A Year in Review..

Wow, what a year 2014 was!  I think it was one of the hardest, most exciting, blessed, amazing years of my life! I completed 'A Year in Review' blog post for 2011 and 2012, and must have overlooked 2013.  Since I skipped 2013, here are some key features!

1) I learned to love and appreciate the island over the course of this year.
2) In February, we rescued and adopted out a beautiful little island puppy!
3) In April, my mom came to visit and we had a wonderful time!
4) In April, we also got to take a trip to Florida to visit MomMom & PopPop and Joedy & Gerald.  It was a great two weeks!
5) In July, I did my first major hikes in St. Kitts, including hiking to the top of the Volcano!
6) August brought my time as a teacher at the Ross Prep School to an end... Very sad!
7) August 3rd was a big day!  It was the day I took my first pregnancy test...and it was POSITIVE!  August 6th, a second positive test began to confirm the pregnancy, and a blood test shortly after gave us the 100% positive!
8) End of August we took a weekend getaway to Nevis, paired with lots of nausea and sun!
9) September we found out we were having TWINS!!
10) October we shared the news with our families and friends.
11) November we found out we were having GIRLS!
12) November Joedy came to St. Kitts for her first visit and to take Brinley dog home for us!  Another great week!
13) December I said 'see ya later' to St. Kitts and headed home.  We were home for Christmas for the first time since 2011!

In looking back, 2013 was a pretty great year too!  It seems our life keeps getting better and better!  I am certainly excited for the years ahead and to see what other great things are coming for us!

January 2014... We were so happy to be home for Christmas and New Years for the first time since 2011!  MomMom and PopPop made a winter trip to NY and our families were all together for a holiday!  Unfortunately, Brayton's time home was short and he had to venture back to St. Kitts to complete his final semester at Ross, but the girls and I stayed at home.  It was so incredibly hard to have him leave, but we needed to be close to good medical care.  It is a very good thing we didn't head back to the island because on January 24th I was take to Crouse Hospital by Ambulance from the ER for signs of pre-eclampsia..This began my hospital stay...

February 2014... The scariest, and best month of the year!  After three weeks of being told "plan on delivering tomorrow", "let's wait out delivery a couple more days" over and over, weeks of hospital bed rest and Brayton being in St. Kitts and me being in the hospital, we finally got to meet our girls! As the month of February progressed, the girls grew stronger and stronger but we also had to send Brayton back to the island for 7.5 weeks.  It was incredibly hard to send him off while his babies were in the NICU and know he wouldn't see them again for almost 2 months.  It broke my heart every single day and I don't know how he did it, and did it with strength.  We are so lucky to have an amazing Dad/Husband!

March 2014...The beginning of March was spent with more NICU time.  On March 16th, Elliana got to come home!  I then spent the next week and a half bouncing between NICU and Ellie at home.  It was one of the hardest 10 days!  On March 26th, Juliette got to come home!  Finally, we were ALMOST all together again!

April 2014... After a couple weeks of being home, we were settling in!  We had professional pictures taken at the beginning of the month and spent the next few weeks patiently waiting for Daddy to get home for good!  April 20th, we surprised him at the airport as he arrived home from St. Kitts FOR GOOD!

May 2014... Beginning of May we moved, yet again!, to our new place in Ithaca.  It was really great to finally be a family all under one roof, in our own 'home'.  We took the girls for their first trip to the zoo, celebrated Mother's Day, took advantage of our family time, and cherished each moment with our babies!  

June 2014... The month of June was lots of baby time!  I couldn't have asked for more!  We took advantage of the weather and took the girls on some of their first hikes.  We had a weekend in the hospital so Ellie could begin her Propranolol for her hemangioma, celebrated Fathers Day driving home from the hospital, celebrated Morgan's HS graduation, and Lyndi's wedding shower!

July 2014... July was a fairly uneventful month, spent again being Mom and Dad and cherishing our twincesses!  The girls did have their first swim in Aunt Lo's pool!  While it doesn't seem exciting, and nothing major happened, learning to be a Mom of twins was busy enough, and perfect enough!  Nothing else was needed!!

August 2014... August brought the girls first camping trips!  The beginning of August, Mom, Dad and Gram were camping in Ithaca and the girls loved hanging out at the campground, swimming in their kiddie pool and hanging out with family! We also had a spectacular river weekend!  The girls loved being out in the boat!  Later in the month we had our second camping adventure, this time at Cedar and staying at the campground the entire time!  The girls had a great time!

September 2014... What a great month this was, and so busy!  MomMom and PopPop came up North and spent a few days with us on their way up!  It was great to see them and have PopPop meet the girls and MomMom be able to see them again!  We also had professional pictures taken again by the wonderful Amanda Lessner!!  The ladies all celebrated Lyndi during her bachelorette party and the guys all celebrated Travis in his bachelor party.  The best part of the month was Lyndi and Travis' wedding!  It was a perfect day, and we all had such a wonderful time!

October 2014... October was also a busy month!  We began solids with the girls using the baby led weaning method, and they both started getting teeth!!  We took our first trip to Albany to visit Bit and Tim and see their new house.  The girls also had their first colds!  Mom and Dad spent a weekend in Ithaca for their 30th wedding anniversary and we took ourselves on a wine tour!  October, of course, also brought the girls first Halloween!  We didn't do anything except dress them up and take their pictures!

November 2014... November was a pretty mellow month!  We had a visit from the Szczepaniak's, had our first library trip, experienced our first snowfall of the winter, and of course had our first Thanksgiving!  We had so much to be thankful for this year!!

December 2014... I didn't do a Christmas blog, so I will catch up a bit here!  The beginning of the month was uneventful, we just hung out at home!  Bit came to visit us and we had so much fun with her here!  Christmas didn't really feel like Christmas this year.  There was no snow (which I am totally okay with!), we didn't exchange gifts with each other and only did a few small things for the girls.  We were also in Ithaca just the four of us, which was really nice, and it was just like a normal day!  Since the weather was so nice, we bundled the girls up and took the dogs and went on a nice hike!  It was so nice to spend Christmas day with our little family, enjoying the outdoors and making memories!  I would love to be able to hike or be outside every year on Christmas!  We headed home on the following Saturday and spent lots of time with our families.  We told our families to be light on the gifts as our place is small and we would be moving soon, multiple times...but they didn't listen!  It was the girls first Christmas, and they are the first set of grandkids, so I guess that is to be expected!  The girls were spoiled with gifts, but more importantly, we were all spoiled with a great deal of family time!

                 

 

          

 

    

 

               

   



I truly believe that Christmas is SO much more than material gift receiving, and I really want to teach my children that.  As they get older, I plan to spend our holiday seasons giving to those who need it rather than piling our own home with gifts we don't really need.  I know Christmas is such an exciting time, but seeing people post pictures of their abundance of gifts all over Facebook made me feel so sad for the people viewing those, or the people in general, who weren't as fortunate.  So many people spend the holidays feeling the pressure of providing gifts for their children and families and society makes it so much harder.  I appreciate the excitement and feeling proud that one can provide so much for their families, I just wish it wasn't such a public announcement.  I saw this floating around a lot this season regarding gifts and I really like it. Give something they WANT, something they NEED, something to WEAR, and something to READ. I also really liked this....

Our time at home over the holidays was so busy, but it was a wonderful reminder of how incredibly loved our girls are, the people we have in our lives that are so important and that we need to truly cherish our moments with those special people.  

After a week of visiting, we were happy to come back to our quiet and the girls have both ended up with colds, so we are spending our week snuggling and getting better!  I hope everyone else had a wonderful holiday!  

As we move in 2015, I am so excited for the year ahead of us.  We have so many things we are looking forward to and many things in our life that will be changing!  Let us find the positive in life, strive to be better than we were today, reach our dreams and live life to the fullest! Happy 2015! 

   

Confessions of a Mom....Part 2

About 5 months ago, I wrote Confessions of a Mom... As I just reread that post and reflected on the things I wrote then, I realize how each of them were still so true, so still a part of our daily life and many of them are building blocks to where I am today.  Being a Mom is the biggest blessing I've ever received in my life.  I just said to the girls today, "I don't even know what I did before you.  I cannot imagine life any other way!"

Some of these confessions are going to build off of previous ones.. Some of new.. Some aren't really even confessions and are facts of our life.  Here we go:

Confession Number 1: Going in public with twins automatically gives people the right to play 100 questions with you...At least according to them!  
This confession is a continuation of Confession Number 1 from my previous post.  Here is an example.  Today we ran out to do some errands and we each wore a baby.  When people saw me or Brayton apart they would just smile.  If we walked up to one another, that same person who had just smiled at us, is now full fledge drilling us... "Are they twins?" "Girls? Boys? One of each?" "How old are they?" "Who is older?" "Are they identical?" "My first cousins wife on my dads side had twins!" "You must be so busy!" "Oh, wow!" Seriously, I think I could fill a book with all the comments people make... I can't even imagine what the parents of triplets go through... Or even parents of twins with other children.  Come on people!  I know they are cute, I know twins is a special thing, I KNOW I am blessed (although there are very few people who actually say that), and I KNOW I have better things to do than spend 5 minutes talking to every third person that passes me by!  Just in case you didn't know, I have a limited amount of time to get out of the house, to my destination, run my errands and get back home before you see two hungry, angry babies and you are REALLY cramping my style with your 100 questions!

Totally not implying that moms with one baby have lots of time on their hands.. Just found this funny with regards to the above! 

Confession Number 2: My babies are 10 months old, and I am still the only one to have put them in their carseats to go in the car. 
OK, Brayton has a couple times, but I usually go check it before we drive!
Why you're crazy!  Such a control freak!  Take a break!  Develop some trust! Yes, I hear you muttering those things to yourself as you read that.  I am okay with that, you are welcome to call me those things, in fact, I invite you to because they are true!  I all too often see people post pictures of their kids in their car seats with their chest clips at their belly button, with their straps twisted, with the winter coats on, forward facing too early, etc. etc. etc....  Unfortunately, I am often not brave enough to say anything to those people because I don't judge choices other parents make, and I don't want anyone to think I do, but it scares the shit out of me to think people are okay with their kid riding in a car like that.  Maybe they truly don't realize the consequences of it, maybe they don't think it can happen to them.  All it would take is one wrong move, on the part of anyone out there, and that kid, the one buckled in totally wrong, might not be okay.  I swear parents, I am NOT judging you, but my heart would break for you if something happened to your child that could have been so easily prevented..  Now there are people who take car seat safety to the extreme, like me and I appreciate that.  And when the time comes, I will take the time to educate anyone taking my children in their car (if that even ever happens, says the crazy Mom) on how they need to be secured.  Now, here you are muttering again, well, she thinks she knows everything!  No, no I don't.  I am certain I have made mistakes, in fact I know I have but I still take every effort to make sure they are as perfect as they can be when securing them in my vehicle.  I also hope that anyone who sees me doing it incorrectly, would correct me.

Here are some articles for you:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/mom-shares-car-seat-concern-after-sons-death-11-month-old-cameron-ejected-when-chest-buckle-broke11282014

http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/child_passenger_safety/cps-factsheet.html

"While 96% of parents and caregivers believe their child safety seats are installed correctly, research shows that 7 out of 10 children are improperly restrained"
       http://www.seatcheck.org/news_fact_sheets_statistics.html

Confession Number 3: The days are flying by, all merging into one and I just want time to slow down! 
I am SOO thankful to be a SAHM and get to spend every day with my girls.  At this time in our life, it would probably be beneficial for me to be working, but the thought of having to leave them puts a huge pit in my stomach and I will sacrifice income and the things that come along with it to be home with these babies every day.  Sure, it is causing some stressful, challenging life circumstances for us that could otherwise be lessened, but I have learned to live minimally in the few years past.  Living on a Caribbean Island helped me learn a lot about life, who I am and living simply and for that I am grateful.  I do wonder how I would do it if I were working though.. There are days where I don't do anything but clean, cook, laundry, and busy work stuff around the house during the day while they are sleeping (which is usually between 2-5 hours!) and by the evenings (the time I would normally be home, spending time with them if I were working) I can't seem to get everything done and spend the QT I want snuggling my babies.  Between cooking dinner, making lunches, cleaning up, dishes, bed preparation and last feedings, the time from 4 pm - 11 pm seems to come and go in a flash.  If I had to compile all the 'stuff' I do all day long into that time also, how would I do it?!  I give so much credit to those working Moms who find the time!  I hope its not something I have to discover too soon!

Confession Number 4: We are still exclusively breastfeeding, combined with Baby Led Weaning and it's going great!
I feel very fortunate to have been blessed with an excessive milk supply in which to provide my babies.  They are still breastfeeding and will continue to until they are ready to stop.  I am in support of extended breastfeeding and the positive impacts research has shown it has for children.  No, I don't plan on breastfeeding until they are 3 and 4 years old, but we will continue to nurse after one year.  When we began solids, I did quite a bit of research and learned about Baby Led Weaning.  The ideals behind it are babies who are breastfed have control over the amount they eat, when to stop, how much and how quickly they get milk and that control should be continued into their solid feedings.  BLW does not do any pureed foods, and from day 1 of solids babies are given finger sized, soft pieces of food and allowed to feed themselves.  This gives them the continued opportunity to have that control over their food intake.  With BLW, it is also said that "food before one is just for fun" and that BFing should still be their primary source of nutrients.  Since we began solids, the girls have done a fabulous job experimenting with food, at their own pace.  They have discovered their gag reflex, how to deal with it, how to pick up and chew on food, and are learning to love a wide variety of foods.  I think my favorite part of this is that all 4 of us sit down to dinner at night, I put their food on their trays and they eat while we eat.  There is no spoon feeding, or forced eating at all.  They talk, play, make a mess, watch us eat and we have family time.  It is wonderful!  To go along with this, we are making every effort to keep sugar out of the girls diet for as long as possible, which the exception of natural fruit sugars.  I know I can't do it forever, and I have learned sugar is in everything, but I have also learned that our 'need' for bad food is learned.  There are alternatives and I hope to continue on this path for a while.  I think the hardest part will be getting support from everyone else.

Confession Number 5: I still write everything down!
While the girls were in the NICU I started a journal of our daily happenings because there was so much going on and so many changes that I wanted to keep track of everything and it also helped me to remember when I got the chance to send the new information to Brayton in St. Kitts.  Once the girls got home from the NICU, I really wanted to keep them on a similar eating every three hours schedule and needed to remember when I gave them vitamins or other important information that my post pregnancy mom brain simply couldn't remember.  At that time I began writing down what time they ate and for how long.  10 months later, and I still journal what we do, developmental milestones, or anything else I feel important on a daily basis.  I also still write down what time they eat, for how long, when they got medicine and what is was, when we have poopy diapers (had to start that after starting solids because they became less frequent and I could never remember who pooped when!) and when and how much I pump..... Yes, I still pump daily..  

Confession Number 6: I miss a sense of community in my life.
The life circumstances in St. Kitts make it impossible not to be part of the wonderful, yet small, community that we Rossies have there.  The Prep School also presented me with an amazing community of people.  On the island, you were always surrounded by people who were going through the exact same thing you were.  They understood what it was like to live there, the financial challenges, the perks, the downsides, the relationship challenges, and everything in between.  We all supported each other, and it was always easy to find someone or many people to surround yourself with.  I miss that, and I think that is why I miss the island, and especially the Prep School, so much some days.  Since moving to Ithaca, I have met some great Mom's who I am very thankful for but being alone most of the time and having two babies has made it challenging to get out and involve myself in the community here as much as I would have liked to.  I miss having people to talk to and hang out with and I miss having people who are going through similar life events around me.

Confession Number 7: I can't imagine not having twins!  
I have had a lot of people who only have one baby, or have two at different ages say to me, "I can't imagine having two babies at the same age!"  I often like to respond with, "I can't imagine NOT having two babies!"  When two is all I know, it's all I know, and I can't imagine it any other way!  Is it hard? YES!  Are there days when I feel defeated and exhausted?  YES! Are there times when I think I could be doing so much more? Many!  One thing that I think Moms of one baby have the benefit of is more cuddle time, extra snuggles, and Mama and baby one on one time.  While they have that benefit, cuddle time, snuggle time and Mama and baby time with two is simply incredible.  Double the love, double the cuddles!  I do have to admit though, there are times when I would love to just snuggle in and cuddle and often can't because I have another baby that needs me.  When it comes down to it, I will sacrifice that bit of extra cuddle time (which I always find time to make up for!!!) for having two perfect little girls who NEED me, all day, every day!! Beyond anything regarding me, the love my girls have for each other is simply amazing.  They have a forever best friend and to me, that is the biggest blessing of all!    

Confession Number 8: Winter Sucks... Enough said! 
Remember that time, the parking lot was filled with slushy, wet, snow, you had two babies in the car, it was 20 degrees outside, and you have to get them, the diaper bag and yourself into each of your errands spots.. That was all after spending 30 minutes finding your car under the snow bank because you haven't left the house in so long it's buried in... Yah, I'll take warm back any day now!!

Giving Thanks

The past month is one where we all take the extra time to be thankful for the things we have, the people in our lives and the goodness that surrounds us.  While giving thanks is something we should all do more frequently, Thanksgiving tends to bring that out in us.  Over the past month I have tried to be more aware of the good things in my life, and let the stressful things fall to the wayside.  As we move into the month of December and Christmas is quickly coming, we are again recognizing the positive blessings we have in our life and giving thanks for those things.  Sometimes the stress of the season and the expectations society has put on Christmas, make us look at it all the wrong way.  Let us all try to take a step back, be grateful for the things we have in our lives, and not let the stressful things bring us down or take the positive spirit out of the Holidays!

This year, we have so much to be grateful for, blessing to be counted, and love to share!

We are in America!  It is hard to believe but this was our first Thanksgiving 'home' since November 2010!!  We were blessed to spend this Thanksgiving with Joedy and Gerald at our place in Ithaca.  It was just the 6 of us, with enough food for an army.  We have perfect, healthy, lovable, gorgeous baby girls that light up our life each and every day.  We have a roof over our head,  and food in our cupboards! We have vehicles that get us from point a to point b.  We have great animals, friends near and far, and great educations.  We are warm, clothed, and have a purpose in each day.  The list really goes on and on!

Unfortunately, we often take the blessings we have for granted and find the negative aspects of our life taking the forefront of our mind.  This year I have been struggling with this, but am trying very hard to be grateful for the things I have and remembering that the season of christmas is so much more than gifts and money.

It is my goal as I move through the month of December to find the good, be thankful for what I have, not let the stress of life take over, and cherish the moments with my family and friends.  I hope each of you can do that too.

This image has been floating around facebook and I really like it!
     

With the month of November already come and gone, and December quickly passing by I take this moment to be grateful for the best blessings in my life.   I am so grateful for my girls.  Each and every day they make me smile, laugh and give me purpose.  I am so grateful for an incredibly hard working husband, who is so close to the end of this very long journey of becoming a Doctor and I am so grateful for our families who do so much to support and love us.