Happy Halloween!

We are excited about Halloween, even though we will be driving across North Carolina and the kids won't get to wear their costumes. Well, we could take them out for the night at Duke University, but they will probably be asleep.

All is good right now. We are out of the house in Athens and on our way to New London, CT!

My Itty Bitty Babies

E & A went to the pediatrician Tuesday and are getting bigger. They are so huge to me and people who haven't seen them in awhile, but they are still itty bitty.

Evan is 16 lbs, 2 oz, 0% for weight. Amelia is 15lbs, 8 oz, 2% for weight. The doctor says they are on their own healthy little curve, so we are not worried. They eat like piggies. One thing neat is that Evan was an inch shorter than Amelia in August and is now 1.5 inches longer.

Evan uses his abs to start sitting up and then uses his right hand to finish the job. He went to PT today and even though we haven't been there in awhile, his head/neck are doing great! So much so that we aren't going back next week and won't return again because we are moving next Thursday. This is the only reason I am sad about leaving. His PT, Laurie, and his OT, Kim, have done so much for Evan and are just the nicest people. Sniff, sniff. I have a feeling it is not going to be like that in New England.

Amelia is crazy as always. When we lay on the floor she climbs on top of us and launches herself over. She doesn't even care that she's smashing her head into the floor. She laughs hysterically. She is standing by herself for 7 seconds. If we stand her up she won't do it, though. She has to do it herself.

Here is some footage of her being insane. I couldn't resist sharing this.

Some pics from our vacay

Swan's Pumpkin Farm, Franksville, WI
Genevieve, Ailey, Evan, and Amelia



Makeshift highchair- Evan is bored of Squash.

I caught Ailey eating a bowl of sprinkles- her favorite food, she says.

Coordinated Cousins

It's Complicated.

Well, we made the trip to Minneapolis and back from Kenosha with Evan (a 12 hour round trip via mini-van). It turns out Evan's arm/hand orthopedic surgeries cannot be done at Shriners Hospitals because he had heart surgery and there is no emergency dept, icu, or heart specialists on hand if something were to happen. They only do orthopedic surgeries and treat burn patients with no prior complications. I'm not sure why they would not tell me this before making me drive all the way there, but everything happens for a reason with us. We got to meet the top surgeon in the country for arms with a missing radius, Dr. Ann Van Heest. She told us her opinion of what corrective steps she would take. If she would do the surgery, however, we would have to fight with our insurance to pay for the surgeries at another hospital in Minneapolis. I think if I try hard I could win this battle. But, she told us names of surgeons she recommended in Boston and Seattle, so we are thinking of going that route. Minneapolis is just so out there. The thing is, Boston and Seattle are in different insurance coverage areas, so there is going to be a battle with them at some point. As soon as I get to CT, I'm going to take Evan to see the surgeon in Boston and talk with him on his opinion and if he can place a call to the surgeon in Seattle. It's a mess! I try not to have the "why me?" or "why him?" attitude, it's just so hard to stay positive all the time when one thing after another doesn't work out.

Anyway, the first surgery is called "wrist centralization" where the wrist is moved over and attached to the remaining bone in his arm, the ulna. First we have to put splints on Evan every night to aggressively stretch out his muscles and tendons that are supposed to attach to a radius bone. Having this surgery will keep his hand from pulling inward so much. This surgery should be done by 12 months, so this is part of the reason I'm freaking out about where to do it. If I wait until Seattle he might be a little older and John will be on a submarine! If we do it in Boston, then we have to move before his cast comes off and the pin comes out. Do I fly 6 hours with twins back out to Boston for this? I can't imagine a surgeon would want another surgeon completing his work. Do I stay in New England for awhile? Aaahhh!!

So that is my update. Coming to you from our new broadband "air card" in our laptop while riding in the homamma mobile.

Happy 9 months!

I haven't been able to post because we are staying at my moms, who has *gasp* dial-up internet. Thank god I am visiting my sister right now!


We just got back from E & A's first professional photo shoot with my friend Katie and it went quite well. I think we got some pictures! Hey, if they are both facing somewhat forward and aren't crying, it was a successful photoshoot to me

It is sunny and low 60's so we are off to the pumpkin farm. Hot cider, caramel apples, petting zoo, and hopefully a decent picture or two with some dressed up pumpkins. I wish they had some South Park pumpkins, but something tells me they won't.

Evan goes to Shriners on Tuesday and Wednesday, then we head home. Hopefully I will post again soon. If the phone line is available ;)

Fun with Evan

He's so goofy. John says he is a lot like me. I guess I'll take that as a complement.

Evan can sit!

This is very important and I forgot to post these pics last week. He will still do a face plant to the left if he forgets to balance check, but it counts. He can definitely sit. He just has a hard time getting into the sitting position. But that's why Mom is here :) I have some funny movies, too- I will post them next.

Yes, those are his cute rocket ship pj's. And I'm not sure how it happened, but somehow in between snapping two pictures Amelia ended up naked. What's new.