Blogging for Babies: Prematurity Awareness Day 2010

Today is Prematurity Awareness Day, and bloggers have been asked to blog about our experiences with premature birth in order to raise awareness. Did you know that 1 in 8 babies is born too soon? Did you know that African-American women are more likely to deliver prematurely? Did you know that being pregnant with multiples increases your risk for a premature birth? Did you know that in the US premature births are actually on the rise? Do you know anyone who has delivered prematurely? Do you love someone who was born too soon? Did you know that the beautiful brown boys who this blog is all about struggled to live each and every day for the first few weeks of their lives?


Ryan and Evan were born approximately 15 weeks early. Not due until September 16, 2009, The Parker twins were born on June 8, 2009 at 6:28am and 6:29am. They weighed 1lb 12oz and 1lb 11oz. They relied on a ventilator breath for them because their lungs were underdeveloped. They were fed through a NG tube because they could not suck and swallow. Nobody knew what their future would hold. We didn't know if they would live, walk, see, hear, or talk. All we knew is that we loved them, we wanted them, and that we knew the One who controls all things.

If you look at the Peas today and you didn't know our story, you may not even realize any of this. As you watch these two healthy, happy, smart, funny, rambunctious, sweet, adorable, observant, and feisty toddlers walk, run, climb, dance, talk, and play you would never know that their mother used to sit and think, "Will my babies ever___________?" In those early days, I truly didn't know that any of what my babies can do would ever be possible.

Everyday that I chase them around our home is a blessing. The climbing on the couch that I mentioned the other day? Well, that's a blessing too. The screaming and whining you're sure to hear if you are ever in our home? Music to this mama's ears. I remember a day when they couldn't cry because of the breathing tube that was down their throat. The food that I have to I pick up from the floor when they've had enough to eat? I don't mind at all, because my babies can eat by mouth and I do not have to feed them through a tube. The gibberish mixed with real words that I hear throughout the day ? A sigh of relief for me. The attitude that I get times two every day when they don't get their way? I smile because I know that those beautiful brains of theirs are in those beautiful brown heads working as they should, and not having to figure out how to compensate for a brain bleed. The fact that Nick Jr. has taken over every TV in my house? Not a problem, because the Peas can see, hear, listen to and understand their favorite shows. Chasing two babies around the house? Changing two diapers? Giving two baths? Wrestling two toddlers to get them dressed? Absolutely exhausting, but so worth it. I carried two babies into Yale New Haven Hospital almost 18 months ago, and I walked out of that NICU for the last time 89 and 95 days later with my two babies in my arms. Now if I choose to, I can take them back and they can walk through those doors all by themselves.

Sadly, some mama, somewhere can't say the same things. All because of prematurity.


The March of Dimes is an organization that has taken a stand against prematurity, and because of its research, babies like Ryan and Evan have benefited from life saving medicines and treatments. Ryan and Evan had to fight, but babies shouldn't have to fight. All babies deserve nine months. All of them. Please support The March of Dimes in its efforts to help make this possible.

Way, way too long!

It's been way, way too long since my last post! I got on a roll a week or so ago and learned how to schedule posts so that I could write a few posts at a time and have them automatically post on different days. Hopefully I can get back to that. I haven't even taken a lot of pictures of my precious Peas lately! ::hanging my head in shame:

We've been hanging out in the basement more lately and boy do these two love it! They can run and play and just have a grand 'ole time. Tonight the Peas joined me downstairs in my craft room (Lord, it's such a mess!) and they were playing so nicely that I just had to snap a picture of them. They were so sweet to let me have a few minutes to work on a project. We won't mention that Evan swiped a set of my stamps and threw them on the floor or that Ryan used a jar of my brads as a hammer on the wall!

So what's been up in the land of the Peas? Temper tantrums have entered our home and I am NOT a fan! Yep, these two beautiful brown boys can throw an all-out hissy fit! My babies are no longer babies; they are full-fledged toddlers now. We see them grow up each and every day. Their newest thing is climbing on the sofa. They get up there anytime that they want. That's not a good thing, because they try to run around up there, hang over the side, and sit close to the edge...backwards! Yikes! Ryan has been doing this for awhile, and Friday both Daddy P and I looked on in shock as Evan did it too! There's really nothing we can do to stop them either. **sigh** Once they figure out how to do something that's pretty much it! These two are certainly all boy. They have no fear and will try almost anything.

In other news...they both got approved for Synagis shots again this year! I'm glad about that. We have officially kicked the bottles habit! It wasn't easy convincing them to give up their night time bottle. We've had sippy cups thrown at us, we've been hit, kicked, and screamed at, and I swear I saw Evan roll his eyes at me once! I offered Ryan the sippy cup one night and he walked from across the room to shove the cup at me! Evan broke one of his cups one day--make that two of them! The second cup he broke happened by accident, I think. I had to quickly replace it since he loves this cup now!

We've started shopping for them for Christmas. I've bought their one big shared gift, a Fisher Price Learning Home. It was the last one left and I'm glad I bought it early because I cannot be on the news for fighting with someone in order to get the last hot Christmas toy on the shelf! I still have to order their personalized chairs from Land of Nod. Hopefully this will help solve our climbing on the sofa problem. We have some Thanksgiving-themed craft projects lined up. I found a new blog (new to me, at least) called I Can Teach my Child. There are lots of neat things there that you can do with your kids. I'm not sure of the URL, but I'm sure Mr. Google can find it for you if you're interested. That's about all with us! Have a great week:)

Having twins is...

a whole lotta work! Especially when you try really hard to make them...

look this cute...

for church...

and as you are headed out the door, already at least 10 minutes late, they decide to raid the Tupperware cabinet! You are now at least 15 minutes late because you have to pry their "toys" out of their hands and deal with the temper tantrums that are sure to follow!

Having twins is...

joy times two!

Having twins is...

expensive. We gotta make 'em earn their keep around here!

Feelin' Kinda Nostalgic...

Remember these two?

This was Ryan and Evan during October Fest last year.

And this was our big boy last night! The cutest monkey I ever did see:)

And check out Evan the tiger chatting it up with the cutest butterfly of all time!

Much has changed since last year. It used to be easy to pose them for a photo. Not anymore! This is the only shot I managed to get of these two together.

Daddy P talking to the children about how we as believers deal with Halloween.

Notice the monkey and the tiger who are front and center? I think they had issues with all the other children being so close to their daddy! The Peas LOVE their Daddy!

This boy had an absolute ball! He hit the ground running. Literally! You have no idea how it made my heart swell to see the look on his face as he took in all the festivities...as he ran and played with the other children...as he explored his surroundings. I love this kid something serious.

And this one. My sweet sweet boy who loves to figure out how things work. He was in love with the life-size checker game you see here. Never mind that a little boy and his friend were trying to play checkers! Ryan loved to roll the pieces around and around. I just watched him for a few minutes; I wanted get into my boy's head. I always knew that he liked to see how things work. He was more interested in exploring the mechanics of the bounce house than he was in jumping in it. A thinker this one is. He is everything to me...the one who made me a mommy first...words can't describe...

Kristine, one of my coworkers, came with her cutie pie, Q. Such a sweet boy he is! He gets it from his mama! I heart Kristine! Ry and Ev were not a fan of the stroller last night!

This was me all night, basically. Trying my best to keep an eye on two kids who wanted to run in opposite directions!

Our family at the end of a long, fun night! Look at the Peas...can you say worn out! Even Ryan's banana looks limp and tired!~ LOL

Nanny Notes

I've decided to start a new segment called Nanny Notes so I can recall some of the funny and interesting notes Nanny J leaves me to let me know how things go with the twins each day. Here are a couple of notes from this week:

"Evan really enjoyed his lunch today!"

" 'Best lunch ever' said the expression on his face as he dug into it"

I had actually taken these pictures the night before during dinner. We have fettuccine alfredo with chicken and broccoli once a week, because Ryan and Evan LOVE it! It's one of the sneaky ways I get veggies into these two! They will eat anything as long as it's in alfredo sauce. This is their current favorite meal, and it is pretty tasty, if I may say so myself!

Happy Friday!