Snuggling Kiddos

This week was a pretty slow week but it sure felt busy --- I'm starting to realize just how busy it feels to have twins!

We enjoyed a family walk this week. Ayla sped ahead of all of us on a bike, this was her longest ride yet and she learned to conquer the ramps! :) The boys were snug in the back of double stroller sharing the bassinet.


Daddy got to watch his first cardinals game with the boys. I think he has been looking forward to this for a long time!


The girls are thoroughly enjoying their time with the boys. They jump at every chance they can get to feed them bottles, take care of them and talk to them ... in their off time they are busy taking care of their pretend babies. They are just so sweet!




Ayla had her field day at school today and had a blast. She will miss school so much when they break for the summer! Daddy and Eden went to the cookout at the school but I stayed with the boys ... can't wait til we can venture out more.

Jude & Zeke Newborn Photo Session

Jude & Zeke Newborn Photo Session

I wanted to share the photos I took of my boys. I typically do newborn sessions at 2 weeks, but the boys were still in the NICU. So the photos of them are at about 4 weeks. Enjoy!!

To view all the photos in their sessions go to:
www.inspiredimagesbyjerra.com/jz2011
password: iibyjjz





Jude



Zeke

1 Month Old and a Fun Chicken Dance!

1 Month Old and a Fun Chicken Dance!

This week was a fun week at the Murphy household. The boys turned 1 month old on Monday!! We had fun taking their pictures with these cool onesie stickers from Aunt Nikki. Babies are super awkward when they are free to use their limbs. It made for some funny pictures! :)

Picture: Uh-Oh Zeke's slippin'


Picture: There that is better!


Picture: Mr. Zeke


Picture: Jude with his lady's man wink ;)


Picture: Chillin' on the floor.


We had our life group meeting at our house this week as we always do. Caitlin has been working with the kids each week. We LOVE her, she does such an amazing job with all of them. This week they were learning to do the right thing. We got surprised with a presentation. It was awesome. It was the chicken dance with words ...

Da na na na na na na na,
Da na na na na na na na,
Da na na na na na na na
Do the Right Thing! (clap, clap, clap, clap)



We have lots of kids; Jude & Zeke (5weeks), Max (8months), Sophia (5months), Eden (2 1/2), Ramona (3), Ayla (4 1/2), Bella (5), and Tea (7). All these kiddos belong to three families, its so much fun! Next time I'll have to get a pic of all the babies.

Ayla got to feed Jude for the first time. I still have to be very close in case there is a choking episode so she sits right next to me so I can watch him closely.


This is where the twins spend most of their daytime hours along with lots of snuggle time with Mommy and sometimes the big sisters too.


I attempted to carry both twins in my Moby wrap. It worked but I can't really see it being too helpful most of the time and for sure not in a few weeks when they are bigger.

Easter FUN!

Easter FUN!

We started our Easter celebrations with egg dying and we had a lot of fun. The girls made lots of beautiful creations and I think Matt had just as much fun as they did!



This is what the boys did during the whole egg production. It was fun just having them close by.




Then we started on our Easter Garden. The Easter Garden is one of my family traditions to make. The girls went out to the yard to find sticks for the cross and a rock for the tomb. Then we came inside to put it all together while Daddy gave them a little Easter lesson. Then we sealed the tomb with the stone and the rest of the story would be told in the morning when the stone was rolled away!

Picture: The finished project!


Picture: This picture didn't turn out the best, I forgot to tell Matt the setting was changed :) but you can see us putting it together.


Sunday morning the girls came in to wake us up. We had told them that there might be a surprise for them in the morning but they had to come wake us up first. Ayla kept saying, "this is the best Easter EVER" and this was before she had seen a single thing!

Picture: Ayla, Eden, Jude & Zeke with all their Easter Baskets. They had some from us and some from Grandpa Mike & Grandma Allison and Gramma Beth & Gene. (not sure I have clearance to call him Grandpa Gene yet ;) )


Picture: Ayla sporting her new sunglasses ... I think she likes them!


Picture: Eden with her new pair of sunglasses. Super cute!


Picture: Ayla enjoying going through all her new stuff.


Then we headed outside for our Easter Egg hunt. Ayla is quite a bit speedier than Eden but they both had a blast finding all the goodies. We need some more hiding places next year!



Jude & Zeke got some really cute bunny ears in their Easter Baskets. I spent some time with them trying to get the ears to stay on their head and for their faces to stop frowning :). I got some cute shots though. I love these little snuggle bunnies!



While mommy & daddy were busy getting those precious pictures, the girls were going through their Easter Baskets. They found some fingernail polish from Gramma Beth and hunkered down into a corner to sneakily try their hand at painting their toes. I was trying hard not to laugh when I caught them. The pic I snapped is fuzzy (I had to get it quick!) but Eden's expression is priceless!



Then Matt & the girls headed over to Gramannette's & Ppa Joe's for some Easter fajitas (Yeah I know, its weird :) ) and some more Easter fun. Then back home for some pizza and more sugar.

I really missed not going to church this year. Probably one of the first Easters I have missed (would have to consult with my parents on that) but we have to keep the boys home to keep them protected until they get a little older.

It was a great weekend with my family. I feel so blessed with what God has given -- it was a great weekend to remember the eternal and overflowing life that was bought at such a high price and just to be happy and content with the blessings God has given us. We feel so happy and grateful that God has brought this family together.

First Week at Home!

First Week at Home!

So the week has gone by fast. The first night was hard, I kept hearing every little noise and the boys were both used to the noisiness of the NICU so there wasn't a lot of sleeping. The rest of the week the nights went great, we got a couple stretches of up to 4 hours in between night time feedings. We now have a system worked out well, Matt takes the boys in to change their diapers, I mix up the bottles and thicken the formula and then we eat feed and burp one of the boys and back to bed to start over again in another 3 hours :).



They are doing so well. So far it has been pretty easy and we are able to keep them on the schedule. Mostly just sleep, eat and poop.

Jude & Zeke both went to the pediatrician this week. Jude's weight was 6 lb 8 oz and Zeke was at 6 lbs 14 oz. They are growing so fast and the pediatrician says they are both doing great. Jude has a lot of nasal congestion and teary eyes. The doctor thinks he might have allergies already so we are doing a wait and see. Not much they can do for him anyway at this age.

The girls are loving every chance they can get to hold the boys. They are actually a really great help. If one of them wants to be held and I can't at the moment, I just grab a big sister and the boys really love it. Most of the time they really spend time studying the girls. The boys love it when they talk to him. Ayla likes to sing to them. Right now, this is Rhianna --- sooo that is interesting. She's got some serious dance moves too!

Picture: Ayla with Zeke & Eden with Jude ... they LOVE this!


Picture: Ayla with Zeke


Picture: Eden with Jude

Jude & Zeke Day 24 – Sunday 4/17/11

Jude & Zeke Day 24 – Sunday 4/17/11

So today is the big day. They did the sleep studies last night and so we got up and got all dressed up not knowing if he passed or not. Matt, me, Ayla, Eden & Jude all went up to the NICU to see!

Picture: Zeke's last feeding in the NICU!


We got there for the 11:30am feeding. The nurse didn't have the results yet but thought he did well. So I fed Zeke and then the rest of us went out for some pizza at Nikki's Pizza. First time there, it was sooo yummy! Then we went to HEB to get some coffee and creamer to give the NICU staff as a thank you gift. I was a little counting my chickens before they were hatched and just hoping and praying this was our last visit to the NICU.

When we got back to the NICU the doctor said Zeke passed his tests!!! They asked us if we wanted to room in and we said, no we are pros, we just want to take our little guy home!

Picture: Zeke's going home outfit!



It took a long while to get all his discharge stuff together. Then we headed out to the lobby to reunite with Jude and hop into our double stroller and off we went home!

Picture: Zeke leaving the NICU!


Picture: Brothers together again!


Picture: All four together, first pic!


Picture: WOW! We have a van full ...


Picture: Home sweet Home!



It felt sooooooooo good having everyone at home. We felt we could finally celebrate, so Matt ran up to HEB and got us some yummy steaks and margarita mix - no tequila. It was a very yummy supper and I got to snuggle with the boys.

Picture: Zeke chillin' at home ...


Picture: Jude & Zeke snuggling together at home in their boppy.


Before the night was over I have simultaneously fed and burped both boys. It was a cinch! Now ask me how we are doing in the morning :) ....

Picture: Feels so good snuggling with the boys!