Eliana and Eli ONE year photos

Having twins and a 3 1/2 year old makes it really hard to update anything on our blog. Here is a video of the pictures that were taken four months ago when Eli and Eliana turned ONE. Yes ONE! I can't believe it! Time Flies!

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Nayeli 3 year pics

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Nayeli Faith is THREE!

I love that Nayeli is being more expressive with how she feels and what she wants. Sometimes too expressive when she says "Leave me alone man" or "No timeout". I do love that she started to tell me "I love you mommy" yesterday and I was in awwww with it. She hugs me more often. I will be doing something and she will come and give me a hug. My girl is so sweet!

Three years ago I was nervous about delivering her. I didn't know what was going to happen. It was the most terrifying and exciting time of my life. I look back and it still feels like it was just yesterday that I was sitting by her bedside praying to God to have mercy on my baby. I am thankful for the gift he has given us. She is my miracle baby and we are so blessed to have her in our lives.

We went to the UCSF CDH reunion last night and she had a blast dressing up as Snow White we left the twins at home with our babystitter. It was nice just spending time with Nayeli. It was great seeing the Doctors and we presented them with a $2,000 check from the Nayeli Faith Fondation. We went to the UCSF NICU reunion today. We took Eli and Eliana and they all had a great time. They were all so tired on the way home they took a one hour nap on the way home.

We took Nayeli out for dinner for her Birthday and had the twins stay home with our babysitter. I feel bad that I had to leave them two nights in a row but they are in a strict schedule for bedtime I don't want cranky babies out for her special day. We then stopped at Toys R Us and picked out her gifts. She is so happy with the gift we picked out for her. It's her own digital camera! She kept taking pictures and didn't want to put it down. We also got her a Disney pillow to sleep at night and another Disney chair for her to read books in our room while I am pumping or just wants to hangout. She has a total of three comfy chairs! I hope she shares with Eliana.

Here is a video I made of Nayeli enjoy!

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It's been a while

Nayeli took a poop on her toilet for the first time. We were so proud of her we took a picture.
Nayeli has become my litlle helper. she grabs the babies toys, diapers and bottles for me when I ask her for it. She has been enjoying playing with them alot more. She doesn't like to share her toys with them and will say "that's mine" if it's one of her old baby toys. I have had to watch all three by myself a few times all day and night because Shane has been working alot of OT. I do have help that comes but she is not always available. It's a challenge to bathe and put them all to bed but I am proud to say that I can do it! I have also taken them for walks and the park by myelf and have taken the dogs too. I just do it!

We took Nayeli to UCSF for the CDH clinic and everything went well. We were so happy to hear that the hiatel hernia and unbilical hernia are no longer a concern. She amazes us on how much she loves all the Doctors.

She has grown up so much these past few months. She likes to sing Twinkle Little star. Her favorite TV show is Dora, Olivia and Curious George. She likes to wear dresses and will change at least two times in one day. The other day she said to me "call grandma Toria I need money" I asked why she needed money. She said "for my wallet". She is funny! She loves to get attention from us and when she wants something and I am busy feeding the babies she will say "he is not hungry" or "put bottle down". When my hired help comes I take Nayeli out and spend one on one time with her. I am so glad I can do that with her. She loves when I sing "hush little baby" and "Itsy Spider". We are trying really hard to get her potty trained. There are days that she will tell us she has to go potty and then there are days she will just go in her pull up. My dad came to help me for a week while Shane was away for work. Nayeli has a bond with him from the time he was here while I was in the hospital. I was so grateful for his help. He looked exhausted when it was time for him to go home.

I can't believe Eliana and Eli are 6 months and Nayeli will be three next month. Time is flying by!

I was offered to go back to work PT two days a week. I accepted the offer and was supposed to go back at the end July. As the day approached I noticed I was getting very sad and Shane noticed I was getting moody. Shane said he would like me to be a SAHM and it would be up to me if I wanted to go back. I had a tough time deciding. I love my job but I love my children alot more. I think I made the right decision. It's hard to keep up with two babies and a toddler. Every little thing they do each day is so amazing.



First time eating solids.


First time watching TV. I put the sign language DVD on and they love it. They only watch it once a week for 10 minutes. It will be a challenge to keep them from watching TV while Nayeli is.

Twinkie got sick two weeks ago. He ended up staying over night at the hospital in the oxygen tank. He had labored breathing. The Dr. told me that he has heart disease and will have to be on medication for the rest of his life. He is doing better. Here is a picture of him with Molly with their halloween costumes.

Eliana started to roll over about two weeks ago and this week she started to roll from back to tummy. She is mastering it from watching Eli. She also has started to push her self up with her arms. She gets frustrated sometimes from getting tired. She has two front teeth growing in and loves to chew on her hands and toes. She has a great appetite and sleeps well for naps during the day. She slept through the night once this week and usually wakes up once or twice. She has started to show less interest in her swing now that she has more freedom to move around on the floor. So we will be packing up the swings soon. I am sad but know that it's just one of the many miletsones she has accomplished. She has an incredilbe smile that makes you say awww each time. She likes to squeal and will let out a little scream every now and then from being so excited. She loves her bath time every night and loves to kick the water. She is a true pisces! I am having her practice sitting up with propping her with pillows she loves it. She will pull her self up with anything that she can grab on to. She loves when I sing "You are my sunshine" to her. She makes me so happy and I am so glad I am with her everyday to see her go through all her milestones wich is priceless.

Eli is full energetic little boy. He loves attention and will make sure that he gets it. He will smile and giggle at you. He has mastered rolling around to get to one destination the other. He has two front teeth and loves to chew on his fingers, toes and Elianas feet. He gets a little rough sometimes while on the floor for play time with Eliana and will pull her hair. He was a terrible napper during the day but this past week he has surprised us and has been sleeping twice a day in his pak n play in our room. He was waking up 3-5 times a night he has narrowed it down to 2 times a night. He likes to come and sleep with me and loves to snuggle up to me. He loves to scream and is babbling alot. He also is starting to gurgle with little spit bubbles. I remember Nayeli doing the same thing. He loves his bath time and likes to kick the water too. He absolutely loves when I sing him songs any song he isn't picky. He loves being tickled especially on his belly and feet. He is trying to sit up but still falls sideways if I let go. He is so strong he pushes himself up with his arms and looks around to see whats going on around him. He loves watching Nayeli dance and laughs when she runs past him. He has a contagious laugh and you cant help but to kiss and hug him each time he smiles.

So sad summer is over! We had alot of fun going to the park, pool and taking a drive to LA for two weeks to visit my parents. Shane played in a hockey tournament and he also ran the SF marathon. He had eleven runners run with him to raise money for the Nayeli Faith Foundation. I am so proud of him. I hope I can run with him next year. Shane's parents came to visit for two weeks in June. We were so grateful for Grandpa Jim who grilled the best BBQ and for Grandma Darlene making some nice dinners. We always are sad to see them leave. It's hard to live so far from family. We are grateful we have great friends. I have met wonderful friends at church at my bible studies on Wednsedays. I guess it is true angels are disguised as friends. God is always watching after us.

I remember someone telling me that the first year will be a blur with the twins. Yes, they were right! I have to write things down in my journal otherwise I will forget what happened a week ago. I am soaking all of my children in everyday. I love them all so much! I am so grateful to GOD for giving us all three. Each one has their different personality. They make us very happy! Nayeli got her wish when I asked her last year. Do you want a brother or sister? She said "brother sisiter"

5 months!

Eli and Eliana are 5 months today. Time is not slowing down. I will eventually try to update the blog soon. Here is a video of our photo shoot a few weeks ago.

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Eliana Hope and Eli Luc Photos!

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Nayeli has a new brother and sister

March 12thEliana Hope born at 5:10pm 6 lbs 11 oz 19 inches longEli Luc born at 5:11pm 6 lbs 9 oz 19 3/4 inches long
On Thursday, March 10th one of the Doctors came to tell me that it's ok to go outside in the patio for 20 minutes once a day in a wheelchair. I was so excited! I waited to go outside until Friday with Nayeli and Shane during their daily lunch visit. I had a few tears from just being able to go outside and breath fresh air. So much you take for granted such simple things when you are healthy. I had a nice time sitting in the sun. Witihin 15 minutes I told Shane I wasn't feeling very well sitting any longer so he took me back to my room. I had friends coming to see me after Shane and Nayeli. I almost told them to cancel because I wasn't feeling very well. For the rest of the day I felt very sore and lots of pressure on my pelvic area. I remember one of the nurses tellimg me not to move around or do much when there is a full moon or when there is a change in the barometric pressure. That day there was an earthquake in Japan which caused a tsunami in Northern Cali. They made it sound so bad but when it finally hit it caused little damamge. I didn't put it together until the next morning when I woke up and went to the bathroom and saw blood for the 8th time. I called the nurses and they called the Dr. on duty. She told me that she planned on monitoring me and would come back. She came back in and told me that they were going to move me into Labor and Delivery room and I would have a csection today. I heard her say I would not get breakfast. I was so hungry I quickly got the cupcakes my friend brought for me earlier in the week for my bday. I stuffed my face with three and dranke 16 oz. of water. I knew by doing this they would have to wait on doing the csection.

I called Shane and told him what they were going to do. We quickly called my parents and they got everything ready and drove from L.A. We called a couple of our friends to see if they could watch Nayeli in case it became an emergency csection and Shane would have to come in right away. The Doctor told me the surgery would be after 4pm. My parents weren't going to arrive until 7pm so we had Aunt Sherrie and our friend Sonya watch Nayeli. We are so thankful they were there for us.

I tried to take a nap but I just couldn't I was so nervous all day. I cried a few times and kept praying. One of the Doctors came and told me how serious the surgery was going to be. He explained that the placenta is on the back and would have a hard time getting to it. I would be loosing alot of blood. I would probably need a blood transfusion. I prayed that the surgery would go well and Eliana and Eli would arrive healthy and I wouldn't need a blood transfusion. Shane brought Nayeli to see me one last time in the morning. She came up to me in bed. She lifted my gown and said "babies". Out of all the times she came to visit me she never did that until then. I guess she knew they were on there way. She would always kiss and rub my belly and say "babies" I thought to myself this will be the last time she will be the only child. Next time I see her she will have a brother and sister. How great!

Shane arrived at 4pm and got his scrubs on. The nurse came in and said it's time. I got out of bed and put a head net on. They took me into the surgery room in a wheelchair. The surgery room was bright white and so cold. They did a spinal tap on me and I thought that was more painful than when I got the epidural when I had Nayeli. It took the Dr. a couple of tries. The surgery didn't take too long. Shane was able to take pictures as they were coming out. I think they are to graphic to put on here. I heard Eliana cry first and I just bursted into tears. I saw her as they were weighing her and checking her. Then Eli came out is was a chorus with both of them crying. Eliana weighed 6 lbs. 9oz 19 inches long and Eli weighed 6 lbs. 11 oz. 19 3/4 inches long. Shane and I were laughing and I was crying so happy I couldn't stop crying. We have been through so much to finally have had a normal pregnancy and deliver semi normal. GOD IS GREAT!

They took me into the recovery room. Things startedto go bad and my blood pressure went low. Everyone rushed in Shane looked so concerned. I almost passed out a few times. The walls and ceiling felt like they were caving in on me. It was horrible! I was in the recovery room until 11pm. I was so anxious to see Eliana and Eli. They finally took me to my room and I finally was able to hold them and cuddle them in my room. I cried again! They are so precious! Shane and I had a rough a first night. I think Shane had a harder time with the sleep deprivation at the hospital than I did. I was exhausted but I had this burst of energy come and go. My parents and Nayeli came in to visit us. I was so curious to see what Nayeli would do when she finally got to meet Eli and Eliana. She did great! She came to visit every day until I left the hospital.


My parents stayed with us for a one week and were so helpful. My mom cooked dinners and put them in the freezer for us. It was great having extra helpful hands with the babies and Nayeli. I was sad to see them go. The first week was very hard for us. The past few weeks have gotten easier. We are starting to have a routine. We put the babies to sleep by 8pm and Nayeli by 830pm. It's a little hard to do the evening routine starting with dinner time up to bedtime. We decided to hire help so I have it when Shane goes back to work. So far she has been a wonderful help to me.

Eli and Eliana smiled for the first time a this past week. Eli loves to do it more often. I have yet to see a smile from Eliana. Shane said she smiled for him. They are so different from each other. Eli loves to be carried and held and Eliana is very content on her swing or bouncy seat. Eli grunts when he eats.

We are cherishing everyday because we see it's going by fast. I read in one of my twin books that it's like we are sailing in the high seas and we have to learn to tie the knots on direct the boat soon we will be able to have a smooth sailing. I hope thats soon. They take cat naps during the day at home but if we drive to their Dr. appt or take a short drive they will sleep for 2 hours or more. I am just glad we are keeping them on the same schedule and it continues to work. Consistency pays off!
Eli's first SMILE!

Nayeli has been wonderful with Eli and Eliana. She was so excited to visit me each day at the hospital and would say "babies" each time she grabbed my belly. We were all wondering what she would do when she would see them. She was excited and wanted to hold them. It was wonderful watching her hold them. It was funny that she didn't want to hold them once they would start to cry. She has a funny look on her face when they do. Once we brought them home I thought her enthusiastic would go away. She is wonderful with them. The minute they start to cry she will say "babies" crying", when the their binkie falls out of their mouths she is quick to try to put it back in. When she sees us diaper changing them she will grab a diaper and the diaper rash creme for us. We always praise her and tell her she is a wonderful helper and a great big sister. The funny things she does is when the babies cry sometimes she will say "oh dear" and will also say "shhhh". When the babies are sleeping she will say "shhhh babies sleeping". She enjoys having her picture taken and will strike a pose. She used to cry and scream before the babies were here. She likes to see her picture after it has been taken. Everyday is an exciting day in the house. There are milestones with each one of them it's hard to keep up.
Nayeli is doing well with potty training. We had to put her in pull ups because she was having too many accidents and with two newborns around it becomes hectic cleaning her up each time. My mom did a great job in starting her on potty training. She will still pee once in a while but usually will tell us when she has to go. She has been great when we are out. We have a little portable potty in the car just in case there is no restroom near by. Plus I actually like it better than the public restroom. We usually hold her straight up with out touching the toilets it's a great workout LOL. She still poops in her pull up and hasn't told us when she has to go. I am hoping that will happen soon. She will tell us after she has
gone in them.

We have tried to take turns in having alone time with Nayeli. She loves it and enjoys it. She is enrolled in her music class and gymnastics and will soon start swimming. She has gone from 3 word sentences to 4. Yesterday she said "Daddy put on shirt" our little girl is growing up. She loves to wear dresses and her tutu's which she has plenty of. She will say "princess dress" when she wants to wear them. Lately she likes to pick out what she is wearing for the day. Sometimes she is unhappy when I tell her she can't wear her skirt in 50 degree weather because it's too cold. She will have a tantrum. Or she will want to wear her dress over her pj's or wear her pj's for the day. She makes me laugh when she does this but it's sometimes hard to deal with too.

We thank God for our three miracles and feel so blessed to have them in our lives. God is great!