March Nolanisms

• We were walking into a store and a couple directly in front of us walked in and I had to grab the door from slamming into Nolan and I. As we walked in, RIGHT behind these people Nolan loudly proclaimed, "THOSE PEOPLE DIDN'T HOLD THE DOOR FOR US. THAT'S NOT VERY NICE."
• We were playing trucks and Nolan said, "Sometimes its hard for me to listen." I chuckled and said, "Oh, really? How come?" And he said, "Because that one time the monster ate me and then I couldn't listen good anymore."
• At dinner Brian was telling Nolan and I about his day. He told us he had gone to the gym and ran on the track. Nolan became very serious and said, "Daddy, you can't run on a track. You have to watch out for the trains!!"
• Nolan had an eyelash that he was blowing from his finger and I was explaining what a "wish" was. Then I said, "So, what do you wish for?" And without missing a beat, he said, "I wish I didn't hit or kick anymore." (disclaimer: not that you are the kind of reading audience that judges, but in Nolan's defense, he's truly NOT much of a hitter or kicker, thank goodness!)
• Brian and Nolan were at Wal-Mart and they were giving out granola bar samples. Brian stopped and asked Nolan, "Would you like a little piece of granola bar?" And Nolan just looked at Brian and said, "No." Pause. "I want a BIG piece."

Date Night

A few weeks ago Brian and I decided to go out on the town. I was worried bed rest might be in my future, who knew I would be so right? Anyway, we hired a babysitter and headed to Destin to go to the Melting Pot. It was yummy, as usual and of course, my favorite part was the dessert. We chose a cherry chocolate jubilee fondue and it was just too good. I'm drooling thinking about it! Afterwards, we met up with some friends for a quick bit, there was a FE Warren get together. It was a wonderful night with my awesome hubby!

Here's me waiting for a table:

Brian showing off our cheese fondue! MMMM!!

Thank you Gramma & Paw Paw

A few weeks ago we received a package from Gramma & Paw Paw M, who admitted they went a tad "twin" crazy! They of course did not forget Nolan and he had some goodies in there, too. Nolan had a BLAST opening all the tiny packages they had wrapped and we were excited, too. I still feel like I'm looking in from the outside, and can't quite wrap my head around the fact that we'll have TWO babies soon. I think my heart is being rather cautious, but I know that's not how God intends me to live, so I am really trying to let that wall down around my heart. Anyway, there were lots of cute matching goodies! Now its so funny because every time Nolan gets dressed he tells us that Gramma bought him that shirt. I feel selfish saying, "um, no, not exactly" so usually I just change the subject. Even after I get dressed he says, "Gramma bought that shirt for you. That's so nice of her!" So funny!

Here's Nolan with his new socks on that he wants to wear EVERYDAY! Luckily Gramma sent a matching pair...I think she must be thinking ahead to when Nolan's brothers are 3! Very smart, actually! Thanks so much for everything, we love you!

Sweet Guys

A couple weeks ago Brian went to put Nolan to bed. I was waiting for him so we could watch some TV and it seemed like he was taking FOREVER. Finally, I plugged the monitor in and heard the sound of dual snoring. So I quickly grabbed the camera and snapped a couple of pics (the flash only woke up the eldest snorer)!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Okay, Okay, I know this is probably getting old, but I love this tradition and couldn't resist at least one more year. Maybe next year I'll stop (I'm not promising anything)!

2006, Nolan's 1st St. Patty's Day!

2007:

2008:

2009. In this picture, taken today, he wouldn't sit back against the couch because he reminded me that "we don't put our shoes on the couch!"

Update on Baby B's Heart

I guess I've been putting off updating my blog because I knew I would have to add some not-so-great news, but really it is what we expected. After this, I promise to resume to some more fun posts about what's going on in our lives! Also, if you already received an email with this update, I pretty much copied and pasted the results. It takes alot of energy to explain something I know little about, so I decided I would just cheat and type it once! :)

We have a clearer diagnosis on what is going on with Baby B’s heart. We spent about 4 hours at the doctor’s office in Pensacola last Thursday. Two of those hours were spent in the ultrasound room while they looked mainly at Baby B’s heart, taking pictures and evaluating. There was a whole team of ultrasound techs and two doctors who evaluated his heart. It appears he has truncus arteriosus. Let me begin by saying I know very little about anatomy in general, so I’m in the process of trying to educate myself better on the anatomy of the heart. Truncus arteriosus is a “congenital defect present at birth. The aorta and pulmonary artery normally start as a single blood vessel, which eventually divides and becomes two separate arteries. Truncus arteriosus occurs when the single great vessel fails to separate completely, leaving a connection between the aorta and pulmonary artery. Truncus arteriosus is a complex defect where there is a single (normally there are two separate arteries) vessel arising from the heart that forms the aorta and pulmonary artery. Another congenital heart defect that occurs with truncus arteriosus is a ventricular septal defect (ventricular septum, or dividing wall between the two lower chambers of the heart known as the right and left ventricles).” That’s the basic info. If you want to read more about the condition, and/or see pictures, there’s great info on St. Louis Children’s hospital website: http://www.stlouischildrens.org/content/greystone_690.htm I was shocked that this occurs in less than 1 out of every 10,000 births!

Brian and I had mentally prepared ourselves for news like this and although we are very sad that everything is not “perfect” or “normal” we are very hopeful that the outcome will be okay. The average time that surgery is needed for babies with this heart defect is 11 days after birth. So, we’ve been strongly advised to deliver at a hospital that has all the right people (surgeons) and staff equipped and READY to handle this type of situation. The staff at the doctor’s office we go to now, in Pensacola, are doing the work of getting all the approvals and referrals taken care of through our insurance. If all that goes through (which the doctors think will go through no problem), we have chosen to deliver in St. Louis. I will most likely have to be in St. Louis by 32 weeks, mid May. Past that, going into pre-term labor elsewhere is the fear. This is where, oddly enough, my emotions get the better of me. We’ve chosen St. Louis for obvious reasons…our amazing families who will be called upon A LOT to help with Nolan for a couple months. I’m really excited about the idea of having Nolan be around family and friends for an extended period of time, without having to rush around and see everyone in a one or two week time period. But of course, the reality is I won’t get to be there much of the time, I will probably be in a bed or on a couch (and yes, eventually the hospital). And Brian won’t get to be there the whole time, so being separated from him during the latter part of my pregnancy makes me incredibly sad, not to mention scared that he may not make it there in time if I DO go into labor earlier than expected. And as much as I love being in St. Louis and I love you all so much, there is no getting around that I feel like we are uprooting ourselves. Temporarily, I know, but there are still good friends I adore here and what’s extremely upsetting is that a few of these friends will be moving during the time that I’ll be in St. Louis. And that’s just a bit of the self pity I’ve felt. I won’t go into my fear of the “what-if’s” with Baby B. I will just say that no matter what, our first priority is keeping these babies safe. And my other first priority is Nolan and making sure this transition into big-brotherhood doesn’t make him feel like he is forgotten. Or not loved as much. Because lately, I love him more. More everyday, in fact!

How cliché to say, I never thought one of my children would have a heart defect. I never saw this coming. We will not stop praying for these beautiful babies, and believe 100% that God has laid His hands upon them and that this is part of His greater plan. I am so thankful for the friends here in town who have stepped forward and helped with Nolan and given support. And we’re so grateful for thoughts, prayers, emails, cards and phone calls everyone. We’ve felt so encouraged and blessed and have certainly felt loved!!!

I am also now on modified bed rest, meaning for 2 hours a day, three times a day, I need to be lying down. I’m trying really hard to listen and not do anything around the house but take care of Nolan and rest, because the alternative will be full bed rest and I really don’t want that! Please keep Brian in your prayers as he takes on a lot of extra responsibility. It’s temporary, but after a long day at work, I feel bad (and like I’m not doing my job) that he has to come home, clean up, do dinner and play with Nolan. We have many more decisions to make about logistics and a lot of unanswered questions that won’t be answered until we are in St. Louis and talking with the team of doctors/surgeons there who will deliver and operate. I really like to think of myself as a “go with a flow” kind of gal, but God has really showed me that I’m very far from that. When things don’t fit exactly into my planned box, I am very uncomfortable. Having so many unanswered questions and “what-ifs” and yet so much planning to do, makes my head spin, but I know we’ll manage just fine.

Thanks for listening to my long winded update. We just ask, if you can, that you continue to pray for us. Honestly, I can’t tell you how much comfort these prayers have brought to our family. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Here are a couple pictures of our precious babes from Thursday. At one point one of them (and I honestly can't remember which one right now) was wiggling around and we saw a good angle of his face and Brian and I both gasped at the same time. We looked at each other and said, "He looks just like Nolan!!!" It was such a special moment and one I've been waiting for since the day we decided we wanted to give Nolan a sibling!!

Baby A:

Baby B:

22 Week Babies Update

I had an appointment on base today and both babies were moving around and active and beautiful. They are definitely not shy about showing that they are boys and if we had not wanted to know the sexes, we would be out of luck...they flash us all the time! I am measuring 33 weeks (what a woman carrying one baby would measure), which I am reassured is normal. The doctor prescribed me some medicine for my heartburn, which is nice. I hope to not use it too often, but when I have the heartburn lately, it's so painful and seems so stick around longer and longer.

For those of you that don't know, at our 20 week ultrasound in Pensacola, we discovered Baby B has a heart defect of some kind. He wasn't in a good position, so we go back next week to hopefully learn more. There are a LOT of questions and things up in the air right now, but we have been reassured that, although it is quite serious, it looks like it's also very fixable. He may require surgery within a few days after he is born, and so we will have to be referred to a hospital much farther away from home. I feel a little like we have a thousand puzzle pieces we are supposed to put together, but no way to get started. But we are so grateful that we have been blessed with both babies and are confident God is the ultimate healer and planner. Our appointment is Thursday and if you wouldn't mind, we would so appreciate and welcome your prayers.

On a brighter note, I am feeling the babies kick frequently and Brian has felt them, too. Nolan isn't quite patient enough to "wait" until they kick, but I hope he'll get to feel them soon. He loves to tell people (aka strangers) that I'm having two babies. And that "this time" I'm having two boys, but "next time" I'll be having a boy and a girl. I have no idea where he gets that idea, but its pretty amusing.

Here are a couple pictures of the growing belly.

Weekend Visitors

Two weeks ago, we were very happy that my Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Ron came for a visit. They were vacationing in Florida with friends and added us to their trip. They arrived Thursday and left Sunday morning and we did as much as we could and tried to show them the sights as much as time (and a toddler) would allow. Friday I had an ultrasound in Pensacola and they were able to see the babies and then were a huge help with Nolan while Brian and I talked to the doctor. Then we were able to show them Pensacola beach and eat on the water. It was a little chilly, but at least not cold. Saturday Aunt Jeanne and I went to a tea parlor in town and enjoyed tea and lunch, followed by some downtown window shopping. I am so bummed I forgot my camera! The boys had lunch at a more manly establish and then we all met up for a birthday party that afternoon. After the party we drove to Destin for dinner on the water and then enjoyed ice cream at Destin Commons afterwards. The best part, really, was seeing them, hugging them and laughing with them. They are such wonderful people and Brian and I have both always looked up to them. I didn't take near enough pictures, but here is a taste of our fun weekend!

Aunt Jeanne & Uncle Ron at Pcola beach:

Aunt Jeanne, myself & Nolan. Sadly, this is the only picture of us together from the weekend. I was off my "camera" game:

At Tristan's 5th Birthday party at the bowling alley. Nolan had so much fun he cried when we told him it was time to go. Here is the birthday boy with pals Abby & Nolan:

Aunt Jeanne & Uncle Ron at the bowling alley (Cheers!):On Destin's beach...at night, obviously!