tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80503032203765549032024-03-12T21:03:19.805-04:00Souza SistersHere's our story of raising our twins, of losing our twins and everything in between!Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-91257988214310588082012-05-13T20:26:00.003-04:002012-05-13T20:26:45.518-04:00Mother's DayFor so long Mother's Day was a day that I dreaded. When we were struggling to have a family this day would come and I would want to pretend it didn't exist. I would always do something for my mom and my mother in law but I really didn't like the day.<br />
<br />
Then I got pregnant was so excited to celebrate this special day. After we lost the babies Mother's Day was a day that I was dreading. A day that celebrated being a mom. The thing was, I was a mother. But my babies weren't here with me. And that was so unfair. I was very angry. I wanted to be recognized as a mother but then again I didn't. Cause it was yet another reminder that I didn't have what I have always wanted. To have children.<br />
<br />
The following Mother's Day I was blessed to be pregnant. It was such a bitter sweet day. I was so happy to be pregnant but so sad that my babies, the ones who had made me a mother first, were not here with me. It felt wrong. <br />
<br />
Now Mother's Day is filled with so much joy and sorrow. I am so blessed to have my girls. I love them so much. But I miss my other daughter and son so much that it hurts. My arms long to hold them. My heart aches to see them one more time.<br />
<br />
I'm also blessed to have such an amazing relationship with my mom. She is one of my best friends. She is always there for me whenever I need her. And she is an amazing grandmother to the girls. They adore her. I don't know what I would do without her.<br />
<br />
And then there is my mother in law. She has been gone for 6 1/2 years now. I was so lucky to have her as my mother in law. She was awesome. She had the biggest heart. I'm so sad that she never met the girls. I can only imagine how much fun they all would have had together. I love you Sandy and miss you so much!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v218qclLcNI/T7BQETRHSuI/AAAAAAAACA8/dFqj8_WsQ2c/s1600/me+and+mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v218qclLcNI/T7BQETRHSuI/AAAAAAAACA8/dFqj8_WsQ2c/s320/me+and+mom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKIzpZFXNUw/T7BQbaf0r1I/AAAAAAAACBE/FmvM3j9jFek/s1600/P21010011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKIzpZFXNUw/T7BQbaf0r1I/AAAAAAAACBE/FmvM3j9jFek/s320/P21010011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kHFjrtvNlZs/T7BQ0AFsqNI/AAAAAAAACBM/gyDVdpVwNCQ/s1600/SK11P.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kHFjrtvNlZs/T7BQ0AFsqNI/AAAAAAAACBM/gyDVdpVwNCQ/s320/SK11P.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Happy Mothers day to all you moms out there. And to those whose dreams of motherhood have yet to come true, many hugs and loves to you. I have been there and I know how painful this day can be. Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-52098127083607358412012-04-28T21:35:00.001-04:002012-04-28T21:35:55.485-04:00Does time really heal all wounds?All week I have been thinking that my due date with Brian and Lillian was April 30th. This morning I realized that I have been wrong... My due date was April 24th. The day came and went and I totally forgot. I feel like a horrible mother. <br />
<br />
To say we were thrilled when I found out I was pregnant would be an understatement. At the time I was working at Hannaford and everyone knew we were cycling. I remember calling the store to tell Margo (my boss) I was pregnant. She was screaming and yelling! I came into work the next day and the service desk and cash office was decorated. Everyone was so happy for me. <br />
<br />
Our families were so happy and excited. My mother in law had been very sick that year so finding out I was pregnant gave her some much needed happiness. I know my mother was beyond happy. I am her baby and she knew how much I wanted to be a mom. My brothers, Brian's sister, aunts, uncles, cousins... Everyone was so happy!<br />
<br />
When we found out we were expecting twins we thought we were being rewarded for all the pain we had been through. We were nervous, scared, happy and excited all at the same time. At 18 weeks we found out we were having a girl and a boy. I remember how excited my mom was. We were all crying in the exam room. Even my IVF nurse was there and she was crying. I felt like we were getting our family. Finally. A son and a daughter. I felt complete. <br />
<br />
December 28th 2005 is a day I will never forget. When I felt the gush of water I knew what it was. I called my doctors office and the nurse calmy explained that I could have just wet myself but I knew it wasn't that. There was so much water. The drive to the hospital (about 40 mins) was excruciating. I was so scared. I was only 23wks3d along.<br />
<br />
The next morning I woke up thinking I had to go to the bathroom. But once I got in there I knew something was wrong. I started screaming. Within 30 minutes my son was born. They didn't think he would survive the birth. He shocked them all. He came out peeing all over the place. I was whisked to another room to try and stabilize things so we could try and save Lillian. I was totally out of it. I only remember bits and pieces of things. I guess things weren't looking good for little Brian. The doctors brought him in for me to see. I remember them put him right to my face and telling me what a fighter he was. How proud I should be of him. He was beautiful. And wearing a little Santa hat. He lived for 14 hours. <br />
<br />
Saturday December 31st was a good day for me. I felt good and things looked good. Lillian's water levels were fine. Her heartbeat was strong. They had given me steroid shots. We were just praying that she was hold on. That night I started feeling funny. I had some pain but I thought maybe I had to go to the bathroom. I had been on strict bed rest for 4 days so "things" weren't moving if you catch my drift. They gave me something to help things. But I knew this was something else. The doctor checked me and I was dilating. They asked if I wanted an epidural. I did. I wanted something to take away the pain. My heart was in so much pain that I didn't know if I could handle physical pain too. She was born at 12:39 a.m. on January 1st 2006. She lived for 40 hours.<br />
<br />
I remember the doctors coming in and telling us things weren't looking good and asking if we wanted to be with her. I was numb. I couldn't believe this was happening. I kept waiting to wake up for this horrible dream. But it wasn't a dream. It was my new reality. <br />
<br />
I ended up staying in the hospital for a few extra days just to make sure my body was ok from all the meds they had me on. It was awful. I just wanted to go home. I couldn't stand the thought of knowing other women were there giving birth to big healthy babies. And I was going home... Empty handed.<br />
<br />
I know time has eased the pain. I can talk about Brian and Lillian and not completely lose it. I can think about being pregnant with them and smile. But there are some wounds that will never heal. When they died a big piece of my heart died with them. And that piece will never been completely healed.Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-12918455665117214002012-04-22T20:50:00.000-04:002012-04-22T20:50:07.257-04:00National Infertility Awareness WeekThis week in National Infertility Awareness week.
Did you know that 1 in 8 couples, of childbearing age, is diagnosed with infertility? Brian and I were/are one of those couples. It is one of the hardest things we have dealt with in our marriage. We went through 6 IUI's and 5 IVF's before we were blessed with the girls. And you know we were also blessed with Brian and Lillian on our 3rd IVF attempt but sadly they were born too soon.<br />
<br />
Going through infertility was heartbreaking. With every announcement of someone being pregnant my heart broke. With every birth I would smile while holding back tears. Every month I would pray that this was the month for us. Only to be heartbroken when aunt Flo would visit.
I'm know how very lucky we are to have the girls. I know some many wonderful couples out there who are still struggling to make their dreams of having a family come true.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For more info on Infertility visit:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about-resolve.html</div>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-91122552179606253312012-04-21T12:36:00.000-04:002012-04-21T12:36:38.352-04:00School Vacation!!The girls were on vacation this week and we have been busy!! Luckily we have some awesome weather here in Maine this week. So we took advantage of it and did a bunch of stuff!!
We started our vacation by having a playdate with Bert and Grace. The girls love playing with their cousins. And it gave me a chance to catch up with my niece Holly. I enjoy talking with her so much! And I love watching our kids play together.
Saturday Brian and I took the girls to the circus. I'm pretty sure they liked it. It was hard to read them during the show. I will say that the show was LONG. Too long if you ask me. We ended up leaving before it was over. Charlotte kept asking if it was time to go home. So we watched the elephants and headed out. I have to be honest, I'm not a fan of the circus. But the girls can say they went. I think they like the light up toys we bought more then the show!
Sunday we headed over to Fort Williams for the afternoon. We love it over there. It is beautiful there. We walked the trails and then played at the playground. The girls made friends while we were there. It was so much fun watching them. And of coarse we stopped for ice cream after.
Monday we went to Tractor Day at Pineland. We went with some of my friends from the moms group I joined a while ago. We had so much fun! I didn't know if the girls would be into the tractor but they loved them!! We also saw cows and chickens. It was really fun. Then we headed over to my friend Kristen's house for a picnic/playdate. She has a 3 year old daughter Vivian. The 3 girls get along so well!! And I enjoy Kristens company. We have a lot in common. She loves Disney just as much as I do :)
Tuesday we ended up at Kristens again. She also have a 10 year old stepdaughter who is really good with kids. So the 4 girls played while K and I talked Disney and other things.
Wednesday was a down day. I needed to read a book for the book club I am in. We hung around in our jammies and watched movies.
Thursday we went to Range Pond with Jen, Jenn, Larissa and their kids. The girls were brave and went into the water. It was a little on the cold side. Both the water and the air but the girls didn't seem to care. I'm loving the age that they are at. They went back and forth between the water and the playground and I didn't need to really help them with much. I could kind of relax and enjoy the adult company.
Friday we had to drive to Augusta to get a copy of our marriage certificate. We never received one when we got married and Brian need to show proof that we are married. I kept thinking driving up there what is something got messed up and it was never filed?? But it was :) After that we met Kristen, Jen, Vivian, Maddy, Ben and Thomas at the Gray Animal Farm. We had a great time! The weather was perfect. The explored the woods, looked at the animals, played in the dirt and had some ice cream.
We had a great week! I think we are all a little exhausted but it was well worth it!!
Here are some photos of our adventures:
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_h9RlR02YLI/T5LgxFG2poI/AAAAAAAAB_g/GJzB0US4_o4/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_h9RlR02YLI/T5LgxFG2poI/AAAAAAAAB_g/GJzB0US4_o4/s320/009.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kQrfRGZyW_E/T5Lgxp7uqzI/AAAAAAAAB_o/hoC841damEI/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kQrfRGZyW_E/T5Lgxp7uqzI/AAAAAAAAB_o/hoC841damEI/s320/014.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHNkHqZbKIA/T5LgyHngsjI/AAAAAAAAB_4/Cff-4A-RGOY/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHNkHqZbKIA/T5LgyHngsjI/AAAAAAAAB_4/Cff-4A-RGOY/s320/012.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5QEcsDNNOPc/T5Lhh80yKnI/AAAAAAAACAE/zRaejNy1QgM/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5QEcsDNNOPc/T5Lhh80yKnI/AAAAAAAACAE/zRaejNy1QgM/s320/008.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M7VQqGn5nMM/T5LhiRYVl7I/AAAAAAAACAQ/R_ZPoAZn06w/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M7VQqGn5nMM/T5LhiRYVl7I/AAAAAAAACAQ/R_ZPoAZn06w/s320/009.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cAtTgshoAMU/T5Lhiz4lMfI/AAAAAAAACAc/Gpk1H9RTUwU/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cAtTgshoAMU/T5Lhiz4lMfI/AAAAAAAACAc/Gpk1H9RTUwU/s320/011.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O9A8Ge77JHY/T5LhjVvgrAI/AAAAAAAACAk/aZ9Fl_f4hlI/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O9A8Ge77JHY/T5LhjVvgrAI/AAAAAAAACAk/aZ9Fl_f4hlI/s320/012.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GetB0JEJbp0/T5LhkG-C_VI/AAAAAAAACAw/Vaeys5hwDOA/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GetB0JEJbp0/T5LhkG-C_VI/AAAAAAAACAw/Vaeys5hwDOA/s320/018.JPG" /></a></div>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-86946196206334117392012-04-14T20:39:00.000-04:002012-04-14T20:39:12.655-04:00Hello My Friend, Hello...Sorry I haven't posted in over a month. Such is the life of a mom!!
I'm not even sure where to begin. I guess I will talk about Easter. I have always loved Easter. I can remember being little and being so excited about the Easter Bunny coming!! I would wake up early to see if he left me anything. And of coarse to see if there was any chocolate. I have this one memory of getting a peanut butter bunny one year. I promptly ate it. I don't even think it was 6 a.m. The girls were so excited! They were up bright and early to see what the Easter Bunny brought them! I have to admit... we went a little overboard this year. I wanted to get them Leap Pads. So we just got them and gave them as Easter Bunny gifts. Oh well!! And they love them!! Big hit! Then we got all dressed up and went to auntie Pam's house for dinner and an egg hunt. We had a great time! It's always a good time when the whole family gets together. Here are some photos from the day.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2EiHTOokarg/T4oWlt2Ve1I/AAAAAAAAB8s/fa_XKaBYL3Y/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2EiHTOokarg/T4oWlt2Ve1I/AAAAAAAAB8s/fa_XKaBYL3Y/s320/045.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0H3kJAgJffI/T4oWlwD7_wI/AAAAAAAAB80/NzTHMjKI1iI/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0H3kJAgJffI/T4oWlwD7_wI/AAAAAAAAB80/NzTHMjKI1iI/s320/003.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a_wjxhCmXRg/T4oWme3CyeI/AAAAAAAAB9A/GXrFAaeU2dc/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a_wjxhCmXRg/T4oWme3CyeI/AAAAAAAAB9A/GXrFAaeU2dc/s320/005.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FT5G7Ng0McA/T4oWm7HpFcI/AAAAAAAAB9U/Ag5C8aM6AaA/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FT5G7Ng0McA/T4oWm7HpFcI/AAAAAAAAB9U/Ag5C8aM6AaA/s320/011.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-6eMXtO3rs/T4oXk2OcE2I/AAAAAAAAB9c/-U76NXc1Qpw/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="320" width="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-6eMXtO3rs/T4oXk2OcE2I/AAAAAAAAB9c/-U76NXc1Qpw/s320/034.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XJbGLCAN47Y/T4oXlHgVVmI/AAAAAAAAB9o/4HXePKI-V38/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XJbGLCAN47Y/T4oXlHgVVmI/AAAAAAAAB9o/4HXePKI-V38/s320/044.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b2K4Z6miz-U/T4oXly9mrvI/AAAAAAAAB90/9PKA0TIZjro/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b2K4Z6miz-U/T4oXly9mrvI/AAAAAAAAB90/9PKA0TIZjro/s320/046.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QGIzsw6qJmE/T4oXmYe86mI/AAAAAAAAB-A/39ivuvgQIl4/s1600/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QGIzsw6qJmE/T4oXmYe86mI/AAAAAAAAB-A/39ivuvgQIl4/s320/080.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4R6cgg-piBQ/T4oYWOQ5eqI/AAAAAAAAB-M/jJwv0cHrHQU/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4R6cgg-piBQ/T4oYWOQ5eqI/AAAAAAAAB-M/jJwv0cHrHQU/s320/091.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ezkf7EFfhEo/T4oYWSoQ1QI/AAAAAAAAB-U/UgHyIdaXJRo/s1600/093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ezkf7EFfhEo/T4oYWSoQ1QI/AAAAAAAAB-U/UgHyIdaXJRo/s320/093.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B9E9wxJzQng/T4oYW78QIQI/AAAAAAAAB-g/WTOxo_AD4hg/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B9E9wxJzQng/T4oYW78QIQI/AAAAAAAAB-g/WTOxo_AD4hg/s320/055.JPG" /></a></div>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-47448513783350575922012-03-02T15:59:00.004-05:002012-03-02T16:19:34.344-05:00We are all booked!!I'm so excited! Yesterday I booked our Disney vacation and today I bought our plane tickets! You read that right folks. PLANE tickets!! For the past 8 years we have driven to Disney. My husband has a fear of flying. And to be honest when the girls were smaller it was easier to drive. I could over pack to my hearts content. But now that they are older (and will be in kindergarden) I think it's time we fly. I know it's going to be hard for hubby but he will be ok. <br /><br />We are staying at the Boardwalk. We love it there. I love the "feel" of that resort. It's so relaxing. We will be there for 9 days. We are arriving on the girls birthday which will be so fun! I plan on booking dinner with the Princesses that night. The girls are super excited! They keep asking if it's their birthday. We have to wait 7 more months for that... But it will be so worth it once we are there!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVTJ_Mh5aDo/T1E3oPdeaTI/AAAAAAAAB8I/dj0uUnXv6aI/s1600/040.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVTJ_Mh5aDo/T1E3oPdeaTI/AAAAAAAAB8I/dj0uUnXv6aI/s320/040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715410566594324786" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ML8gboi29U/T1E3oqLdnGI/AAAAAAAAB8U/JInRcpcG4BM/s1600/Photo0084FourBySix.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ML8gboi29U/T1E3oqLdnGI/AAAAAAAAB8U/JInRcpcG4BM/s320/Photo0084FourBySix.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715410573766532194" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RJsDkEwIb1w/T1E3pHjETaI/AAAAAAAAB8c/r-F9GNVwOH8/s1600/Photo0045EightByTen.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RJsDkEwIb1w/T1E3pHjETaI/AAAAAAAAB8c/r-F9GNVwOH8/s320/Photo0045EightByTen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715410581650165154" /></a>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-66370239038173235352012-02-26T13:41:00.002-05:002012-02-26T13:48:52.975-05:00Of coarse we are sick... it's school vacation!!This has been a very long week. Before vacation started the girls had runny noses. But that was it. No coughs. So I really didn't think anything of it. Come Monday they were both a hot mess. And me too... Bad coughs, runny noses. It hasn't been pretty. We did manage one playdate with my friend Angie and her twin girls, Eliza and Bella. and we visited my mom. But that was it. We are all on the mend now. And tomorrow the girls go back to school :)<br /><br />p.s. I don't have any pictures to post:( I didn't feel taking any this week...Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-66413854413753201852012-02-21T09:47:00.004-05:002012-02-21T10:12:04.203-05:00Time always slips away...So many times I have thought, "I need to blog today". And before I know it I am getting ready for bed. Without blogging. Most nights when the girls go to bed I pass out on the couch. Or we are watching something that requires my attention (Downton Abbey). Let me think about what we have been up to...<br /><br />The transition from cribs to big girl beds has been pretty smooth. I have found that Charlotte can adapt to anything pretty easily. Maggie has a harder time. But she's doing better. The first couple of nights she got up a couple times. We used to have a blow up bed in our room for her but we have taken it down. She needs to get used to sleeping in her bed. A couple of times I have woken up to find her snuggled up to my feet :/ but she goes right back in her bed. They love having a room to play in. And love having most of their toys out of the living room, the den and the dining room :)<br /><br />Last year I joined a local moms group. I wasn't very active in it until recently. I am so happy that I have met these ladies! I have been going out quite a bit lately. And having tons of fun. It's nice to go out and be "Debbie" instead of mom all the time. I'm realizing how important it is for me to get out and have some fun. Brian and I are going out on a date in a couple weeks for the first time in years. We are going to try and do this more often. <br /><br />We are getting ready to book our next trip to Disney. The girls are super excited! They ask just about everyday if we are going to Disney... We are going to arrive on their birthday and eat with the Princesses. I can't wait!! I still need to blog about our last trip. <br /><br />The girls have both been sick. And they decided to share with me. Of coarse it's school vacation week. Hopefully they will give me a break today and let me rest!!<br /><br />And now for some pictures :) We went to a Pirate birthday party this past weekend. Here are the girls sporting their pirate gear:<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WwbdeER9Z38/T0Ozh-f_xVI/AAAAAAAAB78/O_G-zqtlovg/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WwbdeER9Z38/T0Ozh-f_xVI/AAAAAAAAB78/O_G-zqtlovg/s320/009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711606148730176850" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m-53icv2R00/T0OzgUPUvkI/AAAAAAAAB7w/LnkdmugLI28/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m-53icv2R00/T0OzgUPUvkI/AAAAAAAAB7w/LnkdmugLI28/s320/006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711606120206089794" /></a>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-69812893469536718162012-02-07T10:26:00.004-05:002012-02-07T13:11:44.968-05:00They are FINALLY in big girl beds!!Was I the only mom with 4 year olds still in cribs? We have been talking about moving the girls out of their cribs for a year now. They have been able to climb out of them for a long time. They never did it at night though... Well except Maggie. Because little miss Maggie still comes in our room at night. We bought them blow up beds a couple years ago for when we go on vacation. I got the bright idea to have one set up for her in our room. Instead of her kicking hubby out of bed... It works out fine. She comes in and gets right in her bed. We call it her "little bed". <br /><br />We finally bit the bullet this past weekend. We ended up buying bunk bed instead of using the conversion kit that came with their cribs. The room they are in is on the small side (our whole house is on the small side). I have to admit, I'm not crazy about the idea of bunk beds. Mostly cause I can't really reach Charlotte (she is on the top bunk). I have to buy a step stool to keep in their room. But on the other hand the bunk beds fit so well in that room that I like them at the same time. Charlotte and Maggie LOVE them! The first night Charlotte kept saying "I'm climbing the bean stalk"!! <br /><br />Now that the cribs are gone there is nothing in the house that screams "baby". No more bottles. Or diapers. Or pull ups. Or cribs... It make me sad. My little babies are babies anymore. They are big girls. Although they will always be my babies <3<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FzXXP773z5I/TzFojXX-lRI/AAAAAAAAB7k/GHZEkxBwIS8/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FzXXP773z5I/TzFojXX-lRI/AAAAAAAAB7k/GHZEkxBwIS8/s320/010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706457159634425106" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GfqKC7ttK7E/TzFois_NZCI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/MFfdHUDLyNg/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GfqKC7ttK7E/TzFois_NZCI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/MFfdHUDLyNg/s320/003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706457148256248866" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xyw0azgu8_I/TzFoiDi6qXI/AAAAAAAAB7M/5IqufVLrsCk/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xyw0azgu8_I/TzFoiDi6qXI/AAAAAAAAB7M/5IqufVLrsCk/s320/002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706457137131727218" /></a><br /><br />ps... I took some other pictures of their beds but my camera kept giving me an error message. I have to send it in to be repaired :(Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-58110972517256954362012-01-31T14:11:00.005-05:002012-01-31T14:28:22.574-05:00Did I tell you about the time the girls cut their hair??You read that right. The girls cut their hair. <br /><br />The other day Brian and I were downstairs catching up on some of our shows and the girls were up in their room playing. Or so we thought... We looked at each other and said, "it's way too quiet up there". So I went to investigate. I just about fell over when I saw Charlotte sitting on top of the changing table (which I use for storage in our bathroom since I don't have a linen closet) scissors in hand, cutting her hair. I just about died... Charlotte's hair was all over the floor and Maggie's was in the trash can.<br /><br />Here's all the hair in the trash can:<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6gbCUkTSys/Tyg-B3sP2YI/AAAAAAAAB5U/K_1btO93zlg/s1600/046.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6gbCUkTSys/Tyg-B3sP2YI/AAAAAAAAB5U/K_1btO93zlg/s320/046.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703877129915062658" /></a><br /><br />I should note that the scissors were well hidden. I have a small plastic tote thingy with all their hair bows/headbands/barrettes in it. The scissors were on the bottom of that. On top of the changing table. Out of reach. Unless Charlotte climbs on it... I immediately moved the tote and the scissors to another spot.<br /><br />We were lucky. The damage was not that bad. I took them to Walmart to get a hair cut. The hairdresser could blend the hair they cut on the sides and we had to take a little bit of length off the back. Maggie was so worried we would have to cut her princess hair. <br /><br />Lesson learned? If it's too quiet they are probably doing something they shouldn't be doing. And always keep scissors out of reach!!<br /><br />Finished product:<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IC3VoLM1FSs/TyhAXJMpcEI/AAAAAAAAB5s/m2s4j-ayJTQ/s1600/054.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IC3VoLM1FSs/TyhAXJMpcEI/AAAAAAAAB5s/m2s4j-ayJTQ/s320/054.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703879694414868546" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e26PZnHWWTE/TyhAW3OyrXI/AAAAAAAAB5g/WUZ6S9ysUsw/s1600/047.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e26PZnHWWTE/TyhAW3OyrXI/AAAAAAAAB5g/WUZ6S9ysUsw/s320/047.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703879689592024434" /></a>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-18197321003180969662012-01-30T11:25:00.013-05:002012-01-30T12:48:47.020-05:00My name is Debbie and I am a bad blogger...I don't know why I have stopped blogging. I guess part of me feels like I don't have a lot to say. Or it could be that I am addicted to Facebook. I still read blogs but I don't keep up with my own... Maybe I can change that. Baby steps right?<br /><br />In my last post I said I would talk about our Disney trip. So here it goes:<br /><br />We went to Disney last October/November. We were there for 12 magical days. My mom decided to join us this year. The girls loved having Gree with us. We drove of coarse (although this will be the last year we can do that). On the way there we stopped in Maryland for the night and I was able to meet up with Dawn (a woman I met online about 6 years ago) and her little girl Avery.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ztsY_up3qrc/TybHLuDlODI/AAAAAAAAB20/15BhdDaS85I/s1600/049.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ztsY_up3qrc/TybHLuDlODI/AAAAAAAAB20/15BhdDaS85I/s320/049.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703464982266853426" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LaQ5W_EYXo4/TybHLXP82MI/AAAAAAAAB2o/joAtmZgeIhk/s1600/050.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LaQ5W_EYXo4/TybHLXP82MI/AAAAAAAAB2o/joAtmZgeIhk/s320/050.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703464976144718018" /></a><br /><br />The second night of the journey we stopped in South Carolina. And on the third day we finally made it to Disney. We stayed at the Boardwalk for 7 nights of our trip. We love that resort. It is so beautiful and relaxing there. We booked a 1 bedroom suite (which is huge) standard view. Which meant looking out of our balcony we looked at the front of the resort. The view isn't bad. To be honest I really don't care what we look at. I love that resort so much. And the girls love that there is a big tub in the room. We love getting a suite because we have a full kitchen and a washer/dryer. <br /><br />If you look closely you can see the tops of the buildings in Japan at EPCOT.<br /> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nMQ5PGpZmWY/TybJK4kQsSI/AAAAAAAAB3M/aLGWNbNT1sg/s1600/070.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nMQ5PGpZmWY/TybJK4kQsSI/AAAAAAAAB3M/aLGWNbNT1sg/s320/070.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703467166931661090" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-63lgb_dtbGM/TybJKgzvx5I/AAAAAAAAB3A/mG51oVdt-fo/s1600/068.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-63lgb_dtbGM/TybJKgzvx5I/AAAAAAAAB3A/mG51oVdt-fo/s320/068.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703467160554162066" /></a><br /><br />We did a split stay this vacation and also stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge-Kindani Village. That resort is amazing! And very beautiful. We stayed in a 1 bedroom suite there also. It seemed bigger than the one at the Boardwalk. The decor at AKL is much darker then the decor at the Boardwalk. Dark woods and such. But very beautiful. They have a savannah right there at the resort. There are different viewing areas for you to look/watch animals. The girls loved that. You can get rooms with a savannah view but they were all sold out when we were there... There are so many places to see the animals though. The pool area there is awesome! So much fun for the kids. The only thing I didn't like about the resort is it's kind far away from things. Except the Animal Kingdom theme park. We are so used to being able to walk to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios (from the Boardwalk). I am glad we tried a new resort but I think Boardwalk is home for us. Here are some pictures from the AKL:<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MUJGKP-_U5U/TybSFRCnEOI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/NGUDKucypv4/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MUJGKP-_U5U/TybSFRCnEOI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/NGUDKucypv4/s320/005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703476966026842338" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WmXlG3ZGOt8/TybR42Dkj_I/AAAAAAAAB4M/ZzJ9zViG4sg/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WmXlG3ZGOt8/TybR42Dkj_I/AAAAAAAAB4M/ZzJ9zViG4sg/s320/004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703476752624685042" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WPO9tfcqZIk/TybRrL5Zh6I/AAAAAAAAB4A/iiJ4jRqSScI/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WPO9tfcqZIk/TybRrL5Zh6I/AAAAAAAAB4A/iiJ4jRqSScI/s320/003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703476517969430434" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yDXKoedGBg8/TybTcwUv-pI/AAAAAAAAB5I/oGaQYzLy6xE/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yDXKoedGBg8/TybTcwUv-pI/AAAAAAAAB5I/oGaQYzLy6xE/s320/010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703478469073042066" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BJ6wlyt7vE0/TybTMMZsq9I/AAAAAAAAB48/DR06LfJQ6ZI/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BJ6wlyt7vE0/TybTMMZsq9I/AAAAAAAAB48/DR06LfJQ6ZI/s320/009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703478184552213458" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OR0T2H57jCo/TybS0-LowyI/AAAAAAAAB4w/4zEq1N08UAU/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OR0T2H57jCo/TybS0-LowyI/AAAAAAAAB4w/4zEq1N08UAU/s320/008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703477785598149410" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wA28sAHnwOg/TybSUC9ku7I/AAAAAAAAB4k/S-5_meA_bh4/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wA28sAHnwOg/TybSUC9ku7I/AAAAAAAAB4k/S-5_meA_bh4/s320/007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703477219945659314" /></a>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-89980428542977100612011-11-21T09:56:00.005-05:002011-11-21T10:20:56.871-05:00Is this thing on?I can't believe I haven't posted since July. I guess I was just feeling like I didn't have much to say. So instead of feeling like I need to post everyday I am going to post when I have things to say. Make sense?<br /><br />We had an awesome summer. The girls LOVE the swimming pool! And so do I. It was great being able to just walk out of the house and just in the pool when it was hot out. It was a sad day when we had to close it for the winter. Next summer we are going to build a deck. Can't wait for that!<br /><br />The girls started school in September. The first couple of days were rough for Maggie. They have never really been away from me. There were many tears shed but after 3 days she started to really like it. Now she loves school. Charlotte has loved it since day 1. She cries when we get home. She loves playing with all her friends. She is such a social butterfly. I can already see changes in them since they started school. It's really amazing to watch your kids grow.<br /> <br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FGKuSbSEPuk/Tspq9wVMMnI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/4EeepkNQBhw/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FGKuSbSEPuk/Tspq9wVMMnI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/4EeepkNQBhw/s320/011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677467889432277618" /></a><br /><br /><br />They also celebrated their 4th birthday in September. 4 years old... It seems like yesterday we brought them home from the hospital. We had a Princess/Rapunzel birthday party with family and friends. The girls loved having all their cousins here playing. It was really cute.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYqGhaT6QhA/TsprbG0oZ_I/AAAAAAAAB2c/m7SS7nIXjo8/s1600/girl.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYqGhaT6QhA/TsprbG0oZ_I/AAAAAAAAB2c/m7SS7nIXjo8/s320/girl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677468393685936114" /></a><br /><br />I think I am going to stop now. Next post will be all about our trip to Disney :)Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-69257698201450720272011-07-17T20:41:00.002-04:002011-07-17T20:59:25.687-04:00I don't feel good today...This is what Charlotte told me today. I think she has a summer cold. The poor thing just got over an ear infection a couple weeks ago. And Maggie had swimmers ear. She seems to be better now. Of coarse we are having the hottest weather of the summer. So poor Charlotte. She's sick and sweaty. And she doesn't really want to swim. Thank goodness we have an air conditioner in their bedroom.<br /><br />We are pretty excited here in the Souza household. We are going camping next month!! My dad asked us if we would be interested in doing a big family trip to Papoose Pond and of coarse we said yes! So it will be my niece Ellie, my dad, my stepmother, her kids and their families!! There will be 19 of us! It should be fun! We used to camp at this campground all the time when I was a kid. I loved it there! I have so many wonderful memories of that place... Now I will make some more with my family! <br /><br />And you know what else?? 98 days or 14 weeks till DISNEY!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3KpM7o59O7w/TiOFKnhYNwI/AAAAAAAAB2I/storpZM1eIo/s1600/019.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3KpM7o59O7w/TiOFKnhYNwI/AAAAAAAAB2I/storpZM1eIo/s320/019.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630490376597419778" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RjznrlwyEGA/TiOFKZS9w3I/AAAAAAAAB2A/DxeRTjdH-5U/s1600/021.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RjznrlwyEGA/TiOFKZS9w3I/AAAAAAAAB2A/DxeRTjdH-5U/s320/021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630490372778869618" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b9qiD_oHjZU/TiOFKI-5WWI/AAAAAAAAB14/LqyYl-L46mM/s1600/016.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b9qiD_oHjZU/TiOFKI-5WWI/AAAAAAAAB14/LqyYl-L46mM/s320/016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630490368399726946" /></a><br /><br /><br />Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-31839604216904266162011-07-14T08:00:00.003-04:002011-07-14T08:11:45.497-04:00SummertimeI don't know if I mentioned that we bought a swimming pool or not. Back in February one of the local pool companies was having a great sale on pools. We bit the bullet and bought one. It's been a bit of a headache but we really do love it! We didn't realize how much it costs to put up a pool... Oh well! The girls love it. Especially Maggie. I am surprised she hasn't grown fins yet! <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d1mzuV74tQc/Th7bxgKjuTI/AAAAAAAAB1w/KYm1VUAU1oo/s1600/090.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d1mzuV74tQc/Th7bxgKjuTI/AAAAAAAAB1w/KYm1VUAU1oo/s320/090.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629178227753990450" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vRsk49IYH4w/Th7bw858klI/AAAAAAAAB1o/4J3bCBG-th4/s1600/083.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vRsk49IYH4w/Th7bw858klI/AAAAAAAAB1o/4J3bCBG-th4/s320/083.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629178218289074770" /></a><br />Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-92066815467089216082011-07-13T20:25:00.007-04:002011-07-13T21:28:38.452-04:00MIA...Sorry I haven't been around much lately... There have been many times when I have logged into Blogger to post but just didn't feel like writing. I have been in a bit of a funk. Those around me probably didn't notice it but I knew I wasn't feeling myself. I went to the doctors and asked to be put on meds. Depression is such a bitch. And she started rearing her ugly head a few months ago...<br /><br />Every since Brian and I started trying to have a baby I have felt a little down. Infertility is awful. Every time someone announced they were pregnant I would just shut down. I would cry for days. Always wondering when it would be our turn. I watched my two BFF's have 2 children, two of my nieces have babies, my aunt had a baby plus the countless co-workers have babies. It became painful. I pulled away from people. I needed to protect myself. I love my friends. Michelle and Nichole are like family to me. And of coarse I love my nieces. But it was so hard. <br /><br />We started IF (infertility) treatments in December of 2002. I remember being so hopeful. We did 6 rounds of IUI's. Let down after let down. Every time we got a negative pregnancy test, I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. I felt like I was letting Brian down. It was my body that wasn't getting pregnant. After the 6th IUI, my OB suggested we see a reproductive endocrinologist.<br /><br />We met with Dr Hartog in the spring of 2003. As soon as I met her I loved her. She was straight forward but she had a warmth about her. And I LOVED my nurse, Laura Jean. She was great. It was like talking to my mom. I made a friend in Laura Jean. We did our first IVF cycle in October of 2003. We were beyond excited! Everything went pretty smoothly. But it didn't work. We did our next cycle in March of 2004. That was a disaster. We didn't even think we were going to have embryos to transfer. I was defeated. Again, I couldn't help but wonder why? Why was this happening to us? I needed a break. A break from the needles. A break from the ultrasounds. A break from IVF... <br /><br />That fall was great. We took an amazing family trip to Disney World. While we were there we watched the Red Sox beat the Yankees after being down 3 games. Then we watched as they won the World Series. I felt totally recharged. I know that probably sounds weird but in a way watching them win gave me hope. I needed just a little more time but I knew we would be cycling again.<br /><br />The spring of 2005 we got all our ducks in a row to start our next cycle. It was a bumpy road but it all worked out. In August we got what we had been working so hard to get... BFP!<br /><br />I'm not going to go to deep into what happened. You all know that we lost the babies. It was the darkest time of my life. My heart was truly broken. I couldn't believe we were given such an amazing gift to have it taken away from us. I was angry. I was sad. There were so many emotions going through my head. And now when I found out someone was expecting I would just break down. and I would be out of it for a couple days.<br /><br />My niece got pregnant right before the 1 year anniversary of Brian and Lillian's death. She called Brian and told him first. So he prepared me. But I couldn't talk to her. I was thrilled for her. Beyond happy. but it was so hard for me. It wasn't jealousy. I just couldn't understand how it was so easy for some people but so hard for us. I couldn't hear her say the words. I was afraid if I did it would kill me. We ended up talking on Christmas Eve. I remember her saying she wanted her aunt back. We are very close. and that killed me too. I asked her to just give me some time. We were gearing up to cycle again. And we all know how that turned out. My niece had her son in June. The girls were born in September.<br /><br />Infertility is a horrible disease. It's almost crippling. Until you have been through it you can't understand. To want something so bad and not be able to have it. To want a child of your own and it just not happening the way "it's suppose" to happen. And even though I have kids it still stings a little when I hear that people are pregnant. Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-83247538564438711382011-04-06T15:22:00.012-04:002011-04-06T16:48:59.903-04:00PreschoolWe found out today that the girls names were picked in the public school pre-k program. We are beyond excited! I have been looking into preschools in our area and we would've had to pay between $90-$200 a week. Depends on if the school offered a multiple child discount or not. So needless to say we are pretty pleased we got into the public system.<br /><br />I still can't believe my babies are old enough for school. Where did my little babies go? I know they are going to love school. They will make friends, learn new things, do arts and crafts. It's going to be great. And it's going to be for me. The thought of having some free time is awesome! I can clean without having them following behind me undoing whatever it is that I am doing. I can go grocery shopping alone which will be easier. And my house just might be clean. For more than one day!! <br /><br />I keep talking to the girls about going to school. Charlotte seems very excited. Maggie... not so much. She keeps telling me she needs to stay home with me. Maggie is a mama's girl. She hardly leaves my side. I have a feeling I will be that parent who has to stay in the back of the classroom for the first few days... But she needs to get away from me. <br /><br />Times are a changing. The girls are getting older. I feel like we just brought them home. Now they are going to preschool. Before I know it they will be graduating from high school.<br /> <br />April 2008<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3-3qRsrf-Y/TZzLNzRiWmI/AAAAAAAAB0k/YbnjRvFQycw/s1600/IMG_0117.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3-3qRsrf-Y/TZzLNzRiWmI/AAAAAAAAB0k/YbnjRvFQycw/s320/IMG_0117.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592568275249814114" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sMgtLwYcLlU/TZzLNtmBV7I/AAAAAAAAB0c/F6Gu15JJW4g/s1600/IMG_0109.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sMgtLwYcLlU/TZzLNtmBV7I/AAAAAAAAB0c/F6Gu15JJW4g/s320/IMG_0109.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592568273725118386" /></a><br />April 2009<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QrijDgWc8Zk/TZzMamm4RgI/AAAAAAAAB00/4w6-JxQ_nww/s1600/IMG_2342.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QrijDgWc8Zk/TZzMamm4RgI/AAAAAAAAB00/4w6-JxQ_nww/s320/IMG_2342.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592569594699597314" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mVB6UFqrlWU/TZzMYU8u7ZI/AAAAAAAAB0s/Rkqo3cMnQu0/s1600/IMG_2340.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mVB6UFqrlWU/TZzMYU8u7ZI/AAAAAAAAB0s/Rkqo3cMnQu0/s320/IMG_2340.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592569555599682962" /></a><br />April 2010<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kJcafiQ0xK8/TZzNjrqfaFI/AAAAAAAAB1E/-U_ViY2quZs/s1600/IMG_3490.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kJcafiQ0xK8/TZzNjrqfaFI/AAAAAAAAB1E/-U_ViY2quZs/s320/IMG_3490.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592570850187372626" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ObTwkPC54tQ/TZzNjTnNzrI/AAAAAAAAB08/SIBJ9EGV37M/s1600/IMG_3486.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ObTwkPC54tQ/TZzNjTnNzrI/AAAAAAAAB08/SIBJ9EGV37M/s320/IMG_3486.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592570843731185330" /></a><br />April 2011<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kWtsD-w2YGk/TZzPINH6ObI/AAAAAAAAB1M/4_js4czbwKs/s1600/IMG_1699.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kWtsD-w2YGk/TZzPINH6ObI/AAAAAAAAB1M/4_js4czbwKs/s320/IMG_1699.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592572577156053426" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qp26q6nGncg/TZzPIdF_FvI/AAAAAAAAB1U/Fav1oprtty4/s1600/IMG_1688.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qp26q6nGncg/TZzPIdF_FvI/AAAAAAAAB1U/Fav1oprtty4/s320/IMG_1688.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592572581442950898" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5yZDL9uBGWY/TZzPl1DAdDI/AAAAAAAAB1c/V6XppY68Jb4/s1600/IMG_1735.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5yZDL9uBGWY/TZzPl1DAdDI/AAAAAAAAB1c/V6XppY68Jb4/s320/IMG_1735.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592573086089114674" /></a>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-66172445121987255792011-03-25T11:15:00.002-04:002011-03-25T12:57:51.032-04:00We are going to Disney World!!I know this isn't really that big of a surprise huh?? Yesterday I booked the first half of our trip and next Wednesday I can book the other half. We will be staying at the Boardwalk for 7 nights and the Animal Kingdom Lodge-Kindani Village for 5 nights. We are super excited!! We love the Boardwalk. We love being able to walk to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. But this year we decided to try something new. We have wanted to stay at the AKL for some time now. This year we decided to bite the bullet and try it. We are going to do a Savannah view so the girls will be able to see animals from our room. I can't wait to see their faces!! We will be there for Halloween so we will attend Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. I know they will LOVE it! And we will be able to enjoy the Food and Wine Festival. It's hard to believe we are taking the girls on their 4th vacation to Disney!! Oh coarse they really don't understand that we have to wait 7 months until we go... They think we are going now!! <br /><br /> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aKPo2Hcqa3c/TYzJaMTfvRI/AAAAAAAABz8/7AgKUa5TiUM/s1600/dvc_dakl_kv_001a.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aKPo2Hcqa3c/TYzJaMTfvRI/AAAAAAAABz8/7AgKUa5TiUM/s320/dvc_dakl_kv_001a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588062689476721938" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-65jp87RmH-g/TYzJZ4y45TI/AAAAAAAABz0/AqeK6vbeQZ0/s1600/resort001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 144px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-65jp87RmH-g/TYzJZ4y45TI/AAAAAAAABz0/AqeK6vbeQZ0/s320/resort001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588062684239684914" /></a>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-65283029630032755072011-03-16T14:15:00.008-04:002011-03-16T15:12:46.781-04:00Toys...My kids have a new toy (if you can even call them toys) that they love. Squinkies. Anyone else out there have kids that love them too? I think the person who invited these things should have to come to my house every night and pick them up. They are everywhere. And of coarse they are the tiniest things... But my kids love them. They reenact scenes from their favorite movies/shows with them. Which is very cute...<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GiG4ZArzCOg/TYD_aD4BVLI/AAAAAAAABy8/ICz_U2P1ZeE/s1600/IMG_1029.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GiG4ZArzCOg/TYD_aD4BVLI/AAAAAAAABy8/ICz_U2P1ZeE/s320/IMG_1029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584744361121371314" /></a><br /><br />But they do have toys that I love. Especially their Toy Story toys. They have Buzz, Woody, Jesse and Bullseye plush toys. Then they have figurines of Buzz, Woody, Jesse, Bullseye, Ham, Rex and one Alien. I also bought them Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. I love when they play with these toys. I think I like those movies more then they do...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zCIQlJWJwdk/TYEFucfxlHI/AAAAAAAABzU/fx5XhWY4e54/s1600/IMG_1030.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zCIQlJWJwdk/TYEFucfxlHI/AAAAAAAABzU/fx5XhWY4e54/s320/IMG_1030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584751308397712498" /></a><br /><br />Here's the gang minus Bullseye. Maggie sleeps with him so he's upstairs most of the time...<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4iYnbTCaPjo/TYEHJupM-uI/AAAAAAAABzc/BNmcasps87o/s1600/IMG_1031.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4iYnbTCaPjo/TYEHJupM-uI/AAAAAAAABzc/BNmcasps87o/s320/IMG_1031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584752876637190882" /></a><br /><br />Then there are the Wonder Pets. My nieces little girl Gracie has loved them for months so I thought I would see what this show was all about. The girls fell in love. Oh they love the Wonder Pets. So we bought them Wonder Pets stuffed animals. The girls love them. Gracie's birthday party theme last year was Wonder Pets. My very talented niece, Holly, made all the kids the capes that Linny, Tuck and Ming Ming wear. So now we can play Wonder Pets. It's really cute!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A89aJCFDhAQ/TYEI2sVn5RI/AAAAAAAABzk/iNr50UZl0CM/s1600/IMG_1041.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A89aJCFDhAQ/TYEI2sVn5RI/AAAAAAAABzk/iNr50UZl0CM/s320/IMG_1041.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584754748623938834" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WaepPg2WtD4/TYELJgobGQI/AAAAAAAABzs/g_5qjBl1utY/s1600/IMG_0218.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WaepPg2WtD4/TYELJgobGQI/AAAAAAAABzs/g_5qjBl1utY/s320/IMG_0218.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584757270922336514" /></a>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-12081951693973128072011-03-10T13:38:00.006-05:002011-03-10T13:53:54.418-05:00Love....You know what I love?<br /><br />This...<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dZysIsEiH4Q/TXkbJnpefpI/AAAAAAAAByE/9V7MTguiF5I/s1600/IMG_1119.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dZysIsEiH4Q/TXkbJnpefpI/AAAAAAAAByE/9V7MTguiF5I/s320/IMG_1119.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582523065178160786" /></a><br /><br />And this...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4el_mi-e1cQ/TXkcCT5mQlI/AAAAAAAAByU/CFXV15e3UxY/s1600/IMG_1168.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4el_mi-e1cQ/TXkcCT5mQlI/AAAAAAAAByU/CFXV15e3UxY/s320/IMG_1168.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582524039129612882" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xlCrhJOOYH0/TXkcByS-BSI/AAAAAAAAByM/QMpUbhmctyo/s1600/IMG_1170.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xlCrhJOOYH0/TXkcByS-BSI/AAAAAAAAByM/QMpUbhmctyo/s320/IMG_1170.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582524030109222178" /></a><br /><br />And these...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6bMi4p7kGrw/TXkc7_9DWnI/AAAAAAAAByk/jaHwOQ3qbIc/s1600/IMG_1239.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6bMi4p7kGrw/TXkc7_9DWnI/AAAAAAAAByk/jaHwOQ3qbIc/s320/IMG_1239.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582525030207806066" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R8gPRuZONuo/TXkc7pyp-VI/AAAAAAAAByc/vl-IR9HKmRM/s1600/IMG_1247.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R8gPRuZONuo/TXkc7pyp-VI/AAAAAAAAByc/vl-IR9HKmRM/s320/IMG_1247.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582525024258619730" /></a><br /><br />And these funny faces...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-95aUgSmLW3g/TXkdup51SJI/AAAAAAAABy0/RNcyDWMkiCE/s1600/IMG_1174.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-95aUgSmLW3g/TXkdup51SJI/AAAAAAAABy0/RNcyDWMkiCE/s320/IMG_1174.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582525900462049426" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQj3QiNK2Fo/TXkduL0K2cI/AAAAAAAABys/M1xFSejVM0c/s1600/IMG_1173.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQj3QiNK2Fo/TXkduL0K2cI/AAAAAAAABys/M1xFSejVM0c/s320/IMG_1173.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582525892385233346" /></a>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-11203408957682457002011-03-03T10:13:00.006-05:002011-03-03T10:34:04.455-05:00The many outfits of Charlotte SouzaCharlotte loves to dress up. She's always asking to be Belle, Cinderella, Jesse or her newest favorite, a mermaid (which consist of just her leotard). She cracks me up! Here a some pictures of her get ups. There are some duplicates from other posts...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2jxrtuzO6e0/TW-zpf24tTI/AAAAAAAABx0/oF1wsRhJIpk/s1600/IMG_0429.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2jxrtuzO6e0/TW-zpf24tTI/AAAAAAAABx0/oF1wsRhJIpk/s320/IMG_0429.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579875988843050290" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--HnYqiJsf0A/TW-zo_xa8NI/AAAAAAAABxs/m32QA8eyw58/s1600/IMG_0389.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--HnYqiJsf0A/TW-zo_xa8NI/AAAAAAAABxs/m32QA8eyw58/s320/IMG_0389.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579875980230193362" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dy2hn32bOnM/TW-zonQg9GI/AAAAAAAABxk/OvkNBgFZRaw/s1600/IMG_0817.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dy2hn32bOnM/TW-zonQg9GI/AAAAAAAABxk/OvkNBgFZRaw/s320/IMG_0817.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579875973649724514" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2UthR0vRBJs/TW-xjTw5poI/AAAAAAAABxc/UHCXJbTzcaA/s1600/IMG_0711.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2UthR0vRBJs/TW-xjTw5poI/AAAAAAAABxc/UHCXJbTzcaA/s320/IMG_0711.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579873683494250114" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bocRA0i_kJw/TW-xjKJw3pI/AAAAAAAABxU/opbgIyz_MXw/s1600/IMG_1054.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bocRA0i_kJw/TW-xjKJw3pI/AAAAAAAABxU/opbgIyz_MXw/s320/IMG_1054.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579873680914177682" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KoSSOkzKAa0/TW-xiuy22DI/AAAAAAAABxM/KqSccqdSZX4/s1600/IMG_1073.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KoSSOkzKAa0/TW-xiuy22DI/AAAAAAAABxM/KqSccqdSZX4/s320/IMG_1073.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579873673570342962" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h59A-zY2WC0/TW-0wB2gNwI/AAAAAAAABx8/UlWLDNpBQh8/s1600/IMG_1085.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h59A-zY2WC0/TW-0wB2gNwI/AAAAAAAABx8/UlWLDNpBQh8/s320/IMG_1085.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579877200559093506" /></a>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-33064366622370898692011-03-02T11:38:00.007-05:002011-03-02T12:00:50.929-05:00PicturesI have started a few posted but just haven't had it in me to finish them.... So I figured I would post some pictures. I bought myself a new camera a few weeks ago. It's a Canon Rebel xs and so far I love it! Still trying to figure it out but that's the fun part. And I have adorable subjects to test it out on!! I will post again soon about what we have been up to. Which isn't much... <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zIN74qeRp5k/TW52X1WVRhI/AAAAAAAABxE/rkuMRU2e8BE/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zIN74qeRp5k/TW52X1WVRhI/AAAAAAAABxE/rkuMRU2e8BE/s320/IMG_0018.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579527140188440082" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Qtb5o9WQjo/TW52XvfV_WI/AAAAAAAABw8/QxutGBUXB78/s1600/IMG_0489.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Qtb5o9WQjo/TW52XvfV_WI/AAAAAAAABw8/QxutGBUXB78/s320/IMG_0489.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579527138615623010" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t725rI_8sVI/TW51XHpT6nI/AAAAAAAABw0/SH-u4VXHDZI/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t725rI_8sVI/TW51XHpT6nI/AAAAAAAABw0/SH-u4VXHDZI/s320/IMG_0046.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579526028408384114" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gsPiM4LgMlA/TW51XKvOJnI/AAAAAAAABws/gKhxHED5VXU/s1600/IMG_0428.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gsPiM4LgMlA/TW51XKvOJnI/AAAAAAAABws/gKhxHED5VXU/s320/IMG_0428.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579526029238478450" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qF0VdUf0DRs/TW50cd-CgFI/AAAAAAAABwk/RYL7XTItbHw/s1600/IMG_0388.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qF0VdUf0DRs/TW50cd-CgFI/AAAAAAAABwk/RYL7XTItbHw/s320/IMG_0388.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579525020788621394" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ayol_n-b4U/TW50bxotzTI/AAAAAAAABwU/YXcigvZDWuo/s1600/IMG_0946.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ayol_n-b4U/TW50bxotzTI/AAAAAAAABwU/YXcigvZDWuo/s320/IMG_0946.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579525008888024370" /></a>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-68348778303868668232011-02-09T08:31:00.001-05:002011-02-09T08:31:57.462-05:00Two questions I dread...There are 2 questions people ask me all the time that I dread. The first one is, "do you have any other children"? The other one is, "do you plan on having more children"?<br /><br />When people ask if I have anymore kids I want to crawl in a hole and cry. I feel if I say "no" then I am denying that Brian and Lillian were born. They were born and lived for a short period of time. They were here with us and we prayed that they were strong enough to live. But they weren't. They were born too soon. But on the other hand if I tell them the truth I can see the horror on their faces. It's really hard for me. And I am sure it's hard for a stranger to hear my story.<br /><br />For years we struggled with infertility. I went off birth control when we got married. I figured if I got pregnant it wouldn't be that big of a deal. We were married and we knew we wanted a family. Well after 4 years of nothing happening we decided to look into what was going on. You all know the rest of the story. IF (infertility) robbed us of getting pregnant on our own. By the time we started treatments we were going into our thirties. I was almost 33 and Brian was 35 when the girls were born. Not old by any means but old enough that if we were going to try for another one we weren't going to be able to wait too long. We had talked about the girls being our only children. We didn't think we could go through IVF again, chance getting pregnant with twins again, having another high risk pregnancy and take care of toddler twins. After delivering the girls, the doctor could not got my uterus to contract. They were working really hard to get it to do so. The doctor came over to us and asked if we planned on having anymore kids. It's one thing if you decide this was it. It's another thing when the choice is taken away from you. She explained what was going on. Obviously saving my life was more important then my uterus. I didn't have time to process this because I went right into surgery.<br /><br />Even after after I had the girls it really hadn't sunk in that I wouldn't be able to have anymore kids. When we lost Brian and Lillian I met an awesome woman. Her name was Peg and she was the grief counselor at the hospital. By some strange twist of fate she had found out that I was in the hospital having the girls. She stopped by to say HI. We talked about all the emotions that were going on in my heart. How happy I was to have the girls and how sad I was that Brian and Lillian weren't here with us... She also told me I needed to grieve the loss of ability to have more children. To be honest there was so much going on I didn't have time to even think about that. But it clicked with me a few weeks later. I wasn't going to be pregnant again. I would never get a BFP again. I would never hear a heartbeat from within again. I would never feel a baby growing in my belly again. I am VERY GRATEFUL for my girls. I know how lucky I am to have them. But I was sad that once again the choice was taken away from me. <br /><br />Most of the time when people ask me if we will have more kids I just say, "no, we are happy with what we have". Deep down I would of loved to have one more. But I guess it just wasn't in the cards.Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-79181202822964485442011-02-08T14:15:00.004-05:002011-02-08T14:41:19.460-05:00I'm still here!The past couple of weeks have been rough here at the Souza house. Just as Maggie was getting over bronchitis Charlotte caught a nasty cold. Of coarse Maggie got it too. Yesterday I took Maggie back to the doctors. She wasn't doing good. But he said it's just a viral thing. He recommended a couple meds to give her. So that's what we are doing. Hopefully by the end of the week they will be back to their normal selves. Last night Maggie slept all night in her bed! It was great for her and for me! It's amazing what a good nights sleep can do for you. She is like a different child today! <br /><br />Charlotte and Maggie definitely have cabin fever. Between being sick and the amount of snow in the yard we have been staying inside. We have been invited to a kids Valentine's day party on Friday. I am hoping everyone is healthy enough to attend.<br /><br />We got great news today about aunt Theresa! They caught the cancer in the early stage and it hasn't spread!! She starts radiation in 2 weeks. Thank you for all that prayed for her!! I am hoping to get down to see her this weekend.<br /><br />Next month we get to book our Disney vacation!! We have decided to stay at the Beach Club this year. We are beyond excited! They have a sand bottom pool there with a pirate ship slide. It's so cool. We aren't going until October. It's going to be a long wait but so worth it in the end.<br /><br />So that's what is going on here. I'm ready for summer to get here. I am done with the cold and the snow. <br /><br />Here are some pictures for the past few weeks:<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TVGZyyhuAkI/AAAAAAAABwM/eUxXYGKORu0/s1600/IMG_6510.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TVGZyyhuAkI/AAAAAAAABwM/eUxXYGKORu0/s320/IMG_6510.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571403311869723202" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TVGZyqMVLpI/AAAAAAAABwE/2xCX2BmKQ_0/s1600/IMG_6568.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TVGZyqMVLpI/AAAAAAAABwE/2xCX2BmKQ_0/s320/IMG_6568.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571403309632532114" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TVGZySIzEhI/AAAAAAAABv8/uZkKYUpJnY4/s1600/IMG_6524.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TVGZySIzEhI/AAAAAAAABv8/uZkKYUpJnY4/s320/IMG_6524.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571403303175262738" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TVGZx76rufI/AAAAAAAABv0/51gyLIXuft8/s1600/IMG_6538.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TVGZx76rufI/AAAAAAAABv0/51gyLIXuft8/s320/IMG_6538.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571403297210481138" /></a>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-47062947190664800652011-01-31T07:56:00.012-05:002011-01-31T08:49:48.588-05:00Change of plans...This weekend Brian and I were suppose to have a date night. I was really looking forward to this. I think the last time we had a date night was last summer when one of Brian's friends got married. A little over a week ago Maggie woke up with a nasty cough. No other symptoms just a cough. I thought I would give her a couple days and it would be cleared up. That just wasn't happening. I took her to the doctors on Friday. He thought either bronchitis or pneumonia... <br /><br />I had to take to the hospital for chest x-rays. She did so well!! I was so proud of her! <br /><br />The doctor called that afternoon and it was bronchitis. We decided to cancel our date night... We didn't feel right leaving her when she wasn't feeling 100%. My mom told us to pick another night and she will come over.<br /><br />Saturday Heather and Jen came over. We had a great visit. It was fun talking to Jen about having twins and what it was like being pregnant with twins. Brian and I ended up making one of our favorite meals, steak sandwiches, for dinner.<br /><br />Here are some pictures Heather took:<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa5uOcFPmI/AAAAAAAABus/qgKym9b_hDE/s1600/char%2Bnew.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa5uOcFPmI/AAAAAAAABus/qgKym9b_hDE/s320/char%2Bnew.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568342193091198562" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa5uCtsemI/AAAAAAAABuk/-EG1xuzuKRA/s1600/char.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa5uCtsemI/AAAAAAAABuk/-EG1xuzuKRA/s320/char.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568342189943847522" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa5t_vkLMI/AAAAAAAABuc/Clez1EEQIKI/s1600/maggie%2Bnew.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa5t_vkLMI/AAAAAAAABuc/Clez1EEQIKI/s320/maggie%2Bnew.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568342189146385602" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa5tiZGVeI/AAAAAAAABuU/vDNh6GupU7g/s1600/mommy%2Bmaggie.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa5tiZGVeI/AAAAAAAABuU/vDNh6GupU7g/s320/mommy%2Bmaggie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568342181267527138" /></a><br /><br />Sunday we were suppose to have a family dinner with Theresa. But... Holly's kids are sick too. Bert had pneumonia in one of his lungs and Gracie has bronchitis! So my mom came over and hung out with us. I was bummed that we didn't get to see Theresa before her surgery but with all the little ones being sick we knew cancelling was the best idea.<br /><br />If you are the praying kind, please say a little prayer for our dear friend Theresa. Her surgery is tomorrow. We love you aunt-T!!<br /><br />Oh and guess we are getting this week??? MORE SNOW!! I am so over this!!<br /><br />Here are the girls frosting cupcakes.. At one point they "washed" their hands with the frosting.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa7VRlCQkI/AAAAAAAABvc/dEOEgg2iHQY/s1600/IMG_6498.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa7VRlCQkI/AAAAAAAABvc/dEOEgg2iHQY/s320/IMG_6498.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568343963460584002" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa7U4693II/AAAAAAAABvU/3B1enEszDQw/s1600/IMG_6497.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa7U4693II/AAAAAAAABvU/3B1enEszDQw/s320/IMG_6497.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568343956841684098" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa60JvPHzI/AAAAAAAABvM/_J13t48XLM8/s1600/IMG_6487.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa60JvPHzI/AAAAAAAABvM/_J13t48XLM8/s320/IMG_6487.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568343394420203314" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa6z_123tI/AAAAAAAABvE/8InJwFONti0/s1600/IMG_6485.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa6z_123tI/AAAAAAAABvE/8InJwFONti0/s320/IMG_6485.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568343391763619538" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa9EaFn9pI/AAAAAAAABvk/O46rtKqaY7A/s1600/IMG_6484.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa9EaFn9pI/AAAAAAAABvk/O46rtKqaY7A/s320/IMG_6484.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568345872710235794" /></a><br /><br />And I love this picture of Charlotte<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa6zVZMLBI/AAAAAAAABu0/C6E_X-k9oO4/s1600/IMG_6506.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TUa6zVZMLBI/AAAAAAAABu0/C6E_X-k9oO4/s320/IMG_6506.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568343380369091602" /></a>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050303220376554903.post-72655205742231074542011-01-25T08:44:00.004-05:002011-01-25T09:05:42.216-05:00Baby it's cold outside...My computer says it's 1 degree outside right now. And that is without wind chill. The past few days have been very cold here in the Northeast. Sunday night it got down to -13. BRRR!! I know it's January but that is very cold. So we have been in the house. It's just too cold to play outside. Needless to say we are a little stir crazy. I think the girls are getting sick of being inside. I think they are getting sick of painting, coloring and playing dollhouse. What activities do you do with your little ones when it's too cold/hot outside?<br /><br />This weekend aunt Theresa and auntie Linda came up for a visit. It was great to see them. The girls were quite excited!! We hadn't seen them since Christmas.<br /><br />I am looking forward to this weekend. Saturday my friends Heather and Jen (who is expecting twin girls) are coming over for a visit. Then Brian and I are having a long overdue date night! Then Sunday we are having a family dinner. Theresa is having surgery on 2/1 so we all wanted to get together. Should be a fun weekend!!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TT7XIdMljrI/AAAAAAAABt8/NFSA9Vs9jWs/s1600/IMG_6468.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TT7XIdMljrI/AAAAAAAABt8/NFSA9Vs9jWs/s320/IMG_6468.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566122729752858290" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TT7XHwvRH1I/AAAAAAAABt0/rC9LwBNWlbY/s1600/IMG_6467.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TT7XHwvRH1I/AAAAAAAABt0/rC9LwBNWlbY/s320/IMG_6467.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566122717818724178" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TT7XI6K_DhI/AAAAAAAABuM/DGkNeFAhh8g/s1600/IMG_6466.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TT7XI6K_DhI/AAAAAAAABuM/DGkNeFAhh8g/s320/IMG_6466.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566122737530768914" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TT7XIi7NXJI/AAAAAAAABuE/83BfSRw-yo8/s1600/IMG_6465.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnnvRb8N3as/TT7XIi7NXJI/AAAAAAAABuE/83BfSRw-yo8/s320/IMG_6465.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566122731290582162" /></a>Souza Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120616218471305023noreply@blogger.com0