One year ago today...

...I woke up after a sleepless night of praying and hoping. We went to the doctor for the BIG blood test. The one that changed our lives forever! I remember almost not getting out of the car that day. I was nervous and excited all at the same time and was hoping beyond hope that God was finally answering our prayers. Derek and I went to breakfast to help pass the time and then came home to wait. I remember laying in bed with tears in my eyes when the phone finally rang. Katy, our precious nurse, was on the other side and she asked me "How does 242 sound?" I could hear the happiness in her voice but I still wanted to be sure so I asked "Does that mean I'm pregnant???" And of course she said yes!!! At this time last year, God answered our prayers in the biggest and best way. I remember immediately hitting my knees and crying "Thank you, thank you!" It was the first time in my life I remember truly being in the presence of God and I couldn't stand any longer. Derek of course was dancing because he was so excited! I pulled him down with me and we prayed the first prayer of many thanksgivings. Afterwards we rushed to my parents' house and I couldn't even get the words out to tell my mom when she started crying. She could tell by the look on my face that it had finally happened. We went on to call our friends and family and let the whole world know how GREAT our God was.

I have many favorite memories and days from this journey, but July 20th may be one of the very best. I knew that God had finally answered our prayers. I knew that God's love was being poured out on us and blessing our lives beyond belief. I knew what it was to stand in His presence and feel his goodness. I can remember every detail of that day. Every tear cried. Every hug and excitement. Derek went and bought a pregnancy test for me to take so that I could finally have a positive result. Our lives were FOREVER changed at that moment...in the best possible way!

Fast forever to today...my life has changed SO MUCH in such a short time. Our house is filled with the most wonderful sounds...baby laughs and babbling. Silly songs and dancing. Coos and even cries. We have toys and blankies on shelves that were once bare. A room that stood empty for years is now filled with sweet cribs and rocking chairs. And hearts that once longed for children are overflowing with LOVE and JOY that is beyond measure. God created life where there was none and made this barren woman the happiest mother in this world. Every tear...every sorrow...every shot and pain are NOTHING compared to the JOY these two have brought into our lives. Our entire world changed at this moment last year...and I could not be more thankful that it did. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

"I will give thanks to you, LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High." Psalms 9:1-2

July 20, 2012

4 Months Old!

We are on the down-hill side of feeling yucky from our shots yesterday, so I thought I would update everyone on our four month check-up! The twins did great at their appointment, even though it was feeding time/ nap time. Both babies are gaining weight and both had grown quite a bit in length! We were thankful for a good check-up and that both babies are healthy! Our doctor says they are both just tall and thin...which sounds good to me! Tucker really seemed to like Dr. Sherrod! He kept cooing and laughing and flirting with her! It was pretty cute! The shots were a little harder this time. Tucker Boy seemed to know what was coming and his feelings were hurt. Sister on the other hand cried big ol' alligator tears like she was in pain...so sad! I think Daddy's heart broke just a little bit! The both seemed to handle the shots better this time...both napped almost all afternoon yesterday and slept well through the night. The have been napping and running a slight temperature, but other than that we are doing well! Such troopers!

Sleepy babies after the doctor!

Tucker's 4 Month Stats:
Weight- 13 lbs 9 oz (23rd Percentile)
Height- 25.5 inches (68th Percentile)

Adelyn's 4 Month Stats:
Weight- 12 lbs 1.5 oz (18th Percentile)
Height- 24.75 inches (66th Percentile)

It's pretty crazy to think that Tucker is now a whole POUND and a HALF bigger than Sissy after starting out a half pound smaller! He is a really good eater and has really chunked up! We are amazed when we go back and look at those first pictures because they were just SO TINY! It's hard to believe that they even let us bring babies that small home! We are so thankful that they were both healthy and pray that they continue to grow and develop on track! We are planning on starting rice cereal in the near future which may plump them up a little more...ha!

Other than that, things are great! We are enjoying our family time at home and so thankful that Daddy gets to spend so much time with us! I have about 20 hours left on my principal internship and I will be SO happy when it is over! Hope everyone is having a great summer! Love to all!

We love to play!

Four months old!

Have bow will travel!

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 15:7-8

Made on the Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July! We are celebrating this Fourth of July with our two sweet babies and enjoying a nice day at home! I have to admit...I never was really into the Fourth of July that much. I thought it was fun and I liked eating with friends and family, but it never was that big of deal for me. That all changed for me last year because my babies were MADE on the Fourth of July!!! What a great day! Last year at this time we were coming out of our retrieval and our precious little embryos were being formed. IVF is a pretty cool process, I have to admit, because not many people can say they know the exact moment and day that their babies were made! And not only were these two precious miracles made that day...but also our two little frozen babies were made too!!! God was BUSY that day! And what a great day it was! We have not stopped thanking God for His good and faithful work last Fourth of July! So as you celebrate today, thank God for the miracles He made at this time last year!

Fourth of July, 2012
Egg Retrieval/Fertilization

My miracle babies dressed for the Fourth!

I have been reflecting a lot on our journey last summer and going back and reading my blogs. It is such a SURREAL experience to go back and read about the details of last summer and then go and hold my miracle babies right afterwards. It is SUCH a neat experience and I am thankful that I have it documented! I spend just about every day just thanking God over and over again! I can't praise Him enough for the JOY that He has brought into our lives! If there is ever any question of if God exists, read back through this blog! God brought two precious lives into being where there was nothing! Made this barren woman a happy mother! God created a family of four in an instant last summer. God wins!


The funny thing about it all is that I can remember the details so clearly, but I CANNOT for the life of me remember the pain and sadness. I know it was there...I know I was so sad for so long. But its like my heart is OVERFLOWING so much with LOVE for these two that I can't remember what it was like to not have them. God is SO GOOD! He is SO faithful! I really feel like these two babies are worth EVERY heartache and tear that led to this point. It really is everything that I ever imagined it to be. My love seems to grow for them every day! I can't get enough of them! They are so sweet and so funny and so lovable! God is GOOD! And the love that a mother feels is so unreal! Can't even describe it!

Through it all, I pray that God has been glorified in this process. I pray that God is given all the glory time after time. I pray daily for those girls out there who are still struggling in the darkness and who desire to be a mother like I once did. My prayer is that they call upon the name of the Lord and wait patiently for His perfect timing. Of course that is the hardest thing in the entire world to do, but the blessings God had prepared for me were SO MUCH better than anything I could have ever dreamed up myself! God is FAITHFUL!!!! He will provide! And He desires to give good gifts to His children...just as I desire to love and care for mine!

Motherhood has changed me so much! I would hope mostly for the better...but I know there are also some not so good...ha! I will say that my memory has gone and a scatter-brain has replaced it...ha! Sometimes I am thankful if we are all dressed and fed for the day. Other days I feel like we have run a marathon with all the things we do! I am trying to keep up with blogging, but even that seems scattered and jumbled. I guess I will just keep trying the best I can...bear with me! And if there are misspellings or things that don't make sense just laugh along with me...ha! There is never a dull moment with these two around! They are doing great and GROWING so much! Here's a quick update:


Tucker Boy is getting to be a CHUNK and is stretching out his 3-month clothes. He is still serious, but is starting to show his personality. He LOVES to get dressed and undressed (so funny) and loves standing up and stomping his foot. He still LOVES to eat and is usually only fussy when hungry or tired. He is very attentive and watches EVERYTHING that we do. He also likes the Golf channel (go figure) and Praise Baby. He is coo-ing and smiling most of the time and is starting to like other people besides just Mommy...ha!

Adelyn is still our lively child! She wakes up in the morning LAUGHING and talking and will entertain herself in bed until one of us picks her up. She is quite a bit smaller than brother, but is HAPPY pretty much all the time. She has started throwing some red-headed fits, but they are super short and are kinda funny. She loves to lean backwards over pillows, our legs, or anything she can find and LOVES to talk to Bubba. She is getting stronger at standing up with us, but still would prefer to lay or sit. She is not at all stretching out her three month clothes...haha...and she has the TINIEST little foot ever! She is our sunshine and keeps us laughing ALL THE TIME!

The twins will have their four month check-up next week. I will post an update and let you all know how big these two are. We still pray every day for healthy babies and pray that they are growing and developing on track. Hope you all have a HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY! Enjoy some pictures of our two LOVES! We took them swimming at a hotel not too long ago and they loved it! They even got to swim with Brody!

"He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He." Deuteronomy 32:4

Bubba was not super impressed

Friends Forever!

We love our CAMO!