Happy Birthday Baby x 2!!

We finally celebrated the boys' 1st birthday. We waited until Grandma Jackie and Big Brother Kyle could make it up from Florida. The weather cooperated and the boys' were awesome. I had to wake them up from their nap to join the party, so Keegan sported sheet prints on his face for the first hour.

Party theme was construction. We had hard hats for party hats, safety cones for juice cups, and a construction themed cake. Here are a few photos:

&& the Tonka Cake from Kroger was y.u.m.m.y. (so yummy that the boys poo'd blue the whole next day!!)

Hanging in there

Ron is still hanging in there, I don't know how. He hasn't eaten since Friday and hasn't had more than a few sips of Water since Saturday. I guess a former Golden Gloves Boxer isn't going to give up without a fight.

We were with him all day yesterday. Telling him over and over how much we love him and that everything is OK. We had to laugh because when we were leaving, he said he wouldn't be there when we got back. He had to go to the store. He said a lot of really random things yesterday.

Blood pressure is dropping but his pulse is fine. There is really no indication what will happen next, all depends on Ron.

Where's the light at the end of the tunnel?

Paw update. Ron has been my stepdad for just about 20 years, actually longer than my biological dad. Pretty much, all I've ever known. To see him going through this breaks my heart.

Over the weekend, the bad got worse. Ron was supposed to get a port placed today in order to start chemotherapy for his pancreatic cancer. This a.m., we learned that his kidneys and bowels were not functioning, so chemotherapy was not an option. So...no need to put him through the stress of surgery and risk infection. His abdomen was swollen beyond belief.....now retaining fluid in the intestines, as well. In the early afternoon, fluid was beginning to enter the lungs. As of 7 pm, with an update from bro, things were progressively worse by the second. Paw was taken off his IV (no need for additional fluid) and begain to cough up fluid. It is now 9:05 pm and I am sitting her waiting for the dreaded call. Not that I want to end to come, but I can't stand to think of the suffering. He is in good company, I am at home with the boys. Greg, Nik, Jason, and Ron's 2 kids are there, among other visitors every minute. One of the nurses has become very attached and has had a couple of breakdowns throughout this process.

I am in disbelief of the speed of this whole process. Ron walked into the ER 7.days.ago. He worked a full time job 9 days ago. He was diagnosed with cancer on Wednesday and is fighting for each breath on Monday.

Because You Have Lived.

To laugh often and much.

To win the respect of intelligent people, and the affection of children.

To earn the appreciation of honest critics.

To appreciate beauty. To find the best in others.

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, or a garden patch.

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.

Not, How Did He Die, But How Did He Live?

Not how did he die, but how did he live?

Not what did he gain, but what did he give?

These are the units to measure the worth Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.

Not, what was his church, nor what was his creed?

But had he befriended those really in need?

Was he ever ready, with word of good cheer,

To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?

Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say,

But how many were sorry when he passed away.

Paw update

Unfortunately, the news has not gotten any better. The doctor's think that Ron has Pancreatic Cancer, Stage 4. His liver is 80% taken up by a mass, so his liver isn't functioning correctly, causes fluid to fill up his belly. Today, he looks much worse and is very uncomfortable. He may be released today with heavy pain meds, then have a port installed for chemo treatments. The doctors are not optimistic, and only hope to delay the unevitable.

We are absolutely not ready for this. God be with Ron.

♥ U Paw!!!

Paw Paw Workman

It has been an eventful week to say the least. It started out bright and early on Monday morning with the boys' 12 month checkup. Soon thereafter, we get a call that Paw is going to the emergency room. He hadn't been feeling well the past 2 months, just felt blah. He went to his general doctor which was going to send him to a specialist, suspecting gall bladder issues or blood clots. The pain and swelling in the abdomen were to much to bare. A few hours later, Paw was admitted to room 213 @ St. Ann's with a mass on his liver.

It has since to be determined cancer, but we are still awaiting the complete results from the pathologist report on the biopsy, which was Tuesday. They need to determine the source of the cancer and if it has spread. So far, the chest is clear. They will be checking his brain & bones today. As far as the swelling, they removed 2300 cc of fluid, which was uninfected, on Wednesday. That alone seems to give Paw some relief. He looked as if he were 9 months preggo!!!

All of this seems so much like dejavue. Just 2 short years ago, we were going through this with my Mom. . .

Hopefully, this is early enough for treatment. Please keep Paw in your prayers...we're not ready to say goodbye yet.

Happy Birthday!!

The boys turned the big 0-1 on Saturday but we didn't do much celebrating. We're waiting on J's mom, Grandma Jackie and Big Brother Kyle, so we're having their party on 3/28. We did make it to O'Charley's in which the boys ate mac 'n cheese, mandarin oranges, and carmel pie. Somehow, they even managed to sleep after that!!

We're totally excited to see some family members that we don't see very often, hopefully everyone can make it. Even more stoked to host the next Twinfant Playmate playgroup on Sat. the 21st. 5 sets of multiples....should be an event.

The boy's 12 month checkup was pretty uneventful. I decided to hold off on the MMR until later, so just 1 shot today. Both boys have dropped on the charts, but still at 70-75% for weight and 85-90% in height. Louden actually dropped lbs since his 9 month appointment!! Dr. says everything looks great!!

smile.1.2.3.

Family portraits...finally, Jason stayed home (we won't mention that it's between deer and turkey season right now). My cousin and personal photographer, James Willis (jamesbwillis@yahoo.com) took these, as he does all of our photos. Considering the boys were super squirmy, they came out pretty well. Here's a few more:

&& my fav...

Enjoy your cake my sweet baby boys!!

Male bonding

I forgot to blog about an important milestone. I mentioned that I had the bi-annual twin sale this past weekend, that left all the boys home alone until around 2. They got up, had breakfast, then were out and about to do manly things. Home Depot & Buckeye Outdoors....serious male bonding at such a early age.

Jason is really great with the boys and super helpful with my new job. While he's had them alone, I don't think they've had an "outing". Of course, everything went smooth....Mommy gets to endure all the meltdowns.

Anyway...until next time!!

Awaiting the big 0-1!!!

Updates are few and far between, for some reason I'm better at reading other's blogs and never seem to update my own. When I grow up, I plan to blog like Sara.

The boys are wonderful and we are having a blast. The past month we have gotten better at sleeping through the night....YAY!! We finally decided that it was time to kill that midnight bottle. A few rough nights, then we were golden. Louden was still waking up, and most of the time waking up Keegan. It's really hard to soothe 2 toddling babies, so we would wind up downstairs, awake for hours until they literally passed out. I decided to try the cry it out method, which has worked 2 nights in a row. It's better for mommy, daddy, and the boys. We all feel much better when we've had a good night sleep.

Both L & K are attempting to take a few steps, Keegan is more brave. I unloaded a crap ton of baby stuff at the latest Twins Sale. . . Only to re-invest in the next group of baby stuff I think the boys "need". We have moved onto sippy cups and the boys are on day 4 without a bottle. YAY!! Our little men are growing so fast.

Wow, I can't believe we have 1 year behind us. Who would have ever guess we would have survived?