I Love My Sister!
"That is one crazy getup you got there"
Avalyn Mae
Jensen Tyler

The big Day

Leading up to the week of the delivery of our little ones we had an interesting change of events. Our Dr who we love started thinking based on an ultra sound (from the day before) that showed our boy was breach and he was measuring bigger than the girl that she would need to have a c section. Now those of you who know Marianne know that she is afraid of needles and shots let alone being cut open and whats worse being awake for it. She asked repeatedly that if it came to that, I should hit her over the head and knock her out. Marianne almost switched to a Dr that is known in Utah county for delivering high risk pregnancies and would turn babies if necessary. Which is what the impression we got from our Dr when we first met her. She having delivered twins herself and having the second one turned gave us the idea/confidence that she would at least try and deliver naturally and avoid the c section. Which is why the sudden change threw us off. In the end we stayed with our Dr.

The night before this appointment Marianne had felt a big movement where the boy was and felt confident that he had flipped back around (this boy has flipped so many times when everyone thought he shouldn't be able to). So after some deliberation we asked another ultrasound to check and sure enough he was back to head down. From then on we tried everything to get those kids to come out walking, exercise, running stairs (yes folks that's my wife), sex, and we almost tried some herbs, but they wouldn't come out. Which is why I think kids come when they come and we do this stuff so we feel like we have come control over the situation. During these activities her contractions would get down to 3-5 min we'd have more than 12 in an hour but as soon as we stopped they would slow down and go back to nothing again, very frustrating.

Thanksgiving came and went and the end of the month was getting closer. On the night of Tuesday the 29 Marianne was having contractions but nothing consistent and it seemed like the same old stuff that had been happening for the past 6 weeks. We went to sleep and around 4am Marianne said she'd been having some good contractions and if we should go to the hospital (he had once before and been told to go home, I think every first time parents do that). I asked if she was able to still sleep and she said ya kinda so we decided to wait. At 430 she got up and got in the shower to try and relax which actually helped. She only had 2 while in the shower and felt much better when she came back to bed. At 455 she said she felt a loud pop and it felt like some one had kicked her in the tailbone, I asked if she thought her water had broken and she said maybe. So I got up and grabbed a towel and helped her put it on sumo style. As soon as stood up she felt this wave of water (glad we grabbed the towel) and she ran to the bathroom. I started gathering our stuff but as a first time dad I was not exactly organized in my gathering. Marianne would call from the bathroom grab this and that and I would but I would take one thing but not another for instance only one car seat and then come back in a grab a bag and my flip flops and go back out. Then a few more trips and finally the other car seat and a pillow. It was really funny looking back. We finally loaded up and headed to the AF hospital trying very hard to avoid bumps in the road. Marianne didn't think i did a good job.

By 530 we were in the hospital on the labor and delivery floor checking in. Now as most moms out there know you check you modesty at the door. My beautiful wife is standing on a chucks to absorb the water being stripped down and gown put on, one nurse is getting medical history, another checking vitals, and another making sure she's comfortable. Luckily for Marianne the anesthesiologist decided to come down as her shift was ending at 600 to give her her epidural because the next guy coming on was a little slow. By the way Marianne thinks anyone who would not get an epidural is crazy. She loved it. She was able to relax and move around in her bed. She took a nap while I went and got some breakfast. Our Dr came in and did another ultrasound and both babies were head down. He did have the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck but a lot of babies do. So she mentioned the risk of a c section and complications but we decided that we would go for the natural birth.

By about 1000am Marianne had not progressed much so they gave her some pitocyn. They came back in around 1200 and increased her dosage and by 1245 she was ready to go. So we headed into the OR and got into position at 100pm. The had some problem with the monitor for the babies and had to get a different one. While that was going on our Dr had Marianne practice pushing so she'd know how much time she would have to see her other patients before she needed to be back, but after one practice push she said I'm not going anywhere.

So within three contractions our baby Avalyn was born at 139pm weighing 5lbs and 17.5 in tall. She began crying and it was awesome. The Dr had to break the other water and in one contraction our baby Jensen was born at 148pm weighing 5lbs 8oz and 17.5in tall. As soon as his head came out they unwrapped the cord from his neck (which was wrapped around twice) but he had a hard time wanting to breathe which I'll be honest freaked me out. He was not crying and was kinda blue. The only thing that kept me from freaking out was that the respiratory therapist and nurse were calm and just helping him breathe he eventually cried after only a couple of minutes which feels like an eternity. Just like that our little ones came into our lives. My wife did absolutely awesome. She was calm and pushed like a champ. To see her holding our two little ones as they were wheeled back to her room was one of the best experiences of my life.

wow it has been a long time

OK so we are so far behind with this that probably no one is looking but I figure this will be a good way of keeping track of things a little more detailed perhaps than what we can do on facebook. A quick catch up we are back in Utah I finally graduated from PT school back in August and have a job at the hospital. Marianne gave birth to our beautiful twins on the 30th of November. They are 3months at this time. I figure we can do a kind of flashback and catch up on all the things we've been up to over the course of the last few years. We'll see how this goes

Blog smog... sorry I just update facebook a lot sooner!

Hey everyone... or anyone who actually reads our blog. I realized that I keep facebook updated a lot better than our blog, so this is me trying. June was good. Devin finished his last semester in school for his first year, and had his pinning ceremony. Its a ceremony that celebrates completion of their first year. I know a big deal huh. It actually made me laugh. Anyways... we snuck off to Lake Tahoe for a minute to get a break from the heat before Devin started his clinical for the summer. Tahoe was beautiful and a nice break from the heat... but a little cold. the water was still like 58 degrees so needless to say we didn't get in. Just a lot of hiking.

July was hot! I was super home sick for an awesome 4th of july with the family. It is my favorite holiday... so Devin my sweet husband decided we needed to do something really fun to take my mind off the homesickness. So we went about and hour and a half north to a little place called Fossile Springs past Payson, Arizona. It was incredible. First of all the weather was much like Utah (cool nights and refreshing water), next it was actually green. Fossil Springs itself is a river/spring area with pools and waterfalls to jump off of. So amazingly beautiful. So perfect. After playing in the emerald green springs we went to the awesome 45 minute firework display in Payson. I love fireworks so this was just sweet! Unfortunately we forgot our camera so we'll have to get picts from our friends Jeff and Chelan.

The end of July I took off to Lake Powell with my family while Devin stayed home and worked at his clinical. He was definately missed by all. It was good to see the family, but it was definately an unusual powell trip. We had thunderstorms every afternoon so we had a lot of down time. The worst part about it was that I didn't even get to slalom ski. It is my all time favorite activity that I've been doing for the past 5 years. But when I tried to get up on my sister's competition ski the first morning (which I've done for the last 2 years with no problems) I couldn't get up. I was so dang mad (to put it lightly), and then because I tried so hard so many times I didn't have any strength in my hands for the rest of the week. I even had to have my nieces open water bottles for me. UGgg... so just think of how frustrated you'd be if you've been doing something amazingly for years and all the sudden couldn't!

In August I came to Utah to watch Charlene's kids while she went to Maui for her Anniversary. (My sister) It was a crazy, exhausting week but so much fun to get to know her kids a lot better. I'm just glad she got to go relax for a while. She definately deserved it. After she came home, Devin joined me for a week in Utah to spend some time with our family and friends. We got to relax, go to dinner, hang out with nieces and nephews, go swimming, and go boating. Over all a good time and it went by way too fast!

Anyways... sorry I really don't update much. I feel like I'll do more when we actually have kids or more going on in our life. We love you all!

The Last Two Months

The Flowers

Me and my honey

At the reception

Kara the lovely bride

Kara and Bob

So sorry it has been such a long while. I've been a little busy. Let me fill you all in. I was in Utah for 10 days in the beginning of March working for my sister on finishing designing her main floor of her house. We had lots of fun picking her tile, granite slabs, and installing all her furniture, accessories, window treatments, rugs, and custom florals made by yours truely.

In April I returned to Utah for two weeks to help my old job (sandstrom architecture) compete for a new high end elementary school. It was crazy hours and I pretty much came up with an entire new 80,000 square foot school, ideas, concepts, preliminary construction documents, designs, and a beautiful presentation to display all our hard work. We just learned that we won the project.... so we will see if I have to return to help with the real construction documents. No news from the boss yet...

We moved apartment complexes on May 1st. The new place is bigger, better, cheaper, nicer, closer to school and our ward is still great. I just barely finished unpacking and putting the pictures on the walls this week.

That same day of moving I took off in the afternoon for a weekend in Utah with my sister's and mom for our annual mother's day retreat. We had a ball. Pedicures, dinner at cheesecake factory, giggling till 3 am, secronized swimming, shopping, shopping and more shopping. Kari is the queen! Todd also blessed their new little one and so I was able to be there for some prime time auntie time.

May was a whirl wind of working at the flower shop for mother's day, and taking care of the shop while the owners were out of town. Mixed with a little Hair by Mar in the evenings.

Memorial weekend we went to Las Vegas for my friend Kara's wedding. She did a beautiful job planning and I had a wonderful time doing her flowers. She was even nice enough to plan a party at Lake Mead the next day with thier boat. Thanks for the fun, and skiing!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Us together... and yes that is a tan line. That's what happens in March when you live in Arizona.



Top View



From the side

So I have to post pictures of this fabulous cake that my friend Devan made me. She says that she's not crafty... but by the looks of these we all know differently. She even made the fondant from scratch. What a woman! Oh by the way.... I turned 26 again. I've decided if I stay there I don't have to have children anytime soon!

OOps! That last post was a tag!

RaNdom PicTurE...
Random Picture
I've been tagged.
Here are the rules:
1. Go to your documents/pictures
2. Go to your 6th file
3. Go to your 6th picture
4. Post it, and blog about it
5. Tag 6 people to do the same
6. Name your picture...I added this since thereis no official 6th rule...and since this is thewhole 6 theme...I thought it would be necessary

I tag sheila, catherine, brie, anne, andrea, and jeff and chelan.