Easter

I know I am so late...but we had a great Easter with the boys. We went to church that Sunday morning and then over to the Heston's for lunch with the family. We are so blessed to have them near.
The Easter Bunny stopped by...and brought sunglasses and sandals :)

But all they wanted to do was eat them and chase eggs...

Payton and Owen

Looking good in our Easter Outfits! Check out the pants!

A year for real?

Well I am sad that this post is a few days late - but our computer has been down. But this past week served as the one year anniversary of finding out our boys had TTTS (on April 21), and then having their life saving surgery (April 24). I honestly can not believe it has been a year.

The boys will be 10 months old on May 3. They are crawling all over the house, eating every thing insight, and talking all of the time. They are now in the "cute kittens" class at church, we have lowered their cribs and the best thing - being the best of friends. We can hardly get them to go down for naps because they would rather play. So for 45 minutes to an hour we hear alot of squealing and laughing as they peer through their crib slats at each other. They are our little balls of energy and joy.

I found myself reliving that awful week over and over. I could remember every emotion, thought, and tear.

I was also reminded of how good my God is. Yes, because He saved the babies. But not just that. Those 10 weeks from finding out they were sick until they were delivered and the 6 weeks of trips to the NICU before having both my love bugs home were a haunting time for Nate and I. We were constantly under a cloud of "what if's" and fear. At moments it had the ability to be all consuming.
One of the biggest life lessons I learned during that was to focus on what I knew, not on what I didn't.

I knew God loved me. I knew God loved Blake and Owen. I knew God was the creator of life. I knew God was sovereign. I knew God didn't make mistakes.

I didn't know if the boys would live. I didn't know why this had happened. I didn't know if they did live what their lives would be like - would their be repercussions from their prematurity? And often times I didn't know how much more I could handle.

My dad says, "It's mind over matter; I don't mind and you don't matter." Can you believe I am even normal? Just kidding...

But for me it was mind over matter. I was choosing to set my mind on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2). I love the way The Message(another translation of the Bible)paraphrases this verse "Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective."

That is honestly what got us through those weeks.

This past week as I reflected on this, I realized something else. Not only was it by God's grace that the babies were saved, but that Nate and I got through it. If it wasn't for God kindness and grace to invite me into a relationship with him when I was 8 years old (20 years ago this August!) I would not have been able to put one foot in front of the other to make it through that time.

One of the main reasons I was hospitalized for the last 4 weeks of my pregnancy was because Owen was loosing fluid. We weren't sure why or how, we just knew he was. With out fluid in his sac he essentially had no room to swim around which meant he could easily roll over his cord and his blood flow would be cut off causing him to die. As scary as that sounded we did constant monitoring and the doctors had one other positive thought - Blake was there.

Because of the success of the surgery Blake's fluid level, which prior to surgery was almost nil, was now at a healthy level. And so even if Owen's was down, he had a cushion right next to him that if he needed to, he could lean on and get some relief and keep him from harm.

I think that is a good picture of what it was like for me and the Lord during that time. I was running low, but because the Lord was right next to me when I needed to I could easily rest on him. But just like it only worked for Blake and Owen because they were in it together, it only worked for the Lord and I because we too were in it together.

I know most of you who read this blog know and love Jesus, but I also know that some of you don't. Please let me encourage you that if you don't know Jesus I would love to share with you all about it.

I am so glad my boys are here one year later. I am so happy every day watching them grow and change. But more than that I am so glad I serve a God who loves me and loves my boys.

To the beach!

Blake and Owen had a special treat last week with the visit of their greatgrandparents, Papa Joe and Ga, from Wisconsin, as well as their grandparents (Nate's mom and her husband) Grammy and Papa Ric.
They were certainly spoiled with all of the love and attention and a little bored I think when everyone went home and they were left with boring old mommy:).
We did all sorts of fun things; we worked in the yard, ate some good cooking of ga's and the boys got to go on their first trip to the beach.
Here are some photos of our week!

Blake loving on Ga.

Owen playing with Papa Joe

Blake's opinion of the trip to the beach.

Owen and Daddy

Sons of Thunder

My dad loves to refer to Blake and Owen as "James and John, Sons of Thunder." James and John are a pair of bold disciples. I like to think too that God has great plans for these boys. We certainly know He worked hard at getting them here.
When Nate and I were dating I had the amazing privilege to travel to Arba Minch, Ethiopia with my church from Charlotte. I went on a team to work with some missionaries, Ralph, Monica and their children, who did/do an amazing job ministering to the men, women and children in a terribly hopeless and lost nation. It truly was a life changing time for me.
The couple who led the trip, Burt and Renee Cheezum, had been many times and not only knew and loved that culture but took such great care of the three girls that went.
When Renee found out I was having twins she immediately contacted me. When she found out they were sick they consistently prayed for the boys. She even told Ralph and Monica who prayed for us from Ethiopia. And soon after they were born we got the most adorable little Ethiopian outfits. I have been anxious for the day they would fit the boys and here they are!


I couldn't help but make them look like little missionaries. See how they have a bible and a giraffe? Africa - here they come!
I actually would be so proud if they chose to be missionaries. Not just to Africa but where ever the Lord may lead them. Our prayer every night is that they come to know the Lord at an early age and lead lives that bring glory to Jesus. I heard a quote this morning - "The world doesn't care about your relationship with Christ, but how much you resemble Him." I pray that my boys grow in their relationship and resemblance to Him everyday.

One cute two headed monster

Here is our favorite thing to do and our new favorite way to do it.

A trip to the Zoo

Yesterday I took the boys to the zoo for the first time. I realized that was the most sun exposure I had in two years!!! For those of you a little confused I was either on bed rest or in the hospital for most of last spring/summer. It was so great to be outside with my sweet boys and our best friends.
We went with their girlfriend, Payton, Aunt Holly, DiDi, GiGi and Nana (none of those are "real" relatives, but they are very near and dear to our hearts...so we might as well call them that.)
It was a fun day, however, we did have to skip most of their morning naps which meant they weren't as, well, perky, as usual. But it was still sweet to take them.

Owen looking at animals with GiGi


I think Payton was more interested in Owen than those fish :)


Blake having fun with DiDi


Look at Owen's face, this is how he spent most of the day - ha.


Blake trying out a grape. He was licking it.


Telling Daddy all about it

Danger

I'm a little worried. Look at what they are learning to do. I only have pictures of Blake doing it because when Owen sees the camera he stops, lays down and poses. But he is trying just as hard.