1st Grade

Carter & Trey meeting their 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Carpenter, for the first time. It's so interesting how different these two boys are. I guess it shouldn't surprise me but it continues to. Carter was so excited and seemed so confident in his ability to find his classroom and way around. Trey on the other hand was quiet and more timid. I feel for him though since I'm like that in a new place and when things change. I love that they have each other and that I know Carter looks after Trey when he needs it and Trey does the same for Carter. What a special bond they have and will always have. I sometimes am jealous of their connection with each other. They truly have a built-in best friend forever. 

I did not think that I would get emotional on the boys' first day of school but I was wrong. As we knelt down to say our morning family prayer Cody asked me to say it and I lost it. I can't believe that my little miracle babies are growing up so fast. Although I was looking forward to the break I knew that they would never spend as much time with me ever again. They were starting their school age years and would spend more time at school than with me. It scares me when I think about it and just reminds me how important the time that they do spend at home is. I worry every day that I'm raising them right and that they will make good choices. It actually scares me. I try not to think about it. Ha. 

Oh school pictures crack me up! I literally buy them so the boys will have embarrassing pics for their wedding montage video one day. haha

Year 4 and 1

 

Thank you to Audrey Layne Photography for the beautiful pictures!!

Carter the Cowboy

This is how Carter plays cowboy and bad guys

Jingle Bell Rock

Carter LOVES music and has to bust a move whenever there is music on. We were singing Christmas songs with Carter one night in Blanding before bed and he loved it. He didn't want us to stop.

Carter vs the treadmill

Unfortunately... the treadmill won.

Pic taken with my phone, sorry for the bad quality. I wasn't really thinking a nice pic was important at the time.

I've been a mom now for 17 months and I have unfortunately gotten a nomination against me for the worst mom award. I really thought it would have taken longer then 17 months.

What was this strike against me... running on the treadmill with two 16 month olds awake and roaming around. I don't know why I thought everything would be okay but I did and talked myself into running.

It was a Saturday morning, Cody was helping Haven move and I wanted to work out. I was running for 15 minutes and they boys were just playing and could care less so I thought I was in the clear. The next thing I knew, Carter was screaming. I looked behind me and his hand was stuck at the back of the treadmill. I immediately pulled the "emergency stop" cord and grabbed his hand. It was bad.

I tried to call Cody but for some reason I couldn't hear him and all he could hear was me freaking out and Carter screaming. Haven said he just ran out of their apartment. As soon as he got home we took him to the ER where thankfully we didn't have to wait very long. He was such a trooper. He was even smiling at the nurses... until they wanted to clean and look at his hand. We were told to come back the next day to get it assessed again and to have the bandaged changed. He had a deep 2nd degree burn on the palm of his hand and in between two fingers. The treadmill had acted like a sand paper machine and sanded off the top three layers of skin off so underneat is pure white. It looks like bone.

On Monday we went to a plastic surgeon to see what was the next step.Thankfully, Carter was going to be fine and he would get to heal at home with daily changes of his bandage. It was such a relief to hear the good news as the ER nurses were talking about skin graphs and Primary Children's Burn Unit.

So every day or even twice a day (Carter likes to take it off in his crib sometimes) we change his bandage. He still gets baths and he doesn't complain about his hand unless the bandage is off. He is so thrilled to get the bandage put back on and even says thank you when we do.

We are so grateful Carter is doing well and his hand wasn't worse. It really hasn't slowed him down at all. He still plays, runs, and eats with his bad hand.

If only I wouldn't have bought their Halloween costumes already. Carter would have been Hook with his little stub.

Just for Fun

Been having lots of fun with these two. More to come.

Carter visits Primary Childrens

Poor little Carter Bug had to do some testing up at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake. When I had my peri ultrasounds Carter always had some excess fluid on his kidneys which concerned the doctor. After Carter was born we were sent to the hospital to get an ultrasound where they found the fluid was still there. Our pediatrician sent us to Primary Childrens to get some testing done to see if there was a problem with his kidneys.

The first test Carter received was hard on us. He got a catheter and an IV but was such a trooper. I was amazed they didn't numb him at all when placing the catheter. Once the IV was placed (after two long tries) they put a radioactive fluid in his IV and put him under a machine which watched his kindey's filter the fluid. Cody and I sat there for the 45 minute procedure listening to nursery rhymes and sometimes sang along. What the heck is a mulberry (sp?) bush and why does the monkey chase the weasel?

The second procedure was under an x-ray machine. They filled his bladder with a sticky fluid and took pictures while he peed on his own. Thankfully the doctor was there watching the pictures and said everything looked normal. YAY!!

While at Primary Children's Hospital we were reminded how blessed we are to have two healthy happy babies. It was very hard to see so many small children sick. It broke my heart to see a child about 7 years old suffering from cancer with no hair. I pray my boys continue to be healthy!

Two Weeks

Carter Bug

6 lbs 8 oz - 6 percentile
19.5 inches

Trey J

5 lbs 13 oz - 2 percentile

19.5 inches

So our little guys are two weeks old today. I can't believe it! They have grown so much! It is nice to see that all the feedings are doing something but at the same time I'm a little sad. They aren't going to stay newborn for very long! I've always heard to cherish every stage my boys go through because they grow up so fast.

Nothing really new at our house! Just feeding, burping, changing, and trying to get as much sleep as possible. We are so thankful for Super Gram (my mom - Grandma B). She has been here since they boys were born and I don't know what I would have done without her. She leaves on Sunday and Grams (Cody's mom - Grandma W) will step in for some long nights for a while! We are very grateful for all the help.

Enjoy some cute pics of the boys! Since we all know that's what you really want to see.

Carter & Trey - first time in matching outfitsCarter soothing TreyFirst walk in the strollerTrey and Daddy - so cute they sleep alike

C & T Birth Story

{Short Version: The boys were born May 22nd at 36 weeks and 6 days, just one day shy of full term. Friday morning my Peri induced me due to growth restriction of Baby B. Started pitocin at 11am and wheeled into the OR at 6pm. Thirty minutes later the boys were born six minutes apart healthy and happy. Received an epidural and a nasty episiotomy which made recovery difficult but doing tons better. Breastfeeding tandem now that milk is in and doing great! Couldn't be happier and enjoying life with our two little miracles.}

Everyone loves a good birth story, so I'll try to make the twin's story interesting. It all started on Friday morning when I went to see my Peri. They did the usual ultrasound and when the weights/measurements came up on the boys, "Baby B - Trey" was measuring very small for his gestational age. He was measuring 5 lbs which is in the less then 10th percentile. The Peri told us we would be having the babies that day and I was ecstatic. I had stayed up all night trying to come up with a persuasive speech to make her induce me. I was so happy I didn't have to although I started getting concerned about Baby B. 

I was admitted to L&D at 9:30 am and they started the IV and Pitocin at 11 am. After 3 hours of the pit not doing much the nurse stripped my membranes since I was only dilated to a 5. That helped things along as well as turning up the pit every thirty minutes. At 4pm I was a 6 and the nurse decided it was time to break my water. She recommended getting an epidural before the doctor broke my water so I agreed. My contractions were painful but nothing that I couldn't handle. 

I was mostly scared of getting the epidural. Cody didn't help ease my nerves by making scary faces and noises while the doc placed the epi. The doc that placed it was great though, it was in my back in less then 5 minutes and his own special dose was wonderful.  I couldn't feel anything but I could still lift and move my legs. So the doctor came in and broke Baby A's water and things really started going. I pretty much just laid there in no pain happy as could be. Everyone in the room kept commenting on my big contractions they saw on the monitor but I didn't feel them. 

At 6 pm I was wheeled into the operating room in case of an emergency c-section. There was a little room next to the OR where two stations were set up for the babies. Each baby had two NICU nurses and a bunch of other nurses. It was crazy how many people were there for my delivery. 

Once in the OR we tried a couple sets of "practice pushes" and then the doc came in and we started! After three sets of contractions Baby A - Carter arrived at 6:32 pm weighing 5 lbs 15 oz! I was hoping they would place him on me or at least show me him but they whisked him away to the little room in front of me. My doctor broke Baby B's water and after a couple of pushes out he came six minutes later at 6:38 pm weighing 5 lbs 8 oz. I was done!!! I was so glad that I didn't have to have a c-section and that Baby B didn't flip in my stomach, what a relief! Again, they took Baby B away right after he came out and there I was all alone in the OR while my doctor stitched me up. I guess I started to tear so he just cut me, thankfully I didn't feel a thing! Love epidurals!!  

Cody was in the room with the babies while I was getting stitched. He told me Baby A was doing great but Baby B was having a hard time breathing and they were about to take up to the NICU when he started to breathe on his own. Cody said it was so sad to watch him struggle. 

It was time to go back to my room and they finally brought the boys to me. It was the most amazing feeling ever! I couldn't believe that these two little miracles were mine and they were finally here. They are the most adorable babies I have ever seen! 

Overall, labor wasn't bad! Loved the epidrual and pushing for thirty minutes wasn't bad either. I was so exhausted after though and very overwhelmed with so many different emotions! The worst part has been recovery from him cutting me but I'm doing a lot better. Breastfeeding these two little ones was very frustrating until my milk came in but now tandem feedings are going great! We are so happy that we have these little guys and can't picture our lives without either of them. We are very happy parents and grateful the boys are doing so well. 

{Disclaimer - I know that I'm missing more details and things but I'm too tired! I don't recommend blogging while drowsy! This post took me forever :) Oh, sorry no pics of the delivery and what not, it is all on video which Cody will take and make a birth video for the boys. Watch for that sometime in the fall - Daddy is sleep deprived as well }

Bringing Home Babies

Tuesday morning the Doc let Trey and Carter go home. Amanda was well prepared with matching "going home" outfits to celebrate the day. Dad had a completely different approach to driving that day; suddenly the gas pedal was harder to push, turning became not so menial, and defensive driving seemed much more appropriate. We all made it home safe and sound. We can look back now and see many positive things and very few negative things that came from our three-day stay in the NICU. We are grateful for the hope and peace that come from knowing who is watching out for our children from above. I love having two little sons and all that has come with them.

***UPDATE***

Trey and Carter have been with us for one whole day now. They are doing exceptionally well. They wake up on their own every three hours like clock work and feed for 30 minutes. Their diaper count is perfect but dad's diaper changing skills are not. With one boy feeding before the other and the pumping session that follows, Dad and Mom have the chance to sleep for about an hour maybe an hour and a half if they crash right away.

Amanda has been in quite a bit of pain from the episiotomy. From what I can observe she is in more pain now than at any point during labor or delivery. Hopefully the next day or two bring some relief. She will post her delivery story when she gets the chance--watch for it in about 9 months or so...

Rooting to go Home

Amanda, Trey, Carter, and I are still in the hospital. After the anticipated final feeding in the hospital C & T's glucose levels dropped below acceptable. The pediatrician decided that he wanted to continue to watch them until they were more stable. Furthermore, their bilirubin levels were on the high side causing concerns of jaundice.

What this all amounts to for mom and dad is that we get to stay in a sleep room in the NICU.  The nurse calls us every three hours to feed. After each feeding we come back to the room to pump for 10-15 minutes, clean up the pumping equipment and try to get some rest. We are very anxious each time to hear the boys progress and current status. 

We are very thankful to Mom and Dad Budgett for running around to get food, clean clothes, new post-partum clothes, and all the little nice-to-haves we didn't bring to the hospital.  

As of now the boys are doing very well. For four, maybe five, continous feedings their levels have all checked out great. Dad B. and I gave the boys a blessing which will most definately help them progress to go home time.

Congratulations to Amanda. At about 10:00pm she successfully completed her first tandem feeding. Both of mom's hands were busy, both of dad's hands were busy, and milk was everywhere. I love this stuff.

Carter Christopher and Trey James

Carter Christopher (formerly known as Baby A above right) and Trey James (the former Baby B above left) were born yesterday, May 22, 2009. Trey was born at 6:38pm weighing 5 lbs. 7 oz. and Carter was born at 6:32pm weighing 5 lbs. 15 oz. Both boys were 18 inches long.

Mom is and was awesome. She and the boys will be released on Sunday.

More perfect moments caught on camera and the details of the labor and delivery to come but we wanted everyone to see our cute little boys right away.

P.S. - We both got about two hours of sleep last night. Hopefully that's not the best night of the next couple months.