BUDDIES!!

Bummer

So for the last few weeks I was hoping to get our stimulous check from good ol' W and the govt. It hasn't come. I was going to see my friend get married in North Carolina, but as time went on, I couldn't save the money because of the increased cost of everything... gas which is costing us $160 if not more a week. Then formula... 30.99 per 38oz container. They boys go through about 2-3 containers a week!! It is just some f-ing powder! Why does it cost so much?!! If woman couldn't feed babies breast milk back in the day, what did they give them? (I'm guessing they got a wet nurse, but is it there was something other than powered formula? I couldn't afford the trip and I feel terrible. I wanted to be there. I fully planned on it.. Then I started to realize that I really needed the stiumlous check, but haven't gotten that. I held out till last minute hoping that check would come. I can't believe how f-ed up this country has gotten. I think in many ways, we let the terrorist win because their act, lead to the "wrong war" which has ended up costing the U.S. trillions! I truly believe that we are in a recession, but the govt won't tell us that. It would cause a panic and more people would stop spending. I am scared that it is going to get worse and we will end up in a depression. How is anyone suppose to live this way? I make pretty good money and I'm finding it hard to keep up. I can't imagine what it is like for those who don't have good jobs or who have lost their jobs. I can't believe how fast gas has rose as well. Some news reports say that the U.S. has been getting cheap gas longer than it should have and it is keeping up with the price of inflation. Well I don't think that is true, but because people's income hasn't gone up with the price of inflation.. and I think they needed to ease this gas increase.. Maybe 2.50 for awhile. That is at least do-able. Leave it around there for a few years.. Then increase it to $3 for awhile. THen to $4. It went from 1.99-2.10 from 9/2005 around my wedding, to 3.95 in 5/08. Just totatlly crazy!!!!
I am so tired of reading the news. It just is terrible. People losing their jobs, their house! It is just terrible. No wonder why I've had anxiety issues! Someone said that people are just one accident, or one illess away from losing their homes.
I so pray that a decmocrat is better than what we have had. Regardless of what Clinton did in his personal life, the U.S. had great growth during that time.. And f-ing Jr. had to ruin that to hell for everyone and put all of us in a terrible situation!
I'm going to bed.. I may have to turn off the airconditioning because I may not be able to afford the energy bill!!

New Kids on Today

The New Kids on the Block were on the Today show on Friday the 16th. I was a big fan back when I was younger. Seeing them together on stage again was great. My friend Destiny and I are hoping that they come to Cleveland so we can see them again. Nothing better than reminicing back to your youth with your favorite band from back them.



www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1K68EViOBI

The need...

I really need to get working out. I did some last week, but I need to make it a habit! I have 2 videos. One was good for me not having done anything realy physical for awhile, (other than lift babies and adults all day long) It was a good pace I guess you could say. Then the other video I have, "HOLY SHIT!" It was kicking my ass only 5 mins into it. It's called Turbo Jam. As I was doing it I thought to myself that there is no way that Brian could ever do this video. He has NO rhythm:) He isn't allowed to do it with me, because we have another one he tried with me before and I couldn't work out. I was too busy laughing at him. He is cute for the effort though.

We bought a new mini-van. Yup I took the soccer mom step! Crazy I know! But it works out great for us and the 2 babies! It is all black and PIMP! (At least as pimp as it can be for a mini van!I bought myself a new knee brace and joined a co-ed softball team this year. I need a bit of practice. I'm going to see if maybe this Thursday if I can get some time in after Brian is home to go up to the batting cages and practice a bit. I'm excited.

The boys are getting big, rolling over, eating great and weigh 16lbs now. They are doing great the doc said for being born early. It was my first Mother's Day today and I had to work! Lame I know. Brian bought the boys to see me for a bit. It was great! He also made me chocolate covered strawberries, cherries and grapes. It was delicious! He is a good "baker". He makes sweets better than me, but I think I "cook" better than him. We make a great team that way!

So the pics about are of Cole (skinnier face) Caden (round face) and both the boys doing some tummy time and playing under the activity center. They are looking and interacting with each other on purpose now:) Cole found out that he likes longs sleeves. When he needs to comfort himself, he will reach with his left hand, pull his sleeve over his right hand and just mouth on his sleeve. His arm goes way down in the sleeve. I thought he was a genius for figuring that out!

I'm excited. There are acutally 4 tours I want to go see, but so far only 2 I'm going to.. Ok actually 5... Dave Matthews I'm going to see, Coldplay I'm going to see. 311 I want to see, Maroon 5 and Counting Crows I want to see. And New Kids I'm going to see no matter what:) If that makes me a geek so be it. It will be great to think back to some great memories of me being a 13 year old girl!:)

I'll be going to Raleigh to see my friend Michelle get married in June. I'm excited to see her get married, but I'm more excited because I will be all by myself and have a hotel room all to myself. I will miss my husband and boys, but I will enjoy this time and get some much needed sleep:)

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Towpath Half Marathon

I have decided to "walk" the Towpath Half Marathon on Oct.12. That will be my 32nd birthday. I decided to try and raise money for the Make It Right Foundation. The Make It Right Foundation helps raise money to build houses in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. That area was the hardest hit by the floods that followed Hurricane Katrina.
If you would like to donate go to www.firstgiving.com/teresawhittaker
That will take you to a secure website to donate! Cole and Caden will be helping me in the my training this summer! Thanks so much everyone for your help!
Just to remind you, there are pictures of my last trip to New Orleans on October 2006 achrives. Heading would be under, "Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?" :)
That trip was my 30th b-day present from Brian! I love that city and that was maybe my 6th time in New Orelans in 8 years!:)
Feel free to come cheer me on then. I will need it. And keep your fingers crossed for a great morning that day!

buddies!!

Guess which one is which!

New Kids on the Block 1st pic together in 15 years

My prayers have been answered! The New Kids have released their 1st photo in the last 15 years. Could Donny be anymore hot? My husband is giving me a hard time about it. I think he loves seeing me re-live my life as a 10-13 year old girl! He is getting a kick out of it as much as I am. I just tell him I'm proud of liking the New Kids! Why deny the person I was? Besides, it got me to the point in being the person I am today!! You just aren't going to catch me at their concert wearing an airbrushed jean jacket. (Remember that Destiny?HAHA) I will be at any concert they perform at though!:)

Matt is the real father!

So Brian and Matt for awhile now have gone back and forth making funny pics of each other. Brian once turned our entire football team into a bunch of Matt's.

Matt decided to tell Brian the real news.. The our sons are really his....:) haha check out how much the boys look like Matt!

St. Patty's Day 2008

The boys had their first St. Patty's Day this year and it also marked their 5 month birthday! Caden is in "Lucky Charm" . Cole is in the "Kiss me!" They are starting to look identical though they are not!

Wild kingdom

Brian called me at work to say, "Guess what I saw in the back yard!" I figured it was the family of 6 deer. But he said, NO! WILD TURKEY!! He never told me one of them was an albino turkey!! It was so cool!!!!

Wildlife in the backyard

We have a large area of woods behind our house. In the last few days I've noticed that a group of deer have been coming around looking for food. I think they may be starving and are looking for any food they can. I went to the store, got bird seed for the blue jays, cardinals and other birds I've seen. I bought corn cobs for the squirels I've noticed and I got some apples for the deer. Today my friend Frank and I set out everything. Well, I set out everything and Frank helped keep watch for the animals. Finally later in the afternoon, the birds were in the birdfeeder and the squirels were having fun. THen a deer came. It stayed awhile, but then left. I figured that was it, but then it returned with 5 friends. They found the apples and corn cobs. They tried some of the bird seed on the ground. Later in the evening when Brian was home, 3 more came. It was great seeing the wildlife in our yard. I felt bad realizing that our house took some of their home. I'm glad that the people who owned those woods haven't sold their property. I really hope they never do. I love the woods behind our house! I love seeing nature right outside my door. Here are pictures I took today. I only am showing a few!

New Pics

Cole

Caden

There is good news. Cole doesn't have scoliosis. I was scared. The ortho doc thinks that he likes to posture that way. He sits a lot in a bouncy, so we need to move him out more on to a blanket. He hates tummy time, as does his brother Caden. I feel relieved though.

I wanted to add pics that we took of them recently. They look a bit different. Caden more than Cole. They are just getting so cute. They talk and laugh. And they CRY:) It's rewarding getting to watch them change and grow!

Scoliosis- My momma said that my back is crooked like a question mark!

I noticed that Cole has a significant curve in his spine. I know that it is scoliosis. We will be taking him to the doctor next week so I'm not going to make an extra appointment for that. I read quite a bit about infant scoliosis today. I think his is significant enough that he may require bracing/casting to treat it. Most cases they just wait and observe. I think I may be able to deal with that, but it is becoming more and more noticable in the last week, so I really hope that we can start an early intervention. Because my boys were premature, I enrolled them in the Help Me Grow program. Tomorrow I have an appointment with the developmental specialist and will see what she recommends. They are all about early interventions so I think they will try and get me the help that I need. I don't have a lot of confidence in our pediatrician right now. I think depending on what he says about this situation will tell me if I should keep him as their doctor. I know that X-rays and an MRI should be done at least to see how bad the curve is.
I'm feeling a little heartbroken about all of this. You always want a perfect baby. Now I"m worried that he may not really make his milestones. That he will be further behind. A little scary if you ask me. I never realized I could worry so much. I may need that antianxiety med that my doctor offered me today at the docs office. (I've been having chest pains which I figured was anxiety. He just confirmed it for me!) I love these little guys more than anything. In seeing the curve I hope that it will fix itself. But if not, I know it will be a bit of a long road for the treatment of it. I'll pray and keep my fingers crossed that things will work out alright. I know there is so much they can do now. I'm just hoping that it doesn't require surgical intervention. Once we start something like that, that will be something he needs until he is out of high school. Not to mention be quite painful! My poor guy. Keep your figures crossed for my little Cole!

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans , part 2?

I was watching Ellen today. She was doing a Mardi Gras special and talking about the lower 9th ward and the Make It Right Foundation. This foundation is raising money to build houses in the lower 9th ward. It was started by Brad Pitt and Ellen has picked up on it and is trying to help raise money as well.

As everyone knows I fell in love with New Orleans in 1998, the first time I was there. I have been back there quite a bit and only once since Hurricane Katrina. I had my bacholerette party there, I celebrated my 30th birthday there. I drove down for 3-11 day to see 311 in concert. I have been there a few other times as well. Not yet for Mardi Gras though, but that will be in the future. Last time I was there for my 30th birhtday in October of '06 (check my blog history for photos) I was sad at the things I saw. I told my husband as we sat once again at Pat O'Briens in the French Quarter, that I loved New Orleans. It is so familiar to me now and when we are there it feels like home. I love the atmosphere, the culture there. Even though you are in the US you feel like you are in another place, espeically in the French Quarter. It's important to keep those traditions. I remember for my bacholerette party , I took a few girls who have never been there. As we flew over Lake Ponchatrain, I told them about how 1 powerful hurricane could devistated the city. 3 months later, what I feared and told them about actually happened. My friends told me that they thought of me when they saw the news.

I think it is important to rebuild New Orleans. Please if you can donate to the Make It Right Foundation. You can also go to ELLENTV.com and order a t-shirt from her website for charity. I plan on donating money soon. (I've been on maternity leave and literally have $16 left to my name till my next paycheck) And I also plan on getting a t-shirt. Each house is estimated to be $150,000. So money needs to roll in! The shirt says, "MAKE IT RIGHT FOUNDATION" with the number 9 on it for the lower 9th ward! IT's pretty cool!

New Kids reunion

I know this will be funny, but New Kids on the Block are planning a comeback! I know you all will rip on me for this, but they were my first favorite band and concert. It will bring back a lot of memories for me. And I'm proud of who I am now, so I'm not embarrassed to admit that I loved them back in the day!!! I was 11-12 for God's sake! But it was still pretty good music and I know all you haters know all the words to their songs just as well as I do!!!
I can't wait!:)


From People.com....

After months of speculation and rumor, the Kids are coming back. A well-placed source tells PEOPLE exclusively that New Kids On The Block are indeed getting back together. The band's Web site, www.nkotb.com, which had been dormant, is now back up and running in anticipation of the official announcement, which the source says will be made in the next few weeks. The site currently features a television graphic with a fuzzy, flickering photos of NKOTB in their heyday, and a link inviting fans to sign up for info.The boy band, which made legions of tweens swoon in the early '90s, selling more than 50 million albums, became a worldwide phenomenon before calling it quits in 1994. Eighteen years later, they're still "Hangin' Tough." The oldest "Kid," Jonathan Knight, now a real estate developer, will turn 40 later this year. Since the band's demise, former members Donnie Wahlberg, 38, and Joey McIntyre, 35, have seen acting success, while Danny Wood, 38, has worked as a music producer and Knight's brother, Jordan, 37, has continued to record.

New pics of the boy

This Cole

This is Caden above... We take pics of the boys everyday because everyday they just seem so cute!!!! One of the pics I'm going to post is on honor of my cousin Julie. She is a Florida Gator, her husband is a Seminole. My husband was always a fan of FSU, so he sent Julie one of the pictures above. :)

In Memory of Heath Ledger

I just wanted to say I'm sorry for the loss of Heath Ledger. I thought he was a really great actor. I enjoyed his movies. It was a bit of a shock to see he died on the news. It never sits well with me seeing someone younger than myself pass on. I'm not sure how he died at this time. I'm only hoping it wasn't on purpose. That would be a waste of a great talent and sad for his daughter.

Caden and Cole are 3 months old now!!

This is Cole

This is Caden!

I can't believe how fast time has gone by. The boys born on Oct 17th are now 3 months old. I finally went back to work. God I wish I could win the lottery. I would never work again and I could stay home and raise my boys the right way. Not that I'm dogging working moms, I'm one of them. But I can see wanting to stay home with them and care for them yourself. Maybe I just feel this way because they were in the hospital for awhile. I wanted to protect them and care for them the best I could. I'm working the weekends now and with this, it saves us a ton of money that otherwise we would be spending on child care. Our goals this year is to get out of debt once and for all. That may take us the next 2 years, but we are willing to do it. We decided we aren't going to "go away" for our vacation this year to save money. We are going to stay home instead! Save money! Besides, Brian and I went to France, Italy and Hawaii in less then 10 months. Some people never see even one of those places in a life time! So I'm content with our decision. (This doesn't include coming to see you get married Michelle! I'll still do that!) Not to mention, anywhere we go, the boys aren't going to remember anyway! Caden is looking a lot like I did as a baby! Cole looks a lot more like Brian, but there seems to be a good mix of me and Brian in Cole. For the time being it looks like they may keep their blue eyes, but that could still change!

I added pics above now just like I promised my cousin I would! I hope she is happy now!:)

Pictures of the boys from the NICU to home!

Here are some pictures of our boys Caden and Cole.. Getting them to sit still is a challenge. Then having them both look the same way at you! It's still fun though!

They are adjusting well to being home and gaining weight like crazy. They are both over 7lbs. What is crazy about them, is that though I know they aren't identical, everything happening to them is the same. They are identical in every other way. Now that they are gaining weight, they are starting to look slightly different. You may not tell it in these pictures, but they both have the same eyes. Caden is just lazy and chooses not to open them as brightly all the time. (Especially when we are taking pictures) But they have the same big eyes. Brian gets irritated when I tell them I think Caden's eyes will be blue. He says there is no way to tell right now. But they are turning a blue-grey color at this time. Cole's still has me confused becasue sometimes I think they are blue, but them I think they are hazel like mine. And I think they are going to have curly hair. Brian finally realized it today when he saw the wavy curls in the back of Cadens head. As their hair gets a little longer, it is starting to curl up and get fuzzy (or frizzy!:) ) just like mine! So he may finally agree with me there. The funny thing is if you see a picture of me up to 1 year old, I didn't have curly hair. It was kind of straight and as it got longer, it got curlier! So the same thing may happen for them. Brian was worried about them being bald some day, but since boys get the bald gene from their mother, they should be alright with my family genes. My dad and grandfathers all had their hair. They all have/had pretty great thick hair too. Cole is starting to look more like Brian. For awhile I thouhgt Caden did, but as they are gaining weight in their faces, you may start to see the difference. Caden is looking more like me now. They are just so incredible! I love them to pieces! I'm going to write more and post more pics in the weeks to come. I want to tell you all of our experience from my labor to the NICU to coming home!

I hope you enjoyed the pictures. I enjoy taking them. It finally makes me feel like we have something normal going after all those weeks of uncertainty. Nothing was normal for us and people I don't think really understood that. It's important for me to get to do normal things like send out pictures and stuff. I finally am really getting to enjoy being a mom the normal way..

Welcome our sons, Caden Noah and Cole Grady, to the world!

Since 10/2, I've been in the hosptial. I went into labor for a second time and had to be hospitalized. This time because of being in labor a 2nd time and an onset of mild pre-eclampsia (a.k.a. toxemia) my doctor said I would stay till I deliever. We decided that if my toxemia didn't get worse and I didn't go into labor, that we would deliever the boys at 36 weeks. My sister asked me, "What if they are born on Dad's birthday?" I told her that would be funny, but I don't want to have them born that early. I wanted them to stay in until 36 weeks. On Monday 10/15th I had an ultrasound that said my cervix was now only 17mm. (It was 23 mm when I went into labor the first time) On Tuesday 10/16, I noticed blood when I wiped. Right after that I called my dad and told him that I had a feeling that that boys would be born the next day. (Which was my dad's birthday) The 16th went alright for the rest of the day. Brian just got home from a meeting in Houston Texas. He came right to the hospital so we could be together to watch the Indians game. We were together watching the Indians game when I got this really weird pain on my right side. It felt like one of the boys was trying to stick his foot or fist into my appendix all the way through to my kidney! It just hurt. I couldn't get comfy! Brian was rubbing the area for me. ONce my nurse came in, I told her what was happening. (The indians were in the 5th inning beating the Red Sox) She hooked me up to the monitor and called the doctor on call. We found that I was in labor again but my cervix was still 17mm. I went downstairs again ! I knew this time that the docs weren't going to do anything to stop labor. My doctor told me once I hit 32 weeks, if it happened, she would let it happen. WEll I was 32 weeks and 5 days at this point. The next morning, my doctor came in and checked my cervix. According to the 2 residents that were caring for me, my cervix didn't change. (They were really gentle!) WHen she came in, she just shoved her hand there and went for the gold. It started a contraction and she said that was dilated 4cm at that point with the contraction. At this point she gave me a choice. The choice was, if the boys were in the correct position, did I want to progress with regular labor? I said I did. I knew that being pre-mature would work against the boys. Going the natural way would help their lungs a little bit by helping push any fluid in their lungs out through the birth canal. Then she would just let labor progress normally with me. But the ultrasound revealed that they weren't in a good postion to be born vagnially! NUTS! So it was to be a c-section and within the half hour, I was being prepped with an epidural/spinal (which I totally suggest! It gives you the best of both!) I was terrified and Brian couldn't be in the room while I was being prepped! I wanted to cry and I was scared. Not just for me, but for the boys. I felt a little overwhelmed. My nurse stayed with me. ANd thought I didn't know her well, she told me that she knows that if she was in my position, she would want me to stay with her. (She knew I was a nurse) So she held my shoulders and rubbed my arm while they placed the epidural. After they prepped me, Brian was allowed in. He looked so cute in his 3XL scrubs! They were so big my mom had to tape them on to him! SO FUNNY!!! Brian watched the whole thing. He even saw my uterus sitting on the outside of my abdomen! He was trying to tell me about it, but it just freaked me out. Who wants to know their husband can see their uterus literally! The boys were out within 20 minutes. Cole Grady Whittaker was out first weighing 5lbs and he was 18 and 1/4 inches. 1 minute later Caden Noah Whittaker was out. He was 4lbs and 8oz. He was also 18 inches. Brian got to hold them each for about 30 seconds then they were wisked away to the NICU with difficulties breathing. I couldn't hold them because I was in the middle of having them deliever the placenta! Once they were done I couldn't see them right away. I had to still recieve more magnesium because of my high blood pressures and toxemia. I had to take it for 12 hours. SO I couldn't see the boys for 12 hours. The boys were born on October 17th and they ended up sharing their Grandfathers birthday just like Aunt Christy said. At 1am on the 18th, I got to see my boys. I'm not sure what happened, but after a few minutes I got sick and threw up. I could've attributed it to not getting out of bed for 12-13 hours. The magnesium, medications of any kind. I was wondering also if it was my nerves of seeing them in the NICU. Who wants to see those babies in the NICU after trying for 3 weeks to stay in bed so they wouldn't come out and they wouldn't need to be there.
This morning I went and got really sick feeling. I"m not sure what that was about, but I just didn't feel well at all. I started to think it was my nerves. Now that I think I confronted this issues, I feel better. My stomach hurts as does my shoulder. I'm doing good though. My biggest concern is my sons! I"M A MOM!!! They are so cute. They have this dark hair. We have pictures, but the only ones available at this point are the ones Brian's mom took and they just really don't do the boys justice! They are fighters and I can't wait to get them home! I can't imagine loving someone so much. I mean I love Brian and I can't believe how blessed I am to have him and how much I love him. It amazes me to how much I love him! But not these 2 little guys that will depend on us. Iknow he loves them as much as I do! They are just precious! I'm going to go to bed. I have to pump to get something for the little guys in the NICU. I should be here a few more days I think. I'm so tired, I'm falling asleep writing this! GOOD NIGHT!!