My Future Aggies

Not that I am biased but these are my lil' future Aggies whether they like it or not. I mean, I am all about letting them make decisions on their own but this one is pretty much made for them. I am just letting them borrow my ring until they get their own. Hopefully, they will do better at dunking their ring than mom was.

Life Lessons Learned

The last two months have had their up's and down's and major life-changing events. On complete opposite ends of the spectrum of life, the beginning of life of our two beautiful daughters and the end of the life of an amazing friend. As completely different these events are, they have one thing in common. The lessons learned...

Sometimes I just sit and stare at the girls and it brings tears to my eyes. I actually made it 3 days in a row without crying, until yesterday that is. A few days after Suzy passed away Deborah got a phone call on her birthday and when she looked at the caller id, it showed Suzy was calling. At the time, it was quite upsetting as we were all still in shock but thought it was Suzy's way of telling everyone she was ok and wishing Deborah a happy birthday. We didn't ask John (Suzy's husband) about it because he was dealing with so much and it didn't seem important at the time. This week Deborah received another call from Suzy's phone. The next time she talked to John she decided to ask him about it. He laughed and told her the other night he woke up and went to check on Morgan. When he went into her room, the 2 1/2 yr old was not in her bed. He found her sitting in the living room holding the phone. When he asked her what she was doing, she said " Shhh. I'm on the phone Daddy."

So when someone tells you they grow up so quickly, believe it. At any moment, life can change... and it does. There is no slowing it down or speeding it up. If you don't stop and enjoy each moment, it will pass you by and there are no do-overs.

This Sunday was Easter and it is the first time Dusty and I haven't rushed from one family to the next to try to "fit" everyone in on the same weekend. It is the first time in as long as I can remember that after eating lunch with my family that everyone sat down in the living room and spent time together. Granted the conversations were far from normal. (As if anything with my family is ever normal). No, there were no Easter skits (maybe next time) but there was a lot of laughing and smiles in the room. Partially due to the two super cute babies or it could have been the fact that after the Easter egg hunt, the kids opened their eggs and most had gum and an Atomic Fire Ball in them. I think we spent almost an hour trying to figure out who in their right mind would put Atomic Fire Balls in kids Easter eggs. The kids were too scared to try them. Dusty needed a glass of water after only 5 minutes and I (surprisingly) won $20 from a bet with Jeremy that I couldn't finish one.

I don't know where we go on this journey from here, but we shouldn't wait for a life-changing event to realize the importance of family and friends. So don't let the moment pass you by, hug the ones you love and make sure you tell them.

One Month

Ok. So maybe they are a little more than one month but we are calling it good and here are there one month picture with the bear. These two pictures pretty much sum it up. Brylee (left) loves to be awake and Brooklyn (right) loves to sleep.

And then here is what mom and dad (and apparently Simba) have been doing during that first month.

Top 10 Things Learned from First Days at Home

1. Contrary to popular belief, Mom does fit in the back seat of the car. It's not the most comfortable but it works.

2. Had to tell Dusty "Even though it might have seemed like a good idea, you probably shouldn't have taken the hospital bracelets off." This was after we had fed Brylee... I mean Brooklyn.

3. The crib is big enough for both for a very long time.

4. A wise friend (Jenny) once told me, you can never have enough burp rags. She was so right.

5. Naps are always better when laying on mom vs the crib... especially when mom gets to nap too.

6. It is possible to feed two at one time.

7. Everyone fits on the boppy if they share.

8. Some times we like baths and some times we don't.

9. If Dusty has to ask which one should I feed first, he has learned he should just look at them. One (Brylee on the left) was sound asleep while the other (Brooklyn on the right) was wide-eyed and trying to chew her arm off.

10. Simba has done amazing with all the changes and just sits quietly in his box and watches the chaos.

A Day of Mixed Emotions

Today is a day of mixed emotions. We got the call from the hospital late last night that the girls had moved into an open crib and will be coming home on Sunday. For 33 long days, I have been anxiously awaiting that call and thought there would be nothing but tears of joy. But instead, today there are tears of joy and sadness.

As excited as I am for the girls to be home and in my arms, every time I think about that moment they come home, I can't help but think of the friend I lost this week and her newborn son. All the moments they should be sharing together yet right now her family is attempting to deal with the unimaginable tragedy of her loss. Suzy was an amazing person, mother and friend. She gave me some of the best advice on motherhood and life. I still can not believe she is gone.

So here are my little princesses, anxiously awaiting tomorrow... with an angel from heaven watching over them :-)

A Mother's Love

On the girls one month old birthday, there are not words to describe the sadness today brought. Jennifer (my little sister) called this morning to tell me her best friend of 20 years, mother of a beautiful 2 year old girl and newborn baby boy had passed away. Bear had just been born on Sunday and I can't even begin to imagine the pain the family is going through. The thought of her husband raising those children without Suzy is an indescribable feeling.

Over the last month, have I even began to understand the power of a mother's love for her children and the thought of leaving behind two young children without their mother is unimaginable. I spent most of today at the hospital with the girls. It just seemed like where I belonged. They are so peaceful and content when I am holding them and I can't describe the love felt. I am so ready for them to be home where I never have to put them down.

Suzy loved her family unconditionly. How can you ever begin to explain to them how absolutely amazing their mother was? How do you even tell a two year old her mom is gone? I can barely talk to my friends about it without falling apart. Morgan was blessed to have two wonderful years with her mom and will always have Suzy watching over her and Bear. Suzy was an amazing woman, mother, teacher and friend to everyone she knew and she will be deeply missed.

Only a matter of time

The girls are officially off the feeding tube and taking all bottles. Brylee is 4 lbs 11 oz and Brooklyn is 4 lbs 13 oz. It is only a matter of time now.... We are so excited. Ok. I should revise that last sentence. Jessica is so excited. Dusty is so terrified. And Brylee is just hanging out.

Proof Dusty will never be allowed to cut the girls hair

This is just another reason why some things are left to the professionals. Our 8 foot Oleanders did not fair too well (ok that is probably an understatement) in the freeze this year. So, Dusty and I spent the day what I thought was trimming but when I turned the corner of the house to see what he had done, this is what I saw.

There is nothing left of them. Well, actually there is about 4 inches of each plant left with the exception of the one on the corner where he completely missed a branch that is sticking out about 2 feet in the air (hard to see from the picture but don't worry, even after I pointed it out, he still left it so you will all be able to see it when you come visit this summer). When I asked him about it, he said he was giving it a chance.

So moral of today's story is that Dusty will NEVER be allowed to come close to our girls with a pair of scissors.