What's the 'Big' Deal?...

Ok, Ok, so my online friends will stop aging me by

a) 10 years

and

b) 2 more kids (LOL!)

I think I will just spill!

42 is the number of pounds I am going to lose. I officially started a program on Monday. I'll keep you all updated on my progress. With a little luck and alot of discipline, I am hoping to be at my goal weight in 14 weeks!

Wish me luck!

Way Back Whenesday...

Me and my gal Kerri - three years ago, back before we were mommies!

I'm so glad you moved back home where you belong - I can't wait to see you and your family!



If you're still confused about the '42' post from Monday, look at this picture, it is a hint - hopefully what was here, will be again... :)

I'll put you out of your misery tonight if no one guesses.

Join Cheryl at Twinfatuation for Way Back Whenesday...

Makes My Monday...

Hmmm. Now how do I get the caterpillar through this wall?

Bonny playing at Granny and Grand-dad's on Sunday...

Visit Cheryl at Twinfatuation for Makes My Monday

And now, for the really 'big' news...

Who knows what this means?

Super Sunday (Moms Ed. #3) - That's the ticket...

How about this for a Mother's Day Gift - tickets to a special event! Do you like plays, sporting events, heck, even the movies?

Drop the hint for your sweetheart on an event (or series of events -- dream big) that you would like to go to...make sure he knows he'll need a sitter if it's not something you would take the kids along for.

I did this for Jon last year for Valentine's Day. I got him tickets to a concert that I knew he really wanted to go to, but the twist was that I got him FOUR tickets instead of just two - I know how social he is, so I got him extra tickets to bring along the friends of his choosing - it was a hit!

So, spill the beans, what would you guys like tickets to?

What...again?

I know, I know...Super Sunday will yet again be a Monday edition, but last night I had the choice - to blog or to sleep - I chose sleep! (And I'd do it again!)

Besides, I will have kind of an important post to make tonight (can you feel the suspense building?)so that way we can all just catch up at once - including me!

See ya tonight!

B is for...

Brewer...

That little monkey is making all kinds of sounds now that he has his tubes in and his tongue fixed...I'm thinking these are very positive signs.

His latest is the 'b' sound...he is loving making the 'b' sound and blowing raspberries...I'm betting with all the 'b' words we toss around that one of the boys is bound to have 'buddy' or 'bubba' as his first word..

If you're happy and you know it...

Clap your hands!

I clapped my hands today, not even thinking about it, as I asked Brewer if he was ready to go to school. He had his eyes closed - and he TOTALLY jumped, startled, when he heard (yes, HEARD) the loud clap.

It was the best thing that happened to me all day. :)

Super Brief Super Sunday...Moms Ed. #2

A few more great gifts -

Manicure/Pedicure/Massage - Spa Gift Cards!

My hubby got me a hot stone mani/pedi and a massasge for Valentine's Day. I cashed in the mani/pedi this week and I'm still looking forward to the massage. Thanks, sweetie!

A gift that doesn't cost anything but your time - what are the 2 or 3 things around the house that you do that you hate doing the most - get a 'free weekend' where dad takes over these chores for the weekend - we've done this before at our house for each other. It's how I spell H-E-A-V-E-N...

One thing I am seriously considering - a Wii and Wii Fit package. Several of my friends have them and seem to love them...it would give me something active to do while Jon is at the gym in the evenings after we put the boys down...it is time for me to take getting the IVF weight off seriously (baby weight is gone, but I still have over 30 extra pounds hanging around from the IVF days)...and a fitness related gift is ok...as long as YOU want it. (NO hint-dropping, guys. That is NOT cool.)

Hope you enjoy the belated gift ideas. I promise this Sunday will be on-time. :)

Super Sunday - Mom's Edition #2...

Postponed due to super exhaustion. The boys' Christening was this Sunday and this mama is wiped out! I will post my picks for the week either tonight or tomorrow - keep checking for updates.

In Recovery...

Brewer is doing nicely. Here's how it went.

We got to the hospital on time and Brewer's ENT - Dr. Jones (Very caring British gentleman who is extremely good with the parents and kids alike if you need an ENT in my area) met with us, along with his nurse and anesthesiologist. Brewer charmed them all, of course, and tried to eat the anesthesiologists stethoscope! Brewer also reached out his big, slobbery hand and touched Dr. Chinh (the anesthesiologist) with it, several times, which made Jon and I laugh - that boy is NOT shy. :) They whisked him away into surgery and just about 30 minutes later, it was all over.

We met him in recovery and he came out of the anesthesia yesterday without a problem in the world - except that he was starving! He downed 3 of the hospital's bottles of pedialyte. Then he slept. Alot. At one point, all three of us fell asleep in the recovery room. Wish I had a pic of that.

When we got home, Brew drank another ANOTHER 6 ounces of pedialyte and took a LONG nap. He is doing really well, but we can tell his mouth hurts when he tries to eat solids, so we are doing bottles w/cereal in them for about 24 hours until his little tongue feels better. On the bright side, he is now able to take medicine orally and keep it down without trying to push it out.

Our doctors and nurses did an outstanding job. Thanks to them and to all the staff at Children's who took care of our Brew-bear yesterday. Also, big thanks to Granny, who kept Bonham overnight for us the night before the surgery, and to Grand-dad and his great big truck, who made sure our Bonny-love got home safely when the streets were flooded last night.

I am off now for a busy day of preparing for the Christening tomorrow - wish me luck!

Down the Tubes...

Say a little prayer (if you are the praying kind) or think some positive thoughts for our little Brew-bear...His surgery is first thing in the morning.

I'm going to feed him right before the food cut-off tonight so hopefully he won't be too starving.

They are doing his tubes and also clipping his frenulum so he'll be able to eat and form sounds properly with his tongue.

Poor little guy. I will let you all know how it goes.

Way Back When-esday - How Far We've Come...

Today for Way Back When-esday I'm reflecting waay back. Has anyone ever said to you that to really appreciate where you are, you have to look back at where you've been? Well, now they have.

The other night someone asked a question on one of the bulletin boards I visit about the timeline for an IVF cycle, so I went back to my journals to check some dates and here is what I found. It's a letter I wrote back in October of 2006 after our first failed IVF cycle. We had transfered one embryo - the only one we had - whom we affectionately dubbed 'punkin', it being Halloween season and all. I wrote this letter after I found out that I wasn't pregnant - that punkin was gone.

I had no idea at that time just how long our journey to parenthood would be or all of the places it would take us. I only knew that for a brief time, we had punkin, at last - and then no more.

I read this letter while holding Brewer in my arms and it made me cry, a sad thoughtful cry, and I hugged Brewer tighter than ever. I knew as I read it that what I wrote about punkin being our special angel is true. I told Jon when he got home that I had found this and read it - he remembered it, and he teared up. Punkin will always be with us and when I thank God for my boys, I thank him for Punkin and every other child we tried for that was not to be.

I wrote a letter this morning to my punkin. I'm going to tuck a copy of this letter and our u/s picture into our family bible so we'll always have it to remember by. This was very hard to do, but I hope it will make me feel better.

My dearest lil punkin,

You probably won’t remember me the way that I remember you, but I do hope you know who I am. You never saw me and I knew you only very briefly and you were very small. I am your mom. Making you with your dad was one of the most amazing and hard and wonderful things that I ever did and I am sad that I know now that I will never see you as a little person with big blue eyes and blonde hair (how your dad and I both looked when we were little – it was pretty much a guarantee), but in the few days that I knew you were living inside of me and the days that followed when I hoped you still were, I came to love you more than I ever imagined possible.

Even though I did not know you, I imagined you….sometimes you were a boy, sometimes you were a girl…I thought about how you would laugh and smile, what you would feel like, how you would smell, how I would sing to you and comfort you when you cry…what your room would look like…how much fun you would have with your dad…all the things your granny would do to spoil you and all of the tall tales your grand-dad would try to make you believe. I so hoped I would get to spend the rest of my lifetime watching you grow up into someone wonderful and helping you to learn and become the amazing person I knew you would have been, but it was just not to be…I’m sorry for that. I’ll always be your mother and you’ll always be my first baby and I miss you and love you more than I can ever say.

Your dad says you will be our family’s special angel now. Your dad’s a pretty special guy. He wanted to teach you how to build things and how to play the guitar and drive a tractor and he wanted to play with trains together with you – all of the fun things he used to do with his daddy when he was little. If you had grown into a little boy, I had the feeling that I would never see you because your dad and your grand-dad would have had you with them all of the time. If you had been a girl, your daddy’s entire world would have been wrapped on the end of your tiny little finger. He’s a push-over with the ladies. He is also the kindest person I have ever known. I know he misses you and that he hurts very much because you can’t be with us and he, too, had his heart set on a lifetime with you. He also understands though, that you are with your true Father now, and that it’s just how things were meant to be. (He’s a little bit better at being at peace with things than mommy is – he takes care of me that way.) You would have been crazy about your dad. He was so in love with you, even before you were ever made. We hoped you were our lucky “one” - and maybe you are, just not in the way we had planned. I am sure your dad is right and that you are now watching over us.

I hope you have found your Gramma in Heaven. That’s my mommy. Just like how I feel about you, I miss her and I love her and I think of her every day. Please take care of her, and let her love you, and watch over your dad and me together with her.

There are so many things I want to tell you, that I just can’t find the words to do right now. Perhaps I will write again sometime.

I want you to know that your dad and I aren’t the only ones who loved you. You have aunts and uncles and grandparents (I mentioned them) who all loved you so much and were cheering for you to stay here with us and be a part of this world. We all have heavy hearts that it was not meant to be. Many of mommy and daddy’s friends feel the same. We all understand that it was just not meant to be, but we had hoped and prayed, and now we grieve. Someday we will feel better and we will remember you fondly always.

I need to tell you again that making you was the most wonderful and difficult thing that your dad and I have ever done. Your existence gave us hope that someday a child will come to us and that it will stay and we will have a chance to do with it all the things we dreamed of doing with you.

We love you always, little punkin, and we thank you for being in our lives, even for just a moment and so small we couldn’t even see. We knew you were there, living and growing – a little bit of me and a little bit of your dad. That means everything to us.

Please watch over us and know that we love you. Take care of us and hear our prayers along with our Father in Heaven.

Love,
Mom

For posterity, and in keeping with the 'Way Back Whensday' tradition...here is a picture of me with all my 'loot' as we embarked on our first IVF cycle - almost three years ago now. It was the one that brought punkin our way.

Observe the ridiculously hopeful grin of someone who had not yet experienced an IVF failure. I am pretty sure that after my first failed cycle there were no more cycle 'kickoff' pictures - go figure - makes me glad I took this one - now that the boys are here, I recognize this girl again.



Join Cheryl at Twinfatuation for Way Back When-esday!

One Bonham, One Shot, One Brew...

Today was the boys' 6 month appointment.

Dr. S. was very impressed with all the things they are up to...reaching for toys and people, pushing up on their hands, laughing out loud. They are doing great. Brewer weighed 16lbs and 4oz and Bonham weighed 15lbs even. They measured 26.25 inches and 25.75 inches respectively.

Brewer was in the 30th percentile for weight,the 40th percentile for height and the 25th percentile for head circumfrence.

Bonham, my little guy, was in the 10th percentile for height and weight and the 5th percentile for head circumfrence.

When the time came for shots, Bonham went first and he didn't make a peep - I was SO proud. Brewer pitched a fit when it was his turn - he was even angry about drinking the drinkable medicine, and then when he got the shots - OH MAMA - Once he calmed down, he shreeked when I tried to put him back on the table because he was afraid I was going to hurt him again...poor little guy - we had to put his clothes back on him while I held him. I guess we know who the tough guy is now.

The nurse (who does their shots everytime) even said we should do Bon first from now on because she thinks he only cried in the past because we had done Brewer first and so Brewer was already crying so it encouraged Bonny to get upset. LOL! My two little boys could not be more different!

All in all, things were great at Dr. S.'s and he eased our minds about Brew's surgery on friday. He even said to call even if I just feel anxious about the surgery - what a doll he is! He wanted to know all the details - where, when and who was doing the surgery. He is so kind and he REALLY loves these boys. Thanks, Dr. S.!

And now, fun videos from yesterday. One shows Boo being soothed by the magic squeak ball. The other two show the boys in all their snotty glory...it's kinda gross actually, but they were so hilarious and I know that other mommies will be ableto relate. Try to look past the mucus to see how adorable the boys are, ok?

Mommy's Day In...

Today I spent at home with the boys because the daycare was closed for Easter. We had an awesome day. The boys napped, played and ate, and then they did it all again - and again. I stayed in my jammies all day and worked during naps - Wednesday is still a deadline, after all!

I got some cute video, which I will upload tonight if I have time.

Now, it's naptime again and I've got some stuff to check on for work.

Tomorrow - 6 month appointment! YAY!

Super Sunday's Super Mother's Day Picks - Week 1

First let me set the ground rules.

I will try to make sure that there are both practical things and more extravagant items mentioned here in these Mother's Day suggestions, but mostly, I will just be randomly showing things that I think are sweet, or things that I would love to receive myself for Mother's Day (cough, wink, nudge-nudge, honey, if you are reading this)...that being said, there will ALWAYS be a jewelry pick each week, because, well, I LOVE jewelry, and that's just the way it is.

All right - off we go...

First, a bag that I've been drooling over for sometime now - especially since I've gone back to work and have occasion to carry a purse again rather than a diaper bag.

It's the Butler Bag and it is spectacular. It has compartments on the inside for holding virtually everything and keeping it organized. You wouldn't believe how many things will fit inside of it - just check out the pictures shown here. One place I know that you can get it at is The Organized Parent.



It's a little spendy - $165 - but practical as far as its uses. Plus, if you sign up for The Organized Parent's newsletter, they often send out coupon codes that you can use for merchandise on their site. The most recent one I got was for 34% off - now that is a discount!

And now a jewelry pick - I am usually a little more unconventional in my choice of jewelry (you'll see in future posts), but I found these very reasonably priced stackable birthstone rings at Zales (online only).



They are currently only $33 each and I would love to have one for each of the boys, and perhaps one to put in the middle for the month we were married - sorta like the birthstone of Jon and I as a family. They are a great practical gift for mom because they are sterling silver and crystal. They'll look pretty, but buying them won't break the bank. (That way you don't have to be heartsick over their cost if your favorite little one knocks it down the drain of the bathroom sink or decides to play 'dress-up' without mommy's permission and can't quite remember where they took it off...LOL)

And last, but certainly not least (cheesy)...how about one of those "...of the Month" clubs? Seriously,hear me out!

The one that piqued my interest was the Beer of the Month Club. To some it may sound like a Father's Day gift - we'll do those here, too - but, hey, what can I say? I like beer. The club memberships are available month-to-month and in 3, 6, 9, and 12 month increments, so dear old dad can choose the price that suits your circumstances best. And if beer doesn't suit your fancy, they also have clubs for chocolate, wine and cheese - there is something for everyone!

Well, I hope that is enough to get your creative juices flowing about Mother's Day gifts until next week's recommendations. Be sure to comment and let us know if you plan on asking for anything we show here OR if you have an idea for something that would make a great gift for next week's feature.

Oh, and if you decide to do your own Super Sunday - please grab my button for your blog and post a comment here so I can come check you out!

I am going to head on to bed now (to watch the latest Tudors episode!). Good night!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Everyone!

The boys had a restless morning in church - it was their usual naptime and breakfast time - so it was rough. Plus we were sitting in the chapel and they had it at 40 degrees in there, I swear!

We came home and rotated between sleeping, playing and watching 'Deadliest Catch'...it was an outstanding day! The boys got presents from the Easter bunny and they were adorable in some little bunny ears they got. Granddad took some great pictures of them when we walked over there for dinner. Hopefully he will send us copies soon.

While we ate, Granny fed the boys and bathed them! The poor little guys were tuckered out and went right to sleep afterwards. Thanks, Granny!

We did miss out on taking a trip to our uncle's place out in Navasota to see the extended family, but between the bad weather and all that time in the car - I just didn't want to do that to the boys when they've already been not feeling so great lately with their little colds.

All in all, it was a wonderful Easter! I hope everyone else had a great one. I'll add pictures hopefully in a couple of days.

Six Months Old...

Absolutely Phabulous! The boys spent their half-birthday playing all day with their dad. They went for a walk around the neighborhood, then to Hooters (silly Daddy!), to the mall, and to Granny's for dinner and a visit. Then they came home and played until they fell asleep - surrounded by all their toys. What a perfect day for two rough-and-tumble little boys.

Tomorrow, I will post a birthday message to my sweeties, but for now, mommy is going to learn a lesson from them and get some much needed sleep.

Tennis, Anyone?

Tonight I got a chance to go to the US Men's Clay Court Championship...it was great fun. I had wonderful folks from work and from a prospective client as company. I really enjoyed the tennis, though I admittedly don't know much about the sport, and the conversation and atmosphere were terrific. I think I might look for more opportunities to go to tennis matches - I liked it alot.

Many thanks to Granny who picked up the boys and bathed them (and cut Brewer's nails - God Bless You!) and fed them so Jon could just pour them into bed when he picked them up from her house. We love you, Granny.

Mother's Day will be a Super Day...

So, Jon's been asking me what I want for Mother's Day...Honestly, I'm so glad to have the boys, I just hadn't thought much else about it.

Today I came up with an idea! I'll use Super Sundays from now till Mother's Day to suggest great Mother's Day gifts!

So, keep watching for great ideas for yourself, your mom, your sister, etc...and more importantly, tell your husbands, dads, brothers, etc., to check in on here, too!

Leave the page pulled up on your browser as a hint...this'll be fun!

I did it...

I made a button! I had a request from someone to do Super Sunday on their blog (thanks Betsy!) so I decided I needed a button for it and I actually figured out how to make one! It's not exacty PHabulous, but I made it myself and I am not a techie, so I am pretty proud.

Feel free to grab it and join me for Super Sundays. I use my Sunday post as a day to tell everyone about a product/service that makes my life better in some way - so far it's been everything from baby gear to Zofran to television shows...If you do Super Sunday, please post a comment or email me to let me know you did it so I can check it out! Thanks all!

Everyone's A Winner...

But today, I am THE winner! I won a beautiful necklace from the Friday giveaway over at Multiples and More!

I am SO excited - thanks so much to Magpie Designz - the maker of the necklace. Here's a picture from the giveaway site...I can't wait to see it IRL!



I hope Jon doesn't think this gets him off the hook for Mother's Day! LOL! I guess it could be deemed 'from the boys' since I wouldn't be an MoM without them...

Thanks again to Magpie Designz and Lani & Amanda over at m'n'm!

Super Sunday, Super Show...

Tonight's entry is a brief one because I've got to hurry to bed and settle in for one of my favorite shows. The season premiere of 'The Tudors' is tonight on Showtime. I love historical dramas, especially this period in England's history and the story of Henry VIII, it's fascinating. If you haven't already started watching it, get caught up - you'll be hooked.

Phantastic Voyage...

and the babies sing...

Hey come on mama, my mouth's open wide,
Where's that bottle - in your hand- it' 3:25...
It's cry, cry, all I do is cry...
I'll flow the tears and scream till your eyes open wide...
I'll cry, cry, cry and cry...
You're gonna be awake till I'm satisfied...

Cry all night long, its what I do, cry all night long...
Till the break of dawn, what you think, it's our own thing...

OK - that's all I've got - I'm headed back to bed.

Thank you boys for the midnight concert, boys - sponsored by Similac...it's what's for dinner...(and breakfast, and morning snack and lunch and afternoon snack, oh and the all-important PHANTASTIC 3 am snack)

Because I just don't have enough to do...

I signed up for this on my friend Jenn's blog...

Made with Love...or glue, whatever!

If you would like something handmade by yours truly, leave me a comment here and send me your address. First 5 people get a Phabulous Life original.

But there is a catch! You have to post this on your blog and agree to make something for the first 5 people that comment to you.

(This was copied from another blog and I just changed it up a bit, but here are the rules..)

I get to choose what it is and make it - just for YOU.

Here is the deal:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make! (although I'm hoping you do!)
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It will be done this year. (before December 31, 2009)
4- You have no clue what it's going to be, but I am decently crafty :) BESIDES since its free, you CAN'T complain :P

Oh, and don't forget the catch is that you must re-post this on YOUR blog and make the same offer to the first 5 people who respond on your blog entry, thus continuing the fun!

If you will accept this challenge - please agree by commenting now :)

Phabulous Giveaway!

Great necklace giveaway at www.multiplesandmore.blogspot.com today...check it out!

Twitter, Twitter, Tweet, Tweet...

I joined Twitter! Come follow me - yet another way to get your phabulous fix on!

Search for BSquaredMama and ask to follow!

Thanksgiving Thursday...

Lately, I've been reflecting alot...thinking about how my ship has FINALLY come in! (And about other times where I definitely missed the boat) Every time I think about how I wish I had done this or that or the other thing differently, I'm reminded by my sweet husband and my precious boys that I wouldn't want my life any other way than how it is right now!

1. I am thankful for Brewer's laugh. He greeted me with it this morning - it's not a giggle, it's more of a 'HA!'...it's hilarious. We played 'what does the Brewer say?' for about 10 minutes this morning, with him answering 'HA!' every time.

2. I am thankful for Bonham's sweet nature. Not to be outdone, my other little boy has the kindest disposition. He is always joyful and looks at you with the sweetest little face. His eyes just seem to say, 'I love you soo much' every time he looks at me. He wants to play and laugh and be right in the middle of everything. He's so wonderful.

3. I am thankful the boys have so many people who love them. I don't know what we'd do without all of the grandparents and aunts and uncles (both actual and surrogate). You guys are the best!

4. I am thankful for Jon. I couldn't have dreamed of a better husband. He is so kind to the boys and cares so much about their happiness. He's working so hard to be a great dad and to get healthy for me and for the boys. I am so proud of him and I love him very much.

5. I am thankful to have a good job and a safe warm home. We have so many blessings in our life - I can't even count them. Our life is truly PHABULOUS!

Join Nicole over at What a Trip for Thanksgiving Thursdays!

>>

Hungry, hungry hippos...

The boys are now eating 'solids' three times a day. It's wild how fast they have escalated from once a day to three times. The last couple of days Jon has done a great job of feeding them their evening food on his own. He is such an involved dad and has sooo much fun with the boys.

Now that the boys are eating more, we are really starting to notice Brewer's tongue giving him problems. I am glad the ENT told me about it so I can bring it up at our 6 month appointment. Ideally, they'll be able to cut it(if need be)while he is udner the anesthesia for his tubes.

Jon is taking the next couple of days off work to take care of our ever-mounting to-do pile...it won't be fun, but he is up to the task.

Thanks for stepping up sweetie! I love you so much - and YES you may go out with your friends on Friday as a reward!

Sigh...my hubby is a doll.

A Phabulous Site...

Check out the 'I (HEART) Multiples' button at the bottom of my blog...it's a link to a great new Multiples Blog Network.

There's alot going on over there - today its product reviews (think 'Super Sunday' on Wednesdays) and they are giving away a great looking DVD to help teach your babies to sign. If I don't win it, I am going to run out and buy it.

If you have multiples or know someone who does - check out this site. There are featured blogger days, giveaways, other contests and just generally a wealth of information and alot of fun.

Thanks, Amanda and Lani for starting a GREAT site!