2011 Christmas letter

I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showes in season; there will be showers of blessing. Ezekiel 34:26

Blessings...gifts...thankfulness...any way you look at it, they all mean the same...God's love towards us, His children. Early this year, I was given a book, One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp, which challenged me and our family to look for gifts, blessings in all situations. Sometimes this was easy and other times it was hard. It is a lifestyle...a way to keep perspective, so enjoy some of our blessings from 2011.

Mr. Tall still works at a local hospital 32 miles away 4 days a week from 2 pm to 12:30 pm. He really enjoys this shift and the interaction with people. Austin has completed preceptor training and lead training. He is enjoying the challenges these two aspects bring. In March, we were able to travel to Columbus, Ohio for a week. During this week, we worked with Touch Bionics and Austin got a new hand, a myoelectric one. This was a great time to be together as husband and wife and to accomplish getting a new hand ~ all in 1 weeks time! In July, Mr. Tall's dad had open-heart surgery in Rochester, MN. We spent another week together supporting them and reflecting on the blessings of health, life, family, and support.

I am still a stay-at-home mom and truly love it. Many times, my motto is "The days are long but the years are short!" Watching my children grow and teaching them is an amazing experience. I wouldn't trade it for the world! Also, I have really started working as a music therapist for a local hospice. I am based out of my home which is wonderful. I have received so many gifts from my patients this year...the faith they have, the love married patients share, memories from 80 years ago...such gifts from God!

Blessing started piano lessons this summer and has started kindergarten this fall. She is doing very well with her math facts and is learning to read. She enjoys playing with her sister and brothers and is such a big help around the house with laundry, trash, dishes, vacuuming, etc. She is growing way too fast...It seems like yesterday she was born, but it has already been 5 years!

Joy has grown so much during this past year as well. The differences between her and her sister are amazing. Joy wants to do "school" every day and is learning about letters and numbers. She enjoys playing house with her sister. Joy is mommy's helper...she is always in the kitchen with me. Joy's cuddles are precious as well, especially when she falls asleep in my arms.

The twins are now 15 months old, almost 16! Where has the year gone. They are walking all over the place, well actually running, and usually in different directions. They are starting to talk saying cheese, please, more, thank-you, night-night, etc. It is such a blessing to have such healthy boys. They are active and love being outside!

So, our blessings...

~life, health, love, Jesus, family

~stored food, bountiful garden, canner, coupons, worms on roads

~church family, women and men of God in our lives

~accidents that save marriages, doctors, nurses, hospitals

~laughter, loss of life, animals, jobs, rain

The list can go on and on...my list is currently around 1250. How many blessings can you count in a year? Can you give all the credit to God's son, Jesus, who came to earth this time of year...Christmas!

It is our prayer that you will take time to reflect on your blessings from the past year and look at all you will experience in the year to come.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

More pictures

Boy 2 at 5 weeks with eyes open

Boy 2 at 5 weeks with eyes open

Boy 2 at 5 weeks

Boy 1 at 5 weeks

Boy 2 on left, Boy 1 on right at 5 weeks

Boy 1 on left, Boy 2 on right at 3 weeks

All 4 kiddos - Boy 1 on top, Boy 2 on bottom, Blessing on left, Joy on right

Boy 1 on left and Boy 2 on right (7 weeks)

Pictures

Baby Boy 1 (just home from hospital)

Baby Boy 2 (just home from hospital)

Baby Boy 1 on left, Baby boy 2 on right 

Me, less than 24 hours before delivery

My 2 girls and myself (less than 24 hours before delivery)

Almost 7 weeks...already!

Greetings all!

So sorry it has taken me so very long to get this information to you!  It has been a crazy 6 weeks with a huge life adjustment (every new addition has been an adjustment - this one more of a challenge)!  I have barely had 10 minutes to myself lately - but today, I finally do, so I thought I would update everybody!

Here is a journal entry I did the night before I headed to the hospital...

Only 30 minutes until nothing to eat or drink, which is fine as my tummy is very unstable due to nerves. However, I have been so thirsty tonight...

So, today has been a day full of blessings and just enjoyable memories. We went to church today and enjoyed worship. Our pastor talked about being salt and light and is challenging us to live out our faith. After church we went to McDonalds to treat our girls. We wanted to do something special for them on our last day as a family of 4. We wanted them to know that we love them tremendously! McDonalds was horrible, though. The girls didn't know the difference - but poor service, no ketchup or straws, and the food was not very good today...oh well...like I said, it is about the experience!

After McDonalds, we went to Reiman Gardens. We had only about an hour, but it was amazing. They have a butterfly atrium that houses butterflies from all over the world. It is a beautiful place with butterflies flying all over! My girls absolutely loved it. We then went out onto the main garden area (over 14 acres of flower gardens) and walked around and took pictures. We took pictures of my tummy, the girls alone, the girls and I, and the girls and daddy. It was a great experience on a perfect day - low 80's and low humidity! Beautiful! The girls didn't want to leave but we had to get my husband to work. We dropped him off at work around 2 and told the girls we would have to go back to the gardens sometime so they could enjoy it more - they understood.

We got home and took a nap. My youngest slept in her bed after some extra cuddle time and my oldest napped in my bed with me. I enjoyed the extra cuddles and extra time spent reading to her! After our nap, we played, or rather the girls played, ants in the pants. They laughed and laughed and it was music to my ears. I got supper around for them (I didn't eat as my tummy was really upset - nerves). After supper, we loaded into the van and I took them to where they are staying while I am in the hospital. The drop-off went very smoothly and I haven't received a call yet, so am assuming they went to bed alright! It was difficult, but not as hard as I had anticipated - God has really given me a peace tonight!

I came home and have been enjoying peace and quiet and trying to avoid phone calls - just to enjoy time with the Lord and myself. I ate dinner, relaxed by playing the piano, finished laundry and dishes, and have finished packing. I am going to go get a bath and shave my legs (well, what I can reach of them - HA) and then head to bed. I probably won't sleep well, but at least will be in bed! I have to leave the house around 4:45 tomorrow morning. My husband is sleeping at the hospital (he works there) so he will meet me in the main lobby in the morning!

So, that was the night before.  Now, onto the rest of the story...

I arrived at the hospital on time and was greeted by my husband.  We unloaded and took everything up to our room on the maternity floor.  Once there, the menagerie of questions began and the pre-op drill began.  We were teasing the nurse, but she really had no sense of humor, so it became very boring quickly.  They were ready for me a few minutes early, so we headed to the c-section room.  Everything went well with the spinal block and the procedure began.  At 7:48 AM, our 1st baby boy was born. He was 7 pound 11 ounces and 19.5 inches long.  At 7:49 AM our 2nd baby boy was born.  He was 6 pounds 9 ounces and 19.5 inches long.  They were taken to the NICU for their initial exams. The procedure ended around 8:40 AM and I went to recovery.  Around 9:45 AM I was taken back to my room and met the boys for the first time.  It was very precious! We spent 4 days at the hospital and made it home around 6:30 pm on Thursday, August 19. Our girls returned to us on Friday afternoon, after we arrived back from taking the boys to a doctor appointment (a weight and jaundice check). 

So...7 weeks have passed (almost), and I am maybe starting to adjust a little bit.  I average about 4 hours of sleep a night (broken up into 1.5 to 2 hour chunks).  I am really hoping that they start sleeping longer chunks of time!  Nursing has been tough, but they are still getting mamma milk - via pumping and bottle.  They are growing like crazy - Boy 1 is now over 11 pounds and Boy 2 is right around 10 pounds!  So crazy how fast they grow. They both have their own personalities and are cute as buttons!  The girls have adjusted fairly well and love their brothers so very much!

Well, I am going to upload some pictures on a new post for everyone and then try to enjoy the rest of my alone time - all 4 children are sleeping!  What am I doing awake???  ;-)

Nothing is Impossible with God

Nothing is impossible with God...My new mantra and what keeps running through my mind!

This was the main theme of the movie my husband and I watched last night...Facing the Giants.  What an excellent reminder of God's power!  

Several people, including friends, family, and doctors, have second guessed my ability to carry the twins.  Many have made comments that have been negative in regards to my ability to carry the twins "full-term."  Many have suggested bribing my doctor to go early.  And, in all honesty, many are just negative!

I have fought these negative comments with positive ones for several months and found the movie theme to be a great reminder!  God is in control and He knows what I am capable of.  He has prepared me and my body for the task He has given me.

Now, with that said, the c-section has been scheduled for next week and we are going to be meeting these 2 beautiful babies soon!  Even though I am scared and fear sets in quite a bit, this new mantra reminds me that He is in control and knows what we can handle!  

As for my appointment today, everything looked great!  The babies are doing well, my blood pressure is good, and the c-section was scheduled!  I was given last minute details regarding the night before and sent on my way.  I finished up the hospital registration and took care of a few odds and ends in town.  So, now the waiting continues.

I plan to make a fresh peach pie this afternoon for my dear husband and make some cookies and freeze the dough in balls so he can still have something sweet, fresh, and homemade while I am down for the count.  He loves sweets so much (as do my girls), that I want to do something special for them.  

Nothing is impossible with God - that is what I am living by and encouraging me right now....Hey, maybe I should go make several notecards and place them around my house.....I will just put it on my list of to-do's!  :-)

Approximately 2 years and 8 months later...

We moved into our current house in December of 2007 and shortly after began to remodel the 2nd floor northwest corner bedroom.  At that time, we were expecting our 2nd child and had high hopes of finishing it before the new baby arrived.  Well, that didn't happen....However, today, we moved our oldest daughter Blessing into her new room!

Can I tell you what a process it is to remodel!  It takes time, effort, a lot of thought and planning, and yes, even some disagreements and arguments amongst spouses!  I will also tell you, that once we put the final touches on this room, there will not be another remodeling project for at least a few months - or as long as I can keep my dear husband from tearing down more walls!  :-)

Anyway, today we moved our oldest daughter Blessing into her new room.  I have included pictures of the room.  We had help from church friends, family, and borrowed items like a texture gun and finish nailer from church friends and family.  Without the support that we have we would not be where we are today.  

It definitely feels so good to have this project done and off the list, especially since the twins are going to be coming very soon!  Blessing slept in her new room for nap and is currently sleeping in her room right now for her first night!  She was so excited to get things moved in and to sleep!

Now, we just need to find time to finish the small things.  That list includes the following: doorstops installed, electrical finished in the attic, some shelves built/hung???, the rest of her toys and other things moved in, another carpet runner purchased (I accidentally grabbed an actual rug instead of runner, so need to return the rug and get a runner), a carpet for the closet purchased, a closet rod installed to hang clothes on, and a table lamp moved in.

This may seem like an extremely long list, but a lot of it will be able to be knocked off in a matter of a couple of hours.  It is just a matter of having my dear husband work with me to accomplish it.  We will see what we can get done before babies come, and if it isn't completely finished, it is at least now livable!

So, kudos to my dear husband for all of his hard work and thank you to those who helped and/or loaned us tools to finish the job.  We know that you know who you are - we could not have finished it without you and truly do appreciate each and every one of you!  And, to my dear father, thank you for all of your encouragement and help, especially with the trim!

Enjoy the pictures!!!

Window on the west wall with the curtain open - sorry about the darkness of it

North wall of the room - west and north windows with curtains (door to go in/out on the left)

South wall of the room - closet door

The east wall has butterflies, flowers, and the bible verse of Galatians 5: 22 and 23 painted on it and the west wall has butterflies, flowers, and the bible verse of James 1:17 painted on it.  Sorry, no pictures this time! 

Final ultrasound

Today I had my final ultrasound of this pregnancy.  I was looking forward to seeing the babies one more time!  It was nice but not as exciting as ultrasounds earlier in the pregnancy because the babies are getting so big you really can't see much at a time.  I now understand why they do ultrasounds at 20 weeks!

So, the biggest news is that the babies are growing and are showing no signs of stress or distress.  This is wonderful! Below are the stats...

Baby A 

weight - 6 pounds 12 ounces (up from 4 pounds 11 ounces a month ago)

heartbeat - 143

percentile - 71st (this is in comparison to a single baby - so I have a big twin!)

Baby B

weight - 6 pounds 2 ounces (up from 4 pounds 4 ounces a month ago)

heartbeat - 140

percentile - 51st (this is in comparison to a single baby)

My doctor and I chatted about moving the scheduled c-section date up a week due to how much they weigh alreaady and my doctor would not hear of it.  She said that she will take them at 38 weeks and no earlier unless the mom or babies start to show signs of stress.  So, since all is going well for both the babies and me, there is no chance.  This is good and bad...the good is that they will get one more week to develop - the bad is that I have to endure carrying them for one more week!  It is a challenge!

As for my blood pressure - it was extremely good - she took it twice and it was 94/57.  The nurse couldn't believe it!  She made me laugh and took it again and it was 124/72.  She is just amazed every time she takes my blood pressure because she thinks it should be higher.  I guess my body just handles pregnancy well as I have never had a blood pressure issue - just like I have never had braxton hicks contractions or real contractions (once again and blessing and a curse :-)!)  

So, we are down to 3 weeks until delivery date.  I will keep pressing on toward the goal of August 17 and pray that they decide to wait to come into the world!  I have plenty of things to keep me busy until then, so I will keep working on the projects.  Some of the things I have left to do include packing a bag for the babies and I at the hospital, packing the girls bags for being away while I am at the hospital, cleaning out the van, finding all the breastpump accessories and cleaning them up, finishing cleaning our upstairs bedroom, finishing the new room and getting our oldest daughter moved in, getting the nursery set up, getting meals made and into the freezer to make life easier for my husband, and sleeping!  I will just keep knocking away at things on the list to make progress and will see what happens in the meantime!

Thanks for following me on this journey!  I have an appointment on Friday, July 30 and another one on Thursday, August 5.  My last appointment before delivery is scheduled for Tuesday, August 10 with delivery on Tuesday, August 17.  We will keep everybody updated!