I Like My Life

This afternoon, I have been thinking about how I am so thankful for the life the Lord has given me. It really comes as a surprise to me that I could feel this way at this point.

When I was pregnant with Abbey and Caroline, everyone told me how it was going to be soooo hard the first year. I can remember one mom of twins--one--that told me that it would be good and fun. I was really terrified and almost dreading it, because of the reactions I got from both moms-of-multiples and other folks. And, that was before I told them that I was homeschooling Jack. When I told them that, if I had the courage to do so, then they looked at me like I was truly crazy.

But, here we are four months in. Last night I was up with Caroline watching Letterman. It dawned on me that it had been a while since I'd seen Letterman, much less Craig Ferguson, who comes on later. In the early months, these guys were nightly companions. Those were sweet times. They were sleepy times, but sweet, too. Now they are past me as a regular feature.

Abbey and Caroline are "coming alive." They are looking around, smiling, figuring out how to use their hands and voices. It is a fun time. I get a bit nervous thinking about when they become mobile, but I also get excited thinking about when they start talking. I remember how scared I was before they were born. I see how God has helped me through. I remember to take one day at a time. I relax a little.

Jack is learning. He is reading well. He knows about bugs, jungles, times long ago. He can add and subtract some. He is making friends at our co-op and hoping to make friends on his coach pitch softball team when that starts. I love teaching him. I get frustrated. I yell. I ask for forgiveness. I love watching him learn. He likes it, too.

Molly is not lost in the shuffle. She is learning to play alone. She is learning alongside Jack. She is growing and maturing. She is loving her twins.

Is my life full? Yes! Is it sometimes crazy full? Often! Do I get tired of the crying and the bottles? Yes! Do I lose it sometimes? More than I'd like! Is it worth it? Totally!

22, 11, 10 and 8

We went to the doctor today. Both girls are 22.5 inches long. Caroline is 11 lbs and 4 oz. She is wearing yellow in the picture. Abbey is 10 lbs 9 oz. She is in the pink. Between the two of them they got 8 shots. :o( Very sad.

What a Thoughtful Kid!

"Mommy, I'd like to buy you another present, because you are doing a pretty good job with the twins and me and Molly."

(The "another present" refers to the tree that Ed and the kids bought and planted for me after the twins were born and the Chutes and Ladders game the kids picked out for me at Christmas.)

Isn't that just precious?!

Our Artist in Residence

Jack recently found Ed's old 18" by 24" drawing pad. He has started a jungle themed collection of art. Some drawings are just one page size, but others are multiple pages.



I love his creativity and the detail that he adds. This one has the dark clouds, lightning and rain drops. The dark clouds have the wavy pattern, because he was drawing on top of a patterned stool. But, he liked the look and decided to continue with it. What you can't see is the thunder. He held the picture up and started wiggling it back and forth. The sound it produced was the thunder.



Sometimes I think he has a really good artist's eye. I love the way he did the sunset in this picture. His "use of color" surprised me. Most kids would just do the sun and the blue sky, or maybe rows of pinks and orange. I really like how he did the orange on top of the blue.



This is one of my favorites. I would never have thought of doing branches on a Christmas tree like this. Isn't that awesome?!



This is an older one. It is bugs that he saw on our vacation to the mountains. His bugs are great!



And not to be left out, I have included a piece of Molly's work. I think it is amazing how she started this picture. Look how she has divided up the grass into sections. Then, can you see the small strokes as she colors in each small square? Unfortunately, her attention span didn't last long enough to finish it, even over two different sessions. I like it nonetheless.

Our Abigail

Our precious Abbey is three months old. She is smiling more and more, although she wouldn't give me a good one for the picture. She is still our sensitive girl, getting overwhelmed easily. She loves to be wrapped up tight or carried in my Maya Wrap. She also loves to look at her mobile and the lights on her swing. She is doing a great job learning to sleep through the night, sometimes going seven hours between feedings. She is a tough little girl, enduring the rough love dished out by her older siblings.

The great news of the week is that she was approved for care by the Shriner's Hospital for Children in Chicago. We are thrilled and very thankful to Doc, Mimi and a family friend who is a Shriner, Charlie Yeoman. They all helped us with the application process making it easier and faster. Now we are trying to schedule our first visit for sometime in March. Thanks to those who prayed about this opportunity with us.

Of course if Abbey is three months old, that means Caroline is three months, too. When I get some photos of her, I will post them.

Abundantly More

I am amazed and humbled. The Lord has truly done more than I could have asked or imagined.



Two weeks ago, a couple that I barely know dropped off essentially an entire wardrobe for what remains of Abbey and Caroline's first year. They also gave us linens to decorate a room for twin girls. We are talking sheets, bumber pads, diaper stackers, the whole works...times two. And they did it all for free! They said that they felt the Lord putting it on their hearts to give us all the old clothes that their twins had outgrown. But, they didn't bring it all, as they didn't want to overwhelm us. So, they just brought the first year's worth. And, it isn't just stuff that nobody else would want. It is precious, good stuff. Some of it looks barely worn. Did you catch the first part that they are basically strangers--a family I have met once. Thank you Williamsons and thank you Lord!

But, the amazing thing is that that isn't all. Not only has God provided clothes for our girls, but they are three months old and we have yet to buy a diaper or wipe. And, we have a large stash of them in our closet waiting to be used.

I have been overwhelmed by how the Lord has cared for through His gracious provision, using even strangers. There is Vi, my aunt's neighbor, who heard about us and sent two adorable pjs from The Children's Place. Lori, another woman I have only met once, lives next door to our church friend, Kaye. According to Kaye, Lori took it upon herself to be our diaper fairy. Over the course of several weeks, she sent us several huge boxes of diapers and wipes that she bought at Cosco. Another church friend, Laura, brought me some precious bibs that her aunt bought for Abbey and Caroline. She had heard about us through Laura and thought we would like the bibs. Ann Louise, Ed's sister, is a physical therapist. One of the families that she treats has twins. That mother sent me three sets of outfits. Can you say, "Wow!" All of this from strangers, and this doesn't even count the stuff that people that we do know have done. I am amazed.

I really am so humbled. I do not trust God to provide. I fret and worry. I get anxious and angry. And yet, He has done this for his unworthy child. He has shown me His love in these diapers, clothes, friends, and strangers. More than that, He has shown me His love through Christ. Why am I amazed that He would and could give me diapers and clothe my children when He has given His child to clothe me in righteousness? O may I learn to trust such a generous, loving Father who doesn't give up on his daughter.

Growing

I just have time for a quick update. We went to the doctor today for RSV shots, so we got some current weights. Caroline breaks the scales at 10 lbs 4 oz., and Abbey is following behind at 9 lbs 2 oz. The doctor was pleased.

I was very pleased, since it means that I can continue to let them sleep as long as they will without waking them up for a feeding. We have had three nights now, where they have skipped a feeding. Yippee! That means that I have gotten 6 hours of continuous sleep for three nights in a row. Great, huh?

On another note, our application is in at the Chicago Shriner's Hospital for Children. We got to cut through some red tape through the help of a family friend. It was wonderful to have this connection. We hope to hear something in the next few weeks. I will keep you posted.

I hope to have some new pictures up soon. Bye for now.