Brooke and Kamryn are TWO!!!

Can you believe it??? Brooke and Kamryn turned 2 on Friday. We were on vacation in the Hill Country, so they spent their birthday having lunch with friends and family, and then driving back home. It was a long day, but we had a good time.

I have a TON of pictures to post. These first ones were taken for Father's Day gifts...







Hollie had an End of School slumber party a few weeks ago. We started out with a group of her friends at our beach club swimming pool, then back to our house for pizza and a sleep over. She ended up getting sick with a double ear infection that night, and the next morning. So she wasn't her usual chipper self. But, she and her friends still had a good time!

At the beach


Just after a silly string fight in the back yard.


Settling down for the night and watching the Justin Bieber movie.


So, we just got back from vacation. We went to the Hill Country with two other families and just had a nice relaxing time. It was a little difficult with the twins, just because they aren't quite at the independent age yet. But, they are so close. We stayed in this huge house that had 5 bedrooms, 5 1/2 bathrooms and two kitchens. We were on the San Saba River with a view that was just beautiful. The river was quite low, b/c they are going through one of the biggest droughts in years. But, we were still able to go down to it and explore. The house had a beautiful wrap around porch that was perfect for drinking coffee on in the mornings. The afternoons were super hot, but the girls spent all day in the pool cooling off. Here are a few pics.

This was our first full day. The guys were golfing, so the moms took the kids down to the river. Brooke didn't want ANY part in it, and Kamryn wanted to be let loose. She just wanted to GO!

Our house from the river...


Kamryn the adventurous one...


B and K scoping out their options.



This is how Hollie, Rylee and Shaye spent the majority of their vacation...

Hollie and Kamryn. Kamryn LOVED the pool. She didn't want to get out. When I would sit her on the edge, she would lunge forward into my arms. FEARLESS!


Hollie Rylee and Shaye after a long day of swimming...


Hollie


Hollie Rylee and Shaye (it took several tries to get this one)


There were some pretty odd looking creatures out there. We called this one a cross between a spider, wasp and a scorpion. This is the country after all...




We had smores on the back porch the second to last night!




Our last day, we went into town to eat and go shopping.




The last night we were there, the owner took us for a "tour" of the wild game they keep there on the ranch. All the kids loaded up in the back of the truck (Brooke and Kamryn were with Shawn in my car following).


Our last night after the tour, Hollie got a hold of my camera!


I hope these pictures make up for me not taking the time out to keep up with the blog. It's been a really busy last couple of months with TAKS, school ending, summer camps and summer vacation. I'm hoping to relax a little this week.

Brooke and Kamryn are doing awesome. They are talking a bunch. They LOVE The Wiggles. They call them either the Biggles or the Giggles. When you sneeze, they both say, "Bess You". They love going outside, coloring on the sidewalk, and playing in their new car and tricycle that they got for their birthday.

Hollie is doing great too. She's already been to two camps. And has at least two more to go. I'm going to try to get her in a few more, just to keep her busy and active. Can't believe she's going into 4th grade. She had just finished 1st grade when the twins were born. Time is flying by!!!

Much love to you all!

Stephanie

Read more...

Bluebonnet Pics

Oh I can't believe that a whole month has gone by without posting a thing. The twins and Hollie have me so busy right now. I'm so sorry!!! Brooke and Kamryn are truly busy trying to learn every word in the English Dictionary. I think the "Terrible Twos" have started, because their favorite word right now is "NO". Although, when one of them sneezes, the other is sure to say, "Bess Ooo". They are quick to tell me "All Done" when they have finished eating in their high chairs. And, although they have nicknamed Hollie as "Lala", they have learned to say Hollie.

Here are some pictures that I took of the girls yesterday. Kamryn wasn't having any of it. She kept telling me "no" when I asked her to sit next to Brooke.



























That's really all for now. We are planning our first family vacation since we have had the twins. I can't wait!!!

More soon... Promise!

Stephanie

Read more...

Playdate with Kamryn's nurse

This morning, I met one of Kamryn's primary nurses at the mall for a mini playdate. Oh, it was so much fun seeing her. The last time we saw her was on Brooke and Kamryn's 1st birthday, when we took them up to the nicu for our 1st annual visit. That was last June. Oh, how time flies. It was like Kamryn knew exactly who she was. She usually is shy in a strange setting, and sticks to me, but with Traci, she was so comfortable with her.

It was so wonderful seeing you Traci. You look great and Brooke and Kamryn LOVED seeing you too.




Update on Brooke... We had ECI come out to the house to see if she needs speech therapy. The week they came out to the house, was the week Brooke started talking more and more. She's about even, if not farther ahead than Kamryn with her words. She's still a few months behind with her communication and some cognitive developments, but she's quickly moving along.

They both love to color, but I think they love to put the crayons in their mouth more. But, the artwork that they are creating for me are priceless.

They are 20 months now. So hard to believe that they are almost 2. They are trying to talk in sentences. Go bye-bye, go nite-nite, and Kamryn's favorite... "getta getta take a bath?" So fun!!!

That's about it. I'm looking forward to Easter. It should be interesting to see how they do with the Easter Baskets and finding eggs.

Much love to all,
Stephanie

Read more...

Meet Maddox

We have been in touch with another sweet family who is expecting a sweet boy named Maddox. Maddox has LCDH, and his entire liver is up. The doctors are telling her that he doesn't have the left side of his diaphram, and his lungs are severly underdeveloped. This family is from the Dallas area, and will be delivering at Parkland, the same hospital Kamryn and Brooke were born in. Jenny is wanting to talk to as many people who have been through this situation, especially if their baby's liver was up. She is 29 weeks along, and like us all, is living in shock and fear. If you would like to talk to Maddox's mom, Jenny, please email me at studdard2@gmail.com and I will put you in touch with her. She's a sweetheart, but she's so scared. We all know that CDH is different for every baby, whether the liver is up or down. Please pray for this family, Jenny, her husband Tawa and their sweet baby boy Maddox.

Stephanie

Read more...

Happy New Year!!!

What a wonderful Christmas break we have had. I thought long and hard about how fortunate we truly are. Watching the twins and Hollie over the break, and how much they have grown in a year showed me that I'm so blessed. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank God for my family.

Christmas came and went so fast. Everyone came to our house, which was so nice. We were able to keep the twins on their schedule, which was so incredibly helpful. First, Shawn's mom came over and we opened a few presents. Hollie got to open ALL of her presents from us and Santa. Below is a picture of her opening up her big surprise. I bought her a jewelry box, and when she opened up the lid to it, there was a sign that I made that said, "Do you want to go get your ears pierced? TOMORROW???" She was so surprised.



Then, Shawn's aunt, uncle and grandmother came over. We had BBQ catered from Dickies BBQ, which was absolutely fabulous. Thank you Ann, for arranging everyting and helping to put it all together. I think we pulled it off successfully. We missed having Shayne (Shawn's brother), Barbi and their kiddos over. They were sick, and were unable to make it. Here are a few pictures...




Afterwards, my mom and Joe came in and we celebrated Christmas that night. It was so calm and relaxing. Of course, I was pooped and completely forgot to get my camera out to take pictures, but we had such a nice time. The next day, we all went to the mall to get Hollie's ears pierced. She was nervous and excited. Her friend Rylee met us up there for support. Below are pictures...









Then, Candice (Jackson's Mom) came in on Tuesday with her son Ty to visit. They got in late Tuesday night. Wednesday, I hired a baby sitter to watch the twins, while we took her son and Hollie shopping with us. We had a wonderful time. She bought the twins the most adorable bows. These are two of the hats. Oh so cute...







Candice, I loved our visit. You are an amazing friend and have been through so much. I had so much fun talking and laughing with you. I look forward to our next visit. Thank you so much for the adorable bows. They are so darn cute. I will send you pictures of them wearing the others that you got them.

Next up was New Years. We had a few people over for games, chili and good fun!!! The girls played games, while the guys watched football. Here is a picture of the girls. We had a blast. From left to right, Angel, Cinnamon, me, Leah and Amanda.



As you all know, Hollie's birthday is on January 2nd. We had a fun day filled with lots of activities that she wanted to do. First up, was lunch at Subway (her fave), she's still easy that way! Then, we got our nails done. Actually, it was a milk and honey manicure. We could have stayed there for hours. It was fun and relaxing. It was what we both needed!!! Then, we went back home to pick up Shawn and the twins. Hollie wanted to go eat yogurt at the new yogurt bar down the street. The twins weren't too sure about it, and didn't have much fun, but Hollie loved it. She loved making her own bowl and adding her own toppings. Afterwards, we went home for a brief break, and then went to dinner to celebrate. Below are pictures from dinner.











I hope you all have a very Happy New Year!!! 2011 is going to be an awesome year! I just know it!

Love,
Stephanie

Read more...