12 Week Old Twins and a 21 Month Old Toddler - Christmas Eve!

Happy Holidays Family, Friends and Colleagues!

What a wonderful year it has been! We have much to celebrate as 2010 comes to an end and we look forward to another year of blessings! 

Here are some of the year's highlights:

• Lani quit her job on January 22 to spend more time with Ryo. She doesn't miss the stress and crazy travel schedule she had!
• Soon after, Aaron and Lani received news that they were expecting.....TWINS!
• Ryo celebrated his first b-day on March 1. We threw him a party with a camping theme (even pitched a tent in the back yard!) at our house in Victorville. Family and friends came to party and grub on camping food (hot dogs, hamburgers, and pancit (Filipino camping style!)
• Took a vacation end of March in Kauai with Lolo, Lola and the Latrique family. Aaron surfed for the first time!
• Took a trip to Seattle, WA in June (work/play) and visited with one of Lani's best buds from UCLA, Rachelle, her hubby Marlon and kidz Kai and Emi. They've got boy/girl twins too! Washington is Ryo's 5th state he has travelled to!
• Lani was put on bedrest in July so travelling on an airplane was out of the question!
• Aaron sold his big red truck and bought a minivan!
• At the end of August, we packed up and moved back to the Bay Area.
• Just in time...Rocco and Aida were born on September 29 - 3 weeks early....

and the rest of the year is just a blur of little sleep, constant feedings, keeping up with a rambunctious toddler, home improvement work, and doing laundry daily. Phew! 

Indeed, there has been great change to our lives as we are now a Party of Five! We are so happy to finally have our little family and are extremely thankful to family and friends for love and support along this journey.

Peace and Love to All!

10 Week Old Twins, 21 Month Old Toddler

I am happy to say that Aida sleeps 6 hours straight now. What a huge difference it makes! Rocco still gets up every 3 hours, but he easily goes back to sleep once he's fed. They are both a little over 10 pounds now...almost double their birth weight. They are growing so fast...I am trying hard to soak up this special time while they are infants! Ryo is doing fabulous. He still has his moments of antics to get our attention....but it's so cute (sometimes...). Nonetheless, he is still a joy and we constantly remind him that he's our first born baby so he feels special too. He surprised us last night by naming the letters on Aaron's shirt that had "CALIFORNIA" stitched across. I just love being a mom....even though there are times we miss out on things...like the other night our next door neighbors invited us to their holiday dinner..their friend used to work at The French Laundry and was preparing a home-cooked 5 course meal. We couldn't get any one to watch the kids, and although our neighbors said they could come along, we just didn't want to change the dynamic of the dinner, especially because the other couples left their kids at home. Oh well....we had Korean food take-out instead...and hung out with the kids.

8 Week Twins 20 Month Old Toddler

Well, here is my first blog entry since the twins arrived. It is 3:14 AM and  I am b-feeding Aida as I type with my right hand. So much has happened these last 8 weeks, and I wish I could have found the time to write earlier...but its been impossible! Literally, I think about documenting this whole experience everyday, but its so hard to find a moment!

What's happening now....

Ryo is a great big bro. He is very loving towards Rocco and Aida...esp. Ai. He loves to rest his check on theirs and pat their bodies and say "baby" in his own "baby talk" way. It's so cute!
Here is Ryo with the twins Day 3

Here is a more recent pix..at 7 weeks

catching up....

Delivery went smoothly. got to  hospital close to 9 am and was 4 cm with moderate pain, contractions ever 3-4 min. soon after the pain increased but bearable. Had the epidural a couple hours later and it felt like bliss! Boy what a difference the drug made! With Ryo we opted to do it natural, so I felt that pain! For this labor, since Aida was transverse, there was a possibility to get a c-section....and who wants to feel yourself getting cut open?

Rocco 2:28 pm 5 lbs 14 oz 19 in

 Aida 3:42 pm 5 lbs 9 oz 19.5 in

okay...it's 4:07 am now and i already put aida down and just fed rocco. they'll be up again in a couple hours...so i'm gonna sleep! (i get about 4 hours of sleep a night!) will write more later!

37 Weeks 4 Days - Water Broke!

Finally...my water broke at 2:10 am today and labor should come in the next 10-12 hours! We've been having a heat wave hear in the Bay Area and I've been feeling very, very uncomfortable!

Last Tuesday, my mucous plug came out and I had the bloody show. At 3:00 am I had spotting and I called the on-call doctor. Since I was not having any contractions, he said to monitor for an hour and drink lots of water or juice. I did and since no contractions came, I went to sleep. When I woke up at 8:50 am, I went to the bathroom and filled the toilet with blood! So, I went to L&D triage around 10:30 am. Aaron dropped me off since he had Ryo and I didn't want him to just wait around in case I was not delivering. Long story short, babies were fine, just 1 cm dilated, apparently my capillaries burst in my cervix causing the bleeding.

On Thursday, I went to my regular doctor check-up and still was only 1 cm!

On Friday, I had NST (non stress test) testing and AFI (amniotic fluid index). Babies were fine, both vertex. Estimated weight was Boy: 6 lbs 9 oz and Girl: 6 lbs 11 oz! Huge!

Yesterday (Tuesday), I had the NST and AFI again and things looked good. But, my girl is transverse again. Hopefully as labor progresses, she gets back in vertex so I can deliver vaginally!

It's 3:43 am, I should rest, but I want to document how I am feeling! I feel good, relieved that labor will come, but a little worried that we are still living amongst boxes here. We are getting our roof re-tiled, have not put in carpet in the baby room, and still need to paint. Plus, it has been really hot the last few days (in the 90's!)...but I just checked the weather forecast and it should be cooling down....87 today, high 70's the rest of the week. Phew, considering we don't have air conditioning!

Well, it's hard to believe they will be here soon! I've been nesting over the last week, so it's time. Yesterday I even went to a twins and multiples support group: Twins By the Bay I am glad I went! very informative....I was able to ask lots of questions to others in the group (2 women who were preggo too, a coule who just had twins, and two other women whose twins are 4-5 years old).

I am getting tired now...so I'll sign off! But here is a picture I just took of myself 1/2 hour ago!

BTW, I did wake Aaron to let him know my H2O broke, but then just told him to sleep since I wasn't having contractions. So far, I've only felt two. I took a shower, called the doctor on call (Dr. Gentry) and she said to wait until I get the contractions, or around noon to go into L&D.

Excited! But...need to get rest, because I won't have that luxury very soon!

33 weeks....34 Weeks tomorrow!

It's 8:52, Friday night and I am sitting on the couch with my feet up enjoying a movie (The Bourne Identity) while Ryo is asleep. Aaron is probably on BART on his way back here (Wyndham Canterbury in Union Square, SF...been here last 10 days- very nice time share thanks to the Latrique's) from parking the minivan at our house (to park vlet here is $30 plus tax).

Another long day...did some consulting work online, hung out with Megan, Sami and the kids, visited our 812 house (we'll move in on Sunday). Ryo enjoyed playing with his cousins...he is so happy with them! I'm loving being back in Northern Cal! Just wish I were more mobile...I can hardly walk these days.

Had my ultrasound yesterday. My daughter is nearly 5 pounds (4 lbs. 15 oz.) and she turned! She is now head-down, yeah! My son is slightly smaller 4 lbs. 4 oz. Both are growing normally and have normal heart rates! Yippee! But they sure weigh me down! This pregnancy is definitely harder than when I had Ryo! 

So my prediction is that these kids will make their appearance on Sept. 19 when I am 36 weeks....yep, in 2 weeks. I just don't see me expanding much more after that! I'm huge!

27 Weeks Pregnant

Had a nice weekend....spent the day at the Glen Ivy Spa with sisters and mom. A much needed mommy massage was in order :-). Earlier this week, Aaron, Penny (my niece) and sister, Marie spent a few days at the beach in Oceanside, CA. It was great!!!!

Today was not as relaxing because I have a new consulting project. I'm enjoying it though. Aaron took Ryo shopping for the day so that I could work.

16 Months and a Pregnant Mama

Well, I thought that with quitting my job back in January that I would have more time to blog....but being a full-time stay-at-home mommy is so much more consuming than working a 60 hour work week. I absolutely love staying at home and watching Ryo grow. He is a joy, indeed!

At 16 Months he is....
- talking in Ryo talk a ton! He can say: what's this, hi/bye guys, love you, mama, papa, this, read this, eat, yes, doggie, woof-woof, moo, pooh-pooh, pee-pee, happy (tries to sing Happy Birthday), cheese, torti (short for tortilla), banana (okay, nana, actually), apple, up, off, lolo, diaper, shoes, eyes, ears, mwah (kiss), please (peez), thank you, cracker, blue... I'll need to continue this list...
- can climb onto the couch and other chairs and just sit and chill (for a minute)
- can balance his body standing on his push car
- does a teethy cheesy smile
- understands concept of being happy and tells us
- when he wants papa to get out of bed...knows to grab papa's shorts as to put them on
- knows how to tell us when he is hungry
- remembers parts of a story (can do hand motions, say words when being read to)
- recognizes streets when going to grandparent's house in Hesperia, CA
- tries to brush his teeth
- knows how to clasp hands in namaste

I am also pregnant with twins - a perfect combo - a boy and a girl. Due October 16th, but with twins I could come earlier. In fact, the average gestation period is 36 weeks! I am excited and a bit anxious of the thought of having 3 kids under 2 years! So here is how I'm feeling right about now:

- trouble sleeping (ah hem, it is 3:12 am right now)
- start off sleeping with Aron and Ryo in our room (yes, we still co-sleep), then in the middle of the night I move to Ryo's room to sleep because I toss and turn and don't want to wake them and with two in my belly...I need the space!
- I'm huge. I look and feel like I'm 8-9 months pregnant minus the feet swelling. I weigh about 158 pounds!
- last couple days I have been having more feelings of fatigue and exhaustion
- pre-term labor is a worry on my mind
- babies kick a lot, especially the boy
- practice pre-natal yoga when I can a the Pedroni Living Room yoga studio

11 Months

I finally QUIT my job! Hooray! Now I am a full-time stay-at-home mom! It has been officially one week, and I am enjoying being with Ryo everyday! Timing is everything; Ryo has had a tough week since he has 6 teeth coming in at the same time. Poor kiddo...has not had a good night sleep in days.

Ryo is fully walking now. It's amazing to see him go! When he falls (which is often), he picks himself right up and is off! He knows what "Stand Up" means, and I'm sure he knows what "don't go there" means, but he doesn't listen.

A month away for his first b-day. I have done ZERO planning! Yikes!

10 Months

It is 2010 and Ryo is 10 Months! Time sure does fly! This time last year I was mighty pregnant! But I will have to say, I had a pretty easy pregnancy and I enjoyed it! Maybe it's because I longed to get pregnant for sooo long! I'm not getting any younger, so I would love to get pregnant again soon and so that Ryo can have a sibling close in age!

Aahhhh 2009...what a year indeed! The best part was the birth of Ryo of course! The most difficult....adjusting to both mommyhood and my career. 2010 brings a new outlook in life, less stress, and more quality time with family! My theme for the year...

Go Confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined. - Henry David Thoreau

Updates:

-Ryo took his first step on Christmas Day! What a gift to mommy and daddy! He can take up to 5 steps on his own!
-Ryo can climb down the stairs...all fourteen steps by himself
-Had to take Ryo to the ER in Oakland on 12-29-09 because his eczema flared up pretty badly! he is on his way to recovery
-Hands me books he wants me to read to him
-continues to Ryo-talk, loves to talk in "tongues"
-enjoys watching mommy get back into yoga
-can say "All Done"