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TWO BY TWO Jackson Gabrielle Connor Brady Cooper |
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Stories November 5, 2007 Mission Complete! I made it out of the house by 9:40am with all 5 children dressed, fed and accounted for. We were at the dentist by 10am (on-time I might add) for Gabrielle and Connor's first dental check-up. Connor wouldn't cooperate. I had to pry his mouth open. Gabrielle opened but not fully and wouldn't let Dr. Newman touch her mouth. So it was really just a "get to know the dentist" appointment. But you have to start somewhere. After the dentist the older kids started chanting "we want pizza." So I thought about it and decided why not? My philosophy is: If it goes haywire we can always leave and go home! After all, that's what to-go boxes are for, right? We went to have lunch together at Donato's Pizza. The kids were great, we left there only spilling one drink. I'd say that was a successful trip. I managed to feed myself, all 3 older kids and Brady while Cooper slept. We had a great time and I'm glad we did it. I had to prove to myself that I could do it. Thank you, Jesus. I've managed to make it to 2pm... naptime!!!!
November 4, 2007 Happy Birthday Susan!!! It's hard to believe my best friend is 33... I remember when you turned 16 and we thought that was as good as it could get!!! haha It's also hard to believe that my actual due date was today. Brady and Cooper are 4 weeks old. Things are going well and I'd say we are all adjusting really great. Daddy left Friday night and Brad was on call Saturday. So I got a small taste of taking care of all 5 kids. We actually did fine. This week will be the REAL test. Next week Brad is on vacation so at least I'll have a "light at the end of the tunnel." Brad is recovering from his surgery. He's really sore but so thankful to be out of pain from the kidney stone. Thanks to all those who prayed for us. I love my kids at age 2. I love them all the time but age 2 is so fun. Gabrielle and Connor have developed such cute personalities. They are so loving. Gabrielle wants Jackson to hug her all the time. She'll just giggle when he does. Connor loves to wrestle with Jackson. They scare me to death but seem to enjoy it. Jackson likes to play "puppy dog" with Connor. He leads him around like Connor is on a leash and Connor pretends to pant. It's hilarious. Jackson will even put him in a cage... aka the kitchen. Gabrielle loves to skip. She'll say "I wanta skips Momma... sing Dawlin' That means she wants me to sing "Skip to my Lou my Darling." I have to sing it over and over and over while she skips around the table making me quite dizzy!
October 31, 2007 Happy Halloween! What a crazy couple of days it's been for us? As I mentioned Sunday, Brad was feeling terrible. He started vomiting and having awful back pain. I took him to the ER that night and they did a CTscan. It showed a kidney stone. They gave him some good pain meds and said it should pass in the next 12 hours. Well, as of last night Brad was still hurting and could get no relief. So I loaded up Brady and Cooper and we went to the ER again. This time they admitted him and the urologist decided to go in and remove the stone. He had his surgery at 1pm this afternoon and while they were in the "area" he went ahead and had his vasectomy, too. Needless to say, he is pretty sore tonight but not in nearly as much pain as he was with the stone. After we left the hospital, I dropped Brad off at home I went and got his scripts filled and then rushed home to get the kids ready for Trick-or-Treating. Gabrielle and Connor were the cutest pumpkins you've ever seen and Jackson decided at the last minute he wanted to be a pirate instead of the Superman costume he had planned on. He was really cute, too. They all loved it and had a great time.
October 28, 2007 Good news... Daddy is staying another week! I am so glad. This means another week of help and I'm so thankful. Nancy left Saturday so I'm being slowly weaned. This weekend was pretty laid back. I spent some one on one time with Connor on Friday. We went to the pet store and he loved seeing all the animals. Especially the dogs and fish. Then we went to the grocery store. I'd forgotten what it was like to just have one at the store. It was really a special time. Saturday we hung around the house and watched football and grilled hamburgers. I did take Gabrielle and Connor to get their 2 year pictures taken. We also did some shopping, just the 3 of us. We also went to Gander Mtn to browse all the hunting and fishing gear. Today was church and some family time. Brad has been really sick today. He's throwing up and having terrible back pain. I hope it's not kidney stones. There isn't much that could be done if it is except to let it pass. Brady is laying across my lap right now as I type. He's so sweet. I feel like he is starting to fill out some. He's such a pleasant little guy. Cooper has a lot of problems with gas or something. He'll be fine and then he'll just cry out and draw up. I hate it for him, besides a little Gas-X there isn't much to do for him. Hope everyone has a good week and happy trick or treating... I'll update with Halloween pictures soon.
October 25, 2007 Brady slept all night last night! His last feeding was at 11pm and I woke him at 6am to feed. I couldn't believe it! They are 3 weeks old today. Cooper (aka Tank) would not miss a feeding to save his life. However, he did go a little over 4 hours and I was pleased with that. We had our 3 week check up yesterday and Brady weighed 6 lbs 10oz and Cooper 7 lbs 10oz. An entire pound difference. Brady eats to live and Cooper lives to eat! But the doctor was pleased with their weight gain so I'm not worried. We have to take Brady to a Pediatric Pulmonologist next Tuesday. Dr. Richeson is a little concerned about some problems with the way Brady eats. He makes these noises like he's gasping for air... which he is. He is just not getting the hang of the suck, swallow, breathe thing. I'll keep you updated on what we find out. It's a pretty common premie issue. Today, Gabrielle and I went to get my hair cut and hilighted. She was so sweet. We stopped for coffee on the way and I got her a cookie. She just sat on the bench in front of me and watched me get beautified. She colored and played with a truck she brought in with her. (yes, a truck) It was good Mommy and me time. Last night was Jackson and Mommy time. We went to get his hair cut and then did some shopping at Metropolis. Tomorrow is Connor's turn for one on one time. I think I'll take him to the pet store to see all the animals and then we'll drop by the coffee shop for a cookie. I'm excited about it. When we were shopping yesterday I got a pair of Spanx... ladies, let me tell you how awesome they are! Goodbye Tummy Roll!!! I love them and highly reccomend a pair. I got mine at Chico's. I tried them on first at the store and Jackson thought that was pretty funny. They are VERY tight and it takes some work to get them on. Then we went to Victoria's Secret and I got a couple new bras and some panties. Then we hit NY and Co where I picked up a cute shirt. Oh, and we went to Vera Bradley for a Wristlet purse. It was a very successful trip. I'm making up for lost time. While I was on bedrest there was zero shopping... not even the grocery store.
October 23, 2007 Well, the countdown is on... my help will be leaving soon and I'm getting a little nervous. I guess I have to do it on my own sometime. I've been making all kinds of appointments (dental, hair, lunch dates) trying to get all that done while I have someone at home to watch the kids. Today I got up at 5:45am, fed babies, got dressed and ready, got the older kids up for school, took them to school, went to Mom's group, went to run errands, picked up the kids from school, took Jackson to the dentist, came home took a nap, fed babies, ate supper, went to Target, fed babies and now here I am on the computer getting ready to go feed babies again! Busy busy busy. But I've been able to do all that without having to get the babies out of the house. When Nancy and Daddy are gone life will change. No naps, no running to the store by myself, no naps and did I say no naps? Jackson was so good at the dentist. He's been going since before he was 2. He loves to go and Dr. Newman is so good with him. He says he wishes he could video Jackson at his appointments to show other pediatric patients how simple the visit can be. I told Dr. Newman I wish I could take credit but as he will see next week when I take Connor and Gabrielle, that all my kids won't be that easy. That should be a fun story to tell. Plus I'll have to take all 5 kids with me. Oh yeah, lots of fun!
October 22, 2007 Yesterday was our first trip to church together as a complete family. The boys did really well. Everyone crowded around to ohh and ahh appropriateley and of course we all ate it up! My thoughtful friend Heidi, who always has her camera, took our picture after church. She is the one who did their birth announcments for me, too. I can't wait to see what she has in mind for our Christmas card! Church went so well that we decided to go out for lunch, too. We went to Longhorn Steakhouse. The kids were great and I was very proud to show off my family! The weekend was pleasant. We just hung around the house. We went to lunch Saturday and then Nancy and I did a little shopping while Brad brought the kids home for bottles and naps. I bought one pair of jeans and some boots (see church picture). I had to get a size bigger than pre-pregnancy but I'm not going to get comfortable in them. I just needed a pair of jeans to get me through until I can wear my old ones. I've lost the weight I gained during pregnancy but nothing is in the same place it was before (Amen, Ladies?). Oh well, the little ones are worth it all! And the boots... just because I loved them! For those of you who watch the TBN channel for entertainment like we do you will appreciate this story. We took the kids to the park on Friday because it was a beautiful day. Jackson was running and playing as hard as he could. Connor did his best to keep up and Gabrielle just sat and watched the happenings from a safe distance. Anyway, Jackson had met a little boy about his age that he was racing down the slide with. I noticed he kept calling the boys some name but couldn't catch what it was he was saying. I stopped him (afraid it might be something like "Butface") and asked him what he was calling that boy. He said he was calling him "Benny Hinny!" Oh my goodness, I laughed my head off. Turns out the little boys name was Jackson, too. Once we got that figured out they got along much better. If it had been a girl, he may have called her "Paula White!" haha
October 20, 2007 We started our morning off with a smile on our faces. Jackson has been sleeping in our room on a pallet since my Dad and Nancy are here. And since we are getting up so often with the babies they are in the pack n play in our room, too. Last night Connor woke up coughing and couldn't sleep so Brad went and got him and put him in our bed. We woke up with Connor in our bed, Jackson in the floor and the babies at the foot of our bed. Gabrielle was the only one not in the room. Brad and I just laughed because there were literally kids everywhere. We wouldn't have it any other way. It was really a special moment... I still can't believe I have 5 children!
October 18, 2007 I was in the bed last night thinking about how blessed I am to have so much help. My Mom was here for two weeks after I had the boys. Even with a broken neck that is still not healed she took on so much responsibility. Not only with my children but dealing with my emotions that week. I was a wreck. She took the kids to school, dressed them, took them on walks, fed them their meals, cooked, did laundry and played all the games they wanted. If you could see how stiff her neck still is you would know what a big deal it was for her to do all that. Thanks so much Momma! The kids miss their GG. Then there is my Daddy. I don't know of many men that would take on the responsiblity that he has. Right now, he is in the kitchen fixing breakfast for the family. Complete with sausage, biscuits and gravy! Last but not least there is Nancy. She plays with the children non-stop. Whatever they want to do she's ready to assist. They play "dragon" outside and she chases them in her wheelchair with a sword. It's so cute. She makes up stories and games that they adore. It's so much help having her here as a distraction for the kids. I went to bed and woke up thanking God for his blessings. I wanted to share with you all how much these people mean to me. On a lighter note, we went out to dinner last night. Yes, the entire family... Daddy, Mommy, Jackson, Gabrielle, Connor, Brady, Cooper and Nancy. Papa decided he would skip out on this adventure (I don't blame him). He said he would watch Brady and Cooper while we were gone but I wanted all of us to go out. We decided on Chili's. On the way it started to rain. That was the first obstacle. Then it started to pour! We all unload into the resturant... wheelchair, car seats, diaper bags and umbrellas. Then the hostess says, "To fit a family of your size it will be a 45 minute wait. ON A WEDNESDAY this is our wait time. A server ran over to me and said, "I saw you in the paper." Every person who walked by was counting the children and I would say "Yes, they are all ours and there are 5 of them and yes my hands are very full." One man said, "I know there are 5 but I can't figure out their ages?" Once I explained then everyone just went wild. It took us 10 minutes to get out of the resturant so we could find another place to eat. It's really kind of entertaining. We ended up at Buffalo Wild Wings where the kids could run around and talk loud without bothering anyone. We had fun and the kids were great. I'm glad we made it through our first full family outing. There is so much to look forward to.
October 16, 2007 Whew! That's a good word for life right now at the Harris house. We are all getting used to each other and how life in a family of 7 works. I made the decision to stop nursing. It was difficult for me to stop because I enjoyed it so much. But it was taking up so much time that I just don't have to spare. So we are now on formula. They seem to be adapting well. The nights are not terrible but they are no cake walk either. Right now I'm able to take a great nap during the day since I have Daddy and Nancy here. When they are gone it will be a different story. But we will manage somehow. My help will be leaving next week sometime. They would stay longer but I think it's about time for me to start doing things on my own. I'm kind of looking forward to it actually. Jackson loves his little brothers so much. When Gabrielle and Connor go to bed he asks to hold a baby. He sits and holds them for 30 mins at a time. He's very gentle with them and loves to kiss their heads and talk "Baby talk" to them. Gabrielle and Connor still pretty much ignore them. They like to point out anatomy parts (nose, eye, ear...). So far no jealousy issues. They are all being very patient. I'm so proud of my older kids. Especially Gabrielle. I thought she would have the hardest time adjusting but I was wrong. I hate hormones!!! My body is so out of whack with having babies, nursing and then stopping nursing. I sweat more than any human should and at the same time I'm freezing cold. It's the weirdest thing. I'll be glad to feel "normal" again. Do I even remember what normal is?
October 12, 2007 WE ARE FAMOUS!!! We made the cover of the Hendricks County Flyer. The article is titled "Twice the blessing or Double Trouble... Avon family Welcomes 2nd set of Twins" The website for the paper is www.flyergroup.com Pretty cool, huh? I expected to see a little corner of the back page written about the Harris' but not the front page with 3 huge pictures. The boys had their 1 week check up yesterday. Can't believe they are a week old! Their Doctor is so happy with their progress and they got an A-OK result. I had my one week appointment and got the same. We are all healthy, praise God. Emotionally, I am doing better. I still have my moments but all in all I'm hanging in there. Well, time to go feed babies!
October 9, 2007 Thank you Jesus... today is such a better day. Brad made it home last night around 10pm and did not get called back into work. I was able to melt in his arms and have ANOTHER cry. I felt much better just being able to see him and have him home. The boys slept good last night, too. I woke up just about 5 minutes before each feeding. Mother's instinct I guess. It gave me time to rest and feel prepared to feed then they nursed and went right back to sleep. I got a at least a couple hours between each feeding and that made a huge difference. I also decided to surrender all my thoughts and feelings to my Lord. Why didn't I think of that yesterday??? All of "this" is bigger than me so I gave it to Him. I used my middle of the night quiet feedings to pray for strength and He gave it to me. I feel so much better today. Not one tear has run down my face. Please keep up the prayers. I put more pictures up today... enjoy!
October 8, 2007 To say I'm a little emotional would be a lie. I am so full of so many different emotions I can't keep track of how to register all of them. I have spent most of the day today in tears. Brad had to go back to work today and I miss him desperatley. It's just not fair that he has to work! I want him here with me for a very long time. I need him. He's on call for 7 days straight so who knows how much I'll really get to see of him this week. I think that makes it worse than it really is. He's called me several times today to check in. I know he wants to be here with us as badly as I want him to be here. Brady and Cooper have slept most the day. Our first night was not too bad. I fell asleep nursing them several times. I have to get used to not sleeping! I'm not sure how long I can keep up the nursing. I love it, but it takes so much time. When I don't have any other help here it's going to be impossible to dedicate that much time to nursing with 3 other children to take care of. I'm just going to take it one day at a time. The older kids have really just adapted so well. They just ignore the babies for the most part. Plus, Brady and Cooper do nothing but sleep right now anyway. You almost forget they are here. Mom is doing a good job taking care of us. She's gone to take the older kids to the park right now to play. She leaves Sunday and Daddy is coming back to help out for a little while. I'm just not quite ready to do it on my own after just one week. PLEASE pray for me. I can't keep going all day crying... I have to get a grip. I've made it too far to fail now.
October 5, 2007 What a great day. First of all I'm feeling great with hardly any pain and secondly my baby boys are here and healthy. Brady got off of the cpap machine at midnight last night and the ogtube to feed him came off today at 10am. He was able to leave the nursery at noon and has been in the room with us all day. He's healthy and we are out of the woods. We will all get to go home Sunday. I am so happy, blessed, proud, undeserving and every other adjective you could think of. I can't imagine life without them but at the same time it's hard to believe that they are really here. My cup runneth over with joy. Thanks for all the calls and well wishes. We are truly blessed with friends and family that care about us. I'll post more pictures when I get home Sunday. Much love...
October 4, 2007 Brady and Cooper have arrived!!! Brady William Harris 6lbs and 18 1/2" Cooper Bradley Harris 6lbs 5oz and 19 1/2" Cooper is healthy and came straight to my room with me. Brady is having a little trouble breathing so he is in the special care nursery on a c-pap to help him breath and a feeding tube. Our pediatrician is not worried and so we are not either. He should be in our room with us by tomorrow if he continues to improve. Pictures are coming soon. Love to all
October 3, 2007 "Tommorrow, Tomorrow, I love you, Tommorow... You're only a day away!" Okay, so I can't sing like Annie. I am so excited and anxious but really not nervous. I just can't believe in only hours I'll be holding my precious new baby boys. I'll try to get pictures posted on the website by tomorrow evening. I know everyone is anxious to see them and I'm even more excited about showing them off. I will do my best to get them out as fast as possible. Thanks so much to everyone who has had a part in this pregnancy and the arrival of these two little guys. Without the help of my family and friends I don't know how in the world we would have gotten by the last 6 weeks of bedrest. Everyone had a hand in helping our family and I'm so grateful. We have to be at the hospital (Clarian West Medical Center) at 6am and surgery is scheduled for 8am. Keep us in your prayers!!!!
October 2, 2007 October has become one of my most favorite months. I've been looking forward to this month for a very long time. It seems like it is all a dream and I'm going to wake up. I think I am prepared as far as bottles, blankets, sleepers... etc. But emotionaly I'm afraid I'm in the dark. I hope Brad and I can just pick right back up where we left off two years ago and jump into "babymode." Susan left to head back to Georgia. We've been best friends since we were in the 8th grade. How many people can say that? We always said we would be married together, have our kids at the same time and live close to one another. We married within 1 year of each other and our oldest children are only 6 weeks apart and our youngest are only 1 week apart. She's always been there for me to count on. I knew when I called and asked her to come up here she would do everything in her power to make it happen. And she did. Thanks Susan, I loved every second of having you here! GG managed to make it through her first day of being in charge of the kids. She's still very stiff and in some pain. She's doing her best and I'm glad that she's here to be a part of all the excitment. Uncle Aaron and Memaw are coming Thursday afternoon. I hope all my friends who have helped me during the last 7 weeks will come up to visit us in the hospital and see the babies. Everyone has been so instrumental in me making it this far along in the pregnancy. Thanks to each of you!
September 30, 2007 Well, my best friend Susan made it to Indy. She came on Thursday and I'm so glad she did. We've had a lot of fun together and she's worked her butt off. She's also let me get by with a few little fun things. That's what best friends are for, right? We've sat around laughing and having a good time (once the kids are in bed). It's been very theraputic for me to have her here. I can be totally myself with her... Some things never change. Thank God for best friends. Her "shift" ends tomorrow evening. She heads back to Georgia to take care of her own family. But just about 8 months and we'll be reunited, playing with our kids, going to the mall and hanging out. I can't wait to get back home to Georgia! Two days ago I ended up back in the hospital having tons of contractions but thankfully my cervix had not changed and they gave me some pain medication and let me come back home. I'm thinking I may end up back in there this evening with as many contractions as I'm having today. But Thursday is the day so if they come earlier I'm fine with it. Mom is coming up tomorrow morning. She is leaving ATL around 5am and should make it here by 2pm. She did get a new car so I'm thinking that drive time will be shortened just a bit. She got a 2004 BMW 525i... must be nice GG!!!!
September 26, 2007 I just got back from the doctor for a pre-natal visit. I have not dialated past 1cm from last week. My ultrasound shows that Brady is 5 lbs 10 oz and Cooper is 6 lbs 2 oz. They are in the 50th and 60th percentile and look healthy as can be. I don't have another pre-natal visit scheduled... I just show up at the hospital a week from tomorrow on October 4th for my c-section at 8am. ONE MORE WEEK!!!! Last night Jackson had his pretend doctor kit out. He checks my belly every night to see "How the babies are feeling?". He said, "Yep, they feel good. Don't worry Doll, the operating boys will get them out soon!" haha I have to teach him that there are "operating girls" too.
September 23, 2007 Daddy left last night and I think he took part of my heart and soul with him. I felt like I'd been ripped out of his grip, as if I were a little girl again. I cried like a baby. He took such good care of us but besides the "work" he did, he kept me great company. I miss him. That's all I can say. So, you can imagine today was not the best day for me. I cried half the day... a total emotional wreck. To top it off, I did venture out to Target for a few items and I'm riding around in the "fat lady scooter." When in line I meet this woman who is having twins and this makes her 8th and 9th child. I saw her when I first came into the store and thought "Hmmm, I think she is pregnant but I'm not sure enough to ask." (You know... we've all been in that situation fat or prego???) So anyway, while I was checking out Brad went to get the car and meet me out front. She waddles out in front of me and I tell Brad her story. Of course I made a comment about how big she was and at least I wasn't her size. (okay, wrong I know but I'm grasping for strings here in the ego department) I said, "I'm nowhere near her size... RIGHT BRAD?" Brad made a FATAL mistake... His response is one he'll stew on the rest of his life "I don't think you are that big?" Okay, not a statement and not a question but right in the middle. He then said, "She's carrying her babies different than you." I said "Yeah, they are hidden! I wasn't even sure if she was pregnant until I overheard her talking about it. I'm talking about all over body size, weight, looks, and everything!!! The fact you have to "think" wether I'm her size or not tells me I'm very close to looking just like her. Maybe we are long lost twins?" Then came the tears and more tears and yes more tears. Brad has a look on his face that I'll never forget. "BLANK What did I say? BLANK" He tried to smooth it over by saying "Oh, you can't even compare the two of you, it's different leagues, I was just thinking of belly size..." Then he said let's go to Dairy Queen for a banana split and if looks could kill, he'd be dead. Needless to say we went home. Did I say I was an emotional wreck? haha Oh and Gabrielle gave the whole family (minus Brad) this crapy croup and cold! Thanks sweetie!
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