Mikayla and Delilah's 6th Birthday

Their birthday started off with waking up to balloons in their bedroom and off to school they went with cupcakes made by mommy.

They wanted Princess and the Frog cupcakes (even though they didn't see the movie)

My three princesses before the 6 year-olds go to school.

After school we went to Baskin Robbins for their free birthday scoop of ice cream, came home, played Mario Kart, ate dinner with Nana and Ms. Barbara, and then off to our friend's dance performance. The dance was so cool however, Delilah was too tired and fell asleep for the last 20 minutes of it and Caitlin was too restless so I missed about half of it. Boo!! But because we didn't get home till late - their birthday dinner, cake, and presents were moved to the next day. Which they were okay with.

Mikayla, Nana, and Delilah - on the way to the dance performance.

Nora and Delilah waiting for the show to start

Caitlin and Mommy (good picture Delilah!!)

Mikayla, Ms. Barbara, Caitlin, and Delilah watching movies.

So I totally forgot to get a picture of the girls' birthday cake. It was one from Baskin Robbins but it was so cute cause they asked for Dora for their baby sister. Well needless to say - Caitlin needed a bath after she ate her piece.

As always, the girls never have their birthday parties on their birthday. Sad huh?? So this year, which is an even year, they get a birthday party with their friends. (on the odd numbers we do something together as a family - last year it was Disneyland and I am sure next year it will be too!) They wanted a pool party. That is impossible in January in Sacramento. However, there is an indoor pool place so that is where we had it. The girls had a blast and loved swimming with their friends especially with the rain coming down outside.

Besides for the horrible "H" in Happy - I liked the way the cake turned out. I had Costco make the cake and decorate just the icing and border and then I made the pool with the gummy bears swimming and laying out. The kids all wanted a piece with the gummy bears on it. :-)

One last shot with all the kids at the table.

The girls loved their birthday party. Mommy and Daddy were exhausted and worn out but it was fun! Caitlin was exhausted too and ready for a nap when we got home (thanks Nora!) Mike and I used to always joke about when people had babysitters/nannies help out at birthday parties. We thought - man it must be nice to have that kind of money. Now - we realize it is worth every penny. Nora came and swam with Caitlin the whole time and it was nice knowing I can focus on the girls and their friends while Caitlin was still having fun.

6 Years Ago Today

I can't believe it! Six years ago, I was laid up in a hospital bed and had been there for 17 days... not able to get out of bed, go shower, go to the bathroom - nothing. And worse than that, I was laying tipped upside down (not all the way but so that my head was lower than my pelvis). Besides for the headaches from the blood rushing to my head, I felt mostly nothing due to all the medication I was on to keep two little babies in my tummy for as long as possible. They weren't supposed to be born until April 30th. And we had no idea if they were boys or girls or one of each. All we knew is that the one that was the lowest was trying to get out.

On January 14th it started. Serious labor! Okay so I had been having labor pains thus the reason for the bed rest and the cervix completely dilated. However, on January 14, 2004, I didn't get more than 5 minutes of sleep at one time - then it turned to no longer than 4, than 3, than 2. Oh my goodness! It was horrible. Especially having my husband sound asleep next to me on the bed. They kept giving me medicine that was supposed to stop the labor - it didn't! Finally the next morning came. I couldn't eat breakfast and Michael headed off to work as normal. 11 am came around and I called my doctor which then told the doctor that was doing rounds to check on me. He didn't "thoroughly" check me cause if he did - he would have realized that it was time. He just said "keep doing what you are doing" and walked off. Seriously!!! These labor pains are not the normal ones I have had for the past 16 days. This is serious labor and you didn't even check me. So my next step - call my hero - Michael! Crying in the phone to him, I guess he realized it was serious. He hung up. Called my real doctor and told him what was going on and my doc told me he would check on me after he does a scheduled c-section at 1 pm. The next 2 hours went by very slow (besides daytime tv stinks!!)

1:30 pm - my doc comes in to my room (okay this is a graphic part so sorry), barely puts his fingertips in to check the position of baby 1 - and looks at me and asks how far away is Michael. Baby #1 was hanging down the canal - not good! I called Mike and he hurried as quick as possible (fortunately he was only 10 minutes away). Baby 1 was pulled out at 2:11 and Baby 2 at 2:12. The delivery room looked like a party because for each baby being pulled out there was a team of several nurses plus the neonatologist, the anesthesiologist, and of course the nurses and my doctor for me. They whisked the babies out of the room - we didn't hear one cry nor did we hear the doctor say "It's a girl or It's a boy" so we are not only wondering the status of our babies' health but what sex are they??!!! Finally a nurse came in and said that both girls are doing fine and are on ventilators. FINALLY!! We know what we have - two beautiful girls.

That afternoon in the hospital room - we finalized our babies names. We already had two girls names chosen but we had to throw in a second middle name just because of what they were about to go through and we knew that God was going to be with them and also a reminder to us to keep the faith and hope! Mikayla Julia Faith was baby #1 - born at 2 lbs. 1 oz - 13 1/2 inches. Delilah Joanna Hope was baby #2 - born at 1 lb 14 oz - 13 inches.

It was a long grueling time in the hospital and even for the next several years. Times of isolation, keeping them away from large groups. Lots of therapies. Now 6 years later - they are two of the most vibrant, beautiful, smart, hilarious, and loving girls I ever have known (of course I am biased!!) I thank God for them every day. Even days full of bickering, I look at them and am amazed that God trusted these two precious blessings to us. They are now in Kindergarten and continuing to grow into beautiful girls that love God, love their family and friends, and especially love each other.

Happy Birthday Delilah Joanna Hope! Happy Birthday Mikayla Julia Faith! We will always love you - more than you will ever know!!

Caitlin's 2nd Birthday

Wow - I can't believe my little baby girl is now 2 years old. And she is not a baby anymore! 30 lbs and 36 inches, wearing size 3T very well! She talks like crazy, dances, runs, colors... even goes potty on her own - not all the time yet. I am waiting till after all the birthday craziness this month before going full blown with her on training. But Santa did bring her some Dora underwear that she will get to enjoy during her training. She is the sweetest girl and loves to show her love to everyone - her dog, her sisters, her parents and lots more. Don't get me wrong, she has her moments but right now, all the joyful moments completely outweigh the small tantrum/hitting/biting moments. I am sure sometime this year it will reverse if even for a day but till then, I am going to soak in the rays of her happiness that she exudes!

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Holidays took a hold and blog disappeared

So the holidays just took my time away from the computer (well not really - more so Amazon.com took my time away from blogging as I was trying to get the lightning deals and the best prices - and it worked).

Now it is time to catch up. So here it goes....check out pictures of the past three months and happenings below on earlier posts. I dated the events accordingly so someone who hasn't checked the blog would think "Wow, she keeps it updated!!" But, honestly, I haven't. I am hoping to do so in 2010. :-)

Nana and Papa's Holiday Visit

Nana and Papa came up the Monday after Christmas and they rung in the New Year with us. The girls tried to hang till midnight but made it a little past 10 pm. Surprisingly, seeing that they stayed up till midnight with Nana when Michael and I went to the concert back in October. We put their new beds together (thanks to Nana and Papa, Aunt Dee Dee and Uncle Hugh, and Aunt Emily). The girls love them because of the play/reading area underneath.

While Nana and Papa were here, we got to take Mikayla and Delilah to see Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. They loved that! We also tried out some new toys - one being the one that Delilah got for Mikayla - The Donut Factory. Note to anyone interested in purchasing it - stick with the Easy Bake Oven. It wasn't very user-friendly (even for an adult) and the taste of it wasn't anything to write home about (or even blog about). :-)

Papa and his girls

Daddy, Caitlin, and Nana - all cheesing

Delilah loving her new bed

Mommy trying not to take the donut factory and throw it out the window.

The end results (filled donuts - don't look tasty do they??!)