the hospital stay

Much of the hospital stay is a big blur! I wish I would've written something down earlier but you know I have twins. Eric was a huge help because I couldn't do much but lay around and nurse. My parents arrived the day after the birth and they were a great comfort and a lot of help as well.

It was really hard trying to take care of two babies, learning how to nurse and recovering from both types of delivery. On top of all that I had this horrible rash all over my legs and feet and they were still extremely swollen. I also lost a lot of blood during the c-section and had to have a blood transfusion. It was a crazy time for me. Not only was I exhausted physically but emotionally as well. I really wanted to have the birth I had practiced, envisioned and prepared for and it didn't quite go as I had hoped. But the boys arrived safe and were healthy and that was the number one goal so of course I was happy. But I was still coping with the fact that I had to have a c-section, which was the number one thing I didn't want.

Another interesting thing I remember thinking was that I pushed one baby out and next thing I knew I was going under and when I woke up I had two babies. It was really weird to experience one of their births but not the other. I also felt guilty that I didn't get to see Nathan be birthed or hold him right away but I did with Thomas.

 

Something else that I felt (that I wasn't expecting) was an inability to enjoy it all like I so desperately wanted to. It was hard to enjoy it and soak up the joy of these new babies because my body was trying to recover from so many things and I was just trying to stay afloat. I wanted time to slow down a little and my recovery to speed up so I could cherish my little boys how I had always imagined I would. Really the first 6 months were so hard and I was just trying to get through the days that I had a hard time enjoying most of it. I kept wishing the newborn stage would end and therefore felt like I didn't enjoy their littleness and the excitement of having a newborn. I blame it on the twin factor. Or maybe my expectations were too high. I imagined (with one baby) this beautiful, peaceful, happy time snuggling with a little baby all day. And that was not my reality with the twins. Trying to meet both their needs usually at the exact same time was (and sometimes still is) very difficult. But I would never EVER change having twins. They are so fun and it's been such a privilege to be mom to these amazing boys.

 

The boys did great in the hospital and only lost a little weight. Thomas nursed like a champion from the start but Nathan took a day or two to get the hang of it. I was blessed when it came to nursing, I never had any problems and it never really hurt that bad. We did have some ups and downs the first couple months but from what I've heard from others experiences, I think the boys were great and I had it pretty easy.

The hospital and nurses were great but I still experienced the typical hospital things like never really being able to sleep and not having good food. One of my regrets is that I didn't (or that I didn't make someone) take more pictures with a regular camera. We have a lot from our iphones which I am grateful for but the quality is lacking.

 

We ended up spending 4 days in the hospital and all went home together.

Except I forgot shoes so I walked out of the hospital with bare feet.

 

 



back to my blogging roots

eric shot me with my final progesterone shot last monday. that's cause for celebration. i was getting so sick of taking those shots every morning. but after my 9 week ultrasound i got the go ahead to finish off what i had left of the meds and then i'd be done. it is so great to be done with that part.

i am so excited for these babies. i love that it's babies and not just a baby.

i have SO many thoughts lately and so much to research and so much to do. it's consuming. and i think that's why i haven't been blogging all that much. but i should just be blogging about it all, right.

i'm still trying to find an OB that I just click with. one that is on board for a natural non c-section delivery of twins. i've interviewed a couple and i'm currently being cared for by one that i like. but is it too much to ask that i LOVE my OB and that they're open to what i want as long as the babies are doing good.

i am 11 weeks today! my next ultrasound is in a week and I am so excited to see them again.

the thing i eat the most right now... toasted bagels with cream cheese.
the thing i hate the most right now... sugar

i bought two little sleepers over the weekend (first purchase for the little ones) and we can't stop staring at them and cuddling them. i had to put them away in the closet or else we get too excited and don't get much done besides talking about them.

blood doesn't lie

we got results on monday and my numbers indicate pregnancy. i am beyond thrilled but it just feels so unreal right now. and of course i am feeling extremely cautious because i'm only five weeks along. i debated back and forth about posting on the blog so soon. the only reason i wouldn't is because it's so early and there's still a chance of miscarriage. but i decided that if i were to have a miscarriage i would probably be sharing that anyway.

so after 39 months {feels like decades} of trying, i'm finally pregnant. and it feels so incredibly weird and exciting to say that.

where i'm at

hello. i'm here and doing rather well, thank you.

utah was good.
we had some really nice warm days and then a couple that were filled with snow.
i laid around a lot and E's family was/is so good to us.
we ate some fabulous food and had some wonderful company.
we saw and hung out with great friends.

drove to pleasant grove everyday.
dr. F retrieved 41 eggs.
started progesterone shots in my butt.
i was sick.
drank a ton of gatorade.
and therefore peed a lot.

got our embryo report everyday.
drove back to AZ on presidents day.
scheduled a day 5 transfer.
flew back to UT on thursday morning.
transferred two beautiful embryos.
flew back to AZ thursday night.
bed rest for 3 days

now i'm back at work.
i feel good physically.
emotionally is another story.
now we wait, wait, wait.

yesterday E planted an orange tree.
we also planted a garden with strawberries, carrots, lettuce and corn.
high for tomorrow 79.

mazatzal

We started our hike at the Barnhardt trailhead {in the Mazatzal area in the Tonto National Forrest} just south of Payson, AZ. It was a hot day and we made slow progress because we stopped so much on the way up the mountain. Half way through the trail we found this awesome cave and took a little nap on the cold flat rock. The rest of the hike was relatively flat and we got to our campsite late in the afternoon. We camped in a pretty little meadow at the end of a canyon {there were deer everywhere}. We rested in the shade for a while and then hiked up a nearby creek bed to find some water to filter and drink. That night we had tin foil dinners and cinnamon bears and enjoyed the amazing stars. The only problem was that it didn't cool down that much. I don't ever remember being hot at night when we've backpacked. But it was a warm night and we slept with the door of the tent open.

We originally talked about doing a loop and hiking out a different way than we came in but we were pretty tired {out of shape} and decided to make our trip shorter by just going back the same way we came in. So we got up early, packed up and made our way back. We ended up going a slightly different way on part of the trail so we could find another spring and filter more water. We drank a lot more water than we normally do backpacking because it was SO hot. We stopped at our cold, flat rock cave again and rested up. Then made our way back to the car. It was a good backpacking trip. Definitely not the best of our adventures but we had a good time. It's always good to get outside and enjoy the earth and feel the silence and peace that goes along with being in the wilderness.

first things first

the jasper house is under contract and in escrow. we are so excited. like seriously, this is the best possible thing that could've happened for us. if everything goes accordingly, escrow will close september 17th.

i got a new job. we are so excited. like seriously, this is the best possible thing that could've happened for us. i start working in the student life department at chandler-gilbert community college on august 30th.

we got the signed contract on the house AND i got the job offer on the same day, within 30 minutes of each other. we were joking that i should've taken a pregnancy test and it probably would've been positive. no luck on that front yet.

thursday thoughts

tomorrow = {seven} years since we met in hawaii + {six} years of marriage.

for some reason this number {six} seems even more significant than last years {five}. i've never felt like this in any of the previous years... i've always just thought - ok another year under our belt. and with {five} i felt like - we made it to the big milestone {five}. but maybe it's because now it means we're in the next bracket {like the 6-10 years of marriage bracket, if there is such a thing} i'm not sure. but it feels different... as if i'm on a new level - wiser and seasoned. although i know {six} years is still such a short time + there is still much more to learn. anyway, that's where my thoughts are today. plus a lot more mushy and sentimental musing that i wont smear here. i'll just smear them all over E this weekend.

2003 - hawaii

2004 - engagements in downtown SLC

2005 - dinner with friends in SLC

2006 - backpacking in the unitas

2007 - canada

2008 - u of u football game in san diego

2009 - backpacking in the san bernardino mountains

2010 - huntington beach

we're headed to sedona early tomorrow morning. i am really excited. right now, these weekend getaways are the only thing that keep me going during the week. and i'm nervous because next weekend we have nothing planned.

well hello there

the weekend was a busy one...

on friday E and I went to the jasper house. E mowed the lawns while I scrubbed the floors. it's been listed for a week now. if you want to check out the listing or consider buying the house :) go here.

on friday i stopped into my favorite fabric warehouse and they had just got a shipment in and i scored, like big time. i will have to take a picture of all the fabric i picked up for the amazing price of $2.99/yard. we're talking heather ross, amy butler, tracy evans, joel dewberry. i was in heaven.

on friday evening my sister stacey and her husband heath came over and we hung out and then the boys played tennis and afterwards we all went and got ice cream. fun to see my sis and ice cream is always good in this hot weather.

on saturday E took his friend, that came into town friday night {mike rasmussen} out to saguaro lake and went running/jumped in the lake. they came back and we ate lunch and spent the rest of the day together.

on saturday evening we met up with more friends {rich & susan, bill & kristy, mike} and ate dinner at joe's farm grill in gilbert {amazing} and went and saw A-team after.

on sunday E and i had a nice relaxing day together and i read half broke horses {so good} for a good part of the day {love when i get to do that}.

on sunday evening we went to rich and susan's place in scottsdale and ate a great dinner {susan is a chef} with them and mike and spent the evening chatting and going night swimming.

on monday morning i interviewed for a job at MCC {it went really well}.

on monday E and I spent the whole day together. we ate a great lunch while watching the soup, ran some errands, went to the library, read together, took a nap and cleaned up the house. then to top off the perfect day, i got an email telling me i was selected for a second interview!

on monday evening we met up with all the friends again {rich & susan, doug, mike} and ate dinner at Tia Rosa's and stayed there for forever chatting and laughing a lot.

then this morning E took mike to the airport and it was back to work for me. sigh. love good weekends full of great people and great food.

much needed

today we are taking a break from working so hard on our house

we are going here

it just opened on July 1st and has over 30 water coasters

i think i am most excited for the lazy river

and i have to admit a little nervous for maximum velocity
{world’s first, gravity-defying, dueling master blaster water coaster}

we made it

we got everything to AZ and packed it all away in a storage unit. it was HOT.
now we're in utah. it is FUN.

all i wanted

remember {this} post and how i won

eric and i went on {monday}

we took 2 pictures {i'm lucky i even got that}















it was eric's {first} time

we went on {space mountain} first and i think he loved it

then things went downhill when the {matterhorn} broke down

line waiting was made more enjoyable by {tap defense} on the iphone

then moral went back up while riding big thunder mountain {fast passes helped}

i told him about the goat trick {read #20} {watch video here} if you haven't tried this, you've got to, it makes the ride much more exciting

then we left and went to the {beach} for a couple hours

when we returned we hit up {screamin and sorin} and they both rocked, seriously awesome

and of course we ended with the {fireworks}

i am proud to say that we only spent 12 dollars {parking} the whole day

the best part {eric and i experienced a first in our relationship...riding a roller coaster together} can you believe we had never done that in the 6 years of our togetherness, i couldn't and i must say it was pretty exciting

a thrifty christmas

I LOVE real trees and Eric doesn't like spending money on them (I seem to always pick out the expensive ones). In previous years, Eric has compromised and bought me a real Christmas tree. This year, I compromised and we decided not to get a Christmas tree. Mostly because we wouldn't be around to enjoy it. But it didn't last long... one night we found ourselves going to the Christmas tree lot and looking anyway...

















The cheapest (and ugliest) thing we could find was $24.99. We didn't get one.

But Christmas isn't Christmas without a tree. We kept on talking about it and wondering if we should just spend the money and get one anyway. Then Eric had the BRILLIANT idea to look at a thrift store for a fake one. We got lucky because the first store we went to had THE perfect tree. It came pre-lit, had all it's branches, was the perfect size for our apartment and was 50% off. You can't beat that. We paid $10.13 for our perfect tree. See below... it's perfect, don't you think? One of my favorite things about a real tree is the smell, but I fixed that by plugging in my scentsy (thanks Jo) right behind the tree and it smells just like a real tree.






















The second we got home we turned on the Christmas music and stocked up the tree with our meager ornament supply. Then this happened... you should have been there, it was really fun!

















Eric was instantly jumping around like a little kid. And just so you all know, he makes up his own lyrics to all the Christmas songs. It's pretty funny...you should try to get him to sing some to you.

Since setting up the tree, we've been injected with Christmas cheer. I had issues with fake trees, I didn't like them. But I was reminded that it's not about the little details, it's about the way it makes you feel. Now it's really Christmas and it's glorious.

MERRY CHRISTMAS (consider this a Christmas Card from us to you)

dear ole crimson

We sent to San Diego on Saturday to watch the Utes play SDSU. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed watching the game. I love going to sporting events, I think they are so fun and exciting. I normally love eating hot dogs at games. But for the first time we didn't because we couldn't make ourselves spend 14 dollars on 2 hot dogs that probably wouldn't even fill us up. So instead we spent 6 dollars on cracker jacks and 5 dollars on water. Not the best idea, but whatever. After the 62 to 14 victory, we ended up finding this cool Italian pizza place that had amazing pizza. All in all, it was a good day.

Good job Utes and we look forward to you ending the season with a 12-0 record next weekend.

Us in all our red glory