Connections

Hi there!  Thanks to everyone who wrote me about the last blog.  It's amazing how when you go through a tough time, you end up connecting with and relating to so many people.  You were all very encouraging and I'm doing much better!  I guess I just had a "moment."  :)  This past week, I ran into a mom who had 26 week old twin boys that I had met 2 months ago at the NICU.  They were just under 2 lbs!!!  They are still in the hospital and since I know all of you are faithful prayers, if you think of it, could you say a little prayer for this family?  Aiden and Conner....they have been in the NICU for 2 months and that is soooo long.  It's crazy how when I met the parents, they asked how big my girls were and when I said 3 lbs...they said "Wow - they were BIGGG!"  That's the first time anyone has told me that 3 lbs is huge.  So anyways, because I feel so connected to this family even though I hardly know them, please pray for their little boys..and for the parents as they wait and wait and wait to take them home.  Thank you!

I never thought I would see the day that my babies would feed themselves!  This picture makes me jump for joy because now my arms are free....but it also makes me a tad sad....that they don't "need' me as much anymore.  This is all just going sooo fast!!!
Emily has been obsessed with the dirty laundry basket lately.  Maybe she will LOVE to help me DO then laundry when she gets older! :) 
This is what I come home to now.....my little litter.  :)  

And this video is the girls having fun playing together.  Addy is cracking up at Hailey on the little car.  :) 

Challenges...

Today I am discouraged.  I don't know.  Last night I took the girls to Ryan's softball game and I left feeling worn out, frustrated, and sad or something.  I'm learning that it is a LOT harder taking the girls anywhere now unless they are happy and confined in a moving stroller....but if they are fussy and need to come out, it gets so hard!  I hate how I feel like I have to expect other people to hold a girl or two... and I don't like that I can't be the one to comfort my own kid when they just want me to hold them...I can't hold 3 at once!  And I don't like how I feel like my kids are being burdens to other people because then they can't even watch the game in peace!  I love getting out of the house....but now that the girls want to be on the move all of the time...it is a whole new challenge.  I am tempted to become a hermit but I know that's not good either.  People have been so sweet and willing to help and hold all of the time....and they have done nothing to make me feel this way.  It's just the fact that I make myself feel bad...and wish I could bring my kids places and just be able to hold all 3 and be able to carry on a normal conversation.   Things are changing...new challenges...new joys...I'm learning.  I can't do this myself.  I need others.  and I continually need Him.  

ADDY is CRAWLING!!!

The girls are sporting our Alma-mater tshirts in honor of Auntie Kara having to go back to school.  We are missing her like CRAAAZY!
Pretty Addy
Sweet Em
Baby Hailey :) 

Addison is CRAWLING!  As happy as I am for my little Addy, now I REALLY have my hands full.  :)  It is so fun watching them all follow each other around though.  At least I don't have to look in 3 different directions because they all follow each other.  :)  

1st Plane Ride to DENVERRR!!

We made it!  Phew!  The girls (and their parents) survived their first plane ride to Denver to visit tons of family and friends that haven't met them yet.  We stayed with Grandpa and Grandma Peters and the whole week was PACKED with activities and excitement.  The pictures are all out of order but I'll do my best at explaining.  :) The picture below is how we managed to travel with the girls and all of our suitcases around the airport.  It is so nice traveling with a stroller though because you get treated like a V.I.P!  We could take the stroller and all of the carseats and bases to the gate so that helped a TON.  On the way there, we woke up at 3 a.m. , left for Chicago and 4 a.m., fed the girls baby food at the gate, bottles as we took off in the plane...and then they seriously slept almost the WHOLE plane ride!  They couldn't have traveled any better.  I told Ryan that I think this means we need to travel more often! :)  On the way home, they were awake most of the trip and besides a couple loud shrieks and squeals, they did VERY well!  They loved banging on the drop down table on the plane and the emergency evacuation information brochure was also a main attraction for the girls. :)  We couldn't have done it without the help of Auntie Kara on the plane though - that way we could go "man-to-man" on the plane.  We only got a couple laughs and a few sympathy looks on the plane.  Other than that, they were champs and I don't think they bothered too many people. :) 

Addison with Great Aunt Dawn.  She fell asleep still holding her bottle.  
The girls were getting into trouble at Grandma's house...
Cousin Jenna, Addy, Hailey, Emily, and Cousin Jordan - the girls LOVVVED playing with their cousins!!!
The girls were creative in finding new toys to play with at Grandma's house. 
Here is Uncle Craig practicing feeding time as he gets ready to be a daddy in December!  Doesn't he look like a natural? :) 
Grandma Gwen, Auntie Kara, Auntie Laura (and soon to be mommy at her baby shower), and me
The girls were trying to wake up their baby cousin who they can't WAIT to meet!
Here we are feeding the girls at Baggage Claim....
And the best news of all - my little sister got ENGAGED while we were out there!  Cory surprised her by flying in a few days early....they drove to the mountains and on top of the mountain they were talking about their devotions...and Cory said "Do you know that some of the most important events in the Bible happened on top of a mountain?"  Then they started naming some of them...and then he said "and that's why I want to do this right here.."  Then he got down on one knee and POPPED the question!!!!!!  We were ecstatic and sooo excited for them.  Wedding plans have already begun and I can't even tell you how pumped we all were that we could all be together for their engagement.  SO FUN!  Love you Cor!! (Do you think Kara's smile can get ANY bigger?! ) :) 
The 4 generation picture with the Peters!  Great Grandma Peters with Emily, me and Addison, Grandpa Joel with Hailey, and Great Grandpa Peters.  Great Grandpa Peters got to meet the girls for the first time on his 81st birthday!  I'd say that's a pretty good birthday present! :) 
Cousin Jenna was a pro at feeding the girls.  She is a natural!  
Great Uncle Steve with Addison.  He did NOT want me to take this picture because he knew where it would end up! :)  You were right Steve! :) 
me and Hailey on her first plane ride!!!

Auntie Kara and Addison

Lining up the girls for baby food at the gate in the airport.  
Emily and Daddy on her first plane ride!  (As you can tell, we weren't able to sit together because they don't have enough oxygen masks in one row for all of us AND the babies.  At least we weren't too far away so we could throw cheerios at each other) :) 
Overall, it was a GREAT trip.  We had so much fun and the girls were spoiled with plenty of love and attention.  It is good to be home now though, as it was a lot of rigamarole getting there and back.  :)  Next time we go back to Denver, we will get to meet the girls' new little baby girl cousin!  Can't wait!  :) 

Lots of LIFE

Hailey - Emily - Addy learning to stand! 
Here the girls are at their buddy Braden's 3rd birthday party.  LOTS of kids and lots of fun. :) 
This picture still boggles my mind.  I took Kelly's job at Wisconsin Right to Life a couple years ago....then she found out that she was pregnant with triplets.  Then 3 1/2 months later, I find out that I am pregnant with TRIPLETS.  What are the chances that 2 Event Coordinators from a PRO-LIFE organization would become pregnant with triplets BACK TO BACK.  Twins run in both of our families - but still!  Anyways - so this past Thursday, we met with all of our troops at Wisconsin Right to Life for a little (chaotic) reunion!  It was great to see everyone and for our kids to finally meet each other.  Kelly's oldest boy, Brayden, was actually giving out kisses to my girls!  Such a smooth talker already. :)  From left to right - Addy, Emily, Hailey - Brayden - Brycen, Cailyn, Adam.  

My how fast things change...

Mama's little helper... :) 

Hailey's first "shiner."  I'm sure it's the first of many unfortunately.  This is what happens when she forgets that she got herself to stand up.  
Happy Hailey...

The girls are seriously growing SO fast!  The girls are 10 months old today....wow.  And things are changing rapidly.  Like for instance, I used to be able to change a diaper in 5 seconds (if I needed to because 2 others were screaming..)  And now, it takes FOREVER to change Emily because I literally have to WRESTLE her on the changing table to make her sit still.  This is what she does in 5 seconds time.  It's pretty difficult changing a diaper in this position.  

And, we used to be able to lay the girls down on the floor,prop up some pillows and wrap them in blankets and they'd sleep there - right in the middle of the family room.  Now I am finding Emily and Hailey and even Addison all over the place (Addy is rolling EVERYWHERE.  She's perfected her roll that I don't think she's even going to need to learn how to crawl). :)  But this is where we find Emily often...  
And Hailey also doesn't stay in one room.  We really need to get the gates up.  
The girls LOVE standing up now.  Here's Hailey and Emily.  
It's nice to know that even though things are changing, some things are getting EASIER.  We are sleeping through the night, feedings don't take 30 minutes per kid anymore...and now Addison started holding her OWN BOTTLE!  I can't tell you how much of a difference this makes when it comes to feeding time.  It is GREAATTTT!!