Swim Lessons

We finally made it to the swim lessons. We only missed the first 3 lessons. I was not much for attendance in school. Of course, my kids are fish. Ok, not really fish. They have been dunked and do not scream. They have been on their backs and do not scream. They have been on their tummies and do not scream. They also do not smile, but that is another story. So my conclusion, they do not hate it. Gwen is already teachers pet. The teacher was constantly using her to demonstrate. Toward the end the babies get fussy, I think because they are cold. They do turn blue a couple of times during the class, but a few kicks later and their color returns. Geesh I hope child services is not called on me for that! Here are some pics.



Ok, I look like an idiot, but it is my daughter you want to see. Look at her floating, I mean swimming on her back. She is so advanced!








Gwen is teachers pet.



Luckily the teacher this week had a large rack. It completely took the attention away from my post baby rack being shoved into a small bathing suit.

National Kidney Foundation

We are joining another walk to raise awareness for organ donation. I think it is just a mile. The babies will be participating as long as the weather permits. They are quite the little fundraisers. Here is the letter from my husband.

Date: Sunday, November 1, 2009
Location: The Ohio Statehouse - Broad & High Street
Check In Begins: 8 a.m.
Walk Starts at: 9 a.m. (Don't forget about the time change!)

http://walk.kidney.org/site/TR/Walk/Ohio?px=1282481&pg=personal&fr_id=2020&et=hS46xU8ZOUwnIVp9ifqw2Q..&s_tafId=16392

All,

It is that time of year again. The National Kidney Foundation walk is quickly approaching. The National Kidney Foundation is a great organization that helps inform the public about Kidney disease and transplantation.

Very few people in my situation have had such a great outcome. Only with the love and support of my family and friends am I alive today. Whether it is waking up in the middle of the night to change a poopy, excuse me, two poopy diapers I do it with great pleasure, knowing that less than 2 years ago I had a hard time even walking to the bathroom from the couch. The love shown by the McHenry family over the last 2 years is unbelievable. I can never repay them for what they have done for our family. Because of Ryan and the McHenry clan I will be able to intimidate my daughters first boyfriend, congratulate my son on the winning touchdown in overtime against the Steelers, and dance at both of their weddings. I am truly THE luckiest man alive.

I can never repay Ryan and Leslie for the life saving decision they made. I can only try and help raise awareness. The National Kidney Foundation is just one way I can help out. So please support us as we try to help the National Kidney Foundation of Ohio raise awareness.

Thanks,

Neal, Michele, Grady, and Gwendolyn

Neal had a rough 13 months, but transplantation allowed him and I to regain our life. If you need more of a reason to participate read http://beadonor.blogspot.com/. You do not have to donate money to support us. You can attend the walk or simply register to be an organ donor at http://www.lifelineofohio.org/.

Peez Me

Connor is turning 2 in a week. We usually see him once a week and we cannot believe how fast he is growing and learning. He has recently learned to say excuse me, although it sounds a little more like peez me. Connor says it after a burp or when you are in his way. While in Florida, the McHenry's were walking through a group of flamingos and of course Connor said peez me to the flamingos. I doubt the flamingos moved out of his way, but how cute. Things like this just make your heart melt.


This kid could be a model!

Grady Ryan

Grady is 3 months old. He is so cute. Grady is so animated. He smiles more than me. We often catch him laying on his mat or watching Mr. Moo Cow smiling away. He loves to give Mr. Moo Cow open mouth kisses, well actually I think he is trying to eat Mr. Moo Cow. After trying to eat him he always smiles. Grady also loves to talk. We often catch him carrying on with Mr. Moo Cow. Grady loves to have his lips tickled. Grady is not the best sleeper. He is too interested in eating to sleep. He will however lay in his crib all night long, sometimes talking to himself, but rarely crying. We think Grady may be left handed. When Grady has a dirty diaper you have to change it pretty quickly or he gets unhappy. Grady is amazing at tummy time. He can hold his head up and look in both directions, but when you hold him in your arms, he is like a bobble head. He is all over the place and often head butts me. He still likes looking to the right, but he is getting better. We have a little bit of a flat head problem that we are working hard on. Grady's hands are always opening and closing. He really likes to grab things.

Gwendolyn Marie

Gwen is 3 months old. I feel like she has been with us forever. She is so beautiful. I could stare at her all day. She has always been a good sleeper. We have called her drama, but to be honest she is not that much drama. When Gwen wants to eat, watch out, but most other times she is content. She is probably going to be a future thumb sucker. We are not yet sure if she is right or left handed. She loves her bouncy seat. Often times we wish (and sometimes do) carry it with us everywhere. Gwen can be screaming and 5 bounces in the bouncy seat or a drive a mile or less will calm her down. She likes her play mat. Gwen loves to eat Grady's hands while on it. When eating her bottle, Gwen is pretty slow. She has really started to smile, and I mean big smiles. When feeding her a bottle, you always know when she is done because she smiles. Yes, that is right a big smile while the bottle is still in her mouth. I have also seen a lot of smiles from her while she is on the changing table. This is not a random smile, but a genuine I see my mommy and I am smiling at her smile. She is not so great at tummy time. Tummy time consists of her laying on her tummy, there is no neck action, but when you hold Gwen she is so good with her neck looking in all directions. When you hold her she is grabbing on with her hands. Other times she is usually close fisted. She loves to have her lips tickled, watch her glow worm and bounce. When she sucks on her pacifier, she sucks so hard she gets what we call pacifier mouth. I am sure none of you care about this, but these are my memories that I will cherish forever.

Three months old!

So we have survived the first three months and I know you are all dying to hear about me. Ok, probably not, but here are some of my thoughts about surviving the first three months with twins.

Neal has played such a large part in taking care of the babies. I need his help, I cannot do it alone. Because of this I am a better mom and more importantly wife. As a matter of fact, I think the babies have brought us closer. We are still in awe that we have created two beautiful human beings.

I never sigh to myself that there is another diaper to change. I enjoy changing diapers. To go even further, we never argue about who is going to change a diaper, we just do it. Wait I cannot lie, sometimes we argue about it, but rarely.

I can survive on a surprisingly little amount of sleep. I am actually more energetic and efficient with less sleep.

I am headed to a new doc to make sure my body (liver) can handle another pregnancy. I think I would regret not having another. I do not feel like our family is complete. Perhaps I am being selfish.

I love just staring at my babies. After my mom leaves and I am alone with them I pick them both up and sing to them. Granted this only lasts about one minute before one or both are crying, but I still do it. I actually dread the day when I cannot hold both of my babies in my arms.

Many moms say they hate the first few months, especially the late night feedings. So far, I have enjoyed them (ok not all of them). There are even nights when the babies cry to eat and I am actually excited to go do it because I miss them. Don't get me wrong, once I start feeding them I usually fall asleep. I wake up about 15 minutes later and look down thinking how fast the babies ate the bottle.

I am a better mom because I work. At the same time I hate being at work, I would much rather be with my babies. Sometimes this little reminder is all I need to remind myself not to take one day with the babies for granted.

Here are some pictures from our walk on this cool day.




Baby posts up next! Hopefully we will have the results of the babies first photo shoot. The McHenry's were nice enough to let us use their yard. Next year we hope to be in our own yard. Of course we could not get Gwen to crack a smile, but she was still beautiful. Grady smiled a ton!