Happy Holidays

Wishing all of our friends a Merry Christmas and a wonderful and prosperous New Year!

They lasted about 30 seconds ;-)

Little Rascals at Nine Months

I can't believe these little guys just turned nine months - the time has flown by.  Henry is a little chatter bug.  Not speaking in words but babbling baby words.  He loves to scream DA-DA at the top of his lungs despite my hourly attempts to have him say Ma-Ma.  Angus is a mover and a shaker - if you put him down he is gone is a flash and trying to climb on something.  We just finished a major renovation of our house which entailed opening up the main floor into one room so now we can put the babies down and they can have a load of fun just moving around.

Henry has 8 teeth.  The first two came the day he turned 5 months.  He cut them two at at time which was probably bad for him but good in the sense he got it out of the way.  Angus just got his 1st tooth a few weeks ago and now the second has broken through.  Poor guy has been perpetually wet for the last two months with non-stop drool.

These babies are so sweet they get smiles where ever they go and give the smiles right back.  They are so beautiful and happy and we cherish them.   Here are some pictures from the last few months…

Angus loves his bunny!

Henry smiles could stop traffic.

Look at what I can do!

Photobombed by my brother :-)

The skunk costume was something I made for my older son for his first halloween I thought I would try it on the boys one at a time and take a picture - Angus was okay with it (I think he just realized if he holds still I will take it off and no more will be said about it)  Henry on the other hand was not going to stand for any pictures of himself dressed up in a skunk costume.

Just take the picture mom!! 

No freaking way!! 

Hi!

Oh the drama!

Notice the shimmering drool coating his chest :-P

Bed head!

Conspiring to take over the world one day.

Six months and some weeks

Well, we hit the six month mark and the boys are getting so big.  I asked Brian the other day if he can believe it has been six months since our trip to India to pick up the boys.  He said it feels like a dream - a wonderful dream.

Henry has two new teeth and Angus is still working on his.

They are currently in the middle of their first colds - lots of Boogie Wipes in our house.  Poor little buggers - they hate being sick.  Angus loves to suck his thumb while he sleeps but he can't because his little nose is all stuffed up - so he screams instead until he passes out :-(

They are on the mend - in a few days they should be back to normal.  This past summer was really fun and flew by so fast.  We spent a lot of time at the zoo and going to the park.  Henry and Angus love to go for walks and just look at everything.  And everyone just loves to look at them - they are always smiling and they are just so beautiful and happy.  We count our blessings everyday that we have these little boys!  Here are some pictures....

What?! I like the bananas!

Power nap between bounces.

Seriously, can you fit anymore toys on these car seats?!  By the way, where are we going?  It better be to the park!

Okay, don't laugh!   Drool happens :-)

He better not get any of that drool on me or I'm gonna freak out!

The end of a long day of fun!

Nope!  I am not feeling the duckling costume, Mom.  Can we try the dinosaur one?

First day of school for big brother and sister.  Quite an adjustment for  Henry and Angus and also Mommy - I lost my helpers to public education.  It was very weird not to have someone available to watch the boys while I did laundry or took a shower - and after two weeks we are still trying to adjust!

Henry's preferred sleeping postion - rump up

What?!  I'm just holding the candy not eating it ;-P

Bye for now!

Where Have the Days Gone?

Well, it has been a while since my last post.  I have been getting on the internet every once in a while to check up on everyones blogs but have not had a chance to update mine - so here goes....

It has been extremely busy here.  Not only are we full on into lacrosse season and the start of travel soccer practices but we are on the last few days of school.  These boys are becoming seasoned soccer and lacrosse sideline babies.  I imagine that less than a week after taking their first steps they will be kicking a soccer ball or holding a lacrosse stick.

Henry and Angus are amazing.  I look at them everyday and still can't believe they are here and they are mine.  They go to bed at around 9pm and sleep until 7am.  Then they nap from 9am until around 11am then another afternoon nap after lunch and playtime.  They are smiling and cooing and they love watching their older brother and sister.  When my older son or daughter walk into the room they both light up with smiles.

Here are some pictures...

Let me guess - soccer practice again? - Angus

Car seats make these babies go right to sleep! - Henry

Good morning mommy :-)

Angus rock'n the mohawk!

Some days are good....

Angus on a good day.

and some are bad....

Henry on a bad day!

but most are good :-)

The boys are getting so big.  They are into three month clothes but love to just hang out in their diapers on a warm afternoon.  

Which is fine with me because they are both fountains after they eat.  One small jostle and its Mount Vesuvius with regurgitated formula instead of hot lava.  And let me be quite honest Similac Soy smells worse coming up than it does in a fresh bottle - yuk!  Despite all the spit up they are getting rolls and a little belly that they love to have raspberries planted on first thing in the morning.  There is nothing like a baby laughing out loud in the morning to get the day off to a great start.  

These two are such a pair.  I always get asked if they are identical but after a second look people realize they are different from each other.  Angus has more hair and Henry is shorter.  Henry started cooing and laughing a few weeks ago and Angus is just starting to laugh.  He tries to get it out but it comes out in grunts and smiles and snorts.  It is so funny.  Angus is ahead in physical development - he can grab a  toy and stick it in his mouth.  Henry is trying to get ahold of the bird that hangs from his car seat handle and kicks him in the face when the car seat gets moved around but his little fingers just haven't figured out how to grab and hold.  They both love to stand up on tables and talk to you.  They love people and the cat - she stays clear of them (I think she realizes what is coming and is hoping to stay under the radar for a little while longer).  Lord help her when they start moving.

The dogs are crazy about the babies.  Our little dog Ruby loves to sniff their toes.  Henry and Angus just stare at her in amazement - I always wonder what they are thinking.  

Our older kids are amazing.  People always ask me if twins are hard and I feel bad saying no - because I have so much help.   Older brother and sister are always there to help out with holding or feeding and making raspberries on baby bellies - but absolutely not changing diapers apparently.  

Until next time :-)

  

Getting the boys!

Well, we have been back for about two weeks now and it still seems like a dream.  When we got the news that the boys were here on Tuesday, February 26 - we were totally unprepared.  Brian was working that week in D.C. so he rushed home and began to gather all the paperwork we would need for "Operation: Bring Babies Home".  I started packing and packing and packing.  We purchased plane tickets for a Thursday departure which put us in Delhi on Saturday at 1:00 am.  

We stayed at Svelte and their service picked us up at the airport and took us to the hotel.  We were still on  East Coast time when we arrived so at 4:00am we ordered dinner and then took a nap before going to meet our boys.

Angus Cruz

Henry Gibson

It was surreal going to Eden Hospital.  First when we arrived in Delhi at 1:00am - I kept thinking that everyone had exaggerated the traffic situation.  The traffic was fine at 1am - the traffic at 10am was completely mad!  I kept trying to take a movie on my phone but there was no way to capture it on a camera.  You have to experience it to understand it.  Anyway - we visited our boys on Saturday and took them "home" on Sunday.  Room 506 our home away from home for the next week.  

It took us 11 days to get out of Delhi and those were the longest 11 days of my life.  I kept thinking Brian was going to pop a gasket.  He is a very orderly and A type personality - he was not handling the chaos of Delhi bureaucracy very well.  The one saving grace that totally expedited our escape was Poonam.  She was a blessing - we only had to worry about a few things on our end and she took care of the rest.  

Just a note to all IPs headed to Delhi - the American Embassy is only doing DNA testing on Tuesday.  We found this out when we arrived!  Luckily, Rachna rushed our birth certificate through in one day so that we could have it Tuesday morning to take to the embassy for our DNA test.  

The DNA test was quick and easy.  The only draw back was that I did not order a next day test - If I had our trip would have been shorter by a few days.  We used Chromosomal Labs in Arizona.  The DNA swabs shipped out from the embassy on Tuesday and arrived in Arizona on 9am Thursday.  If I had ordered next day we would have gotten the results by Friday.  

The U.S. Embassy takes only a few hours to print out the passports once they get the results.  Our results were received Tuesday morning 8:30am and we had the passports in our hand by noon.   We went to Poonam's to get our paperwork and then on to the FRRO by 2:00pm.  We were out by 5:45 and it only took that long because we had to wait for the guy in charge of Counter 12 to come back from a 1 hour smoke break!!!!!  Counter 12 is the guy who physically stamps your babies passport with the exit visa and signs off on it.  I am thinking of sending Counter 12 a care package of nicotine patches  - so future IPs don't have to wait so long.  

All in all Delhi was beautiful and yet horrifying - it was worth the stress and I would do it again in a heartbeat.  Our boys are amazing and every time I look at them I think that they are truly miracles.  

Finally pictures

Baby boy #1

Baby boy #2

Still working on names but we are toying with Henry Gibson and Jace Beckett.  Nothing is concrete until we meet these little guys.  Can't wait to get there.

What's in a Name?

Well apparently - letters - however, picking one (or two) seems to be a problem with Brian and I.  Now take in mind he is bone tired after having trained it back from DC and he has been sitting in front of his computer organizing all the paperwork for "Operation Get the Hell out of Dodge (or Delhi)" since he walked in the door.  I have been doing laundry and trying to make a list of all the stuff we need and dreading the flight but anxious to get to the babies.  But he literally just fell asleep before I even got to the D's.  Oh well, we have a long plane ride ahead of us.

We are still waiting for pictures - I will post as soon as we get some.

Wow - i can't believe I have three boys now!!!!!  (one is thirteen and as tall as me.... well maybe taller - but he will always be my little boy)  and the other two are on the other side of the globe.  What a difference a day makes!

It's Raining Baby Boys

35.5 days and each is weighing in at 5.5 lbs (2.4 and 2.5 kg).  Perfect and healthy baby boys!

The Stork is Coming in for a Landing

We just received an email from Yogita that our surrogate was admitted to the hospital with borderline high blood pressure and mild contractions....  "as per our medial team's suggestion we wish to inform you that they are now planning to do her c-section"

Can't wait to meet our babies.....as soon as we get to India :-)

Homestretch

Well, we are officially in the homestretch.  We just hit 34 weeks yesterday and everything seems fine with our SM and the babies.  (knock on wood)  After a month of worry because of "excessive liquor" and one twin showing no growth the last scan, taken yesterday, came back with all good news.

Twin II has put on some weight and flipped over - going from breech to head down.  Although where this baby is finding room for calisthenics I just don't know.  Not only has this child turned around but he/she has also managed to unwrap the cord from around his/her little neck!  What a good baby!

Twin I is putting on weight and has stayed in head down position for a while.  Apparently, not giving SM any trouble at all :-)

Here is our latest scan report:

Twin I - is 5.5 lbs. and Twin II is 4.5 lbs. at 34 weeks! Our SM is amazing!

And here are the pictures of our babies heads and the last two pictures with the wavy things, which I don't know what they are - maybe heartbeats?  Whatever they are it must be okay because Yogita pointed out in her email this morning that "our babies are doing well"  and that is good enough for me!

I can't believe that in less than three weeks we will be heading over to India (unless babies make a surprise appearance in the next week).  I have a baby shower next Sunday - very small and intimate - but it will be wonderful.  Everyone is very excited about the babies.  

I finally finished up the nursery - except for the final color splashes.  I am waiting for babies to come before I order bedding and add some extra color to the room with some throws, pillows, and pictures. 

Decals will go over each crib with babies name.

Two pictures will frame the window and a small table under the window painted a bright color.  

I love this decal. 

I love the gray on the walls.  I have a darker gray behind the cribs and a dove gray on the rest of the walls.  It is very serene.  I have already curled up on the chair to take a little cat nap.  

Belly Shots and Home Improvement

Well it has been awhile since my last update.  Our surrogate is doing well and babies are growing.  We received our 28 week scan the first week in January and Dr. Jolly noted excessive liquor - AFI 24 (high is 25).  Our surrogate was started on medication with fetal heart monitoring every 24-48 hours.  We have received no other updates so I am assuming that no news is good news!

I emailed Neha and asked if we can get some belly shots when our surrogate had her next check-up and I received some pictures this morning....

I keep looking at the photos and I think they are so beautiful - despite the Dallas Cowboys sweatshirt!  (That is the first thing Brian spotted when I showed him the pictures - haha) We have decided to bring her a Philadelphia Eagles sweatshirt when we go over ;-)  

Anyway, I keep thinking that is a lot of baby in that belly.  When we received our 28 week scans the twins were measuring at 2.7 pounds each!  Those babies are getting big fast.  We just hope they stay put for at least a few more weeks.  If our surrogate can actually make it to 37/38 weeks - I will be amazed and impressed!!

I am working hard on the nursery and also my son's room.  We are turning my son's room from a little boy's room into a teen sanctuary.  His 13th birthday is in a few weeks and I figured with the twins coming he might need a space where he can just get away from the baby crazy.  The nursery is almost done.  I am awaiting the arrival of the changing table which is supposed to arrive tomorrow.  The chair we bought from Pottery Barn Baby is on backorder until April 5th - ugh!!  I am hoping it comes early - fingers crossed XX.