit him as hard. All of Max's labs were negative and his chest x-ray was clear. A relief.

Both of the boys still have little lingering coughs and stuffy noses, but I think overall, they are on the upside of this whole cold thing. SO glad! They both, finally, slept the last two nights. That has been great! I felt like I had two newborns again... I felt like I was doing aerobics all night long. Up, down, nurse, rock, repeat! haha!

So, yes, we are feeling better! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers! Can't wait for spring now! Hoping to get the boys out for lots of walks!

ER Visit

So I brought Luke into the ER tonight, thinking we would be sent home with the diagnosis of an ear infection. Wrong.

I do know that he doesn't have an ear infection, RSV, influenza or strep, but he does have bronchiolitis. Bronchiolitis is a viral infection that is common in babies. Usually from the ages of 3 to 6 months. The older the infant, the larger the airways, the less common the infection. However, as you all know... because I babble about it often, our boys being premature have smaller airways for their age, thus being more susceptible to diseases, such as this. We were given some antibiotics to fight off any bacterial infections in the lungs and now we are praying... praying that this does not materialize into RSV or any other more serious conditions. We do get RSV shots monthly, but unfortunately, that doesn't completely protect him from the virus.

Man! I am just frustrated! This is exactly what I have tried so, so, so hard to avoid! To any of you out there with preemies, take my word for it. Get checked out soon! There is nothing worse than having something like this materialize into RSV and then pneumonia. I just am a little annoyed, because when I went into the ER they of course said that bronchiolitis is common in babies that are in day care, are not breastfed, in a household with smokers, small households (not sure about that one)... blah, blah, blah! Well, Luke is breastfed, lives in a large house with out smoke and has never been to day care! So... he's a preemie... what can I do about it!! I think what makes me so uneasy is that I do not feel that the health care in our immediate area understands the whole "preemie thing." In turn, I doubt their diagnosis, treatment, etc. I just miss being in the NICU where they knew us from day one and our history.

Okay, enough of that ranting. I am now just praying that he will have a good rest tonight. The poor little man has not slept well for the last 3 nights (which could account for his mother's ranting, since she has not slept either!) Ha!

Sick Baby

So we have our first official sickness. So bummed! We have made it so long in the clear...

Luke started coughing yesterday and it has gotten progressively worse. I called the doctor already to make sure I am watching for the right warning signs so I don't let anything go too long before being checked out. It just breaks my heart to know he doesn't feel well. I'm hoping he can get some good naps today because he hasn't been sleeping all that well. I have a steamer going right by the crib and I have him elevated too. Just pray for my little man if you think about him. And for Max too. He has a stuffy nose all of a sudden. I feel like he is bound to get whatever Luke has. How can he not?

Happy weekend anyway! We will just be laying low.... trying to kick this little cold!

Oh! P.S. Max has another tooth that popped up yesterday! Right next to the other one. His two little bottom teeth! Yay!

Who Stole the Cookie...

Grandpa did. He stole that Grandma Cookie and took her all the way to Gulf Shores, AL... for over two weeks! Ugh! We miss her!!! We are excited for her to come back soon. And Grandpa too, of course! :)

Bath time today! Luke LOVES his bath now too!

Sweet little shoulders...

Brooke came to visit! We all love her!

Max just contently cuddled with Caleb this morning on the couch. Watching some dirt biking show. It was boring, but Max is a boy after his dad's own heart!

I love the boys in these little shirts my mom and dad got them from Keystone, CO. They look so cute in them!

Max in his snocross hat from his daddy!

We had such a nice night tonight! We went over to Caleb's mom and dad's for dinner. Finally had the WHOLE family together since we were gone in Florida and just life, being busy. I am so happy that we live in the same town as our families. It makes it so fun to share the boys with everyone! I'm excited for Sunday. My sister-in-laws and my mother-in-law and I are headed to the Cities for a whole day to do some shopping and have some girl time for my mother-in-law's birthday. I am really looking forward to it! I have never spent a WHOLE day away from the boys, so I'm a little nervous. Caleb and Grandpa are taking care of the boys and I know the boys will be just fine. It's just me that will have to adjust!

Updates...

I feel like I need to update on new things. Since the point of continuing this blog was to have a baby book reference for myself, I better get up to speed!

• Luke has been sitting up unassisted since the beginning of February and Max has since the middle to end of February. (5 to 5 1/2 months adjusted age)
• Since Florida both boys can now roll from their backs to their tummies. (6 months AA)
• We have started solids and juices, officially. (6 months AA)
• Max's first tooth has just started to poke up. (6 months AA)
• Luke got his first haircut! (6 months AA)

Notice the little peacock feather on the top of his head?

It NEEDED to go. And he looks so cute now!!!

• Luke scoots... only backwards. (6 months AA)
• They both talk lots, giggle lots, blow bubbles and make motor sounds. (for a long time - 3 to 4 months? AA)

Apple juice in sippy cups. Sippy cups have not been mastered yet.

Florida... in detail!

So... to start... our trip down to Orlando. We flew out of Duluth which was great since it was close to home and a small airport. As we waited in line to check in with two full sized suitcases, a double stroller full of our carry-on's, two carseats along with both of us carrying a fussy baby... I think everyone simultaneously felt sorry for themselves, thinking... "we have to be on a plane for three hours with them!" Really I would like to say for the record that we proved them wrong. Despite all of our odds... the flight being delayed an hour and 45 minutes, each of us with a baby, then finding out it was impossible to sit next to each other, neither baby really sleeping at all ... the flight went surprisingly well. Funny thing, after all the research I did on flying with twinfants, no one ever cared to mention that we couldn't sit next to each other! WHAT?!?!! Since they allocate only one extra oxygen mask per row we could not each have a lap child in the same row. I guess the designers of the air craft while their planning thought... "What if someone travels with twin infants?" "Ha! That will never happen... not one is dumb enough to do something like that! haha!" Well.. we were. Thank you very much.

(And if anyone out there is looking for advice on travling with twins or infants. Just comment below and I can email you any thing you want to know!)

The flight attendants were great, however, which helped. Since I was nursing one baby and Caleb bottled the other during our ascent and decent it was a little awkward. Because we sat next to each other in the isle, it meant I was either in the isle feeling exposed and then RIGHT next to me was a complete stranger. Can you say awkward!? Thankfully on both flights I had a female next to me that was very understanding (thanks to the stewardesses). On the return flight they had to literally tell two passengers where to sit. Did NOT give them the option. THANK GOD! My choices were a mother of three or a 15 year-old boy! Phew! The stewardesses explained the situation to the lady after she sat down next to me looking confused, and she was relieved too, since the boy was her son! ha!

Okay... so enough about all that! We made it there and had a great time, a really great time all week! We stayed with Caleb's sister Angie and her husband and family down there. They drove from home with their four kiddos... an amazing task in itself. We had perfect weather all week and just really relaxed. I feel like I got a much needed break thanks to Ang's help along with her three oldest kids being willing and able to help out too. It was just so nice to be able to take the boys outside and on walks and just to be OUT! They didn't love the beach at first, but of course by the last day they started to really acclimate to it all... Caleb and I really would have stayed longer at that point!

Oh... now one more story quick before some pictures... Our return trip. So, we rented a vehicle while we were down there and luckily they upgraded us when they saw us drag what looked like every possible personal belonging with us to the rental counter! It was late when we arrived to get our car and I was short with my words to say the least at that point. Caleb was checking in and the guy said in his Mexican accent... "So, what I do for you is a Ford Focus - no?" I very far from sweetly replied... "A Ford Focus!? If you expect us to fit all of this luggage along with our double jogger stroller into a Focus I am leaving a baby here with you!" So... we got a Dodge Journey instead! It was great and super roomy! But all of that is not my return trip story...

We were on our way back to Orlando to fly out which was about 2 1/1 hours from Sarasota. We were cutting it pretty close on time and our plan was to just head right to the airport, no stops. Part of the deal with our 'free' upgrade was we prepaid some fuel so they said to bring the car back empty. Our GPS seemed to be leading us on a wild goose chase and well, we were running low on fuel. We turned on a road in a completely rural area and the GPS said only 3 miles to Airport Blvd so we knew we were close. Then Caleb said it... "We just ran out of gas." I panicked, asking him if I should call 911. All I could think is we are going to FOR SURE miss our flight and what in the world are we going to do... walk 3 miles to the airport with enough luggage for a family of 8!? He just calmly put it into neutral and we coasted, amongst the trailer houses on a desolate two lane road. Then, like a mirage, out of nowhere comes a gas station on the right side of the road. I start yelling with excitement. We were laughing at our luck as we coasted into the gas station and I proceeded to push Caleb to the pump just feet away. We made it to our flight on time... and all went well! Ha! Some call it luck... I like to think God just reminded me He's still there, with a great sense of humor! :)

The boys ate fresh avocado... and loved it!

Max telling Cousin Sammie all about his lunch...

"And Auntie Angie kept saying... 'AH!' Not sure why. She looked so weird doing it!"

Angie and the boys... swinging!

Beach Bums...

Max and Sam

Happy Luke!

Enjoying the beach!

Apple juice at the beach.

Family Photos at Sunset!

~Cousins~

What a cheesy grin!

Ah... now we just need Hayward to warm up! Hopefully soon!!! :)