Attention Friends and Family: Does anyone have copies of our 1998 or 2001 Christmas pictures? I seem to have misplaced them. If you’d like to view the Christmas photos I do have then expand the rest of this post: |inline

I found this picture while searching through some old files. Thought I’d share it with you.
This was taken May 28, 2002 Amy is on the left, pregnant with Sarah and I am on the right pregnant with Joshua

Wordless Wednesday: Baby Bump

Well not really, he’s actually just movin on up. Anyhow today is his last day at his current position and location. Taking tomorrow and Friday off to work an Emmaus Walk, he begins his new Job in Amarillo on Monday. Exciting times. That’s what I like to tell myself. . .

Last night I awoke with the uneasy feeling of an impending regurgitation. I struggled to make my way to the restroom across the hall and some how made it in time. Suddenly the somewhat foggy room began to spin. The bathroom began to pick up speed, spinning faster and faster around until finally I fell to the floor. As I lie on my back watching the window, shower, and sink spin around my head that same looming feeling I had experienced earlier came again. How could I possibly make it to the toilet when it kept spinning around in the air?!? I crawled across the shaking floor, practically using my fingernails to pull myself closer and closer. I reached the base of the commode and managed to pull myself into position. I made it; and just in time but I couldn’t seem to hold the toilet still, I had to hug on as tight as I could so I wouldn’t fly off with out it. I yelled for Help. No one came. I yelled again, “Help!” No one heard. No one came. After an epic struggle I gave in to my fate and fell back to the floor. The heat from the hall light permeated the room. The heat was unbearable, covered in sweat I was sure the house must be on fire. I had to get out; I had to get my kids out! My legs and arms were like lead; I couldn’t lift even a finger. What would become of us? Would we die here in this spinning house of fire?!? I yelled out a final plea for help then I passed out . . .

Three hours later I awoke, finding myself lying on the cold hard floor of my bathroom. Body shivering and mind reeling, I couldn’t fathom how I got there. I picked my self up, got a drink of water and found my way back to my bed. As I lay there in confusion my mind grasped for how I possibly could have ended up in that predicament. Suddenly the memory came to me. I remembered in detail the delusions under which I had been. Man! Did my head hurt! Exhausted, I cuddled in to my nice warm bed strapped on my CPAP, thanked God it was over and went to sleep.

I awoke this morning to severe body aches, and a headache of unbelievable proportion all I want is to sleep but poor Charleigh is still throwing up and apparently being a mommy trumps being sick so I guess I’ll just deal with it.

On the floor, in the pillows, down the walls, on the couch, in the folds of the recliner, its everywhere. Splattered on my pajamas, drizzled on my jeans, soaking my socks; each towel is dirty, every blanket a mess. YUCK!

I have to say in regurgitating skills Charleigh ranks the highest. Whenever she feels the urge to throw up she makes a run for the nearest toilet. She holds back her hair and is careful not to make a mess. What a barfing blessing she is.

Kaleb, not so good and midnight puking. He hangs his head over the top bunk and lets it fly where it may. Joshua feels his tummy rumbling and makes a bee line straight to his mommy allowing me to witness his upchucking trully up close and personal.

Ick, Yuck, Ugg, the joys of motherhood. I’m going to go take another shower and start another load of laundry.

Amy: Don’t worry, your kids are still at Mom’s so they are not experiencing any of this fun. I’ll get them when tummys things settle down

Tonight my dear 6yr old will be dreaming sweet dream that is if she ever gets to sleep. She is quite excited right now. Here’s what she wrote on her blog:

Mommy’s cousin Tanner is getting maried to Audra! I get to be their flower girl!!!!!!!!!
Yeah!!!

They came to my house this evening and asked me, I am soooooooohappyeeeeeee!!!

This is my biggest dream, its what I’ve always wanted. I wish it was tomorrow.

December 31st, New Years Eve I will be a flower girl. Yipeeee
Happy New Year!!!!!!!

She’s blogged in the past about her flowergirl aspirations

Thursday April 7, 2005: My dream to be a flower girl

Wednesday June 19, 2005 My flower girl thoughts

You
have to be careful, very careful when venturing into my home.  One never knows
what may happen . . .

The other evening while chatting on the phone with Janae I walked around the
house picking things up and putting them away.  I gathered items from the living
room and delivered them to their rightful spots around the house.  After making
a stop in my bedroom I turned to leave the room pausing for a moment at the
dresser by the door. 

That’s when it happened, out of nowhere as if from the sky a three year old
landed right on my head.  I screamed.  I screamed again.  As I looked up in
shock I saw Joshua fleeing the scene, cackling triumphantly along his way.   “Ah
HA HA, I a dangerous boy!” I yelled something about leaving me out of his
dangerous feats.  Actually I’m not sure what I said you’d have to ask Nae.

After surveying the scene of the crime it became apparent that the young
deviant had laid in wait on my bed, waiting for just the right moment he set his
plan into motion.  Running across the king size pillow top he took a flying leap
and hit his mark, which was a good 4 feet away.  He easily could have missed his
mother and hit the wall, the dresser or the hard wood floor.  Three year olds
don’t think of these things they only live for adventure.

Joshua is my “wild child”, doing things the older siblings would only dream
of.  He lives on the edge, always “ready to rock” staring danger in the face
he’ll conquer the world in one afternoon.  Rock and Roll runs through his veins
he is the quintessence of cool.

Perhaps to balance his character God has also created in him a compassionate
and gentle spirit.  He is the most affectionate of my offspring.  Always armed
with a squeeze or a hug he’ll sooth your soul with his kind kisses and charming
cuddles.  Often taking a break from his antics to profess his love, somehow his
sweet warmth tames his wild nature.   

Having said that .
. . . . . . this kid is driving me crazy.

Amy and I have grown up hearing this question. Our answer has always been “Both”. We’ve also been asked “What’s it like to have a twin?” My answer “What’s it like to not?”

With the 634 miles now separating us we receive these questions much less. In fact many casual friends and acquaintances have no knowledge of our identical siblings. We are now rarely referred to as the twins and I have even learned that my name can be pronounced with out hers preceding it. Amy and Jami. That’s who we’ve been. Now I’m more often known as Kaleb, Charleigh or Joshua’s mom; some times as Kurt’s wife but most often as just Jami.

I have to admit its much more fun being a twin in our late 20s then it was as a teenager. Consumed with being individuals we celebrated our differences and left all similarities behind. After our “not quite” double wedding we separated and headed off on individual journeys into the grown up world. Since then we’ve realized being twins isn’t so bad in fact perhaps it’s a little “cool”. With opposite personalities, varying interests and similar passions we don’t mind “looking alike” anymore.

It was slightly amusing this last weekend as we were mistaken for each other over and over. Until in got annoying. After a short time I wanted to wear a shirt that said “I am not who you think I am”. I started answering her door and even her phone by saying “I’m not Amy”

While at time frustrating we did have fun with our similar appearances. On a trip to Price Cutters in search of puffed pastry the clerk asked us the recurring question” Are you twins?” We smiled and said “Yep” She then followed with a question we weren’t expecting. “How old are you?” We stumbled and stuttered neither of us exactly sure how old we are. “Uhhhhh 28? Yeah 28.” So used to giving our children’s ages we could barely summon our own. She told us she had thought we were 15. To us this was hilarious. The last two days of emotional upheaval had surely added a few years to our appearance. How could we still pass for teenagers?!? When in the car Amy realized the cause of her confusion; perhaps the young checker was too distracted by our acne to see our wrinkles. Perhaps our short stature hid the dark circles under our eyes. Or maybe it was the fact we had left the 5 kids with Mom that gave us that youthful appearance.

I arrived home last night. This morning has been occupied by unpacking and nap taking.

Life is full of changes, some are exciting others not so much. Things seem to be changing so fast around here I can barely hang on let alone blog about it.

We’re looking for a place to live in the Amarillo area and preparing our house for rent/sale here. Saturday Kurt and I headed to Amarillo looking for a home. We stopped off at Mom and Dad’s to drop the kids off for the day. While we were there Mom and I decided to go to Springfield and see Amy. (Her life is quickly changing as well) So back to Dalhart we went, I packed for Joshua and I to go to Missiouri, packed for Charleigh and Kaleb to go to Sami’s and made sure Kurt had enough clean socks and underwear to last till I got back. After getting everything together I loaded up Kurt’s new Vibe and headed back to Newbeginnings to pick up Mom.

We left at 11:30 PM, I drove till about 3:30 AM then Mom took over.
We realized we would be passing by Carthage right before services would start at Pastor Jerry’s Church so we took a brief detour and were able to fit in a hug right before church started. We may have been there a total of 4 minutes, it was nice to see him. It wasn’t as nice to be seen however, after driving all night it wasn’t one of our more glamourous moments.

We got to Amy’s house before she got home from Church. Just enough time to put our pjs on and get ready for a nap. Thats one thing about driving to see my sis, we have to rest from the drive before we can actually spend any time with her.

It was so good to see my sis and her kids. I met many of her friends and visited with others I already knew. I often feel like I already know these ladies before I meet them.
We stayed a short two days then left yesterday morn.
Joshua had a fabulous time with his cousins and was very excited to bring them home with him.

After a long drive home (Mom did most of it) I got back here right before 10PM. Sami brough Kaleb and Charleigh over (Thanks)

It is good to be home.
We experienced quite a few dramatic/humorous/emotional events on our trip. I’ll share some of them with you in the next few days.

That’s where I am. Miss me?
Don’t forget to vote tomorrow. I’ll be talking to you soon.

With Love,
Jami Leigh