Our First Easter

Even though we weren't going to travel we were blessed by getting to spend time with family. To help us celebrate our first easter all of the grandparents came to town. They brought a delicious dinner (thank goodness for left overs) and spent time with Malia and McKenna. After loving on the babies for several hours I did what every new mother would do - made everyone dye eggs so that I could capture the moment with pictures!!

Our Hospital Stay

The babies had quite the adventure the first five days of their lives. Since the babies were small the doctors wanted them to stay a few extra days.

April 18 - the beginning - they were able to meet Nana and Papa Dave first thing in the morning. Since Papa was going out of town for a few days they came early to come meet their newest grandchildren. Grandpa Marvin came up a few hours later to visit the babies in the nursery. Later in the evening Nana came back with Aunt Dava and Great Grandma Lydia. We were able to get a lot of loving from the family.

Day Two - April 19 - the girls were given their hearing tests. Monitors were tracking the babies brain to see if they were able to pick up the sounds. Both babies passed and Mardell got the clever idea to frame their certificates for the future in case I happened to pass along my selective hearing. When the ignoring phase begins we have proof that they can hear us! Later in the afternoon Nana Jana and Grandma Daphne came by to visit us.

<~ Malia's hearing screen

McKenna's hearing screen~>

On April 20 - our third day - the babies had to take a car seat test. Since they are so tiny they had to be strapped into their seats for an hour with monitors checking to make sure they could breath. Both babies passed and looked adorable in their seats! Grandma Daphne and Grandpa Marvin came in the evening for another quick visit.

<~McKenna Malia ~>

April 21 - Day Four - The girls were still so small that the doctors wanted them to stay one more night to be monitored. We got to spend all day loving on the girls in our room. In the evening the little ladies got bath number two. I'm not sure they loved the water, but they LOVED laying under the heater after! If only we had one of those at home...

Day Five - April 22 - We woke up thinking that this might be the day we would get to go home but when the doctor checked Malia and McKenna out he noticed McKenna looked a little jaundice. After taking her blood we found out she would get to spend the day under the lights. She is just like her daddy and loves heat... every time we went to see her she was stretched out happy as could be. Malia spent the day hanging out with mommy and daddy. The girls didn't seem to notice that they weren't together but loved getting to snuggle up to each other after every feeding (every 3 hours).

Our sixth day - April 23 - Malia and McKenna got their check-up with the doctor and everything looked good. Malia was slowly gaining weight and McKenna had remained about the same. Even though both babies were under 5 lbs they were both doing well and we were told we could finally go home! Around 11:00 we signed all of the release papers and loaded up the car.

A big thanks to the staff at Mercy - they helped take great care of our little girls

Arrival: Two Precious Girls

Malia Ranae and McKenna Marie have arrived

Sunday, around 11:00, Mardell and I left the house to head to the hospital to get a quick check-up. Luckily we stopped for an early lunch on the way in because we ended up staying. We were shocked to find out that the babies had decided to come a little early but luckily we had everything in the car -- the first time I think I've ever planned ahead and it paid off!

When they came in to give me my epidural I made the joke that the girls needed to hurry up or they would end up having their own birthdays... little did we know. At 11:30 p.m. it was finally time to head to the OR for delivery. It took them about 15 minutes to get set up and ready and by 11:55 p.m. SUNDAY Malia was born. A short 14 minutes later McKenna arrived - at 12:09 a.m. on MONDAY. Two babies - Two birthdays!

Both babies are doing great and are absolutely PERFECT. Malia was 4 lb 13 oz and McKenna was 5 lb 6 oz. We still haven't been able to leave yet but hopefully we will be able to bring the girls home soon. I know Mya & Ellie will be ready to love on these girls!

A quick Thank You to everyone for the kind words, thoughts and prayers - they are much appreciated!

Where have we been?

Update time! Mardell and I have both been very busy and completely let our blog fall off of the map. Twenty10 flew by and here we are already in Twenty11.

Here were some highlights from 2010:

* Owl City came to campus

* We celebrated our first wedding anniversary with a trip to St. Louis

* I finished up my first year of teaching

* Mardell took a new position and began recruiting for the College of Business

* Michael Buble came to KC and put on an AMAZING concert

* Mardell and I packed our bags and flew to LA to help Ashley and Ryan celebrate their wedding

* We had a relaxing Vegas weekend with Chelsea and Stephan

* Our nephew celebrated his 2nd Birthday

* Mardell went back to the NASCAR races in KC and was able to see his driver win

* We welcomed our new niece into the world

* We broke the news to our family and friends that we were expecting a little bundle of Joy... and shortly found out we were going to be blessed with two precious girls

2010 was a year full of family, friends and fun! 2011 Started off equally as fun and is continuing to get better. Mardell is finishing up his second degree and will be beginning Graduate School this summer while I continue to plug away at my graduate courses. After doing the entire nursery (painting, hanging the chair rail and crown molding, and putting all of the furniture together) Mardell is back to working in the basement.

Currently everything we have been doing has been in preparation for the little ladies to arrive! Mardell and I have decided that this is the perfect place to keep people updated on what's going on in our lives and with the girls. Please stay posted for further updates.

Year Twenty-Ten

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A year full of great memories has come to a close and I am overwhelmed with gratefulness as to all of the blessing that 2009 has brought. Jessica and I have graduated from college, started new careers, got married, vacationed in Hawaii and purchased a new home... whew! Now we brace ourselves for all of the great opportunities that await in 2010.

So, like most people it's time to think about resolutions for the new year. They say it's best to write goals down, so here is my list:

• Slow to speak and quick to listen
• Practice more patience with others
• Read more! (I have some great books that are ready to be read)
• Drink more water and less PEPSI
• Save ($$$) for a rainy day
• Go back to school
• Tell my wife everyday how much I love her!

Here is to a new year filled with happiness and an abundance of love.

Waikiki (Day 4)

Aloha friends!  The island of Ohau has been a treat since the day we arrived.  Day four has been nothing less than a amazing!  

The day started with a dolphin swim at Sea Life Marina.  Jessica and I got an opportunity to see sea turtles, dolphins, sharks, rays, sea lions and other fish.  We also got to get in the water and have an interactive swim with the dolphins of Hawaii.  This was a great experience and I would suggest this activity to any person vacationing the area.  There were also more breathtaking 

views of the ocean and small islands where the movie "Jurassic Park" and TV series "Lost" were filmed.

After our Sea Life adventure we decided to relax on the beach of Waikiki.  Of all the beaches we visited, Waikiki is one of my favorite.   There were swimmers, surfers, para sailors, boogie boarders, boaters, and beach bums all enjoying the Hawaiian waters.  As evening came a great artist, Tahiti Rey performed songs on the Hyatt stage.  Her music was a great and she even did a special honeymoon song for Jessica and I! 

We also were able to say hi to our families using the live Waikiki Webcam:  View the Waikiki Webcam

This was such a great day to go along with a great week!  Our vacation is nearing the end but I look forward to bringing this beautiful marriage back to Kansas.  I've always prayed that Jessica and I would be ambassadors for love.  Not just the feelings, but also in the way we treat, respect, care and provide for each other. When you build something great (like a computer) it just works. Sometimes it will require some updating or maintenance but it just automatically works.  

What Jessica and I have built is much like a computer... Together we just work!  In the years to come we may need some updating or maintenance and as long as we keep God first we have the best anti-virus on the market!

Thank you for allowing us to share another small part of our beautiful story.  We are now signing off from Oahu!

Day 3 Pictures