Happy Halloween!

Photo #1:

Guinness, Georgia and Jackson waiting patiently for Trick or Treaters and the snacks that they will bring;

Photo #2: Guinness and Taylor relaxing after an exhausting day

Photo #3:

Neighbors Ashley and Sterling display their early parenting skills as they soothe Turner (left) and taylor (right); Boo had made these cute hats, but as you see, they caused much screams every time they were placed on, thus they stayed in the diaper bag!

Photo #4:
Taylor 's Halloween Outfit #2

What a day! In preparation for trick or treaters, the boys and I spent the day with Boo getting the house ready. We looked for the candy we had hid from daddy, washed and dried our many halloween outfits and tried everything on twice! Mommy was afraid that the dryer had shrunk them...thankfully all outfits fit great, although the boys were less than thrilled!

The afternoon was spent at daddy's school. College Park Elementary had a baby shower for daddy, so the boys and I attended. We arrived right as the bell rung to find daddy waiting for us and so happy to see us. WE LOVE OUR DADDY!!! We met his assistant, Karen, the counselors, special area teachers, special education team members, administrative staff and regular education teachers. It was fun seeing all of the costumes, as people were dressed as "graduates, Darth Vadar, a Mexican, a cat, and a witch". They served yummy food, including a cute cake with our name on it! Presents were everywhere, including a fun bathtub basketball set, diapers, gift cards and "100 Grand, Visine, Red Bull and ear plugs" for mommy and daddy. The boys slept soundly, minus the staff kept stopping mommy to change Taylor's diapers...to my surprise, there was no "downtown action" but gas. Whew--BAD GAS!!

You know that the day must have worn us out when we skipped the neighborhood Halloween party and golfcart hay ride. We did help mommy and daddy dress up the dogs for trick or treaters. We became overstimulated with the doorbell ringing because of the dogs barking and finally just placed the candy on the front porch. All was well, as the night ended being swaddled in bed.

WOW!

Ok, we have no pictures, but thought this deserved notice in the BLOG. Boo is one dedicated grandma! Thank you, Boo, for helping us daily. Mommy would be so much more tired and so much more cranky if you were not with us. Plus, we love the way you play and talk with us and straighten up our nursery. Maybe we will get your cleaning gene!

Boo has been borrowing Mommy's car while she helps mommy take care of us. We needed to get mommy's car downtown so Boo would have it the next morning to come over and relieve mom early! (Boo arrives every morning at 6 am, as Gan is sleeping in--he arrives around 9 or so "for breakfast".) Two hours later, we are finally in the car to head downtown. From our house, downtown is a short 10 minute drive. Mommy had two quick errands to run, so we thought we could make it downtown prior to needing to be fed again. Boy, were we wrong!

Picture this...little Boo climbing in the back seat of the BENZ between two car seats feeding and burping Taylor. Yep, little chubby cheeks had to eat NOW and had to do it at the Walmart shopping center's parking lot! Once she got out from the back seat, her feet were asleep!!

Mommy ran into Walmart ( I know....we practically go daily for something!) for more formula. The boys, who are chow hounds, take formula at night to help them sleep longer for mommy and daddy.....we went through a can in 3 days! Mommy is trying out different ones so had only bought 1 can thinking it would last for a week or so. Boy, was she wrong. One can lasted for 3 nights only. Yep, three nights!!! Thank goodness she is giving us breast milk during the day or she'd have to take out another mortgage on the house to buy formula! Lesson learned---buy stock in baby formula!!!

We are happy to report that mommy ventured out for a girl's night on the town. The boys got "A ratings" from their daddy, who stayed home and took care of them. Daddy did great...when mommy arrived home, Turner was "half milk drunk", laying in his bouncy seats, looking at the fan and smiling...Taylor was chowing down on a bottle as daddy fed him. Mommy enjoyed the few hours out and is so thankful to have such a dedicated, competent and willing daddy to let her go out!! And is thankful for her fabulous girl friends and their sense of humor, as Mommy had to bring the pump and "Hooter Hider" to girl's night---now, talk about interesting conversation! You all should have seen mommy pumping in Kim's kitchen as she prepared her homemade Tomato Bruschetta and talking to the girls.

Dragon Boat Racing

Daddy had to work late, so mommy ventured out with us to the Dragon Boat Races!
Here, Auntie Sabrina and Auntie Beth pose for a photo with us prior to the race starting. Auntie Sabina's Aunt Peggy, who is a cancer survivor, was paddling in the Cancer Survivor Boat and we were there to support her! Go Peggy...we are so proud of you!! Mommy had the boys bundled up in a sleeping bag for babies, a fleece sleeper and an outfit. Boy, were they bundled well and happily slept throughout the whole event!

There they are--this is actually two boats. Peggy's boat won two out of three races!

Turner and Taylor were sleeping so soundly that we decided to try dinner out. We figured there were three of us and two of them , so surely we would be safe! Poor Turner was bundled like a burrito and happy as a lark, but was sweating when Aunt Sabrina took him out! Here is Sabrina cuddling with Turner at Osaka ( a japanese/chinese restaurant in West Ashley)...they gave us a whole seperate room, thinking with two babies we might disturb the other guests! Even after Sabrina took him out to cuddle, he slept soundly on her chest throughout dinner, not awakening! Mommy and Aunt Sabrina enjoyed a hot meal of egg rolls, salad with ginger dressing and Hibiachi chicken, while poor Beth suffered through her Chow Mein as she ordered the wrong thing...she meant to order Lo Mein. Now, too bad she did not clarify with the "chinese speech therapist".

As you can see, Taylor enjoyed getting his "z's"...he did not awaken during the entire meal! Mommy came prepared and had their bottle ready, but no need for that! Even the smell of the yummy food did not cause them to stir.

Yep, this one is out of order. Aunt Sabrina and her Aunt Peggy pose with mommy for a photo opportunity. The wind roared as the boys slept...must have sounded like the womb! Who needs that 5th "s" when you have the wind roaring!! (Taylor up front and Turner in the back)

Peggy, we love the life preserver...that thing is so small that i don't think it could save a baby!!!

Another day in the life of a mom with twin boys...

Turner (right) and Taylor (left) enjoying some playtime as Mommy finds their outfits for the morning.

Taylor wide awake after the 3 am feeding, as mommy does the BLOG. Sunday's James Island County Park Adventures........

WE LOVE THE SUPERWALMART...where else can you do ONE STOP Shopping which is essential with twins!!!

Well, we have had another fun couple of days! (We are 5 weeks old.)

Sunday, we went on a family outing to James Island County Park with the whole family...3 dogs, 2 babies and a partridge in a pear tree. Imagine this...a big empty fenced in field with a pond in this gorgeous park setting. It was beautiful! Here I was pushing the double wide street safe only stroller through the grass (Bumpity-bump) as the dogs frollicked and Ben cleaned up their mess. We enjoyed watching the dogs swim, chase other dogs and be dogs. The boys enjoyed a morning nap, until Taylor awoke and wanted to be fed. I joke that Turner is my "snacker". Poor son gets that honestly from both his mom and dad, but no matter where we go, Taylor always has to stop and eat! I guess his cute cheeks do not hide that fact!!

Also, let it be known that you moms with one baby have it easy when you go shopping. On Sunday afternoon, for kicks, i took Taylor alone to the grocery store on Sunday. I thought if i was venturing alone, i would do a trial run with one baby--how easy was that!! I actually got to push a regular cart and left him in his carrier, placing him in the cart!! He looked around the store and seemed entertained by the bright lights, coloful food items and lots of visitors who wanted to see "the cute baby". Ben and Turner happily reported a fun hour watching the Falcon's game...you should have seen those two snuggled on the couch--it was priceless! Turner did his "touchdown pose" several times as his arms went up as i watched him upon my return...too bad the Falcons did not pull off a win!!

Sunday night was the worst night ever. Poor Taylor had a tummy ache and explosive diarhhea. He was up SREAMING all night, literally. He refused to poop because it was hurting him so bad and would scream because he needed to poop. I would get him soothed, asleep , and bam, the fireworks in his drawers would awaken him with more SCREAMS! After about 15 + messy diapers and no sleep, Taylor finally went down at 5 am.

Needless to say, Monday was a complete blurr. Boo was not here, Ben was at work and I somehow survied--oh yes, i know how, it was thanks to good ole Aunt Sabrina (who works from home) who relieved me at lunch to help feed the boys and bring me a coke! Caffeine....better than the best glass of wine any day in this mom's book!!!

Tuesday....I know people won't believe me, but we went to Walmart again. It seems that with two boys and a husband, I am always in need of something! I am going to contact Walmart and see if they want us to do an ad for them...the mini bus, the two boys and the two beautiful looking "helpers". I think that makes 3 visits in 2 weeks. They are starting to know us--yes, a warehouse bigger than a New York City block and they remember us. It must be the mini bus that gives us away!

The trip was pretty boring except Taylor screamed once we hit the photo section--he is not the shopper, clearly. Usually the freezer section is where the screams begin, but this time he thought he would offer the pleasure to the cameras!! Sweet Turner might be my shopping companion. He slept through the screams and soundly with little grunts at that. Turner can sleep anywhere and through anything!!! Oh, and we got the boys little Halloween outfits...photos to follow. They will be so cute!!!

Last visual...I always knew things would be different with kids, but I did not know how different every little thing would be. For example, white noise is now a staple for soothing babies. The boys scream at "witching hour" (6-10 pm is a fussy time) , and well, at other times too. Sometimes the screams make you crazy. I hear the screams in my sleep sometimes even after they have stopped. Well, i have found a cure! A vacuum...a simple household device. If you turn on the vacuum, they stop. I swear--try it moms, dads and grandmas everywhere!!

Poor Boo and Gan showed up on Monday night and found me napping on the couch, the boys napping in their bouncy seats, the dogs napping in their beds and the vacuum running itself full force! I am sure their first reaction was priceless..." that poor girl feel asleep while tying to clean the house for us!" When in the car and there are screams, you turn the radio on am static LOUD and bam, you have two sleeping babies back asleep in no time!!! You can imagine Boo's reaction when I made us ride home from Walmart with not her usual beach music, but static. NICE. I might lose traveling companions with the reading of this BLOG report.

Well, i am happy to say, Taylor as been fed (He is not going to miss a meal, despite it is 3 am!), i have "made milk" and Turner is still sleeping. I felt certain that i would be re-awoken by Turner, so i thought i would complete this week's BLOG report. Turner is still sleeping. He has been asleep for 5 hours....SWEET! He is our son!!! And yes, this paranoid mom has already checked him twice to make sure he is ok. Just soundly sleeping and it in night.

Well, I am off to bed and Ben can feed him later. TaTa!!!!

Football Saturday!

Daddy has baby duty today, which works out great as the boys can enjoy their first football Saturday! Saturday's have always been filled with us watching the games in the fall. Usually, we are eating lunch at Poes or Wild Wings. We have been too scared to venture out for football Saturdays with the two bambinos quite yet, but are enjoying teaching them the ropes at home. Mommy enjoyed an outing to run errands and grab Momma Brown's take out with Guinness in tow and is now enjoying some private time with the pump to post these photos and play on facebook! Then, mommy will be enjoying a much needed nap with her favorite hound, Guinnie.

Here are some recent photos for y'all to enjoy. I am still trying to figure out how to crop them, so get ready to turn your head to the right. I don't know how to do captions either, so here goes:

photo 1: Turner (right) and Taylor (left)--they had just finished holding hands, but I missed the photo op as I ran downstairs to find the camera!

2: Guinness and Turner lounging

3. Turner displaying one of his many "I am king" outfits

4. Taylor hanging out--classic pose!

5. The nursery, which has 2 matching cribs, a dressor, bookshelves, a glider, a swing, and a refrigerator.....colors are red, black and white for " GO DAWGS and FALCONS!"

I don't think they nearly do justice to the boys, who continue to make us laugh and smile every day. We have about lost our minds with their piercing cries at times, but the good memories pervail! We have been trying for days to get a fun announcement photo, but are still finding that challenge upon us.

There are lots of firsts with new boys...

It hit me today, as two people have asked me, that i have not posted anything in almost a week! Sorry, fellow supporters and loved ones!! We are 4 weeks old.

Let's see...we've had a great week. Cindarella (aka Boo) was back for the week. I welcomed the company to assist with the boys, help keep my own sanity and utilize her fabulous organizational skills. Poor Boo is a neat freak and is married to one, thus the household in which Ben and i happily live in seems like utter chaos to her. Boo has managed to organize every cabinet, closet and drawer in our downstairs--I told her the upstairs was off limit, minus the boy's room! She vaccums every day to return the next day to find dog hair--yep, three labs and there is dog hair, regardless of the amount that you clean!!!

first for the weeks...let me count the occasions!
1. I got sprayed and pooped on....I was changing Turner and lifted his legs to wipe his bottom and bam, he pooped and I was sprayed with poo all over my shirt and pants. As a natural reaction, i jumped out of the way, so he ended up spraying the pack n'play and the chair behind me as well. Thank goodness for Resolve!!

2. I mananged to figure out how to happily soothe and feed them both via bottles at the same time with the use of two boppies! My life just became easier and more productive!!

3. Both boys have slept almost 4 hours for two nights.....YES!!! Looks like they are inheriting their love of sleep from the daddy!!

4. I have a clogged milk duct, which hurts like crap. Not a happy first, but since i have been breast feeding for almost 5 weeks i feel lucky that this is my first and hopefully only one!!! The cure is massage with heat and pumping/feeding every 2 hours--yeah right, who has time to do that with twin boys!!!

5. Ben and I have managed to take the boys in the mini bus and the three dogs on their leashes on walks through the neighborhood for the past 4 days!!! This is typical for us (pre-boys) , so you can imagine our excitement to have this activity back in our lives!!

6. Proudly, i announce that Ben has been doing the wee hour feedings while i pump, which has been a huge help. Thank you, baby!!! It is so nice to wake up to pump and find both boys fed or being fed. He is really embracing fatherhood and it suits him very well!!!

We took some great photos, but have still not managed to get the boys together in the same photo for our announcement. Stubborn things...one is smiling, the other one is screaming. One is looking to the left, the other is covering his face with his hand. You get it--so, we shall keep trying!!! ** We will work on posting photos soon--with the extra pumping and feeding, i have had less time on my hands than normal this week.

! month checkup

Mom and I took the boys to the pediatrician today for their 1 month visit and left with great news! Both boys are growing well and still continue to be healthy. Turner, who was born 6 pounds 2 oz., is now 7 pounds 11 oz. and Taylor, who was born 6 pounds 9 oz., is now 8 pounds 5 oz. We were not surprised by the weight gain because it seems all of our free time is spent feeding , burping and changing messy diapers, which is a sign that they are digesting the food well. Some days they eat every 2 hours...and i wonder why i have no free time to return phone calls or do laundry!

Both boys are experiencing reflux; poor Taylor has nasal regurgitation, which is typical with reflux. Dr. Zimlich has put them on Zantac so hopefully that will help. Guess both boys got my stomach problems--hopefully no food allergies will appear later!! I am thankful to have worked in the NICU while at MUSC so I am prepared to properly postion them, feed them and give medicine via the smallest syringe that you have ever seen!

We got the camera working and have been playing around with it, but now have to figure out how to upload to the computer so we can download to the blog. Hopefully, daddy can do that this weekend as he is the technology expert in the family! Overzealous dad is going to teach the boys how to powerwash the porches this weekend--sweet!!! I knew having boys would be helpful....I will have yard slaves in about 12 years!!! (Not that it ever stopped my dad with Caroline and I. We picked up more leaves and distributed more pine straw in Charlotte and more gravel at Sunset Beach as a child than any neighborhood son I feel certain.)

Mommy and daddy are looking forward to a date night tonight and are hitting our favorite downtown thai restaurant for dinner then off to a friend's birthday bash! Hope the boys behave themselves for their Gan and Boo.

First Walmart Outing

It seems in baby world there is a first for everything. Cindarella (aka mom) was back in town for the week--whew, thank goodness because we had NO FOOD and needed staples like milk, juice, etc.

Mom and I decided to venture to the Super Walmart in hopes of getting everything in one stop. Man, what an adventure. We did everything we knew to prepare for the trip--feed the boys, change them, re-pack the diaper bag. The minute we started shopping, Taylor started screaming.

Just to give you a picture of the boys....Taylor is usually the mild temperament one. If he is fussy, it is because a basic need is needed....diaper changing, pacifier to soothe himself, bottle, etc. Turner, bless his soul, has my fireball personality. When he gets fussy, it takes him some time and much effort to calm down--wonder which grandpa he inherited that personality from! I can already see who is going to have words with the world in the near future! Turner is his mother's son!

Ok, back to the storyline...Taylor, Turner and i ventured halfway across the store and back to the bathroom so I could change him while Boo manned the half filled cart of items. We bring the "mini bus" or "double snap and go" as big as a volkswagon bug into the regular sized bathroom and i start the process of getting him changed--nope that was not it. Darn it, so there i stand beside the nasty stall, digging through the diaper bag for the bottle feeding one while moving the mini-bus to keep Turner calm. We manage to make it out of the bathroom, as I feed Taylor with one and push the mini bus with the other , only to find Boo patiently waiting with the groceries. Poor thing finished feeding Taylor, watching Turner while i played my version of supermarket sweep through the Super Walmart!

And my famous words, the bottom line is wow! Everything is different and so much more time consuming with a baby, let alone two! The rest of the trip was uneventful and the boys seemed to enjoy the car ride home and did great as we unpacked the car. We were welcomed with open arms by the dogs---grocery bags always mean there is a treat for them, well, except when screaming babies are involved because then you forget half the things you needed!! Funny thing is that your brain does not return after pregnancy is gone--we pulled the Benz into the driveway to find I had accidently left Georgia (the oldest, lazy--thank goodness- lab) outside in the front yard! Yep, Ben, I did it!!! (Ben did the same thing one day and in my hormonal pregnancy days, i had chewed him out, so now it was me!!!)

PS- The best part of the trip was the fact that i finally managed to get us a new camera so pictures will follow after Ben figures it out!!!Photos to come......

First Road Trip

We made it! Our first road trip was full of adventures. We ventured to St. Simon's Island for a brief getaway so the boys could meet their cousins and aunts and uncles on the Slade side. Let it be known, that the weekend was not complete without the Webster gang...how we missed the bright eyes of Rush, Havens and Sunny!!

We all woke up at 5 am on Saturday, thinking that would be a better time for the boys to ride in the car. Whoops, did we underestimate how long it would take for us to get them fed, ready and get the car packed. At 7 am, we were fighting with the car seats in Ben's truck and second guessing our decision. After re-loading the gear and boys in the Benz, we finally left at 7:30....yep, 2 1/2 hours to get on the road! The boys did great riding there with only one stop for a brief "snack" at a favorite convenience store outside of Savannah.

We enjoyed a day of meeting the gang....Cousins Anna, Zoe, Kelly, Ella, Jack and Elizabeth anxiously and patiently took turns holding the boys and trying to figure out who was who. Aunts Catherine and Krista and Uncles Scott and Barrett offered much needed advice and an extra set of hands. Granny and Poppy helped feed and entertain the boys so mommy and daddy could rest a little. Saturday night was especially fun as we introduced the boys to some dear friends and neighbors on Meadows Drive...Jamie, Chris and Caitlin Wiles. The boys were able to see Caitlin's awards as she had won "All Around" at a gymnist event that day. Poor Caitlin was "sprayed" by Taylor though...guess we were all glad it was just a spraying not a pooping! We enjoyed our first outing at a "4th of May" restaurant for Sunday brunch...mommy and daddy were hoping we would have slept, but who would miss that excitement! As we were each held, mommy and daddy wolfed down their breakfast in record time. I swear we could win some eating contest now!!

And no, we still have not made it to replace our broken digital camera. We had every intention of heading to Target yesterday, but with the excitement of the Atlanta Falcons winning again, we got distracted!!! I swear the boys's first words will be "GO FALCONS" if daddy has anything to do with it....

We're here!

Ok, our mommy is a little behind with the BLOG--we are three weeks old! We were born on September 18th via scheduled c-section at St. Francis Hospital. Turner (Ben Turner Slade V) arrived first at 5:39 pm and Taylor (Taylor Fitzhugh Slade) arrived a minute behind at 5:40 pm. Turner was named after his daddy and grandfather, Poppy, while Taylor's middle name, Fitzhugh, came from his grandpa, Gan. We are happy to report we have all of our parts and are healthy boys! Turner weighed 6 pounds 2 oz. and Taylor weighed 6 pounds 9 oz. We look exactly like our daddy....except that Turner has his mommy's dark hair.

Our grandparents and mom's best friend, Sabrina, were present at birth, all anxiously awaiting our arrival! Upon arrival home, you can see our furry friends were happy to have us home...Jackson and Guinness just stared at the new arrivals, while Georgia ran at the piercing cries.

So far, we have have had many visitors, including our cousins, Rush, Havens, Sunny and John 5. Most recently, our cousin John 5 ( 2 1/2) cried because he only wanted to hold Taylor. We are enjoying girl's nights with mommy and her friends and managed to enjoy the aftermath of some yummy virgin peach daiquiri's while watching our first movie, "Sex in the City". Daddy is already teaching us about being faithful to the Atlanta Falcons, while Boo and Gan, along with Poppy and Granny are spoiling us rotten. We enjoyed visiting with our great grandmas and hopefully will have pictures to soon post from our visit with them.

In the midst of the chaos, our parents broke the digital camera so we have 101 disposables, but no way to post more photos to the blog at this point. Between changing diapers, feeding us and soothing us with the incoorporation of the 5 s's, there has been no time to go buy another one!