Fifteen weeks and counting!

 

The clamor for more photos, or photos at all, has been heard. In fact, it was heard many weeks ago but a creaky computer, unreliable internet, and bad luck has conspired to prevent a posting until now. I think I started a draft of this post at least 4 times only to be thwarted. We have overcome! Presenting, Shadrach and Moses:

Shadrach with an early and easy smile!

 

 

 

Though "typically" more serious, Moses is quick with a smile too!

 

 

 

Though certainly a dynamic duo, the twins have yet to really recognize each other. They seem to know the other is there but they literally will not look at each other. How do we tell them apart? Well, they are different. Moses has a square-ish head while Shadrach's head is rounder. Moses is also averaging 10 ounces or so heavier since birth. The Dr. that delivered them suggested this may be because Moses was below Shadrach and his body reacted to the added stress by more vigorous growth. Interesting. Like wine grapes, improved by the struggle of hot, dry weather?

 

 

 Lot's of friends have asked how Jericho has handled it all. She is much better now than ever, and is actually becoming an amazing big sister, quick to help by re-inserting binkies, throwing out diapers, and holding the twins. It started off ROUGH however. Jealousy is a mighty powerful thing in a two year old.

 The worst part of being a big sister is being deprived of Momma when the twins are nursing. Now that Shadrach and Moses prefer to be nursed separately, this can be a full 45 minutes of jealousy! The flip side of solo-nursing is that Laura has a free hand to read a book or play home-videos for Jericho (her favorite thing to watch).

Jericho is getting better at playing with the twins and is quick with her affection now!



 

Parenting is tough! What Laura most needs is sleep (it's getting better now that the twins sleep 4-6 hours at night) and what Papa needs most is patience when he has nothing to really give them when they're really really hungry!

 

 

 

 

Anthem for Today

"Helplessness Blues"
by Fleet Foxes

I was raised up believing I was somehow unique
Like a snowflake distinct among snowflakes, unique in each way you can see
And now after some thinking, I'd say I'd rather be
A functioning cog in some great machinery serving something beyond me

But I don't, I don't know what that will be
I'll get back to you someday soon you will see

What's my name, what's my station, oh, just tell me what I should do
I don't need to be kind to the armies of night that would do such injustice to you
Or bow down and be grateful and say "sure, take all that you see"
To the men who move only in dimly-lit halls and determine my future for me

And I don't, I don't know who to believe
I'll get back to you someday soon you will see

If I know only one thing, it's that everything that I see
Of the world outside is so inconceivable often I barely can speak
Yeah I'm tongue-tied and dizzy and I can't keep it to myself
What good is it to sing helplessness blues, why should I wait for anyone else?

And I know, I know you will keep me on the shelf
I'll come back to you someday soon myself

If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm raw
If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm sore
And you would wait tables and soon run the store

Gold hair in the sunlight, my light in the dawn
If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm sore
If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm sore
Someday I'll be like the man on the screen

Josh Garrels- Be Inspired!

At the closing ceremonies for the middle school yesterday the 8th graders played a piece called "Clave" on xylophones. The sound evokes an aura of innocence fitting for a ceremony that initiates the students into a new stage of being grown up. In this Mason Jar/Josh Garrels production, the xylophones add movement and depth to a beautiful song.

History Buffs: Help me ID this unknown object...

Can you identify this object? It was found in York, PA while digging new garden space in my backyard. It looks like some sort of ammunition, but I could be totally wrong. The neighborhood was built on farm land, developed in the 1910's.

Jericho Grows Up Fast

The past few months have been pretty momentous for Jericho. In January, she turned two. In February, she became a big sister. In April she learned to use the potty. And in May, she gave away her pacifiers. While there have been tears, she's proud of her accomplishments.

And so are we.

 

 

 

To celebrate, we went to Sweet Frog Premium Yogurt to get an appetizer before dinner!

 

 

In other news... both boys are pushing ten pounds, rolling over, and smiling. Here's Shadrach, who loves the bears that hang on the baby swing.

 

NRA Comments Channel John Calhoun

After leading discussion with my 8th graders of John Calhoun's address
to the Senate in 1837 opposing the rise of abolitionism, I am struck by
parallels between his comments and the comments of incoming NRA President
James Porter.

Porter recently argued that, "This is not about gun rights." He argued that instead the NRA was fighting a "cultural war". See a ABC News article on the speech here. It seems fairly evident, even without invoking the most extreme stereotypes, that the NRA gains much of its support from a significant minority group genuinely concerned with what they perceive as a threat to their way of life.






Similarly, Calhoun argued that abolition was pursued by some "with a systematic design" and a "general crusade against us and our institutions." In 1837, Calhoun called it a "deadly war" but could hardly have imagined a civil war so deadly as that which broke out 23 years later. The death he so feared, was a way of life. His speech can be found here.


Understanding the link between the 'refuse to give an inch' attitude of the NRA and the perception of a cultural war, is essential in explaining how gun rights advocates are gloating after defeating the recent mild and middle of the road gun-control legislation in the Senate. The NRA's message of cultural resistance has been highly effective. Rather than get caught up in fruitless quibbling about the specifics of "common sense" gun control, the NRA has deftly allowed the 2nd Amendment to speak for itself, while invoking a powerful argument of cultural crisis that translates into whatever it is their base is feeling anxious about at the moment. Its "not about guns" (or slavery), but a "crusade against us and our institutions."

Perhaps it is more accurate to say that Porter and the NRA are not just channeling Calhoun, they are taking a play out of his playbook.

Birth Announcement: The Story Behind the Names

View our Prezi created to tell the story of Shadrach and Moses...

Get the Story Here!

Jericho's Room Finished! (almost)

...and just in time for the homecoming of Shadrach and Moses (projected sometime between Friday and Sunday!)

The final phase of renovation in Jericho's room was focused on the floors. The excessive amounts of adhesive, water damage, delay in ordered wood and the complications of custom planing and "routing" the red oak all caused this to be a mammoth project. As with most projects I post on this blog, I owe their completion to a half dozen people who gave their time and talents.





The room as a kitchen...



Adhesive!



Water damage!





Removing damaged wood

 Construction Zone
Thanks to: Steve for the assistance in fabricating the custom plank flooring
(5/16 thick and 1 1/2 wide!)

Patched in and sanded!

(Thanks to: Ben for carpentry, Father and Simeon for stripping, Susan and Brian for sanding)

Two coats of Cabot stain (pecan) and three coats of Varathane Oil-Based Semi-gloss

Thanks to: Warren and Pop Pop

We bought this bed along with two dressers more than a year ago in anticipation of this day!

What's left? Moulding. The original shoe molding has been sanded and awaits staining and sealing. We couldn't wait any longer to move furniture!

Update: Why We Love\Hate the NICU

After a great prognosis Thursday night, Moses started having breathing incidents and low blood sugar levels. He went from nursing, to supplemental bottle feedings, to a feeding tube. Friday morning we were still hopeful that Shadrach could join us over on the "the good side" but he too began to struggle to control his sugars. The reality is, they are still premature. Premature babies just aren't ready to monitor every little thing on their own, including breathing and saving energy between feedings!

So we are back into that familiar routine (established with Jericho) of visits to the NICU. It is a place full of the most wonderful nurses but also very sick babies, much sicker than our own. Even as we gripe about the inconvenience, we're reminded how blessed we are.

 

Last night, after dashing home to put coat #2 of poly on Jericho's yet unfinished room, I found Laura in the NICU holding both the boys. A super sweet thing about twins is that there is one cute baby for each parent. Kangaroo care!

Introducing...

THEY'RE HERE!

 

 

Moses Phillip and Shadrach Thomas
5 lbs. 6 oz. and 5 lbs. 2 oz.
10:18 and 10:26 PM
February 28, 2013