New Arrivals

Are they boxing or snuggling? The one below is definitely a snuggle. :)

Brian has his hands full now!

Claire stretches out more than any baby I have every seen. She doesn't just stay in that scrunched up fetal position.

Ronan is Thomas made over...we can't believe the resemblance.

I feel divided! Who do I pick up first? Who do I talk to first? :)

Connor greeting Ronan. He says "too cute mama, too cute!".

Just as Lauren is partial to Claire, Thomas thinks Ronan is the coolest.

We were all smiles when Claire came home.

Claire and Ronan McCarthy were born on June 8, 2009. 8:49am and 8:50am respectively. Claire came out screaming her head off and weighed in at 5lbs, 10oz and 18.5inches long. Ronan made a quieter entrance and measured 6lbs even and 19.5inches long.

Claire was able to join us in our hospital room several hours after the birth. Ronan had a few breathing porblems and had to head to the NICU. We were able to visit him later that day and then began the process of nursing Claire, pumping milk, and taking it to Ronan in a bottle.

We brought Claire home on Thursday afternoon, and were able to pick Ronan up the very next evening. With everything said and done, we feel VERY lucky to have everyone home within the week with no major complications for babies or mom.

C-section is quite the experience. Very different from what I had done in the past, but again, I am very thankful for the c-section option considering that both babies were breech and Ronan was significantly bigger than Claire. It is doubtful that he would have made it out behind her in a vaginal delivery. Everything happens for a reason. I am absolutely confident that God was watching out for us every step of the way on this twin pregnancy journey. We joke now that we apparently moved to El Paso just to finish the pregnancy and have our babies! Whatever the reason(s) we are ready and eager to move back to the Corrales area as a stonger, better, bigger family! See you all soon.

Arkeology

The whole cast! Along with Thomas' graduation, the school did a spring program called Arkeology. They sang songs about Noah and all the animals. Lauren was a giraffe...appropriate,as she is a head taller than every kid in her class and even some of T's classmates. We had to stick a bow on Lauren's giraffe mask because she is rarely without one herself. :)

Connor and Brian and I play a little as we wait for the action to start.

Mini Graduates

These pictures are a little out of order. Here, we wait for curbside pick up after all is said and done. This was my first outing after being on bed rest and there was no way I was walking uphill to the car. :)
Lauren keeps asking when she will graduate. I am not sure how to tell her that I don't think the Corrales pee wee program does a graduation and I know they don't do a kinder graduation at Corrales. We just might have to stage our own. She has seen Thomas graduate TWICE now...once from preschool and now from Kindergarten. I really think it is unnecessary and over the top at this age, but I will admit it is pretty darn cute!

The picture below cracks me up! We had been at the pool all day and the graduation didn't start until 7:30pm. We are almost always in bed by 8:00pm.

The class played Mary Had a Little Lamb and Ode to Joy on the recorders. I spared you all the painful video.

Congratulations little Thomas! We love you and are very proud of your kidergarten progress, especially having changed schools. You proved to be a very outgoing and adaptable kid...way to go!!!

Family of Five

What are the chances??? Everyone is smiling and looking at the camera!!! Likely our last picture as a family of five. All of us are so excited for June 8th to roll around and make us a family of seven, but we are really trying to appreciate Thomas, Lauren and Connor and all that makes each of them special. Thomas the smarty pants, Lauren the entertainer, and Connor the sweetheart. The kids keep saying there will be seven kids in our family and we have to remind them that it is seven PEOPLE, "only" five kids. Brian and I have minor heart attacks every time they say seven kids. :) Wondering what Claire and Ronan will be like....so excited to meet them.

I'm Freeeee! Well, sort of.

I was finally able to get out of the house for something other than a doctor appointment! We took the kids to the pool. Of course I was barely able to walk from the car to the chair and then from the chair to the water and back again. Once in the water it was FABULOUS to feel weightless and to hold the kids who felt weightless also. I miss being able to move freely and be physical with the kids.

The sunshine did wonders for my mood too. I think we will be spending a lot of time at the pool this week as we eagerly await the now scheduled birth. One week (at the most) to go!!!

Oh! And check out the McCarthy boys' matching summer buzz cuts. I think they look so cute!

Diva!

Lauren is by far the best bed rest entertainer! She put on a great fashion show the other day. I must say that being on bed rest has forced the kids to develop more independence. Usually I have to put the dresses on and fasten the backs and help with accessories....not anymore! She did it all by herself. :) Bed rest has had its up sides...oh, except for one thing....IT STINKS and I HATE IT! Okay, hope you enjoyed the pictures of my little diva princess.

A Prayer of Gratitude

Thank you Lord for all your gifts of love, especially for those we often overlook.
Thank you for friends--to increase our love for you.
Thank you for enemies--to increase our tolerance.
Thank you for joys and happiness--to strengthen our faith in you.
Thank you for trials and tribulations--to strengthen our trust and perseverance.
Thank you for the times when all goes well--to teach us serenity.
Thank you for the days when things are rough--to teach us patience.
Thank you for our successes--to increase our confidence.
Thank you for our failures--to increase our humility.
Thank you, Lord, for the ups and downs of life.
Thank you, Lord, for the precious gift of life itself.
Help us to continue to grow and to learn, to love and be grateful.
Comfort us when we are disturbed; disturb us when we become too comfortable.
Thank you, Lord, for being by our side.

Leo M. Kozeny and Father Mike Hanson, OMI