Memorial Day pictures

For Memorial day we went to a park to enjoy the outdoors and take some pictures.  It was a hot day here in Houston so we didn't get as many pictures as we would have liked.  We also weren't able to get a whole family picture due to not having someone to take one for us, but other than that we had a good time.

Mommy and Rachel

Mommy and Rachel

Daddy and Racehl

Mommy and Haley

Daddy and Haley

Daddy and Haley

Rachel, Haley and me

Mommy with her girls

Daddy with his girls

The Weekend

Grandma and Grandpa Benedict (my parents) came to visit the girls this past weekend.  They love to come visit and see Rachel and Haley.  Rachel and Haley are both pulling up on everything and taking small steps while holding onto something.  They are so active and curious.

Grandma with Rachel and Haley

Haley pulling the toys out

Haley pulling up on the gate

Haley

Rachel loves putting the bucket over her head

Rachel playing with an Easter egg

Grandma got the girls a tunnel to play in.  Rachel was not to sure about it.  Haley didn't know to crawl into it since she can't see very well, but she didn't mind sitting in it.

Haley in the tunnel with Rachel looking in

Haley in the tunnel

Rachel checking out the tunnel from the outside

Rachel still not sure about going in

Growing Up

Not a whole lot has been going on the past week.  The girls are sick with a cold right now, but are getting through it.  Both Rachel and Haley are pulling up on the furniture and taking steps.  I can't believe how fast they are growing up on me.  Rachel has been standing up in her crib.  Good thing we lowered that mattress!  Even though they are just now doing things a 12 month old or younger would be doing, I'm just so happy they are doing these things.  They are behind developmentally, but they will catch up in their own time.  They are precious little girls and we love them so very much. They bring such a beautiful Spirit into our home. It is hard to believe they are coming up on 2 years in the next few months. Time has seemed to just fly by to fast. We enjoy every minute with our most precious girls. We are so grateful for the wonderful blessing that they are.

Haley and Rachel looking out the window

Haley and Rachel at the window

Haley playing

Rachel

Thomas and Haley - an update

We have good news regarding Thomas and the job search.  Thomas was offered a job!  We are so thankful that we didn't have to wait too long for this job.  From the day he lost his job, it took about 3 weeks to get another one.  The job he got is doing medical sales so he is happy about that.  Thank you everyone for the prayers that he would get one fast!  We are so happy and grateful!

Haley and Thomas

Haley saw an endocrinologist for the first time on Friday.  She was referred by her pediatrician to the endocrinologist because of her poor growth and short stature.  Haley is small and weighs only 18 pounds.  She is the size of an 8-9 month old.  The endocrinologist doesn't know exactly why she is so little, but they are doing some lab tests to see if they can figure it out.  She may or may not have a deficiency in her growth hormones.  The endocrinologist did speculate her slow grow may be due to her extreme prematurity, not taking in enough calories and/or partly genetics.  I have to agree that Haley is probably not taking in enough calories.  We try hard everyday to get her to eat as many calories as we can.  She is a finicky eater.  I add calories to her foods and she drinks Pediasure, but sometimes I don't think its enough.  We should get a better idea of what is going on when we get the lab results.

Mother's Day 2011

 Mother's day is very special to me.  I am a mother to 8 precious children - 2 here and 6 on the other side of the veil.  I am blessed to have my Rachel and Haley with me.  They mean everything to me and bring me so much joy.  I may not have my 6 angels with me now, but I will see them again.  That keeps me going as I miss them very much.  As their mother I think of them often.  I know they are safe, happy and well.  Rachel and Haley have mended my broken heart.  They help me and make me want to be a better mother everyday.  I thank my Heavenly Father for the opportunity to be Rachel and Haley's mother.  I also want to thank and express my love to my mother who provides unconditional love and support.  She is my friend who I can talk to anytime.  I appreciate all that she has done for me and her constant reminder of what a mother is.  Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day

My Beautiful mother and I



This is a very special day today. It is a day to which we all are privileged to pay tribute to the beautiful Mothers and women in our lives. I am grateful for the sacred role Women have as Mothers. This Mother's day I pay tribute to the beautiful women in my life. I am so blessed to have been given such a wonderful mother. I owe everything to my Mother. She is such an amazing women and example to all of her children. I am so grateful for all that she has done for me. I love and cherish her more than she will ever know. I also am eternally grateful to have such an amazing wife who is the Mother of our Children. I often wonder why the Lord has blessed me with such an amazing woman as an eternal companion. I can't express in words the love and admiration I have for her. Amanda is one of the greatest blessings to have ever happened to me. My life has been so blessed because of her precious life. She is my everything. I love her so very much for all that she has and continues to do for our little family. Thanks be to God for Mothers. We all are indebted to them for all that they sacrifice and do for us. We love you Amanda/Mom,Grandmother for the tireless things you constantly due for us.
Love
Thomas, Haley & Rachel

My Everything with our precious girls

21 Months

The girls turning 21 months today almost slipped past me.  I didn't remember until later today.  The girls have made a lot of progress the past month.  Haley is pulling up on the sofa and standing well.  She is almost standing up without the help of the sofa.  Rachel is working at pulling up on the sofa.  She is able to get up on her knees.  She can stand at the sofa with our help getting her up.  It won't be long and they both will be walking.  I can't believe how far they have come!  They are getting bigger as well.  Rachel weighs 22 pounds 2 oz.  Haley is still tiny and weighs 17 pounds 12 oz.  Haley made it to 18 pounds, but then lost some ounces when she got sick with a cold last week.  She will get back to 18 pounds when her appetite gets back to normal. 

So I attempted some 21 month pictures, but the girls were just not having it.  They are just to busy and don't want to stay still.  Plus they were getting tired and ready for bed.

Daddy and his girls

Rachel and Haley

Rachel and Haley's back side

Rachel and Haley

The pictures below were taken a few days ago.  I just had to share.

Rachel and Haley playing together

Rachel

Haley standing so well