Remembering

Today I am remembering Brandon's twin sister who was born three years ago today at only 20 weeks, 3 days. Tonight we will show Brandon pictures of his twin sister from the day she was born like we have the past two years on the day of her birth.

Julianna's Birthday Party, a Wetdown, and a 5K

We had a busy but fun weekend. On Saturday afternoon we went to Julianna's first birthday party. There was a bounce house there so Brandon was very happy playing in it.


After the birthday party we went a a wetdown at Adelphia's fire house. Fire companies have wetdowns when they get a new firetruck.




On Sunday Stu ran in a 5K for Lyme's Disease. Brandon and I went and cheered him on. There was a band playing there that Brandon enjoyed listening to.

3 Years Ago

Three years ago today I woke up and my day started like any other day. It was a Sunday and Stu had a drill to go to at his fire department so I decided to go food shopping. I came home, put the groceries away, and then sat and relaxed for awhile. A short while later my life as I knew it would change forever. I went to go to the bathroom and after using the bathroom stood up and my water broke. I was only a little over 19 weeks pregnant with my twins. I called Stu and he came home and we went to the hospital where it was confirmed that my sac on baby a, my daughter, had ruptured. The doctors didn't know if I would lose one twin, both twins, or neither twin. I have learned more and been through more in the last three years then I ever thought I would in a lifetime. Prior to three years ago I didn't even know that 24 weeks was when a baby was viable. Three years ago I started praying that I would make it to 24 weeks at least. I had a neonatologist come talk to me and found out some possible scenarios I would be facing if I delivered at 24, 25, or 26 weeks- again things that I never thought would be something I might have to deal with. I did deliver my daughter eight days later and my son 7 weeks later, after being on bedrest for 7 weeks. My experience three years ago has definitely changed me from the person who I was then- in some ways good and in some ways probably not for the good. I am grateful for everything I have in my life today. A healthy almost three year old, a husband that I could not live without, a wonderful family and friends, and another baby boy on the way (almost 33 weeks already!). I do miss my baby girl and I am sad I will never get to meet her.

First Baseball Game

Stu, Brandon, my parents, Stu's parents, and I went to a minor league baseball game today. The baseball game was a fundraiser for the NICU. Brandon enjoyed the game once he woke up but especially LOVED playing on the playground that was at the stadium. There was a winding slide that he must have gone on at least 20 times. He would get off and immediately run to get back on. It was questionable if we would even go to the game because it poured this morning but it wound up being a really nice day.

When Did He Get So Big?

First Train Ride and New York

Brandon went on his first train ride yesterday to New York. Stu's friend from college was in New York for the weekend so Stu went there to see her on Friday night and yesterday morning Brandon and I took the train to meet him. Brandon was so good on the train ride there. He loved looking out the window and seeing everything that we passed. When we got to New York we went out to brunch with Stu and his friend Robyn. Then Stu, Brandon, and I went to the Museum of Natural History. What a great museum!

First Train Ride



Brandon and Robyn

at the Museum of Natural History





on the train ride home

High Risk Appointment- 32 Weeks

Yesterday I had an appointment with my high risk doctor. He wanted to see me at 32 weeks to do a growth ultrasound. The tech took some measurements first and made me nervous because she asked if I had my gestational diabetes test done. I said I had and she said the baby was measuring a little bigger than 32 weeks. I got nervous thinking I was going to wind up having a 10 pound baby. She then said that he was weighing 5 pounds, 2 ounces. The doctor then came in and took some measurements and then went to the computer to plug the numbers in. He came back and said that the baby weighs 4 pounds, 7 ounces which is a little more than the 60th percentile. He estimates that the baby will weigh 7 1/2 pounds when he is born. Everything looks good with the baby and I don't need to go back to the high risk doctor.

Mother's Day

I had a nice Mother's Day yesterday. Stu made me breakfast in the morning. Then Stu, Brandon, my parents, Stu's mom, and I went to buy our flowers to plant for the season yesterday morning. Brandon fell asleep in the car on the way home and usually I can transfer him to his crib and he stays asleep but not yesterday. He wound up only having a 45 minute nap but was actually okay until close to his bedtime last night. The rest of our day was spent playing outside a lot on our swingset and with the neighbor's kids on the street and my parents and Stu's parents came over to hang out and barbeque with us. It was a really nice day.