Molly Claire is Here!!

Wow...once again I will start this post off with..."Sorry it has been a while since I have written..." Well...I'm just gonna say I have been a little preoccupied. :)
So much has gone on...where do I begin? I guess I will start off with saying we are now a family of 5!! Molly Claire arrived on Sept. 24th @ 3:25PM , 6lbs 40z, 18". Her due date was Oct. 10th...so like her brother and sister...she felt the need to come a little earlier. :) Here is how it all went down...when I went in for my 30 wk appt. they said she was measuring 28wks...but no big deal, she was probably just going to be a small baby. Left with no worries. Went back in 2 weeks later and she was still measuring the same as before...still not too worried...but they scheduled me for an ultrasound just to check things out. All looked good...she was just a little small. Again...no worries. At this point one would think that the "morning sickness" would be long gone...but not for me...it never really went away and came back strong at the end! Nothing like hugging the toilet when you are 9 months prego with 2 toddlers running around! It was a sight to see for sure! I started having contractions which sent me to the hospital a couple times...they gave me some fluids...the contractions slowed down and I went home. :) Then came a siatic nerve pain (I am sure I spelled that wrong). This pain was unbearable!! Dr. L gave me some pain pills...they did nothing. I went in for my 36 week appt. and at this point I was in major pain and just ready to be done!!! Again...I was measuring small...had the nerve pain...still having contractions...and barfing a ton. Dr. L thought it may be time to go ahead and do the C-section. Now this is really what I wanted...or so I thought! Like I said, I was ready to be done!! All of the sudden I started to cry! Right there in the office...was I really about to have a baby? Seriously? I have 2 babies at home! Now I am adding another one to the mix? I am about to deliver again!! Having a baby is no walk in the park! My very sweet Dr. calmed me down and made me feel better. So that was it...I went in on a Tuesday and we were scheduled for a c-section that Thursday! I got in the car...called Jimmy...and cried again! Now..a week earlier Jimmy asked if I could keep this baby in until after Sept. 24th..because he had a big presentation that day!! So...emotional mama that I was...cried even more...because now we were having or baby on THAT day! God can be so funny!! He assured me everything would be ok.
It is really strange knowing the day you are going to give birth..."Sorry I can't do lunch that day, I am going to have my baby at 2:30!!" HA! As you can imagine...I had a hard time sleeping Wed. night...lots of laundry to get clothes ready for the little girl..had to pack my bag and get things ready for the twins too. Thursday morning came very early...we had to take J and H to the Dr. at 8 for their 15 month check up. So...got up, fed them, dressed them and off we went. They each got 4 shots...ouch!! Dr. G asked when we were due again and when we told him "today" he could not believe we were there! It was kind of funny...but life must go on!
My parents got to our house around 11....Jimmy's dad got there about noon...the twins were in good hands. Jimmy and I were off to welcome our little girl.
We still had not chosen a name...go figure!
This birthing experience was SO different from the emergency delivery of the twins. Everyone was calm and I did not have a gazillion people in the delivery room! I remember it all this time...everyone was so sweet! It was amazing!!! I could actually feel them pushing, pulling and tugging on me...which is really crazy...I heard Dr. L say "I see an ear!"...and then moments later I heard her sweet cry!!! I did not get that with the twins! Tears streamed down my face...her little cry was music to this mommy's ears!! Then lifted high up over the curtain, Dr. L showed her to me. Now..I would be lying if I said she was beautiful. Have you ever seen a baby right after it has come out...yuck!!! There was gook all over her...I mean...she IS beautiful and God made her just perfect...but...let me see her all cleaned up please! :) I couldn't wait to hold her!! Since she was a c-section baby..and a little early..they took her to the NICU transition area. Jimmy went with her...and I was all alone. Memories of when the twins were born flooded my mind. Was she ok? Would she have to stay in the NICU? I just sat in the recovery room...still crying and praying for my precious princess to be ok. That God would wrap His arms around her and spare her from having to stay in the NICU. Jimmy came back to give me an update...he said she was good and they just want to keep an eye on her and make sure she is able to get rid of any fluid she swallowed..."What are we going to name her? Right there we decided she was a Molly Claire! He showed me pictures of her (post bath)...and I was IN LOVE!! God really had made this perfect little angel...and we are so blessed to call her our daughter! He has given us another gift...and we will raise her to know and love our Heavenly Father! James and Haley have a baby sister. I know many people think we are crazy...but we are just blessed!!!!! About 4 hours after delivering Molly...they brought her to my room. I held that sweet girl in my arms and kissed her tiny nose! She was here!! Praise the Lord for He is good!!!
A lot has gone on since that day...but I now have a hungry baby...so I will try and write more later...I have so much to update you about with the twins! They are a blast!!! They are growing up way too fast!!! So until then...

Soon to be...Family of 5!!

Well my doctor's nurse called today to schedule my c-section...they are looking at possibly doing it Sept 28th...can you believe it? I certainly can't! Where did the time go? Wasn't I just at Northside giving birth to the twins? Is this sweet princess really going to be here in a couple months?? We still have A LOT to do to get ready for her arrival...like get a crib...pick out the bedding...get a carseat...pick out a name...and o ya...move into larger home. :) Well that last one has been keeping us rather busy. We have been trying to get our house in order so that we can get it on the market...I think our deadline to do this was April...but who is keeping track? We have been MIA when it comes to seeing our friends and having a social life. :( Well this week is THE week. The carpet people come out on Wednesday...then we put everything back together Wed. night and Thursday..the photog. comes to take pictures and the house gets listed!!! I know life will be hard trying to sell a house with 2 toddlers...trying to keep it clean etc. I also know we are in a major time crunch too...but we have faith that God will provide and guide us to make wise decisions..He always does. :)
We really can't wait to meet this little sweet baby girl who has been moving ALL around in my belly. It is a different feeling having one baby inside of me instead of two. She has so much more room to just kick back and stretch from one side to the other. I think she is having fun in there. I am not as crazy sore as I was with the twins...but I still get sick just about everyday and I am starting to get tired easily...and have already been experiencing some Braxton Hicks contractions. The joys of pregnancy. :) Jimmy is an amazing husband!! He helps out SO much with the kids and is always checking on me to see what I need. I am so blessed to have my sweet man!
Well James and Haley are changing each day. Here are their stats from the 1 year appt.
James: aka: James-er
weight: 20lbs 7oz - 10-25th%
height: 31.5 in. - 90th%
head size: 18.5 in. - 50-75th%
What has James been up to?
* He is walking/toddling all over the place. He is still unsure about wearing shoes...he would rather be shoeless like his mommy!
* He still LOVES his "bun-bun" he carries it everywhere and it makes him very happy. I am looking online for more...we have 4...but they have been discontinued. wish me luck
* He can say mama, dada, papa,nana, tries to say dog, and knows what a lions says...roarrr
* He loves to show you his belly and point out where yours is too...beware...he will pull your shirt up!
* On occasion I can ask him where his nose, eyes and mouth are and he will show me...lately he will actually stick his finger in his nose to show me...gross!
* He is still a sweet cuddle-bug and he LOVES to flirt.
* He is a climber!!! He will climb on the ottoman and stand up, tries to climb on the daybed, climbs into his little shopping cart, climbs the gate in the playroom and anything else he can do do give mommy a heart attack!
* He is a good eater...loves mac n cheese and squash.
Haley aka- Haley-Bean, peanut, Hales
weight: 19lbs 6 oz. - 10-25th%
height: 29.5in - 50th%
head size: 17 1/4in. - 10-25th%
What has the bean been up to?
* Haley is a fast mover...still crawling, but trying her best to become a walker!
* She is hilarious!! She loves to make you smile and laugh..she will srcrunch up her little nose and make silly noises.
* She LOVEs to play with her brother...more like tease him...she will grab his bun-bun and crawl away laughing...trying to get him to chase her. very sweet.
* She thinks clapping is the coolest thing.
* When she is sleepy she will crawl into your lap and cuddle as you stroke her hair and rub her belly.
* She is no longer a fan of having bows in her hair...she is quick to take them out and eat them.
* She has a mouth full of teeth! Even all 4 molars came in at the same time. poor girl.
* She puts EVERYTHING into her mouth and rips it apart...kind of like a puppy...very odd.
* She bites her brother's fingers if he puts them into her mouth and she thinks it is funny. (We are REALLY trying our best to work on this!!)
* She can say mama, dadda,papa,nana, bun-bun, tries to say thank you...but it sounds nothing like it, and she can sign for "more"
* is not a big fan of wearing shoes either, she would rather eat them. go figure!

Both of them
like to listen to their Praise Baby dvd
clap when you sing "If You're Happy and You Know It"
They calm down when I sing Jesus Loves Me and Little Bunny Foo-Foo
Love it when daddy comes home...they both crawl into his lap and play
take their pants off in the crib
throw their "friends" out of the crib and then cry when they want them back
melt mommy and daddy's heart and bring us joy each day!!!
Thank you Jesus for allowing us to be the parents of these sweet babies!!

Our First Beach Trip as Parents

Wow. Going to the beach is not the same anymore with little ones. It took forever to pack for 2 little people...packing for ourselves was just an afterthought! We went to Panama City Beach with my family this year at the end of June. It was HOT!! In fact, they had record high temps. when we were down there. It was great being with our family. James and Haley were SO spoiled! They had 15 people there ready to hold them! I must say...I missed those evtra helping hands once we came home! All in all I would say it was a successful trip. The babies kind of made up their own schedule...but they still napped, so that was good. For the most part they slept thru the nights...with early to rise mornings. They were not big fans of the beach/sand...but they LOVED the pool. Nana and Papa really enjoyed their pool time with the kiddos. Daddy had a great time too! I think his favorite part was tossing them up in the air. They would just laugh, laugh, laugh! It is hard work getting ready to go to the pool. Lathering the kids up, getting their swimmie diapers on...then their bathing suits. We were exhausted before we even made it outside! There must be an easier way!! I think life at the beach will be easier when the kids can walk and play and not eat sand. :) Here is a quick slide show from our trip.
Much love to all!

One Year Later...

Again...it is so hard to believe a year has come and gone. Our babies are one...and they just keep on changing and growing each day! I remember this time last year. Jimmy and I were in the hospital praying that our sweet babies would hang in as long as they could...and the morning of June 4th the doctors told us that we needed to deliver that day...I was devastated. It was too soon! But once again, Our Heavenly Father comforted us in a way only He knows how. It may have been a shock to us that June 4th would be James and Haley's birthday...but it was no surprise to Him. It was all such a blur, in fact we did not choose a name for Haley until after they gave me the epidural...about 15minutes before I delivered!! I remember laying there with Jimmy next to me and around 20+ doctors and nurses in the operating room. Each baby had its own team of doctors and nurses...so it was quite crowded in there. I vaguely remember them showing me James...but I don't remember getting to see Haley. Before I knew it, everything was done. The babies were taken away to the NICU...and there I was in the recovery room. I was freezing. I was alone. I had told Jimmy I wanted him to go everywhere the babies went!! I think I was in the recovery room for a while before Jimmy came back with an update. Again...it was all such a blur. He showed me pictures on the camera...but it was really hard to see what they looked like b/c they had all kinds of things hooked up to them. I couldn't wait to see them and hold their tiny bodies in my arms! That was a very hard day...I did not get to see my babies at all the day they were born. It was not until the next night that they let me go and see them! It was really hard not being able to hold them and to see them with tubes all over their teeny bodies. God took care of them...and us! It was 5 long weeks being away from them as they were in the NICU. I had good days and bad days...but to be honest...I can hardly remember that time...because so many new, wonderful memories have been made with my sweet family! Fast forward to today. Their 1st birthday party has come and gone. All the preparation..the big celebration...and then it is all over. The guests have all gone...there is some leftover food and cake..and my babies are one!! We had such a fun time celebrating their 1st year of life. Thank you to everyone for making our day so special. Here are a bunch of pictures from the party...enjoy!

Our hearts are filled with joy!!!

Team Pink!!!

Jimmy and I went to have our 20 week ultrasound today and we found out another princess is on the way! She was such a cutie. I will try and post some pictures later...we even got one of her giving us the peace sign! I guess she was letting us know that everything is good. :) We had to take Haley and James along with us...so they were able to check out their baby sister too. Right now she is measuring right on track and weighs 11 oz. She is quite the little kicker. She kicks about the same time each night. Having only 2 tiny feet kick certainly feels different. :) God is SO amazing! He wraps His arms around me each day.
The kids have been kind of crazy lately...we had a big weekend of travel and that changed up their schedules some...and boy..when you change their schedules more than once...they let you know!!! I am hoping things will get easier this week. They are into everything!!! Both are on the move and James is trying to take some steps...but he keeps falling on his bottom. They play together...and take each others toys. They laugh at each other in the crib and still pass toys back and forth. I would love to know what they are saying to each other. Every little thing goes into their mouths. Haley can find the tiniest piece of lint on the carpet and pick it up to put in her mouth. I am constantly keeping an eye on her. Each time I think this is the age I love...it gets even better the next month! I can't believe they will be one next week!! It is hard to believe this time last year I was going to the doctor for a routine visit...and next thing I knew I was admitted to the hospital on bed rest...and then the kids couldn't wait any longer and were born June 4th....8 weeks early. I am so thankful that God has entrusted their lives to us and we continue to pray that we will be the parents He has called us to be and raise our children to know, love and serve Him.

We are on the middle of getting the house ready to put on the market...wish us luck! It will be a little tight in this house with a family of 5. :) I hope everyone is doing well!!
Here are a few pictures of the little ones. :)

11 months

It is hard to believe sweet Haley and James are 11 months old! Where does the time go? They have been SO much fun! They are both crawling all around. James is a speedy one...and Haley likes to take her time and watch where she is going. Haley is starting to fight back for her toys when James tries to take something from her. They really do love being together. They will just belly laugh at each other and it is great. Haley's new trick is clapping....she LOVES to clap and gets the biggest smile on her face when she is doing it...she even gets James in on the action too. :) Every time I look at their sweet faces I am reminded how blessed we are...and to think...we have one more on the way!! This new baby is starting to move around and it feels a little different having one baby in there instead of two. We find out on the 26th if it is a boy or a girl!!

God is so great!!! I am officially a stay at home mommy...I have the BEST job ever! It is not an easy one though...by 5:00 I am just begging Jimmy to hurry home. :) I am happy though and I would not change a thing!!! We are in the process of getting our house together so we can put it on the market and hopefully into a bigger home soon. :) Wish us luck! Well...here are some pictures of the little ones. :)

Germs, Germs, Germs

So...the kids have been great. Christmas was pretty much the last time they had a cold...until now. We all have yucky colds here at the Dugger home. Jimmy and I also have terrible sore throats and headaches too. I was finally able to see the doc. and thankfully I do not have strep throat. The kids are doing a little better, still have a cough and some congestion...but are happy as can be...except for Miss Haley...but I am not sure if I can blame that on the cold...she can be a bit high maintenance at times. :) We are still working on solid foods...they are just not big fans...but hopefully the light bulb will turn on soon and they will eat, eat, eat. I tried some of the Gerber puffs finger foods...James said no way and Haley ate 2 and then started gagging....guess we will try again another day. I also introduced sippy cups...they are not sure about them yet. I guess I need to keep telling myself that they are preemies...and they will get everything in time. :)

This is really funny...James usually LOVES being in his exercauser...and the other day he starting crying while he was playing in it. I was not sure what was wrong and figured it was because he was sick. So today I put him in it again...same thing happened...I realized why. He gets to playing with this one toy and gets really frustrated that the rings won't come off. So it makes him mad/sad as he pulls on them. I had to laugh! I took that toy off...and now he is back to loving it again!

Sweet Haley.

Not a great picture of me at all...but Daddy took this when we zonked out from being sick all day....

Haley is such a giggle bug now...and look at those teeth! Her top ones are coming in now too.

James was so tired he fell asleep while Daddy was holding him.

My two favorite men!

We took advantage of the nice weather we had last week and went for lots of walks.

They wore their new kicks for the first time! Our dear friend Matthew B. gave these to us. :) They look so big in their shoes!

James knows how to look cool!

James chillin' in his hat.

Haley chillin' in her hat!

Double Trouble!

James does this new thing in his crib now...I need to get a picture of him. He will wake up and push up on his arms and peak into Haley's crib. He makes noises to wake her up and when she sees him looking at her, she laughs and talks back. It really is the sweetest thing. There is nothing better than children laughing....it makes my heart sing!