First Few Days

Due to all the pain meds and having surgery, the first few days after my boys birth were a blur. Plus they were in the NICU, so I didn't get to see them as much as I would have liked since I was trying to recover. The times I did get to go down and see them we were so in awe that we didn't do the best at taking pics. We are getting better at the picture thing, ha ha. Let's start with Day 2...

Elijah

Elijah and Van Earl 2 Days Old


And let's jump ahead to 4 days old...

Adam feeding Van Earl

We love burping them. We think it's the cutest thing ever!

Feeding Elijah

And on to 5 Days Old...

Seeing each other again for the first time since birth
(Van Earl is on the left and Elijah on the right)



Six Days Old

With Daddy



They like brother time

Van Earl and Elijah Willis are Here!

Well, the moment finally arrived! The past 8 months of preparation and waiting came down to this moment. On Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 11:30am, Van Earl entered into this world and brother was not far behind. One minute later, 11:31am, Elijah Willis graced us with his presence. Hearing those first little cries was the most surreal experience I have ever felt. I really can't put it into words, so I'm not going to try. Just know that this Mommy is very happy. Van Earl came out weighing 4 lbs 7 oz and Elijah was 3 lbs 14 oz. Unfortunately (and fortunately) I was unable to see the actual birth since they were born via C-Section, but trust me that is ok. It really seemed like a world-wind once they were born. Since they are considered preemies and high risk, a whole NICU team was in the room and swooped them over to the side to check them as soon as they were born. I did get to see them for a brief moment before they were taken straight to NICU. Adam followed the boys while I finished up in surgery. All in all things went great! Van Earl and Elijah are fine but still in the NICU. Mommy's surgery went great. Let me just say I was a little more than freaked out about the whole thing. I was probably the most nervous I have ever been in my life. Everything was fine though. I came home on Sunday. Unfortunately the boys have to stay in NICU until they can hold their body temps on their own and take all meals via bottle. We are up to 3 bottles a day, which is good. Adam and I have been going to feed them 2 times a day. They seem to do better each day. We are so in love with these little guys! It really is hard to describe the love you have for them. Here are some pics...

First Pic Together
Van Earl (front) and Elijah (back)

Meeting Van Earl

Meeting Elijah


Mommy and both her boys
(a little out of it here)

It's Go Time

Well ya'll it looks like I'm going to have these babies this coming Thursday, December 15 at 10am. After my doctor's visit yesterday, it was determined that both babies are now on the small side and my placenta is basically tired and running out of steam, ha ha. Baby A is 4 lbs 5 oz and B is 4 lbs 2 oz. We thought it was great that B caught up with A, but apparently A isn't growing now like he should and both are still not where they should be. I will be 36 weeks on Thursday which was the goal: to make it to 36 weeks. I have a C-Section scheduled and if all goes well I will be in the hospital 3 days and the boys should be able to come home with me. Your prayers are greatly appreciated! I am very anxious and want these boys to get here safe and sound.

Of course I have had my bags packed for a few weeks now (just in case, right?). This weekend I moved them out of the closet so they could be more easily accessible. Bear gets nervous anyway when bags are packed because he knows we will be going somewhere. I had to move the bags back into the closet because he was so torn up about it. He can already sense the tension in the air and knows something is up, but the bags put him over the edge. Poor little guy! And yes, he is still as clingy as ever!

Almost Time

We are getting closer to the birth of our sons. These past few days we have been tying up loose ends. Today's doctors appointment will determine when the boys will be born. We are thinking the end of this coming week, but we know for sure it will not be later than the 22. Adam and I have been going to see movies, been having dinner dates, finishing up Christmas shopping and preparations, and house cleaning. I don't think one can ever be fully prepared, but of course me being the planner I am, want everything in order and set to go. Needless to say we took advantage of possibly our last weekend without kids...kinda crazy to think about. We started our weekend off with dinner with our dear friends Kathrina and Jason, which was great! Saturday I got a little overwhelmed thinking about the actual birthing process which resulted in an awful dizzy spell, but after taking a nap and getting off my feet, I felt a lot better and we were able to go out and enjoy one last Italian meal at our favorite spot. I have also started feeling some cramping and pressure in my lower abdomen, so I'm sure that's a sign the time is drawing closer. I honestly feel as ready as I will ever be to do this thing. I will keep y'all posted on how things progress at the doctor today.

Here's the 35 week bump pic and yes I am HUGE!

Daddy to Be and Bear

34 Weeks and Counting

It's getting to be crunch time. I am now 34 1/2 weeks. I went to the high risk doctor yesterday and the boys are fine. The didn't get their weights, but said they will next Monday which will determine whether or not they deliver me then or wait another week or so. I can tell the boys are bigger. My belly has definitely grown and my ribs have become a fun kicking toy for Baby A. Those little feet go nonstop. Baby B's movements are not as pronounced but that may be because he is breech and his legs are down low. I'm not going to lie, I am ready to have these boys. I am not a very patient person and I am so ready to meet them.

Adam and I had a date night Saturday night which was fabulous! We had an awesome steak dinner at City Range. We hadn't been out just the 2 of us in a long time, so we figured we better take advantage of one last "date" night before the boys are born. I have slowed down these days so whether or not I feel up to going out is iffy, but I felt great and had a fabulous time! I cherish our dinner dates very much.

Brother Bear

I just had to post about my sweet Bichon-Poo Bear. He knows something is up. He has been following me around everywhere. When I am laying on the couch, not only does he want to be right there with me, he has to be on my belly. It's like he's keeping watch over his brothers. Poor little guy has no idea what's in store. I just hope he adjusts ok. Heck, I hope I adjust ok, ha ha! Here is Bear protecting his brothers.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Christmas at the Vicars house is coming early this year. Santa is hopefully going to bring us 2 healthy baby boys. Van and Eli should be here within the next few weeks, so I have been frantically trying to get Christmas up and presents bought. Since we didn't travel this past weekend, we got a lot accomplished...tree is up, house is decorated, and majority of presents are bought. I think the nesting bug has even hit Adam. He cleaned out the entire garage and it honestly looks entirely different...so clean! :) I feel my house is in order (for now) which is a huge relief. Soooo, we are just waiting for our little Christmas bundles to arrive. I had a good ultrasound yesterday. The boys were practicing their breathing, blood flow looked good, and they were moving well. I am continuing my three weekly doctor's appointments, am still working from home, and taking it easy as much as possible. I think I have grown since the weekend from all the Thanksgiving goodies, so hopefully that means the boys are bigger too!

I will leave ya'll with a pic of our Christmas tree.

Happy Thanksgiving...a Little Late

I'm a little behind on my blog. Since I last posted, I have been back to the doctor several times. I have started going 3 times a week now. My boys were last weighed Monday and they are both still on the small side, but poor little Baby B is only 2 lbs 11oz. He has not grown much since the last weigh in 2 weeks ago, so the doctors were very concerned. Baby A is 3 lbs 8 oz which is still small but not as dangerous as B. They are monitoring me very closely. I even had to go in to the hospital today for an NST since the office is closed. They want to make sure they are not getting sick. It looks like I will deliver within the next few weeks. Ideally they want me to make it to 36 weeks which will be Dec. 15 but 34 is possible too, which is this coming Thursday-eek! Needless to say, I am a little worried about these little guys. I have also had to cut back on my activities. I am no longer teaching at the gym and am limiting my workouts (which are proving to be few and far between) to leisurely walks. I am doing everything possible to keep those babies in there as long as possible and get them bigger! I am taking it very easy and am eating hearty meals like everyone is instructing me to do, ha ha. We want these boys to grow! After getting back from the doctor on Monday, I wanted make sure everything was packed for the hospital just in case something were to happen early. I think everything is ready now, so we are just waiting.

(No, I have no makeup on, please excuse my face.)

We had already planned to stay here in Greenville for Thanksgiving (which is a first), so I could take it easy and be close to the hospital just in case. Let me just say a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving at home was just what the doctor ordered. It was wonderful! Adam put together a wonderful spread and everything was delicious for our first attempt at the feast. I'm not much of a cook, but I do like to bake and made several pies which turned out very yummy. Adam is the cook, but I did help him prepare everything. :) We were very proud of our efforts. And no, I didn't eat the turkey leg. Adam took care of that, ha.

Chef Adam

Eating for Three

The weekend before Thanksgiving, Mom came down for a visit, and Adam ended up going to Kingsport to visit his parents. I told him that would be the last chance for him to go to Kingsport for a while, so he better take advantage. Mom and I had a great time! She hadn't seen the nursery in person yet, so I think she really loved it. Some "Mom" time was just what I needed. She was so sweet to help me clean my house too. Some of the usual cleaning tasks are hard for me to do these days, so it was nice to have a helping hand. Adam and I are truly blessed with wonderful families. They have been so supportive and helpful during my pregnancy. I feel very fortunate.

My mother is the cutest! I had to put this pic up. :) Don't be mad Mom.

So that's about all that has been going on. I am just resting and waiting to meet my boys. Oh! and eating of course, ha! I guess this is a time in my life when I need to load it up, so why not? Plus everyone keeps telling me to eat more for these boys, so I am taking full advantage.

Last Road Trip

Since the time is nearing for Van Earl and Eli to be born, Adam and I decided to take advantage of these last few weeks together. This past weekend we went to Charlotte for the day. This will be our last road trip for a long time. We had a beautiful drive up. It was such a gorgeous Fall day. We ended up at South Park mall. It was nice to get out and shop a little and get some Christmas shopping done. I am trying to get everything finished before the boys come. Unfortunately my body won't let me shop like I used to, but we still managed to get in several good hours. :) My body and the boys were done after that. After all that hard shopping (ha, yeah right), we had a fabulous dinner at San Antonio's (a great Tex Mex restaurant). Not only were we excited to eat some great Mexican but it happened to the 5th of the month so everything was $5...awesome! It was a great trip and very nice to get away to see something different for the day. The days of picking up and going will be long gone before long.

30 Weeks and Counting

Well, I have finally made it to 30 weeks. This is a big milestone for me in my pregnancy. According to what the doctors are telling me, I only have 4-6 more weeks left. It really is right around the corner. I definitely have mixed emotions. I am super excited and can't wait to meet my boys, but am also a little apprehensive of what the future will bring. I know my life is totally going to change, but until I experience it I will not fully understand what is ahead. I am still going to the doctor 2 times a week. Mondays I see the High Risk group for an ultrasound scan and Thursdays I go to my regular OB group for an NST (Non-Stress Test). An NST, as I found out, is where they put monitors (3 to be exact) on my belly so they can listen to the boys' heartbeats for 30-45 minutes to make sure they are increasing and decreasing like they are supposed to. So far so good on all my doctor's visits. Today was the 3 week weigh in ultrasound for the babies. Baby A is 2 lbs. 15 oz and Baby B is 2 lbs. 8 oz. They have each grown almost a pound since last time. Baby B is still small and has "restricted growth" but the doctor was very positive today. I will continue my twice weekly visits. The doctors seem fine with me continuing to teach and workout at the gym, so I am going to keep on trucking. I am taking it easy of course. I am very fortunate I am able to work from home and put my feet up and relax as I work. I am definitely feeling heavier and more pressure in my belly. The boys movements are more pronounced. I can even feel and see where Baby B's head is and Baby A's feet. Baby B is breech (his head is right next to my belly button) and Baby A is head down (this changed from last week). Who knows where they will end up. I have prepared myself for a C-section so either way is fine. We are supposed to complete our "Birth Plan". Some of the questions I have no idea about. My Birth Plan is to get the babies out as quickly, safely, and painlessly as possible. I wonder if they can just put me to sleep and wake me up when it's all over with, ha ha. I'm serious, I am terrified of the pain. I really don't want to know what or how they do it, just do it. That's why we are not taking a class on the whole birth process.

And since it's the 30 week mark...

Here are some pregnancy highlights:

How Far Along: 30.5 weeks

Size of Babies: Baby A is 2 lb 15 oz and Baby B is 2 lb 8 oz

Maternity Clothes: Some. I've been wearing a lot of leggings (non maternity) low below my hips and larger tops.

Gender: BOYS! Van Earl and Elijah Willis

Movement: More pronounced. I can tell where their heads are.

Sleep: I get up AT LEAST once a night to go to the bathroom and a lot of times it's hard for me to get back to sleep. I am having a harder and harder time getting comfy. Boppy full body pillow is very helpful.

What I Miss: Red wine (this one is never gonna fall off the list, ha), sleeping without waking up several times a night, my feet leaving the ground for high impact aerobics, not feeling so heavy, cute clothes, being able to maneuver easily (I am a clumsy fool right now, ha)

Cravings: Hamburgers! (not sure if that's a real craving or it's just because I have an excuse to eat them, ha ha). I did have a random craving for a tuna sub from Subway which I never eat normally. Oh yeah and a random sausage biscuit from McDonalds' (don't eat sausage normally either).

Aversions: Onions (that's nothing new though)

Symptoms: Heavy and BIG, belly button about to pop (weird), have to take it slower, simple tasks are a little harder these days.

Best Moment of the Week: Going on one last road trip my hubby to Charlotte. We are cherishing these last few weeks of just "us."

The Twins Nursery

Ok, so I have been trying to hold off until the nursery is completely finished before I post any nursery pics, but I am going to post now. It almost complete, but still lacks a few finishing touches. Here are the pics...

Eli's Crib




Van's Crib






Bear had to get in some pics




The rocking chair was my Grandma's




Dresser/Changing Table



Bookshelf


Coming home outfits


Like I said there are still some finishing touches that need to be done. I want to get an area rug, a floor lamp to put in the corner of the cribs, and maybe some shelving to put in that corner as well.

Greenville Shower

I am still catching up on my blogging... Two weekends ago our dear friends Kathrina and Jason threw us a couples baby shower. Let me just say it was fabulous! They went all out and everything was perfect! Once again, I was so touched by the thoughtfulness and generosity of our friends. Adam and I are so blessed to have such wonderful friends. I will post more pics once I get them since I am such an awesome photographer and ALWAYS remember to bring my camera (ha!). Yes, definitely left my camera at home, so I relied on others to take pics.

Kathrina and Jason did a low country boil at their home. It was good to have several of our friends together to celebrate this exciting time. The decorations were so adorable and creative. I can't wait to post the pics. Like I said, they went all out. It was amazing! Adam, the boys, and I definitely feel loved.

I did take a pic once we got home of the amazing diaper cake our neighbors made for us. I was super excited to get this and look at all the detail. They are very talented! :)


Awesome Diaper Cake made by Whitney and Sarah

Knoxville Shower

The past few weeks have been full of Baby Showers. We have had 3 all together. First of all let me just say...Adam and I are overwhelmed with everyone's generosity. We are truly blessed with such wonderful friends and family. We have been touched by all everyone has done for us. It is greatly appreciated!

I know I am way overdue to post. I am going to try to get caught up. The first shower was at Adam's work which I have already blogged about so you have read about how wonderful his co-workers were to us. We traveled to Knoxville a couple of weekends ago for the last time for a while per doctor's orders. My mother put together a fabulous shower for me at Apple Cake Tea Room. She really outdid herself and everything was perfect! It was so good to see friends and family whom I had not seen in a while. It was so special to have everyone together. Here are some pics from the wonderful day...

Katie and Preggo


Daddy and Mommy to Be

The Vicars Clan


The Fillingim Clan

Dad and his girls


UT Slippers from Dad






Delicious cupcakes


Baby Washcloth Roses (creation by Mom)




Basket of goodies from my sweet sissy


As you can see, I am truly blessed!