Our Kids

A little boy asked his mother, “Why are you crying?” “Because I’m a woman,” she told him.

“I don’t understand,” he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, “And you never will.”

Later the little boy asked his father, “Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?”

“All women cry for no reason,” was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.

Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked, “God, why do women cry so easily?”

God said: “When I made the woman she had to be special.

I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without
complaining.

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him
unfalteringly.

And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed.”

“You see my son,” said God, “the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart – the place where love resides.”

Here is the baby set that Jason and I have chosen.

http://www.funtocollect.com/junglecrib.html

We are going to hang one of the quilts on the wall and use the other for the floor. At first they will be in the same crib but we have two for when they get a little more active. I painted about 25 different types of wood animals and we are going to make a mobile out of half of them and use the others to decorate the changing table that Jason is making for them.

So here is what we can expect the girls to be up to this week:

The babies weigh a little over a pound this week. They are growing eyelashes and eyebrows, which will be their main method of communication with us in terms of being happy, unhappy and confused or interested. Just like the internal and external organs, the babies’ facial features will help them survive outside the protective womb. We have to start watching what we say from now on because the babies are listening. If we talk, read, or sing to them, they will be able to hear us.

I am doing okay. Work is really stressful right now and that is draining. Seems like there is too much going on and not enough time to do it all. I am sure that is a side effect of the pregnancy and hormonal changes. I have not felt this overwhelmed in quite some time. I am going to focus on going to my happy place and taking it day by day so that I don’t wear myself out:) I am getting lots of rest and taking care of myself so I know that this is only a temporary feeling of helplessness:)

On a brighter note, I went to the twins garage sale this weekend and really cleaned up. I was able to get a few of the thing that I really needed. I picked up two car seats that are literally brand new with owners manuals and the works. They are just like the ones I picked out from target.com so I was really happy. Now all I need to to is get the stroller that they clip in to. I was also able to get a “tot lock” which is recommended for twins, it is a portable high chair that clips to the counter or table. I got a bassinet with a vibrate feature and 4 snow suits. Two are for next year and two are for newborns. So we should be set for when we leave the hospital! Even if its snowing.

All for now, talk to you all soon.

So we went to the doctor today and again I am not sure why. He measured my stomach, I peed in a cup, I got weighed and we listened to the hearts beating. Today he said that Piper’s was at 150 or so which is funny because it has never been that before, she is always in the 130s range. Lela was doing good and beating at about 140 or so.

I measured at 25cm for those of you who know what that is supposed to mean. From what I gather you should measure about what week you are so technically I would measure between 19 and 20. But 25cm is fine for twins. I have gained about 16 – 18 lbs but am doing really well there. At times you can’t even tell I am pregnant because most of it is in my boobs and stomach. Something interesting (to me at least) is that my waist is measuring the same as pre-pregnancy. Which is funny, I am long waisted so I guess they have enough room below the waist for now and have not totally taken over my girlish figure.

We were “recognized” from the article yesterday at the hospital and today. Funny, one of those small town things I guess. We are quite the celebrities around Bozeman.

We will be signing up for a birthing class here in the next few weeks, going back to the doctor in 4 weeks and getting another ultrasound in 6 weeks. Other than that news all is well at the Haslup hacienda.

Well we went to the doctor’s today for our fifth ultrasound. I think we are actually going to have one for every month of the pregnancy, we have just made up for the 3 months we missed and now will have one at least every four weeks. How fun.

It’s about official so here are what we are “naming” the babies. Baby A the one that is lower, is named Piper Ruth. Baby B is the one on the left side and under my ribs, her name is Lela Kate. I am trying to convince Jason to put in my maiden name and his mothers maiden name but he thinks that is too many names. I know it seems long but its not like anyone says, “hi my name is Piper Ruth Slocum Haslup”. Party pooper. I will have the last word though, afterall I think I will be applying for the SSN# and filling out the bc:)

This time was really different because they are getting bigger (longer) and they don’t have as much room as before. They are starting to curl up more and are not so stretched out in their rooms. Everything looks really great, lots of fluid in each sac, no placenta previa (since I don’t have it I am not going to find out what it is) etc. Piper is 10 oz and Lela is 11 oz so they are growing at the same rate. Lela has finally turned head down (for now) and is no longer kicking Piper in the head. They did play a little footsie while we were watching. Lela is moving a little less now that she is head down and Piper has been in the same position since 12 weeks and doesn’t move too much. I imagine they will either be hopping mad in the next few weeks due to lack of space and kicking like crazy or so space constricted that they stay calm. Hmmmm…….kids of mine, calm, doubtful:)

We go back to my primary doctor tomorrow for the pee in a cup routine and weight check. Yeah! I think now is when I start to ignore how much I have gained although I must admit I am looking pretty good. I will get Jason to take a picture (fully clothed of course) so you all can see me at month 5.

Well we will post tomorrow after the doc.

More about the kids later today, but a quick post with some links to our profile in a special section of our local paper:

Cover of the Section

Page One

Page Two

Oh yeah — and it’s snowing

jason

… but I couldn’t resist not posting something a friend of mine sent me. Really… it’s what we were all thinking anyways…

Picture

Also, if you look at Baby A’s profile, just to the right and a little up of A’s head is B’s foot in the process of kicking her sister. Kids… gotta love ‘em.

jason

Just what everyone’s been waiting for… more “pictures” (fuzzy images) of the kids!

I know, I’ve been a bit derelict in my duties as an expectant father by not scanning these in sooner, and for that, I apologize. As I was getting them ready, though, it just now occurred to me what the technician actually did. She took the same picture for each of the twins and printed them for us. We have one each of their profile, their face, and their feet. I thought that was pretty nice of her — no favoritism whatsoever, even though Baby B was the “stinker”.

Anyhow, all is well in the world of the twins… someone from work was getting rid of their crib, so of course we took it. It looks like we’re all set in that department. Mystique cleaned out the baby room over the weekend, so now all we have to do is convert another room into a guest room and we’ll be well on our way to providing a place for the kids to sleep.

That’s it, really… our next ultrasound is on Monday, 9/20, and our follow-up doctor’s appointment is the next day on the 21st. So look for some more pictures in October Ok, sooner than that!

jason