Boiler Up and Still Waiting.....

So how 'bout those Boilers!!! I thought for sure I would go into labor on Saturday with all the cheering I did for Purdue...Boiler Up! They took down OSU or as I like to say the "vest". What a great weekend.

And for those of you still wondering...yes, we are still waiting for 'lil baby girl mood to make her arrival. She apparently is quite comfy! As Jim stated, "I don't blame her...I wouldn't want to arrive now to this colder weather"! But, at least it hasn't snowed here (yet) and this week we'll experience an indian summer. Perhaps that will encourage baby to arrive...either way only 4 more working days in '09!

Oh - I just can't wait - 39 weeks and counting!!

'Lil Baby Mood update...plus football playoffs and more!

Well our 'lil baby is growing and approximately 6 lbs 12ozs according to our ultrasound last Friday! From what they can tell she is healthy and growing - what more could we ask for! They also said based on her latest measurements my due date moved from 10/30 to 10/27...so we'll eventually get to my true due date I have said along of 10/25. With that we are just waiting as patiently as we can for our 'lil one to arrive...and we know she will be here at least by 10/23...that's less than 17 days away!

And playoffs - playoffs...well Zach's team won this past Saturday and will continue with tackle football playoffs! They had an awesome game - way to go Zach! And Madi did a terrific job with her cheer team cheering them on!!

Madi and Zach also received their mid-term reports and are doing awesome in school too! A's and B's - great considering an "A" is 97-99%!

Our vacation...all aboard!

Finally I've posted our vacation photos from our disney cruise....we visted Tortola, St.Thomas / St. John, Magen's Bay (rated one as one of the top ten beaches in the world) and Castaway Cay!

We hope you enjoy and we're so glad we can share our vacation with you all!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The first day of school...oh the places you can go when you get on the bus...

First off, Madi and Zach made it home from the first day of school okay - the trip there was quite the adventure (see below) and I had a ultrasound today to check for signs of pre-term labor (all seemed fine, baby is beautiful and @ 30 weeks weighs about 3lbs 11oz).

So here is what Jimmy had to say about the first day of school...apparently I was a mess...and who wouldn't be when they (the public school buses) lose your children...

"Ok... where do I start??? Madi & Zach just got to school for their 1st day (1hr late) @ VCA- but the WRONG bus picked them up & took them to St. Rita Catholic School in Solon (not near their school)!!! Why the Bus-lady stopped @ our bus stop that was NOT on her route & did not ask if they went to St. Rita, we do not know!!

But Vicki & me were patiently waiting @ VCA for the twins to arrive & we get a call from our neighbor saying he thinks Madi & Zach got on the wrong bus & it is going to St. Rita!!! So we zoom over to St. Rita & luckily our neighbors wife is there to stay w/ them. Zach asked Madi, "This is not the right school. Why are we @ St. Rita?" We pick them up & they eventually make it to the correct private school!!! I got a quick pic in front of the sign before we took them to their class-same class this year-easier homework wise. Vicki was a mess-do not stress out the expecting mom!!!:) The excitement never ends up here in Cleveland!!:) "

Despite the rough start, Madi and Zach had a good first day (once they arrived). Here they are arriving late on their first day!

We made it to the 3rd trimester and August!

So, baby and I made it to the 3rd trimester and 28 weeks...woo-hoo! (With Madi and Zach I was on bedrest at this point.)

Plus it's August...which on one hand August means back to school for the twins - back to hectic mornings and homework! On the other hand it also means that October will be here soon which sounds so great right about now for me.

Our goal is to get me to 39 weeks...so in about 11 more Friday's (from this today) we should have a new addition to our family!Then, along with the hectic mornings and homework, we'll add a little sister to the mix. But, at least I'll be home for 13 weeks (which if baby cooperates would have me off and at home through the holidays) so that I can get everyone adjusted!Oh and I have been meaning to add this as several have asked..... but there isn't a baby shower planned for us (unless it's a surprise) but we are registered. (We are registered at Target...target.com under registries/baby registry you can search for ours.)

Zach started tackle football practice this week (every weekday evening!) - he was drafted by the "Dolphins" and Madi started cheerleading practice this week and as luck would have it she is a "Dolphin" too. They also have tennis lessons this week. Next week, Madi finally starts her gymnastics camp which runs all day / everyday and she can't wait!

Lastly, tomorrow we'll be headed to "Twins Days Fest"...Madi will be in the parade with her girl scout troop and Zach and I will be on the sidelines collecting candy! We'll also get to see some of our twin friends...it should fun if the weather holds up.

The latest photo of our 'Lil Baby Girl Mood!

As you see, she is laying sideways with her hand in the air waving "hello" to all!

(If you click on the pic you should be able to view an enlarged version.)

Our visit to the Indians game and the zoo!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A...FLAT.....what?

So, last night I was at work until after 6.30 pm and I walk out to find a F-L-A-T tire! Can you believe it? El Preggo is like the last one in the entire building, it's about 85 and humid out and I have a flat tire. So, I called my Jimmy to come to the rescue! Thank goodness we didn't have any sports activities last night and good thing we don't live too far from the office...Jimmy brought the family to pick me up.

Then, this morning he drove me to work very, very early to see if he could use his air compressor to at least fill the tire so I could drive it to the tire place a mile away. But, no such luck - it has a fast leak. So now it has to be towed which I'm sure will cost $$ to take it a whole mile and then be replaced versus plugged! Ugh.

What a day - week - whatever...not good so far...at least I wasn't driving when it happened. Hope everyone else's week is going much better than mine!

And it's a .....

Well, we had another ultrasound this morning and Madi and Zach were able to join us and see their new little sister. Yes, we were able to confirm it's a G-I-R-L!

Zach is thrilled to continue to be the only "boy" on the Lindamood side as far as grandkids go. Both Zach and Madi were hoping for a girl so I guess it all worked out.

Jim and I are excited too. We were just hoping for a healthy little one with a little less traumatic welcome into the world than what we experienced with Madi and Zach.

As promised we wanted to let everyone know as soon as we found out. 'Lil Baby Mood is doing good and "she" currently weighs 2lbs 5 ozs which we are told is exactly where she should be at this time.

Now, we'll have an equal balance in our 'lil family of boys (jim, zach, kobe and max) and girls (madi, baby, nala and myself).

"Zach is a CHAMPION"...they WON the CHAMPIONSHIP game!!!

Oh my gosh - it was a great game and Zach and his team really showed up. The final score was 12 to 9 with "The Volcano's" ERUPTING!

So the game started with "The Volcano's" (Zach's team)...up to 2 to zero for the first few innings. Then, the score moved to 5-9 in no time and Zach's team was behind by 4. With 2 outs already Zach started the beginning of the winning runs for his team and from there they never looked back and they never gave up. But, in fact they came back and added 7 more runs and the other team never scored another run!

Zach played catcher and worked with his pitcher to get 1, 2, 3 outs straight in one inning and he did a terrific job. They really played as a team and never quit. Once they realized they won the Championship the looks on their faces were priceless.

It was such an emotional, back and forth game...Jim almost had a heart attack and I cheered so much I thought for sure I'd go into labor right there. We couldn't even sit down, it was so intense.

We are so proud of Zach and his team - we'll post some pics later - we definitely have a lot but right now we are exhausted...well at least I am. The game started at 6.15pm and finally finished at 8.50 pm. Of course after that we had the presentation of the trophies to the Champions and then the trip to Diary Queen for the Champs. We finally arrived home well after 10 pm and then no one could sleep! What a great game and great ending to the season!

Way to go Zach...we are so proud of you!! (In the pic above - Zach is the biggest kid in the front row, sitting up in the center.)

Zach is going to the Championship game!!!!!

Well after continuing to win in the playoffs through the "mercy" rule even last night (18 to 2), Zach and his baseball team are headed to the Championship game on Wednesday!!

Zach played very well and had a TRIPLE (on a pass ball) - but still a triple!! We were so proud of him and his team.

Jim has been so excited he has been videotaping the grass again and I have almost gone into labor several times! So much cheering and excitement!!!

Here we go Volcanos - #1 baby!!

And it's a S-T-R-I-K-E!!

Here is video of Madi pitching in one of her softball games...it's a strike!

Great pitch Madi!

We want a double, just a little double...D-O-U...B-L-E....Double, Double, Double!

(Here is a pic of Zach "catching"!! )

Well Zach's baseball team had their first playoff game last night and won. Zach hit a DOUBLE! He was so excited and so was everyone on his team. To hit a DOUBLE with the boy's baseball team is a little challenging...most hits that look like doubles just get a single. These boys are tough. Zach was so excited and proud! Zach also played catcher which is his favorite position. He is so serious when he rips off his catcher's helmut to catch someone trying to steal. He has caught some in the past but no one attempted to steal last night while he was catcher.

I will see if I can find any pictures / video of Zach's double so that I can post but I think Jim was capturing the video and when Zach hit the double, the camera almost hit the ground or Jim captured the ground (instead of Zach)...he was cheering for him :)

Zach also started tennis lessons yesterday and really enjoys it...and is also "conditioning" for basketball. These conditioning sessions look exhausting...but for a 9 year old with all the energy in the world I'm sure it's great and it will get him prepared for tackle football practice everyday that is coming up soon...and those hot summer days wearing all that equipment!

Madi just finished softball and is taking her summer "jazz" class and will be starting gymnastics camp (3 weeks) in August (it was delayed due to the roof at the facility having to be replaced).

And Baby well we think him/her is "conditioning" for the olympic gymnastic team in my tummy most of the day...I never have felt kicks, flips, turns, cartwheels, etc. like this before. Of course, I don't have a "single" pregnancy to compare it to. With Madi and Zach I don't think there was much room to "condition". Glad the little one is so active and taking after their big sis and big bro :0

So, that's it for now...Zach's next playoff game is scheduled for Wednesday evening! Let's go VOLCANO'S!!

PS - My brother (Jonathan) and his wife (Sarah) just welcomed their second baby and grandson to the family..."Carter" - congrats to them! He's such a big boy! Now, Zach isn't the only boy - i.e. grandson / cousin / nephew on my side of the family...but still remains the only boy thus far on the other side and I think he likes it that way ;)

Madi and Zach's first "official" riding lesson

You may recall my mention back a bit ago about Madi and Zach's first "official" riding lesson. Well they're naturals...

here is Zach...and Madi

Baby Update and more!

I'm at 21 weeks now and this baby is always on the move! I went to the baby doc last Friday and we heard the heartbeat again - nice and strong. It was just a regular visit and not too much to report. I am now back on the positive from a weight perspective having been sick about four weeks ago and losing weight. So I'm sure there will be no more worries in the weight category! Now I'm just hungry all the time! LOL! I will have another ultrasound - but probably not for bit so we may actually get to find out if it is a boy or a girl prior to it's birth date!

Yesterday as we were leaving for church and I looked down at my stoamch. It really looked my stomach had just popped out! Zach was like your stomach is growing!! Jim thought it looked the same. I'm sure it had to do with the dress I was wearing. It was funny and caught our attention as we were leaving.

Zach and Madi kept us busy again this weekend with baseball and softball - though I think this week is crazy! I know Madi has games on Monday, Friday and Saturday and Zach I think is on the same schedule plus then you add in all the other things they are involved in...Zach has a basketball camp during the day and Madi is in a volleyball camp. Plus Zach's other basketball program, Madi's dance class, etc. It doesn't seem like summer break to me :).

Oh well - they are busy and having fun!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the BEST TWINS!!

HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY MADI and ZACH!

We cannot believe it's been 9 years since you both surprised us by arriving many, many weeks early...which was one of the best days of our lives! And to look at you both now already so grown up (9 going on 19)...we never would have imagined and no one would guessed that you born so early and ever so tiny. Even the preemie t-shirts and onesie's wouldn't stay on your shoulders! Or when you would want to sleep next to each other tightly so we would place both of you in one car seat so you could snooze together! I think the picture we have of both of you sleeping like this, so tiny in a frame titled "forever young" is the best picture we have. It's priceless.

Well I hope you are having a great day and not giving daddy a hard time shopping with your birthday money! I think this is the first year you all have been already out of school and on summer break on your birthday so there is a present for you both already but definitely more to come tonight...well if you're good! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH... :) your Mom and Dad and baby

PS to everyone else reading this - We did have our ultrasound yesterday and Madi and Zach were able to attend too. It was quite the experience for them. We all had the chance to see baby yawn, show us his/her feet (many times) and mainly sleep with one arm behind it's head (baby is already taking after the twins and daddy).

But, unfortunately, they couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl so I guess we are stuck trying to find gender neutral everything but mainly clothes - do you know how hard that is? Everything is either all boy or girly, girl. We are happy to report that the baby is healthy and growing especially since I have been sick. Baby is already 9 ounces @ 19 weeks (half way point for me). Just think in about 20 more weeks we'll be celebrating baby! Our due date as of now is officially 10/30 - uncle mike's b-day.

Go CAVS!!

Tonight begins with the 1st game of the eastern conference finals and of course we are cheering on the CAVS and Lebron!

Today, I can wear jeans to work (if I wear a Cav's shirt or jersey)...I have on Zach's Lebron jersey (yes - it's a "boy's" jersey) and amazingly it fits so I guess I'm not that preggo afterall. Actually I'm not showing much at all...just have a little buda baby right now!

All of us are getting back to feeling better and eating again - finally! Madi and Zach are counting down the days til the last day of school (May 29th) and it will be around 80 today and beautiful!

And I'm craving Mexican food which is so odd - when I was preggo with Madi and Zach I couldn't stand it! Actually I'm just craving these special chips and queso...so, hopefully I will get my mexican food fix later this week - Jimmy and I are going to lunch together at one of my favorite spots!! Though I'm not sure I can wait until then.

Let's go.....CAV's!!

TGIF - I think.....

Lots going on as usual here...Madi and Zach will be out of school soon. I counted and they have 9 days left!! Their last day is May 29th. I can't believe they are getting out so early. But, then again they started earlier than any other school so.....

And you may wonder why we haven't posted any vacay pics yet...well soon after we returned from vacation Madi was sick, then Zach and then Jim and I were hit with the monster illness at the same time! It was awful to have two parents down at the same time and we are all still recovering. I think Madi is the only one that is kind of back to herself. Zach still will hardly eat which is so unlike him and says his stomach still bothers him. And Jim and I are just a few days out of the peak of the monster illness and still feel horrible.

I went to the baby doc this morning for my check up and the baby kicked the doc and is doing fine though I keep losing weight versus gaining any. But, after the monster illness when you have nothing left in your stomach and you feel sick for the next week plus it very well explains the lack of weight gain. But, the doctor put me on a strict "gatorade" diet because he doesn't want me to lose anymore weight. Now, why couldn't I have had this illness when I wasn't el preggo - it's horrible but I lost like 10 pounds in no time! I'm joking and we are concerned about the baby so if I don't start feeling better by next week I have to go back into the doc's office. He said this illness that has been going around here for months and takes the normal person a week to recover and with me it will take a bit longer since I'm el preggo - I just hope I feel better soon. I was just saying last week how I felt great and didn't even feel pregnant...so much for that.

We are looking forward to June 1st (day before the twins b-day) because we get to find out if we are having a boy or a girl. Well, that's if the little angel participates in the process.

Enough for now.....at least we have the weekend ahead of us and it's a bright and sunny Friday afternoon! Everyone have a great weekend and enjoy the weather.

Cinco de Mayo!

It's Cinco de Mayo and my birthday! Woo-hoo! We "cruisers" returned from vacation late, late Saturday night and so I decided to take Monday off to get caught up and Tuesday as well since it was my birthday. More on our vacation later when I can post some pics! For my b-day, Madi and Zach bought me iced cookies...yummy and played their favorite tunes while they danced. It was so cute - I wish I had a picture of them dancing. Zach spun Madi into him. I think they've been watching Dancing with the Stars or something.

On a very sad note, this past Monday, Jim found out that his grandmother (GG) was not doing well and possibly only had a few days left so off he went to Indianapolis to visit with her. I stayed home with the kiddos. We love GG soooo much and really wish she was doing better. GG is a true lady and the neatest person I have ever met. She is like a grandma to me and adores the twins! GG is smart, funny, spry, sophisticated, and always dressed so well from head to toe -usually wearing one of her many unique hats. She is such a great lady! We love her soooo much!!

Finally a new doc...

So last Friday, I finally found myself a new baby doc. Being new to the area and not knowing what hospital or doctors are any good it's hard to find one because you're just guessing. But, I'm happy to report that we finally did.

This doc actually took the time to speak with me...for about 30 minutes to be exact. He is from Indiana and went to med. school at IU (I guess I can't hold this against him - at least it wasn't Ohio State like my first doc) and he did residency at Clarian/Methodist Hospital in Indy where Madi and Zach spent their first ten days in the NICU. (He went to North Central High School and said the only other high school that existed basically was Fisher's.) Anyway, he is very nice and very good. I think he was happy to find someone that he could talk to about IN versus all the OH people he sees everyday.

So about "lil baby mood" - we checked the heart rate and it was 150. He mentioned a few tests we may want to consider, took the time to understand my history with the first pregnancy / twins and said we were in great health and sent us on our way.

We had several tests done this week...extensive blood tests (which I hate) and a high level ultrasound with many new "baby" pics that I'll hopefully post and share more about before we leave for vacation (we leave this Saturday). Stay tuned!!

INTRODUCING.....

Congratulations - Today is MY day!
I am off to great places!
I am off and away!
I have brains in my head.
No feet in my shoes.
But, I am the person that can steer myself any direction I choose!

Oh! The places I can go!

I'll be on my way up, I will be seeing great sights!
I'll join my big sister and my big brother who soar to high heights.


I will get mixed up, of course, as you already know.
I'll get mixed up with many strange birds as I grow.
So I'll be sure when I can step, to step with care and great tact.
And remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act!
I must never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up my right foot with my left!


And yes, I will succeed…..110 and 3/4's percent guaranteed!

So……be my name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
Or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
I'm already off to Great Places!


Today is MY day!


My mountain is waiting come October they say.
So…I'll get on my way!

Introducing.....at two inches and 11.5 weeks…..

Your new grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin or friend…..



'Lil Baby Mood!!!!!

So long time no updates!

Between keeping up with M/Z and the snow here it's been a challenging winter so no updates in a bit! Sorry.

Madi and Zach both were involved in swimming. Madi has also been very involved in Brownies and Zach in two different basketball leagues. So, Jim is extremely busy being super dad and driving them every where since most of these activities start while I'm still at the office. And oh yeah, did I mention they're in school and the amount of homework they get is crazy along with projects and book reports this keeps us all very busy.

We finally sold our home in Powell (Columbus). Thank goodness that is done with. We finished our basement in our new house and we absolutely love it!! Woo-hoo, we just need to find time to spend in it now... and I promise pics of the basement to follow soon.

This past weekend, I painted Madi's bedroom and it's so bright now! M/Z say it's the color of the ocean. We'll have to post a pic of it once all of her pics, etc are hung on the walls.

We are also looking forward to our vacation and cannot wait til it is here. It can't come soon enough! We are going on a Disney Cruise to Tortola, St. John, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay in late April!