30 is the new 20....right?

The BEST 30th birthday present a girl could ever ask for...

Mommy and Daddy had our 1st date night out using a sitter. We left the twins with my parents before, but this time, we used our nanny that has been helping me some nights. She knows the twins and what they like, so we felt really good about leaving them with her. We felt like grown-ups leaving our house with a sitter staying with our children..ha.
Still looking pregnant...but I am working on it. It will just take some time LOL.

All of my babies on my birthday morning....

I woke up to snow all over the ground, 2 beautiful babies, the cutest dog in the world and Cal was home! What a magical morning!

My birthday presents!!!

Cal also gave me a David Yurman ring that I have been wanting for years. It was a push present/ 30th bday! I am still waiting on it to get here from the jewelers. I can't WAIT to see it in person!

I had a fabulous 30th birthday~ thanks to my sweet hubby for making such a monumental birthday so special!

There is a first time for everything...

Sitting in our Bumbos for the first time. Jack actually likes them more than Lucy...although this picture doesn't really portray that fact...ha. Lucy was done with the whole situation way before him. Jack just really likes to look around and take the whole world in...so I think he liked the way things looked from this vantage point.
Lucy loves her Nonna! I just love that smile...

Jack's first snow!

Lucy's first snow!

I guess that all of my posts have been about these sweet babies...but they are my life now...

We have been adjusting really well. I am healing and feeling about 95% myself again. They are almost exclusively fed breastmilk. They have 2-3 bottles of formula just at night. They have both gone up to about 4 oz. of milk every 3 hours.

And here is the BIG news.....

drumroll please...

Lucy is sleeping EIGHT hours at night!!!! Jack made a FIVE hour stretch last night too. They get their last nightime feeding at 9:00. Lucy sleeps until 5:00 in the morning and Jack wakes up at about 1:30 or 2:30 to eat again. I let Lucy sleep and feed them both at 5:00 a.m. We (Cal and I) finally feel like we are able to get some rest!

Cal and I are taking shifts from night to night and that is working out great. He gets up one night and then I get up the next. So...there are not 2 tired people in the house and we are getting several good nights of sleep a week. We were both getting up for every feeding and that was getting exhausting.

I just have to say that God could not have created a better man for this job. Cal has been so dedicated, patient, loving and supportive through all of this. He has truly amazed me daily. I am just so proud to call him my husband and so happy that he is Jack and Lucy's daddy! He is an amazing father!

Feeding time approaches...duty calls!

Really?!? Has it been 1 month already?

Jack and Lucy...I can't believe it! You are 1 month old today!
I will always treasure the above picture because you are both looking straight at me. You both stayed like that for the longest time...just looking at me! I just love you both so much it hurts.

We will put you beside this bunny each month, so we can see how you grow in comparison to the bunny. I can't imagine you outgrowing the bunny...but I know you will in such a short amount of time!

I am going to do the normal "blog tradition" of stating what you are both up to these days!

JACK:

• ~ You were 6 lbs 14 ounces at your last check up at 2 weeks. I am guessing that you are close to 8 lbs now- you took a huge growth spurt last week.
• ~You drink 3.5 ounces of milk every 3 hours
• ~ You are always the one that wakes up first and lets us know that it is time to eat....and buddy you are usually right on the minute to 3 hours. It is hilarious...you must take after your daddy on promptness. ha
• ~ You have the cutest little thing you do right before you cry each time...you breathe in and out of your nose really fast then make this sound like a goat before you break out into a cry.
• ~ You had a fussy spell last week (during your growth spurt), but now you are as content as you can be.
• ~ You LOVE your swing.
• ~ You do NOT like the TV flashing in your eyes at night. We have to put a blanket up on the side of your swing to block the TV
• ~ You really like tummy time and lying on your back on the floor- kicking and looking around.
• ~ You love the Baby Einstein lullaby DVD- you just sit and stare forever...You sat content for over an hour today watching it.
• ~ You are eating really well now- you did NOT eat well at first. It used to take forever to feed you, but now you eat pretty fast. When you are done..you just start to blow bubbles to let us know that you are done.
• ~ You are beautiful and we love you more and more every second of every day!
  

LUCY:

• ~ You were 8 lbs 3 ounces at your last doctor's visit at 2 weeks and I am guessing that you are knocking on 9.5 lbs now.
• ~ You drink 3.5 ounces of milk every 3 hours.
• ~ You would probably keep sleeping if we didn't have to get you up to eat every time you brother eats just to keep you on the same schedule. You are a heavy sleeper.
• ~ You just now started to cry a little more than normal the past couple of days... maybe you are going through a growth spurt like you brother did last week.
• ~ You have the cutest little cry...you pucker you mouth into the shape of an O and do this "oooooo" sound...SO cute
• ~ You already know how to "work it" with your pout. You have know how to stick out that bottom lip since you came into the world.
• ~You LOVE your swing and the "white noise" sound while you are sleeping.
• ~You love the Baby Einstein DVD too..you really like to stare at things and people.
• ~ You smile a LOT! You have been cracking smiles since you were 2 weeks...and you do it at just the right time..which makes us think it truly might be on purpose! :)
• You are gorgeous...and we love you more and more each second of every day.

Lead Me!

Wow...what a fun-filled month this has been! I can't believe that Jack and Lucy will be a month old on Monday. Time flies when you are having fun ha ha. I do know that there is no possible way to prepare yourself for the challenges of twins, nor the joy that you feel while caring for them. It is extremely hard...but extremely rewarding! They are changing daily and their little personalities are making their appearance. It is just the most amazing thing to watch. Two little people...with their own mind, their own opinions and their own lives yet to live. I just get to facilitate for such a short time. Lord, please lead me as I lead them... Sweet, handsome Jack
Precious, beautiful Lucy

2 weeks in review...

On October 25- we arrived at the hospital at 6 a.m. We were so excited to have the time moved up- my original time was at 1:00 in the afternoon. I don't think we could have waited all day- we would have gone crazy!

Here we are at the hospital, getting ready to go into the operating room prep area. Yes...there were 2 big babies in that huge belly! ha

getting ready to see our babies for the 1st time! So nervous/excited!

Here comes Jack!!! Jackson Turner Laney- born at 8:04 a.m.

...and here is Lucy!!! Lucille Adair Laney- born at 8:05 a.m.
I get all emotional when I see this picture because during my 2 month stay in the hospital, I kept invisioning this scene. I kept picturing 2 healthy babies- strapped in their carseats, ready to come home with us on the day I was discharged. God did it for us- He made it happen! Praise HIM!
Jack- meet your sister, Ava!

Halloween was extra special this year- It was grandaddy's birthday, and he got 2 little pumpkins for his present! He was more excited about this present than any other present I have ever given him...ha! Nonna also had a birthday just 5 days before the twins were born...so she also got this amazing birthday gift! Happy Birthday Mom and Dad!
TWO peas in a pod for Halloween!

snuggling in bed~ the most beautiful babies I have ever seen in my life.

These past 2 weeks have FLOWN by. I can't believe they are already 2 weeks old. They will be teenagers before we know it. We sit and stare at them a lot! We are just overwhelmed by this amazing gift from Heaven.

I have to add a small sidenote... I want to remember all that it took to get to this point. I never want to forget the struggle to get pregnant with these angels. I can't understand why some of my very dear friends are reading this post right now wondering why God hasn't granted them the baby that they desire. I will never understand why some have to wait longer than others or why the pain is so extreme that it literally hurts every fiber of your being while you are waiting. Please remember that if you are reading this and you are still waiting- miracles do just happen- silent prayers are answered and God has an AMAZING plan for you.

They're HERE!...and they are perfect!

I made it to 38 weeks... are you kidding me??

Jackson Turner Laney "Jack" born at 8:04 on October 25, 2010- 6 lbs and 2 oz/ 19.5 inches long

Lucille Adair Laney "Lucy" born at 8:05 on October 25, 2010- 7 lbs and 9 oz/ 19.5 inches long

SIMPLY AMAZING!

Sweet, sweet babies!

Last...

Last...

...weekend to not be a mom

...Friday to sit in silence

...3 nights to not sleep with one eye open

...few times to feel hiccups and kicks

...few times to struggle getting in and out of a chair LOL

...times to look at empty swings

...few days to not be able to smell and kiss my sweet babies

Last time before A LOT of firsts...

A Miracle...

36 weeks!!!!

I am HOME!!! I have been here for a week. I was in the hospital for a grand total of 8 weeks, including all of my admissions. I was there for a running 6 weeks this time before I was finally discharged to come home! I wish that I could have journaled this experience a lot more than I have...but with the I.V.s and magnesium...typing with a level head was just out of the question. I am so happy to say that our God is still in the "miracle working" business. I mean...I have been contracting in a labor pattern since I was 23 weeks pregnant! At 33 weeks, when I became 3.5 centimeters dilated and 100% effaced, the contractions literally STOPPED! If that is not a miracle...I do not know what is. I still have the normal "braxton hicks" contractions a few times a day, but definitely not every 5-10 minutes anymore. I am now 36 weeks and 1 day!!! As Cal says..."That is just crazy talk"! I will NEVER forget the night at the hospital at 26 weeks when we were told that we were going to have to be transferred to UK to have our babies.....I will never forget looking up at Cal and seeing the fear in his eyes. It was the most sobering moment of my life. A nurse came into my room and put her hand on me and Cal and began to pray. I will never forget that prayer, and I will never forget the way that it made me remember who was in charge. Our God is such and amazing God. He has a reason for everything. If the only reason behind why we had to go through what we did was to be a testament for His glory and for His ability to work miracles...then this has been worth it all.
I know when I see these little faces in a week and 4 days...I will see another reason why this has been worth it! As of now, I am LOVING the little kicks and hiccups and literally cry when I think of how I only have such a short time to have them all to myself like this. Although, this has been a very challenging pregnancy...it has been the best experience of my life. I have looked forward to this all of my life, and nothing can steal my joy!
I will leave with a few pictures of how our house is changing and turning into a home ready to "bring home babies":
I am a little obsessed with these car seat covers! Love them...

This is a very special picture in the nursery of the other set of twins in our family... my grandfather Edward and his twin Edwin:
Lucy's side:
Jack's side:
Below is Lucy's "coming home" gown. On top of the shelf are shoes and books that were mine and "Chuck's" (Cal's dad) silver baby cup. Also, her "coming home" bonnet that I had made for her. It is appropriately called the "Ava" bonnet by the company...ha
Jack's "coming home" gown and bonnet. On top of the shelf is a blue glass carriage that was Cal's, his little shoes and silver baby cup, along with a set of fairy tale books that belonged to me:
The changing station is one of my favorite things....I love that it is sunny and has a good view too. This window was just a bay window and my dad built the shelves to turn it into the changing station.... I LOVE it! My mom made all of the lamps in the room! How talented is she?
Cal's mom did the glazing on the nightstands and chest of drawers! They match PERFECTLY!!! I am just in love with the nursery!!!

...and last but NOT least....here is our 1st baby trying out some of the "baby gear"....she is having mixed emotions as this is her last week of being our "only child" LOL:

Trust or Sink?

We are doing great here.... we have a plan of action and a DATE for the C-section!! I will be taken off of the magnesium I.V. right at 34 weeks, which is next Wednesday. I am so excited about getting this I.V. out of my arm. I have had to get the I.V. re-done ever 4 days, so I am going to be so glad to not have to be stuck again.
Also, our Doctor gave us a C-section date of October 20~ we are so excited to have a plan and a date! She just talked to us about this last night. She seems to think that there is no reason that I wouldn't make it 4 more weeks. I sure hope I can- then we will be taking these babies home with us! That was an unheard of dream to us about 4 weeks ago. We toured the NICU and got our minds prepped to see our sweet little angels in those incubators. We knew that God would provide and take care of these babies that He loves more than we do...but it was an extremely hard pill to swallow to think of these helpless babies being poked on and prodded on. We know that now at 33 weeks, these babies would be the "growers and feeders" in the NICU if God decides that they need to come on into the world...what a blessing!

I have been clinging to the story of Peter....do we Trust or Sink?

"And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." Matthew 14:28

If you've read this account before, you'll remember that the disciples were in a boat and Jesus came walking toward them on the water. The Bible tells us that Peter called out to Jesus and said, "Lord, if it is you, bid me to come to you on the water." Jesus told him to come and Peter walked on the water for a while. Then he began to look at the boisterous winds around him and when he did, he began to sink. The next thing we see happening is Peter crying out to Jesus to save him.

As I thought about this account, I noticed that Peter had the faith to call out to Jesus and ask Him to let him come to Him, and at Jesus' word He stepped out onto the water. When Peter began to sink, he had the faith to call out to Jesus to save him. But if you'll notice, he did not have the same faith in Jesus when he looked at the "storm" around him. We are no different than Peter- we have faith in the Lord to step into the water, and if we get in trouble and start to sink we have faith in Him to save us, it seems that our trouble comes in the "middle" of the storm. That's when we have trouble believing and trusting Him. I trust Him to get me out there, I trust Him to save me when I sink, but can I trust Him when I'm in the storm and it's raging all around me? Do I have the faith to believe that He can keep me afloat? Do I forget Who is with me on the stormy sea? Most people find it hard to walk "with" Him in the storm.

This is where our problem lies. When Peter was sinking, Jesus asked him why he doubted? In other words...why did you doubt that I would take care of you while you were out here? We must learn to trust Him while we are in the boat, when we take that first step out of the boat, when we are sinking... and while we are going through "boisterous" times.

a day in my life

For memory keeping sake....here is my 30 week picture at the hospital. I am starting to look like "octomom"...sheesh.... Please ignore the swollen face from the IV of magnesium....I can't even put on my rings. ugh

I hope that it just gets bigger! :)

I will be 31 weeks on Wednesday, and I just can't stop thanking God for this miracle that He is allowing to occur. I don't know of very many stories where a woman has contractions non-stop every 5-10 minutes for 2 and1/2 months and nothing happens. We are very grateful that we have gotten this far.
My days up here are pretty good. I have made friends with everybody here at the hospital...I am even getting some special treats from the kitchen...like Snicker's icecream bars! yum! I really am not having a bad time up here...the bed is comfy, my meals are good, and the nurses will remain lifelong friends. There is always good in everything...and I am determined to find the good all day long! Also...Ava got to come visit on Saturday. She nearly bit a nurse for giving me a shot, but besides that, she did really well. She was sooooo sweet- she curled up by my belly and slept all day. I miss that little dog so much! :(

Cal and I are dreaming of watching babies in bouncy seats in about a month or so while watching Ole Miss games in the comfort of our living room....ahhhh...the little things sound so amazing right now!

We're Still Truckin'....

So....here I am at 29 weeks prego. Do you see why my body thinks that I am full-term? ha Jack and Lucy have grown even more, and we are taking pictures at the hospital, but NO, I am not putting up those awful pictures LOL! My eyes are just about swollen shut from the magnesium IV that I am on. We will look at these pictures and laugh one day I am sure. The picture above was taken right before I was admitted back into the hospital this time around.

In all seriousness, the twins could come any day now. They have me on meds to stop the contractions, but I am already dilated (1.5 centimeters last week) and my cervix is already changing. We know that at 30 weeks, the twins could do really well, but I know that each day that I am in the hospital, I am saving them from 2-3 days in the NICU, statistically. I keep telling myself this fact and each time that I am poked with a needle or IV, I remind myself that it is one less needle that Jack and Lucy will have to be stuck with.
The doctor told me today that I will be here until 34 weeks unless, the twins decide to come before then.

I believe in the power of healing through prayer and I know that God can stop this pre-term labor if it is His will. But, I also want to pray that if it would be safer for the twins to come out due to some unknown infection or something of the such, then, I want God's will in that as well. I have stopped praying "God please keep them inside", and started praying, "God...your will be done". He knows the reason this is happening and He will keep Jack and Lucy safe.

At this point, I just need prayers for sanity and resolve as I sit in the hospital for this undisclosed amount of time. I am just so grateful that the babies are still safe and sound.

2 hearts beating wildly

Have you heard the song "One Boy, One Girl" by: Collin Raye....

well, I have cried my tears for the day~ ha~ what great lyrics

.........................................................................................................

He was holding her hand when the doctor looked up and grinned,
"Congratulations, twins"

One boy, one girl
Two hearts beating wildly
To put it mildly, it was love at first sight.
He smiled, she smiled, and they knew right away
This was the day they'd been waiting for all their lives,
And for a moment the whole world,
Revolved around one boy, and one girl

...........................................................................................................

(and I believe our world will continue to revolve around this little boy and girl....we already love them so much it literally hurts)

By the way...I am at HOME now from the hospital. I was there for a week and a half. My cervix has still not changed at all, so they feel certain that Jack and Lucy will stay put for a lot longer. I am on full-blown bed-rest now. I can't even go downstairs...I had to pick a floor and stay there...so I picked the floor with a shower! ha My mom is here helping me set all up and Cal is such an angel....everyone is helping so much! I am just so glad to be in my bed with my sheets and pillows....no more plastic pillows! woohoo

Please pray that these contractions continue to do no harm!

One Wild Ride!

I want to post this, not only for your prayers, but also for my memory. Our little family has been through a whirlwind the past couple of days. I know I posted this before, but I have been having contractions for about a month now. On Thursday, August 5th, the contractions did not make thier usual stop after about 2 hours of having them...they just kept coming. They were not painful, just uncomfortable and my belly got really hard. I called Cal at work and told him that I was going to have to go in to the hospital. They put me on the monitor and immediately tons of people came rushing into my room with needles, steroids, IVs, catheters, and so on... my contractions would NOT stop. They put me on the HIGHEST possible levels of magnessium sulfate and they STILL would not stop. There was talk of moving me to UK, because Central Baptist NICU only accepts babies 28 weeks and above. I was only 26 weeks and 1 day. Cal and I were the most scared that we have ever been in our lives.
The contractions finally started to loosen up and my cervical length was still good and long. I sat in this room on an IV of mag, fluid, antibiotic, catheter, pulse monitor, blood pressure cuff, and scuds on my legs for 2 days...there was no window in the room- Cal and I were literally going crazy! I am not even sure what we did with our time. I think we just stared at the wall. I was moved over to the ante-partem unit on Saturday- which is like a "graduation" from labor and delivery. A big nice room with a WINDOW, computer, refrigerator, DVD player, shower, and all of that fun stuff. ha
It is now August 10 and I am still here and probably will be until mid-August or more. They want to keep me here for sure until I am 28 weeks. I will be 28 weeks next Wednesday....so ONE MORE WEEK! I will be 27 weeks tomorrow!!! BIG celebration!
Jack and Lucy are doing great...they are still playing around- great heartrates and they look great on the ultrasound. The ultrasound that we had on Monday proved that my cervix was still good and long with no changes. PRAISE GOD> the Dr. called my contractions, "worthless contractions"- so that made us all feel much better. We are now playing around with meds to stop them...well, not stop them ...but slow them down a bit. So far, I am still having them pretty regular and they are wearing me out- literally! I am exhausted at the end of the day, even though I sat in the bed all day.
I just keep telling myself that I would much rather be the one hooked up to monitors and IVs than Jack and Lucy. They are as happy as they can be right now, and that is the way it needs to stay. Each day that I am here hooked up to all of this junk is one more day that they will not need to be! That is re-assuring.
Please pray for us- pray for our determination and strength, and that God continues to do His will in all of this.

Prayers...

For this reason we never become discouraged. Even though our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual being is renewed day after day. And this SMALL and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble. For we fix our attention not on the things that are seen, but on things unseen. What can be seen only lasts for a time, but what can not be seen lasts forever. 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18

We are fixing our attention on things unseen. God's plan is the ultimate and I KNOW with all of my heart that HE will provide and take care of us.

I have been having a LOT of early contractions and had to be admitted into the hospital twice during the past week. I am on meds that are somewhat controlling the contractions. I am on bed-rest and will be until these little angels arrive. I am trying to stay focused and controlled and non-emotional, but it is hard. I know that the more I am on an even-kill, the better it is for the babies. I am trying to be solid and calm. I take that back....God is being solid and calm through me, because without Him, I would be a total mess. I have a feeling that this whole situation is harder for the people around me than on me.

I am just asking for your prayers. Please pray that Jack and Lucy stay safely inside until they are full-term and healthy. I am 25 weeks and 1 day today....my Doctor is setting short-term goals for me- so the BIG goal as of now is to get to 28 weeks. So, 3 more weeks, then when we get to that point, we will set a new goal, and so on.

On another note: Here are some new pictures of the nursery in progress.... I obviously can't work on it anymore, so I am so thankful that we have gotten done what has already been done. Check out the furniture that my mother-in-law glazed for us. Isn't is gorgeous?!? I am LOVING the nursery! I love to go in there and just sit and stare. The curtains will be in next week. I am covering lampshades in pink toile for Lucy to match her bedding, and one in blue toile to match Jack's bedding. My sweet sorority sister, Christie, is painting canvases for above their beds with thier "master circle" monograms. Also, I am looking for some little hanging coat-racks to hang above their night-stands and lamps for thier "coming-home" outfits. Also, we (Cal and my mom and dad) are putting an extra shelve under the changing to table to put slide-in baskets for all of the changing equipment. I am so excited to see it all coming together!

mini-Cal and mini-Adair

I know that this will be an ultra boring post for most, but for my memories, I want to record all of these special moments... (tons of ultrasound photos ahead)...
Cal's mom, Suzan was able to go with us to the 1st ultrasound here in KY. It was fun to see Lucy and Jack moving all around and watch as they measured so perfectly in every area. I was 21 weeks and 1 day and they both measured right at 21 weeks and 1 day on pretty much everything- EXCEPT- Jack's legs literally measured 23 weeks long HAHA... guess he is going to take after his 6'6" daddy! Also....take a look at their feet! These pictures do not do it as much justice as seeing it in person. The tech was even laughing about Jack's BIG feet! She was using the same zoom on both photos...I hope that the difference is as noticable in these pictures as it is in person...

Above are Lucy's skinny little feet (both in the picture- left foot resting on top of right foot)
and here is Jack's BIG foot! It is hillarious! this is Lucy's face- she is looking straight at the camera- her chin and facial bone structure is exactly like mine! :) and here is Jack looking straight at the camera- his chin and facial bone structure is exactly like Cal's! :) This photo was at 23 weeks- the top of both heads. They are both side-by-side and breech. All FOUR feet are on my bladder! HAHA I know it is hard to see- but here is the proof that Jack is all BOY! and the proof that Lucy is all GIRL! Above is Lucy's profile- I hate that it is so blurry. She has her little arm up by her face. Look at that cute little button nose! :) and here are 2 shots of Jack's profile- in the above photo his mouth is wide open. mouth is open in this one as well, just not as wide. He has the cutest little button nose too! I just can't wait to squeeze them both!!! They are starting to become real people in our minds- it is so surreal.

I just remember so vividly wondering if I would ever be able to feel this miracle happening inside of me, and I can't stop praising and thanking God for the opportunity to have this awe-inspiring experience. Cal and I want to thank each and every one of you for all of your continued prayers and support during this whole process! We feel so blessed!