4D Ultra Sound Photos

For a New Years Eve surprise I took Mom T to a prenatal studio where they do 3D/4D ultra sound photos and it was such and awesome time. Seeing the babies up close like that was just too amazing. We followed up our u/s w/ a Yummy dinner at Bone Fish and it was fabulous. Now it is time for a low key celebration w/ just the 4 of us (and Nash and Teebo too) as we bring in 2009. I wish everyone a very Blessed New Year!!!!!!

You will have to bear w/ me as it was so hard to choose which pictures to post...they are all so adorable :-) Well to me they are anyway :-)


Taryn's little feet


Taryn w/ her foot up by her mouth


Taryn w/ her fist by her mouth...I count 5 fingers :-)


Taryn again...just looking so peaceful

Evan's little foot (actually it looks kind of big LOL)

Sweet Evan looking like a little Angel

Evan w/ his arm up covering his face...that little stinker

and here is one more of Sweet Little Evan

24w6d Belly Bump

24 weeks and growing...well actually this is a little late and I am now 25 weeks and growing but I had to wait until Mom T was here to take my picture...so here it is. I had my 25 week check up this week as well and everything checks out good. Babies heart rates continue to be in the 140 bmp range and I am measuring 28 weeks...so 3 weeks ahead which is not bad as they say that most will measure up to 7 weeks ahead so I think we are doing well. Praise God!!!!!!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!!!!

99 Days and Counting

We are officially down to double digits as today marked 99 days (or less) and counting until the babies will enter this world, I just hope it isn't too much less :-). I know our ticker above reads more days but that is counting down to our official due date of April 13...however, our dr. says we will deliver no later then 38 weeks which is 30 March making it less then 100 days until our precious babies join our family. Sometimes that seems so far away and sometimes it seems just around the corner. I am still very much enjoying this pregnancy and trying to relish every moment of it as it may be the only one. I love feeling the babies move and kick...this entire experience has been such a blessing. Sometimes I cant help but look back and note how far we have come, especially as Christmas approaches. Last year at this time Chad and I were in NM skiing w/ the Tuttle family and having a really great time but for me all I could think about is what was to come in the upcoming year and more specifically in January. Once we returned home from NM we only had about a week until we packed the car and headed to DC for IVF #1 and we had so much hope and excitement for that cycle and unfortunately it did not quite turn out the way we had prayed for. Now looking back I still remember the total and complete devastation it was, truly one of the hardest things we have gone through...my heart was so broken and it did not feel as if the nightmare was ever going to end. I was so desperately seeking a way that I could move past my devastation and move on. Just like anything in life though, making a plan and having something to work towards always seems to be the best medicine. Chad and I fortunately were able to do that together and found our way to Shady Grove. Of course I still had a ton of soul searching to do and found some great books to read that really helped me change my perspective and really find God in the middle of everything. Up until this point I had felt so abandoned but I did not know how to get back to where I knew I needed to be...my heart was so hardened. Anyway, I just think about getting from there to here and the transformation that God has made in my heart, my life and even months before the positive pregnancy test. Chad and I made our second trip to DC w/ so much hope once again and it was scary for us to put ourselves out there once again knowing there was no guarantee for things to turn out any differently but having the faith in knowing that we needed to do this for us...maybe once more, maybe 3 more times we really did not know we just knew we had to try. Coming away from that second cycle pregnant w/ twins is just something that we can hardly believe even today w/ just 99 days to go :-) it seem so unreal and such and amazing blessing that we can hardly find the words to express our feelings. To have this experience is such a joy and a dream come true. So as I sit here just a few days before Christmas missing Chad and wishing he were here w/ me I just cant help but think of the future and how amazing and awesome next year will be and having these babies to love and cherish and celebrate w/ next Christmas brings tears of joy to my eyes. I am continually reminded that in God's time everything is perfect, not always the easiest concept the accept but one that He has proven to me time and time again. So I guess what I am trying to say is.....

....Happy Birthday Jesus...we love you and thank you for all the Blessings of our lives and especially for the gift of Evan and Taryn...we love them so much already!!!!!

Merry Christmas to everyone and may God Bless you and your family in 2009!!!!!

Dancing Baby

Today at work the Air Force Band came to our lobby and played a few Christmas tunes...it really was very nice...well in the middle of our "mini concert" Evan just started moving and kicking away and as soon as the music stopped so did he. It was so cute (at least to me). Taryn I think slept through her first Christmas concert but I am sure she will be making up for it. Actually both of them move quite a bit but not normally at the same time. Evan is my morning baby while Taryn is my night baby...I sure hope they get on the same schedule after they are born :)...I know wishful thinking.

We are doing well...miss Chad so much especially the closer Christmas draws near but I usually get an email or two from him daily and we have been able to IM (instant message) just about every other day. He is doing well and his spirits are high...just counting down until he can come home.

I am still feeling well...just getting bigger by the minuet. Starting to get some hip pain and low ab pain that I had read about...not too bad but it does make walking a bit uncomfortable from time to time.

I am starting to get tired of all the inquisitions...I cant even go to the ladies room (at work) in peace...I am always bombarded w/ a million questions and dare I tell them I am having twins it just starts a whole new level of the questioning processes. I try to be patient and remember there was a time I would have loved someone asking me these questions but sometimes you just want to go to the bathroom :-)...I am sure it doesn't help that I have to 500 x a day so that a lot of questions. I also know my belly is getting bigger because strangers are feeling more at liberty to reach out and touch it. That I don't think I will ever get used to...it like back off, yes I know my stomach is big but it is still my stomach and I don't go around touching peoples belly's LOL.
But I really cant and shouldn't complain things are going really well and I feel very, very blessed!!!!!! Chad and I thank God everyday for the precious gift of these babies :-)

22 Week Sonogram Photos

We had our 22 week sonogram this morning and it went very well...the babies looked great and were very active. I even got to see little Evan yawn...it was the sweetest :). They are on target for growth and weight. Taryn weighed in at a whopping 1Lb 1oz and Evan weighed in at 1Lb 3oz. Their growth and progression continues along beautifully we continue to thank and praise our God for such an amazing gift and blessing that these two little ones are. Here are the photos from this morning:

This is little Evan...I think he was blowing us kisses :) it was so fun to finally get a profile shot of his cute little face.

Here is our sweet Taryn w/ her face on the left and her belly on the right she has her little arm and hand up by her face...she must have been waving hello :)

She's Got Attitude

....and no I am not talking about me!!!!

Yesterday, I could feel Evan moving and kicking throughout the day but Taryn wasn't making much noise, so I thought I would check in on her and got out the Doppler. As I was rolling the Doppler around listening to her precious heartbeat I got a huge kick from her that was so strong I could see my stomach move. LOL. I guess that was her way of telling me she was fine and I just needed to leave her alone :-). There goes all my hopes that she will have Chad's disposition instead of mine...maybe Evan will :-). Anyway, it made me chuckle...that little stinker.

I have my next ultrasound on Monday...I cant believe I get another one so soon. I feel very blessed that they are watching the babies so closely...I know they are doing it for medical reasons but for me it is just a chance to peak in on them and marvel at the blessing and amazing gift that they are.

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving...ours was nice, we had a few people over but it was mostly low key...tons of food like always...leftovers are my favorite part :)...especially when it is chocolate pumpkin cheesecake and deep dish apple pie. We got Chad off on Sunday, it was so hard to say goodbye but now the countdown can begin...we miss him so much already and cant wait for him to come home.

I am working over the next few weeks trying to get my reserve days in while I am still able to work. I am getting around just fine and handling the work days better then I imagined I would...mostly just get really tired at the end of the day and my hips are starting to hurt as well as having some pain in my lower abdomen but nothing too terrible...I can certainly handle it. I don't think the long walks in the freezing cold weather across the parking lot help much w/ the hip pain...that really is the worst part of my day...walking to and from the building. We got new uniforms last year but they don't have jackets for us yet so it is pretty cold when you cant bundle up, especially for this AZ girl. I know you are probably thinking how cold does GA get, but let me tell you it has only been about 30 degrees in the morning and when the sun isn't out yet and it is breezy, it gets pretty cold.

I will be sure to update the blog w/ pictures after the u/s on Monday. Hope everyone is doing well.

Hugs,
Gena