Choo-choo

What's the deal with little boys and choo-choo trains?

Daniel, a few years ago.

Daniel and Josiah, a few weeks ago.

Karina called me the other day:

"Mom, how old was Daniel when you made him that train cake?"

"It was for his third birthday."

"Well, I just asked Reiley what cake he wants for his (3rd) birthday next month, and he said, 'A TRAIN!'."

Some things will never change.

So, I had to go hunting for the old photograph....
(Here's your pattern, Karina.)

Daniel and his train cake, 06-04-80.

It's Genetic

When Daniel sent me this picture of Josiah sleeping, I did a double-take.
This is the way Papi sleeps. No, not with a Ragamuffin, but with his arms like that.
(The picture doesn't show, but I'm sure he has his ankles crossed...
just like Papi.)

Before & After

We actually painted the bathroom a couple weeks ago, but I'm just getting around to posting these photos. So, what do you think: brown or yellow?

4 Weeks Old

Look who came over to visit us tonight...
what fun!

Welcome Home

Karina and Jason took the girls home from the hospital yesterday.
Karina reports that their big brothers gave them a hearty welcome: Reiley, as usual, was over-the-top in helpfulness, and Luke was beside himself with grins.
I wasn't there to catch any of that on film, but PR and I went over for a late evening moment or two with the girls.

Tossing and Turning

"I don't think I slept too well last night", lamented PR, as we started to make the bed and fluff the pillows. He found his pillow case rolled in a ball and stuffed between the mattress and the headboard.

Hmmmm... ya think?

3 Weeks Old

The twins are 3 weeks old today. No more feeding tubes! They are nursing quite well, and might be going home by the end of the week.

Papi with "his" girls.
Maddie and Kate, sugar and spice.

Kate, 3 weeks old.

Madison, 3 weeks old.

Ice Age

OK, so it doesn't look like much here, but underneath the thin dusting of snow is a coating of slick ice. The picture you're not getting is me driving home last night, over 20 miles of country roads, in freezing sleet. I think my top speed was 38mph, but mostly I kept it under 35. I was determined to get home after work. The question is, would I have been as eager if I were heading to work?

2 Weeks Old

We stopped by the hospital last night to see the girls. They seem to be saving up their energy for when they get home and can keep everybody hopping.

Madison, 2 weeks old.

Kate, 2 weeks old.

On the Fence?

On one of our trips to Rockford, I noticed this unique fence. It was another indication that we are definitely not in Chicago anymore...

If you like to "ride the fence" on issues, this may (or may not) be the one for you.

At least you have lots of options.

Feeders and Growers

Today marked a big milestone for the twins: they got to leave Rockford Memorial Hospital, and were transported to our local hospital here in Sterling. Their main job now is to learn to nurse well enough to have their feeding tubes removed, and to keep gaining weight. Hooray! Instead of a 3-hour round-trip to see them, it's about 3 minutes each way.Karina will have a little more time to rest, hopefully.

Reiley got to see that the babies are "really real". He was excited to see Madison wiggling in her isolette.

Luke had a runny nose, so we kept the window between him and the girls.

Kate

Madison.

Kate.

Madison.
Now..... can you tell which is which?

Papi with his arms full of girls.

Kate has an "angel kiss" on her nose and Madison has one on her forehead.

What a nice hug!