Ethan Comes Home!

On Monday, November 1st, the day after the actual Halloween day - we were lucky to be livinging in Utah because everyone went trick-or-treating on Saturday - I went to visit Ethan in the morning and the nurses told me he could go home. I was surprised because he was still on oxygen, but they said since he was eating well, they could just send us home with an oxygen tank. There were a few things that still needed to be done before he could actually leave, but they said I could come back in the afternoon to pick him up. Well, I rushed home and picked my kids up from the neighbors. When I told her he was coming home and that I wanted to go sanitize my house, she offered to come and help. I had only been home from the hospital for a week, and she said I shouldn't have to clean my house alone. She couldn't come until after her kids got home from school, which happened to be early that day, but she planned to come over at 12:30. Well, she didn't come alone. Four sisters from the ward showed up and cleaned my house. I felt so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people. The ward really took care of us during this time. I didn't get to visit Spencer on this day, but Jeff and I had planned to go on Tuesday anyway to get the results of an important test he was having on Monday, so it worked out. In the afternoon, Jeff met me and we went and brought home our first little guy. It was such a crazy day because we were also celebrating Parker's birthday with Jeff's family that night. There is never a dull moment at our house. The birthday celebration was a good thing too because we had extra hands to hold the fussy baby. Ethan had never cried for me in the hospital, but he cried for awhile after getting home. I think it was just a lot of change for one day. Two days after coming home I took him in for a doctor visit. He weighed 6 lbs 5 oz then.

Halloween Day

The day of Halloween I again went to see the babies, but after seeing Ethan, my sister Karolee met me at the hospital and we both went to Primary Children's hospital. It's kind of funny because Riverton hospital would only allow grandparents into the hospital with the parents - no other visitors, but Primary Children's would allow the grandparents to go on their own, or allow any one visitor to enter with one parent. You could only have two people at the bedside at a time. Anyway, it was nice to go with her. After our visit, she came back and helped Jeff take the kids trick-or-treating while I manned the door. Then when the treat collecting was complete, I went to see Ethan at 9 pm again. He had been given a cute Halloween hat by someone at the hospital too, so that was fun.

Halloween Week

The week before Halloween Day was also the first week home from the hospital for me. It is all kind of a blur now because it was such a crazy time. I spent each day getting to the Riverton hospital by 9 am to feed Ethan, leaving from there to go to Primary Childrens to see Spencer for an hour, and trying to get back home by 2:30 when the kids came home from school so I could help them get homework done. Luckily people brought us meals that whole week, so I didn't have to worry about that. (I am also grateful that Jeff or our parents could be there to watch Paker and Carter each day.) Then once the kids were in bed, I left again to go the the Riverton hospital to feed Ethan at 9 pm. This is the week after giving birth mind you. With other babies, I spent a lot of time resting, but this time life got busier than before. Anyway, I know that the Lord was blessing me to be able to physically keep up with things because I couldn't have done it without the help. The only day I didn't visit both babies was the friday before Halloween because the kids were having their Halloween parades. I still went to see Ethan at night, but had to skip the morning visit, and my visit to Spencer. Jeff's mom, and my parents both went to see Spencer that day so I didn't feel too bad. Spencer also was completely sedated and immobile that first week, so I don't think he noticed that I wasn't there. Anyway, I was glad I was able to see the kid's parade because it meant a lot to them.

Halloween

It was really strange coming home from the hospital without the babies. Everytime I saw a baby item in our house I'd break into tears for the first week or so. Needless to say a lot of tears were shed because the crib was already set up in our bedroom. On a positive note though, I was able to participate in the Halloween festivities more than I would have been able to do had the babies been home. The day I came home from the hospital, Jeff's parents and Rand and Suzanne came over to carve pumpkins. It was already planned that we'd be carving pumpkins that day, and because his parents were already there watching the kids, they just stayed longer to help out. It was a lot of fun, and it took my mind off the babies a little. I did have to slip out at 8:45 pm to get to Riverton hospital to try and feed Ethan at 9, but I got to be there most of the time.

Quick update of the last couple of months

Since I didn't post anything for the last couple of months, I decided to quickly update myself for history sake. Unfortunately I am seeing a pattern here in my blog. It is not too unlike my journal either - nothing then lots of update, then nothing. Hopefully I can keep blogging after I get updated.

First of all, the day we had the babies I had a birthday party scheduled for Parker. The babies were born on Oct 23, and Parker's birthday is not until Nov 3rd. I thought for sure that having a party two weeks early would assure that the birth would not interfere with his birthday. I was wrong. The funny thing is whenever Parker asked when the babies were coming, I'd always respond "Hopefully not until after your birthday". Well, they showed up for the party.

I am so grateful that my parents and my sister stepped up and did the party anyway. It was Parker's first friend party, and I didn't want to have to cancel it. My sister ran the games, the kids decorated jet packs which I'd almost finished the day before, and they had a cake my mom picked up from the store. From what I heard, Carter had just as much fun as Parker.

January

I have decided that I love January. It's not only the start of a new year, but it's when you clean up and put all of the holiday decor away for awhile. For some this is depressing, but for me it is a relief. I guess that comes from having seven of our nine birthdays fall between September and December 31st. It is nice in one respect, toys go on sale during that time. It does, however, cause me a little stress as I try and do birthday parties along with holiday stuff in Oct, Nov and Dec. Anyway, this January seems particularly nice because life this holiday season has been so crazy with the birth of our twins. I went to the doctor yesterday, and am happy to report that Ethan weighs 12 lbs 2 ounces and Spencer weighs 9 lbs 12 ounces. This is a big accomplishment for them. As they grow, things seem to be a little easier. We no longer have to deal with oxygen tubing all over our bedroom, or worry about Spencer choking and holding his breath. They seem to be eating ok for now too, but I do fear I won't be able to continue nursing them for long. None on my kids have used formula so I haven't wanted to with the twins either, but it's hard to balance nursing one and pumping a bottle for the other. I am especially sad because I have to give up my super power breast pump from the hospital tomorrow because the insurance with no longer pay for it. I have another I have borrowed, so I am hoping it can keep up with these babies. We could pay for it on our own each month for $65, but we don't want to. Although, if this other pump doesn't work as well and we have to resort to formula, the breast pump might be cheaper than buying formula for twins. We will see I guess. Anyway, things are good, and I'm glad to start a new year.