27 WEEKS!!!!

Today we are celebrating!!  I am 27 weeks, and at the exact same day I had the twins.  Today is the day where I say goodbye to my second trimester and enter the third. . . a trimester the twins never had.  People ask me if it is emotionally hard to approach this day of my pregnancy.  My answer is NO!  This day only helps to spotlight the remarkable outcome of the twins.  How did they both make it out of that NICU without being prepped with steroids before their birth?  How is it possible that they are thriving in Kindergarten, smart, sweet and infectiously happy?  These are questions I can't answer but take time to ask so I can feel the emotional journey of the last six years.  I am so very thankful and so very lucky!

Today, we are celebrating my health!  I went to the doctor today and am normal and healthy.  Only my history sets me apart from a typical pregnancy.  I was told today that my history is significant so while we continue to celebrate this uneventful pregnancy, it is important to recognize that things can change.  We know this and are fully prepared for what comes our way.  For now, Baby Girl #4 is doing well and we both look fantastically healthy on paper.  In fact, Baby Girl probably weighs what the twins did combined on this same day.  She is doing well.  We all are anxious to meet her but hope that she will wait to enter this world on her scheduled delivery date when she will be 38 weeks. 

Only time will tell. 

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve

This Christmas Eve I headed to the gym in order to get my head on straight for a long day ahead.  This is what I came home to.  I absolutely fall in love with Lila Grace more and more each day.  I love the girl she is growing into.  So sweet!  She works very hard to fill my bucket with love each and every day.  Who wouldn't want this special lunch?

Phew, Christmas Eve is exhausting for a pregnant mama! We baked and cooked and then cooked some more. Luckily, I had very helpful girls. . . especially the big girl. Here Lila and Savannah are making pumpkin pie and cornbread.

We finally got our dresses on, dinner on the table and out the door to church. Before leaving we snapped a couple of pictures to document our last year as a family of 5!

Here are some more last pictures of just three girls!

When we walked out the door we found this!!

Here is my Christmas Miracle holding her candle during Silent Night.  This moment brings tears to my eyes each and every Christmas Eve as it takes me back to her homecoming on Christmas 6 years ago.  She is an amazing girl with an amazing journey under her belt.  I love her so. 

Recital

Savannah had her first piano recital.  She is under the direction of a new teacher which has taken her playing to new level.  Her Christmas songs were quite difficult this year and I can safely say, she plays better than I ever did now.  For her recital, she played a beautiful version of Carol of the Bells and two other Christmas songs.  

Savannah was nervous and didn't quite know what to expect being that she hasn't performed solo in front of an audience before.  I was nervous for her!  When it was her turn she walked up on stage and did all the things her teacher asked of her, including playing her songs almost flawlessly!  She was at her best that night and walked away feeling proud.  Of course, Alex and I were very impressed and proud too. 

Birthdays

Alex and I celebrate our birthdays one day apart so instead of two cakes, we just ate one side and turned it around the next day. Pretty clever in our old age huh?!

We still miss Bobby terribly and not a day goes by when we don't think about him.  However, our latest family member Sammy, is providing lots of distraction and positive energy. 

She Did it Again

Savannah ran The Girls on the Run 5k in early December.  Not only did she come in 97 out of 2000, she got second for her age division.  I am so proud of this runner girl.  She works hard and pushes through tired legs.  I can't say that I do the same.  She definitely has her daddy's legs. 

Gotta love the red hair that marked all the girls from her school!

My Jingle Elf

You might remember that Savannah ran her first official run last year at this time.  It was called the Jingle Elf run and was two miles through the town of West Chester.  The streets are lined with thousands of people waiting for the annual Christmas parade to begin.  They enthusiastically cheer on the runners. 

This year Lila Grace decided she was up for the task.  I couldn't believe it.  She was absolutely amazing.  There were only a few six year olds who ran and she came in ahead of all of them.  Her time was 23:00 minutes which puts her at an 11:30 mile.  That is FAST for a Kindergartener.  Who knew preemie lungs could perform so well?  We were a great pair, the littlest looking racer and the pregnant Mama.  There were tons of little kids putting their hands out for high fives and Lila made sure to zig-zag to get everyone of them.  She was overjoyed that the crowd was cheering for HER!

We stayed to watch the parade and Miss Lila fell asleep in my arms.  (Please excuse the bad cell phone pics)