Mothers Day

My second Mothers day was spent exactly how I would want it, with my family! The bonus was that this year we were not in the hospital, I didn't have to ask for permission to snuggle my lovies and my lovies are healthy and home! Who could ask for more?

Last year at this time my babies were just eight days old. I was able to hold Nicholas for the very first time ever the day before Mothers day when he was a week old. It was only for a few brief minutes but those moments were utterly blissful. I'll never forget it. My heart was not complete though at the time because it would be several weeks more before I would be allowed to hold Alex for the first time. What a difference a year makes!!!!

This year, we didn't really do anything particularly special, and yet it was a truly wonderful day. All the "boys" spoiled mommy by letting me sleep in an hour longer (a true gift to be sure) and then bringing me coffee in bed (ohhhh such a treat). They picked out a beautiful "two peas in a pod" necklace which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, chocolates (love, love, love) and fun socks!!!! I think the socks were really gift from the boys TO the boys since they have this really funny appreciation of feet and especially ones sporting all kinds of colors,  stripes, designs, animals, the more wacky the better. I love that they will roll or scoot from several feet away just to come check them out, grab at them and giggle. Just one of the many things that can make a mamas heart melt so actually on second thought, definitely a gift for mama!!!

We then headed out to our favorite coffee shop (aptly named Jitters) and shared a booth that snuggled all four of us in so nicely. Mommy and Daddy shared a yummy sandwich in between holding and feeding squirmy babes. Our boys did lots of flirting with the other patrons and seemed to enjoy the time just as much as we did. We then brought our toasty drinks with us for the road (Its May but it was snowing in upstate NY today). We didn't want to go home already so we decided to take a drive instead as the babes drifted to sleep in their comfy cozy seats, and the radio softly playing in the background. Mommy and Daddy enjoyed the scenery, just being out and about and having a few quiet minutes of sipping our drinks and catching up.

The boys sleep "timer" went off predictably at just 30 minutes and by that time we realized we had driven to the other side of town and were very near their grandparents house so we took a chance that they would be home and surprised them with a visit. There was no shortage of hugs and playing there, while the adults chatted and even snacked on yummy mothers day treats. It was a really nice way to spend the day. We filled our boys tummies and packed them up again in time to steal another nap for the ride home. It was a full and happy day!!!

Daddy was even able to snap a couple pictures before the day came to an end. I'm usually the one behind the camera so its nice to have a couple of me with my boys! (although they were just a bit too tired to flirt with the camera tonight, thats okay, still love em!!)

Also I would be totally remiss if I didn't say Happy Mothers Day to MY mom who is one of the best moms a girl could have. You're always the first person I think of, call or write to with the best or worst of news, or just something silly that I want to share. In the last year alone, you have sometimes literally held me up when I felt like I was going to fall down, you have cried with me on some of the toughest of days, celebrated the highs with me, I know worried for me. You are there not just for the "big" things happening with me and the boys but the every day things. You attempt to stay in the background never looking for recognition or praise for all the work you do, all the vacation days you use to bring us support as we face another hospitalization, or surgery. You keep us fed with food and love, wash our dishes and babies clothes when we have simply been too tired to pay attention to such things.  I know there is nothing that I can say that can possibly convey my gratitude for all that you have been to us in just this past year alone, THANK YOU is all that I have.

I guess honestly the best gift that I have this mothers day is to have been given a mother exactly like you, and to have the privledge of being able to watch her love and dote on my children, and for them to know the love of their Nana!

Medical update

We've had so much fun stuff going on that I have neglected to give just a general medical update on the boys and since several have asked, here are the highlights.....

You have probably noticed that in most if not all of the recent pics, Alex has been wireless!!! We are so thankful that he is keeping up his oxygen during the day and does not require any supplemental. We still do frequent checks and he wears the monitor during naps and at bed time. We were able to successfully wean him from the oxgyen during nap time several weeks ago but he still requires during deep sleep or his oxygen bounces back and forth to the 80's so he wears it every night. We are encouraged that he only needs it at night time and are hopeful that this means his lungs are continuing to heal. We take him for another chest xray and pulmonary appointment in a couple weeks and hope that maybe he won't require extra oxygen at night time soon. But as things go, we can definitely manage this. Alex might beg to differ as we struggle every night to put the tape on his face to hold the oxgyen in place so that his little fingers can't manage to "accidentally" put the prongs up on his forehead, or be chewed on by his new chompers. He definitely doesn't like the tape but he does love to play with the tubing any chance he gets (as does his brother).

Our medical appointments ebb and flow and during the next few weeks, its definitley flow time. We have upcoming appointments with nutrition, pulmonary, our 12 month pediatrician and shots, neurosurgery check up, ortho and spine xrays, kirch clinic (which is PT/OT, developmental pediatrician, urology all in the same day), dermatology, GI and audiology for a 12 month hearing check. Thats all just in the next four weeks. We are okay with all of this, just hopeful that all the appointments bring in positive news!!!

This Monday we are asking for prayers for Nicholas. He is having surgery (urology) that has been planned for months but now is suddenly before us. It is fairly minor, less than two hours in surgery and is outpatient. I shoudn't be so anxious about this. Out of everything the boys have already been through, this is way down on the list of worries. Together the boys have had a collective 6 surgeries in the last 12 months, this one making number 7. Nicholas is much older and bigger now so that makes me feel better in general. However I'm sure any parent understands having your baby go into any type of surgery and anesthesia brings with it some angst. I'll be happy to have one more behind us and hopefully only one more to go. (Alex also needs a much more in depth urological surgery, possibly two separate surgeries in the future but the urolgoist wants to plan this for more in the future).

Thats the big news for now. Because the best part of my posts are honestly just the babes themselves, here's a few to enjoy:

photos taken with my iphone (my camera has had another, ahem, accident which is unfortunately not been an uncommon occurence around my little ones in the last few months--my dad patiently tries to get it repaired each time but I am starting to wonder if I need a camera made out of indestructible rubber or something for the amount of times little hands find it and drop it on the hard wood floor and completely waterproof to guard against the all too familiar coffee and bottle spills.)

sporting some of their new duds....soooo handsome aren't they?

Nicholas loves hats, he will wear them inside the house and out

he even tries to take them off of his Daddy.

Alex however does not like hats

he won't usually keep one on even for a minute

maybe becasue he has to wear his helmet almost all day/night

he probably doesn't want anything on his sweet little head

for the little break time he gets of fresh air

he's warming up to the camera yet.......

Party!!!!

We celebrated our boys first birthday this weekend. It started several days before the actual party. Mark really wanted to do something special for our boys. He decided months ago that he wanted us to make their first cake. Marks mom made all of the birthday cakes when he and his siblings were small and if she were still with us, I'm sure she would have loved to do it for the boys as well. It was in her honor that we tried our hand at it. We have never baked or decorated a cake before so this was a bit of a reach for us but we were determined.

I think we did okay....hopefully the boys will look back someday and appreciate it.

We were sooooo lucky to have a beautiful day, weather included so we brought the party outside....

boys were not sure what to make of the cake

but did enjoy getting their sweet little hands in it....

The little bit they had didn't stay put in thier bellies but I'm thinking next year will be a bigger hit!!

Presents, presents, presents. The boys were spoiled with clothes, toys......

Nicholas especially liked the paper and tags!!!

Can you read what Alex's shirt says??? sooo true!

Nicholas actually wasn't sleeping here but close to it,

both boys enjoyed cuddle time with family.

All in all it was just a fabulous day spent with family and friends and taking stock at how far

the boys have come in a year. We are so blessed!!!!!!

And here are a few of the boys just enjoying the fresh air and playing outside.

Just can't get enough of all of our baby blues!!!!

and here two little teeth are shared.....

Both boys are up to 5 teeth each now

both have the two on bottom and three on top

chomp, chomp!