Happy New Year!!

Ok, it's a little early yet for happy new year talk, but I'm up late and I've ran out of internet...

I would like to start my new year off right, so I'm gonna put on a little post dedicated to the ones I love..

Brandy

I'm so happy to have my soul mate. I'm very thankful for you, you really are the perfect wife just for me. It's been over 11 years of great fun and it's gotten better every year. I think it's gotten better than I could have imagined since Karter and Kolton came into our lives. The first year with our premature babies was truly the most difficult year of both of our lives, I didn't think a human could go for six months with no more than 3 hours of sleep at any given time. But every day of the struggle proved that we were designed to be together as one. When the going got rough, we became a well oiled machine that couldn't have ran smoother (even if we may have been asleep during it). I didn't think the two could become one more than we already had, but I was proved wrong by the suffering that we lived through together. I remember well the most stressful day in the history of my life... The day our kids came home. Now that our children are beginning to know who we are, it was worth every sleepless minute of it. You're a great wife and you get greater every day. You about ready to try for number three (and maybe four)? I'm just kidding, the two we have are about all I can handle at the moment..

Karter and Kolton
I know you're too little to read this, but one day I know you will read the whole history of how you came about. You're such sweet little guys, everyone that meets you can see it in your eyes. You will grow up to be caring, gentle, kind, and intelligent. I truly cherish every minute that you lay in my arms and watch television with me. I'm torn over both of you, I want you to grow quickly so I can get to know you as the young men you will become, yet I want to enjoy every minute of your childhood as well. I know the time will pass too quickly, I can see it flying by already and it makes me sad. The second greatest day in my life was when Brandy told me we were going to have a baby, I was thrilled! The number one greatest day of my life though was when the doctor told us there were going to be two of you coming at once. Some moments will forever be a snapshot in your memory, the moment I know we had two coming, is one of those moments for me. I didn't have any idea of the troubles that were to come as a result of that, but looking back from this point, you make the trouble seem irrelevant . The sorrow has turned into great joy, and you're a joy that gets greater every day. We're going to do a lot together, and I can't wait to get started.

Jimmy (almost 2008).

17 months-12 days late.

This is the latest I've been on posting their monthly updates. I actually had to sit down and make myself do it, because I get side tracked by the many blogs I read and the stacked up laundry and the many piles of junk that somehow are piling up in every room. The piles bother me a lot, we have too much junk and I am feeling the need to weed through it all except I don't know where to start and what to do with it all. Anyway, lets get started.

I'm starting with Karter this time.

Karter said he first sentence last night. We were in their room getting them ready for bed, Karter was done, with his jammies on. Jimmy and I were sitting in the floor and he went beside his bed looked at us through the slats and said "I see you" and laughed. It was so cute. He has said it several more times today as well. I have taken the binkies away again during the day. When they were sick they really wanted their binkies but now we are all better, I've taken them away again and their speech seems to have really taken off. I was aware of the binkies possibly hindering their talking and it did while they were sick, thankfully that's over. Karter now has 12 teeth which include 4 molars and another on top coming in. They have both learned to scream and boy do they scream. When they're mad or when they are fighting with each other. They have really started to interact with each other lately. Kolton will hand Karter things and the other day I swear I saw Karter tickling Koltons belly and saying tickle tickle. Still eating well, loves to talk on the phone and any and everything is a phone to him. An old calculator, a computer mouse, a remote control, he holds them all up to his ear and says "hello". He loves to lay down on soft blankets and will say "ahh" when he lays on it. Loves to take drinks out of our cups and says "ahh" when he gets a drink. We have discovered he's my little spicy eater boy. He loves sausage, chili, lasagna, spaghetti and salsa on his chips. He's such a joy and when you hold him he looks at you smiles and lays his little head on your shoulder. Several times he has given my back a soft pat. He usually responds when told no and has not had a time out yet, however he does think you are playing a game sometimes when you tell him not to do something. He runs back over to it smiles and does it again. Usually a stern no is enough to stop him.

"I see you"

Kolton has been repeating everything we say. Every sentence he will repeat some word out of it. He has 13 teeth now. It's so cute to see them chew with their new molars. Kolton's new obsession are pretzels. At a family Christmas gathering someone made popcorn and pretzels with a candy glaze. Kolton went nuts for those pretzels and since then I have bought a bag of pretzel sticks and he begs several times a day for some. I put them in a baggie for him and he carries them around the house getting them out one at a time. Kolton as been in time out several times. He knows when you are telling him no, but he gets this gleam in his eye, looks you straight in the eye, smiles and does it anyway. He still steals toys from his brother, but lately he has been sharing things. Last week several times he took Karter his binkie when he found it on the floor. He has taken him toys and given him a raisin. I always make it a point to tell him what a good job he did of sharing. I don't want Kolton to get a complex or not think he's good enough, because quite honestly it's pretty much Kolton that's always doing something he shouldn't be. On the flip side I try to make sure Karter does not get all his toys taken away and will take his hand and have him go to Kolton to get it back telling Kolton he has to share. Kolton is full of life and you never know what a day with him will bring.

He wouldn't look at me just wanted to chew on the bottle.

For some reason last week Kolton became scared of the ceiling fan in their room and it took me a day to figure out why he kept crying. Finally I figured it out when I went in their room to comfort him for the second or third time. He pointed up to it. I asked if he wanted me to turn it off, I turned it off and he laid down and went to sleep. That lasted a week and he seems fine with it now. Kolton is the first to greet one of his grandparents when they come over. He laughs out loud if someone else is laughing. He will come to you for hugs and grab your hand and lead you to something he wants to show you when you arrive to where he want you to be he will pull down on your hand to tell you this is were whatever he wants or needs is. Kolton is my silly boy that is always ready to ham it up.

"oh hey!, why are you yelling at me?"

I'm sure there is so much more I could say about them, but I'm tired and I still have that laundry and those piles of junk that I should get to. I can't believe that they will be 18 months old soon. My babies are not babies anymore. I still call them babies, but they are toddlers, little boys that have likes and dislikes and know how to tell you about them.

Rundown of Christmas 2007

First I want to say that I will be writing the boys 17 month update very soon, like in a day or two. We have been so busy around here. First we had the Ice Storm and went without electricity for 7 days. We got power back, on a Monday and by Tuesday Kolton and Karter were sick. Both had diarrhea and Karter threw up one night for several hours and then once or twice a day or so later. It has taken him 7 days to recover. Kolton did not get it as bad. Everyone got the virus and I mean everyone. Whatever we have/had, which I suspect is Rotovirus, although that has not been diagnosed by a doctor is highly contagious and pretty much anyone who came into contact with the boys when they first got it has gotten it. My nephew, who I watch began throwing up the next day, my brother got it the day after that and his wife a few days later. I got it as well, but thankfully didn't throw up or have diarrhea. My mother in law got it and then both my sister in laws got it. It's a nasty horrible bug and somewhat acts like food poisoning. It causes back pain and neck pain, the shakes and a slight fever, possible diarrhea and vomiting and strangely gas. Poor kids, Karter did not eat well for a week, today is the first day he has been eating at meal times. Anyway lets move on, I'm sure you didn't want to know all that stuff.

So after a week of sickness then we had the holidays. I didn't get my shopping done like I would have liked and my Mom is having to wait on some of hers, but it got done. We had 3 days of celebrating starting on the 23rd with my Mother in laws. We had a nice time and good food, however she did not feel well due to the virus I mentioned above. The kids got some really nice stuff, it was a nice day. On the 24th there was talk about rescheduling Christmas at my Dad's also due to said virus mentioned above, but at the last moment we went ahead with it. The kids once again got some amazing gifts as did Jimmy and I. We got a date night with dinner and a movie and even a babysitter from my Dad and Step-Mom, what an awesome gift and much needed by all of us, me, my sister and brother and our spouses because in the last year we have all gone from no children to kids and as everyone knows the first year is a doozy. We then went next door, where my MiMi lives(my brother, nephew and sister in law went home, due to said virus, because there were lots of children there and my elderly great grandma) and had lots of yummy food, with lots of family. On Christmas morning it was just Jimmy the boys and I. We opened our gifts, the boys played with all their new toys for a bit and then we got dressed and headed to my Mom's for Christmas dinner. It was all very yummy, then we opened more gifts, the boys got some more cool stuff and I got some money to burn, Amazon here I come. It was a very busy 3 days, well actually a very busy 2 weeks, but it's all over now and things are back to normal. I took the tree down today and am now sorting through clothes and toys that we are no longer using. I plan on selling some of it, anyone interested? So that was our holiday in a nutshell. Good food, laughter and time spent with family, that's what I enjoy about the holidays.

I hope everyone had a nice a very Merry Christmas.

Kolton at Nana's checking out the presents.

Karter pointing at the camera. He is obsessed with cameras and phones.
(he's still was not feeling well here)

Kolton Christmas Eve at Papa's. "hey where's the presents?"

Karter found Nanie's camera and thought he hit jackpot.

5 Generations.
From L to R: My dad and Karter, me, Kolton, my great grandma(mamaw), my sister, her daughter, my grandma(mimi, my dads mom)

Christmas Morning

Boys are still sleepy.

After everything had been opened.

Just a side note. They put WAY too many plastic things that hold the toys in on the toys now days. It took forever to get those things open. Also I forgot to bring my camera to my moms in the rush to get out the door. Both my sister's had cameras so I'm waiting on pics from them.

A little information about RSV and a poem

If you have read this blog for any amount of time I'm sure you have heard me refer to RSV. RSV is dangerous in it self even to full term infants, but to preemies it is life threatening. As I was looking through my daily blog reads, I stumbled upon Kristi's very excellent explanation of RSV and why we have to be so careful. Her post explains it far better then I ever could and she even has pictures too. Please take the time to read her post about RSV. Once again here it the link.

Also while reading my daily reads I stumbled upon this poem and found it touching. It's long but I hope you enjoy.

Twas the night before Christmas, and in each isolette
Little creatures were squirming and getting all set;
Machinery sat by their bedsides with care,
In hopes that good breathing skills soon would be there.

Day shifters were home all snug in their beds,
As visions of overtime danced in their heads;
While preemies on ventilators, and some on CPAP,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap...

When out in the hall there arose such a clatter,
The residents woke up to see what was the matter.
Away from the sink I flew like a jet
To make sure all was well at my baby's isolette.

Some bilirubin lights with their powerful glow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to babies below,
When, there before my wondering eyes, it would seem,
Was an oversized stroller and a medical team.
With a handful of needles with which they could stick you,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nicu.

More rapid than eagles his specialists came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Nurses! Now, Residents! Now, Neonatologists!
On, Social Workers! On, Respiratory and Occupational Therapists!
From the front of the unit! To the end of the hall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

Up to each baby's cribside they flew,
With the stroller full of toys, and St. Nicu too.
And then, in a twinkling, they stopped at each bed
And tucked in the babies and got them all fed.

As I looked at my baby, and was turning around,
Down our aisle St. Nicu came with a bound.
He was dressed in red scrubs, and I could instantly tell
That his clothes had an obvious hospital smell;
A bag of stuffed animals was flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
A little red pen he held tight in his teeth,
And a stethoscope encircled his neck like a wreath.

He was chubby and plump, with a few extra pounds,
And I laughed when I saw him there doing his rounds.
A turn of his clipboard and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke few words, but came straight to my side, And running down his face was a tear he had cried.

And laying his hand on the back of my head,
He gave me a nod, and slowly he said:
"Each night you come here you're aware of the danger,
But your baby is loved by the One in the manger."

Then the medical team gave a thumbs-up and smiled
And St. Nicu placed an animal next to my child.
But I heard him exclaim, as they rolled out of sight,
"Merry Christmas, tiny baby, and have a wonderful night!"

Ice Storm 2007

I couldn't resist this title because as anyone who lives in Oklahoma knows, our weather stations always have to name everything and make it dramatic, and sometimes it is dramatic, but the names always get me. When we had the tornadoes a few years ago in May they are now referred to as the May 3rd Tornados, and everyone in Oklahoma know what they are talking about. Anyway Ice Storm 2007 was the name given to the recent events that took place in our great state. This storm did not produce ice on the roadways, all the damage came from the trees, lots and lots of trees down. Due to the down trees we were out of power for 7 days. That was the longest 7 days I've had in a long time. The power went out on a Monday, we ate dinner in the dark, luckily the roast I had put in the crock pot got done before it went off. Tuesday I went to my Mom's who's power only went out for a few hours, to her advantage an OG&E guy lives in her neighborhood and of course he could pull some strings. So for the next 7 days I went over to her house with kids, junk and usually laundry in tow. We ate breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner over there. The kids were a bit confused as to why we where leaving so early, and why when we came home it wad dark in the house(I told them the trees were broke and the lights broke, for several days they went around saying "tree broke") but we managed. They did not eat well for a few days due to being out of their routine, but I tried to keep it as regular as I could. I brought them home after lunch everyday for a nap. Thankfully we borrowed a generator from a friend who had electricity. With that we were able to run the heater and stay warm. After 4 days and going into the weekend hubby bought a bigger generator that was able to run the freezer, heater, TV, a lamp and our computers. This past Monday afternoon the power came back on and all is well in that area now. I say in that area because on top of all that, now the boys are sick. Kolton has had diarrhea for two days and Karter woke up last night vomiting. He did this on and off for two hours and was able to go back to sleep until 4 when he woke up again vomiting. I finally brought the Pack N Play into our room last night and Karter slept in there. Every time he threw up it woke Kolton up and he got upset and scared for Karter. Everyone slept a little better by separating them. Today no vomit but diarrhea and raw bottoms on both boys. Both have slept a lot today and I don't feel so grand either. And to add some more, I had planned on finishing up my Christmas shopping online, but with the power out and all I was unable to do that and now nothing will arrive in time. I have 5 days to go out and find several gifts for people still on my list. I so don't look forward to fighting the crowds.

Ok that was the longest paragraph ever, but my show is coming on and I still have pictures to post. Also in the next few days I will write the boys 17 month update. There is lots to tell. Until then I give you pictures of ICE STORM 2007.

Most of this tree that is in the neighbors backyard is now in our backyard.

Lots of downed trees lead to lots of candles.

This is only half of the tree limbs that are in our backyard. There are lots more in the front yard too. All still waiting to be cut, anyone want to do it for free?

Winter/Holiday Photo Contest

I've got so much to update you all on, but it will have to wait. I have to go to the grocery store and restock the food we lost due to our power being out, which was just turned back on today. However I was reminded by Stacie that I needed to enter the photo contest. I'm entering this picture I took of my nephew Collin. Go vote for me, all the details are here.

Darkness...

You might noticed we haven't posted in a while...
We've been out of electricity for almost 5 days now.
We've been fortunate to have a neighbor that happened to have a small generator that he was able to loan us. I hooked that into the central heat and air and kept the house pretty toasty warm. We are now looking at spending the weekend with no power other than the little generator so I went and bought a more powerful generator today. We can now power the satellite, television, both computers, the freezer, the CH&A, and enough kitchen appliances to cook some dinner! I suspect now that we have the larger generator around, OG&E will show up quickly to turn on the power.

I had been meaning to get a generator for a while, now at least we'll have one for emergencies.


Here's Brandy surfing the web by candle light :>, you can click for a larger view.

ElfYourself

This has been going around. I'm sure you have seen it. We decided to jump on the bandwagon.

Watch our dancing debut here!

Our Christmas Card Pictures

I plan to take some more as soon as I get time, probably this weekend, but I wanted to get our cards sent out so I didn't have to worry about them. This year I went to Walmart's site plugged in some pictures I had taken earlier in the week, chose a card, clicked done and I picked them up the next day. It was so simple and I will defiantly use them again, hopefully next year I can get a better picture and preferably one of the whole family. I ordered 25 cards thinking it would be enough and I would probably have some left over. I was surprised when I used every single one of them. If you don't receive one, I'm so very sorry, I wasn't very organized with my addresses and such. I had to go looking around for them and wasn't sure if I got everyone.

I do have some things to tell you about.

I hope to get video of this soon, but so far everytime the camera or video camera come out they both stop what they are doing and just want to touch the cameras. My kids, like their dad, are so into electronics. They can scope a cell phone, or camera out in a second flat. They smile and make their way over to said device and try to snatch it. Just so you know they are learning to run, it's harder to catch them, but it's cute to hear them giggle and run from you. Ok, sorry I got off the subject there for a second. What I was going to say is that Kolton has taken up singing. They have a book that at one time played music and has a little microphone attached to it. It stopped working long ago and they ripped out the pages, so all that remains the the back cover and the microphone. Kolton drags that thing around singing into it. He holds his little mouth in an O shape and just pours his heart out. He sometimes pauses to place the microphone near your mouth so you can sing too. It's so cute and I'm so glad he likes to sing. I like to sing. A little known fact about me is that I got through my first two years of college on a scholarship singing in my collages music band. We traveled around to local school and sang at local events. I really enjoyed it.

Karter has taken up dancing and at the mere word dance, begins to stomp his little feet and twirl around. He likes to spin around, stop and then walk backwards. He does this until he's dizzy and falls down giggling the whole time. He really likes to preform this for his Papa and Nannie, he just giggles when Nannie laughs at him.

Ahh my silly boys, they are so fun!

Oh and today Kolton climbed on the couch all by himself, crud I knew that was going to happen soon. They totally don't get the gravity thing and just try to nose dive off it. He also moved his toy car to the playpen that we use when Collin is here and climbed inside it.

Lovin my new camera

I'm really liking my new camera. I still don't really know how to use it but I have managed to take some pretty good pictures, well at least I think they are good. Last Friday, while the boys were napping I took the opportunity to take some pictures of my nephew Collin. Here are just a few of what I got. Enjoy!