Birthday and Whatnot

Yesterday was my birthday so we decided to go out for lunch as a family. I typically feel better earlier in the day so lunch seemed like a better choice than dinner. We had fun, ate yummy food, and even got ice cream. Then took a minute for pictures before heading home to rest...

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I have to mention one thing that has been so funny to me recently. A friend commented on our blog a while back about me having my hair cut. It was after a post where I had my hair up and I think it must have looked cut. What's funny is that I haven't gotten it cut but have been wearing it up for about the past 2 months straight. I decided to straighten it and wear it down for my shower last week (thanks to some friends who took Silas for the afternoon so I had the energy to get ready!) and couldn't believe how long it had gotten! So Kelly, if you were surprised to see it longer in the shower pictures, that's why!

Just What I Needed

I have to confess that I am becoming very weary of this pregnancy. The days cannot go fast enough for me right now. I don't want to be a complainer because I know that I am more than blessed to get to carry these two little ones. It just hurts a lot of the time!
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So this past week was a sweet reprieve in the middle of this season we're in. First of all, several girls from church got together and had a shower for our babies. They gave us so many darling (and useful!) things. I had not seen many of these friends in weeks because I'm not getting out. It was good for my heart and I was encouraged being with them.

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April (on the left) got the shower together and Janet (on the right) has been one of Silas' favorite people to play with over the past several weeks. She has a DVD player in her car, which he thinks is great, and she takes him out for yummy meals and to fun places (like her son's swim lessons!)...

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Silas has also loved getting to go to Miss Leigh's house. He knows where all the toys are hidden in her cabinets, knows each family member by name, and doesn't cry when we take him over to their house...

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And then, at the end of last week, my sister came to visit. She was an incredible help, encouragement, and joy. I'm not sure I would have made it through these last few weeks without her coming. She helped me get several things ready for the babies and she played with Silas nonstop! Today Silas is still asking, "Where Aunt Tara go?" Hmmm...I'm starting to wonder the same thing myself!

The News

My doctor's appointment went great yesterday. We couldn't have gotten better news. While I am still having contractions, they are not causing me to make any progress toward having these babies. I am so thankful for how the Lord is sustaining this pregnancy. But we will keep being very careful to do our part to keep the babies safe for now.
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Shane and Silas went to the appointment with me. Silas got to hear the babies' heartbeats for the first time, which was very sweet. He was quite intrigued with the noise. I saw the high-risk doctor yesterday (who I've been seeing from time to time when I cannot see my regular doctor) but my doctor was in the hall as we were leaving so she got to see Silas for the first time since my post-partum checkup. The whole visit was just lots of fun.
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In other news, our little man finally got a haircut today! Shane took him this morning and we think we finally found someone who knows how to cut our boy's wavy hair and leave it a bit shaggy. When the boys got home, Silas had all kinds of stories to tell me about "haircut", "I watch Elmo", "slide" and "I have a balloon." Shane said Silas did great and didn't fuss a bit. Looks good to me...

Thoughts at the End of Week 31

I know I haven't blogged at all in a week. But I keep thinking, what is there to blog about? I just sit, rest, watch the babies move around, spend time with Shane and Silas, and rest some more. Not too exciting. But we are almost to make it to 32 weeks, which is a great milestone. It is my first short-term goal. When I officially make it to 32 weeks on Monday, my new goal is to get to 34. All the sitting and quiet and babysitters is paying off. Everyday we get with me still pregnant is a blessing.

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But while there's not that much exciting going on, I decided today that about 6 weeks from now I will be wondering where all the quiet went. So since I'm laying in bed, Silas is happily playing with one of our favorite babysitters, Sarah, and sometimes being distracted from the contractions helps me relax, I will share some of the random things that are going on or that I've been thinking about.

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1. I got on the scale today and have gained about 40 pounds. Honestly, I was surprised it wasn't more! But I am getting to where I cannot eat much at one time. Little babies are pushing on my stomach more each day.

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2. Silas is in desperate (and I mean desperate) need of a haircut. Poor thing - his hair keeps getting in his eyes. A trip out for a cut with Daddy is making it's way to the top of our priority list...

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3. Some friends came to visit last week and we got to meet this darling...

It was fun to finally meet baby Feven in person. We are so happy for our friends to have their baby home.
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4. Mother's Day was sweet. Shane and Silas got me a few things and brought me a yummy lunch home after they went to church. Then our friends Mike and Julie brought dinner and spent the evening here. Silas loved getting to play with Jonah and I loved just relaxing with good company.

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5. These boys are shedding like crazy...

Now that the weather is warming, they are getting rid of their heavy winter coats. I would love to be able to brush them daily, but this is just not the season. So we just vacuum. Lots.

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6. I can hear Silas laughing in the other room. I really miss spending extended playtime with him. But he is loving his adventures and all the new friends these weeks are bringing. He seems just as happy, secure, and himself as ever.

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7. Shane must be drinking energy drinks without me knowing it. He is taking over everything and seems to get it all done while working and just being with us as a family.

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8. My sister is coming to visit next week. I cried when she said she would come. I am so looking forward to it, she can't get here soon enough. However, she might never come back after all I have planned for us to do to get ready for the babies while she is here!

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9. Silas' long-distance friend Hudson sent him a care package this week. Hudson thought Silas needed some things to keep him busy so I could rest. I'm pretty sure Hudson knew what Silas might like. Thanks to the Hayes for hours of new entertainment...

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10. My birthday is in less than two weeks. I'm praying that one of the things we are celebrating is that our babies have not yet been born, but that we are getting super close!

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And now Silas would like to say goodnight!

Thirty Weeks and Counting

Yes, thirty weeks...but measuring thirty-six! As my doctor said on Wednesday, I have a lot of baby in there!

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My appointment went great. The ultrasound was so sweet. I couldn't believe how big the babies have gotten. And they both look perfect. Simeon's estimated weight is already 3 pounds, 10 ounces and Lieren's is 3 pounds, 3 ounces. They are both well within the average weight for single babies (Simeon is actually slightly above average) so I am carrying an abundance of baby!

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Both babies were moving around so much and getting in each other's way that we never got great pictures of either of them. So I'll leave those off for now. Maybe we'll get some good ones next time.

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I am continuing to take medicine to control the contractions, which I still have periodically throughout the day. But my doctor was encouraging about where we are and we talked about plans in terms of me making it to 37 weeks. We did talk through all the different scenarios if I were to go into labor before then, but it was good to keep thinking long-term.

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Shane took me out to Babies R Us this morning so we could make decisions about some baby gear we need. It was nice to get out, but exhausting. We also came home with two huge boxes of diapers for the babies and some clothes for the boys. I can always find something for Lieren so it's nice when we find a few things for Silas or Simeon.

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Alright. It's been a long day and I'm more than ready for bed. Thanks for continuing to pray...the Lord is hearing and answering.

One Blessing After Another

I know I haven't put any pictures up recently. That's because I haven't taken any recently! And we haven't had any great adventures to document. But really, I'm not missing the adventures. It has been fun (in an way) and exciting (in a way) to sit back and watch the Lord work. Don't get me wrong, it has not been easy, but we have not been able to deny the way the Lord has given one blessing after another.

We have friends offering to take Silas for playdates, friends who have taken him out for dinner, a line of girls who want to come over to help with Silas on evenings Shane is gone, friends bringing us meals, and a host of phone calls, messages, and notes.

I can't say more about how the Lord has blessed us with people to walk these weeks with us.

I go back to the doctor on Wednesday and will get to see the babies on ultrasound again. I can't wait. It feels like way too long since I've seen their little faces. I'll be sure to update and let everyone know how things are looking.