Finally - here they are.

I cannot believe how big they are already! I know, I know, every parent says that they cannot believe how fast babies grow... so you would think we'd be ready for it. But we aren't!

The boys have already grown out of many of their clothes and are into the 0-3 month, and even some 3 month outfits. They have chubby little cheeks & elbows.

Here's some photos of them:

Just 2 days old:















About a week old, just after coming home from hospital:













And about 3 weeks old...
(Mr. Bean is Tyler, and Sprout is Hunter)

WE think they are the cutest thing in the world... other parents might differ.

We are seriously thinking about getting them an agent to put them into movies, commercials, and what have you. We figure we need to pay for their education somehow!!! ;) Others seem to think it is a good idea.

Gotta run...

G'nite

They're Here!

I've been so busy since the boys were born that I haven't had time to post anything about them here.

Oh no - they are awake so this will have to wait again.

In brief:
2 boys: Tyler Parris Bartel & Hunter Daniel Bartel
Born: August 10, 2006 at 9:01 and 9:02 PM respectively
Method; C-section, after 5 days of run around by the BC Health care system... waiting for sufficient staff to start pitocin drip to continue inducement of labour. Don't get me started on this story.
The boys are great & well & thriving.

and crying.

bye for now!

Three Days Left...

We are rapidly approaching the end of the world as we know it... Yes, in 3 short days, I will be induced and will give birth to two rugrats, drastically changing EVERYTHING about my life from that moment forward. People ask me if we are ready. My response - how can we possible know? We think we are, but are you ever really?

I am partly excited about the turn my life is about to take, but probably more anxious and nervous than anything else. Here's my list of things I'm anxious about, in no particular order:

1. Labour - I'm being induced which i've heard means more intense contractions. There's a certain amount of fear in that.
2. Delivery - I really don't want to have a c-section but I've also heard that being induced increases your chance of a c-section b/c labour may not progress and there will come a point where babies will be stressed. PLUS, I'll be in the OR already (double set up) so it will be easier for doctors to make this decision.
3. Post-Delivery - that babies are healthy. I don't have huge concerns there, but you never really know right?
4. Leaving the hospital - what do I really know about raising babies??? Absolutely nothing. I've never held a newborn, let alone be left to care for TWO virtually on my own. Are they really going to let me leave the hospital with these creatures in my care? What are they thinking?
5. Crying - what if they start crying and I've done all the logical things and they still cry? What then?
6. Breastfeeding - I really want to do it. But know the challenges of breastfeeding exclusively with twins. Will perseverance be enough to make it work? If we use bottles every so often will it cause nipple confusion and then babies won't take the breast? If we don't use bottles, will my husband miss out on that opportunity to bond & care for babies?
7. Names - we still haven't really decided on name for baby #2. Ken thinks we have, but I'm not convinced that I love the name. The 2nd names for both babies are decided on, but the 1st name for baby #2 is up in the air. Actually I'm sure that Ken knows that I'm waffling becasue every night I give him other suggestions. And he keeps saying, but i thought we'd decided on....
8. Marriage - how will having babies affect my marriage? Especially given my drive to have these children and Ken's not so drive to have them? Will he resent the impact they will have on our lives?
9. Career - will I be able to go back to work in a year and find that balance between family & career? I honestly love my job / career, but I think I'll love the family thing more. I just wish we had more $$ to make staying home an option. But it truly isn't. And what about ken's tennis career... it is possible that having babies this year will screw up that future for him. He has only just made the national development team but is not focusing very well on his training. I fear that he'll be kicked off the team and will lose that opportunity forever. I do not want to be responsible for that. He has never hinted that he is resentful or anything, it is my own guilt talking
10. Motherhood - and what if I hate it??? I have not enjoyed the pregnancy thing which I worked so hard to achieve. What if I hate the motherhood thing too? Then what? Then I've screwed ALL of our lives for something that I hate.
11. Money - we'll be seriously lacking in it for at least a year. That has a huge stress level attached to it. But there isn't much I can do about it, except continue to go into debt. ouch. Other people manage with much less income than we do - how???? Especially with kids. I just don't get it. I mean, we have done everything right in life (school, careers, life choices) so why do we struggle so much financially????

So - those are a few of my worries. Anyone out there to set my mind at ease????

Time is a-ticking!

Just a quick update to tell people that time is a-ticking. We've been told 2-4 weeks left. Maximum 4 weeks. If I haven't gone into labour spontaneously by the end of that 4th week - I'll be induced. I find out tomorrow if Baby B has indeed flipped to a breech position, or if he/she is still head down. But since Baby A is still vertex, we are still looking at a vaginal delivery.

I'm feeling as big as a house and I'm DEFINITELY tired of being pregnant! I'm not sleeping well, I'm not eating well, I'm not feeling well. I've got swollen ankles/feet/hands/body, heartburn, back ache, neck ache, head ache... I could go on and on and on... I want babies to be big and healthy, but I also want them OUT!!! I am so glad that I don't have to go a full 40 weeks... I don't think I would last. Of course, I wouldn't be as big so that would probably make a big difference.

Enough griping. G'nite.

Video Montage - Summer 2005

Look what I made online!!! It's from last year's summer expedition from BC to Ontario, driving with friend Karen. I still need to make one now for the return trip, driving with my sister and her 2 kids. But this took me about 4 hours and it's my first try at it. Hope you like it!!!

Create your own video at One True Media

The Finish Line

"The Finish Line is just the beginning of a whole new race."
- Ryan Ebersol

This was a quote from a young boy (age 14) who died in a plane crash. He wrote that quote as part of his grade 8 autobiography that he had to write for school.

New Preggers pics

Here's some pics of me from 2 weeks ago, at 30 weeks. Taken by Ada Chan. She is a friend who is doing some freelance photography so she took these for us as a baby gift, but also she'll be using them as part of her portfolio. Here's a sample...

Wednesday Words

It is Wednesday evening and i am sitting on the couch, watching the early news, with my laptop perched on my knees (not my lap - it doesn't fit) and my feet up on 2 cushions on the footstool. They are so swollen these days, I'm trying to get them to become less like sausages, and more like little weiners, or something like that.

Today has been a rather boring day. I've been reading the latest Kinsey Milhone book - O is for... I don't even know what O was for. But anyway, I do like mystery books. I started it yesterday and couldn't put it down. I was still reading at 12:30 but finally turned out the light at 1AM. BUT, then I woke up at 4AM and couldn't go back to sleep. So I got up and read more. Finally going back to sleep at 6AM. Would you believe that someone phoned at 7 AM???? So I've had very little sleep, and none of it continuous. I'm really tired, but plugging away. I'm trying not to nap so that I can be sure to sleep tonight. Problem is that it is really hard to sleep more than 2-3 hours in a row! If I'm not in pain, I have to go pee, or roll, or I'm getting kicked to bits from the inside, or I'm hungry, or SOMETHING. So, I'm not sleeping very well.

What did I do today? I finished the book (which I'd picked up for $1.50 at Sally Ann - gotta love a bargain!), took the dog to get her nails clipped, picked up a pkg I'd got from my "Secret Stork" yesterday but I wasn't home to get it so had to go to the purolator depot on the OTHER side of town to get, walked the dog in the park, went to the dollar store to get some baby hangers...

Speaking of which, I did some serious retail therapy yesterday wtih my neighbour Kim. I spent probably $200 on baby stuff - none of which I was registered for so I don't feel bad about that. I bought a ton of cheap baby outfits, curtains for the closet door (I hate bifolds), a little "baby is sleeping" sign for the door, and, well what else? Can't think right now. But I had a ton of fun "nesting" yesterday and now I feel prepared. I washed and put away all the clothes that I'd purchased or been given to date. Nesting is fun!

That's enough for Wednesday's words.

Oh but wait - I talked to my sister too and her son might come out this summer! what fun! That gives me something else to look forward to. He's a good kid.