long time, no blog

It's been forever . . .

The twins ended their Parents' Morning Out program a week before Hilton Head, and then, after our vacation at the beach, we got to spend two weeks just hanging out together. Every day. Five days a week. A pregnant mommy running after two-year old twins. In 90 degree Georgia heat. And it was great, but absolutely exhausting.

They have since started a new camp, and we've all been enjoying our first few weeks of summer. Just look at all of the things we've done:

We went sliding on slides . . .

and perfected head first.

We ran through the sprinkler,

and learned about water guns! (Boy was it fun to shoot daddy when he got home from work.)

We went to a water park for a friend's birthday party,

and came home to our back yard to play in the pool.

BaBa and CeCe took us to the zoo

where we rode the merry-go-round,

the choo-choo,

and a baby giraffe!

We went out to dinner with mom and dad,

and ate snacks at the pool after swim lessons.

We learned all about the ocean at summer camp,

and made all of these cool projects, too!

We sang "Pop! Goes the Owen" in an old coffee machine box,

played in the closet with our cousin, Dylan,

and welcomed our new cousin, Barrett, to the family.

We watched some World Cup soccer,

and then drank our disappointment away . . .



We rode on Paw-Paw's boat . . .



and convinced him to go FAST!

We posed for the camera,

(25 weeks!)

and then popped some serious 'tude (as well as popped some serious belly button, as displayed in previous photo).

And, we learned that it only takes twenty seconds,

to climb into a cup

of chocolate freakin' pudding.

vacation

Pics from our one-week stay in Hilton Head.

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better late than never

Since it's almost summer, I felt some pressure to post some old pics from the spring . . .

Getting ready for our Easter Egg Hunt.

I found one!

Baba & Cece came over to put together our new playground.

And we helped!



Definitely NOT going inside for a nap today.

One of our many trips to the zoo's merry-go-round.

Blowing dandelions.

Grocery shopping for dog food.

Yea, El. It's been that kind of spring. Full of chocolate noses, and car seat snoozes. :)

mother's day

Mommies everywhere,
I hope your day was as good as mine.

Some double tire swing action.

Party on the playground!!

Actually it's a party wherever this kid goes.

I'll have what he's having.

Beanie's "I'm too cool" look.

But daddy can get her to smile for the camera!

El riding First Class with grandpa.

Owie gets Coach. Just kidding, Daddy.

Driving back from the playground.

Shootin' the breeze with PaPa.

Take One.

Take Two.

Take Three.

Take Four.

Take 'em all inside for a nap. (Mommy included.)

spillin' the beans

Owen spills the beans, and then sits on top of his sister to celebrate.

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Due with the Axt grand finale - a baby BOY - on 10.10.10. Send all positive energy our way . . .

thank you!

Thank you all so much for your very generous donations to the March of Dimes. We raised over $2,000 this year, and despite a massive thunderstorm that parked itself right over the walk's course yesterday, we showed up to support our twins, and to celebrate - for another year - their beautiful, magical, miraculous lives.

We also participate in the March for Babies walk every year to support our friends we met in the NICU, our friends who have children with delays and disorders, our online friends who have stories similar to our own, and our friends who have lost their own babies.

I stared at the start line of the walk, and watched the rain and wind nearly blow all of the canopied tents over. Owen and Eliot looked at me from their jogging stroller, like, "Mom. This is nuts. I think I just heard a tornado siren." But, just the fact that they were there, and other preemies were there, and families were walking, and cheering, and smiling in support of babies everywhere was an inspiring sight. And I promise, none of it was lost on me. None of it.

So thank you so very much. Your donation will go to an amazing cause.

emergency exit

Yellow flag. Danger ahead. All drivers need to find their emergency exits . . .

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

owen-ism

My mom and I took the twins to the zoo on Tuesday morning, and we visited the petting zoo first. (Owen has a strange infatuation with goats.) So after about twenty minutes, and a lot of strange smelling animals, I said, "Okay guys. Say goodbye; we gotta go."

Owie - looking so disappointed - went up to an old, placid, white goat who was standing alone in the corner, and said, "Bye goat. Call me."

eliot's gotcha day

Eliot,
What a year you have had! You learned to talk; you learned to walk; you learned to eat. You got your g-tube removed; got released from three of your specialists; and got kicked out of speech therapy for performing at an above average level. How impressive . . .

Every Christmas, I ask your grandparents to get me a piece of pottery to symbolize the year. This past holiday, I got a small vase adorned with the ginkgo leaf. The ginkgo is said to be the oldest living seed-bearing plant in the world, and was the first living thing to bloom after the devastation at Hiroshima. Because of this, it has become a symbol of longevity and hope. I placed the vase proudly by your picture in the family room, because the ginkgo reminds me of you - strong and full of promise.

In the midst of all of these impressive traits, however, you my dear, can throw a temper tantrum that can bring the house down. "This is a pretty dress, Eliot." Nooooo! Noooooo dress. Superman shirt?
"Eliot, let's put this cute bow in your hair." Nooooo! No bow. Owen's hair. It practically took an act of God to get you into your car seat yesterday, because you decided that you didn't want to be in your car seat for I have NO idea what reason. But, girl. You had a reason, and an opinion, and you were very eager to share it.

If Owen follows some of the rules most of the time; you follow none of the rules all of the time. We take you upstairs to go to sleep, and you run into the master bedroom. I catch you, tell you to go to your room, and you run into the laundry room and jump into Jackson's cage. I catch you again, tell you to go to your room, and you run into the guest bedroom, look at me, and then shut the door in my face - cracking up the whole time. Your selective hearing is infuriating, and at the same time, absolutely hilarious.

At the end of the night though - after the tantrums and trouble - I could just sit and watch you talk about your day with "baby bear"; sing him and the rest of your stuffed animals the alphabet song; and practice jumping in your bed. You love nestling your head on your daddy's shoulder; you love putting yourself in time out (just to beat me to it); and you love proving to Owen that you "can do it, too" - no matter how high, fast, or ridiculous.

You are goodness and grace, Elie Mak; mischief and humor; brainy, but with just enough quirk to make you interesting. We are proud of you and inspired by your accomplishments this year. Congratulations on your 3rd at-home anniversary, Eliot. We're glad we gotcha.

Testing her new bubble bucket.

A new paint brush kit!



Just doin' what we do.

A new bike for Eliot, too.

An artist at work.

After her favorite dinner: pizza, avocado, and hummus.

For dessert, El asked for cupcakes, ice cream, and daddy.

And then, there was Owie . . .

and the blue cupcake that attacked him.

update - march for babies

I just had to raise our March for Babies goal! In less than a week we raised $1,000 for the March of Dimes. Thank you so much for your strong support!

march for babies 2010

It's that time of year again! And I'm totally behind on my fundraising efforts . . .

The March of Dimes, March for Babies! walk is on April 24th this year, and we would greatly appreciate your support again for Team Two Early. Owen and Eliot are talking, laughing, and walking today thanks to advances in neonatal medicine made possible by the March of Dimes. Please support this organization's efforts as they continue to research causes and prevention of pre-term labor, as well as improve treatment options for those born into the world too soon.

In the past two years, Team Two Early has raised over $5,000 for the March of Dimes. We hope to continue our tradition of being one of the top family teams in Atlanta for the third year in a row. To get there though, we need your help.

Please click the banner above to make an online donation in honor of our 27-week miracle twins.

wheels on the bus

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owen's gotcha day

Owen,
We went to the grocery store on Monday, and I let you pick out your favorite flower for your "Gotcha Day" party on Wednesday. You picked the gigantic, beautiful sunflowers that stuck out of the "dozen roses for $10" crowd. Of course you did. That's just you. Attention-getting, bold, and bright. So, of course you would pick the sunflower. It made perfect sense.


Owie, this year has been so. much. fun. From collecting sticks in the backyard, to watching you pull down your pants in the neighborhood Mexican restaurant (and then smile when you got applause from the crowd) - from "painting" the fence endlessly with water, to watching you smile, aim, and pee on Elie in the bathtub, your big personality makes an . . . ummmmm . . . an impression on everyone.

One of your girl friends at school named her doll "Owina" after you; another girl (an older woman; she's four) talks about you so much at home that her mom asked the school director, "Which boy is Owen? My daughter loves him"; your teachers at school - EVERY one - has a crush on you. And none of it comes as a surprise to me. Awwww, you love my Owie? Well, what's not to love?

You follow some of the rules most of the time, and you're game to try anything - the more dangerous, the better. You share all of your toys with your sister, and you know how to turn on every radio in the house to find music you can dance to. You like to test everything in your mouth first - from spicy salsa, to bubbles, to play doh, and you - unlike any other - can squash Eliot's crabbiness in a second by lying on top of her and rolling back and forth (which I have to pretend to not see, so that I can sit back and watch). And that laugh. Oh my god. Your laugh can still quiet a crowd.

You're just a good kid, Owen. The kind of kid that parents hope for. Full of joy, adventure, good times, and energy. Congratulations on your 3rd at-home anniversary. We're glad we gotcha.

Look at my boy!

A new bubble bucket.

And a new bicycle!

Vroom-vroom.

Eliot driving Matchbox cars on her Grandpa.

I'm pretty sure Owen is sticking the bubble wand INTO El's mouth.

Eliot loved getting her very own apple.

Yum, yum.

Eliot's "I'm going to steal your new bike tonight" look.

g.i. goodbye

Eliot had a G.I. appointment this morning, and just the two of us went. The idea of having twins is so celebrity, so ideal to a lot of people, but what no single-baby parent understands is that I constantly feel like I miss out on my children. I'm so busy taking care of both of them that I forget to enjoy either one.

So, this morning just mom and daughter went to the appointment, and Owen got some grandma time. And I have to tell you, I was SO excited about it. First of all, Eliot's G.I. doctor is awesome. He has been with us since El was three months old. You all remember that he came in at the last minute, after we had been beaten down by one doctor, and told us that Eliot DID NOT need a g-tube surgery before she left the NICU; that she SHOULD start a blenderized diet instead of stay on that nasty formula crap; that there would come a day when she WOULD NOT throw up; and that she ABSOLUTELY, without a doubt should go to the Marcus Institute to learn how to eat. He has given us so much hope and support over the past two years.

So, I couldn't wait to see him, and hug him, and show him my beautiful daughter that he has constantly coached and cheered for.

"She looks amazing." That's how he started. I mean, really. What a way to start.
"She is amazing," I smiled.
Eliot quickly showed him her Elmo sticker that she had conned the nurse into after she got weighed. He seemed impressed.
"Is she eating?"
"Like a teenage boy," I replied.
"Is she puking?"
"Not in months."
"Did you take her off the reflux meds?"
"Yes sir. Without your advice or approval."
He laughed. He knows me well.

He listened to her heart, examined her g-tube scar, touched her gut a bit, and then said, "Go enjoy this baby. It's been two long years. Go enjoy everything."
"You mean you're kicking us out?"
"I don't need to see her again. She's normal, perfectly healthy."

"Normal?" I thought. "NORMAL?" I've spent the last two years waiting for normal. And now, here we are. Me and this beautiful kid with her Elmo sticker that she keeps sticking to my thigh.

We said our goodbyes. The nurses that have been so good to us got out from behind their desks and gave her a hug (and more stickers). She waved at them all, and we walked out of the G.I. office - hopefully for the last time.

I let her press the down arrow button on the elevator. I let her stick the sticker to my leg. I let her splash in the puddles on the way to the car. And then, I picked her up, gave her a kiss, and put her in her car seat.

I have loved this child from the beginning. The 2 pound, 2 ounce beginning. I have absolutely loved to watch her fight, and overcome, and defy odds. But man, it will be so nice to just enjoy life now; to let her be a "normal" toddler, and not just a 27-week preemie trying to catch up. She won't need to go to a specialist every couple of months this year. I'm so happy for her. So proud.

I looked at her in the rearview mirror, and said, "Eliot, I love being your mother."

She looked back at me with those big blue eyes that came from who knows where, and said, "Elmo?"

Which, I'm pretty sure in some culture - somewhere - must mean, "Thanks, mom. I love being your daughter."

Yea. I'm pretty sure that's what Elmo must mean.