Three down, one to go

We'll we have had three Christmases and have one to go. We have celebrated with the immediate family, my extended family on my mom's side and extended family on the Potter side. We just have the Cox family Christmas to go.

Last night, we had two sets of great-grandparents at my mom's house to visit with the girls. It was really fun to have all those people here! However, Gracie has been feeling a little under the weather. Hopefully, she'll feel better soon.

Lastly, something exciting happened to the family. We found my mom's WSJ article. She was quoted about the snow storm. Check out the article....

White Christmas

This is the second time in a month that the girls have seen snow. Very unusual for our little Texans. We are in Oklahoma for Christmas and are in the worst snow storm since 2000. They are calling it Blizzard 09. It started snowing Christmas Eve in the morning.

Anyway, the girls loved the falling snow. However, this morning when we took them out and put them in the snow, they hated it! They both cried. I brought Gracie in but Lizzie wanted to stay outside with daddy. She wanted to be held the whole time.

Their second Christmas was good. They loved their presents and loved watching their cousins open theirs. It was nice to spend the day with family!

Pictures with Santa didn't go so well.......

We had hoped it would go a little better than this......

What fun!

The girls went to a multiples play group on Saturday. There were seven sets of twins. It was a whole house full of kids. The girls had a blast. Below is a picture of them with their "boyfriends".

Thanksgiving

We spent this Thanksgiving in Alabama with Wes's family. The girls got to meet a lot of family for the first time! This was also the girls first time to go on a plane. It was an adventure. The only bad thing was that both girls were either teething or had a cold and a little cranky.

We flew American and they didn't let us pre-board on the way there. They told Wes we could board after first class. So here we are with 5 carry-ons, two babies, and two car seats. Wes was hitting people with all of his bags. The first flight attendant was really snotty to us. Other passengers got up and helped us. On the way back, Wes got a pass for his mom to come back and help. He found out we were supposed to pre-board. The flight back was fine. Lizzie slept and Gracie was awake.

The girls at DFW. We took our bags and made a little play pen for them.

Escape artist

While I'm on a conference call at work, I see that Wes is trying to call me. Then, I get a text telling me to call as soon as I can. So, I try to wrap up my call as soon as I can and call Wes worried its an emergancy. I ask if this is an emergency or not and tell him to write that in the text too.

He tells me that my eldest (Lizzie) has learned how to climb out of her crib. He found an open drawer in the dresser and thinks that's how she climbed out. She only started crying when she couldn't get out of the bedroom.

When I got home, the bedroom had been rearranged from Lizzie playing with stuff. Wes moved the dresser farther away from the bed.

Big Scare

Last Thursday, I got a call from Wes at work telling me to come to the doctor's quick. He was there to get the girls their H1N1 shot. He then calls back and says to meet him at Children's and that they were taking Lizzie, Gracie and him. All I got from him on the phone was that Gracie was having a seizure. I was unclear if the seizure came after the shot.

I told some people that I was leaving and rushed to the hospital. I beat them there by about 20 minutes. So, I had to wait. Because both girls were upset, I couldn't get the real story from Wes until they got to the hospital.

When they finally got there, I found out that Wes was checking the girls in at the waiting room when Gracie fell over. He then took the girls back and Gracie started having the seizure. It lasted for 8 minutes. The doctor called 911 (the second 911 call that day) and sent everyone to the hospital. Also, in the office were two other people from our church who called to check on us while we were in the hospital.

They did a few diagnostic tests and decided she had a febrile seizure which is caused by a rise in body temperature. Gracie went from about 99 degrees to 103 in about half an hour. It was a nightmare there. Gracie was so upset that she screamed for about an hour. So, we were trying to calm her down and keep Lizzie entertained. They wanted to get fluids in her but couldn't an IV in. She was drinking apple juice and Pedialyte so they were happy. Dr. Jim called to check on her and talk to me to let me know what was going on.

They finally let us go around 6:30. It turns out that she had some virus that triggered a high fast acting fever. She is still feeling yucky but better each day. It was very scary for us.

Dancing Queens

The girls have started dancing and today we took them to the library for singing and story time. They didn't know what to think the whole time we were there. While we were there, we checked out a couple of CDs of kid songs.

We put the songs on tonight and they were loving it. Lizzie was trying to roll her arms like we did at the story time. Here is the video.

Trip to Grandma and PaPa's

This weekend we went to Oklahoma to make up for not going on Halloween. We had a blast and are exhausted! We visited cousins, aunts, uncles, great-aunts, great-uncles, great-grandparents and grandparents.

Everyone was so surprised by the girls walking and talking. The girls had a blast playing with all the kids. This morning, we took the kids to McDonald's to play. The girls went up in the toy a little bit and Lizzie loved it and Gracie did not. Check out the picture.

Happy Halloween!

Up until Monday of this week, we had plans to go to Oklahoma and celebrate Halloween with my family. The girls were going to go trick-or-treating with their cousins Sydney and Sam. Those plans changed when the girls came down with the flu. They both ran high fevers and felt pretty crummy for a couple of days. By Thursday, they were back to normal; however, the doctor recommended that we not go out of town so the girls could rest. So, we'll go to OK next weekend.

We were very disappointed and so were Sydney and Sam. We did end up having a great Halloween though. Last night, we went to a great kid party and the girls had a blast! Then tonight, we went trick-or-treating with some friends of ours from church. The girls really liked it and I like all the candy we got. The girls were both kitty cats. Lizzie loved carrying the treat buckets and Gracie loved wearing the ears. We even came home and had some kids trick-or-treat at our door.

Lizzie trying to pull the ears off

Gracie loved wearing the ears

Fun with Friends

Since I'm finally feeling better after having bronchitis for the first time in my life, we decided to meet our friends at a pumpkin patch in Flower Mound. It was crazy busy and there were bees every where. The girls had fun running around and looking at the pumpkins. Wes saw the Hello Kitty cut outs so of course we had to get our picture with her.

Here are some pictures from our day.

Caleb, Trevor, Lizzie and Gracie

Me, Lizzie, Gracie, Caleb, Trevor and Amber

Gracie, Lizzie, Trevor and Caleb

Gracie and Lizzie with Hello Kitty!

Pumpkin Patch

We took the girls to the pumpkin patch today. With all the rain, we haven't gotten a chance to go.

Pumpkin Party!

Today, we went to our first Halloween party of the year with our twin group! We had a great time.

Big day!

What a day we had today. I took the day off of work because today is Wes and mine seventh anniversary! We celebrated today by taking the girls to the state fair. We had a great time and the girls loved the petting zoo.

When we came home from the fair, my parents were here because they are flying out tomorrow to go to New England for the fall foliage. Anyway, they took us out to dinner and then babysat while Wes and I went to a movie. It was a great night!

What topped off the night was that the girls started walking tonight! Right before we left for the movie, the girls were playing. Gracie all of a sudden decided to walk from Grandma to me and back. Then Lizzie decided she couldn't let Gracie have all the fun and attention, so she started walking too. Below is video that Wes took. That was the best anniversary present that the girls could have given us!

NICU Reunion

Today, we went to the first annual Baylor Grapevine NICU reunion. We had a really good time. We saw a lot of the nurses and doctors that the girls had take care of them during their time there. Another exciting thing is that we saw the other set of twins that were in the Step Down with the girls. They were boy twins and they were about two or three weeks ahead of the girls. It was nice, because their parents had already gone through everything so they could share their experience with us. We visited together and even rode the little train. The girls loved it! Gracie laughed the whole time. Lizzie wasn't so sure at first, but she did like it. Below are pictures of us before our ride.

We are very grateful to Baylor Grapevine and all the nurses and doctors that took care of all of us while we were there (God was really watching out for us during my pregnancy and the girls birth). Without the nurses, doctors, and medical technology, the girls and I would not be here today. We have been to many hospitals and it by far is the best.

What a week!

This week has been crazy. Last Friday Wes had a minor surgery that was suppose to take a couple hours and we ended up staying 12! It was awful. Anyway, we had to take the girls to the hospital with us until my parents could pick them up and take them home. So we woke the girls up at 5:30 am and headed out. The girls did pretty good until about 7:30 am and started getting cranky. I took them to the cafeteria and fed them pancakes. We then went to the waiting room to wait. Once I got to the waiting room, I realized that they needed a diaper change. So, the receptionist showed us where the bathroom was with a changing table.

I changed the diapers, loaded the girls and stuff back on the stroller and headed back. Once there, I unloaded all the toys and the girls. Not but 15 minutes later, I smelled something. It was Gracie. So, I loaded all the toys and the girls back into the stroller and we headed down the hall again. We finally get back to the waiting room and unload the toys and play for a while until grandma and papa show up. I was so exhausted by the time they came. The receptionist asked if I missed them and felt naked. From my expression, she must have seen my relief. Then she asks if I stay at home with them. I told her no and that currently Wes was home with them. She gave me the "what kind of mother doesn't stay home with her kids and works" look.

Finally, we made it home (after I had to be assertive and say that Wes needed to be discharged). My parents stayed until Wednesday and Wes is recovering well. He should be as good as new in another week or so.

Everything is an adventure with these two girls. Oh, they are progressing on their walking. They have taken more steps and now like to hold hands with people and walk. It was so cute the other night, we went for ice cream and Wes and papa were holding the girls hands and walking them up and down the side walk!

Practice walking

This is Lizzie with her daddy practicing walking.




Gracie practicing with daddy.

Diaper time

When we change the girls diapers, we put the clean one on their heads like little wigs. They love it! They also play peek-a-boo with them. Wes says we are going to regret it when they try and put a dirty one on.

Going for a walk

We took the girls for a walk this evening. It was a great day for it the weather was cool. We took the "tank" as Wes calls it and Molly the dog. We were a site. Molly always has to lead and zig zag but with the stroller she kept getting run over. The girls laughed the whole time because they thought that everything Molly does is funny.

15 Months!

Today the girls turned 15 months old! It's hard to believe. This time last year they were tiny and we had to watch them while they ate. Now, they shovel food in their mouths as fast as they can.

They visited Dr. Jim today for their 15 month check up. Both girls are doing good and the biggest news is that they are on the charts in the positive numbers. It's a little stressful when the doctor told us they were in the negative percentiles.

The only problem is that Lizzie is a little under the weather. She's been running a low grade fever since yesterday and snotty. In fact, Wes went in at 10 and she was at 102. We decided it was time to go to Acute Kids just to be safe. So, he is taking Lizzie while I'm at home with Gracie. Hopefully Lizzie will feel better tomorrow. Poor baby.

Labor Day!

We had a great holiday weekend. Last year for Labor Day, we were still in lock down with the girls so we stayed at home and did nothing. I started back to work on the next Tuesday from maternity leave. This year was different. We traveled to Oklahoma and spent the weekend having fun.

While we were there, my sister gave up some more of her kids toys and the girls loved them! She brought them a toy piano and a ride on toy. Lizzie loved the piano and Gracie loved the ride on toy. Below is a picture of both girls on the toy.

The girls are trying to walk and talk more and more. They both are taking steps toward us without holding on to stuff. Also, they are saying more words. We can say ball, mama, dada, I love you, Molly (dog's name), Allie, Leo, (cats' name), cat, dog, and milk.

We had two other firsts. We took the girls to Chuck E Cheese for the first time and let them ride a couple of toys. Gracie loved it. Lizzie cried a little. We also finally stopped at the Texas rest stop and got a picture of the girls with the sign.

Me with Sydney and Sam

Lizzie and Gracie on the toy

Coming home with Molly

My little Texans

The Park

When we go to the park, we always cause a scene. People always ask about the girls. This past weekend we went to the park and put the girls in the swing. So that we don't take up too many, we started putting them in the same swing with their backs to each other. They love it. They get to have mommy and daddy push them and be with each other.

When we went on Friday night, every one there made a comment like "What sweet babies", "Look mommy, babies", "Oh how cute". Wes and I aren't sure what to do. We don't know if we just smile and keep going, ignore the comments or start a conversation.

Family Bathrooms

I've always seen family bathrooms and was very curious. Before we had the girls, I have even asked Wes if he wanted to go in with me because we were "family". He always said no.

Anyway, today Wes and I took the girls to the mall. We had quite the adventure, eating, walking, the play area, and even a trip to the family bathroom. Wes and I have visited several with the girls. Mostly while I was nursing to feed the girls. Today both mommy and daddy had to go to the bathroom, so I was the lucky one and got to take them to the family bathroom. The one at the mall is cute. It has a little kid potty, a little kid sink, a little kid paper towel holder and even a little kid hand dryer. I was very impressed. It all went well until I had to flush the toilet. The girls cried because it made the loud whoosh sound.

Fun Pictures

Wes and I are cheap. I've been wanting to get the girls pictures taken in Las Colinas where I work. It's a really pretty area and a great place for pictures. The only problem is that photographers are expensive. So, we decided to experiment with our camera and the free software from Picasa. I think the pictures turned out good. If we want to get print, I'll just send them to Wal-Mart and pick them up. Here are some of our favorites, what do you think?

Gracie

Gracie and Lizzie

Gracie and Lizzie

Gracie and Lizzie

Lizzie

Night night

Last night, the girls slept in night gowns for the first time. They looked really cute. They are getting to be such big girls.

Wedding

We took the girls their first wedding. Surprisingly, it went well. Like all good Methodist wedding ceremonies, it was short and sweet. We only had to keep the girls quite for 30 minutes.

The reception went well too. It was in the old Planet Hollywood in the West End. We were able to be upstairs in a room where we could let the girls play and crawl around. They had a really good time and loved playing with some of our old friends. Everyone else had babysitters so the girls were the center of attention. Of course they had each other so they were happy.

Day off

It's been a rough few weeks at work. We have had our two big sales meetings that I help plan. It's always stressful and busy with a couple of late nights. In the past it's not as big a deal because it's only Wes at home, but now with the girls it's harder. One of the nights, I didn't see the girls at all that day. That makes me sad.

Anyway, I decided to take a couple of days off, today and Monday. Today, we had a full day. We went to McDonald's for lunch and to play. Then we came home and napped (the girls anyway). After that we met some friends (the Coddington twins and their mom) at Bonkers to play. We decided it was time to leave because it was really crowded and someone pooped in the play area. That was our cue to exit. Next was lunch at Chipotle and then home for another nap.

When we got home, we saw that Gracie had a nasty diaper rash. So, she got to have a trip to the pedi. Wes took her and they were making her snorty face when the pedi walked in. She laughed. Gracie and Wes came home and finished her nap (I took one too).

The last part of the day was steaks grilled out. A swim in the pool, followed by a nap and then a trip to Wal-Mart. The lines were so long, I pulled out the camera and took pictures of the girls in line. We did come up with a good system this time. One girl in the umbrella stroller and then one in the cart.

It was a really fun day!

Faces

Gracie has a new facial expression that she likes to make. She likes to squish up her face and snort. She does it when she's happy, sad, or mad. Lizzie on the other hand likes to have a messy face at every meal time and even gets food in her hair.

Fun Weekend

Its been a crazy week around here. We've been busy. Grandma, Papa, Sydney and Sam came to visit this past weekend and left Tuesday morning. We had a great time while they were here. We swam in the pool and went to Boomerangs. The kids were all exhausted after playing all day. Below are some pictures of the kids.

Swimming in the pool (It was tight fit)

Sydney and Sam at Boomerangs

Gracie at Boomerangs

Lizzie at Boomerangs

New Toy

The girls have a new toy. Our friends have this really neat tunnel for their baby. The girls really liked playing in it when we went over for dinner. From that, I got this idea. We could take the box from the new big girl car seat and open the bottom. Then, it would be their tunnel. It has been the most fun for the girls. They love it. They crawl in and out and around. Below are some pictures and video of them.

Talking

Lately, the girls have really stepped up their babbling. They are both constantly talking to us and each other. They talk in the car, at home, and in the morning when they wake up. This morning they talked in their cribs while Wes and I got ready for church.

After they fussed and wanted out of the cribs, we took them out and let them play before breakfast. Gracie decided she wanted something in this box and wasn't going to stop until she got it. Wes heard her and yelled for me to come with the camera.

When he pulled her out, she had a pacifer in her mouth. That's what she was after......

After church, the girls were playing and talking so I took their picture. They keep playing with these dolls that my previous boss, Janice, made for them. They love them!

Another Anniversary

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of the day we brought the girls home from the hospital after 5 1/2 weeks in the NICU. We had spent the night before they came homing rooming in at the hospital and learning what it would be like to take care of the girls by ourselves (with the security of having nurses not too far away). We slept a total of 2 hours because we wanted to make sure the girls were ok.

We brought them home in the morning and my parents and Wes's mom were waiting for us. It was so weird. I remember saying to Wes, now what? It was one of those moments that you had waited for and when it finally came you were scared to death.

We had two tiny babies (barely 6 lbs) that just weeks earlier need assistance breathing and eating. We still had to watch them while we fed them to make sure they didn't choke and turn blue. We had to feed them laying on their side to make sure that not too much milk hit the back of their throat and make them choke. Feeding was the most difficult. We fed them every 3 hours around the clock and had to fortify their milk to 22 calories. I was pumping too during all this. Feeding took an hour. So that gave about 2 hours to rest between each one. We got very little sleep.

A couple of days later, we got the bad news from our pedi that she didn't think it was a good idea to take the girls out in public because of germs. So, our girls were in lock down until October.

How things have changed, now they are big girls crawling and eating everything in site!

Milky and Big Girls Seats

We hit another milestone. The girls are now drinking milk! Our pedi wanted us to wait until the girls were at their adjusted year birthday. However, Wes had to take Lizzie on Monday to the pedi and told him that the girls weren't finishing bottles. The pedi said that it was probably the sign that they were ready to switch to milk.

Gracie watched me carefully as I got out the sippy cup and milk. She watched me pour it and put on the lid. I handed it to her and she started to suck. It took her a minute to figure out it wasn't formula. She stopped and just held it in her mouth. I thought she was going to spit it out but she didn't. She drank it all!

Lizzie didn't watch me fill her cup. She was too busy playing. When she took her cup, she drank it down. She loved it. She now even tries to steal her sister's cup.

Airplanes

Tonight we went with some friends to watch the airplanes land at DFW Observation Area. My friend was always posting pictures on Facebook and it looked like fun. We had a great time. The girls liked crawling in the grass. The pictures are below.
Yesterday we went over to some friends from college's house. They have a little girl that is about the same age as the girls. It was really fun to see the girls all playing together.

I just threw this one in because I thought it was cute.