Sunday, January 6, 2013

A Time for Everything ...


A Time for Everything ... Ecclesiastes 3

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. HE has made everything beautiful in its time. HE has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it.

This set of scripture was laid on my heart today. I pray that whatever you are going though right now you know that GOD is in control. HE is always there for you. You may be going through a tough time ... but that is only going to be for a moment and then God has something else in store for you. Carry God's truth in your heart, treasure it, breath it in and remember God is ALWAYS there for you. No matter what time you are going through HE is THERE!  Isn't it wonderful! To know that you have GOD on your side!

There is so much more I would love to say. Know that I am praying for each and everyone on of you. I love you! But here is the most amazing thing ... GOD LOVES you even more than one person could ever love you!

Background information:
Matt and I have struggled with conceiving a child for many years now. Through IVF God blessed us with our twin boys, Samuel and Joshua. Our hearts are filled love and joy over our boys and we are always being amazed with the things they do. They are now 15 months old. They are walking, chatting, saying a few words like "ca" for cat and "li" for light. Of course they say Momma and Dadda. The other night Joshua said "nini" for night night. They are growing up so fast and are adorable (if I may say so!).

Last month we thought we were pregnant (on our own - wow!). We were 2 weeks late, but in true fashion no pregnancy test we took would show up positive. I told Matt that if I did not have a period by Christmas then I would call my doctor and go in for blood work after the Christmas holiday. I was not stressed about it, I know that we have embryos waiting for us to use when we do IVF again. But I would have LOVED a Christmas "miracle". Sadly, on the Sunday before Christmas I started my period.

These past few weeks I found that I was really hoping I would have been pregnant. I love being pregnant! It is amazing to feel a baby move inside of you (even if it sometimes hurts!). Today, during church, I was struck with this scripture. I know that God is on our side. He knows our every thought, our every need and want. He knows that Matt and I want more children. So, that being said, I am laying it all down and waiting on God to lead the way. HE will show us the next step and when we need to take it. That gives me a peace. A peace so amazing that it makes my heart sing.

On that note ... my little miracles have awakened from their nap. :) LOVE those boys. Thank you GOD for ALL that you have given! I know in your time we will have more children. I pray that you guide us to do things in YOUR time.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

As the new year rolls in ...

Wow ... another year has gone by. This year we watched our boys grow from babies to toddlers. It has been amazing! Here are a few photos of our boys growing up.

Here they are at the beginning of 2012. 

Growing ...

and growing ... 

Wow! We are 1 now! 

Merry Christmas everyone! 

Life is amazing! God is wonderful! He blessed us with our sweet boys. I love watching them grow and change everyday. They have filled our lives with LOVE (and craziness!). 
I pray that God's mercy and blessings are poured out on everyone during this new year! Let's see what HE has in store for all of us! :)






Saturday, December 8, 2012

14 months ... wow!

I can't believe I have not posted in over 14 months. I was laughing as I read over my last few posts. I remember all the shots, ultrasounds, contractions, bed rest, hospital stays, labor & delivery, C-section, and NICU stay for Joshua moments like it was yesterday. Boy, how fast a year has gone!

Our boys are now healthy, climbing, walking (or in Samuel's case walking with help - and screaming all the way), happy little boys. They weigh 24 pounds each (try holding both boys at the same time ... it is a nice arm workout!). Samuel is 32 inches tall and Joshua is 30 1/2 inches tall.

Christmas time is coming quickly ... can it already be December 8th?! We are gearing up for Christmas at our house this year. The boys love the lights but do not understand who this man in a red suit is and why they need to sit on his lap. :) Here is a quick picture of their first time sitting with Santa this year. Jayden is with them and he was just happy to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas ... so he did not mind sharing his picture time with the boys!


Not much more is happening around here. Life is busy and we are still getting use to having two toddlers who need you at every moment. Wish they were better sleepers, but I am now finding out that I do not need as much sleep as I once did. :) Guess that is why God let women be the Momma! 

Merry Christmas everyone! Hopefully I will be posting more often! 

Friday, August 26, 2011

Dammit! :)

Hahahahaha!!!

I was just reading my last post and had to laugh! "Dammit!" was what came to mind. Here we are, about 5 weeks away from having the boys, and per-term labor & bed rest are all that are on my mind.

This past week has been rough, to say the very least. Sunday evening I was very uncomfortable and had my first taste of what contractions felt like. I have to laugh now because everyone was asking me if it was a contraction I was feeling. I continued to answer, "I don't know! I have never had a contractions before!" Well, the answer was "Yes, you are having contractions." That was at 1am on Monday morning. We were also 1 cm dilated. The doctor felt more comfortable admitting me into the hospital for observation. We were able to come home on Tuesday afternoon with the instructions that I was to be on bed rest for the remainder of our pregnancy. OH BOY!

Thankfully we have made it through the week. We are now 30 weeks pregnant. The boys are measuring a week bigger than that (so they are measuring at 31 weeks). Our doctor says to be prepared to have them during the last week of September or the first week of October.

So here I lay, either on the couch or in bed, with nothing to do but "bake" my boys and get them a little bigger and stronger and ready to be born. So .... what to write?! Oh, how about what kind of things have been happening around our house.

New title ... "Getting ready for Babies" :)

Matt has been wonderful! He is so excited about the boys, and I love seeing that light of love in his eyes. One of the first things he did was put the stroller together. :) I have to say, I laughed a lot! Matt is a hoot! Here are a couple of pictures of "operation stroller!"















As you can see, Matt had too much fun! After he finished the stroller, we went on to building the cribs and setting up the nursery. I know, I am a slave driver but I felt like we should have as much done as quickly as we could. Looking back now, I am grateful that we did do a lot since I am unable to help anymore.

Here are pictures of Matt putting the cribs together.















There were plenty of stressful times. Who knew how hard putting together cribs could be?! Poor Matt! The first one went smoothly ... it was the second one that was rough. But, as you can see, he successfully put together both cribs!






Here are some pictures of the nursery now that it is pretty much ready for babies. We have not put sheets on either crib because, well, Charlie thinks they are his. We will have someone make the bed before the babies come home. We also plan on buying two crib tents to help keep our kitties out of the beds. That will come later though. Anyway, here are the nursery pictures.












There are going to be some last minute finishing touches but there will be a little bit of time before that is necessary to complete.

We are super excited! Only a few more weeks!
Can't wait to post more!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Only 14 weeks left! :)

We went to our doctor appointment today. All is going well with the boys. They are growing quickly and appear happy and healthy. Of course the doctor let us know all the bad things that could happen in the next 14 weeks (if we make it that long).

Here are some updated pictures of Samuel and Joshua.

Samuel and Joshua both are weighing in at 1 lb 5 oz and measuring 23 weeks 3 days.


It was a little funny because everything was measuring the pretty much the same even though they are NOT identical. Even their heartbeats were going about the same pace ... 142 beats & 143 beats a minute.

As of now I have only gained 15 pounds. The doctor measured my belly and I am measuring in like an average 32 week pregnant woman (that was shocking since we are 23 weeks along!). My body is responding well to pregnancy and everything looks wonderful at this point.

However, our doctor went into details about what I need to do over the next 14 weeks so that we can make it as far as possible -

- rest as much as possible
- when I am back at work I am to sit as much as possible
- try to stay out of the heat
- drink lots of water
- get a belly support to help with my back

Hopefully we can make it through the rest of the pregnancy without bed rest or pre-term labor starting up.

:) Here are some more pictures of the boys!











Joshua (L) and Samuel (R)










Samuel Collins Jones










Joshua David-Andrew Jones

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

OH BOYS!











Introducing: Samuel Collins Jones & Joshua David-Andrew Jones


Okay, I know the title is cheesy (as Matt says), but I have to have some fun. Right?!
Yesterday marked our last week in the 4th month of pregnancy. We went to our doctor for ultrasound and measurement of the belly. I have gained only 10 pounds total in these last few months. I think that is pretty good since we are having TWO big baby boys! :)

Samuel (used to be called Baby A or "Turkey") is measuring at 19 weeks and 3 days. He weighs 11 ounces. His heartbeat is at 153 beats per minute. He appears happy and healthy! :)

Joshua (used to be called Baby B or "Little Lizard") is measuring at 19 weeks and 1 day. He weighs 10 ounces. His heartbeat is at 150 beats per minute. He also appears happy healthy - even if he is a little squished. :)

When I got home last night I was looking at what our babies should be measuring & weighing right now. They should be about 10 inches long (each) and weighing about 8.5 ounces. While I don't know how many inches long they are, they seem to be weighing just a bit above normal, but the doctor just thinks we have healthy baby boys right now. I am sure she will watch us all very close so not to worry.


Now, onto the fun stuff. Last night and the BIG family reveal. When we got to the house everyone put in their guess as to what the babies would be. Then Nana and Nonni got the honor to open the gift bags and pull out the outfit.




Everyone was so excited and happy. We just can't wait to meet these precious little ones. :) Only about 17 more weeks (at the earliest) until our boys get here!

Monday, April 18, 2011

11 weeks










Jones Twins at 11 weeks! Baby A - Dancing










Baby B - Sleeping

I can't believe how fast time goes by!

So much has happened in such a short time. The babies are 1 1/2 inches long and looking wonderful. Last week our specialist released us to continue our pregnancy at a regular OB. This is a wonderful sign, and a big step in the right direction, however we will miss our specialist. They were extremely helpful, caring, and supportive in our journey. We will be forever changed because of their help.

Today was our first visit at the regular OB office. Our doctor did a quick scan (pictures above) and was very pleased. We have another appointment on May 16th and then again every month to follow the progress. Of course when we get into the 3rd trimester we will go almost every week (or ever other week depending on how we are). But we will take our learning process in stride. This is all an exciting adventure!

Maybe (lets hope) we will get to know what the babies are at our next appointment! :) That would be an EXCELLENT surprise! Then this planner can get on the ball for organizing things. I really want to know ... and I am just itching to start organizing baby clothes and baby things according to what they are.

Can't wait to let you all know! :)