Marching for Babies in May

It's been almost 2 years since Em and Roo were born. But, it shouldn't be. That benchmark should be at the end of June. They were born two months early. 32 weeks gestation.
And that was a great victory.

From the beginning, my ultrasounds indicated that Roo was smaller than her twin. Not to worry, everyone said. Because, she was only 3 days behind. 5 days behind. 8 days behind.
But, as time marched on, the delay became more pronounced. My ultrasound sonographer spent longer and longer taking measurements and consulting his notes from our previous visit.


Finally, at 18 weeks, my amazing obstetrician made the call to send us to a specialist. A perinatologist. There were more ultrasounds.
Roo continued to make progress, but not at the rate that Em was growing.
Her fluid levels were borderline, but never dangerous. Her umbilical cord doppler scans indicated she was in some distress and was having to work very hard for the nutrition she received. Em was in good shape, but had something unthinkable happened with Roo, she would have been in grave danger. There was nothing that could be done to change the situation. Nothing that bed rest or diet or medicine could improve.
Just lots of ultrasounds.
And prayer.

When I was 24 weeks pregnant, the specialist insisted that I receive two rounds of a steroid shot. This was to improve the girls' lung maturity. He was convinced I would have to deliver the girls in the next few days. But, Roo grew and the doctor backed off.
At 28 weeks he expressed sincere surprise.

At 31 weeks, Roo's growth started to flatline. It was time.
I checked into the hospital to have the girls at 32 weeks and 1 day.

Roo

Em


I was discharged 5 days later. But I didn't go home...

First Family Picture (the girls are 1 1/2 weeks old).

First Mother's Day (2 weeks old twins)

...until the end of May. 30 days later. When the Rowdy Girls were finally released from the NICU.


Do you know how incredibly blessed we are? To have made it to 32 weeks. Amazing.
Against the odds with my particular situation (which is generically termed intrauterine growth restriction).
The doctors that took care of Em, Roo and I were outstanding.

But the NICU personnel... they were phenomenal!
What a burden those people bear. Those tiny babies fighting to live. Desperate families clinging to hope.
It is intense, to say the very least.

Several days before the girls were born, I had a dream. I dreamed about Em and Roo in the NICU. They were in separate beds and a very tall man, an angel, was standing guard between the beds. Twelve hours after delivery I was finally able to visit my precious babies. And just like the dream, their beds were in the corner of the room. With a poignant space between. But it wasn't empty. You could feel a holy presence.

I believe all NICU babies have angels standing guard. Fresh from heaven, and plucked from the safety of the womb, these special babies' new existence is painful and frightening. But, the prayers of family and friends enfold them. They bolster their guardian's strength.


And the March of Dimes... with the donations we make. They empower. They strengthen. And they save.
You see. There is an epidemic. Too many babies are born prematurely.
The March of Dimes estimates that half a million babies and their families are impacted by prematurity. Every year. They need our help. To survive. To thrive.

We are lucky. We are blessed. We are so grateful.

The Music Man

Last night we took the RGs to their first live musical production (if you don't count the Sea World shows). They are huge fans of The Music Man and our local theatrical company just happens to be performing it this summer.

We arrived early for good blanket placement on the hill and spent the waiting time eating and playing with friends.

I wasn't sure how the show would go over. Love or hate? Sometimes, when you like a movie so much, any other version is a sad and rude comparison. So, I held my breath just a bit as the opening number began.
Roo's eyes lit up like Christmas, then she jumped to her feet. And she bounced along with the actors and sang along with as much of the song as she's learned so far. Hilarious! Everyone around us was cracking up... at Roo!

A few numbers into the show, she turned to us and said, "Oh, thank you Mama! Thank you, Daddy!"
Oh, baby, you are so very welcome.
Em was mesmerized during the entire 3 hours. She froze in place for each musical number and then would leap to her feet at the end and clap wildly, yelling, "YEA!!!!!"

During the Shipoopi, Em grabbed Roo's hand and they attempted a little free-style dance. Tricky when you're perched on the side of a hill. But, super cute.

The funniest thing all night occurred close to the end. There's a scene in the final town hall meeting when the mayor yells at his wife, Eulalie MacKechnie Shinn, to sit down instead of standing and siding with the rest of the town. The girls love this line. The delivery and the physical comedy that follow absolutely slays them. So, J and I had a clue that there might be some RG audience participation as the line drew near. Sure enough. The actor delivered the line, the actress did her part, and then, there was just a half second of quiet. In that moment, Roo belted out, "EUWAWIE! SIT. DOWN." Everyone, even those on stage, heard her and started laughing.

After the performance, J took Roo down the hill to meet the cast. We packed up and headed home around midnight. And if the girls ask, I think we'd totally take them back tomorrow night for an encore. It was that much fun.

lollipops and cotton candy
the Shipoopi!

An Update from Africa

Very exciting! We received an nice long email from Mammaw and Pappaw!

*****

My goal today, is to get each one of you, individually, an e-mail out and it not be a "mass produced" newsletter type thing. Our internet connection stays up just long enough to read one or two emails and then it shuts down. So, I usually work up e-mails up in Word then cut and paste them, praying that it will stay up long enough to get sent. We are enjoying having e-mail here.

When I called the day you were in the airport, I was missing you guys so much. I just wanted to hear your voice. Sadly, I had the equivalent of $10 credit in my phone and was only able to talk that short time.

What are the girls are up to? Do they talk a lot? Does one talk more than the other? What are their personalities like? I'm sure you are starting to see some definite traits. What are you doing for their birthday?

The foundation is complete on the 2nd dormitory and the walls will be going up rapidly. They are hoping to have it to the painting stage by early July. A group from the church in the US which has pretty much funded the whole school will be coming and their task will be to paint. The corn grinder building is complete and the electrical in the process of being installed. Once this is complete, the grinder will be installed and they can open for business. A couple, who was here recently has committed to give enough money to build a 3rd dorm. Even with the construction, Ed has managed to complete several welding projects, build a new road into the school and fencing to block the old road, re-locate signs, and today is assisting with the construction of a new 'guard shack' (Tanzanian style) at the gate. Tanzanian style comprises of 4 posts, recycled corrugated metal and boards that aren't cut to fit. Eventually, a nice brick structure will take its place.

The Quickbooks project has not progressed as I had envisioned. Just entering all 800 students and getting their billing and history correct has taken a long time. I am working with a young, woman, Grace Herman, who is expecting a baby in May. She carried a baby full term last year and it died in uterine. Tanzanians do not acknowledge pregnancies as we do. In fact they are pretty much ignored until the baby arrives. I did not know this and when it was obvious that Grace was expecting, said something. She said she was relieved that I knew so that I could be praying for her and almost seems relieved to have someone to talk to.

I think I told you that one of my first assignments when I arrived was making new curtains for the bhandas (guest houses) at the missionary complex. Because the windows were measured incorrectly, they were re-made once and then other adjustments made to accommodate the curtain hanging devices they have here. I remember saying, at the time, "I didn't come all the way to Africa to 'make curtains'. I was quite frustrated. God just laughed and, since that time (including the bhanda curtains), I have made 44 panels of curtains. Isn't God just funny that way? A lot of cool memories have come back to me of sewing with Mom, [my grandmother and sister].

One day, Annie (our Scottish friend, fluent in Kiswahili) and I were shopping in the market for curtain fabric. We had gone from store to store experiencing price "gouging" because we were wazungu (white). At one store a man came in who was obviously inebriated. He was talking to us and Annie began to question him about his drunkenness and then began to witness to him. He (Ernest) had to leave for a minute and go get his wife, Sophia. The shopkeeper knew him and agreed with Sophia that Ernest had been a wonderful father and husband until he started drinking. Annie has experienced alcohol addiction and shared her testimony with him and told him that he could not overcome this sickness unless he knew Jesus. In tears, he asked that we pray with him there in the shop. He did not accept Christ, but Sophia told us it was the first time he ever acknowledged he had a problem with drink. I have not seen him in the market again, but know where Sophia works and will check on them next time I am there. I won't complain about the curtains again. Actually, I have 36 more panels on the drawing board (for the dormitory) for when the Quickbooks thing is finished.

Our new OMEGA assignment is progressing well. We have a team from North Dakota coming in May and we will stay in tents in a Masai village to work on their school. This is the same village where the guy lives who gave Ed the live chicken. Two volunteers will be here for 6 weeks this summer (one staying with us the full time), and a team from San Antonio for 2 weeks in June/July. Lance Whyle (the water guy from San Antonio) is meeting with Jerry Hale next week to discuss how the water projects and OMEGA can partner. Lance wants to bring teams over to work on the water projects and has purchased a truck equipped with a drilling rig. Until now he and Ed have just been installing pumps. We have discussed the possibility of headquartering out of Dodoma, which would entail a move at the end of the year. We are excited to see how God brings all this together. Our friend Margaret calls it "divine networking".

I will be in Arusha for language school for 3 weeks (April 14-May2). Pray that I am anointed with the gift of "foreign tongues" (preferably Kiswahili).

I know how much we are missing out on all your lives, but, more than anything, my heart yearns to be closer to the girls. They must be tons of fun and I know the 2 of you are doing an amazing job as parents.

We love you all so very much.

Love,
Mammaw and Pappaw

*****

Rowdy Girls, Rain and Raccoons

oThe Rowdy Girls went camping yesterday. Another milestone event. We managed to pack a lot into, what turned out to be, a brief 10 hour excursion.

While we loaded up the truck, the girls watched Elmo's Great Outdoors. Looks like they're ready to rough it, right?
Our family drove out to the Canyon of the Eagles, a place J and I have been before, and only an hour away. A good place for a trial adventure.

The lake was disappointing. Low levels and no whales.

And, we wouldn't let Em and Roo do more than wade in.
No swimming. Because we're mean. And the water was gross.

After crittering around at the beach, we found our campsite and got to work.
Em and Roo were a lot of help. They held the tent down like champs. And helped gather kindling for our fire.


Elmo, however, was a bit of a lazy slob.

The girls were also so proud to be in charge of Maggie dog's leash. Well, at least, that's what Maggie let them think.

They loved all the butterflies and fireflies.
And exclaimed each time, "Oooo! Iz soooo pretty. Iz bootiful."
Em was all about the camping food. She was a sticky sweet mess of S'mores by the end of the night.


As for the actual end of the night... well, that's another tale. We bunked down together in the tent. The girls in their PeaPod tents and J and myself lying next to them on our sleeping bags. We listened to some music and watched the stars begin to appear and the moon beam down. The girls were talking and laughing and singing. J and I were in stitches, laughing at everything they said.

Then, the noises began. Outside the tent. Raccoons. Everywhere! J and I joked that they were staging a coup because they thought we had 2 of their own locked up in the tent. We were picturing an army of masked bandits hoisting our tent up and carrying us away. J climbed out of the tent and dispersed the raccoon reunion just as...

...the clouds began to roll in with lightening moving closer. And the girls were amping up instead of winding down.

So, finally, around 11pm, we called it.

J shooed all the raccoons away. Again. We did a quick pack up, and headed for home.
The girls were asleep in their carseats before we pulled away from the campsite.

second time around

Monday's trip to Sea World was a serious success. Em and Roo were beyond thrilled to return and visit the "do-fins" and "shawks" and "Dory fish" and "wayules".

Roo was totally excited about the first show at Sea Lion Stadium.
Seals, Walruses and Otters, Oh My!

Then, we got some up close looks at the sea lions goofing off and eating.

We made a pit stop at our favorite jumpy house and the girls ran and bounced off some energy.

Waiting for Daddy to make it through the line to order lunch was a little tough, but the iPhone came through again. Well, the iPhone and Sesame Street podcasts.

Look! They held hands while they watched The Street.

The beluga whale and dolphin show was amazing. And one of the whales had her calf swimming with her through the performance. Super sweet. Em kept pointing and yelling "baby wayule!". *We also saw a dolphin mommy and calf up close at the Dolphin encounter.

By this time of the day, a wardrobe change was needed. Both girls got fresh pants. And then, Roo conked out for a 45 minute nap in the stroller.
So, Em got Daddy all to herself in the penguin exhibit. She loved the whole thing. Each time they finished the conveyor belt sidewalk, she ran up to check on Roo and myself. Then, she grabbed J's hand and asked for "Penwens, Peeeeze!" They went through the exhibit at least 5 times.

Roo woke up towards the end of our stay in the dark, cool, Celtic music'd penguin habitat. Just in time for us to jet over to the Sesame Street Beach Party.

Oh. My. Word. She loved it! Once she got rid of the sleepies and realized that Elmo was really on stage, she was in heaven. J laughed when the staff announced during the pre-show that parents should make sure their children did not run onto the stage. (They also had bouncers to assure there wasn't a toddler bum-rush). But, seriously, if he'd let go of Roo at any point during the performance, I think she would have made a run for it.

When the Sesame Street gang said goodbye, J and I were concerned that Roo would cry. She sucked it up and managed to transition well. Phew!

Em enjoyed it all, but she's not hardcore like Roo.

The last show of the day was Shamu's. We were all a bit worn out by this point. The girls totally dug it and Em was all over the crowd participation parts. Very very adorable.




After Shamu, we headed to the car, changed the girls into their jammies, grabbed some supper and headed home. Five minutes into the trip I looked back and saw Em crashed.
Roo watched and sang along to Singin' In The Rain all the way home and then slept the sleep of the Sea World-ed that night.

It was a super day and we're looking forward to going back and doing the water park next time.

Words on the Street

You know, we've been casually mentioning to friends and family for the past year that Roo knows how to read. I think, at first, most people nodded and smiled. And thought that we were such proud parents but probably a bit delusional. Heck. We thought that, too, for a while.
But, looking back over a years worth of photographs, the evidence is clear. And awesome.

Sept. 10, 2008
The 'd' in the picture is actually a P from another set. Roo liked its reversible properties. It could be a d, P, b or a 9.

Sept. 19, 2008


Oct. 22, 2008
This is the first time I realized she could hear words and figure out how to spell them. A friend and I were talking about the cartoon character Betty Boop. Roo came home that afternoon and spelled this. Guess she liked the way the word sounded. And yes, the extra 'O' is actually a zero.

What really blows my doors off is what Roo does with a 26 letter alphabet set. Lots of the words she wants to spell require multiple copies of certain letters. She knows it, makes do with the limited choices and arranges the letters in a way that allows you to still understand the word or phrase she wanted to spell.
Feb. 2, 2009
Can you figure it out? BaLloONS. Also, we lost the 'o' out of this set and she subbed in a zero.

Feb. 5, 2009
Feb. 8, 2009
Because we were talking about the next day being Aunt Joy's birthday.

Feb. 15, 2009
With the exception of the zero, all the numbers were put away. What's a girl to do? Spell out the 2. I didn't know she understood the difference between to and two until this.

March 19, 2009
This marks the start of a love affair with Finding Nemo.

Before you look at the next photo, understand that we lost the 'U' from this alphabet set. Roo has been experimenting with vowel substitutions after learning that 'Y' is a "sometimes vowel".

Also, she's obsessed with three words from the Leap Frog: Code Word Caper video:
bake (to teach the silent E),
shut (to teach blends) and
wait (to teach the rule for pairing two vowels).
The video partners the three words at the end to unlock a riddle to solve a problem. Roo loves this concept and also the rules that the words teach. So, she spells them out a lot.

Again, this alphabet set only has 25 letters. Missing U.

May 4, 2009

*Ehem*

May 5, 2009
Lately she's been working on phrases. Can you decipher this one?
Singing in THE RAIN.

May 6, 2009
TIME FoR ScHOoL
(a favorite line from Finding Nemo)