Out of the mouths of babes...

One more quick post (I know what you are saying right now - TWO posts in one day???) I really need to get better about writing down the things that Quinci's says, especially when they are so dang cute and insightful!

The other night we were at my parent's for Sunday dinner and Quinci went to the park to play with her cousins. She came back quite a bit later, minus her shoes (for anyone that knows my daughter, this is not unusual as the child NEVER has her shoes on for more than a minute after we reach our destination!) Scott asked her where her shoes were and she shrugged her shoulders and tried very desperately, but unsuccessfully, to blame it on someone else (another recently added personality trait, that I am assured will pass...) Scott made her go with him back to the park to look for them. They came back successful and Quinci had the biggest smile on her face. She said she wanted to tell me a secret (the girl LOVES secrets!) and whispered in my ear that while they were looking for the shoes, their search was proving unsuccessful and so they said a prayer and the shoes were instantly found. She was so excited (I wish I could truly convey the awe and excitement that were in her voice as she told me, but you will just have to imagine it!) I was grateful for her daddy seeing the most perfect of circumstances providing such a fantastic teaching moment and taking the time to do so. I know that Quinci learned something special and important at such an ordinary time. I started to cry (of course!) and gave her a huge hug. I was so proud! My "baby" is truly growing up! Maybe this teaching stuff won't be so bad after all.

Service - Paying it Forward

Just a quick post before I begin the struggle to try and sleep a bit!

I was talking with a friend today about all of the struggles that we are facing in the world today. More specifically, the financial struggles that many of our own friends and family (and ourselves!) are going through right now. We were talking about job issues and issues with being able to make ends meet (or not being able to...) . It struck me very hard that there is at least one bright spot in the gloom and doom that seems to be around every corner these days. I think it is the opportunity and desire to serve that voraciously seems to come into play during these times. I know that I have personally been in awe over the service that my family has received over the last several weeks, especially by those that seem to be in need themselves, but still find the time to give in some form or another. I have had my testimony of service so strongly reinforced these last weeks through meals, phone calls, babysitting my 4 year-old (that right there deserves to be awarded with the highest of honors!)gifts given to that 4-year old, and a beautiful baby shower, attended by so many and given so selflessly during these hard economic times. I am not sure all of these women (and men!!!) really know the impact they have had on my testimony and my family's lives. It has done my heart good to view my friends and family in this way! As I was talking to this friend, and in some small way able to help her with a struggle she was having, I realized that yes, little-ole (HA-HA!) bed-rested me can also serve and pay forward the many kindnesses that have been shown me. It didn't cost me a thing and it sure made my day knowing that I could do something to make this doom and gloom a little brighter! I really think that is why the Lord gives us these hard times.To remind us of our purpose here in mortality and to prove to Him that we can and will prevail.

Bed Rest

Bed rest is certainly not all that it is cracked up to be ( or at all as "wonderful" as it sounds.) Last week I went into preterm labor, ended up at the hospital for 6 1/2 hours and my doctor put me on a lovely medicine called Terbutaline. He then ordered me to bed "or else." I kept asking him if there were certain things I could or couldn't do and he finally asked me if I needed him to tell someone in particular that he had ordered me to do these things (I think he thought someone, namely my husband, was giving me a hard time about "slacking off". ) I laughed and told him it was quite the opposite, that my grouchy husband and "pushy" ;o) friends had been telling me for weeks that I was doing way too much and I needed to "back off" (those were Scott's exact words!)

So, I left the office with my mom in tow (she told me I could not drive myself; it seems I have several bed-rest Nazis in my life!) and she came right home and put me to bed! I felt like a 10 year-old again! She did, however, make me dinner and vacuum my floor before she left!

No, really, I have been overwhelmed at the amount of love and concern that everyone has shown me and my little family (soon to be "not-so-little"!) in these times full of tests and trials! I have had meals, calls and most importantly, the most important little person in my life, Quinci, has been taken care of everyday! I have grown accustomed to Cindy's, Karissa's, and Cheryl's calls each day to take Quinci and to just see how I am doing and they mean more to me than these amazing women will ever know! I do believe that Quinci loves each of you more than she loves me!! I can not forget to mention Mel as well. She has both of her kiddos having surgery within a week of each other and she still calls me most days to check in. She brought us dinner the night before Collin's surgery. Who can go wrong with beautiful friends like these! I now know the reason that we were directed to move out here! I thank the Lord for the little inspirations He sends our way. Now, can He just send one about a job.......

One more thing. Bless our Compassionate Service person's heart. She has been so overwhelmed with the many needs of the sisters in our ward, but she still never neglects to check in on me as well! Karolien is PERFECT for this calling and also the perfect neighbor as well!

This one's for you Cheryl....

I had a request for a chocolate cookie recipe that I made the other night. I feel so honored to have someone ask me for the directions to something I made!!

Fudge Balls (Unfortunate name! I won't even tell you the conversation that ensued at my family dinner when my brothers heard the name!!!)

1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 squares unsweetened chocolate ( 1 square equals 3 T. cocoa and 1 T. oil)
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
powdered sugar

preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt butter with cocoa in a pan on the stove. Remove from heat. Add sugar, egg, salt and vanilla; mix well. Stir in flour. Mix well (you may have to squish it with your hands to get all of the flour mixed in good.) Shape into balls. I like them a little bit on the bigger side because then they don't dry out when they cook. Bake for 7-10 minutes (in my oven, with the larger balls, I cook them for 10 minutes) Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar.


Thanks for flattering me, girls!

Pictures.... at last!

I just love the picture above! It is a profile of one of the babies with the foot of the other one in her face. This could be foreshadowing...

She has her hand in front of her mouth. Her eyes look kind of freaky right now, like dark circles.

Of course I didn't tell you that they were u/s pictures from 3 weeks ago!! We are going tomorrow for newer ones (one benefit for having twins is the MANY ultrasounds you get to have!)

I won't try to explain what each picture is...use some imagination! Some are easier to see than others.

I will post newer pictures tomorrow.

I would like to draw attention to the fact that, once again, I am up at insane hours of the night with these bloody restless legs. Can't a girl catch a break?? I think I may go sign in at the looney bin!

By the way...

Have you noticed the ticker to the side over there?????? 79 days??? Oh my goodness!!! Take about 20-28 days off of that and that could be me!! HELP!!!! Is there any way to post-pone this for about, oh, 4-5 months??????

NOT my most favorite thing to do...pregnant or not!!

So last week, my string of not so good luck continued and I broke TWO teeth!! Can you believe it? One is bad enough but 2 within a very short amount of time. Soooooo, I found a GREAT dentist through my insurance company and they got me in quite expeditiously!!

I saw them yesterday and had 2 root canals (YUCK, YUCK, YUCK!!!!) and they made the crowns for me right then and there. Dentistry has definitely come a very long way. I was there for about 4 1/2 hours (another HUGE YUCK!!!) but now I am done and my broken teeth are no more! Thanks to Dr. Hill and his excellent staff for taking such good care of a 28 week pregnant-with-twins woman (they even offered to get me some lunch! Sheesh!) and for letting me use the facilities every 20 minutes (no joke!). I will definitely go back for all of my dental needs, which will hopefully be minimal from this point on, and was very impressed with their patient care. If anyone needs a good dentist, let me know.

Thanks to Mel for taking Quinci for 8 (eight) hours yesterday and for making us yummy dinner while juggling three rambunctious kids!! She is one fantastic friend! I have been beyond blessed with the friends I had before coming to the promised land (Queen Creek ;o) and the amazing ones that I have been fortunate enough to make since we've moved. Thanks for making this pregnancy and my life bearable!