Giving Thanks

Well, we've got a lot to be thankful for today.  Our bunnies are doing great and making us smile every day.  Life is good!  We've even worked through that bath angst in the last week.  All Mom's fault -- water not quite warm enough.  Here are some pics from the last week:

Etienne getting his hair washed.

Hair washing makes Sylvie yawn.

All bundled up in a frog towel.

Curled up with Dad on the couch.

Smedley shares Mom's lap with Sylvie.

Little hand with strong grip.

The quiet moments are so blessed.  We hurt when they hurt.  Gas is no fun.  We feel a deep sense of joy when they are content and at peace.  They make us cry and they make us laugh.  These are the most wonderful times together.  We are so very thankful.  So very, very thankful.

Three Weeks Old!

It's so hard to believe, but our little bunnies are three weeks old today.  Yikes!  We are completely and totally in love with them.  It still makes me cry to look at them every once in a while.  This past week, we got in lots of great walks in the awesome stroller Aunt Lise got for them.  They love it.  Cool!  Sometimes I want to stop complete strangers and say, "Hey!  These are my kids!".  Like, I'm sure they see that, but I just want to tell the world.

A walk in the park.

 

Dad thinks he can get away with you!

 

 More Sylvie smiles.

 

 Etienne and his best buddy, Bink.

I love Etienne's little frog legs!  Both babies are getting such personalities.  Sylvie decided to try being nocturnal this week.  We tried to convince her that was just for skunks.  She took pity on us last night and just stayed up until the midnight meal.  I've started calling them the Wolf Cubs for some reason.  Probably because they howl when they are hungry and then they eat like there's no tomorrow.  Yes, I know that wolves have pups, but my brain is fuzzy from lack of sleep and the strangest things come out of it.  The cats are getting braver about the babies, and they've both actually gotten close enough to sniff and run.  In the grand scheme of things, I suppose this is all very trivial, but we live for every moment of it.   

Things our babies like:  food, being held, binks, naps, Beatles songs being hummed at them at 1:00 in the morning.

Things our babies don't like:  baths.  They don't much care for cold wipes on their tushes either.  Can't blame them, I suppose.

Quiet Time

Dear Bunnies

We went to the Dr. yesterday, and you've both gained weight and you're both still perfect.  Like, yuh!  We knew that!  We've settled into a quiet little house.  It's comfy and homey and all that.  I'm still verklempt at the drop of a hat.  You just knock me out.  Dad is so in love with you he doesn't make sense half the time.  Here you are this week:

Smedley, still horrified and mesmerized.

  Sylvie giving me the stink eye.

Etienne watching Dad.

Sylvie smiling about something secret.

Etienne fell asleep while contemplating the world.

 Mom and Sylvie sharing a smile.


Honestly, I don't know where the time goes each day.  Note to self:  Must buy lottery ticket!

Onward

Well, babies have been home for about 9 days.  I think we're starting to settle in.  I'm sure everything will change just as quickly.  My sister, Lise, went home today.  Bummer!  It was so nice to have an extra set of hands and someone with experience to tell us we weren't going to permanently damage our kids -- not just yet.  Things we did in the last week:

Me on Double Bink Duty.

A quiet Dad moment.

Sylvie in Boppy Land

Etienne in Boppy Land.

Smedley, watching over his babies.

Elliott, wondering what the heck you're doing.

Sylvie, trying out the swing Barb sent.  She liked it.

So far, so good.  No major dramas.  We're all just chillin' in our little home.  The weather has been beautiful, and the stroller arrived today.  Let's hope we can go for a walk tomorrow.  Yay!

Here are a couple more pics from the hospital -- the night we got to come home.  Sylvie and Etienne slept the whole way home.  What good babies!!!  They must have taken pity on us.  We hadn't eaten or slept in a while, and we were so ready to come home we were just about ready to cry.  I've never been so happy to see our own cob webs in my life!

Sylvie the Mouse

Etienne the Giraffe

Loading up the car to go home.  Woo Hoo!!!

Wow

Dear Bunnies,

Well, you've been home almost a week now.  Hard to believe!  You are more aware of each other everyday.  It's really awesome to watch.  Dad and I are so happy.  Rachel is feeling better, too.  I should tell you about when you were born.

I went up to Fort Wayne to help Rachel because she had been sick and you two were so heavy in her belly.  We had a wonderful couple days, just hanging out.  I'll be forever grateful for those days.  I showed her where I grew up, and she showed me the new ball park.  We were together when she went into labor -- nothing dramatic like in the movies.  You two just decided to give her fair warning that you were ready to be with the rest of us.  Rachel kept asking me questions to keep her mind off things, and we talked forever. 

Dad was in the OR when you were born.  

 

He got to see you first.  They let only one of us in, so he was it.  I joined you all in recovery as soon as they let me.  You two squirmed and made kitten noises. 

 

 

Etienne, you kept wrapping yourself around Sylvie.  You wanted to cuddle.  Sylvie, you just wanted to stretch out and sleep under the nice warming light.  No one could blame you.

When we all got to Rachel's room, I put you under my shawl sweater together, and you both settled right down and went to sleep.  

 

It was a most awesome moment.  We all just hung out together for a few minutes before they came to get you for your first bath.

Babies!!!

The night we were born and the night we came home!

Good Friends

My, but this was a hectic week. R was sick and in the hospital. Philippe was sick. I whacked out my back. I guess we're just getting all this crap out of our systems, right? Laurie and Dennis Nichols proved what great friends they are and helped with R's son. Everyone in Bloomington offered support and to help if they could. It was truly a week of good friends. Whew! Let's put it behind us! Bunnies might be here next week. FINALLY!!! They've been good and sticking to their schedule so far, but we're anxious to meet them. R is anxious to be comfortable again. Go figure.

In the beginning

This is what they looked like on July 29th, 2009. the day we found out they were twins, sans the writing to tell us what we were looking at. We were all shocked! R, Philippe and I just stared at the ultrasound screen. R said, "That better be a head and a butt!" The ultrasound tech said, "Nope. You're having twins. You didn't know you were having twins?!" R and I laughed and Philippe was very, very quiet. He was quiet all day. Go figure! We were both so thrilled and scared and worried for R and all that. Hard to believe we're only a couple weeks away. Yikes! It kind of looks like they are conspiring against us. Hmm.

1st Post

Dear Bunnies,

Today is the first post. Just checking things out. Wow! I've leaped into the 21st century -- thanks to you!