A Fresh Start!

Hello Friends and Family! I am inviting you all to be a part of Ryan and Nathan's Page which is a new and fresh start for our family blog. You may have been a part of the "Twin Spot" which was my first blog I created while on bedrest and carried on months after the boys were born. Well, that one quickly fizzled out as the responsibilities with twins was far too great and quite frankly, I valued my sleep way more than keeping people up to date. So, my apologies, but hey--I'm back blogging for the family--Good news!

So, where are we now? Ryan and Nathan are 16 months! WOW! Okay double WOW! I can honestly tell you that 16 months is wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more fun than any of the earlier months. Yes, they were all new and exciting months as they inched along, but the boys are SO mobile and verbal--amazing to watch them come along! BUt, uuurrrrttt, STOP--wait a minute, should I recap? As I may be inviting new family members and friends to this blog, perhaps I should review a little bit into our lives a year or more ago.

Ryan and Nathan were born a little early--29 weeks and 6 days to be exact. (I am pretty sarcastic, so please make a mental note). They spent roughly 2 and 3 months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Meriter Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin while they fattened up (I can be funny about this now)and plainly, grew. As they were so premature and underdeveloped, Nathan's lungs were not ready to breathe on their own and he was assisted with oxygen for the first 6 months of his life. Ryan quickly developed and graduated from the NICU coming home to us first. Nathan came 2 weeks later with all of his attachments--oxygen, tubing, apnea monitor, bag of medications, formula recipes, etc etc. So, we not only had two babies, but a bunch of medications and medical equipment to monitor and administer around the clock. Our days were nights and nights were days. Sleep just did not exist and yes, we had to work as well. Let's just say the first year was a lot of HARD work and thank GOD they are both healthy, doing well, and have met all of their age adjusted milestones. They both learned to crawl around 10 months with Ryan first and Nathan about a week or two later. They are on to regular HUMAN foods with the exception of food allergies---for Nathan it is egg and peanuts and Ryan it is either sauerkraut of ring bolongne (haven't figured that one out yet). But a couple of ER visits later, we now read all food labels and bring all of our own food for them everywhere we go. Ryan learned to walk around 15 months (Lots and Lots of coaching from his Mother to COME ON!!) Nathan started around 15 1/2 months. Can I please tell the story on this one?

Kris had been travelling all week and was finally home and we were all in the living room hanging out. Ryan was walking around the room picking up his toys and I just so happened to say to Kris, I feel like Nathan is never going to walk! What a nice mom, huh? Well, at that exact moment, Nathan got up and walked across the room! No, I am not lying either! And the story can be said for Ryan's 2nd word (M--O---M!) was first of course :) and HI! was second. Again, this was stated when Kris came home after a different week of travel. So, we now get, HI! H--I!, HI! every time Ryan would like to greet us around the house. Yes, SUPER CUTE!

The boys have learned to reach any item located on a table, couch, or countertop. They really are quite clever. Ryan dismantled the remote control and wanted to see what batteries tasted like, but thank goodness I responded to that before he could try. He also wanted to get that large butcher knife on the counter that through a divine intervention missed his arm and leg landing on the side of him. Ryan enjoys stashing his toys behind the tv and hiding in secret spots. He likes to put items in and out of drawers and loves to take all of his clothes out of his drawers for his mom! Nathan is injury prone; he really just is. The two fight and usually Nathan is struck in the head or falls and hits his head or falls in the rocks. Something along those lines. But, he is our little ninja. He has sharp reflexes like one to get him whatever toy or food Ryan has and definitely has the speed! He can walk, but watch out for his speed crawling!!! Their new favorite pasttime is pushing their dumptruck and firetruck around in the front on the driveway. They speed off in different directions and it is a great way for them to get some fun time and also wear out those batteries :)! Dad has taught them how to "relax" when he is home. This consists of lying on a bunch of pillows on the floor and just hanging out. Nathan is Dad's buddy as he loves being harrased and teased/tortured (I'm not sure what the better word is here)for lots of thrills and things Mom would never do to them. But, that's what Dads are for, right?
Anyways. I hope you've enjoyed the first blog of Ryan and Nathan's Page. I would like to keep everyone up to date and also share the THOUSANDS of pictures we have of them with you! ENJOY!