One Year Ago

December 2, 2010 was a CRAZY day, to say the least. We had found out the afternoon before, at our 20 week ultrasound that we were expecting not one, but TWO babies! We spent the evening on the phone with family and a couple of friends sharing the news. Before I went to bed that night, I sent out an e-mail to the staff at my school, sharing our news with them. SO, Thursday at school was insane. The door to my classroom was revolving as everyone came in and out to congratulate me and share in my shock of carrying two babies. It really was fun, overwhelming and made my head spin. I wasn't used to having so much attention, and wasn't so sure I really liked it. :) I couldn't walk down the hall without someone stopping me. My head was spinning for a good two weeks as I rode the rollercoaster of emotions that were flooding my already hormonal body. I was kind-of freaking out, but everyone was SO EXCITED, so I couldn't help but smile.
Fast forward a year.
My life is full of blessings, even unexpected ones. :) It has been a wild ride, but all-in-all, I wouldn't change it. God is good and he is sovereign and his plan is always better than ours. :)

Potty Training Turns Theological

After yet another dirty ‘accident’ in his underwear today, I sent Mason to his room early for rest time and took away his blankies and stuffed animals, telling him that when he decided to put his poop in the potty instead of his underwear, he could have them back. I left him crying on his bed and listened to him cry for almost a half hour. When I went back in to talk with him, this is how the conversation went:

“Mason, stop crying. It is time to rest.”

“But I want my blankies.”

“Honey, you know when you have to poop and you can feel it coming. You are old enough and big enough to put it in the potty, you are just choosing to put it in your underwear. Mommy is sick of it. It is gross. I don’t like to clean it up and neither does daddy. When you decide you are ready to be a big boy and put your poop in the potty, you may have your blankies and animals back.”

“But why am I old enough?”

“Because you’re 3 years old!”

“But why am I three?”

“Because you’ve had three birthdays!”

“Why have I had three birthdays?”

“Because God has allowed you to live that long.”

“Why have I lived that long?”

“Because God loves you!”

“But why does God love me?”

“Because he made you!”

“But why did God make me?” (tears and sobbing)

I know the answer I gave him was inadequate and insufficient because I was exasperated with him. What would you have said?

So Proud

Lucas and Lauren are now over 5 months old, but a month ago or so, we had their pictures taken. Unfortunately they did not share my sentiment of the cuteness of a picture together. This is what we ended up with...

Sweet Sweet Summertime

The following are a few shots of what we've been up to as we enjoy the lazy days of summer. :)

A boy and his tractor.
Daddy helps Mason with the sparklers. As you can see...he didn't love it. :)

We visited the zoo with some friends in July. Mason's favorite? The "pin-cham-zees".

My mom's family gathered for a reunion in Wisconsin for 5 days. This meant a 6+ hour car ride for us. Mason was thrilled to have me join him in the back seat for the trip.

Enjoying the beach with cousins Kate and Dylan.

For all of you who have asked, "Do twins run in your family?"...here they are! Uncle Marly, Aunt Marsha, nephew Cole, niece Ellie, Lucas and Lauren.

Here are the 8 children of my Grandpa & Grandma. We now total over 100 when we gather. They would be so proud to see their family.

This picture is for Uncle Marly & Aunt Karen. ;)

4 months old!

Mason started swimming lessons this week. He is on the far left (as far away from the teacher as he can be).

I arrived home after everyone was in bed tonight and found this on the kitchen table accompanied by a little note: "I want to make...I maked a cake for mom. She will be really excited about this one. PS-We are writing mom a letter...just like Toad got a letter from Frog. Love, MASON"

You Make Me Smile

Last night Mason and I were at Meijer, loading groceries into the van. Mason all of sudden exclaims, "Mommy! That man blowed his STICK!" I turned around to see him pointing at a guy smoking a cigarette. "Why's he chewing that stick, MOM?!?" were the next words out of his mouth. All I could do was shake my head, smile inside and say, "I don't know honey, I don't know."

A Few Pictures for You

Friends and family,
Thank you for your patience with me, as it has taken me a long time to put new pictures on here. We are enjoying our summer immensely and just taking one day at a time! God is SO good! :) Enjoy!

Each month I take a pic of the kiddos for their baby books. These are at 2 months.

We went to the beach for memorial day. It was gorgeous and Mason had a blast!

This is the LIFE, I tell ya!

You are MY sunshine, little man!

Baptism Sunday

She is wearing my dress from 30 years ago, kinda neat. :)

Great is thy faithfulness to all generations

One of Lauren's first smiles I caught on camera.

Lucas' sweet little personality is beginning to show.

Mason was recently gifted with an art table that he loves! I think this picture makes him look SO old, but it captures his smile perfectly. :)

Lucas has found his thumb and is using it quite consistently.

Tony and I celebrated our 7th anniversary this past weekend and enjoyed some time away at The Shack. It was so relaxing to get away! Thanks Mom for taking the kids!

An Update for You

Where has the time gone? The last 10 weeks are a blur and now we have growing thriving babies that are 10 weeks old today. My apologies for the lack of news in the last number of weeks. We are doing well. Lucas and Lauren went for their 2-month check up and have both doubled their weight since birth. They eat well, they sleep well and are having longer and longer awake times during the day. Lucas sleeps at least 10 hours through the night and Lauren in hovering between 6-8 hours. YAY! They have both kept their hair and it remains dark yet. Just in the last week or so we are getting more and more smiles out of both of them....SO FUN.

Mason is a trooper and doing well. He loves on his new siblings and is always aware of where they are and what they are doing. He is sure to let me know if one of them is crying. ;) He is my right hand man, and when I ask him to please bring me something his response is, "Sure, Mom!" I am so thankful for him!

Tony's last day of school is today, and he also finished his term as deacon this past Sunday. He is definitely going to enjoy a slower pace of life for a little while. :)

We enjoyed celebrating God's covenant promises to Lucas & Lauren on Sunday with their baptisms. We are into our 2nd week of no day-time help and it seems to be going pretty well. However, if you would like to come visit, please don't feel like you can't do that. We love visitors!

I do have a prayer request for you. At the end of the summer I will be returning to teaching part-time. At this point we do not have anyone lined up to watch the kids. I have pursued a couple of options, but those did not work out. I know God has just the right person for us, that will be a good fit for our family, but I need to be actively seeking that person out, wherever they might be. Thank you for praying about that for us. Take care and enjoy the summer weather!

Love, Sarah

3 Weeks In...

I'm not sure how many of you we told or didn't tell, but this is an easy way to update you, even if you didn't already know. Lucas failed his hearing test on his right ear twice in the hospital. We were set up with an appointment to have it re-screened today with the audiology department at Spectrum. I am thankful to let you know that he passed both ears with flying colors today and we don't need to have any more follow up. Thank you again, Lord! Another answer to prayer!
As of last Thursday, both kiddos are past their birth weight and doing well. Lauren was 1 oz. heavier than Lucas, we'll see how long that lasts. :)
The prayer request I send you now is simply this....sleep. Sleep for Mason: he has been waking 2-3 times a night with what we think are bad dreams. Sleep for the babies: that they will learn to fall back asleep after a feeding without being rocked/coddled/held. Sleep for Tony & I: we are both functioning during the day on less than adequate amounts of shut eye. As you can imagine, that just adds stress to an already crazy situation.
Thanks for your love and prayers!

Grace for the Moment

The last 24 hours have been a bit of a blur as I am tending to the needs of the three kiddos on less than an ideal amount of sleep. Crying, changing, feeding, burping, playing, sleeping, cooing, smiling, rocking and do it all over again. Tonight Tony went to play basketball for a little bit and I had the three munchkins on my own. After periods of crying from all 3 of them, I found myself with a contented sleeping baby in a swing at my feet, a hand tied up with a sleeping baby in my arms, and a hand on my feverish sleeping toddler. It was quiet and they were all three sleeping and my hands were full. In that moment, I looked at what was before me and said, "Thank you, Lord, for giving me grace for this moment." He and his strength is what is sustaining me moment by moment. A friend of mine sent me a message just a little bit ago and said, "I prayed for you many times today." This statement humbles me and brings me to my knees, again thankful to have made it through today.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father. Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Welcome to the World!

The long-awaited day has finally come and we are very excited to introduce to you our newest family members! God is good and we are thankful for his hand on us in the last couple of days. Lucas and Lauren arrived Wednesday, March 30 around 4:40 p.m. They both weighed in at 5 lb. 11 oz. and are 18" long. They are doing very well and have made a fairly smooth transition to home life. Enjoy the pictures, I'll try to label what is going on and who is in which photo. :)
Laying around waiting for things to happen....it seemed like a LONG morning when you have to arrive at 5 a.m. for inductions.

Tony watches as Lucas is attended to right after he is born.
Bonding with skin-to-skin a few minutes after they were both born. I think Lucas is on the left and Lauren is on the right.
Under the warmers waiting to be weighed, measured and cleaned up.
Lauren weighed a 1/2 an ounce more than Lucas.
Hanging out under the same warmer. I'll try to post the video we got of this too. It's pretty cute.

Big brother was pretty interested from the start. "Can I hold it, Dad?" was the first thing he said. :)
Tony enjoys a few minutes with Mason getting to know Lauren.
The first bath. Ahhh, it feels SO good!

Nana with her 2nd set of twin grandbabies. Who would have thought?!?

One of our first photos as a family of 5. This is our new normal. :)

Mason with both Lucas and Lauren. He keeps saying, "2 babies, Mom!"
Ready to go home, all dressed and ready to go!
They really look funny in their car seats.
These balloons and a banner on our garage greeted us when we pulled in the driveway. We have such sweet neighbors!

37 Weeks - Almost There!

Who'd have thought we'd make it this far?! Feeling more and more ready with each passing day...hopefully soon we'll get to meet these little ones. Excited to share our news with you!

Friday, March 25

Friends and Family,

After my visit with the doctor today, everything looks good and we are ready to go! We have an induction date set, but at the request of my husband, I cannot tell you when. We'll see if we make it to that date or if these two little ones decide to make their appearance on their own. No fair calling my house every morning to see if I'm home, either. We might have to stop answering our phone! :) As I anticipate what is going to unfold in my world in the next 10-12 days, I don't even know what to think. God knows the path that lies ahead and my comfort is in that he will walk with us each step of the way. Please pray for safe labor & delivery and a fairly smooth adjustment/transition back home. It's as if we're about to board a crazy fun roller coaster with blindfolds on. The anticipation is killer, the ride is terrifying, but we won't be thrown from the ride and when we come out on the other side, we'll have smiles on our faces from ear to ear. :) Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers....can't wait for you all to meet our kiddos (and tell you what they are, finally!). ~Sarah

Toddler Trouble

We had a shower Friday night, so Mason got to spend the evening with a babysitter. We got home that night and she shared with us that Mason had a little accident. He decided it would be a good idea to wear his potty seat as a necklace. Unfortunately, it wouldn't come off his head. Long story short, after some phone calls, our neighbor friend came over to help our babysitter out and remove the potty seat from Mason's head. Here is what we woke up to Saturday morning...

...a happy little boy who didn't know what the big deal was about his purple ears!

Hopefully he has learned his lesson and won't be putting a potty training seat on his head anytime soon. :)

Diaper Dandy Shower

Friday night we were blessed again by a group of friends that threw us a "Diaper Dandy Co-Ed Celebration." We had a great time and made some good memories. Enjoy the pictures!

Tony tries his hand at Baby Pictionary...not too shabby!

Opening the many generous gifts

Our babies are well loved!

Most creative presentation went to this tiered gift of dipes and formula and the one below with melted chocolate inside the diaper. Such fun friends! :)