Watts family Christmas

Being under house arrest and a strict "No kids around the babies policy," this is how Chris and I and the boys celebrated Christmas with my family. They all stood on the other side of our sliding glass door in the kitchen and watched us open presents while they "Oogled" at the boys. It was pretty hysterical, they even sang a Christmas carol. Thank you to my family for understanding that the boys health is the most important thing.

Just a few pictures

Mimi and Hunter. Look at those bright eyes. He loves to stare and look at his surroundings.


Closer picture of Hunter. Doesn't the IV and the feeding tube just break your heart?

This is yesterday, December 26th, when we arrived back in Iraan. They put our names up on the marque.

Dad on Christmas day with Heath.

Mom on Christmas day with Heath. He got to wear his really cute Christmas outfit, but Hunter was still hooked up to the heater and didn't get to wear his outfit. I did lay it over the top of him and took his picture.

Heath...snoozing. The tag on the outfit says "Mom and Dad's best present ever." If he only knew how true that is for he and his brother, both.

One week old in the NICU. I am holding Hunter and Chris is holding Heath. They are wearing the cutest "Daddy's Team" preemie outfits. As you can tell, they are almost too short for them in the length, however, the rest of the body swallows them.

This is a video of Heath getting dressed for the first time.

We're Home

We are finally home!! We were only gone for about 2 weeks but it felt like years. Before you get too excited, I can't find the cable to download pictures onto the computer, so there will be no pictures tonight. I will try to locate it tomorrow because I know that you don't really want to hear my rambling, you want to see pictures of my precious baby boys.

Instead, I will give you the story of their unexpected birth.

Monday, December 15th, Chris and I went to Odessa for a regular doctors appointment. We had an appointment at 9:00 am and another with the sonogram specialist at 2:00. In between we had a list of groceries to buy in preparation for Christmas. Well, we made it to the first appointment and I told the doctor that I had been having Braxton-Hicks Contractions. I could feel the tightening, but they didn't hurt, just made it difficult to breath ( I thought this was normal, since I had 4 feet resting in my diaphragm). The doctor decided to check me and found that I was VERY thinned out and dilated to a 2. She sent me straight to the hospital. I think we were in the doctors office a total of 5 minutes.

At the hospital, they monitored my contractions and saw that I was actually having more than I thought I was. News to me! They gave me 2 shots trying to stop the contractions, but it didn't work. They made me spend the night and the doctor came back the next morning. She checked and saw that I had dilated to a 3. She said if I made it to a 4, she would take the babies. At this point my contractions were about 5 minutes apart and getting a little more uncomfortable (I wouldn't say painful, just uncomfortable). Then a few hours later...they quit. I had only a few the rest of the night. When she came back on Wednesday morning and checked, I was 100% effaced and dilated to a 6. Surprise to me!

After that the story, has been told...I was prep-ed for a C-section and had the boys later that morning.


Total, the boys spent 9 days in the NICU. To date, those were the hardest 9 days of my life. The emotional roller coaster and the physical exhaustion were almost too much to handle. It seemed that for every step forward the boys were taking, they would take a step back the next day.

Hunter (Baby B) wasn't ready to come out. The doctor said that he was up by my ribs and was very content being there. He had to go on a CPAP which helped him breath and develop his lungs, he had a slower time learning to eat, he had to have an IV placed in his head (which was probably better for him, but nearly killed Mom and Dad), and he had to get his weight stable (he weight 4lbs 15.5 ounces today when we left). He failed the open crib test twice, before he was able to maintain his body temperature on his own. Even now that we are home, we have to check his temp often and keep him swaddled very tightly.

Heath (Baby A) didn't do a good job as the gate keeper. The doctor said that he was so low that if I sneezed too hard, he might just shoot out. He really wanted to be in this world before Santa came to town. While in the NICU, he was jaundice and had to be put under a bililight. He was slow learning how to eat but he did much better than his brother. He weighed 5 lbs and 3 ounces when we came home today. He got to room in with us for 3 nights while we waited for Hunter.

Chris and I are both so thankful for your prayers and comments. We find it amazing how quickly you can fall in love with your child. It is so hard to sit daily in the NICU and just hold the hand of your baby, unable to hold them or comfort them. We still need the prayers that we all stay healthy and everything goes well.

The doctors have put us under house arrest. We are not to go anywhere and only a handful of people may visit. No kids allowed. Those who can come in must be super healthy (not even the sniffles) and must wear a face mask. This will last until spring time, until RSV season is over. As the doctor put it, what could be a cold to an adult or kid, could kill our babies. Please don't be offended if we don't let you come to visit. I promise I will post pictures.

Thanks for your prayers and I will keep you updated.

Pictures - Hope this works

These are the first pictures of the babies. Sorry I don't know if this is both of them or just one. I believe Crystal is holding Heath in the first picture and the one screaming takes after grandpa (just kidding dad).

Names!!

I just got off the phone with Crystal who sounds very tired but is doing good. The names for the boys are Heath McEwin and Hunter Mark. She says that the boys are doing good, but because they are premature, their lungs are still underdeveloped or "sticky". So, they will be kept in the NICU for 7 - 14 days. Crystal is expecting to be released within 72 hours. She will get to go see the boys as soon as she is able to get up and move around. Some of the other family members (including Chris) will be able to go in and see the boys soon, just waiting on paper work. Anyway, that's the latest from a very proud sister and Aunt Amy. Please keep them in your prayers.

They're Here!!!!!

Amy, again reporting from distant lands. Mom did not have names for me as of yet but here is the information I have at this point - Baby A weighed 5 lbs 6 oz. and born at 9:48, Baby B weighed 5 lbs. 5 oz and born at 9:49. As soon as I have names and lengths I'll post one more time. Crystal and babies are doing well (don't know about Chris, although I'm sure he busted a few buttons off his uniform). Mom said their color was good and they were crying, so all good signs!!!

Quick update

Again, from Amy. Talked to mom at 7:30 this morning and Crystal called her last night to let her know that if she dilated any more over night, they would do the C-section this morning around 8:00. So, stay posted will let you know as soon as I know!

At the hospital

This is Amy, Crystal's sister over 600 miles away. Talking to Crystal this morning, she was admitted to the hospital yesterday and probably not coming home without babies at this point. They have given her steroid shots to help the babies' lungs and they have met with the doctor and sonogram specialist to make sure everything is okay and they decided not to stop the labor. Currently both boys weigh about 5 pounds, give or take an ounce or two. She is currently having contractions at 5 minutes apart and has dilated to about a 3. The doctor says that if she gets to a 4 then they will go ahead and do the C-section. My guess is we might have babies within 24 hours. I'll keep you posted.

Baby Update

I just realized that it has been a while since I have updated about the babies. They are both doing fine, and I am having some contractions, but nothing to worry about yet. They take my breath away, but don't hurt too bad. I have to go to the sonogram specialist once a week to do a stress test and sono on the babies, but so far everything has turned out OK. The sonogram doctor thinks that I probably have 2 babies that are a little over 5 pounds each. That's almost 11 pounds of baby!!! No wonder I'm having contractions. I go back to the doctor and the sono specialist on Monday. We'll see how that goes.

The doctors both say that I have to make it past 34 weeks for the boys lungs to be developed, but we are shooting for 36 weeks (at least). That would be around December 30th. As you can see from my ticker, it's getting pretty close.

Sleep is completely out these days. I have not found a way to get comfortable, so I can't sleep. I guess it is just my body's way of preparing me for when the babies get here. My question is...why does Chris get to sleep so soundly then? All of you who are for waking him up every time I'm awake, please let me know.

Mule Deer Season

Being a Game Warden's wife during mule deer season is a very lonely job. Mule deer season only last for 16 days in Pecos county, but it is the longest 16 days of the year. Chris is constantly working and I hardly ever see him. When he does come home it is to grab a bite to eat and some homemade cookies and he is back out the door.

This last week he was given an owl that couldn't fly. It was pretty cool to watch the owl hop around the yard and just hang out. It wouldn't fly away, so he just stayed around for a few hours. I guess this is just the typical game warden's wife's life...odd animals around my house all the time.

Chris did get a chance to go hunting on his days off this week, and he shot this really nice mule deer. He was so excited, he came up to the school and got Owen and me out of class to show us. It is one of the biggest deer to come off of our ranch in a really long time.

My Thanksgiving Post...just a little late

This year during this special holiday I have so much to be thankful for.

*I am thankful that I am not able to get comfortable at night, that I have to get up every few hours to go to the bathroom, and that I have a terrible time breathing...because it means that I have TWO precious blessings growing inside my belly.

*I am thankful that I constantly have to pick up spit cups around the house, that I have someone to wake me up out of a finally comfortable sleep to tell me that I am breathing too hard, and that I am constantly reminded how much my body has "grown"... because it means that I have a husband who is home and loves me.

*I am thankful that I constantly have to sweep my floors, clean the bathrooms, and do the laundry...because it means that I have a roof over my head that I can call a home and clothes on my back.

* I am thankful that I have to do the dishes and clean up the kitchen...because it means I have food in my belly and my family has been fed.

This last one was stolen from one of my third graders, he truly brought a laugh to my day.

*I am thankful that I have to clean the toilet because it means that I don't have to go outside and pee on the trees.

I am thankful for everything life has handed me. I am even thankful for the not so pleasant things...it just depends on how you look at life.

My cup run-eth over.

Thank You God for Watching Over My Husband and Alan

This past weekend, Chris and my cousin, Alan, learned the hard way that even Game Warden trucks cannot fly. Chris flipped his truck in a cement culvert while working late on Saturday night. Neither one of them was hurt, but they did have some bumps and bruises. We all spent from 1am to 4 am in the emergency room so they could run test, and all we found out is that they are both hard headed and that God was truly watching out for them.

Just a little late...

Two weekends ago, my mom, Chris and I traveled to San Saba because the sweet ladies there were throwing us a baby shower. We got tons of cute things, but most of all we really enjoyed getting to see our family and friends from San Saba.

Maternity Pictures

My good friend Keva took maternity pictures of us this past weekend. Here are a few of them and for some more, head on over to Keva's Photography blog. www.kevadawn.blogspot.com

Nursery and Doctor's Appointment

I've almost got the nursery put together. We finally got the furniture put together and in the appropriate places. Now, I just need to get the rest of the baby things in their proper place in the nursery. I think the camouflage and baby blue are looking cuter together every time I walk in there.

At my weekly doctors appointment this week, we saw that the boys are doing just fine and are growing perfectly. The doctor put me on half day restrictions. She was afraid that my body might think that I have one 8 lb baby instead of two smaller ones, and she thinks I might be working too hard and doing too much at school so she has ordered me to only work for half of a day. I had to talk her out of making me quit work all together by promising I would sit down a lot at work. My 4th grade TAKS writers are not quite ready for me to leave them yet. I had a long talk with the babies and they promised to stay put until I felt that most of my students could pass the test without me there every day. However, if the babies should change their minds...I have a wonderful substitute that is taking over, and I know she will do great.

The curtains, the mural, and the Doctor

My wonderful mother made the curtains for the nursery. They have four different materials, consisting of one camo, one that has fish and a light blue back ground and two different baby blue materials. I really think that with the camo baby bedding, the blue on the windows will really add color to the room. I think that the furniture has come in, and Chris will be able to go get them in Austin while we are in San Saba this weekend. It is all starting to come together.

Once again my mom proved how awesome she is, and painted a mural on the wall in the nursery. It has a large tree and two little deer, one on each side. The pictures do not do this art work justice. It really is awesome.

I had a doctors appointment this morning and we got to see the babies on the sonogram machine. Both of the boys are doing fine and they are growing at a rapid rate. They both weigh 3 pounds and 10 ounces. That is a little larger than the doctors would like, they are in the 77 percentile, and at 80% they start to worry. I just hope that I can keep them in there until their little lungs and brains develop. I have to go back to the sonogram specialist every week now to monitor the babies and make sure that they are both moving enough.

Keep the boys in your prayers.

A Whole New Halloween Experience

Since Halloween fell on "Friday night football" night, school was a very busy and unproductive day. Each teacher took his/her class to the High School, Junior High, Administration Building, and up and down the halls of the elementary to trick or treat at each classroom. Since I have never experienced taking kids trick or treating, it was completely new to me. My class has 10 boys and 3 girls and it was a wild ride. Needless to say, when we got back to class, I was exhausted and my feet were swollen to twice their normal size. I have to know...is it always that wild when you take your own children trick or treating?

When we got back to the classroom, however, I was completely amazed at how they all sat at their desks and sorted, admired, and quietly traded their candy. They were completely engrossed in looking at their loot for at least an hour, and knowing that we were fixing to go to lunch...they didn't eat that much. Amazing!

I'm sure in a few years when my boys are old enough for trick or treating I won't be so amazed by this, but I did find this experience...enlightening.

My favorite Halloween costumes this year

Lindy as a Pirate




















Logan as one of the Three Musketeers























Owen as Darth Vader (Sp)
Zeke as a Transformer
Zane as a Football Player
Kali as Little Bo Peep

Kali, as Little Bo Peep

Just one more thing...

I know, I know, I don't post for a while and then we get 4 different post in one day. Just bare with me, this will be the last one.

I just wanted to let you know that I got the results of my blood test back today and I do not have gestational diabetes. Instead, I am hypoglycemic. The nurse said that my body handles the sugar well and all of my test were within the normal range, except for the last one. It showed that my sugar levels dropped rapidly in hour 3 of the testing. The levels should have been between 100 and 150, and mine were 61. She said that I just need to make sure to eat something about every 3 hours so they won't drop. I knew something was wrong during the test because I was very shaky.

I guess the only remedy is to carry peanut butter crackers around with me at all times. I can handle that, I sure do like to eat now days.

Baby Shower!

The wonderful ladies that I work with threw me a baby shower yesterday. It was so much fun and the boys should be set for at least the first few years of life. Chris and I are very blessed with the friends and family that we have. I have never seen such a gathering of baby things.