getting ready to step out into a BIT of reality

Kate (left) and Olivia (right) - getting bigger!

Did you think we'd never come up for some air?

Yea . . .I wasn't so sure either. : )

There are many days I have no idea where the day went. Ok, lets be honest. That is MOST days.

It all passes in a blur of nursing, diapers, nursing, Ava, nursing, babies and a splurge of a shower! My shower is the grand accomplishment of each day for me.

But can you believe it's almost been a month?! (This tuesday!!)

I can't either.

The girls have been gaining weight really well - last tuesday at their weight check, Kate weighed in at a whopping 6 lb 7 oz and Olivia chimed in right behind her at 6 lb 5 oz. I'm hoping that with such great weight gains the past weeks (and planning on another one this tuesday), that the Doctor will say we can stop with the supplements. They've averaged at least half a pound a week for the past two weeks.

Nights are the big challenge. We're just starting to let them go longer than 3 hours at a time (or attempting). A few nights this past week we got a couple stretches of 4 hours. Last night, it was back to 3 hours like clockwork.

This too shall pass - right?!

Ava has been a little bit more of a challenge lately - more just as she's gotten more aggressive with trying to handle the girls.

The other day I caught her just in time as she was proceeding to "lift" Olivia off the couch. Olivia's entire body was off the couch and her head about to follow crashing into the floor.

Her trying to "hold you" on her own is a more and more common occurrance.

Heaven help us.

She also loves to try and nurse her sisters. You'll catch her essentially laying on her sisters while trying to push her chest into their face. They love it. (that was sarcasm by the way).

Did I mention that Ava weighs 27 pounds?

Then there's this great cause and effect she's discovered.

Did you know that if you wallop your sisters on the head, they'll let out this great whelp and start to cry?

This is a favorite of Ava's.

She especially loves to do this while staring you straight in the face.

Yea . . .we're working on that one.

It is a grand cycle of love-hate . . .although in Ava's defense, most of the challenges stem for the fact that she usually absolutely love her sisters.

Ryan and I? We're working on reality (not just a defiant child) starting to stare us in the face as well.

My mom plans to leave for a little while this tuesday. Grandma Prevo will be stepping in alot . . .but at the same time, Ryan and I know we can't have our hands held forever and do want to work towards doing more on our own.

So we're going to be managing much of the nights on our own and I"m going to give most of the the afternoons after Ava's naps a try on my own as well.

This is a preliminary trial.

If you hear the sounds of two people drowning . . .that may be us. Adjustments will be made where needed. : )

The good news? - if all else fails, maybe we'll make BOTH grandma's move back in.

Ok, that's probably not a healthy reality. But my mom will be back in a couple weeks to take Ava home with her for a week, so I know I have that for sure breather coming. I also know Grandma Prevo can step in for crisis prevention too. : )

This is where I'm praying that the girls can really start to make progress at night as they continue to gain more weight. I know that may be the difference in how well our transition to more independence goes.

One of our biggest challenges right now is that I"ve been fighting thrush. For all you namesless readers that don't know what thrush is (yes, I know you're there . ..and one day I'll figure out a way to flush you out : ) ), it's essentially something that can occur with nursing that makes it oh so (NOT) fun.

Please place an emphaisis on the not.

It can make things discouraging when nursing is already pretty time-intensive with our chaotic life as it stands already. But I'm working on seeing what I can do to get rid of it and praying it'll clear up.

I'm trying to take each day of nursing as it comes. If I think too far ahead I get overhwhelmed.

Like trying to figure how Ava is going to love me nursing on the couch for 45 min - 1 hour throughout the day WITHOUT her own entertainment system. I do have some tricks up my sleeve I plan on trying.

I'm trying to be persistant without being dogmatic. : )

I really want to be able to nurse both girls.

But I don't want to sacrifice our family in the process.

So if all else fails, I know adjustments can be made there . ..and I'll just need to be thankful for the time they were able to be exclusively breastfed. That's not my ideal to consider though . . .so like I said, one day at a time.

I'm thankful for the blogging world though - on the days I feel pretty cut off . ..it helps to feel like I know some of what's going on in the lives of people I care about! My times on the computer aren't always long or often, but it's fun when I find them. Especially since trying to coordinate a time that someone calls with me being able (or truthfully even wanting) to talk can be a feat in itself! So thanks for all the glimpses into your lives as well. I miss you all! :)

I also cherish my quiet moments.

Last night, Ava and I got to snuggle in her bed, singing songs, before she went to sleep. It's one of her favorite things to do lately and I absolutely love it. It's so fun to hear her singing along and it amazes me how many words she knows. The child has her ABC"s halfway down and has recently added "Jesus loves me (Jamaican style)" as a new favorite. Her "la la la's" are pretty cute.

Or there is the rare quiet hour Ryan and I get to relax in the evening with all 3 girls asleep and nothing else going on or no one else around. There are days that pushing towards that is what gets me through the day.

This afternoon, I even got a few moments to snuggle just ONE wide-eyed baby while her twin sister slept. I love the times I get to soak in each girl on her own.

Those moments don't always happen too often.

But they do happen. And I'm so thankful they do. The past weeks would have been alot harder without them and so I take them as little "love letters" from God.

So once more, thanks for all the prayers, the love, the meals (wow - we've been spoiled and I couldn't be more thankful), and just for thinking of us. It means alot to know we're remembered.

Wow. This post should have been made in sections!

Until the next time . . .