Love

Love this one...

Cute Big Boy Saturday

He found a pair of my fuzzy socks and spent the day playing with them. lol

Friday Five

I got a text from a friend today which asked us if we had a "'virus free' holiday weekend." I had to laugh, because of course we did not. I'm guessing we have about ten more years or so before we can be so lucky! lol.

Speaking of viruses, Shawn is feeling a bit better although he is still a bit (well...a lot) grumpy. Jason still has a yucky cough. Jack is still Jack, so who knows what's going on with him. ;)

~~~

Jason declared his like for one of the side dishes he had for Thanksgiving yesterday. Today I gave him some for dinner. He grimaced his way through and immediately followed each bite with several gulps of water. The verdict is still out as to whether he truly "likes" said dish or if he is merely tolerating it.

I'm fairly certain it may be the latter.

~~~

Jack has been a crack up lately. Tonight he found a round block. He pushed that thing all over the living room while saying, "Oh no! The letter 'O' is getting away from us! Let's chase it! Oh no!" While the comedy of the scene may not translate well into words, believe me when I say it was hilarious. :)

~~~

We got the nicest text from one of the boys' teachers yesterday:

"I am blessed having you as students! Happy Thanksgiving Shawn and Jason!
Love,
Mrs. C"

She always tells us when she sees us about how much she loves our guys. It is really very sweet. And clearly she is a brilliant woman. Ahem.

~~~

Snuggles with the littlest. He loves my "tickly hair." lol

Happy Thanksgiving

All in all, we had a nice Thanksgiving.

We're lucky enough that my mom treats us to a wonderful meal.
Here was my one contribution--I took the turkey out of the oven.
At least I did it well! lol

Jack didn't want to wait for the main meal.
He shared some of his carrots with me, though. :)

Getting ready to eat...

Getting ready to eat from the other direction. :)

Jason was dreading the arrival of Thanksgiving because
he did not want to eat anything other than a hotdog.
I made him a deal which encouraged him to try a little bit of 5 different foods.
That was HUGE!

Jack went with the tried and true Thanksgiving
banana and peanut butter waffle. lol

Shawn wasn't feeling very well (poor guy),
but he did manage to eat a bit of food with us.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

It was bath night, a time these two especially love. You'd never know it by the looks on their faces, now would you? ;)

Selfie and a Pretty View

Shawn is getting to be a selfie pro! ;)

Bring on the Slopes

Jack took some time this evening to start practicing his skiing.

No, he's never actually been to the snow, but that doesn't matter to him. Bring on the slopes anyway, he says!

 

He also sends kisses to his adoring fans. :)

Where Did We Find Him Now?

Oh this kid. He keeps things interesting, that's for sure!

On tonight's edition of Where Will We Find Him, Jack created an impromptu bed on the floor of his bedroom during quiet time yesterday afternoon.

Don't worry. I uncovered him when I found him. :)

Cute Big Boy Saturday

Friday Five

Shawn has been toothless for less than a week, and wouldn't you know it that he already has one of his teeth growing in. That in itself is no big deal, except we have family pictures on Tuesday. Can you believe that? His tooth starts growing in JUST before we take pictures?!

It seems that I am just not going to get that classic toothless picture I covet. lol. No matter, I guess. He is cute toothless or not.

~~~

Jack is in the middle of another big growth spurt. He is all of a sudden wearing pants that Shawn can wear. Whoa.

~~~

Jason is still sick. Or maybe he's sick again. Tonight he's got another fever and is congested. He's in there coughing the night away right now. :(

~~~

This week Jason was asked by one of his teachers if there is anything he wants her to help him learn how to do. He thought for a moment before he said in a very serious tone, "Yeah, I want to learn how to drive a car."

Um, sorry buddy. I don't think she can help you with that one for a few more years!

~~~

I need to figure out how to bottle up Jack's energy. Jeez, that boy is on the go every moment of the day. I get tired just watching him!

Throwback Thursday

This week in 2011...

Cutie patooties if I do say so myself!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

Love!

This Kid...

He'd been in bed for nearly an hour when I heard him. At first I just assumed he was talking to himself, his usual stall technique when he's trying to avoid going to sleep.

But no, this time it was different. More melodic. He was singing! And he was loud.

I peaked my head around the corner, and saw him there. He was standing in his doorway, leaning against the baby gate.

"Put your left hand in..."

Out stretched a tiny little hand through the bars on the gate.

"Put your left hand out..."

The hand disappeared into the darkness.

"Put your left hand in and shake it all about..."

The hand came back and rattled against the bars as he shook it about.

"Do the Hokey Pokey and you turn yourself around..."

The hand disappeared again as he turned around in his doorway.

Isaac came out of the back bedroom at this point. When he saw him Jack scrambled for his bed singing the last line of the song.

"And that's what it's all about!"

This kid never fails to make me smile. :)

World Prematurity Day

This post was first published November 17, 2011...

~~~

Today we are purple.

Purple to honor all of the millions of babies worldwide who were born too soon.

Purple to honor the fight of those babies and their families for survival.

Purple to honor those babies who can fight no more.

Today we are purple to honor those we love who have been touched by prematurity.

Today I was purple to honor our super boys, Shawn and Jason.

I will forever be amazed by the strength and determination our two boys showed in the early days of their lives (and continue to show today). They endured more in those months than many people ever experience in their entire lives. It seemed like every complication possible was thrown their way, but together they conquered the NICU.

They captured the hearts of everyone who worked with them. (I think they still do. :) )

Our guys survived and thrive.

We are the lucky ones.

---

Born at 28 weeks and 3 days, our guys were not even 3 pounds and about as long as a Barbie doll. (As tiny as they were, they were huge for their gestation.)

Shortly after the boys were born. This is Isaac's ring.
It would have easily slid all the way up to their armpits.

Isaac's ring on a foot.



A little hand barely able to hold daddy's thumb.

A small round band aid to protect a delicate knee
(their knees were so delicate that the skin would
get raw when they'd lay on their bellies)

Our guys were tiny but mighty.

Shawn, Baby A:

The first time I was able to see Shawn.
I didn't even get to see him in the delivery room.

Shawn - not even a week old.

Holding Shawn for the first time. I am so grateful to
our respiratory therapist who made this happen.

Shawn in his first clothes.
They were preemie size and still swam on him for weeks.

Mommy and daddy with Shawn.

Shawn in December 2007

Jason, Baby B:

Meeting Jason for the first time. I was given a brief glimpse
of Jason in the operating room, but they held him up for me for literally a second.

Mommy and daddy with Jason

Jason under the Billi lights for jaundice.

 

Holding Jason for the first time.
He was on a ventilator to help him breathe.

Daddy with Jason

Jason in December 2007

Our first picture as a family of 4 (and the first time I'd held both boys together).
December 2007

 ---

They had a rough start, but our super boys are strong, smart, determined, and funny.

We are the lucky ones -- I hold that knowledge in my heart -- because our boys are here with us.