They Are Here!

The time has come to introduce these little ladies to the world. Everything went as planned with the c-section. I will say I would choose a vaginal delivery any day over a c-section. The recovery is a lot more difficult. But I know I will get better soon.
So, Abigail Mae Foster was born at 10:48 a.m. and weighed 5 lbs 2 oz and Lacey Nicole Foster was born at 10:49 a.m. and weighed 5 lbs 15 oz. (Which by the way is WAY off of what the doctor thought she was). But it all worked out. Both came out super healthy, no NICU time or anything. They are small and stinkin cute. They already are gaining weight really well. So far it's been great. They are easy babies. Although the first night home was really as bad as it could have possibly been. We think they had a lot of gas, but last night was amazing. When one got up we got both of them up and we just got up twice. The most difficult thing is that I can hardly do anything. Once I can function normally it will be much better. Luckily I have an amazing husband who is happy to do pretty much everything. We are SO happy to have these girls in our family. Every time I look at them I just think wow, what a miracle. Double blessing for sure.

Proud papa in the operating room. You can hardly see Abigail. She wasn't wrapped up so well.

They wrote "A" and "B" on their hats in the O.R. I love their hands in this pic.

One of the nurses made these cute bows for them.

Grandma and Grandpa

Emily!

Mel reacted just like I thought she would. She just wanted to hold the babies and feed them. It's a good and bad thing.

Mel looks slightly creepy in this picture, but I love it.

First walk.

All our girls.

Say "cheese"

Maternity Pics

I love that I have friends who are so talented with photography! My friend Kim took some pictures for us. Now... I don't really like having my picture taken at this stage of pregnancy but I did it, because I thought I would want to document this.
This is what full term with twins looks like. Does it make your pelvis hurt?
Here is her website if you are looking to get some pics taken. She is awesome! http://kimcherryphotography.blogspot.com/
Thanks Kim!

Mel is kissing my belly. But I have to add that yesterday when she lifted up my shirt to see my belly she said, "ew gross." Thanks Mel.

What a cutie!! Ah.... I love her.

Not The Plan

So there has been a little shift in "the plan." And really this was just my plan; which was to have two babies head down delivered vaginally and that they would be around the same weight. Everything is fine, I just went to the doctor today and we decided that I will have a c-section on Wednesday (10:30 a.m. to be exact). Baby A has kind of dropped off with her weight gain. She is just a small babe I guess. The blood flow was fine, and she is still growing, but she is just not as big as her twin sister. Baby A is around 5 pounds, and baby B is around 7 pounds. I thought baby A would be bigger than that, so I was a bit surprised. Then the doctor told me that baby B was now breech. So... I would have gone for a vaginal delivery even though baby b was breech, but now there is more than a 25% difference in weight between them, which increases the risks of vaginal delivery big time. The doctor let me choose, but he really thinks I should have a c-section, and I am with him. The risk of having one vaginally and then one c-section, or serious complications with baby B just did not sit well with me.
I am ok with it now, but I will say I cried first when he told me she was 5 pounds and then when he said baby B was breech. It just tore my whole plan apart. Luckily Drew was there, so I didn't feel so stupid.
The more I think about it the more I really am just fine with it. In fact kind of relieved and happy to plan it. When you have to shift your thinking or change your plans it can be hard. I have decided that I am just goin with the flow now. Obviously nothing is in my hands. First of all, we didn't "plan" on having twins, and I had to shift my thinking and now how they will get here is different than what I thought. And I am sure much much more will be different than what I thought. The key is to look at the positives ALWAYS! Because isn't that the best way to live? I am glad that they will be 37 weeks and not considered premature, I am glad that there will be less risks, I am glad that I can get everything ready and there is no rush to the hospital, I am glad that so far the babies are doing well, I am glad that it's a planned c-section and not an emergency one (which I have heard is a much easier recovery), and I am glad that I don't need to worry because no matter what, Heavenly Father is in charge, and so my will is His will. So hopefully I don't go into labor before Wednesday, but... if I do then everything will work out fine as well.

Summer

Since it has been ridiculously hot here this summer, we have been in the water A LOT! We have enjoyed friend's community pools, our little pool in the backyard, splash parks, streams and more. Here are some of the pics I have remembered to take.

Yeah Summer!!

The slip and slide

This is the first thing Drew does when he comes outside. He's crazy. Who needs a swimsuit?

Splash park

Little petting zoo at Bellview Park.

Riding the train. I couldn't fathom getting in and out with this huge stomach

Picnic

After Drew came home from a run we found Mel like this. So funny.

This woman loves shoes

And here she is watching her favorite show, Clifford. She has to have her babies.

True Love

Can I just say that I love this man. Everyday I just think, man he is so great. Today this is when I thought it. I can't paint my toenails anymore, due to an extremely big belly... So here is my man taking care of it for me.

Grandma Betty

Well it's been a pretty emotional few weeks. I suppose I am writing this because it's therapeutic.My grandma, who I was very close to just passed away yesterday. It has just been such a strange experience. She was just fine in May. She had given me her car because she just bought a brand new super nice sporty car. She was cruizin around town, hanging out with friends, basically doing just fine.
She had taken a fall in her garage and that's when it all started. She bruised her ribs and was in the hospital, and basically it was just a downward spiral from there. She lived in Wisconsin, and suddenly told my mom that she needed to find a place for her out here. We knew she wasn't doing all that well when she said that, because she has lived on her own in the same house for 50 years after her husband died young. So my mom went out there to help her and bring her back here. She set up an assisted living home for her that was close by. We were all so excited to have her close by and be able to see her more often. Unfortunately the day that she got here she had to go to the hospital because of a low oxygen level. We weren't really sure what was going on. It turns out she had pneumonia and it got bad real fast. When I went to see her for the first time at the hospital it was hard for me to see her like that, and then it just became torture seeing her. It's hard going from no health problems to this. It was shocking. And to see someone you love in so much pain is just heart breaking. And being pregnant has not helped. Yesterday it was decided to take her off the oxygen because it was barely keeping her alive, and she didn't want that. It didn't take very long and she went peacefully.
It is definitely a relief after seeing her that way, but it is just hard that she's gone. But I will say I would choose a long healthy life and then pass quickly, than to be in and out of the hospital for years. I don't know when it will really sink in. I can't really even explain the feeling I have. When something like this happens it brings you right back to what you say you believe and what you would say to someone who has lost someone. I think most people believe in an after life, and I think that's because our spirits just somehow know that that is true. We may differ in what we think it will be like, but I don't doubt that she is happy and really is in a better place. Someone (who doesn't believe in God) once said to me that religion is really just to help make us feel better. And I know what she was trying to say, but I thought yep I think that's exactly right. God knows that when we believe and have faith in Him that we can cope in this life.  I really could just let myself cry and cry and cry and be so depressed about this, but because of the hope I have I don't have to be in despair.
Now if I can only live like my grandma did. She was the sweetest woman ever, the absolute best mom and grandma you could have, and so selfless. She never made anything about herself. She paid for my college, and much much more. She was never looking for any recognition for all she did for us. In fact after she gave me her car for free (which she could have gotten a few thousand dollars for), I sent her a gift card, (and I was a little embarrassed about it because it was not comparable to a car) she was upset with me for spending my money "like that." She was always worried whenever anyone spent anything on her, even though she spoils us rotten. It has made me realize life is fragile and that I want to love like she did and to look back on my life and know I was a good person. Thank you grandma for being such a great example to us all.
I think I would classify her as "salt of the Earth." I am so glad she was my grandma, and that we had so many wonderful years. I will always miss her dearly, but am trying to be grateful for all the time we did have.
A while ago we decided that one of the babies would share the same middle name as my grandma. I am so glad I was able to tell her when she was healthy and understood. I hope our kids will be able to share in the love and appreciation that we have for her. 

How Old Are We?

So we have gone from having a Honda Accord and a Hyundai Sonata to a Honda Odyssey and a Buick Century. Now don't get me wrong I am SOOO grateful for these new cars. But it is just so funny to me that we have a Buick and a van. I mean how did we grow up so fast? Oh yeah maybe going from a family of three to a family of five changes things real fast.
My sweet sweet grandma gave us her Buick Century, which is in great shape. It replaced "Blade" our Sonata. The $700 car we bought in Provo. It lasted us 3 years, and we put no money into it, but oh my it was a junker. Drew was sad to see it go. And my amazing in-laws traded cars with us so now we have a van, which is also in great shape. I am getting used to having a van. It's like driving a bus really. It will be soooo nice to have with three kids and a dog. Now we are completely ready for the babies to come. Well.... you know what I mean.

 The window has a sun shade (which I put on poorly) So that's why the window looks weird.