the beginning...

I forgot to mention that one year ago yesterday, we did the transfer. So one year ago yesterday, I started to have two little babies growing inside of me. It's amazing that these...



became these two cuties...

I am so in love with my babies. They bring me so much joy.

Blog writing, football game & cute babies!

I've decided to try to write a blog post every day in the month of November as part of . I did this last year with my other blog, so I'll see if I can do it again. It will be a little harder this year with the twins at home and not having a full hour lunch to devote to random things (I'm still pumping at work - usually on my lunch break).

So AF has finally arrived. :-( 4 1/2 months after the babies were born, she shows up again. I'm glad it didn't show up any sooner.

In other news, Benjamin and I had a great time at the football game despite the Huskies losing the game. Huskies and the Wildcats were battling over who got to be at the bottom of the Pac-10 - it looked like the Huskies were going to pull off the win there, but became an even crappier team toward the end of the game. Oh well, it was a good game despite the loss. Benjamin looked around a lot at all the different things and people around him. He looked at the game for a little bit down on the field, but seemed more interested in watching the game on the "HuskyTron". Silly baby! He did manage to fall asleep for a little bit at the game despite all the noise. Funny that when my husband dropped us off up on campus (so as to avoid trying to find a parking spot and paying for it), I heard this noise and looked around for the plane it must be coming from - nope - that was the crowd in the stadium!

Last night, Benjamin initiated the sticking out the tongue game with me. It was so cute!!! He started it. I stuck my tongue out at him. He did it back - we laughed. Great time was had by all. Of course, by the time, my husband got the camera, he was bored with the game.

This morning, Ella gave me the hugest smile! I almost missed my vanpool because of it. Luckily, the vanpool driver was running a bit behind too.

Well, that's all for this post!

Benjamin's 1st football game!

My boss has an extra ticket to the UW Huskies game tomorrow and she offered it to me. So I'm going to go and I'm going to bring along Benjamin who seems to act excited when football comes on the tv. Ella will have a bonding day with her papa. I'll have to do something with just Ella too. I'm excited to go. I haven't been to a Huskies game since my last year at UW (graduated in '96, so my last game was sometime in '95). I hope Benjamin has a good time.

cramping & more

I've been cramping a lot today much like I would when AF is set to arrive. I'm hoping that isn't the case. I'd love to not see her for a while longer. Yes, it's been over a year since I've seen her last, but still. I think the only time I've been happy to see AF was when I wanted to get my IVF cycle underway (or IUI). And no, I'm not on any birth control at the moment so I don't have that letting me know when AF will arrive.

There still isn't any news as to what happened to my brother-in-law's half-brother, but they did an autopsy on Monday and the funeral is this afternoon.

In baby news - both Benjamin and Ella decided to wake up at 3:30 this morning. I'm not sure why Ella woke up (she usually sleeps through the night) - maybe this time her brother finally succeeded in waking her up. We tried to get them back to sleep and have them wait to eat, but they were really hungry, so they got some food. Luckily, they went to sleep right after they ate. The night before, Jon was able to hold Benjamin off on eating until around 6 a.m. I have a feeling that once we get Benjamin sleep trained, they'll start teething a few days after and so, they'll be waking up more during the night than they do now.

Well, that's all for now. Be sure to read my husband's blog for more exciting stories about the babies!

1 year ago

One year ago today, Benjamin and Ella were created. One year ago, I was recovering from retrieval wondering what would happen. It's amazing how far we've come. We have two wonderful babies and for that, I am so grateful.

Last night, Benjamin almost rolled over from back to front. He would go over to his side numerous times, but he just couldn't get that last part done. I helped him along a couple times and got video of him trying to roll over. I'll have to upload that video later.

Ella has gotten to her side before, but not completely over. She looks like she wants to. In fact, last night, she seemed a bit frustrated when she was on her tummy and was lifting one side as if she was trying to roll over.

One website I read said to be worried if they haven't rolled over by 5 months, but it seems like they are getting close to that.

More videos...

Here are a couple videos that I've uploaded tonight...

The first is of Jon and Benjamin "drumming" - Benjamin does show us his little laugh, but he was laughing SO HARD right before we went to go get the camera. I wish we would have been able to capture it on video - it was so cute to hear!



And this video is of both babies in Benjamin's crib watching the bear mobile and Jon's mom is talking to them...

Hanging out before the party

Hanging out before the party
Originally uploaded by heathercim

The four of us went to a Halloween party yesterday. I think parties, like the one we went to, will be a lot more fun when Benjamin & Ella are older. We got to chat with some others who have multiples, so that was nice. Afterwards, we walked through a nearby park hoping to see some beavers, but no such luck.

Today, has been football watching day - thankfully, the Seahawks won. Yay! Have I mentioned that Benjamin seems to like to watch football?

Well, Ella is asking for some attention now, so I'd better go.
There are more pics on my flickr page - I've also added one video to youtube. Hopefully, I'll be able to add more later.

Good news and bad news

A lot has gone on since I last wrote. I went to go visit my friend in the hospital - it's so hard to believe that my babies were once that small (even smaller for Ella). My friend's babies were born at 6 lbs 2 ounces (their baby boy) and 6 lbs 5 ounces (their baby girl). A lot of baby - more baby than I had in me. The babies were just adorable and the parents were just proud (and tired) as can be. I'm so happy for them. It's been a long hard road for them, and now they have this wonderful duo.

My nephew's teacher just found out that she is having twins - she also did IVF. Congrats to her. My understanding is that for her first child, she did 3 IVF cycles before she had her daughter and now, with this IVF cycle, she is pregnant with twins. (If I'm wrong on the info, my sister can let us know).

And there has been some sad news as well. My brother-in-law's half-brother was found dead yesterday morning by his roommate. He had gone into the ER the night before complaining of chest pains, but they discharged him finding nothing wrong. Just so incredibly sad - he was only 30 years old. We will pray for him and his family.

Babies!

I just heard some wonderful news - one lady from my support group had her twins on Monday morning. After getting their o.k., I'm going to go visit her after work tonight so I hope that traffic isn't too bad as I don't want to get there too late and well, I want to see my own babies while they're awake at some point today.

I am just so excited for her. I can't wait to meet her little boy and her little girl.

As for us, Ella was very cranky last night. I'm assuming she's still hurting or angry after the shots. Benjamin didn't seem that upset by them last night - he just wanted his food and to be held. He still is waking up at least once in the middle of the night whereas Ella, most of the time, will sleep 10-11 hours. I was just reading Nickie's blog, and I think we may try that method to see if it works or maybe he really is hungry. He seems like he really is hungry. We'll see!

Cuties & Their 4 month checkup

Benjamin and Ella were so cute this morning. They both were awake at 5:30 this morning. After we fed them and I pumped, we had some time to hang out with each other before I had to leave for work. Benjamin started to stick out his tongue at me (as he knows I will respond to him) and I stuck my tongue back at him. Both him and Ella thought that was pretty funny, so I continued to stick out my tongue and make funny noises (we've done this many times before). Jon went to go get the camera to record Ella laughing and Benjamin smiling while sticking out his tongue. I'll have to try to upload that video later for everyone to see.

In other news, they had their 4 month checkup yesterday. They are doing well. They were very brave when getting their shots (or so Jon tells me as I wasn't able to go due to a work thing I had to be at work for).

Here's their official weight and height info:

Ella
24" - 45%
13 lbs, 2.4 oz - 45%

Benjamin
26.5" - 90%
16 lbs, 7.2 oz - 85%

Yep, Benjamin is a big guy. Ella is catching up from what she was before - at the 20th/25th percentiles.

We had a presentation this morning and they showed a video of babies and older children and it made me want to go home and be with my babies. Only 4 more hours and I'll be able to go home. Also, with the video, at the end, the little DVD logo was bouncing around the screen and I had to giggle to myself after watching The Office from the other night when the crew was waiting for the DVD logo to bounce into the corner of the screen. I did not jump up and scream or leave the presentation once the logo finally did bounce into the corner. :-D

Happy birthday, Jon!

Happy 37th birthday to my husband! I know that this birthday is even more special than all the other ones because of Benjamin and Ella.

Happy 4 months, Benjamin and Ella!

I actually wrote this part of the blog post on 10/12 on their 4 month birthday...

I'm sure that they both woke up at 2 this morning because they were so excited to start celebrating their 4 month old birthday. That's gotta be it as Ella has been sleeping 10-11 hours per night, but not last night!

Benjamin - you are just so cute when you are staring at your fist - that mighty fist - then you stuff that fist into your mouth. I love your smile and your laugh too. It was wonderful seeing it early this morning. I can't believe how much you've grown - you have got to weight close to 17 pounds by now. We'll find out your official weight at your 4 month check up on Monday. I was looking at a photo of you and your sister at birth and your little newborn smushed up face has lengthened out and fattened up - you are just so cute! It does make me sad though that when you are crying sometimes, it sounds as if you are crying "mooommmm". :-(

This part I wrote on 10/13...

Ella - that laugh of yours is so adorable. And you are so silly how much you actually fight going to sleep - you must think you are going to miss something really cool though besides you, I'm the only one up right now as we're letting papa sleep in for his birthday. I can't believe how much you've grown either. You are a little over 13 pounds the last time we checked. This morning, you were being such a big girl and laying on your tummy and lifting your head to smile at your brother. That was so adorable - and Benjamin smiling and talking back to you - OMG, sooooo cute!

I loved it so much this morning when you both gave me big smiles - what a way to start the day!

I went to go get the camera to record the moment of them chatting with each other, but, of course, I get the camera and they're done chatting and smiling at each other. I did get a video of them doing tummy time together that I'll post later.

sad news...

Today I learned that one of our executives lost his 17 year old daughter to a car accident a week and a half ago - we got an e-mail that he doesn't want anyone to ask about her or to give him any condolences. To hear the news of her death just saddens me - how incredibly hard it must be to lose one of her children. I hope that none of us ever have to go through such pain.

Yep...even more videos...

New videos - I love the videos...we need one of Benjaming laughing, but here's one of Ella laughing...




Here's one of Benjamin licking his lips...with Ella being fussy in the background

At the lego show

The C's attend the lego show
Originally uploaded by kelita13

Jon, Benjamin, Ella and I went to the NW BrickCon at the Seattle Center on Saturday with our friend, Kelly. She took this picture and a couple others of us at the show along with all the cool lego sculptures at the show. At this point, both babies were rather sleepy but Ella would wake up soon enough.

Video of babies!!!

Videos of the babies - taken by Jon...

On a Walk

On a Walk
Originally uploaded by heathercim

Just wanted to share this picture - this is the four of us going on a walk around our neighborhood. Ella is just so fascinated with everything. Benjamin takes the opportunity to take nap - as he usually does when we go on a walk.

lucky

When I read the stories of other twin moms and their deliveries of their babies, it makes me realize just how lucky I am that my babies were born so healthy and that I got to bring both of them right away. Benjamin did have a bit of a scary start, but he made it through quickly. That was nothing compared to what other babies have gone through.

In other news - last night, my husband was upstairs with Ella when he asked me to come upstairs. I come up there and Ella was smiling so big, then her papa blew on her tummy and she laughed!! I think that might have been the first time I heard her cute little laugh. I've heard Benjamin before, but not Ella. OMG - it was sooo cute (as is Benjamin's, of course).

This morning when I left, I got to say goodbye to an awake Benjamin. Ella was still sleeping, but she stirred when I told her I would see her later. Benjamin gave me such a cute little smile. Those toothless smiles are the best!

What a way to start the day...

Today sucks - I rear ended someone this morning. Luckily everyone is o.k. (just a little shook up and a little sore), but my car will need to be fixed again. Just this past May, my husband spun around and hit a guardrail requiring us to get our car fixed and we get to do it again! And while waiting for the police this morning, people were too busy looking at the accident on the side of the road (my accident) so they themselves got into an accident. A white car hit an SUV, then 5 minutes later, a black car hit the white car and a big white truck hite the black car. So 6 cars involved in accidents this morning. What a way to start the morning. I am at work and I'm having a really hard time concentrating - I just keep thinking of the stupid mistake I made this morning that will cost me money I really don't have to spend right now with day care costs less than a month away.

One wonderful thing about this morning is that I had to go home before taking my car to the shop (a woman in my vanpool luckily helped me out getting to work until I can get a car rental) because I couldn't get the car seat bases out of the car. So Jon took care of that while I hung out with my cuties. They both smiled at me (I so needed that) and Benjamin just chatted up a storm. He, apparently, had a lot to say. SO CUTE!!! Ella just sat there kicking the bouncy seat so it made noises and smiled at me a few times. I wanted to stay home so badly but I've only got 3 vacation days until next February (that's when my anniversary rolls around again) and no more sick days since I used them up staying at home with Benjamin and Ella.

Random thoughts

Have I mentioned how wonderful it is to be a mom? I still find it hard to believe that it's real even though they are almost 4 months old. I have a daughter and a son? When did that happen?

My husband called me earlier and left a voice mail on my phone of Benjamin laughing and I accidentally deleted it - so sad - his laugh is so cute!!! I still have the other voice mail he left with Ella talking - so cute!!! I teared up a bit listening to these messages.

It's almost time to go home - I can't wait. It's been a busy day so it went by fast, but I'm looking forward to seeing my babies. Unfortunately, it was so busy today, that I only pumped once and I think I should have pumped twice - finding time to go is been a challenge. I talked to a friend I met through the multiples class I went to and she thinks she might be stopping with pumping because pumping, especially at work, is challenging.

So, off topic of babies and pumping - somewhere in the 2nd trimester of the pregnancy, my knees started to bother me. It would hurt when I bended my knees - like when I had to go the bathroom or pick something up. It seems my knee issues have continued past pregnancy. They just hurt to bend - I'm not sure what the issue is. I've made an appointment with my regular doctor for next Monday to talk about it. The only time it feels good is when I have my legs stretched out. Anyone else have this issue? I feel like my knees are those of a 80 year old.

I keep meaning to update my blogroll (I was just looking at it) - I will get around to it eventually.

Well, that's it for now. I have other things to write about the next time I have the chance to blog.