Nakies

Guess what we found this morning while putting in a drip system? 

A snake. {Nakies per Miles} Eww.

 It's just an innocent garden snake?!?! Whatever, it's a snake. We all touched it. Took a picture. Accidentally flooded out his home.  Then transported him to a designated resettlement facility.{aka the other side of the fence} (2pts in you can name that movie)

{ The girl will pose with anything }

Pancakes

Hey next time you decide to make pancakes, let's involve mom, mkay?

Got Multiples?

Count Placentas.

TTTS AWARENESS

{Utah County March for Babies}

more pictures to come but here's a start

I'm one of those fun moms...

Ya know those moms that run all their errands then surprise their kids with Costco churros and stopping at the park? We did that today because the boys seem to be doing better. Aren't I a good mom? {looking around for approval}

 We get out and all but Miles runs to the play set. Miles runs in the opposite direction to the far playset. Do you chase the 1 or the 3? Do you trust the 2 to watch the 1? Do you yell to the 1 to come back knowing he will just laugh and run? I convinced the 3 (G, K, J) to follow me to Miles. Grace hobbles back with a bloody knee. (we've been here 10 minutes) 

We get to the big set and play about 10 minutes and I see mud all over Kate. I get closer, that's not mud, eww. I send Kate back to stand by the van, chase down Grace, then the boys. (another 10 minute process because it is fun to run from mommy, they don't understand my look of death, and those little stinks are fast.) They have also perfected to stiff/wiggle combo to get out of the arm they are in while being carried across the field.

Grace babysits in the van, at the park, while Kate and I take care of her issue. I go to the van to check the 3 and grab a plastic bag. Kate gets bored, exits the potty, running *free* at the park. How do you chase down a nekked 3 yr old at the park and not either a) laugh b)look like the windowless molester van in the parking lot does NOT belong to you c) give up, get in your van, and cry.(another 10 minutes) 

Sorry if you missed a hour of the Herdmans at Scera! There will not be an encore.

TTTS girls

Tonight I attended a meeting and was talking to a NICU mom about her baby, we talked about my boys then she mentioned she had a friend with TTTS girls. She could tell I was intrigued and she shared. My heart broke but I hope it didn't show. 

These little girls were found to be identical (from the fact that were monochorionic) at 20wks in May of 2007, medical standard for ultrasounds...in my opinion too late for multiples pregnancies. (Why is May of 07 important? That means she was on the timeline as me in the same county. I found out we were monochorionic at 17wks in April 07) She didn't have another ultrasound until a week before delivery, because of preterm labor and visable hydrops. After birth it was determined that they had TTTS. Both born at under two pounds, one grey (anemia??) / one red (polycythemia??) and now with a list of neurological challenges. They amazingly survived TTTS untreated...I guess they are one of those .05%.

Would early diagnosis have changed their outcome? I don't know but I'd lean towards yes. Would treatments have saved them from being born too soon and sick? I don't know. Would simply having insurance, that was in the network Dr Ball is in, made a difference? I don't know. It sure makes me grateful for the circumstances of my situation and keeps me actively asking mothers of multiples to count placentas, suggesting earlier than standard ultrasounds, and educate themselves. 

List of recommended  TTTS doctors. 

Look what I made!

Wood, screws, power tools ... miscellaneous tool stuff ... and several hours later, I* made shelves for my garage, and one day later they are filled with all kinds of junk. 

*Grace insists she helped, I used the sitting weight of her body a few times.

Nagging Clarification

G- Mom, can I play my blog?

L- After we all shower. (we built garage shelves and were d.i.r.t.y.)

G- Can I play my blog? (as she stands there nekked waiting for the water to warm)

L- After babe.

(immediately as the water shuts off)

G- Mom, can I play my blog?

L- Grace quit asking or I'm going to say no.

(a minute later in her robe)

G- Can I play my blog?

L- Grace when you ask something like 5 times that's nagging. If you are going to nag I will say no.

G- That angel said something to that boy four times.

L- Huh?

G- That angel that went to Joseph and told him where to find the Book of Mormon.

L- Moroni is not a nag. When Heavenly Father sends someone to say something four times it's ok. 

Lesson learned: The Angel Moroni is not a nag. Grace sometimes is.