June 12, 2009
In celebration of Grace and Emmett’s half-birthday, I thought an update was in order (thanks for the prodding Uncle Dan!)
Emmett currently enjoys:
-Sucking on his hands like it’s going out of style
-Rolling over
-Trying to crawl
-Standing up with Mommy and Daddy’s help
-Cooing and smiling
-Watching the dog
-Eating us out of house and home
-Drooooooling. Everywhere.
-Sleeping until 6am (woo hoo!)
Grace prefers:
-Hand is also quite good. Yum.
-Rolling over
-Chewing on toys
-Trying to crawl
-Being sat up and having a story read to her
-Staring at her brother, grabbing her brother
-Pooping
-Being cuddled
-Gleeful shrieking with a smile
-Sleeping until 5 am (if we’re lucky! Last night was 2am, oh well)
-Eating sometimes. If she feels like it. Maybe.
And how are Mom and Dad? Loving every crazy minute of it. 
See the 6 months album.
April 20, 2009
Yesterday was the warmest day yet of Grace and Emmett’s lives. For the first time I actually took layers off (rather than chasing them around with hats and socks) and let them practice crawling (which at this point is a scoot with thrusts of the feet).
But with Mom and Grandma Deborah at home in upper 80 degree weather, what’s a girl to make for dinner? I concocted a new, yet-to-be-world-famous, salad:
The Kitchen Sink (or Everything But The…) Early Summer Salad:
Bag of organic baby lettuce
Handful sliced ripe strawberries
Handful walnut halves or wholes
2-3 cooked (and cooled) sliced beets
Cooked chunks pork chop (maybe chicken would be good too, or eliminate meat if not serving as an entree)
Goat cheese crumbles
Top with balsamic vinaigrette and enjoy!
You might think I’m crazy, but it was a big winner around this house.
And for those who don’t follow me on Facebook, here are some new pics (Bonus: There are two NEW pictures, not on my Facebook, that are just for Great Grandma Sharon!)
March 29, 2009
Sustainability is a major buzz word in our town and across the United States (okay, maybe just in certain pockets). But when we think sustainability, we don’t just think about green, eco-friendly choices, but decisions we can make that make our lives sustainable–read: Survivable on an ongoing basis.
With our sweet little munchkins settling in at home, and a return to work on the horizon, we’re trying to figure out just how to make our lives a little more efficient, healthy, less wasteful, “sleepable” (I just made that word up), and maybe even a little fun!
For the most part, we’ve given ourselves a “pass” the past four months because we were just trying to survive. We ate hospital cafeteria food (i.e. burgers and curly fries), picked up take out, stopped composting, didn’t use reuseable shopping bags, stopped any form of regular exercise and just muddled through. But now that we’re ready for life in the long haul, it’s time to pick up the pieces, reconnect with our values, and start being the good examples we want to be for our kids.
Our first start will be diet and exercise. Thankfully, Spring has sprung, great produce is plentiful and the weather is awesome. We’re contemplating the awesome BOB stroller for possible jogging opportunities, but we are already walking 2 miles daily with the kids–a good start.
Next is good planning. The goal is to effectively plan errands and budgeting to reduce expenses, save time and conserve our sanity. I am QUEEN of over-committing and setting high expectations for myself. If this experience has taught me one thing, it’s that I want to DO LESS, and have more space and time to breathe and have fun with my kids. What I don’t want is to be over-scheduled, running all over town without a moment to sit on the deck or read a story to the babies. I’m done with that crazy life for now–it is not very rewarding. There will be plenty of running around in the future, I’m sure (soccer practice, PTA meetings., etc.).
Along the way I’d like to incorporate more earth-friendly choices into our daily lives, cutting back on the paper towels and Ziploc baggies. Basically, the things we should be doing anyway.
You probably think I’m crazy. “You have new born twins! Relax a little!” This is true, so we’ll take it one step at a time and ease in to things. But hopefully with a little bit of planning and a few more veggies, we’ll be off to a good start.
See pics from March 2009, all from our new digital SLR camera!
March 11, 2009
Grace kissing Emmett, 40 weeks
This post is long overdue, but I have blissfully (and sleep-deprivedly) been taking care of my sweet babies at home. And now that our little angels are three months old, I thought we should share the news!
Two days shy of their due date, our little Grace Anne came home. No oxygen, no medications, no monitors. Just a little fortifier for her breastmilk and a multi-vitamin. Certainly, no short of a miracle for a former one and a half pounder! My BFF, Rianna, was here for the momentous day and helped us adjust to those first few days at home (thank you my love!).
Angelic Grace, 40 weeks, 5lbs
Fewer than 24 hours after Grace’s homecoming, we were off to my shower do-over, after the first one was cancelled when I was hospitalized. Hostesses Deborah and Rianna put on a fun and elegant event, complete with a onesie decorating project. Thank you ladies!
Now we are, finally, all together as a family. After a quarter of a year in the hospital every single day, we are adjusting to life at home. The hours are rough, the house is a disaster, and the laundry is piled high, but I think every day how grateful and lucky I am to have these two darling miracles. How did we get so lucky?
Then, 12/11/08
Emmett, 40 weeks
Then, 12/11/08
Now, Grace, 40 weeks, 5lbs
And now the REAL adventure of life with twins begins!
Gotta run, the kids are waking up! See pics! New photos added to Life in the Cruz Gallery too.
P.S. A big shout out to the grandparents who watched Emmett, did laundry and watched dogs while we spent time with Gracie in the NICU. Thank you X 1000!
February 13, 2009
Some of you have noticed that the posts and pictures have slowed down since the babies moved local. I suspect this downward trend will continue because Emmett is home! Some think Friday the 13th is bad luck, instead I’ll take it as an auspicious day where anything can happen. We are utterly thrilled to be home like a normal family–no cords, tubes, or beeping monitors. The only thing that could improve this day is if Gracie was home with us. But she still needs some time to get big and strong. So we will wait patiently (or try, at least).
Here are the stats:
The kids are 2 months and 3 days old!
Emmett is 5lbs 1oz, home and happy.
Grace is 3lbs 8oz, on a high-calorie diet to plump her up, and is spending most of her time at 21% oxygen (what you and I breathe) with extra pressure from a high-flow nasal cannula. Grace is successfully learning how to breastfeed and take a bottle–key things for her to come home. She loves the new hospital and has done very well there.
So for now we’ll count Friday the 13th as lucky. See more pics.
