30 Weeks!

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas! Ours was great....I am still waiting for some pictures and then I'll do a post. Maybe you're "Christmas posted out"...so it will be super exciting when I do post...haha.

So...I am now 30 weeks. Wow....in the 30's...feels good and crazy all at the same time. I had my OB appointment today and have some new prayer requests so here's the run down!

* Boys are still feet down...like I said before I'm mentally preparing myself for a C-Section, but I am still praying they will flip around so I don't have to. I'd love you to pray for this as well!

* I have started to dilate. Not too bad, but I'm at a 1. He has told me I need to slow it down. Giving up things like laundry, and lots of lifting. My husband has asked me not to grocery shop alone or do anything extra and my OB has asked me to listen to my husband :) I'm a worrier. And because I worry, it will make me slow down...but I don't want to live in fear. I just want these boys to stay in until at LEAST 36 weeks. NO NICU time is a HUGE prayer request since we've gone through it before and would just prefer NOT to do it again :)

* My OB will be out of town during my 37th week :( ...the week he wanted me to get to and then induce/c-section. SOoooooo.....at my 34 week u/s we will see how the boys are doing and decide from there if we will schedule their birth on February 10th (36 weeks 3 days) or if we schedule it for February 22nd (38 weeks 2 days) So that u/s will tell us a LOT. How they are positioned and what the next step is. I very well could go into labor on my own while he's gone and we'll just have to deal with that. I know God is in control and these things have a way of working themselves out...but I LOVE my OB and really want him to deliver these boys! 

All else looks great, and I am feeling pretty good. Sleep is awful, heartburn is bad, and I get pretty sore and tired easily. But all things considered....I'm doing great! Just praying these next 6-7 weeks go by smoothly and quickly!

Jack

My gorgeous son :)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Bowen Family!

"If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words, these would be the words: "God with us." We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ. The greater truth of the holiday is His deity. More astonishing than a baby in the manger is the truth that this promised baby is the omnipotent Creator of the heavens and the earth!"

John F. MacArthur, Jr.

My little sister got engaged!

So, on Tuesday night my sister got engaged!! Here is a link to the story and pictures....it's amazing and totally worth checking out!!



Surprise Proposal!

Random Wednesday

There are things I usually are picky about, but when I'm pregnant...and THIS pregnant, I could really care less.

Like I sorta double park right now. If I don't, and some really smart person parks to close to my car, I literally can NOT get Jack in the car and buckle him in. Luckily those times have happened when my husband was with me, but I double park now.

Usually at Christmas time my husband and I do this thing where we park in the FIRST spot we see, even if it is 15 miles from the entrance. Leaving the closer spots for someone else...but this year, I drive around for awhile until I find something closer.

I ALWAYS put my cart back in the correct spot. I unload my groceries, and keep Jack buckled in. Then, we take the cart back and walk back together. But this year, if I was not able to get a spot near a cart corral...I leave it. I know, it's so bad...but I'm okay with it right now.


I made some Gooey Butter Cake Cookies yesterday and we're in the process of making some Peppermint Pinwheels right now! Both are Paula Deen recipes....have you noticed I'm kinda in love with her stuff!!?
And those chocolate dipped pretzels were amazing...and they are now gone. So, I will make more of those tonight. They are SO easy!!

My little bit of shopping is done and the wrapping is done ( anyone else hate that part?!) And we might go look at lights again tonight...as Christmas approaches I find myself already sad at the thought of it being done. Not for me, but for Jack. He loves the lights, the snowmen, the Christmas tree's etc. He's just a little too young to understand that you just pack it all up and wait another year! :)

Any of you baking any yummies this week? Fellow blogger Glowin Girl made some AMAZING things...her pictures make me drool. Head over there for some yummy recipes and PICTURES!!

Pictures of the Twin's Bedroom

So, here are some pictures of the boys' room! It's not done (still needing a second crib and some extras like a lamp and some airplanes from the ceiling and pics on the wall!)
 BUT I am so happy with it! The clothes are all washed and put away and I'm just SO ready for them to be here...but I want them to stay in as long as possible!!

Jack showing off his brother's room! That super cute diaper caddy in the background is from my blogging friend Robin at Partialemptynester....how sweet is she?!!?

One of the cribs with some super cute pilot bears! These were on top of the most amazing diaper cake I have EVER laid eyes on!!

The refurbished dresser! Bought for $10 at our church garage sale and my Mom's best friend Lynette worked her magic!!

Look at the cute knobs she found!

Those diapers will last a week maybe?!?! AHHH!!! :)



Family Day

Yesterday was one of those days that you mark down in your journal as near perfect. Whenever you plan something that involves your children and something new, you just never know what you're going to get!

We've been wanting to take Jack up to the snow this winter before I got too big, or wasn't able to travel and before the twins got here. So, yesterday was the day!

We are lucky to live near snow, but not have it covering OUR streets. (Although every now and then it'd be nice!) So we got ourselves ready in the morning and headed up to Union Creek which is a little over an hour away. They have a great little sledding area!

We bundled up (Jack's total outfit costing us only $30 thanks to a great second-hand store!) and when we got there, we were the only ones!! Jack was so darn excited he could hardly stand it.

Trev pulled him around on his little sled for a bit, and then sent him down a small hill a couple of times before they both got on the bigger sled and went down together, while I shot video and pictures :) It wasn't the greatest snow, no snowmen to be made, but it was clear and sunny, and cold!

After playing for awhile we headed over to Beckie's Cafe for some early lunch (they are famous for their pie, but were out of Trev's favorite). Jack totally crashed on the way home, sledding is tiring on a little body.

Later that afternoon I made Paula Deen's Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls and some Mint Chocolate Dipped Pretzels with Christmas Sprinkles while Trevor took his nap :)
That evening we had a nice dinner out and then headed to look at some amazing Christmas lights!

After tucking Jack into bed, Trev and I wrapped presents and sipped on hot cocoa while watching one of my favorite movies of all time, "It's a Wonderful Life"...I seriously cry every time I watch it!

It was such a great day, no meltdowns, no injuries....it was like I said, near perfect! I love that we are able to do this kind of thing with Jack, and I am treasuring each moment with just him. He might not remember, but the pictures will tell him.

I can't believe it's Christmas week! This Sunday IS Christmas Sunday! It's the furthest you can get from Christmas and have it be Christmas Sunday...isn't that crazy! We have some busy days ahead, but all the good kind of busy. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Jesus Loves Me

Jack isn't too fond of the camera....the smiling pictures you see take quite a bit of effort on our part :)

So, the video isn't great quality because I was trying not to be obvious! At the end Jack starts to say, "All done Jesus Loves Me"...basically, he was all done singing thank you very much MOM!
I love this though...it just melts my heart!

28 Weeks!

I cannot believe I am 28 weeks already....actually 28 weeks 3 days :) We had our check-up today and the ultrasound to check their growth.

Here's a little rundown!

* Both boys are breech with their little feet down low. Their heads are basically right up against one another at the top of my belly :) There is still time for them to flip around and that's what they are praying for. But I am preparing myself mentally for a C-Section.

* I am measuring at 36 weeks :) This is how big I was when I had Jack. That is just CRAZY to me!! But totally normal for twins.

* Mr. Camden is weighing in at 2lbs 7oz and Mr. Christian is weighing in at 2lbs 9oz!!!! They are measuring almost the same which is so great and only a few ounces behind a singleton baby! Our Doctor was very happy with this!

*Fluid levels are great

* They have long fingers like their Mama. :) And long feet too!

* I have only gained 14lbs. But their weight is great, so no worry there!

* Just a 'finger-tip' of dialation, but nothing to be concerned about. He is so happy with how I've progressed, or better yet, NOT progressed! In fact, because they are feet down, it decreases the chance of pre-term labor since there is no real pressure down there, just little feetsies and membrane! So, in that sense, it's good!

* We'll go back in 2 weeks for another routine check-up at 30 weeks and then our next u/s will be at 34 weeks!
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We're continuing to pray for:

*Growth. For them to be on track and to be about the same in weight.
*For them to flip around so a C-Section is not necessary
*For them to go to the full 37 weeks
*NO NICU time (getting to 37 weeks would be HUGE in this!)

So, our little guys are totally camera shy. We were hoping for some good shots, since the 20 weeks u/s didn't really give us any. Sigh...not to be. Here's what we got....we'll have to wait until they are here to snap away :) I tried to label them to make it easier to make out...I can see them clearly, but you might be wondering what the heck you are looking at :)

Christian. Hand is up by his face, eyes closed. You can see part of his nose and lips.

Profile of Christian. Lying on his back, nose up :)



And...Camden's foot :) I flipped it so it's easier to see.



Maternity Shots :)

All taken by Lacie with
Catching Memories Photography



http://catchingmemoriesphoto.blogspot.com/

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He knew

Our church had it's Christmas program yesterday. Love's Plan was the name of it. Simple, yet powerful. The basic message was He has a plan in it all, and it includes you. Just because it's Christmas doesn't mean that life comes to a halt. There is still pain, sickness, sorrow and difficulty. And sometimes it can be difficult to be joyful. But through it all, He has a plan and it will come to pass.
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Last year we had two showings of the Christmas program. One on a Friday night, and the next one on the Sunday night. On that Saturday in between, I found out I had lost our baby while laying on a cold table in the E.R.
Our baby that we told our family about on Thanksgiving, a day of thanks. Our baby we were celebrating that Christmas. Gone. No heartbeat. No movement. Nothing.

I felt raw. Robbed of joy. Robbed of my favorite season of all. I felt cheated. It ripped my insides apart. Christmas was in 6 days. How in the world could I pick myself up enough to put a smile on my face? How could I not rob Jack of Christmas fun? How could I even breathe?
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That next day, Sunday, my sweet husband had to go to the program to play and sing. I know the only way he was able to, was by God's grace. One of the ladies in the program sang "One Child" often sung by Natalie Grant. He had to leave the sanctuary because the words were too much:

The seed, it grows and somehow becomes a life

It moves, she knows that her baby has arrived,

She's so scared, but she's so blessed

She lays down her fear for the hope at her breast for she knows...

One million chains could never hold back this moment in time

One thousand dreams could never dream what this moment truly means

Heaven and earth, they cradle the infinite Joy born on this night

For it only takes one Child to forever change the world

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Too soon. Too raw to hear those words, although sung about our Christ, it pierced his heart and it was too much
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Fast forward one year:
For probably the first and last time,  my husband didn't have a major role in this Christmas program. It was so nice to sit next to him and enjoy it together. As soon as he sat down I placed his hand upon my tummy. The boys were going nuts. Moving all over. He began to weep, right there while the choir was belting out songs of joy and hope and peace. Tears began streaming down my face as the realization took place. Last year I was mourning the loss of our unborn child and this year, this Christmas we had two babies, two boys moving around inside of me kicking and stretching. With each kick, bringing with it tears of joy!___________________________________________________________________

He knew. He saw this Christmas. He knew last year what this year would hold. He comforted us all while seeing what lay before us. He saw our pain, but He had so much in store for us. He could see our anger, hurt, He knew we had questions and felt empty. He begged us to keep bringing it all to Him to carry and restore. And we did. We continued to cry out to Him, wondering why. Asking for peace. Asking for joy. And that we would not have to wait long to have another child. He saw this all. And not only has He given us back what we lost, but He has doubled our portion. He has exceeded our expectations. He has given us twice the joy. He has given us the perfect testimony, the perfect open door to share about His goodness, His faithfulness and His plan.
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I can't even begin to describe the joy I feel. The fullness of joy. And I know there are others out there that this Christmas are feeling despair, discouragement, worry, fear, anger, sorrow and distrust. But I promise you that He has not forgotten you. He has a plan, and trusting can be the hardest thing in the world when you have not reached the other side. But stay faithful, trust Him. He is faithful, He does have a plan. 

"When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!" Job 42:10  (NLT)