Yep....it's all true!

Yes, we're moving to Lubbock and yes Dustin is starting his own firm: The Brooks Firm PLLC. If you really know Dustin's personality then you know it was only a matter of time. Fortunately for him he did have the opportunity to work for a great firm here, had the opportunity to bring in clients and develop those relationships and really got to see after working at two different firms in San Antonio that he wanted to be independent. In my opinion, it was a great way to self-discover. Everyone close to him have encouraged him to do this for some time as Dustin has the gift of the gab and knows a lot of oil and gas people and businesses in both the Lubbock and Midland areas. He has commitment of work and turned in his resignation this morning, effective immediately.

So having twins is very challenging. Everything now comes with a plan. Dinner must be planned around feeding times and we must have bottles prepared in advance just in-case. Nonetheless, caring for a baby is a full-time job and double that then you will understand why I have decided not to return to work. I'm going to focus on what is truly important in life, our family and my health. I'm going to stay at home with the girls once we make our move. I will be finishing out one week at Alamo Heights and have alerted them to our move. I'm very sad to leave as I have been there 5 years and have developed a lot of wonderful friendships. Ultimately, this move back to Lubbock for Dustin and to Lubbock for me (can you believe I have never lived there??!!) is one that is best for OUR family. There Claire and Caroline will have 6 grandparents, 4 great-grandparents, 6 aunts and uncles and 1 baby cousin Emma that was born just last week while we were out there visiting. ; ) It will be a refreshing move to have so many family members so close. We've learned just how important that help is when the unthinkable happens.

Gigi and her girls

Happy Mother's Day 2012!

Great-grandfather, Papaw and Claire

Aunt Macy and Caroline

Great-grandparents: Nana and Papaw....and it was 8:30, feeding time! OOPS

Happy 2 Months... Caroline left and Claire right

"Wake up sister!"

Yeah, this photo shoot wasn't easy....so the binkies were MUSTS

Aunt Amber and Caroline

We outgrew our bassinets and mommy cried!

Papaw and the girls

Our new house

Favorite part! Love the door and LOVE the gas lanterns.

This pictures doesn't exactly give the kitchen justice. It has enough storage for all of my dishes, a full-size wine refrigerator and wolf appliances -- we. are. in. heaven.

You can't have too many....

- Burp Cloths - Swaddles - Diapers - Wipes - Formula - Bottles - Receiving Blankets - WASHERS AND DRYERS! Yes, we're running a full-time assembly line out of 7 Inwood Way. Between boiling baby water, mixing and fortifying formula, changing 15+ diapers a day and 3+ loads of laundry each day...I've been busy to say the least. This is a full time job! So far things are going well for the girls. They continue to grow and show all signs of good health. Last week we went to our first pediatrician appointment and Caroline weighed 6 lbs. and 2 oz. and Claire weighed 6 lbs. even. So basically they each gained 1 lb. in the one week they were home! We have a routine that we stick to and feed the girls every 4 hours. So we feed at 8:30, 9:00, 12:30, 1:00, 4:30, 5:00 and repeat. Lots of bottles, lots of formula! We do mama-roo time -- if you haven't seen this gadget google it...it's a must have -- playmate time and tummy time each day to strengthen our muscles but in between feedings, including the night they sleep! Their personalities are emerging. Caroline is super chill and easy going. If she's hungry she lets you know just by waking up and waits for you to feed her....she doesn't cry when she's hungry. Claire on the other hand, if things aren't just so then she lets us know with a one "waaaah" followed by rest and then another "waaaah." She doesn't like her hands swaddled inside and has to have it at a perfect tightness. She eats at her time on the dot! She's our wiggle worm during playmat time...this is the exact opposite of their personalities in the womb. Baby "B" (Caroline) was every where on the monitors and gave me lots of kicks. They are certainly fun to watch especially their interactions with one another. So I was stubborn and refused to purchase a bigger car while I was pregnant. Nonetheless, my car just will NOT work....(I knew this, but had to see it first hand!)....so today we're getting our suburban. Total kid-hauler, but I guess I am a mom of two now....so I will join all the other moms out there that have bit the bullet and bought the kid-hauler. I anticipate this being a great tail-gating rig too! My health: things have shown improvement. My bell's palsy is almost gone, if you're an average person just looking at me and don't know the situation but if you are looking for it you can see that my right side still struggles. When taking pictures I have to be extra conscious of this to open that eye a little wider and draw back my smile even further. My jaw is still not as strong on that side, but that is to be expected. My pneumonia has been clear and has remained gone. I went to the cardiologist last week and repeated my echocardiogram where they found my ejection fracture to be 70%. That doesn't sound high but it is -- it's a great number to have, especially when I started in the 40 percent range when I was in the ER. I still have some heart palpitations and on occasion my heart rate is still high but after all I am running an assembly line over here?!? I'm still on medication to slow my heart rate, but have been able to drop the blood pressure meds since I've maintained a consistently healthy BP since discharge. I will be released to return to work by the end of this month and should be released, HOPEFULLY, entirely from the cardiologist by the end of the summer. As far if this could happen again if we had additional children, that can't be answered firmly by everyone, but we're not ready to have that conversation, if ever. We feel VERY lucky to have what we have! Overall, I've bounced back quickly -- even my Dr.'s didn't think things would go this well this fast so we're thankful! When we arrived home we had two storks in our yard announcing the girls birth! So cute!