Hail...

Today was a GREAT day!!  Leah was EXCITED to go to church.  That pretty much sums up the day :)  We got in the car and she was cheering and yelling "church".  When we got there, she walked into church (usually we have to carry her crying) and walked right into the room.  She cried for about three seconds when I kissed her goodbye, but was very easily re-directed towards a babydoll that "needed a hug."  They apparently played well and when we came to get them there were again no tears (she usually cries when we get there...I guess to show us how much misery we had put her though...).  Awesome morning!

Then I got to go to Jill Rider (Conlin)'s baby shower and got to see all the Rider girls :)  Yay!  Love catching up with them!!  It was also a great excuse to hang out with Mom and Deanna sans kids!

When I got home, we had family playtime...the girl's are so happy and giddy whenever we are all home together and can sit and play...and then went to Ledo's for dinner.  The girls didn't cry or act crazy AT ALL and charmed everyone in the restaurant!  We came home and they were just as happy all the way up to bed time, and I got to go and play soccer after I put them to bed! 

As I said...AWESOME SUNDAY!!!  I love family day :)

The first few pictures are from a few days ago...you'll notice when we switch to today (oh...the Redskins won which just made the day even better!). But there are a few funny things from the pics I took on Saturday.  First of all, the girls have decided that whenever we are going to the store or "shopping" they are going to bring their purses too.  They run over and yell "purse, purse" and carry them on their arms just like I do :)

thanks grandma vikki for the bunny purses...we LOVE them!

This is Isabella's new face whenever we try to take a picture of her...I think she thinks she looks really pretty!  I guess we don't have a future in modeling :)

My big girls (I know...we need to pin back Leah's bangs!)

counting

"Fight for Ol' DC"

Go Redskins!!!

Those darn bangs again!

Trying to say "#1"

Isabella is stretching before the big game!

Yesterday, I was able to leave school early (the kids had a half day) and meet Heidi and the girls at Bounce U.  We had a really good time!!  I took some videos of the girls.  These may not seem all that exciting, but to me, they are a huge deal!  On August 16th, we took the girls to Bounce U together the week before I went back to school.   If you look at the pictures, you will see that we basically had to do everything with them.  We walked them to the top of the slide and slid down with them.  We went through the obstacle courses with them.  We put them on the little "roller coaster" car that they have and then walked it back after they went on it.  We even held their juice boxes as they started drinking so that they didn't squeeze too much and squirt it all over themselves.  They really couldn't do much on their own.  BUT...when we went today, it was like they were a year older.  They did EVERYTHING by themselves.  They both climbed up the big slide and went down alone, they got themselves onto the roller coaster alone, they went into the bounce houses alone.  Everything!  They even went up the "rock wall" type thing on the obstacle course completely alone!  My girls have just grown up so much in the last month.  This has been the biggest change I have actually noticed since they were teeny tiny babies.  I love it and hate it all at the same time.  It is so nice to have them becoming more independent, but I do miss my little babies sometimes too :)

The first two videos are of the girls going through the obstacle course...it was hard to get a good shot, so you see lots of "transition" as I run from one part to the next...but I had to get it on tape.  The very first part is the part I was just so amazed by.  They wouldn't even attempt this wall a month ago and today they were like little pros!

This video cracked me up because they kept trying to put their little bounce horses on the mats...and you can see that that didn't work out too well for them. (Side Note:  If you notice Leah going over and pointing at something, she is actually counting.  They count everything these days...it doesn't always go in the correct order, i.e. one, two, free, five!, but they do love to count...which of course I love!).

And one video of them just being goofy with Heidi!



Just your average Saturday...

The Birth Story

With the girl's second birthday coming up, I thought it was about time I put their birth story on here!  I actually kept a little journal for them while they were in the NICU, so I thought I would just copy the first few days on here.  Please excuse the fact that it isn't the best writing, but I was a little sleep deprived and scared to death at this point!  I can't believe I actually was able to write in full sentences :)  This may be a bit boring to everyone but Cesar and I (and the girls when they are older), so it may be something you want to skip, but feel free to read it you are bored :)

If you want to read what lead up to this, read HERE.

Leah Grace Paredes & Isabella Nancy Paredes.  Born October 10, 2009.  Leah at 11:29pm weighing 4 lbs and 7 oz.  Isabella at 11:31pm weighing 4 lbs and 1 oz. 
Both beautiful babies are breathing on their own and doing great.  Leah's blood pressure is a little low, so she is on dopamine to keep it stable.  Mommy's blood pressure is too high...too bad I can't just share some of mine with you sweet girl!

Grandma and aunt Deanna were both at the hospital for your birth--here is how it all started....

On Saturday, October 10th, Daddy had a jiu jitsu tournament in Landover MD.  He went to that around 11am.  He won a gold and silver medal!  He is awesome :)  He got home around 6pm and about that same time, my coworker Beth came over to bring us dinner (mommy was on very strict bedrest so she couldn't cook).  Right about that time, I started to feel a little uncomfortable.  I wasn't sure what it was...it just felt a little like cramps in my belly, so Beth stayed for about an hour.  By the time she left, I was feeling pretty horrible.  My stomach was really hurting and my back was a little too.  Then,  I went in to go to the bathroom and my water broke right there.  I wasn't sure if that was what it was (although I think i was just in denial because if felt like a water balloon popping!  Yuck, I know...TMI).  So, anyway, Daddy tried to convince me that it wasn't my water breaking and I should go lay down on the couch.  By this time, I was starting to feel a lot of pain, and water was still coming out, so I was sure it had broken and you girls were on your way!  I called the doctor and she told us to go to the hospital right away.  Daddy went up stairs to "pack a bag" and I heard the shower start.  By this point, I was in A LOT of pain and could barely move...so I yelled up to him to hurry up and PLEASE not take a shower (he is so silly!).  He finally came downstairs and we hopped in the car to get to the hospital.  He drove a little crazy, but I was pretty impressed that he wasn't a maniac on the way there. 
When we got to the hospital a little after 8, he dropped me off in the front and went to park the car.  The lady who was checking me in was NOT sympathetic to the fact that I was IN LABOR.  She sat on the phone for what felt like 3 hours (probably only 5 minutes...but with contractions coming every minute...it felt like eternity) and then took her time checking me in.  Then they wheeled me in and the nurse told me I couldn't go in the room until I got on the scale.  Ummm...hello lady!  I am DYING in pain and having contractions every 30 seconds...I can't stand up.  But, finally, I did and we got taken back to the room.  When they first measured me I was 6 cm dilated.  I told them immediately that I wanted an epidural...who knew it took AN HOUR for that whole process to come together.  I'll spare you the details on this hour...but lets just say it wasn't pretty and included a lot of throwing up, screaming, and a not-so-pleasant mommy!  Thank goodness Grandma, Deanna and Daddy were all there to support me.  Finally, I got the epidural and they checked me again and I was 10 cm dilated, so they said we could start trying to push!  They wheeled me down to the operating room (we had to go there in case Isabella decided to flip once Leah came out).  Daddy got to come with me and he got to wear a very funny gown and hat :)  Wish I had a picture to show you guys. 
Once they got everything set up in the OR, it only took 20 minutes of pushing for Leah (Baby Girl A as they call you) to come out!  And, once she came out, Isabella (Baby Girl B) must have been lonely because it only took her two minutes to come out too!  You girls did such a GREAT job.  Mommy is already proud of you!

10/11/09
Leah & Isabella are still doing great!  Leah is still on dopamine-but otherwise is doing really well. Today they put you both in little incubators to make sure your temperature stays up.  Grandma came back to see you today...you guys are going to LOVE her!  She is awesome!  Mommy's friends Jodi and Tricia came by to say Hi too!  We are so blessed to have such awesome people in our lives!
10/12/09
Today, Mommy got to leave the hospital to go home.  Daddy came to pick me up and after we visited with you, we went home so that I could take a shower and Daddy could go to work.  A little later we came back to the hospital to see you guys.  The nurses were trying to give Leah a little less medicine to see if she could keep her blood pressure up on her own.  They also put lights on you guys because you were a little jaundiced.  I hate the little eye guards you have wear...they look like the blinders that they put on cows, but I they are there to protect you, so I guess I should be grateful :)  You have both dropped in weight (Leah is 4 lbs. 4 oz. and Isabella is 3 lbs 15 oz.), but that's OK because it's normal!

I won't detail the entire NICU experience, but here were there weights for the rest of the time in the NICU...

Leah:
10/13:  4 lbs 5 oz
10/14:  4lbs 5 oz
10/15:  4lbs 4 oz
10/16:  4 lbs 4 oz
10/17:  4lbs 3 oz
10/18:  4 lbs 6 oz
10/19:  4lbs 6 oz
10/20:  4lbs 6 oz
10/21:  4lbs 8 oz

Isabella: 
10/13:  3lbs 14oz
10/14:  3lbs 15 oz
10/15:  3lbs 14 oz
10/16:  3lbs 13 oz
10/17:  3lbs 14 oz
10/18:  4 oz
10/19:  4lbs 1/2 oz
10/20:  4lbs 2 oz
10/21:  4lbs 3 oz

Overall, we had a great experience from start to finish at this hospital!  The NICU staff was just wonderful and so helpful.  We learned SO much about how to take care of these little babies while we were there...I am almost glad they had to spend those 10 days there.  I have no idea how we would have known what to do if we had had to go straight home!!  10 days after we left (on Halloween), we had to go back for two days because Isabella wasn't doing well...she was in a lot of pain and they were worried she might have a very scary disease (no recollection of what it was called).  So, she had to be on IVs for two days with absolutely no food (milk).  That was one of the hardest points of my life up until that point.  She would cry and cry all night long because she wanted a bottle.  Cesar would stay up all night with her and rock her and give her her pacifier or his finger to suck on just to try to soothe her a little bit.  It was hard, but, we were very grateful because they let all 4 of us stay together in the room which is usually not allowed (to have other kids in the room).  Anyway, I don't remember a lot more about those two days, just that it was hard but we made it through :)

From that point on, we were on our own and I have loved every second of being a Mommy to these two beautiful babies!!

Big Girls!

So, nothing spectacular about any of these pictures, but I just can't believe how big my little girls are getting!  I was looking at these pictures the other night and just though..."where in the world did my babies go?"  I rarely notice their growth, but for some reason, these pictures just made me realize how big they are getting!  They will be TWO in less than a month!  Uggh! 

Not a great pic of Leah, but I just thought they looked so grown-up in this picture!

This was our pond during the crazy rain last week.  This is the highest we have ever seen it and it got even higher than this before the rain finally stopped.  We were just getting ready to start construction on the ark!

Another not-so-flattering picture of Leah (who just took her hair out of pigtails) but again...she just looks so big that I had to post it!

Getting ready to go on a walk with her beloved push toy

Afternoon snack

When I went to my soccer game last week, the girlies got to Skype with Abuelito during dinner!

I love this technology that allows them to actually see and speak with their Abuelitos!

Daddy's version of an afternoon snack!

Waiting for lunch!

As usual, Sunday was a great day!  We went to church and the girls both were able to stay in children's ministry the entire time!  Woo-Hoo!  I didn't think it was going to happen since they called us out last week becuase Leah was so upset and this week she started crying AT HOME when we told the girls to get their shoes on for church!  When we got there, Leah was as upset as I have ever seen her. She was sobbing and shaking and clinging to me so much more than usual.  But, we left her with a very nice lady in the room and one minute after we walked out, the screaming stopped and apparently she was hapily playing the entire time.  I can't tell you how wonderful it is to sit through an entire message without having to worry about the girls!  Anyway, after church we all took a very long nap, went to Ledos, and went on a family hike!  While we were wating for lunch, I took this video of the girls.  I don't know WHAT Isabella was doing...through most of it...she apparently had a little too much energy :)

I <3 Sundays!

Scholarship Preparation Part II

Perfect

Dad sent this to me today.  Hilarious and perfect all at the same time.  I don't ever mind strangers asking questions or making comments about the babies. Really, it never bothers me...It comes with having mutlipes and I am very grateful to have them, so I just smile and answer.  I don't think I have honestly gone ANYWHERE in public with the girls where we haven't received at least one comment and it just cracks me up. However, it would be nice to have a sign that answered a few questions when we are in a hurry to get somewhere.  I love that idea...

My sign would say..

*Two girls, not a boy and a girl

*Yes, they are twins and yes, they are identical

*Yes, they are a lot of work, but good/fun work!

*Yep, double trouble..(insert fake laughter as though we have never heard it before)

*See ceasrandtricia.blogspot.com for more info!

Ha Ha ha...thanks again Dad.  That made my night :)