What I'd do with a million dollars...

Oh, what I'd do... I've been thinking a lot about this.  What would I do if we played the lotto and won millions?  How would that change our lives?  I can tell you the first thing I'd do with a million dollars is pay off everyone we owe, house, car, student loans, credit cards (the root of ALL evil), ect, and never owe anyone ever again.  never..ever..ever..ever.. NEVER AGAIN!  Then, I think we'd start with a house, we'd buy a big house with a big yard for our kids and our pets, one that they could spend all day in and be content.  Then, we'd go with a bigger car, so that getting around and going on trip wouldn't be so cramped!  I'd pay off my family's debt, and make sure they were taken care of, of course.  Start a wonderful college fund for our kiddos...

And then.. I jump back to reality.  I remind myself, I probably won't ever win a million dollars, we are probably always going to owe someone money, and no matter what, our children will be taken care of.  I think of all of the things a million dollars couldn't buy me.  The sound of my kids greeting me in the morning with a huge grin (which is usually way too early, but that's life), the stability I have in my relationship with my hubs, the inside jokes and years of laughter with all of my close friends.. The family I have around me...Money couldn't buy me these things.. these things are (Cue the Visa commercial) priceless.. 

"My favorite things in life don't cost any money. It's really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time."

Money couldn't buy me these memories, or the ones I have had or will have...

Seeing lots of MoM's and Twins in my Future!

I am so excited that in the next year, I am going to have a few opportunities to meet other MoM's!!  In October, I am hoping to go to the State Convention for my MoM's group!  Masquerade and all!!!  I can't wait! It will be my first weekend away from the twinnies, which will be bittersweet, a time for me, but a time I will miss them of course!  Then, in November, I am planning on spending a day in Chicago with some other MoM's from all over the country, including a few from my Facebook MoM's group!!!!!!!!!!!!!  AND THEN!! I'm planning it already, but next year, we are taking Liam & Lena, and my sisters Sarah & Rachel to the Twin's Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio!  How fun will that be?!  I'm already looking up hotels and stuff, and can't wait until they announce next year's theme!!

My Twin's Festival 2013 Crew!!!!  

Sick of Sickness!

For the past three weeks, the kiddos have been sick!!  Fevers, coughs, snot, and now a rash have all made their way into our house!!  One is enough, but two, good grief!!  I'm looking forward to when my kids feel back to their normal selves.  They are for the most part, still can be a little fussy, and a little more tired than normal!!  

Early bedtime!

Watching Bubble Guppies with "Bankie"

Snuggles with Momma makes everything better!

This is how I feel this morning.

Relaxing in the morning

Today we dealt with a rash on Lena's upper body.  Possibly allergic to the amoxicillin she was given for her sinus infection, not sure!

MoM :)

God has blessed me with the challenge, the joys, the up's, the down's of having multiples.  While there are so many "up's", there are a lot of "down's" that I have battled.  Not only am I a first time mother, I'm a first time mom with two babies.  That's not exactly standard!  I have battled with the questions regarding whether or not I give each one of them enough of me.  Do I split my time equally?  Do I hold them the same amount of times?  These questions are emotional questions for me.  Many first time Mom's have one baby to hold and to bond and to cuddle with, while I got two, to hold, cuddle, and instead move onto the needs of the next one.  And that's hard!  It's something only another multiple mom would understand.  God blessed me with the most amazing man to stand by me, to be strong when I'm not, to be positive when I'm negative, and vice versa.  We are the perfect team.  God also blessed me with an amazing group of women, women who for better sake of terms "get it"  My friend Beth and I were pregnant together, delivered our twins just two weeks apart, we've shared joys, we've shared exhaustion, we've shared frustrations, and we've shared triumphs.. But I was also led to a group of amazing women in my area and funny enough, a group on facebook :)  I feel like this connection we have, this mothering multiples connection, makes us special.  I feel like not only do I have instant friends, my kids will too.  Today, I was reminded of this blessing at my MoM's (and if you do not have a clue what this term means, b/c I'm sure I will use it often, it stands for mom's of multiples) family picnic.  Seeing my twins with other sets of twins is soo cool, they are instant friends, and I hope they will have them for years to come!

Levi & Lucas, Summer & Poppy, Liam & Lena.  It's fun to be one!  MMORE Picnic, July 22nd, 2012

Whether near or far, wherever Drew & Trey are and wherever the Army takes them, always best friends!  June, 2012

It's upside down, ha, I know, but I couldn't resist this one.  I forget how small they were, and how easy it was to take their picture!!!  February 3rd, 2012, shortly before our friends moved to VA.

That's all for today :) It was a fun day, kids went to bed early.  I sat down and caught up on DVR'ed shows, had a drink, and now I think I'm calling it a night.  Em is working, and I'm looking forward to when he crawls into bed, so it's not so cold!!  Our new bedroom, downstairs is freezing!!!!!!!!!!

I just don't get it..

The mentality of a woman who throws away her baby.. a baby who never even had a chance to live, to breathe, to laugh, to love and be loved, to play, to make friends..  I have known so many women who would have been on the top of the moon to be given the chance to have a baby, women who have tried for long periods of time, battling infertility.  Some have won the battle, and some are still fighting.  And this woman throws her child away, like a piece of garbage. I'm mortified, upset, sad, and angry for this baby. This poor baby that never even had a chance.. I'm hugging my babies tighter, this is a crazy world.  May you rest in peace sweet Noah.

Baby Noah's At Rest

"Don't Blink, 'cause just like that..."

I cannot believe it's been 8 months since my last blog post.  I vowed then to get back into the swing of this, and I failed!  This new life of being a mother of twins, well, wow... what an INSANE ride this has been!!  Liam and Lena, my lovlies, are ONE.  They had a wonderful birthday!  And because I cannot sum up all the incredible leaps and bounds they have accomplished in the past 8 months in one post, I will make you a list, so you get the gist!!

Lena is..

Talking UP A STORM!

Taking steps!!

Nodding her head yes, but not nearly as much as she nods it no.

Clapping & Dancing

Pointing to her belly button

Pretending to talk on a phone (such a girl)

Liam is...

GETTING INTO EVERYTHING! Cupboards, the trashcan, the toilet, you name it!

Crawling like a pro!

Going down for naps like a champ!

Eating as much as his Daddy!

Pushing anything and everything around the house

I am...

Getting 6-8 hours of sleep every night (can I get an AMEN!)

Working some waitressing hours for some extra cash

Selling Thirty-One Gift products (WHICH I LOVE)

Trying to be the best mom I can be, which has been a lesson in patience and flexibility!!

Remaining as calm as possible!

Getting pulled and tugged at everyday by two toddlers who follow me everywhere!

Thanking God for my amazing husband, who works hard and loves our kids as much as I do!

Each day is an adventure, some days I laugh, some days I cry, and some days, well.. some days I beg for a babysitter or I rip my hair out.  I'm surrounded by amazing friends, some 5 minutes away, some thousands of miles.  God has truly blessed me in this crazy, tragic, sometimes almost magic, awful beautiful life!! Stay tuned!!  :)