Opinions on the Saudi Adventure!

Well the family has finally ALL arrived at the villa in Al Khobar...

but not without being quite an interesting trip...here is the kids side of the story...

They left Wenatchee around 11am went to Seattle then flew to Amsterdam, here are some of the opinions on the 9 hour flight...

*Ben: It was awesome but the food wasn't great...thank goodness for the licorice!

*Traci: I hated the flight but the food was amazing!

*Zack: There was no entertainment :( but the food was wonderful...some of it was kinda strange but I ate Ben's too!

Once they got to Amsterdam they got to sit in "super cool chairs that looked like a chicken egg walking...with lamps that looked like the 'Pixar light'"

Zack said there was a really cool Cheesecake, that tasted like Pumpkin Pie...

"it was awesome"-Zack

They said they accidentally sat next to the smoking room...Ben said the smoke was so gross, there was smoke coming out from under the door! Ewww....

They waited in Amsterdam for 5 hours...when they got on the flight to Bahrain there was a little girl that got on the plane that was crying so hard...the faces that the little girl made i can't explain well enough so I will let Ben show you...

They said that her crying face was so funny that when she looked at them, Zack literally busted out laughing! Poor little girl! lol

They had there entertainment back on the second flight...needless to say they were super happy..the boys got to watch Sherlock Holmes 2!

Once they arrived in Bahrain things didn't exactly go as planned but after a long night in a hotel, a short flight to Dammam and a short drive they finally arrived at the Villa in Khobar, they said the first few things they noticed were...

1. Everyone was always staring at them...

2. Everyone was either very tall or very tiny, no in between..

3. Everyone was either super nice or a total jerk...

4. Everyone smokes...

Ben said "we will come home smoking too...cause were HOT" :)

They went shopping and while at a souvenier shop a random man walked up to him,

"he was very nice I assumed he was the shop owner,

Man: Are you a student?

Ben: yes

Man: a college student?

Ben: no sir i'm still in high school...

Man: whoa...your body is huge!"

Apparently they weren't kidding when they said everyone was tall or tiny! :)

Ben said that some of the Abayas were very creepy...

He said there was one lady was completely covered...in a Black Widow Burqa...

What do you think??

They didn't have any food in the villa so they went out to eat...at APPLEBEE'S...what a bunch of dorks!

They said that the pop there tastes different...its made with real sugar and not corn syrup! Ben and Zack both said it was really good!

Once they really got to go "home"...

Ben said he walked in and hated it when they got there he was so homesick...after the worst day of his life to date he just wanted to go home! After he started unpacking in his new room, it was much better!

He got a IPod dock for his room and he said "its so awesome"

Ben was able to already learn how to write the Arabic Number System...now to learn the alphabet...GOOD LUCK BEN!

Here is the ANS... 

Well that's all I have so far but their adventure has just began...

What a Week!!

My BABY BOY is 1!!

One year ago Aaron, Kenadi and I got an incredible Christmas gift.  Heavenly Father sent us one of his children.  Kellan Michael LeeRoy Carnline was born on December 23rd 2010 at 4:15pm weighing in at 7 pounds and 6 ounces, measuring 19 and a half inches.

We took him to his one year on Friday he weighed in at 23 pounds 10 ounces, measuring 29 and 3 quarter inches!! The doctor actually said he was witnessing the making of a "FUTURE BYU LINEBACKER" yeah that's my baby boy he is doing so well and has over come so many health complications in the last year.  We are so happy to have witnessed Heavenly Father's healing powers on our baby boy!

My Baby Boy is as BIG as me almost!

We are so grateful to all the people that came to celebrate Kellan's big day.  We are so blessed to have you in our lives. 

A special thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for letting us use their house...

Thanks to Auntie Allie for helping me with capturing his party...I really got to enjoy the evening thanks to you.

And I think the biggest thank you goes to Kellan's favorite person on the planet...his Uncle Sissopher!

Chris did so much to keep us sane during the prep of Kellan's party...like when the potatoes didn't get started he peeled 25 pounds of potatoes.

THANKS CHRIS

This week has also obviously been Christmas but this Christmas has been a very very special one...we got the opportunity to bless Pfischer and Phoebe this wonderful Christmas Day.  They have been such a blessing to us we are so happy to have them in our eternal family.

Pfischer and Phoebe have been home for almost 5 weeks now and are doing amazing.  They went in to the hospital for a weight check about 10 days ago and Phoebe weighed 7 pounds and 1 ounce.  Pfischer on the other had is now huge...he weighed in at 7 pounds 12 ounces. 

The blessings were beautiful! It was kind of funny, actually, Brian (Grandpa) had never seen the twins and they were running late to the Blessing so when he walked in they just handed him his granddaughter for the first time.  He was in awe for a minute then had to get it together and give her a blessing, then the same thing happened with Pfischer it was not the way he expected to meet them but what an awesome experience!
There was a huge turn out for the Blessing.  Lots and lots of family...it sure made for one nice family picture afterwards...

We had all 7 grand kids together today and it was...well interesting trying to get a picture with everyone paying attention...

Kellan wanted to see Pfischer! :)

But this one is actually decent...considering!

This is the last time Grandma and Grandpa will be with all their grandchildren till they come back home from Saudi Arabia.

 

Life is EXCITING!

It's been awhile since I've updated on here but things have been crazy.

The last time I blogged Phoebe had moved to a crib. Well a lot has happened since then.

First, they are both now off all feeding tubes and eating completely on their own. Pam is quite awesome when I was there recently the nurse kept talking about how awesome of a job she was doing and how not many moms can nurse 2 babies at one time, well not only does she feed them but can burp them and put them away with no help! I do believe she may be from Krypton.

Anyways, Aaron, Tracianne, the kids and I went back to Spokane Friday night, it was fun until we hit an ice and snow storm. I was so scared, it was my first time driving in snow or on ice, I was crying and shaking. We even saw a car flipped over it was kind of sad. It took us forever to get there but it was nice to be back.

Once we got there we got to bed and then Saturday we started getting the nursery ready. We unloaded crates of clothes, loaded crates of clothes and stored diapers and wipes. I think we were pretty successful. :)

Saturday I was able to go with Pam for night time cares. (which is when they check their vitals and weight) it was really neat. 

Pfischer weighed in at 5lbs and 7.5oz he actually lost weight since his last weigh in, but only half an ounce. He gained that back and more by the next day!

Phoebe weighed in at 5lbs 5.4oz, she was up from her last weigh in.

And is still going up day by day.

It was also the first time I'd seen them without the feeding tubes.

Pfischer!!

Phoebe!!

The best part was the end...

I FINALLY GOT TO HOLD ONE OF THEM!!

Little Miss Phoebe Jade!!

Then Sunday came, Pam went to feed at 9am. She came home and asked me if Aaron worked on Monday, I automatically thought the weather was to bad for us to go home.  So she looks at me completely calm and says "no the weather is fine, the babies are coming home Tuesday." 
I couldn't believe it..
THEY ARE COMING HOME!!
That afternoon we came back home to Wenatchee.  That night Pam went back and was able to give them their 1st bath in almost a month. 

Squeaky Clean!

I think they were super happy too be clean but even more excited to get dry and fed...

Now if these next couple pictures don't melt your heart...well your just weird.

 Well I think I've written enough for tonight.
But tomorrow they come home so I will have so much to say then... At least I think!

Miracles they are...

Things sure are looking good for Pfischer and Phoebe! Today both babies are weighing over 5lbs. First up we will update Pfischer...

Pfischer is weighing in at 5lbs 2oz today he is taking 24 calories per feed to help him with weight gain...obviously its working.  They are also giving him vitamins now.  He is nursing very well he is taking about 30mLs per feed and their full feed at this weight is 46mLs so that means he's only taking 16mLs by a bottle or Gavaging. (which is through the tube in his nose) He is also holding is own body temperature which means he is still in a crib.  YEAH PFISCHER!!

He is also doing very well on waking up when he is supposed to eat.  Today he woke up at 9am, 12pm, and 6pm ready to eat! That's 1 feed time shy of 100%.  He does have obstructive apnea but he is coming out of the spells on his own so they are very positive.  One of the conditions for him to go home is 5 days with no apnea spells.

Now little Miss Phoebe Jade!

She is weighing in at 5lbs 3oz, she has come so far from 2 short weeks ago.  She is constantly out weighing her brother.  She is also taking 24 calories with her feeds and vitamins at every meal. She, like Pfischer, was awake for 3 of her 4 feeds from mom today. Shes nursing pretty well from what i'm hearing.  She is also taking about 46 mLs per care time.  She is off the Bili Lites now, her billiruben is lower than Pfischers so we are very hopeful she is off them for good now.  She was moved to round incubator today, it was to see if she could hold her temperature steady before she could move to a crib...

...guess what...she made it.

GO PHOEBE!!!

So here is what the newest arrangments look like in

la casa de Pfischer y Phoebe. 

We are so so blessed to have these two beautiful babies in our lives and in our family. They truly are Miracles.

 

Bad day for me but a BIG DAY FOR PFISCHER!!!

Today has been a pretty crazy day!!

This morning I got ready to take Pam to the hospital, the plan was to take her car today so I went to get my wallet out from under the seat of our car.  When I opened the door the center console was open and papers were everywhere, I originally thought maybe Aaron went out and was looking for something...I was wrong.

My wallet was gone...which normally I would be frustrated but on Monday before we came back to Spokane I had to take the kids info to the WIC and Dr's offices, which means that my wallet had not only my ID and social but also the kids socials, all of there medical information and insurance cards.

So I spent the afternoon trying to figure out what to do.  They got a fraud alert put on my stuff but there was nothing they could do for the kids stuff because they are minors, so we have to go to the local office on Monday and deal with all their stuff in person!

Oh well what do you do right...

We did get some awesome news today though.  Pfischer gained 2 more ounces and is now weighing the same as Phoebe, 4lbs 13oz.

But even bigger than that.....

HE IS NOW IN A CRIB!!!!

How sweet is that!!

Even more good news for Mitch and Pam today...

They both got to hold both babies together for the first time!!

On your left is sweet little Pfischer, on your right is little Miss Phoebe and in the middle is one happy Mommy!

This seems to be a re-occurring pose...except this time there are 2 babies!! :)

Again Pfischer on the left and Phoebe on the right.



A SPECIAL DAY & A TWINS UPDATE!!!

Well its been about a week since my last update. 
First and most importantly today is the love of my life's Birthday. We love you so much Aaron and I am so blessed to have you as a husband and Kenadi and Kellan to have you as a father.  I just thought I would also throw out there that for exactly 1 week you are the old one in our family!! HAHAHA
I LOVE YOU BABE!!

 Aaron and I took our kids to Abby and Lily's last soccer games on Saturday.

Here is Lily at her game.

Lily got her soccer trophy Saturday and those pictures are coming tonight!

Then we headed home to Wenatchee.  We were excited to sleep in our own beds that's for sure!! It was really nice to see the family too, I know the aunts and uncles sure were happy to have Kenadi and Kellan home.  We spent Saturday evening with them.  Then we went to our ward on Sunday, Kenadi actually went to nursery, YEAH!!  I got the opportunity to hear a wonderful Visiting Teaching Conference Sunday afternoon.  I love hearing stories about how many women's lives have been touched by such a simple task such as Visit Teaching them.  I'm so blessed to be in a new ward where I will get to know wonderful new women and get to know my new companion! 

We decided we missed Spokane so much that we would just come back. :)

So last night we drove back over here and are now enjoying our time with our nieces and nephews again.  I got the opportunity to take Pam to the hospital this morning and go see Pfischer and Phoebe.  They are just so amazing I know I say that a lot but they really are.  Pfischer was taken off his IV on Saturday, because he had reached full feeds (which for him was 36mLs) and stayed at full feeds for 3 days. He is now taking 42mLs and is will be getting 24 calories as of tomorrow to help with his weight gain.  He was still under the Bili Lite until yesterday, they seem to think he has made it thru the up and down pattern most preemies go thru with Billiruben problems so they are hopeful he is off for good.  They will still check it regularly.  He is now back up to his birth weight, 4lbs 9oz.

Mister Pfischer couldn't decide which he wanted more, his thumb or his pacifier.

Little Miss Phoebe.

She is such a little fighter, she has gone from 1mL in my last update to being on full feeds today. (which for her is 43mLs, because she weighs more than Pfischer) She is also getting calories to help her gain weight but is only getting 20 right now. As of this morning they turned her IV off because she reached full feeds, about 12:30 the doctor came in and said that she didn't need the IV at all anymore, YEAH PHOEBE!!! She has been off the Bili Lite since my last update, they are also watching her Billiruben regularly.  She is also a champ with her weight she is now over her birth weight, weighing in this morning at 4lbs 11oz.

This was before they took her IV out.  I love that little smile.

Babies, Babies, Babies!!!

Things have been crazy crazy crazy around here, but I wouldn't change it for the world.  It has been so much fun spending time with the girls and Ricky yesterday we got to take Lily to soccer practice it was so fun to watch her she is super competitive.  Today we took Abby to soccer practice and it was so cold and so rainy. Only 3 girls showed up but they had a blast it was so cute to watch them. Since they are only 4ish they aren't as competitive, they just play to have fun.  Both girls have soccer games on Saturday it will be super cold but so much fun to watch them.  Hopefully we will be able to go see Phoebe and Pfischer now that they are doing better.  Then we should be heading home, it will be nice to be home and have the kids in their own beds and get them back on a schedules but we will definitely miss being here with Mitch, Pam and the kids. 

Pfischer did do something awesome today...he ate from the bottle!!
GO PFISCHER!!!

Phoebe is doing well too she is still on mostly IV fluids but today she was able to start having a very tiny amount of milk like 1cc.

Here are some new pictures!

Phoebe is so sweet. Unfortunately she has the IV in her poor little head this time its so sad to see but she is such a little fighter.  They will be able to take it out when she gets to full feeds, which is about 36mLs.

She also got to come out from under the Bili Lite today so they got to dress her...Isn't she the cutest?

Mitch came to see the babies after work...I guess Phoebe was just as tired as Daddy!

Sleeping little angel!!

She decided to wake up and look at Daddy.

Mitch got to be there today to help feed her.

Here is the newest man in my life, isn't he the most handsome little man you have ever seen?

I think he really likes that hand :) isn't he beautiful!

Pam got to feed him with the bottle this morning for the first time...can you tell she's in love with her new little man?

I think he likes it!!!

Mitch got to feed Pfischer when he got to the hospital after work.

He seems to enjoy it just as much the 2nd time!!

Any man can be a father.  It takes someone special to be a Dad.