Multiple Thoughts

Yesterday we woke to snow beginning to fall. So tonight we stomped through the drifts....

Because it's Friday evening, Silas is in bed, Shane is out walking the dogs, and I'm not ready to sleep yet, I decided to share some thoughts on our babies. I have had a ton of questions about our twins so I'll try to answer some of them.

When did you find out you were having twins?

We found out at the end of my 6th week. We had an early ultrasound with Silas and it was extremely reassuring to see that little heartbeat. The day after we found out I was pregnant, I called my doctor and they graciously allowed us to have an early ultrasound this time.

Were you so surprised?

Yes, and no. I was extremely sick by the time I turned 6 weeks. The 3 days before our ultrasound I was up all night long, sick. So we knew something was really different. And before we even knew I was pregnant, we noticed a bit of a growing tummy (yikes!). The night before our ultrasound I skype chatted with my parents at 3 or so in the morning since I couldn't sleep. We talked about that it might be twins since I was so sick.

Did you freak out when you found out it was twins?

I cried. Joyfully. We're a little older than a lot of people having babies since it took us so long to have Silas and we always wanted several children. After all we had been through waiting for children, in that initial moment of realizing we were having two babies, I sensed the Lord redeeming our wait. His timing was every bit worth the wait.

I think Shane laughed. I know he squeezed my hand. Hard.

Are the babies identical?

No. We know for sure that they are fraternal so we could have 2 boys, 2 girls, or one of each.

What if it's really triplets?

Well, we have had 3 ultrasounds so far and have only seen two babies. So we're pretty confident right now that it's twins.

Do you want boys or girls?

We know it's not up to us. Practically, we are set for boys things so that would be way easy. And we would love for Silas to have a brother (or two). But we would love a girl (or two) in the house, too. So you can tell we don't feel strongly about it.

Do you have names picked out?

We have a few names we like but aren't set on them yet. We'll wait to find out what we're having then make a decision. I'm sure we'll share our names at some point.

So you're going to find out what you're having?

Absolutely. Yes. We can't wait. February 8th is our scheduled anatomy ultrasound so we will (hopefully) know then a little more about our babies.

And when are you due?

My official due date is July 12th. But we expect to have the babies toward the end of June. My goal is to get close to 37 weeks...that would put me having the babies within a week of Silas' 2nd birthday on July 2.

Are you starting to show?

Oh my, yes. I've already gained 10 pounds. Scary for the first trimester. But my doctor is happy with it. In her words (not mine!), I was a skinny minny before so I need to gain the weight. I'm in that weird in-between stage where nothing fits right but maternity clothes are too big. I remember very much disliking this phase with Silas. I dislike it again.

You were pretty sick, huh?

Yes. Survival just-get-through-the-day-type-sick. I'd rather forget about it.

How is Silas doing with all this?

He is a super trooper and is completely thriving. We worked hard to keep him in routine while I was sick. We did shift his sleep schedule a bit so I could sleep later in the morning. Now he's sleeping from about 8:30 till 9:00. He hears about the babies all the time and has seen the ultrasound pictures but has no idea what it all means. He would rather read books, stack blocks, talk to Elmo, sing, or try jumping. Just this week he has started trying hard to sing the words to songs along with us. I tried to get him on video and this was the best I could do. We think he's adorable...

I can't wait for Silas to help teach his baby siblings just how much Jesus loves. He will be a great big brother.

A Couple of Things

At the start of my last post I mentioned that there were "a couple of things" that had kept me from blogging. Well, there have been a couple of things. Or, to be more specific, a couple of little persons! They have kept me completely focused on them for the last 7 weeks. Many of our family and friends already know, but if you haven't heard...we're going to be having twins this summer!

I had another doctor appointment today and saw both little ones bouncing around, hearts beating, putting hands to their faces, and kicking their legs. It was so sweet. They are already such a part of my heart and life. We adore the thought of them and cannot wait to find out if they are boys, girls, or one of each. I am at 13 weeks and am as happy as can be to be saying goodbye to the first trimester. Let the glorious second trimester begin!

I did not get pictures today, but here are a couple from our ultrasound at about 10 weeks. This is "Baby A". Our ultrasound tech typed in "aa" on the picture so everyone would remember which was which. The head is on the left, an arm and leg are sticking up along the top, and another hand is laying by the face along the bottom of the picture...


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Now meet "Baby B". This is the top of baby's head with the hands out in front. The tech has "b hands" written on the picture. It was hard to get good pictures of them because they are quite close together and Baby B was really trying to hide behind Baby A...

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Since we have been home from our Christmas travels, we have been reminded in a multitude of ways that life is precious, fleeting, and very much out of our control. I am honored that the Lord would entrust these lives to our family. My prayer is that our Lord Jesus would have the supremacy He deserves as He grows our family. "For by Him all things were created...all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together...so that in everything He might have the supremacy..." (Colossians 1:16-18)

I can't wait to share more about our babies, Shane's graduation, our Christmas festivities, and our travels. We enjoyed our time away so very much. And now that I am starting to feel better, I plan to get back in the normal swing of life. But in the meantime, know that we're still here...

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all SEVEN of us...Shane, Brittany, Silas, 2 babies, Luther and Augustine.
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Today's Sabbath

It has been a while since I last blogged. I've been a bit pre-occupied lately with a couple of other things that kept me from it. But even my pre-occupations have not kept me from recognizing that one week from today, Shane will be done with his seminary schoolwork. Every test will be taken, every paper and project turned in. Each book will be closed and the assignments on each syllabus checked off. We don't remember how it feels, this not having one of us in school. But we are looking forward to it. I anticipate one week from today being a Sabbath for Shane in the truest sense of the word. Six more days...and on the seventh he will rest.

We celebrated Thanksgiving here with friends again this year. Last year was the same. With finals coming the week right after the Thanksgiving holiday, it is too busy of a time to travel. So we relaxed with friends, ate a feast, and played with our boys. Julie put up similar pictures, too, showing us having gone from this...

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To this...

...in just 12 months.

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Silas and I stayed home from church this morning. He has a runny nose and cough so we thought it best to keep him away from the nursery. We had a nice, quiet morning. We worshipped by watching our church's live video stream online. Silas clapped after every song and seemed to enjoy the sermon as a new addition to snack time. I was thoroughly challenged and refreshed by Dr. Moore's thoughts on the Gospel and missions.

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We then put out my favorite of our nativity sets. We talked about how Jesus was born in a barn (Silas appropriately added moo-ing and neigh-ing when I set out the animals). I told him how the angels came and sang, sending the shepherds to see the Christ-child. Then we talked about how later on, the wise men followed a bright star (we looked at the star on top of the tree) because they believed the Messiah had come and they wanted to see him. Silas asked "what's that?" pointing to the gifts the wise men held. I explained them, as well as each part again and again as he asked. I kept praying for him to "get it" someday. This is the most wonderful of gifts: the Son of God became one of us...

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The past few years I have placed one ornament right at my eye level in the front of the tree. It is a bright red ball that says "He came to be one of us." At each naptime and bedtime this weekend I've sang to Silas the words of a song that resonate deep within. "Immanuel...His Name is called Immanuel...God with us..." It is one of the most precious promises I cling to. He is with us.

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Our tree is a virtual melting pot of cultures. My mother gives us ornaments each year from countries where they visit and work, my mother-in-law gives us a new one each year, and we get other ones randomly, too, just like everybody else. From the Philippines to Laos and Cambodia. From Illinois to "Somebody in Texas loves you". From Missouri to Germany, every ornament is a memory and a reminder that we are loved by our families.

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Silas has done great with the decorations so far. I set out several new Christmas toys for him to play with. And all the ornaments in his reach are non-breakable. He is loving all the new shiny things to carry around.

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Well, I know this post was fairly wordy, but who knows when I'll be up for blogging again?

Sunday Night Conversation

Happy Saturday

We haven't really been up to much activity this week. But this sweet guy was just begging to say "hi"!
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And he wanted you to know that he has discovered the inside of his toybox...

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There's never a dull moment around here with Silas in the house!

Happenings this Week

Last weekend we went to visit our good friends the Sirotaks. We had such fun being with them and Silas loved playing with their girls. On Saturday evening the kids all dressed up and went trick-or-treating through the neighborhood. Here's Silas with Brooke and Maggie, two sweet little princesses...

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By Sunday these three were having a blast together. Silas was following the girls all over the main floor of the house, acting like he had a clue as to what they were playing. At one point I heard Maggie whisper to him, "We need to try to not let the grown-ups see us!" And he just laughed and ran after her...

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Then they all discovered Silas' bag of toys we brought for the car. I left for just a minute and returned to find them all wrapped up in stories...

A long time ago I wrote that we would love to live close to the Sirotaks. Right now we live just far enough away that we still don't get to see each other very much. So we were thankful for this weekend to get to be together. We enjoy them so much! And their girls are adorable!

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Today Silas and I celebrated Jonah's first birthday with his family and friends. It is such fun to see the boys growing and changing. Just a year ago Silas and I went to visit them in the hospital. Silas was very interested in the gifts, especially this one that we brought...

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Poor Silas and Everett were way ready for naptime by the end of the party. Can you tell?

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Late this afternoon Shane needed to make a visit to the library on the seminary campus so Silas and I went to play at the park. Lots of dog owners bring their puppies to this park, which thrills Silas. He spent most of his time torn between following dogs, swinging, and digging in the dirt...

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He would then place his found treasures on a swing...

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And swing them!

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After a quick stop at Babies R Us to try to come up with Christmas ideas, we met Shane at Chick-fil-A for dinner. I said to Silas, "Did you tell Daddy that you got to swing at the park?" And he then proceeded to sign "swing"! I've only practiced that sign with him a few times. We were both so surprised that he knew it without either of us doing it first.

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With all the big events last week, this week has felt a bit quieter and slower, which is always a nice change of pace. Only 5 weeks left till graduation so I know Shane is looking forward to more of his own days that are quieter and slower. I couldn't be prouder of him for how he is balancing school, work, and family these days. It will all be over soon...

Two Toddlers = Lots to Remember

Our friend Everett came to spend the day with us...

All the things I want to remember from today...

. Silas looking at Everett and saying, "What's that?". Then trying to say Everett's name. It came out "Ebett".

. Everett asking for Itsy Bitsy Spider. So glad his mom told me what that sign meant!

. Silas trying to touch Everett's ears and nose.

. Both boys laughing together when they saw the Baby Einstein caterpillar.

. At lunch: one bite of yogurt for Silas...switch cup and spoon...one bite of yogurt for Everett...switch again...

. The most glorious nap of all time: both boys slept from noon till 3:30. They fell asleep and woke within minutes of each other.

. Seeing glimmers of the boys sharing toys.

. Walking through the neighborhood with a boy in each hand. They never once tried to let go.

. Everett staring at Silas as my outdoorsy boy made a pile of wood chips then proceeded to knock it all down the front of himself. Everett looked at me like, "You really let him do that?"

. Silas trying to get in my lap as I held Everett on the deck in the backyard.

. Shane saving the day and helping get everyone set for dinner when the I'm hungry and it's really almost 7:00 because of the time change why aren't you feeding me meltdowns started.

. Everett being so happy to see his mommy when she got to our house. Then us girls having a nice quiet dinner while the boys played and Shane started reading for class.

. Silas being completely worn out from the day. I'm hoping it helps him push through till later in the morning so we can get back into our normal routine post-time change.