Henry & Juliette

I went to my 38 week appointment completely defeated- it was time to schedule a C-section. I was preparing myself mentally for the surgery and the long recovery, knowing that there was nothing else I could do to go into labor myself, and accepting that my body had reached its limit.

My doctor left the room to call the hospital and reserve the OR. Three minutes later, she came back to say, "I don't want to section you. I can't do it. What if we compromise? What if you come in on Wednesday morning, and I'll break your water for you?"
I was speechless. Was she really going to help me, and give me a chance at a natural birth with twins?! I jumped from my chair to hug that angel of a woman.

"Look-it! Look-it! Babies! Babies!"

I waited five long days, only to be bumped down the list all day Wednesday. There simply were no empty beds, and the nurses apologized profusely. "Bristyl, it is crazy here. I'm so sorry! We all want you to have these twins today! We'll call you in a few hours with another update." At the end of the day, my doctor called to talk about my options. If I wanted her to deliver me, I would have to wait until Friday- and by the grace of God, I survived the next 36 hours.

Just after 9 am on Friday, Dr. Lacy broke my water. For the next thirty minutes, I didn't have a single contraction, and then, it finally happened. By the time the anesthesiologist gave me an emergency epidural, I was completely dilated. Henry was born first, at 12:14, and Juliette followed fifteen minutes later. He weighed 8 lbs 9 oz, and she weighed 7 lbs 7 oz- that is exactly 16 lbs of baby! I think I broke a few records.

 I don't know how God did it. There were times during my pregnancy when I couldn't eat or drink or walk or even move-- and through it all, I was carried by my faith. He pulled off the miracle He promised in the answers to a thousand prayers. My heart is so full of gratitude. Every time I look into the faces of my two little babies, I think I'll just burst with joy.

 On Thursday, Taryn travels back to San Diego and I am officially on my own. It's daunting, but could there be anything more worth the chaos? Wish me luck!

All the Princesses

Princess Aurora on her 4th birthday!

London is four! Grandma Holly, Grandpa John, Sierra, Maeci, and Kaden all came to Maple Valley to celebrate the birth of my sweet girl. Her party was just perfect. She picked her six favorite princesses: Rapunzel, Snow White, Ariel, Cinderella, Aurora, and Tiana, and I went to work. 

Kyle made this amazing banner...

My friend Rachel from Cloud 9 Confections designed these cupcakes for me, as well as the caramel apples. Aren't they darling?! The candies were for princess goody bags- one candy for each princess.

The kids' favorite part was decorating these foam princess crowns with self-adhesive jewels. They were all so creative! Elle stayed at the table for the entire party, adhering jewels to everything within arm's reach.

Here, the kids are dancing to Disney music, twirling their little legs off. We also played pin the kiss on the frog, where the kids all cheated and put their lips directly on the frog's. Everyone won!

London has this new-found confidence as a four-year-old. She keeps saying, "I can do that, because I'm four!" I'm not ready for her to grow up---I'm especially not ready for her to start preschool next month! I love this girl of mine!

26 Days in a Hospital Bed

The morning after Kyle's birthday, I went into labor. The thing about having twins at 32 weeks and 3 days is that the doctors will do anything and everything to stop you from delivering... over and over again. I was given medications I didn't even know existed, with a long list of side effects that lasted for hours or days. Trying to stay positive during all the pain was the hardest thing I've done in my life.

Each time my contractions stabilized once more, I was given the freedom to be pushed in a wheelchair outside.

The girls became quite the hospital celebrities!

I somehow managed to stay sane with the help of some seriously wonderful people. My sisters and parents came to my rescue, spending all day at the hospital with me and bringing my girls to visit every other day. My saint of a mother used all her vacation time, plus a few extra days generously given by her boss, to stay by my side. Kyle came each night after work, held me tight, and serenaded me with his guitar. My sister-in-law watched London and Elle countless times, taking them on all the adventures I wish I could've this summer. Everyone from church sent notes and well wishes, and planned play dates for the girls throughout the weeks. My friends brought laughs--- and stacks of books, and I read and read, disappearing into the pages for hours at a time.

I came to love everyone in the hospital, from the maids to the food-delivery people, to the nurses, and every doctor and specialist. I learned about their families and histories, and they learned mine, too. When these twins finally make their grand entrance, it will be among a team of friends---it brings me so much comfort!

At 36 weeks and 1 day, I was released from the hospital and taken off all medications. And now, we wait!

The sweetest notes from my friends at church!

Welcoming Summer

We've had so many visitors in the past few weeks! Grandma Hollie, Nana, Popi, Uncle Noah, Auntie Tarynie, and OJ have all come to town to spend a weekend with us. Here are some of the fun things we did together...

Grandma Hollie teaching Elle how to drive

Maple Valley Days Parade

Showing Uncle Noah the sights on his first visit to Seattle!

Strawberry picking in Carnation

Here's a little update on Elle:

"I want nana...I want soozie too."

"You want a banana and a smoothie?"

"OKAYYYY!"

Elle is growing up way too fast. Her sweetest voice is so raspy, and she talks and talks all day long. She adds an IE to the end of most of her nouns...so we end up with "milkie" "snackie" "fishie" "bonkie", and her favorite word, "horsie". She never says the word "yes", only "OKAYYYY!!!!" with the brightest, cheeriest smile her face can muster. She has names for all her books, and she brings them to me every minute of the day. "Mommy, read it." Then she slaps the place she wants to sit with her flat little hand and adds, "sit-by-you." And as soon as I'm finished, "AGAIN!" We read for hours and hours- my only reprieve being a movie with a "horsie" in it, or a princess coloring book.

She says "please" and "thank you" in the purest voice ---------and "bless you" after anyone within hearing distance sneezes. Such a good girl!

When her feelings get hurt, she runs away from the situation, pretending to cry, her lips curled in the most pitiful pout, and heads straight toward the nearest wall. She stays with her face against the wall for about four seconds, collects herself, and comes running right back.

Aunt Melissa swinging the day away with these darling cousins!

And on London:

London had her first dance recital last weekend. Almost a year of dance class, and she was ready to perform one dance in ballet and one in tap. London was an angel on the stage- so concentrated on the steps and putting her arms in just the right position. I cried the proudest mom tears.

London's first dance recital

She adores Mrs. Liz!

She is also quite the artist. When I'm resting, London loves to color the most beautiful pictures of our family, or fill in each detail in her coloring books with brightly colored crayons. She'll say, "Do you like my picture, Mom?" And I always ooh and aah, because it really looks amazing, and then she'll say, "You're welcome!" and skip back to the table to do it all over again.

At Lake Wilderness with Popi

She wants to help with absolutely everything. If I'm doing the laundry, she helps me load it, dry it, fold it, put it away. If I'm cooking dinner, she is measuring ingredients and mixing it for me. If Kyle is running errands, London goes with him, insisting that he needs a "helper". She helps me clean the house--- dust, windex, put the toys away---everything I do, she is by my side, and completely proud of being my "helper".

And a cuddle with Nana

How to Prepare for Twins:

1) Set Up the Nursery

Yes, it is early... and yes, this means London and Elle will share a room for a month or two before the twins come, but it's all part of nesting for me. Now, the car seats, swings, baby clothes, cribs, and dresser are in their correct place, instead of strewn out in every closet in my house. When things are organized, everything is right in my world.

Kyle refinished this ancient dresser for me, and it's my favorite part of the nursery!

Now to put things on the walls...

2) Have a baby shower

      Two days before my shower, I came home from a meeting and Sierra was in my living room. I know, I know, I should just expect that she is going to show up on my doorstep every time I'm wishing she were here. Then, at about midnight the night before, my sister-in-law, Kaedi, knocked on my door! She lives outside of San Francisco, and apparently everyone was in on the surprise! I was completely overcome, feeling so much love from the women that I love so dearly. My darling sister, Taryn, planned the most beautiful shower for me in downtown Seattle.

She made a garland of hydrangea, anemones, sweet peas, ranunculus, and roses, contrasted with this industrial building. She is so gifted! Brunch was served, and we mingled as friends and family until our parking meters timed out. This is what happiness looks like! 

3) Get really really pregnant

         This is me three weeks ago. You guys, I am so pregnant. Baby boy is in the 92nd% and baby girl is in the 89th%. The extra weight and pressure limits my mobility like I never knew was possible. Who knows where my center of gravity is?! 

4) Buy a car your family can fit in

          I sent Kyle on a wild internet goose chase to find my dream car, and he found it in Arkansas. My dad then volunteered himself to drive said car to Maple Valley, Washington...a distance of over two thousand miles. I can't believe he did that for me, and I can't believe that we will be able to fit all four children in one vehicle!

5) Wait
      Waiting involves an obscene amount of sleeping and resting and laying down, but it's honestly all my body can handle. It means eating my body weight in Special K because oh my goodness that is my drug of choice this pregnancy. It means reading Les Miserables for June book club---don't worry, it's the revised edition. 

Five Days on a Beach

After missing two--- yes, two flights in a row, Kyle, me and our girls made our way to San Felipe for Easter. This was such a special trip because most of my family members were able to come, AND we invited our dearest friends from Utah, the Adams!

Each morning began at sunrise. We ate breakfast, dressed, doused ourselves in sunscreen, and ventured to the water. The men set up a volleyball net, and everyone played for hours. It was always a race against the incoming tide.

Once the tide came in, we returned to the house for lunch and babies' naps. In this picture, we're all enjoying a huge bowl of fresh clams, gathered by our group in tide pools down the beach!

The adults usually managed to squeeze in an afternoon nap as well!

Afternoons melted into evenings of gourmet dinners, card games, and star-gazing from our beds on the porch.

Kerrisa and Cambria enjoying the sunshine...

London talked to me for weeks about going fishing in San Felipe. I'm not sure where she got the idea from, but it consumed that little three-year-old brain, and she convinced my dad and Sierra to take her. On the kayak, they pretended like she was the one catching all the fish. After a while, she told my dad, "Um, Popi, you're not very good at catching fish." She ran back up to the beach house, eager to tell me about her first time fishing! In the original version, she caught 4 fish. The next time, 5 fish. By the time we made it home, she told all her friends that she caught 10. Kyle was impressed that she learned how to exaggerate a fishing story at such a young age. 

These three amigos drinking their treasured pina coladas

In a dramatic turn of events, both Noah and Jordan were stung by sting rays, and rushed to the town "doctor" for treatment. They each sat on the couch with their ankles in near-boiling water for hours. I think they are now bonded for life. 

My beautiful grandparents who made this entire trip possible!

Jelly-roll masters-Cami and Maeci!

They love their Uncle Wowah.

She found a sea cucumber! And this is how she feels about it!

On Easter morning, our camp holds a sunrise service. As the sun appears across the water, we sing songs about Christ, recite scripture, and listen to talks prepared by various members of the community. After the service this year, the kids returned to baskets from the Easter Bunny.

Five days of bliss on the beach is always exactly what I need. As a family, we re-charged, un-plugged, and grew closer to the people we love most. Maybe we'll be able to go next Easter, with the twins in tow? Maybe...