We are blessed!

We have not heard your cries

We have not seen your eyes

yet - We are blessed!

A surprise you two were, right from the start

know it's hard when we must depart

yet - We are blessed!

We have not touched your hand

No place for a kiss to land

yet - We are blessed!

No diapers for us to change

No schedules to rearrange

yet - We are blessed!

They all said, "your hands will be full"

But they are empty

yet - We are blessed!

Tucker 

Thanksgiving is the season you both arrived

Now we wait to hold you both side by side.

yet - we are blessed!

Many prayers for you have gone before

We all wonder what's in store

yet - we are blessed!

You breath in and you breath out

God's got his plan, there is no doubt

yet - We are blessed!

Progress comes and Progress goes

The highs are High the lows may be Low

yet - we are blessed!

Cody

A brother and sister wait to play with you

A dad and mom eager for this day too

Lovingly and Patiently the Carlson Crew

Yes! - We are blessed!

Hospital Visits!

Cooper and Allie really enjoy the hospital!

There are elevators, escalators, fish tanks, metro cable cars and a great mini-train exhibit!

This place hasn't lost it's excitement!

 They also love to lay in my hospital bed and push the buttons to see what the bed will do!

"No crumbs in Mommy's bed!"

We work on a craft every time they visit!

This is the children's chapel.  On our wheelchair rides we stop to pray . . .

And we write or draw a picture of our prayers to hang on the "prayer tree".

It's been 27 days that Mom has been in the hospital

but she's be home for Thanksgiving!

11-12 Update

We've made it 15 days so far!  A roller coaster at times but things are settling down.  I feel well taken care of!

I am off of the IV pole unless there are other problems that would require it.  My arms an veins are healing up. I am able to walk freely in my room.  I am able to take wheelchair rides when Lee and the kids come and visit.  We found a huge interactive train exhibit that the kids adored on our wheelchair ride.

No signs of infection, babies look great when we monitor their heartbeats and movement, and contractions have been minimal and infrequent.  All of these are answers to our prayers!

I've had many visitors come this week bearing all kinds of love gifts; crafts for me and the kids, books, magazines and treats.  One friend gave me a pedicure which was so nice.  Prayers and conversation this week by my friends and family was so uplifting.

Hoping to make it at least 2 more weeks that would take us to Thanksgiving and out of the extreme danger zone for the babies.  After Thanksgiving, our next goal is having the babies stay put until Christmas.  We will deliver sometime the week after Christmas - Lord willing!

That's about it for now!  Thank you for your prayers once again and keep us in them!

11-7-11 Update

I am doing well the past 2 days.  Saturday afternoon and evening was rough, had too much fluid leakage and had to get a new IV, 24 hour continuous heart rate monitoring (uncomfortable - no sleep), ultrasound to check amniotic fluid levels and spec exam.  No problems just a busy day of ruling thing out because of the excessive fluid leakage.

By Sunday afternoon I was able to be off the IV pole for Lee, Cooper and Allie's visit.  We took a wheelchair ride to the Children's Atrium Garden.  They were able to run around, count the birdhouses and played hide n' go seek.  We worked on a Star Wars puzzle of Bobo Fett, had some snacks and did a turkey craft.  It was nice to have some real food from Olive Garden.  We all enjoyed our time together!

Today low key with only a few hours of heart rate monitoring and 2 hours of IV infusions of iron (for anemia).  No visitors today which is refreshing to just have some quiet time.  Had a craft session with my bed rest buddy Sylvia and the Spiritual Care leader Sarah. Sylvia was having a rough day so it was good to talk and cry with her.

Having a bit of trouble with my IV sites.  IV's are supposed to last about 7 days before changing sites but my veins won't last more than 4 days.  I'v had 3 different IV sites in 11 days.  Bruising and soreness is setting in.  I think I'm ready for the next IV to go into my foot to give my forearms a break.  I can't complain because I am not continuously  hooked up the the IV pole, like my bed-rest buddy is.  I feel like I am getting a medical education here - ha ha ha!  The more the IV sites are switched the higher chance of infection.  If I get an infection the Dr's will deliver the babies because they are safer out of the womb rather than in the womb with an infection swimming around.

Looking forward to my friend Carrie visiting tomorrow!

So, please pray for no infections, no contractions, and the possibility for me to not have an IV site set up.

There's your update!

Today's Thoughts 11-4-11

Had a great night sleep.  Thank you Lord!

Visited by my OB today.  I just love her!  She informed me that I am anemic - low iron count.  My body needs to do iron infusions every other day, 3 times a day, for an hour and a half each of those times for the next 4 weeks in order to avoid a blood transfusion when the babies are delivered.  Not fun being hooked up to the "pole" - the IV pole, which restricts my ability to walk around my 8X8 room but I am thankful that it is only every other day!

Then my OB told me she was going on a cruise for her 50th birthday and her dad's 82nd birthday.  She was so reluctant and felt horrible to be leaving me.  So sweet!!!  All I could do was put out a big smile, and insist that she have a wonderful time.  I reassured her that I felt in good hands with her other team members.  She looked so relieved!  Thankful to be showered in grace and then be able to extend that same grace.

Tomorrow should be a great day for Lee and the kids.  They are going to the zoo which is only 10 min from the hospital, then visiting me,  While out of the house wonderful friends are bringing dinner and preschool lady friends are coming to do a little house cleaning.  We are feeling so spoiled and eager to shower blessing on people when our time to serve comes along.  Until then just doing our best to wait patiently!

A season for all things ... 11-1-11

Some season's in life you anticipate like the first fall day you get to bake pumpkin bread, some you dread like the first day of August in Texas, some seasons are just sprung upon you like the early death of my Daddy.  Whatever the season, it doesn't do any good to fight it or be angry at it.  The season's of life are chances for us to grow.  If we embrace the season it will be easier to cope.  If we learn and be thankful for that season we can be used by God.

My season right now is to rest and to grow these twin boys as best I can and as long as I can here in the hospital.  We are at 24 weeks and a few days and praying that our season in the hospital lasts at least until Thanksgiving.

In Sept and Oct Lee had to work 3 weeks and was home one week for each of those months.  A long time without Daddy and Hubby was a stretch especially for 2 months in a row which was really uncommon also.  Being pregnant with twins for those 2 months and caring for Cooper (almost 5) and Allie (3) was a stretch.  With plans for a fun Halloween weekend and Cooper's 5th birthday party we were eager for our family to be together for 2 weeks. However when Lee did get home the very next day is when the little twin's sac ruptured.

We had Cooper's 5th birthday party planned for Sat. which happened to be the day after the rupture.  A decked out 'Star Wars' party was his dream party.  What a trooper he was to understand that things had to be changed because of his twin brothers needing to be in the hospital.  That party will be awesome Cooper - when things settle down we'll do it!

I'm praying that this time for Cooper and Allie is a good season to get more connected with Lee without me.  I remember special times with my Daddy and how I loved not having my mom right there to fill up the space with conversation or activities.  Those times were usually on the houseboat for vacations, working on a project in the garage or my dad driving me to a friends house.   I hope things are going ok at home while I grow these babies and I pray this season is not wasted by any of us.  I hope we take hold of it and let us be molded by it so that we are more usable by God.