New Beginnings

I love Fall.

The air turns crisper, the leaves change colors and fall from the trees, school & activities start up again...it's all good in my book.

There is something about this time of year that just feels right for changing things up, for starting something new.

Many "new" things around here, starting with my awesome blog makeover compliments of Blog Sites By Suzy!  

If you're reading me in a reader, click over and check my new look, I promise you won't be disappointed.  Before, it was really quite dingy around here...brown on brown, with a brown header that was created within the first few months of me starting to blog. I like to write, but I don't pretend to know much about how to make a blog look nice.  Suzy was wonderful to work with and I think she did a great job making this space look much more like ME!

Oh, and you'll probably notice my snazzy signature line she designed as well.  In case you don't really know me, my name is Amy.  When I started blogging 4 years ago, (has it really been that long!?!), I didn't know what I was going to fill this space with and decided to be kind of anonymous, or at least try to be.  It just feels like it's time to let the "Photogrl" persona go.  It fit when I began this journey, but doesn't really fit anymore.

In other "new" news, Miss O. is about two weeks into a new school year.

Third grade is tough, but she's enjoying it.  On the other hand, I'm struggling with her budding independence.  I know that I have to start letting her do some things by herself, but it's a balancing act between watching her grow and not wanting to see her fail.

I often wonder if it's even harder because I'm raising 2 two year olds at the same time.  Sometimes I feel like I need a reminder that Miss O. is not a baby! 

Finally, in the "new" news of this Fall, I decided to join a new class at the local Y called, "Run to Lose". 

I've tried running in the past, trying the Couch to 5K plan, only falling off the wagon about 2 weeks every time I've tried because of getting sick, a child getting sick, or life just getting in the way.  I don't like to run, but I have too many friends that absolutely love it and keep telling me to give it a try.

The class seems to be like a Couch to 5K, only in a group setting, along with some nutrition information.  I'm excited and hopeful that this will ignite a passion for running in me...and if not, maybe I can at least lose a few inches and pounds!

So, that's what's new around here....what's new with you?

Peanuts, Get Your Peanuts....NOT!

The summer is quickly wrapping up, and I honestly can't wait for Fall to come.

We packed the last few months full with lots of fun stuff and family time, starting with our Disn.ey trip and ending with a week spent with family in Savannah.  I think we're all tired, happy, and ready for a little structure around here.

At least this mommy is!

Miss O. starts third grade on Tuesday.  I really don't understand how this is possible!?! Third grade?  She's excited to go back to school, see her friends, and read.  Secretly, I think she's ready for a break from the twins 24-7.  From her viewpoint, it has to be hard to constantly compete with 2 two year old's for Mommy's attention all day long, as well as having to do certain things because they are little.

The twins are doing well.  Acting like typical two year old's, showing independence, pitching fits, giving hugs & kisses to anyone who will take them.

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Over the summer, we found out that our little peanut, Pretty Girl, is allergic to peanuts.

Very allergic.

Like, we have to carry an Epi.Pen, allergic.

Cue Mommy freak out moment.

I wasn't super surprised that she was allergic, I just didn't expect it to be that bad.

In May, M. had given her a tiny bit of peanut butter on the tip of a spoon while I was working at my Twins Club yard sale.  He called me, panicked, because even though she had spit it out immediately, her entire face had broken out in hives almost immediately! I told him to give her Ben.edryl and watch her closely, and it seemed to work and she was fine a few hours later.

Obviously, we called the doctor on the following Monday, explained what happened and was told to just keep peanuts away until her 2 year old appointment.  Once that came in July, Pretty Girl had blood drawn, and we found out how severe her allergy is.

I have plenty of allergies, myself, but no food allergies.

She'll never enjoy a package of peanut butter cups, my no-bake cookies, or a PB&J sandwich. 

It's been a real learning experience for us.  Pretty Girl needs to avoid peanuts and all tree nuts, just to be safe.  I never realized how many things may or may not have nuts in them.

We've found that even if someone has eaten a forbidden food and touches or kisses her, she will react.

It's scary.

And because she's two, and I've spent the last 2 years teaching her and Big Boy to share EVERYTHING with each other, Big Boy has to be peanut-free, too.

I just can't trust that they wouldn't share with each other, at least until they are much older.

It's a big adjustment...just yesterday we had lunch at a friend's house, bologna sandwiches, watermelon, and pretzels.  Should be fine, right?

Yeah, not so much.

About 10 minutes into lunch, I noticed that Pretty Girl was starting to break out around her mouth.  Crap.  Grabbed the bag with the pretzels in it, and looked at the label.  There it was..."made in a facility that uses nuts"...I hadn't even thought to look at it, it was a bag of pretzels!

That's just it, it seems that I need to scour EVERY processed food label, in order to make sure it's safe for her.

It's a learning process, but one I want to learn quickly, that's for sure!

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Do you or a family member struggle with a peanut allergy?  Food allergies in general?  How do you handle it? I'd love to hear how others deal with this...

Taking the Plunge

Last week, I had the opportunity to step way outside of my comfort zone.

Way outside.

After a lot of prayer, discussion, and arrangement of child care, I made a decision.  I was going to "plunge" in, step outside of what's comfortable to me, and take some risks. 

Last Wednesday night, I left my husband and three children at home and ventured out with two relatively new friends to Texas.

Texas, y'all!

Our little group flew to Grapevine, Texas, which is over 1,200 miles from home, for the 2012 MOPS International Convention.

I had no idea what to expect.  I haven't left the twins alone for more than one night at a time. I knew the two girls from my MOPS group, but didn't really know them, you know?

To say that I was scared, excited, and utterly overwhelmed would be an understatement.

The convention was held at an absolutely amazingly beautiful resort.  I had the opportunity to hear from some incredible speakers, enjoy some beautiful worship time with Christy Nockels, and had some time for relaxation and introspect.

The theme of the convention was "Plunge", based on scripture from 1 Peter.

"Love as if your life depended on it."

~ 1 Peter 4:8

Over my days away, I heard why we as moms should love ourselves, love our family, love the world, and love other moms.  I spent hours with my new friends and found that we all had much in common, including infertility. 

Now, don't get me wrong...I was homesick.  I missed M. and the kids, but I knew they were all being taken care of.  I kept seeing things that I knew Miss O. would enjoy and my heart would tug, but I just reminded myself that it was okay to be enjoying myself.

It was really hard to make the decision to step away from real life for a few days, travel with near strangers, to step outside of my comfort zone.

But I am so thankful that I did.

2nd Birthday Party; Mickey & Minnie Style

About three weeks before the twins were going to turn 2, I finally just looked at M. and said, "Well, are we having a party, or not?". 

For months we had been going back and forth on what to do.  Their 1st birthday was a cinch, no doubt, we were celebrating, and we were celebrating big!  Over the last year, though, with me staying home, our finances have gotten a lot tighter.  In March, for Miss O.'s birthday, she had her first "friends" party, and we didn't do the big family party this year.  Plus, we went to Dis.ney Wo.rld in June, and we all know visiting the mouse doesn't come cheap!

So, back to asking M. about whether or not to have a party...

We decided yes, we'd keep it low key and just rent a tent for the backyard, and have family and a few close friends.  Once I decided on a theme,  M. created some adorable invitations for me, and I went to town planning!

Thank goodness we got the tent, as it rained off and on throughout the party!  Otherwise it was a fun day, and the twins were showered with love and attention.

And you can't do a birthday post without including some pictures...

All the food was "Clubhouse" themed.  We had make your own club sandwiches, hot diggity dog hot dogs, Minnie's Bow Tie Pasta salad....I could go on and on.  Yes, I'm a dork ;)

Cupcakes, instead of cake!

Each treat bag included a handmade mouse rice krispy treat!

My favorite shot of the day!

Birthday Wishes for the Twins

It's Friday the 13th, AND it is the twins' 2nd birthday!

How can that possibly be???

M. and I stayed up late last night, talking about their birth day.  I'm still blown away every time I look at them that they are here and they are mine. The day that they joined our little family of 3 and made it a "party" of 5 was filled with great anticipation and excitement. 

July 2010

Two years.

Thousands of diapers, tears, kisses and hugs.

The first year was survival.  

The second has been a little more fun.  

I enjoy watching them grow independent, yet still look for me and each other. 

Can't wait to see what the next year brings!

July 2012

Happy birthday, Big Boy & Pretty Girl!

Packing, Packing, Packing

Whine, whine, whine.


I feel like that's all I ever do when I try to post around here.


A million blog posts run through my head, and yet, I never find the time to sit down and type any out.

And when I do?  I always feel like I have to apologize for not posting.

It's weird.  I know that.

Oh, well.

I'm going crazy this week.

We leave on Friday for our very first family vacation that involves transportation other than a minivan. 

I'm desperately trying to pack for 5 people into 3 suitcases and 2 carry on's.

It is near impossible.

Especially when 2 of those people are under two and may or may not need multiple outfits a day.

And diapers.  Oh, the diapers!

I figure I better plan on 5 to 8 diapers a day/per twin.  We'll be gone for 6 days.  So, I need to bring at least 96 diapers, not counting swim diapers.

It's enough to make your head explode.

If that isn't enough, Big Boy started running a fever Friday night.  By Monday morning, he wasn't eating, drinking, or moving much.  Off to the doctor we went, and came home with the diagnosis of an ear infection and a script for an antibiotic.

Praying that the ear will be mostly healed before we take off Friday afternoon.

Other than the craziness of trying to make everything fit & worrying about sick children, I'm getting really excited for the trip.  It's the first time our little family of 5 will be going somewhere on vacation where it's just us! No family or friends to help out, just M. and I.

Not only that, but we're going to the happiest place on Earth, the Land of the Mouse! ;)

It was a birthday gift for Miss O. and she's done really well waiting since March without constantly saying, "How much longer until we go on vacation?".

We might be going crazy, but at least we'll have fun getting there!

Any tips on packing?  Navigating a big place with a double stroller?

Wish us luck!

Unimaginable

I might not post often anymore, but I'll always hold close the friendships blogging has created and never forget the support I have received.  I've been fortunate to meet some of my bloggy friends IRL, in fact just a few weeks ago, I enjoyed breakfast with Andrea from Are You Listening? .  This weekend she shared some unimaginable, tragic news of a friend.

 

Andrea explained, "On Saturday, my friend Jennifer Knepper, lost her 16 month old daughter after a lifelong battle in the NICU.  I will always remember her goofy grin and the joy she gave to her family, and by extension to all of us. 

 

Tonight, from 5-8pm, the Knepper family will be having a memorial service for Ainsley.  During that time, I will not be posting anywhere on the Internet, but instead be honoring her too short life by spending time with my own family and thinking of them.  Bubbles will also be blown to show Ainsley (and her twin sister Evelyn) our love for them. 

 

I encourage anyone who can to honor Ainsley and her family Wednesday evening in a similar fashion. No one should have to lose a child.  Losing two in less than two years is unimaginable.  Hug your loved ones and remember that life is fragile and tomorrow is never a guarantee."

 

My heart is just breaking for this beautiful family.  We'll be blowing bubbles tonight in memory of their beautiful girls, and I encourage you to do the same.

 

If you want to read more about the Knepper family, you can find their blog here. 

 

If you want to do something else to help them, there are many things in the works. Please email knepperfamilydonations.com for more information.