Ten on Tuesday

{1}

This is how we roll most mornings, minus the weird expression on Kendry's face.

The foot rest is the perfect little seat when Kendry's legs get tired.

{2}

Did you notice little Jack waving 'hi' from his bundle in the photo above?

He is gonna be a social little fella', I can see that already.

{3}

I tried two easy jogs this week.

I probably shouldn't have.

{4}

I didn't realize how sheltered I've been from the outside world until I heard about the I-5 bridge collapse on the radio this week. I thought it was breaking news until I found out the incident occurred on May 23rd. 

I now resolve to turn on the news for at least a few minutes a day.

{5}

Well shoot, I guess I'd better educate myself on hash tags now.

Check it out:

Facebook Introduces Hashtags

#can'tteachanoldmamanewtricks

{6}

We're still working with Kendry on telling the twins apart and calling them by name.

Occasionally he gives up the guessing game and just states "Mom, it's crying!"

{7}

Speaking of crying, check out this heartbreaking sight:

My beloved Pampered Chef bar pan cracked into pieces in the oven, just like that.

Bizarre.

{8}

Living within two miles of an outdoor water park is difficult. I feel like a broken record every time we drive home.

"Yes, Kendry, I see that there are people swimming in the water."

"No, sweetie, we cannot go swim outside today."

"Or tomorrow, or the next day." (said quietly so he can't hear me)

I'm considering taking an alternative route home for awhile the rest of the summer.

{9}

 I'm off to bed early tonight - as in 9:30 p.m. We're trying a new tactic in the hopes of making the twins' night feedings a little easier.

In the words of Edward R. Murrow:

"Good night, and good luck."

{10}

This Week's Blessing:

A full freezer.

Between my mom's cooking, friends delivering freezer meals (you gals are awesome!), a growing stash of frozen breast milk (woot woot!), and bringing home 1/4 beef from Justin's parents' house this weekend, our chest freezer is stocked.

Is there such thing as freezer insurance?

Ten on Tuesday

{1}

We still can't believe we're the parents of three.

Three!

Yowsa.

{2}

I was informed this week that Starbucks is discontinuing their Petite Vanilla Bean Scones.

Say what?!

This atrocious move ranks right up there with the Costco food court switching from Diet Coke to Diet Pepsi - completely unacceptable.

I guess its time to try out PW's homemade recipe.

{3}

Watching Downton Abbey Season 3 with my mother while she visits: PRICELESS!

{4}

Hmmm... anyone have any good advice on dealing with thrush?

{5}

Against my better judgment I bought another houseplant a few months ago. Now look at it:

Its a succulent for crying out loud! You only have to water these things like once a week for them to thrive, right?

Does that look like thriving to you?

I didn't think so.

I am hereby revoking my own houseplant privileges.

{6}

That being said, we planted our vegetables outside this week.

At least Justin knows how to keep plants alive.

{7}

Am I the last one to understand what it means to hash tag?

Is it solely a Twitter thing?

{8}

Happy belated Mother's Day to me!

I'm not up and running yet, but hope to be soon.

{9}

The littles do matching stripes (Thanks, Coon cousins!) and a recliner initiation.

Just another wild weeknight in the Gimlin house.

{10}

This Week's Blessing:

Being the parents of three.

Three!

Yowsa.



{Disclaimer: sleep deprivation can cause me to repeat myself.}



{Disclaimer: sleep deprivation can cause me to repeat myself.}



Oh, forget it. I'm going to bed.

A Gimlin Canine

You will be pleased to know that not only have we added two little boys to our family, but we recently became the proud parents of this little canine as well.

Except he isn't that little.

 

 {1 week old}

He will, however, be a fun prop for measuring the growth of Jack and Cohen.

Don't you agree?

I threw in the basket prop so our two little 5 pounders didn't get lost beneath puppy's huge paws.

 

 Cohen stared up at puppy the entire time, with these thoughtful wrinkles across his forehead.

"Really, Mom? Really?!"

Now help me out, folks - giant stuffed puppy needs a name.

And Then There Were Five... {Birth Story}

I'm not gonna lie to you - this labor story might make you roll your eyes.

Thats how fast and "easy" it was - fast and "easy" as in it was less than three hours from start to finish.

Just know that if I sound like I'm bragging about my labor story, in all likelihood I probably am. After having Kendry four years ago I've come to be envious of those "fast and easy" labor stories because his was anything but. Oh, I know his labor didn't rank up there with the real doozies (i.e. 48 hours of labor followed by c-section or the like); but with the exception of the epidural, all day contractions and two hours to push out a 10+ lb baby do not an "easy" labor make.

This time around was a completely different story.

But first, a photo of me at 34 weeks, just two days before I went into labor.

Now allow me to walk you through the timeline.

Friday, May 10, 2013 @ 3:00 p.m.
I was enjoying Day 3 of my maternity leave and taking it easy because I'd been feeling a little off most of the day. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law arrived with my niece and Kendry in tow and we all headed outside to the back patio to enjoy the sunshine.

4:30 p.m.
I got too hot and uncomfortable outside and moved inside to the couch to put my feet up.

5:00 p.m.
I noticed my usual sporadic contractions were actually coming continually 5-6 minutes apart, although they still weren't painful. I tracked them for 30 minutes before admitting to my mother-in-law and sister-in-law that Justin and I may have to head to the hospital for some monitoring.

5:45 p.m.
I finally concede to calling my doctor about the contractions. Not two minutes after struggling to get myself off the couch and find the phone, my water breaks.


{CUE HUSBAND PANIC MODE!}

6:00 p.m.
We kissed Kendry goodbye, leaving him in the care of my sister-in-law, and departed for the hospital. Gritman Medical Center is about 35 minutes from our house. Needless to say, hubs put the peddle to the metal. Me? I closed my eyes and tried to keep my muscles relaxed, which wasn't too difficult since the contractions were still 5-6 minutes apart and didn't hurt yet. And with my eyes closed I couldn't see just how fast Justin was driving.

6:40 p.m. (ish)
We pulled up to the hospital, where they were expecting us. A quick wheelchair ride and I was checking into my room, getting hooked up to monitors. At this point I was still chatting with the nurses between contractions. After getting heart monitors for both boys the head nurse examined me and surprisingly announced that she thought I was already fully dilated.

Say what?!

I should note that Justin wasn't in the room at this point; he was still checking me in. Poor guy had no idea how quickly things were progressing until the doctor came in with her gown already on and they starting adjusting my bed so I could push. Thats when Justin got a little lightheaded and requested a chair. What I wouldn't give to have had this whole incident video-taped just to watch a play by play of Justin.

7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
My room was suddenly bombarded with nurses, the anesthesiologist, the ultrasound tech and the on-call pediatrician. There were questions about the gestation of the babies, did they have the steroid shots, etc. Although it is general practice for twins to be delivered in the operating room as a precaution, we were told there wasn't time for that.

Crazy, I tell ya! And yet there I was, still chatting and making jokes with the hospital staff between contractions - just like in the movies.

7:33 p.m.
Pushed through two contractions.
Welcome to the world, Jack Steven!

7:39 p.m.
Pushed through two more contractions.
Welcome to the world, Cohen Rodger!

Both boys came out crying and breathing incredibly well. Neither had any need for oxygen during our entire five night hospital stay. Due to the unknown cause of my preterm labor, the pediatrician started the boys on an antibiotic as a precaution. After a blood culture came back with a good report on Monday, they ceased the antibiotics.

On Wednesday we were headed home.

The birth story still feels so surreal, but we are so very thankful things went as smoothly as they did.

Now the real craziness begins...

Be-Four We Know It

To our precious Kendry Dru:

Today you are four years old.

You have been anticipating this day for quite some time, and in recent weeks have repeatedly issued an invitation to Mommy and Daddy: "Let's go sit and talk about my birthday."

And we have. Many times.

Because you love to talk, and I hope that never changes. Sure, sometimes its exhausting - like the mornings you squeeze in 34 questions in the mere 10 minutes it takes to drive to daycare - but we love watching your mind work as you try out a new vocabulary word or expression.

Like just the other day when you replied, "Well, I don't know what to tell you, Mom."

It took me a minute to realize that you stole that one from me. 

Smarty pants.

 

The young boy you are becoming emerges more with each day, and we cherish the few precious toddler characteristics that remain.

You still sleep with the same three baby blankets.

You still love to give kisses.

You still let Mommy kiss your owies.

You have the most beautiful sprinkling of freckles across your nose and on sunny days you enjoy telling me when another freckle has popped through.

You say "I love you, Mom/Dad" several times a day - more on days when you are being naughty and know it.

You are wearing 5T clothes and size 12 shoes. 

You love playing memory and doing floor puzzles.

Your favorite shows are Wonder Pets and Super Why.

You would eat everything with a side of ranch dressing, if permitted.

You already act like a proud big brother when we talk about "your babies".

 

We pray that you never doubt our incredible love for you, even when it feels like your little brothers have usurped your place.

We pray that you come to see what a joy it is to have siblings - at the very least so you can roll your eyes with them when Mom and Dad embarrass you throughout the years, because siblings get it.

May you always remember to be kind.

May you never lose your sensitive spirit, your love for reading, or your courage to break into song in the middle of a grocery aisle.

May you always keep your energy and enthusiasm for life, even if it does peak at 6:00 a.m.

We pray that you walk each day with the knowledge that God loves you and He has amazing things in store for you.

We love you, bud.

Love, Mommy and Daddy