It's Over... For Now

Today was the last day of the bar. Yay!!! The last two months have been rough. I feel like a single mom... super grateful that was only temporary... with twin babies it's just rough. I like to say rough, apparently.

Two weeks ago, I went on my own for 4 days so Bryce could escape our germy home... thankfully... he escaped! He did not get sick. Guess what?? Neither did the girls!! Only Dylan and I got sick... how in the world did that happen? My hands are dried and cracked... but so worth the millions of washings to have the girls never get it. I can't believe it. They are 6.5 months old, at this age Dylan had already been sick 3 times. He literally got a cold every 2 months since he was 2 months old. Go twinsies!!

Bryce took the bar in Pasadena, 2 hours south of us. So, he stayed in a hotel, the Ramada. I stayed here, obviously, from Monday through today, Thursday, and Bryce gets home in the next 20 minutes. I'm so excited!!!

Monday night, a couple from the ward brought me dinner and hung out to help hold babies for the evening (evenings are rough with 2 fussy babies who want to be held). Tuesday night I paid a babysitter to watch all 3 so I could leave and go to Kohls and shop for a couple hours. That was lovely. She decided she never wants twins... it was rough. Oh well, I got sanity and she was paid for it. Wednesday night, bryce's mom came over. She was a lifesaver! Brought dinner and played with kids and helped bathe babies. Love her. Tonight... we were so blessed... the girls were hardly fussy at all! So easy. Comparatively easy.

Now... if we could just get a job and pass the bar... that would be great.

For now, we are going to relax, play, and enjoy the family for a week before Bryce delves back into searching for a job. Why is it so hard to find one?? Seriously, we will move anywhere. We just need a good job!!!!!!!

He's even thinking about HR... too bad his degree is Economics and now a JD... missed the MBA boat and doubt any HR wants those credentials... hopefully he can find something he enjoys with his degrees. :)

Family Block

I've decided that our biggest blessing here in California is living so close to Bryce's parents. That being said, it has made me so homesick for my family. Sadly, my family is not all in one place. Some in Utah, Mette in Colorado, Ryan in Texas. Who knows where Maren will settle down or where Ryan will settle down? All I know, in my ideal world we would all live in the same city, same street would be great. I want my kids to have their cousins right next door... like I always dreamed of growing up. I want my siblings and my parents all close to us.

I always thought I wanted to get away and do my own thing... but, the farther I get away, the more I miss my family and just want them closer. Thank goodness we do have some of Bryce's family here, who I'm sure would be sad if we left. They are still 30 minutes away though and that is hard enough! Honestly, who cares about the good weather here in California if you can't enjoy it with those that matter the most?

I wish there was a job in CO or UT right by my family so we could settle there. Or, I wish someone would move out here... but, neither is probably gonna happen. I miss my family. I just want someone to play with all day... that's my family...

Nap Time

Single Momma

Oh my gosh. The respect I have for single moms. You are amazing!

7 days ago, I came down with an awful fever. I have not had a fever for years! I could hardly move my body for 3 days. It was miserable. I still have a lingering cough. Annoying. But, that's not the rough part.

Dylan came down with this fever three nights ago while Bryce was in LA at the Soundgarden concert.

My days are now spent trying to keep Dylan away from Sylvie + Axie. I was up all night with him, he threw up twice. He's been so cranky all day... every day. How do I cuddle and take care of my sick little boy, while also taking care of my sweet needy babies... all while keeping them apart so that the girls don't get sick?

The main problem (sick kids are really hard... but, there's a bigger concern) is that Bryce takes the bar exam next Tuesday through Thursday. That is only one week away. He CANNOT get sick. Absolutely cannot get sick. It will ruin everything we've gone through these months and all of our hard work. I can't imagine him coming down with a fever before or during the exam. I would die. Just die.

So, we sent Bryce away. He is living at his mom's right now so that he won't get sick from Dylan... or the babies in case they already have it. I know I'll survive. But... I'm counting down the days... March 1st can't come soon enough.

Single mom life is ROUGH! I'm worn out. I did get a shower today. I did not get dinner though.

Sick

I had my first fever in YEARS this week. It was awful. Chills, sweats, no sleep, I could hardly make my body move... for 3 days! The first was the worst... but it took forever to go away! Now, I just have a cough, sore throat, and raspy voice. I got hit hard with work this week. I really thought I was getting organized, had some trainings lined up for people to help me... then bam... tons of people with nobody to help me.

Now, Dylan has a fever today. I really thought we'd escaped it!!! Really hoping the girls don't get it. Hoping Dylan sleeps tonight. I'm so worn out. Bryce is at the Soundgarden concert in LA with his friends Matt and Russell (also friends from freshman year BYU when I met Bryce). He'll be home tomorrow.

In 2 weeks... the bar will be OVER!! I can't wait. Next Monday Bryce leaves for LA to take the 3-day bar exam, again. Then, Thursday evening, he will come home, and it will be OVER!!! I can't wait. Please oh please don't be a third bar in our future. Bryce has studied so hard and his score has really improved. Why did we choose the most grueling bar exam in the US for our first one??? It felt right. Who knows why.

Most bars, there is a score you have to get and you pass. In California, you have to do better than almost 50% of your peers in order to pass. No set score. He could get a score that would have passed in July, and not pass in February. Make sense? Dumb. So, you just don't know.

No results until May.

Seriously. Will we ever move on and get a job and be nonstudents?

The newest way to ride in a shopping cart

Nap time at target, then time to play with the car, then time to spin around and be silly. No need to ever leave the cart. We got some pretty awesome looks at target… Kids giggled, parents thought I was talking to myself, it was so cute.

What's that?

That moment when you see something brown on your child's finger as he is eating… "What is that on your finger? "

"Poop. "Said so matter of factly.

Unfortunately, the smell test proved him to be right. #Dontitchapoopydiaper

Way to digest babies! Just changed all three kids dirty, dirty diapers in the last 10 minutes… Even after I changed a diaper and tossed it… it would still think, so I would smell the next diaper… So on and so forth.

I am speaking this post into my iPhone… And Dylan is getting mad at me saying "don't say dot dot dot!" Haha.

Oh and I am sick, awful cough, dry. With scratchy to know voice. Oh please please do not get the children or Bryce sick. He take the bar in two weeks.

"I'm a Bear! I'm a Bear!"

Dylan was playing with his Spiderman (which was my Spiderman back in the day btw) and I hear:

Dylan: "I'm a bear! I'm a bear!"
Me: "You're a bear?"
Dylan: "No! I'm a bear!"

At least that's what I heard. I was busy with the girls, so I finally look around and see he has Spiderman on top of the railing behind our couch... he was saying, "I'm UP HERE!" Haha!

My mom tells a story where I was some place "up here" and I yelled down, "I'm a pie!" At least that's what my mom thought. I was actually saying, "I'm UP HIGH!" Like father like son I guess. (Yes, this is a rare Bryce post)

Twin Facts

Here are my twin facts for everyone... aka... answers to the most common questions I get.

They were born one minute apart by C-Section, the doctor said with the way they were laying there was no way for a natural delivery (He is the most pro vbac doc in Utah, so we trust him completely). Axie was Baby A. Sylvie was Baby B.
They took the girls at 37 weeks because they were sharing a placenta and the risks were higher to keep them in. They were born at 6 lbs. 10 oz. and 6 lbs. 15 oz... yes... that is very big for twins. You can imagine how big I was.
They are now 6 months old.
Names - Axie Colleen (Axie is Bryce's great grandmother x5 on his dad's side, Colleen is my and my mom's middle name). Sylvie Theresa (We like the name Sylvie - my mom just liked the name Aubrey, it works out, and Theresa is Bryce's mom's name).
YES - They are identical.
YES - We were very surprised.
NO - We were not on fertility drugs.
YES - We knew we were having twins before they were delivered. It was the 9 week ultrasound when we found out there were two! I had bi-weekly ultrasounds to make sure they were both growing fine.
NO - They do not run in either of our families. (identical means an egg randomly split after fertilization - not genetic)
YES - We can tell them apart. Sylvie has a longer, more narrow face, with a straighter back of the head. Axie has a rounder face with the back of her head sticking out more (easier for headbands to stay on). No forehead tattoos were needed.
YES - It will get easier. I don't like when other parents of twins say it doesn't get easier. It's already easier today than it was when they were 2 months old. I've been told by countless parents of twins that it doesn't get easier. In what way is that supposed to help me? Wrong. It will get easier.
NO - It is in no way easier to have two at once. Yes, people have said that to me. I love my twins and feel beyond blessed to have them, but seriously? Telling me it's easier to just have two at once?? Come on. It's definitely more awesome though. :)
NO - Dylan cannot tell them apart. He plays the guessing game multiple times a day. It's quite adorable.
YES - I dress them alike most of the time. I prefer the outfits to be different colors or patterns, but I like the similar look (like both in skirts or both in sweats).
YES - they are bottle-fed. I breastfed solely for 2 months, then it was impossible to keep up. I don't believe mother's should feel guilty for bottle-feeding babies if it's what is best for their family. Stepping off soapbox before I say too much.
YES - Our hands are full. So are our hearts.

Toddler Story Time

Dylan loves toddler story time at the library. It's every Friday and we try to make it as often as we can. He loves puzzles. They give them all sorts of items to dance and sing with. This is him with the ribbon. Then there's a nice atrium here with plants and a pool. He loves running around in there afterwards.

Trash Pop

Dylan is distraught because we made him throw his lollipop back in the trash. Yesterday I gave him the last of his push pop, he licked it for a good three hours. Then we threw it away at the end of the day. This morning, he apparently remembered throwing it away and went straight to the trash to find his beloved Pushpop. He calls it a lollipop. Luckily, this had a lid on it so it actually was still clean, thank goodness. Dylan told me how sad he was that he had to throw it back in the trash, so I took a picture of his sad face.

3 Weeks from NOW, Bryce will be done taking the bar. I can hardly wait. 

Praying this is the last time he has to take the bar. 

Hoping we can enjoy our 2 month break while waiting for results. 

Enjoy. Ya. With our plethora of dollar bills... we'll be partying it up jobless-with-three-kids-under-three style. Woot.

Ladybugs

Dylan is showing his sisters how many ladybugs are on this card, and telling them all of their different colors. So cute.

Bath Audience

Dylan's bathtime is a family event.

A drawing

Dylan likes for me to draw different things for him. Rather than draw them himself. Yesterday he had me draw mommy, daddy, Dylan, baby… Then he got so concerned that I drew the baby alone and said "No! mommy holds baby." He requested that I draw legs, knees, feet, toes, fingers… Shirts, pants. He requested glasses on mommy and daddy, he requested a clock on Dylan… I forgot that he calls watches clocks, so I drew a clock, he got really mad that I put it in the wrong place. Then I put the watch on his wrist and he was happy. These are my elaborate drawings. There are a few places that Dylan helped to color.

Sometimes, often times, I'm sitting on the floor playing with Sylvie and Axie. I look down at both of them and they are looking up at me with these big hopeful eyes. Both of them hoping to be the one that I pick up. It's so sweet. It breaks my heart because I can only pick up one of them at a time.

I usually try to hold one while I entertain the other. Then we'll switch and give the other one a turn.

When you have one baby at a time you have those peaceful moments of just cuddling and bonding. Those moments are rare with twins. This is why lately I have not complained when one wakes up early from their nap. I get that special one on one time. I feel like we're getting a better bond.

Then there's always a 2 year old jumping on me, jumping on a baby, or screaming at me to pay attention to him.

Ha. My life is awesome.

BADAS

Trying to create a name for the blog is difficult. All the names are already taken. As I was trying to create one, I attempted using the first letter from our names.

I learned that all we need is one more child. We need to name him or her a name starting with the letter "s." Why?

BADAS is what we have so far.

How random is that discovery?

Technically, A should be before B because I am 2 months older than my husband... but the DAS is in the order of births.