Hello everyone!  We are alive and well - babies are still in the oven!  In the last month we bought a new home and moved...all while I'm within a month of delivering twin girls.  So you might guess why I haven't blogged in awhile.  For quite some time our computer was on the fritz but after a lengthy visit to Fry's Electronics it's finally up and running.  So sorry for that delay and thank you to those who were worried about us.  All is well. 

We bought a lovely home just about 3 miles away from our old house.  We desperately needed new space with the twins coming and this house is gigantic with a room for Cody's therapy on the main level which was a priority for us.  The sellers are amazing people and it was a pleasure to do business with them.  They were gracious, and left the house absolutely spotless.  Still, it's a bear moving ~ especially when you have Cody to work around.  But we are about 1/2 way unpacked and enjoying the space.  Cody LOVES the extra room and regularly sprints through the house.  We also border a park so that's a bonus. 

I am big as a house, but both girls are doing just great.  I go in twice a week now for monitoring and so far no pre-term labor.  Whew.  I'm feeling very tired, somewhat grumpy, and like I need to lay down a LOT!  But that is normal, of course. 

We had a wonderful Christmas today...and are grateful for our blessings.  We had a lovely Christmas Eve service as you can see from the pictures above.   

Casey's favorite gift was a remote controlled, walking Iron Man Robot!  Man...technology is amazing.  His eyes were as big as saucers when he opened it.  My mom came for a visit and made most of Christmas dinner which was nice - all I made was a turkey.

Cody started the day with a long seizure which was a big fat bummer.  Although his mood seems to be steadily improving, his seizures have continued to take a turn for the worse.  He's having up to 9 minute seizures overnight so we are tinkering with meds again.  We just saw his beloved neurologist this past week and inquired about the new drug for mitochondrial disease.  It is still reserved only for those kids who are deemed '90 days from death.'  Seems like the drug is also stuck in lockdown unless you have a genetic diagnosis which we don't.  To get one, you have to have Cody's genes mapped and the 'chip' that's needed to do that is still in development at Seattle Children's.  So we have a couple of hurdles. 

I am feeling a bit (make that qutie) overwhelmed...but I made my bed since we decided we had to move at this late date.  There is a sick perfectionism that kicks in when you're expecting a baby...every room has to be in order...with every item in it's proper place...and that is hard enough to do in a house you already lived in, let alone a brand new house which isn't even nearly unpacked.  But I do so want to have as much 'done' before the twins arrive as possible so I can strictly focus on breastfeeding and trying to get in time with the other two boys. 

Ultimately you can only control so much...which seems to be my life lesson.  For someone who really likes control, I am standing on the precipice of none.  :)   Leave it to God to take you to the nether regions of where you least want to go.  I would hope that when push comes to shove, I will simply welcome healthy babies and forgo worrying about the non-essentials like having my house in perfect order.  But I tend to get stuck on the small stuff. 

Don gets next week off and we are rejoicing...although those weeks off fly by.  When the babies come he will get a bit more time off too. 

That's all for now - It's been a long day and a long week.  I'm glad to say goodbye to the holidays - does that make me a grinch?  :)   So be it.  The older I get, the more I resent the push and pressure to do the present thing.  I am so much more into the gestures that are unexpected and truly meaningful.  A call from an old friend...a visit from a new neighbor.  And ultimately, just the fresh reminder that Christ humbled himself and came to earth as a tiny, helpless baby...even though he was the Almighty God...to lead us to salvation.  May He dwell richly in your hearts, and mine, as we look toward a new year.

Love to all of you.  Shawna