Happy #8

May 4th was McKenna's 8th birthday. She was lucky enough to have both sets of grandparents here to celebrate it with her. Scooby-Doo was the theme for the second year in a row. She chose to have tacos for dinner, and wanted a Scooby-Doo cake. Mom and I sure had some MAJOR stress with that cake. Nothing, I mean nothing, turned out right on that cake. But mom improvised and I thought it turned out great! McKenna loved it, so that was all that really mattered. I can't believe she is 8, but at the same time, it seems like she has been in our lives forever. She is such a great helper and does whatever I ask her to. She is at the top of her class at school. McKenna has such a tender heart and cares for everything and everyone around her. She is a phenomenal big sister and can always get Joseph to calm down when Mark and I can't. Put McKenna in a crowd and she is silent as a mouse, but get her home and you can't get her to stop talking! She always asks questions and wants to know more. Learning comes natural for her. She loves to be outside and can swing a wicked bat. (I have got to get her enrolled in softball this fall). I must admit, she was an awful baby! But she has turned into a wonderful little lady and I love her more and more every day. Happy Birthday McKenna. We love you!!!

Visit

My parents came into to town from April 30th to May 12 for a visit. They hadn't been here in a year and a half, and we were so glad to have them come! They were able to be here and see the twins for the first time, for McKenna's 8th birthday and baptism, the babies' blessings, and Mother's day. They were so helpful while they were here. Dad did a million little projects around our house that desperately needed attention. Mom and I shopped a lot, but did manage to get a birthday party put together and Mom made Janie's blessing dress (more to come about that later). We visited Spring and Callawassie Islands which were absolutely beautiful! As requestsed of Dad by Dale Murphy, we went to Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House. It is a family-style restaurant that is only open 5 days a week from 11:00-2:00. It's famous and the line to get in is about 30 minutes long or so. They seat you around a table that holds 10 people and just have all the food on the table in bowls. You serve it just like you were sitting at the dinner table with your family. The bowls didn't match, the chairs didn't match, it was a tiny place, they make you clear your own plate, and the food was freakin' awesome! We met Mark's parents there, took the twins, Joseph, and Kaitlyn and had a blast! The menu? All southern food. Fried chicken, barbecue, okra, collard greens, rutabagas, mashed potatoes, beef stew, butter beans, pickled beets, macaroni & cheese, candied yams and more. Awesome awesome awesome!

Mother's Day was a fantastic day. All of Mark's family, except Cindy, were able to be in town, and my parents of course, and Mark blessed the twins during sacrament. They were beautiful blessings! Then immediately after church, Mark baptized McKenna. (I will post pictures of those events later). After the baptism, we all went to the Lowther's house for a steak Mother's Day dinner! Mom decided to go relax in the hammock and got attacked by 6 kids. I think she still hd fun though!

We had such a great time with them. Dad taught Joseph how to yell "touchdown" with his arms up in the air and to say "yes" with the appropriate action as well. He was biting everyone's ears as usual and torturing the kids with his shaving-cream face. You all know the one I am talking about--where he comes and tries to get a kiss from someone right before he shaves! We played some pretty intense games of Scrabble almost every night. Mark and I didn't do too terrible for two amateurs pitted against two pros--or at least that's what we keep telling ourselves. Mom and dad helped me feed the babies, cook lunch and dinner, clean up around the house and so much more. I was completely spoiled and I loved it! Thanks for all you did while you were here. It is much appreciated. Love you tons Mom and Dad! You're the best!

Mom holding the twins for the first time

Dad and Mom each with a baby

Pappy tickling Joseph
I love their faces in this picture!

Mom trying out the hammock. It wasn't as relaxing as she hoped!

A house on the exclusive Callawassie Island. If you want to know
whose house it is, you'll have to ask mom.

Visiting the tabby ruins on Spring Island. This used to be a plantation home.

Mom feeding Janie

What Happened?

I have no idea what happened to March and April. They have flown by so quickly!. I can hardly believe that my babies are 5 weeks old already! They may still look small to most people, but to Mark and I, they are getting huge! And they are getting loud. They sure will wail now when they are hungry. It used to be just a little squeak, but they have learned how to get attention around this noisy house.

On another where-has-the-time-gone note, McKenna turned in her first science project yesterday and went to her first Achievement Night at church! She had a blast and can't wait to go next time. This is a really good thing for her because she has not enjoyed school much this year, so at least now she has something to look forward to. She is very excited about her birthday and that Grandma and Pappy Veach will be here. Can't wait to see you guys!

Easter was fun for us and I took the babies to church for the first time. That was quite an adventure and I am sure Mark got a good laugh watching me from the stand wrangle 6 kids. Especially one that was yelling to sit with his dad and tried to make a break for it! But Mark was nice enough to everyone to cancel all extra meetings that Sunday and we headed to his parents house after church for Easter dinner and an Easter Egg hunt. The kids had a blast hunting eggs, and despite the man-eating gnats, the weather was beautiful! Mark requested a true southern meal and that's what we got. We had bbq chicken, a macaroni and cheese, rudabagas, green beans, okra, squash, and strawberry jello salad. Doesn't get much more southern than that! Mark was in heaven. We also attempted to take a family picture and got a few decent ones. We just can't seem to get everyone to smile at once. Oh well--I am just glad we were all in the same picture!

Happy Birthday Joseph

Joseph--2 days old
Joseph 2 years old

This past week was a lot of fun for our family! Last Tuesday, my niece Michelle and her kids came down from Virginia to visit us. We had a great time eating pizza (thanks Becky) and just chatting. Unfortunately, all the pictures we took are on Michelle's camera, so I don't have any to post. Then on Friday, Mark kept Joseph, Janie and Harrison while the rest of us went shopping with Grandma Susie. We had fun and got lots of new clothes for the kids for summer and found Easter outfits too! Nothing beats shopping! Saturday was Joseph's 2nd birthday. We actually celebrated it on Sunday because of the Priesthood Session of conference on Saturday. He had a great birthday, but didn't want to open anything else after he opened his bubble lawnmower. But he eventually did and loved everything he got! I can hardly believe he is 2 already. Happy birthday Joseph!

While the men were at conference on Saturday, I took the kids and went to visit my mother-in-law. We actually went to Walmart, and that was the babies' first time in a store. They really didn't get to see anything as they were covered the whole time we were there! Mark and I really enjoyed watching General Conference this past weekend and always feel so uplifted and inspired when it is over. We are really looking forward to Easter this weekend. My kids are on Spring Break right now, but unfortunately the weather is really yucky at the moment. Hopefully it will warm up soon.

Here are a few pictures from the past week. Janie loved her bath--Harrison, not so much.

Gotta Love Charlie

Ok, so when I am bored, youtube ends up being my best friend. Mark and I have watched many a random video on youtube. Here is our latest find, and seeing how we live in Georgia, we find it appropriate. This dude rocks on the fiddle. By the way, if anyone knows the difference between a fiddle and a violin, I would love to know!

Deliver Me

For the past few weeks I have been having this nagging feeling to go ahead and get everything ready for the babies. Something kept telling me to pack my hospital bag, but I didn't. 2 weeks ago was Mark's spring break and we made plans to finish painting and then get all the baby stuff out of the attic to wash it. I also had an appointment for an ultrasound on Thursday. Well I never made it. On Tuesday (St. Patty's Day), we took the kids to Sonic for a shake at lunchtime and then headed to the Wildlife Preserve to see the alligators because it was such a gorgeous day. We had a blast and saw a ton of gators. On the way home I shifted my weight and felt something wasn't right. I was leaking something and was hoping it wasn't blood. When we got home, I checked and it wasn't blood, but I wasn't convinced it was amniotic fluid either. Mark, however, was convinced and called his parents to have them meet us at my Dr's office. Of course my doctor was out of town, so they asked me to come see the doctor on call. Sure enough, Mark was right. My water had broken. Mark had made me throw a few things into a bag before we left home, so fortunately I had a few things with me as they wheeled me upstairs to check me into the hospital. Dr. Toraya told me that if I didn't start labor in my own by 4:00am, they would start pitocin. I didn't really want to go that route, but oddly enough, nothing was happening. That is really unusual for me as I generally have about 5 minutes once my water breaks. Anyway, I wasn't allowed to get up out of bed to try to help labor along, so I was stuck there praying it would start. I was miserable because I had a horrible cold and couldn't breath, and laying down in a bed doesn't really help that. When Doc came in, I was only at 3cms (can't remember how far effaced). He told me that until I could breath, nature wouldn't take its course. So they loaded me up with Claritin and Afrin and Nasocort. I am not joking when I say the second I could breath again, I started having hard contractions. We called in the nurse to get the anesthesiologist because I go so fast. My contractions were 4 minutes apart when he came in. I was kind of bummed they made me get an epidural this time, but knew it was necessary in case of an emergency. He finished the epidural at 11:30pm and when the nurse checked me at 11:40, I was completely dilated and effaced. I felt the urge to push about 1 minute later. Fortunately, the epidural was strong enough that I was able to control myself. They wheeled me into the O.R. for delivery because my huge room wasn't big enough. They had 13 people in there; ultrasound tech, 2 ObGyn's, a neonatologist and nurses. It was crazy! But we were so blessed because everything went so smoothly! Some of the nurses had never seen twins delivered vaginally before. They were in shock. Especially because I was done and back in my room by 12:40 am. I had the epidural in less than an hour before they took it out! Anyway, on March 18, 2009 Janie Elizabeth Lowther was born at 12:13 am and Harrison Edward Lowther was born at 12:19am. They were born at 33 weeks and 3 days. Janie weighed 4lbs 5oz, 18 1/2 inches long. Harrison was 4lbs 13oz, 18 inches long. I did not receive the steroid shot for the babies' lungs so I was worried about them being so early. But somehow their lungs were developed and did not even need the surfactant for their lungs that most preemies need. They both were on oxygen for short period of time, and once they finally put them next to one another in the special care nursery, they improved so much quicker. I brought Janie home on Thursday at 8 days old and Harrison on Friday at 9 days old. Technically, their gestation is 35 weeks right now. The nurses were amazed at how quickly they were able to go home. They thought it would be a minimum of 2-3 weeks, maybe longer. But I am so thrilled to have them home! They are tiny and have no fat whatsoever on them, so we just have to watch their temperature and make sure they are warm enough. The other kids love the babies and are always wanting to help out! Joseph just points at them and says "baby." He doesn't know quite what to think of them yet. But we love these 2 little babies and are so blessed to have them on our family! Now we just need to get a car big enough to hold 8 people! :)

Janie shortly after birth

Harrison shortly after birth

Dad and Mom after the babies were born

Janie all hooked up

Harrison loves his tummy

Janie

Harrison smiling (gas)

Mom trying to get a picture of them together

Janie coming home

Harrison coming home

Both home at last!