Very overwhelming

We have been in CA for almost a month now and are starting to adjust to our new life here. We already love it and feel very happy and blessed that everything is working out so well for us.

We did have a tough first couple of weeks. On our drive down from Utah, Holland was coughing a lot and it just didn't seem right. She wasn't eating well either. Since it was a Sunday and nothing was really opened, we stopped at the ER in St. George. After a couple of hours, we found out she had RSV. They told us to have her checked out once we got to CA. So, that Tuesday she seemed to have gotten worse and we took her to the ER again. They admitted her because her oxygen levels were low. She was in the hospital from Tuesday until Saturday. It was so sad and she was hooked up to all of these monitors and had to have breathing treatments and xrays and it was so sad. Josh and I switched off being at the hospital with her, while the other was home with the other two kids. It was a very difficult and tiring week for all of us. After she got, everyone else in the family did, Dane, Harper, Josh, me and Grandma :( But we are all back to normal now, hallelujah! We had all of these fun plans for that week since Josh didn't start work until Monday, but I guess we will have to do them some other time.

Josh loves his new job at Oakley. I'm so happy for him and grateful that he enjoys it so much.

We sold our house and close on Monday. What a blessing it was to have that happen so quickly. We listed the house on a Wednesday and by Saturday we had 3 offers. Everything went through great and it's like it was all meant to be.

Now we are in the stressful time of trying to find a place to live. Which is difficult with three little babies.

Boy, oh boy, are things crazy right now, but we are so blessed and so happy. Even if we have crazy little girls that don't nap very well.

A little update on Holland and Harper. They're a little over 3 1/2 months now. Like I just mentioned, they don't nap. They are exactly as Dane was and sleep 30-45 min. each nap and boy is that totally annoying. If they were awake and happy all the time, it wouldn't be so bad, but since they wake up early from a nap, they are cranky a lot. They are both rolling over now and are no longer little newborns, but babies and boy are they dang cute. I can't even handle it when they smile at us. It's the cutest thing ever and I love it. Holland has been sucking on her hand like crazy lately and the cutest thing happened today. The girls were laying next to each other and Harper is crying and I come over and Holland had Harpers hand and was sucking on it. Man, it was so funny. As hard as it is right now, I love have twin girls who can have each other as they grow up. And of course the best big brother ever.

And a little about my sweet, sweet boy. Dane is the most fun little guy ever. Seriously, I could spend every moment with him and be a happy mom. He gives big squeezes and kisses very generously. He's knows almost all of his letters, learning to count, loves telling me all of his animal sounds, high fives everyone, including his little sisters when they least expect it. He LOVES being outdoors and would stay out there all day if I let him. And as I said earlier, he used to suck at naps, but now he's wonderful and takes 1, 2-3 hour nap a day. He's an awesome eater and eats practically everything we do. And boy, is he funny. He knows when he's funny and does stuff over and over again to make us laugh. Gosh, I love this kid so much.

I wish I had more pictures to show, but they're all practically on my phone. I don't have time to grab my camera, so I usually just use my phone. Here are just a couple that I posted on facebook, so you've probably already seen:

Dane

Holland

 Harper

Going, going, back, back, to Cali, Cali

To say we have been busy these past few months would be an understatement. Now we are throwing a big kink into things and are moving back to California! In the past few months we bought a house, put in a whole new kitchen and many other upgrades, we had twins, we've had family here helping us, Josh lost his job, got another job (was there 2 months) and now accepted an even better job, and lastly we are selling our house and moving to CA.

We have been going non-stop. Here is a little explanation of what happened. Josh was working for Backcountry and out of no where was let go. We were blessed that it only took about a month for him to find another job. At Backcountry (and his previous jobs) he was working in Marketing, a lot with social media, but web design has been his passion. While looking for a job he was offered one with a local start up company as a designer! He didn't go to school for design, but just learned it on his own, which is crazy.

As you know we bought a house about 6 months ago and we absolutely love it. We love the house, we love our neighbors, we love our ward, we love it all. We truly thought and planned on being here for the next 10-15 years.

Well, a friend of Josh's contacted him to see if he knew anyone that would be interested in a design job at Oakley. Josh thought that would be such a sweet job and said he was interested. At first he didn't think much of it and thought it would be a good opportunity to interview with them. They called him, loved him and invited him out the next week to fly down for an interview. They flew him out there and were very impressed. Two days later he was offered the job.

It was so crazy because we weren't even looking for a job, let alone one in California. We both felt right about it and that brings us to now. After only 6 months we are selling our beautiful house to move down to CA. We had 8 showings over the weekend, 3 offers and we are now under contract! Everything is falling into place and I truly believe everything happens for a reason. Josh now has a super sweet job at Oakley doing something that he loves and I get to live in CA near my family and even some of Josh's family. It will be so nice and we are really excited.

A few days ago we also blessed Holland and Harper and it was so beautiful. I couldn't find my camera in the mist of all the craziness, but luckily my mom had hers. That just means I'll have to wait to post them until I get them from her.

More to come from California!

Party of Five

They are here!

Holland Diane Austin

February 6, 2012

1:16 am

5 lbs, 19 inches

Harper Ann Austin

February 6, 2012

1:25 am

5 lbs 13 oz, 19.3 inches

First new family photo

Getting ready to go home

Ignore my face and just look at the sweet little girls

Grandmas

I will post a longer birth story later, but here is the condensed version. My water broke Sunday night at 9:30pm. I was ready to push by 12:30am, but had to wait for the doctor. Holland came first, with just 4 pushes and then Harper flipped around and was born breech 9 minutes later, with only 6 pushes. I was 36 weeks and 1 day pregnant. Harper had to go straight to NICU with some breathing issues, but was out after only 12 hours. She was able to come in our room and we all got to go home together on Wednesday morning Feb. 8. They are amazing and we love them so much. Dane is doing so great with them and we all love them so much. More pictures and more details to come.

32 1/2 weeks and the girls want out

Quick update on things here...

Yesterday I went in for a non-stress test. Totally routine this early for twins, just making sure they are moving around, aren't under stress and they also monitor contractions. Well, during the test I started feeling some contractions that weren't very comfortable and they were happening pretty frequently. But the babies looked great.

After this test, I had my normal Dr appt so they sent me there with the results of the test in hand. My Dr looked at them and noticed the contractions and while I was there I was having a few too. Last week, I was 1cm dilated and 70% effaced. She checked me then and I was about 2cm and 75%. So, just as a precaution she sent me down to labor and delivery to be monitored.

Once down there and after getting hooked up to the monitors, the real fun began. I started having more painful contractions and they were getting closer and closer. They checked me again (a few hours now since my dr checked) and I was at 3cm. The contractions were about 2-4 min apart.

At that point they gave me a shot of steroids to mature the babies' lungs faster in case they made their entrance.

Then they decided to give me some pills to hopefully stop the contractions. They gave me a total of 4 doses, 30 min apart and they didn't phase me. By then, people were telling us they thought this was the real deal and start prepping ourselves for some babies. We talked to the NICU nurses and everything to know what to expect if/when they were born.

Later, they were able to try another medicine to help stop the contractions, which they couldn't try before because my pulse was too high. (Maybe from all the anxiety of thinking these babies were coming, lol). After about 2 hours from getting this shot, they finally slowed down. Hurray! This was late last night around 11pm. They have since gone back to normal, of about 2-4 an hour and they're not really painful.

But, because I am now dilated 3cm, they want me here until Saturday to make sure things are still stable and then when I get home, it's bed rest for me.

Thank goodness, my mother in law is amazing and is coming out here this weekend and will stay with us to help me until the babies are born. Then my incredible mom who has offeredd to drop everything and be there for me anytime I need her is a huge help and makes me so less stressed to know she would do anything for me. We are very, very lucky. Not to mention our other family members and multiple friends who have all said they will drop everything and help if we need it. We are beyond grateful for them.

I got one more steroid shot today for their lungs and as long as my contractions stay down, I can go home soon. My baby shower did get postponed though, since it was tonight :( sad, sad day.

I'll keep you posted on anything else, but hopefully we can keep these girls growing a little longer, so they can come home with us soon after they're born.