Out w/ the Old...

In October we were really busy!! We started out the on the 1st w/ a trip into Faneuil hall where we ate lunch at Cheers and then headed of to an appt w/ a high risk maternal fetal specialist in Boston. We were not able to get pictures of the babies at that point but we did find out what we were having-TWO BOYS!!

We spent much of the middle of the month looking at different apartments, though the search became easier when Ryan was no longer working 6 days a week on both the north and south shores. For those of you who never got to make it over to our old place, here are a few pictures. It was small but sufficient for just the two of us...



Bedroom nook



Living area before a couch and entertainment center we added



Part of Ryans office...



Part of Kitchen w/ my office space...

On Oct 20th we went to Cathy and Ron's house for a Mary Kay pre wedding makeup party. Ryan also had his Tux fitting and I had to exchange my dress for a smaller size! Yes, I did say smaller...I had in fact lost so much weight from the morning sickness, I went down TWO sizes.

The month ended w/ another drs appt, an apartment decision, and a trip to NH. We spend a Sat-Sun w/ Auntie Penny and Uncle Norm. It was so much fun and very relaxing. We made "grammie" cookies in the shape of pumpkins and Ryan and I decorated them-getting everything covered in glazed frosting. We also went to the Anheuser-Busch factory where we saw the beautiful Clydesdale horses and had a tour of the Budweiser plant. Though the smell of the Hops they put in beer put me on the edge, I did successfully make it through to the end. Everyone had beer samples, I had soda!

Super September!

This month was filled w/ many days of morning, noon, and night sickness and Ryan was so wonderful through the whole thing! I am so lucky to have him! Speaking of which, this month was both his and Elliott's birthdays. Here are a few pictures from Mom...


The birthday boy...

...opening gifts w/ his mama!

There was also a wedding shower for Jill! Here are a few pics from mom!


Jill & Mom


Mmmm...cake!!


Three "brides" and a completed bow plate!

About the middle of the month we braved it an had a day out together during which we played mini golf and went to see a movie! It was great for me to get out of the apartment now that I was feeling a little better! The month ended w/ me getting test results back from the doctors-all of which were good reports!

August Again...

Well, we have to say that this time last year we never thought we would be moved back home by friends and family we had not seen in quite a long time, let alone the prospect of parenthood. Though we miss our Florida friends and church family dearly, we are glad we are "home" again during this pregnancy.

Though I had to be hospitalized again after a Dr's appt at the beginning of the month, and I found out that my adopted paternal grandfather passed away, we were able to get away to NH w/ family. This gave me the time I needed to recuperate and get ahead of the curve w/ the dehydration and morning sickness. We also enjoyed dinner out at Harts Turkey Farm, a family tradition I was now a part of!

Here is a picture of Ryan and his Father fishing off the dock in NH...hopefully one day he can take the boys fishing too...



August ended w/ one more doctors appt and our fist trip to Babies R Us - though not for our babies, but for gifts for Elliott's upcoming birthday!

Jovial July!!

July started off w/ me still not feeling well...but I started working on the 3rd. We went to Matt & Brooke's house in Norwood on Wednesday for a 4th of July Barbeque! We had alot of fun w/ everyone there despite me having a horrible stomach ache! As the week went by I was still feeling ill and I still had not gotten my period-we decided to set an appointment w/ the doctor to see if I did not get my period from stress, my ovarian issues, possible flu, or maybe I really was pregnant...

On Wednesday July 12th I had an appointment w/ a doctor. After a wait that seemed endless when you have a full bladder. After a little more waiting both in the waiting room and then in an exam room the Dr came in and asked me some questions...

The Doctor asked if I would like to be pregnant or not. If Ryan and I had been trying to or wanted to have children. I responded that Ryan and I had not been trying, as a "matter of fact had an appointment scheduled for later that week w/ a fertility Dr, as we did hope we could have children someday...

"Well, it makes my day to tell you then that you are positively pregnant"

When I asked him what he meant by that he told me that my hormone levels in my urine were very elevated and he was guessing I was 8-10 weeks pregnant.

So, next came me telling Ryan in the car-us crying in the parking lot-driving over to where Cathy worked to tell her we were pregnant and to set up an ultrasound appointment-I finally was able to calm down. Well, until the following week...

We had our ultrasound on July 18 and I was so nervous the whole way there...little did I know there was another surprise ahead of us...




6.5 week old TWINS!!

We went to our intake appointment the following day w/ a new OB and found out that I had the best set up in my uterus for twins - each baby had their own amniotic sacs and placentas - one attached to the front of my uterus and one to the back. Both babies also had great heart rates.

Sadly the month ended w/ my being hospitalized on July 30th for dehydration. I had been getting sick a lot and found out that I needed to also up my fluid intake for carrying twins. Never a good thing when the doctor tells you after sticking a catheter into your kidney that the fluid was that color of molasses...

June Joy!

On June 26th Ryan and I were supposed to have an appointment w/ a Fertility Doctor in Reading to see if down the road we were going to face issues trying to have children due to and Ovarian problem I have. We were not planning on having any children anytime soon, we just wanted to find out what we were up against. Due to a strange health insurance glitch we had to work out, the appointment had to rescheduled for Tuesday July 17th! That week I was really not feeling well, but I figured that maybe I was actually stressed about not working yet. We did have had lots of fun the end of the month with family and friends at Moms wedding to Ron Babineau on the 29th! I did not have liquor as I was not feeling well we thought I might be pregnant-we did not want to risk it just in case.

Here are a few photos...



Cathy & Ron looking happy!


Cake before cutting...



...Brooke & Aunt Maura cutting it on the dance floor...



...Jill & Ryan too!!




Me & Ryan

Insane Interviews...

Over the 2 weeks from June 4th to June 16th I had an insane number of babysitter/nanny interviews as Ryan and I decided I needed to take time away from the high stress environment of Interior Design. It seemed I was not getting good responses and it did not make sense-as most of you know, I have been working w/ children for many years-I was turned down two of the jobs in one week saying that I was over qualified. I thought that was odd as I would want nothing better than the most qualified to take care of my children and home organization. On the 14th I had a nanny interview w/ a family in Lynn. While I was there at their house for the interview I was asked to stay for a couple hours and watch the little girl so her mom could go out and runs some errands. Between the money for that and the money I recieved for my birthday, I treated myself to a new outfit at Ann Taylor Loft! The evening of the 15th ended w/ Ryan taking me to Vinny Testas for dinner!

BBQ & B-DAY!!

Though I had just lost my job I was surprisingly calm and a lot less stressed. This was made even better by upcoming family hangouts and events we had been invited to. We went to Matt and Brooke for a Memorial Day BBQ! Ryan and I had a lot of fun just getting a chance to hang out in the beautiful weather! Then we had Sophia's (our niece) 2nd birthday party that following weekend and Matt and Brooke threw her a great party! We got to see a whole bunch of family and friends-some of whom we had not seen in quite awhile!

Here are some pictures from Sophia B-day!!




Sophia enjoying her cake after her meltdown when people sang happy birthday to her! She seems to really be enjoying the cake now!




Brooke & Elliott - Jen & Joshua Sidmore - Great to see you guys!




Elliott enjoying his favorite part of every day - eating!!




Party Portrait!!

Fired First!

The summer started for me on May 25th (also Matt & Brooke's 5th Anniversary!!) w/ me getting fired from my job in Boston. After much stress and disagreements at this job, I was glad to be "let go" anyway.

Summer Saga

We apologize to all of you for not posting on our blog for a really long time! For those of you who we have not seen or talked to in a while, soon you will see why we have not been in touch...For those of you who have been through everything w/ us throughout this summer and into this fall, we appreciate and thank you for all you have done. So, here the saga of our summer begins...

Caption Contest!!!!!!

Recently my mother was re-married in a wonderous event. This is a photo from the blessed evening where Dan is depicted "schooling" Jill. I have yet to come up with a suitably funny caption for this photo, so I'm opening it to the general viewing audience. Please leave your caption ideas in the comments space and I will declare a winner.
Also, some other things you may not have seen at the wedding, such as our beeramid. Frothy goodness.
And here's Clark in a failed attempt at upstaging the bride. Still. he was the prettiest man there.


I make a good point.

-Nutball

High and dry? Yes please!

Ever think of the phrase, "You left me high and dry!"? Honestly, I'd prefer it. Becasue is helping me leaves me low and wet, then I'll be fine alone thanks. No really, it's OK. Except maybe if if I were a tree in a lightning storm, or a fish out of water. then soak me to the bone, baby, load me up with the help. Otherwise keep walking jerkface.




Discuss

Cruell joke? or just force of habit?

Why do homes for the blind have windows?




Discuss

Memory Lane...

This past Tuesday was a beautiful day, so after a long overdue doctors appointment and lunch w/ Mom, Ryan and I decided to head over to Glenn Magna Farms in Danvers. Many of you may not know this, but while Ryan and I were still in the dating phase of our relationship we used to go there all the time and take long walks and we would talk about what was new in life or just spent time getting to know each other. This was our first time back there since we came up from Florida to visit in June 2005 just after Sohia was born. We have missed it and all its beauty, but we did have fun talking about past memories and how far we have come in our lives and our relationship and what dreams we look to in the future...We thought we would share w/ all of you some of the beautiful photos we took while we there having our trip down memory lane...




Entry to the English Rose Garden w/ Tea House...



Lovely Lilacs...


Great Gazebo...Amazing view of back of main house...



One of Ten Trunks...all together they make one large tree w/ one large canopy...and many couples have been there when dating or have been married there...if you look closely you can see initials carved into the trunk...we did not do this as it is not good for the tree and they do not allow people to do it anymore...anyhow, we thought it was a cute idea...



Cool view of the canopy above us w/ the sun shining through...

Trip to the Playground

Umm Matt, where did the ball go?






"ofia" and her "perbal" ball






Eliott and Sophia enjoying the sea-saw...






...and Grammie too!!

Scientists fool nation and world!!!

Joy of unfound joy.

Now the entire world can share my thoughts . to all of you who thought it was finally over; think again. I've been biding time. Anyhoo, enough senseless banter. on to the thought.

Ever wonder what maks a microwave work? I spoke to an engineer (my dad) about it once and he said something about a "magnetron" and "energy rays" that excite the "molecules" in the food, thereby making them hot.

c'mon now. lets be reasonable. first off, everybody knows that the magnetron is the carnival ride that spins uber fast and makes you stick to the walls next to your homies that try to hit themselves with their own spit.

secondly, captain kirk says that energy waves are what makes his warp drive work. I don't know about you but I've never seen my stouffer's lasagna hit warp 9.

I'm not even going to get into molecules. besides I think it's clear how the stupid thing works. anyone have an easy bake oven? oh yeah. if that little bulb can make a freakin cake then the stupid big bulbs in our silly over the stove contraptions can make my ramen hot. I think that these scientists think that they can fool us into confusion and mystery if the make the microwave spin our food and make a whirring noise.

You'll never fool me scientists.

-nutball

The Cast and Crew

First, our amazingly motivated crew: Dusty and Roxie. These two never stop.....spooning.Second, my wife Winnie. Here she is with our key grip Roxie. Both are shown in their natural habitat: napping.

lastly, our co-author and founder of the blog: Me (Ryan), I'm on the left trying to boil water on our grill after a hurricane (unsuccessfully)


We will be bringing you posts of varying quality, length at varying intervals, so hold on to your seats grandma, the blogging world is about to a'splode.