A Family Strengthened

There are seasons in life that last a few years, a few days, or maybe a few months. Each season is different maybe they are difficult and we don't quite understand why we are there. The past three months have been a season of growth, change, and learning for our family. We've been staying with family while we looked for a house to rent, it's never easy to have to rely on others because of your personal situations. But my husband's sister and her family were kind enough to offer us a place to stay during this time. It's not like we have a small family either... hello family of 6... but we all made it work. I talked about how this transition has been for our family and just what it called on us to do.


Now that this season is coming to an end I have been doing a lot of reflecting on our journey how we got here, what we've learned, and how it has strengthened our family. Like most seasons in life we can say we are some how different once that season has passed. I think this statement is true for my family in a lot of ways. It can be so easy to question why we are where we are when times are difficult. It can also be easy to think things are never going to change or "we" are never going to change. But what we don't see is the change happening each day the little bits of ourselves that are growing and learning. I think there is a reas
on we can look back after a difficult or challenging season and wonder how we made it but at the same time feel grateful we did. We can then somehow see that we did change and what we once didn't understand about our situation is now clear.

As I sit here I can't help but feel an overwhelming sense gratitude towards the unknown.. of course it's only unknown to us. I have long believed that there is a path laid out for each of us meant to challenge us, grow us, and generally prepare us for our next stop on the path. I am also grateful for the faithfulness of those around us, times are not always easy and they don't always reveal the best in all of us. Without the love and support of those we rely on the most the challenges seem much more difficult. As a family we are ready to make the next stop on our path and we are surely better individuals and a stronger family.

So here is to the unknown, the hard times, the good times, and the perfectly imperfectness of it all.

~Kristy

Twenty Nine Week

How Far Along - 29 weeks ... Definitely the Third Trimester!

Total Weight Gain - 20 pounds - Why do I feel like this is a lot? I am convinced I have a huge baby growing right now. Even though I have asked the doctor every visit if I am "ok" with my weight and he says "yes" every single time AND my belly is measuring exactly where it should be I still feel like I am huge. I am probably having twin pregnancy flash backs... where everything just keeps getting bigger and there is no stopping it! As long as the Doctor doesn't yell at me I'll take that as I am doing ok!

Maternity Clothes - Yes, A 20 pound weight gain calls for larger or more forgiving clothes no matter who you are! Some of my favs still fit but are starting to get a bit tight around this belly but I am confident I can make them last for a bit longer. Thankfully our "winter" has been very mild (until the last few days of course) so I have been able to continue wearing everything I purchased in the summer and fall. On chillier days I just throw a sweater over my favorite t-shirt or tank top.

Sleep - As much as I think I should just remove this section because my status never changes I will still provide an update because hey it's part of pregnancy right? I am really trying to get some sleep... really. But as much as I want to sleep and I am sure baby girl would love for me to sleep it just doesn't happen all that well. Don't get me wrong I do sleep it's just very random and uncomfortable. There is no consistency in my sleep, sometimes I find myself dreading the night time because I know I won't be comfortable and sleep will be hit or miss. Now I know this is very poor me and complaining but let's be real not all of pregnancy is rainbows and butterflies and this just happen to be a rough area for me. Nevertheless we will make it through and I will take sleep wherever or however I can get it.

Miss anything? I mentioned a few weeks back it was getting harder for me to carry the twins. Even though it was getting difficult I still did it because they are technically still my babies and I love to pick them up and carry them. Well I think the time has officially come when I really can't carry them or pick them up at least and especially not both of them at the same time. The belly stretch is real and I feel like I am pulling muscles every time I pick one of them up. I appreciate they understand that mamas belly is big and they know it hurts mama to carry them. I imagine I will continue to try and pick them up or carry them until little sister is here....yes, I am that stubborn... just ask my husband.

Cravings - I could say any thing I am craving pretty much changes from day to day. It's mostly spur of the moment type things.. yes, still starbucks or panera teas are pretty much a daily thing. But mostly, it's whatever looks or sounds good at the moment. Usually some sort of chocolate is involved...

Symptoms - Braxton hicks pretty much all throughout the day and some "real" contractions (a few here and there) are here to stay. At my 28 week appointment my doctor did check me out and said I am not at all dilated so that is good news. I try to really monitor and keep track of these contractions because I did go into preterm labor with the twins at 32 weeks and ended up having them at 35 weeks. Luckily I have been able to start seeing the doctor that delivered the twins so he is understanding of my "symptoms" and doesn't make me feel like a crazy lady.

Looking forward to- In two weeks we will be in our own place and I can finally start getting reading for baby girl. I am looking forward to having the kids back in their own space and the hubby and myself in our own space. Hopefully, we will be throwing some family/maternity photos in there sometime soon.

Toddler Talk: Four

Talk: These two went from saying two or three word phrases to full on sentences in what seems like a blink of an eye. When they speak to each other they use the others name, when they tattle on each other or their big sisters they also use names. They are very good at describing what they want and how something may have happened to them. Charlotte grabbed a hold of Olivia's cheeks and scratched her pretty good and it was sore for a few days. Each time you would ask Olivia what happened she would say "Charlie do that" in the most innocent of voices. They know to say please and thank you without much prompting; which I love. They will tell us when they are hungry, tired, or just not into what we are asking them to do. Everyday it seems like a new word or phrase escapes them and we are shocked at just how much they know. They have on occasion heard the not so nice words slip from our mouths and let me tell you they are not shy in saying them. And what is even more crazy is that they understand the correct context to use those not so nice words.... oops. They know and recognize there is a baby in mama's belly and they are constantly asking to hold her or feed her. They lift my shirt and say baby girl's name while they rub my belly, it is pretty darn sweet.  I love that they are so much more interactive with us but it's also just mind blowing how much they know at such a young age.

Play: Coloring is still at the top of their list, they love "color" and "draw" all the time. I think their favorite is to draw/color in mama's notebook. I am pretty sure both girls are right handed both use it pretty well and I don't see much use of the left hand these days. Charlotte holds her pencil just like a first grader and loves to draw circles which she always refers to as "ovals" Once Olivia see's Charlotte being praised for her great "ovals" she joins in and does just as well. Both have a major love for shopkins right now... their cousin and sisters' have them out all the time and they absolutely love playing with them. We bought them their own packs the other day and it was like Christmas morning all over again. They still love the park if we drive past a field they assume there is a park and  they (especially Charlotte) asks to go the park nearly every day. I took them to a "gym" class last week and they had a blast. It's a combination of structured learning of "gymnastic" type skills and free play. It worked really well for them. They were a bit shy in the beginning being around new people but at the end they were right up with the other kids and instructor. I think we will be enrolling them for more regular classes soon.

Food: Cheese, yogurt, and fruit. Give it to them 100 times a day and they will eat it. Olivia has become selective on her cheese type while Charlotte will eat any type she can get her hands on. They absolutely hate it when I "split" anything for them. They have to have their own and believe me they know when its been cut, broken, or torn in half.

Sleep: It's getting better is about all I can say here. As mentioned in the last post (toddler talk: Three) and (Transitions) we are staying with family and sharing a room with the twins so getting them to sleep with out us has been a struggle. The past week has been better but we always seem to end up going back to the hard days after a few good ones. Good news is by the next toddler talk post we will have moved into our own house and they will be back in their own room!

News: Yes, we are moving in just two weeks; while it has been great staying with family and we could never thank them enough for letting our family of six into their home for the last three months it is time. We are very excited to have a new place to call home, a place for the kids to play, to have their own rooms, to ride their bikes and so much more. And this mama really needs to start getting ready for baby girl who will be here in just 10 short weeks...or less.

Charlotte and Olivia have grown and changed so much it seems like in the blink of an eye. They are smart and loving little girls and always making us laugh. They love to cuddle and jump on the bed like crazy kids. I hope their love for life never fades and they share it with those around them.

We love you little ones.

You ARE enough

To the mom who thinks she isn't enough. Isn't enough for her child or children, enough for her significant other, enough for her friends or family. To the mom who thinks she just can't do it any longer, can't work full time and take care of her family, do the laundry, make dinner, pay bills, and still have time to breathe and the end of the day. To the mom who feels like she is only defined by her roles of Mother and significant other, that she is only seen in these lights and questions what her worth is to the family and those around her. To the mom who thinks she isn't strong enough, isn't capable enough, and just isn't all that she believes she can be.

I feel those same things, think these same thoughts, and have been where you are. I too have questioned if I am enough, can I be more than just the stay at home mom, the wife, be more than the label I have placed upon myself? I have said to myself, to my husband, I Just can't do it any more, I can't go to work everyday and come home and still be all that is required of me. 

But I have learned along the way I am enough. I am more than just mom and wife, I can stay home or I can work either way I can do it and I can be good at it. I don't need others to define if I am a good mother or wife. It's ok if I have a bad day... one bad day doesn't define me as mother or what I am capable of. It's hard to remember these things, and one day we may feel on top of the world and the next feel like a complete failure. We all have these days, but must remember they are just days, days that we will get through, days we will learn and grow from. 

I wanted to share this tonight because as women and mothers we just don't hear it enough, we are hard on ourselves and give ourselves little credit for the amazing mothers we are. So hang in there, tomorrow is a new day and don't get down if tomorrow is that hard day... you will make it and you will be stronger because of. If you see a mom struggling, tell her how awesome she doing and while you are at... tell yourself how awesome YOU are doing. 

~ Kristy

Twenty Seven

How Far Along - 27 weeks 1 days ... Hello third trimester ... I think ?

Total Weight Gain - An unscheduled trip to the doctor this week has me at a 17 pound weight gain. I really don't know how I gained 2 pounds since my last appointment like 10 days ago... maybe it doesn't matter and you know it's a girl thing worrying about weight gain.. it's silly really to worry when you are pregnant and you are supposed to gain weight. Either way I'm feeling ok with where I am at and it feels like baby girl is getting bigger by the day.

Maternity Clothes - Yes, this belly is really out there and even some of my tops are starting to get too tight. And then that strange thing happens when your shirt covers your belly but doesn't really go far enough down and kinda sticks out.. yea we are there. I am really trying to keep myself from buying new clothes... I think I can make it!

Sleep - You were really hoping I was going to say its been great weren't you ?? Yea so was I.. but it's much of the same as in the past. I am trying to get to bed a little earlier so that I can try and get some more sleep. Since we are living with family the twins being in our room has made things a little difficult. I get up a lot during the night because .... well it's pretty much crazy why I get up for them. So I am working on letting them "fuss" without mama coming to the rescue.

Miss anything? Sushi for sure and I am usually not much of a "drinker" but whenever my husband drinks a beer it looks very good for some reason... maybe lack of sleep. Regarding the sushi I think I will request it after baby girl joins us.

Cravings - Passion Fruit Green Tea from Panera is amazing ... I love their green tea in general but this new twist is so refreshing and tastes amazing and then when you pair it with a cheese danish my cravings dreams have come true. Starbucks and Panera are both a big treat so I try to keep them as "rewards" for...well you know... surviving on 3 hours of sleep!

Symptoms - Did someone mention braxton hicks??? Oh that was me.... I'm not surprised, they are coming more frequently now and sometimes include lower back pain. Nothing too concerning at this point but I do know they are a sign that it is time to slow down. Some round ligament pain has returned and of course when I least expect it. My body is just tired in general but I know it's part of the process so I am just listening to my body... like I should have done with the twins. My unscheduled visit to the doctor this week was a result of some major skin itching on my belly, chest, and neck. No rash or sign of a reason why, I've been doing things to try and alleviate the itching but nothing seems to be working. The doctor doesn't seem too concerned but is running some blood  just to be sure.

Looking forward to- Nesting! And hopefully soon I will be able to get in the grove of officially getting ready for baby girl. We will find out tomorrow if we are "officially" approved to rent a house! Next appointment is a week away and it is glucose test time and then appointments every two weeks hopefully an ultrasound will be coming up as well!




Is it me or does my belly look bigger when it's taken via selfie???

Hair done, contacts, and makeup... must have been a special day/night (it was New Years Eve!)! 

2015 Year in Review

Wow! What a year full of love, laughter, surprises, tears, and big changes. We traveled, spent time with family, and bonded as a family of six. Here's a little look back at all the fun we had...

January

Hubby went away for two weeks (day one of eleven) and we survived just mama and the 4 girls...

February the twins turned one and half and were far from the babies we once knew 

And we had some family photos taken...

March was a lot of family time with my mom visiting, the Maroon 5 concert with my sister in-law, Kendal's Odyssey of the mind competition, and a day date with Madison.

April - we celebrated Madison's 9th Birthday

We had our first camping adventure 

I went to PA to visit my sister to help celebrate her new house, engagement, and pregnancy!

May started our potty training adventure at just 21 months we took the leap with the 3 day method.. we can't say we are 100% trained at this point but we are close...

June started summer break lots of fun with all the girls

A trip to urgent care for Charlotte's smashed toe

July I was able to capture the birth of my good friends first daughter 

We headed north for a two week vacation to PA, NY, and DC to spend some quality time with Family.

August is a big month for Birthday's in our Family - aside from Kendal and the Twins my niece also celebrates her birthday!

Kendal Turned 11!

And the Twins turned 2!

September was the month to announce baby five was on the way! 

I was able to write a guest blog post for Twin Talk Blog and shared it with you all... do you want more?

Then we announced and shared our Journey to baby five

We had to say good-bye to our first family dog Rocky

And I started my first bump date at 11 weeks! 

October we struggled with two Toddlers that didn't like to get ready to leave the house

We announced the gender of baby number 5

My sister welcomed her first baby, a girl and I became an aunt again!

November we celebrated Thanksgiving with family and friends and we lost the pacifiers

December was all about the Holidays and family time...

Christmas and Disney World

The year flew by and looking back on all these memories I can't help but picture a new little sister in the mix. The last 2 years as a family of 6 have been wonderful with so many memories made I know the next years of our lives are only going to get better. But first up.. 2016 and we're ready for it!

2014 Year in Review