HAPPY 4th of July and A little more of this and that :)

Happy 4th of July, Happy 1st B-day Rozy, and Happy 4 months old Si and Eli.

LOTS to celebrate!!  We spent the 4th of July with my family at the lake and celebrated Rozy's first birthday!  It was quite the the celebration and lots of family were able to be there so we had a fun family reunion...kinda. :) 

This was our father's day present photo shoot :) 

Sleeping in the Hall :) Cousins in the living room and in every room :) We come with lots of stuff :) 

Love my Sweet Sister....

Great Granddaddy BC Very Patriotic photo :) 

Great Grandma Betty 

They both look a sleep but just Eli is :) 

Anthony and his buddy the Birthday Girl!!

Sweet Daddy and Silas

I love when my boys fall asleep somewhere like their Great aunt Elaine's leg :)

Training for an on the go family.   

Great Uncle Tim

Their buddy Travis.... He somehow seems to end up at all family functions :) Glad Emily comes too :) 

Swim Swim Swim 

Couldn't resist these sweet swim trunks.  

Our buddy Marin Adams 

I love when my boys get to see their GREAT grandparents!!!  We always take lots of pictures.  I know so many people who didn't get to know theirs and I was blessed to know almost all of mine.   

Great Grandma Pauline

Elijah Anthony Luster 

4 months old weighing in about 11.5 lbs

Silas Anthony Luster

4 months old weighing in a little less at about 11 lbs.  

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Family Pic :) 

2nd time on the boat :) 

Daddy driving us...It was stinkin raining :) but that didn't stop us :) 

bundled up with Mimi

Happy One Month Sweet Boys

Welcome to Blog Land my little Men

I can't believe they are one month old today. The time is already flying by so time to start documenting our little lives. 

Silas Left and Elijah is on the Right


Quick Summary of the Events leading up to the BIG moment.
Thursday, Feb. 28th: went to hospital but was sent home only dilated 2 cm.  
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: I continued to have contractions but I was never able to figure out a pattern or if they were close enough to go back to the hospital.  I was bound and determined to not go back to the hospital unless I knew for sure they would keep me.  
Sunday:  I called my mom and said I think we might need to go to the hospital.  She jumped in her super mom mobile and headed to the city.
7:00 pm Sunday night:  We were waiting for her at our front door.  When she pulled up we got in the car and were headed to the hospital.  
THEY KEPT ME!!!
Because both babies were head down and right next to each other my cervix was still not dilating.  One of them needed to lead the way to start the process.  They gave me an epidural(which made my whole body itch... so weird but was the greatest relief EVER!) and started me on pitocin.  I was told to get some rest and they would come check me in the morning.  We all fell a sleep and got some okay rest.  My mom and Anthony were troopers.  They stayed by my side All night.

Anthony got suited up and ready for delivery!!!  He was so great to have by my side!!  

Because we were having twins we had to be in the operating room which was quite the ordeal... It felt like there was at least 20 people in the room.  

Anthony was the photographer and did such a great job documenting.  Much more than the blog world should ever see. :) 

First Photo Together

Born March 4th, 2013

Silas was born at 2:31 pm and weighed 5lbs 13oz.  He came out a blazin... He cried until he got to nurse.  He is such a sweet snuggly baby. He's a great eater and sleeps like a champ... They have had several 4 hour spans of sleeping at night. He does not like to have his diaper changed and seems to be a bit more strong willed than his brother Elijah.  Most people think he is the one that looks like his mamma and my sister in-law says he looks like my dad :).  His skin is a little lighter than Eli.  He does have his mamma's lips but thats all I really can tell at this point.  

Elijah came out chillin.  Daddy was a little concerned because he didn't make a peep until they made him cry but still it didn't last long.  He was wide eyed and just looking around.  He is also a sweet snuggly baby and while he cries sometime when he gets his diaper changed he is typically more okay with being messed with than Si.  He is also a great eater and sleeper.  Both boys pretty much eat, sleep, and need their diaper changed. EVERYONE says he looks like his daddy.  Again... I can't tell. 

So far they have met all of their Aunts and Uncles and cousins.  They have met their grandparents and great grandparents.  Our family has been so great!!! Spoiling us with love, food, holding babies, changing diaper, cleaning...etc.  Our Sweet friend Courtney has been here a lot as well and she sure does love our boys.  She has been so helpful!

Our church has been so great!  We have had so many meals brought to us and they have all been so helpful and delicious!!!!

Silas and Elijah went to church for the first time on Easter at the Lake of the Ozarks.  They met lots of old time friends being at the sweet church I grew up in.  They did really great and barely made any peep.

  

This is our Iphone Easter Picture... (Better than nothin) 

Hope you all are having a fabulous week!
I'm excited to keep you updated on the Luster family.  

Blessings!

Instagram and Chocolate Cake

Mom's Chocolate Chip Cake and Icing

(This cake is so good it taste like a donut)

1 yellow cake mix (I like Duncan Hines)

4 eggs mixed

1/2 C. Oil 

1 1/2 C. Water

1 t. vanilla

Mix above ingredients by hand (will be bumpy)

Add- (just stir in, don't beat)

2 small boxes instant chocolate pudding

1-12 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate Chips

Pour into WELL greased/floured bundt pan.

Cool completely before removing

Icing- In small pan, melt 1/2 Stick butter.  Add 2-3 T. Milk, 2 C. Powdered sugar, 1T cocoa.   When starting to boil, remove from heat and add 1 t. vanilla and 1/4 t. almond flavoring.

From the Kitchen of:  Joyce King :) 

 36 weeks and REALLY ready to have these Baby boys!!!!!

Newest little treat!!!  

Take home outfits :) 

My Handsome Valentines Date... Just not the same when you have to go to the bathroom 3-4 times through out dinner, and not being able to finish dinner because literally there is NO MORE room in this body....:) 

This is my Big Sister and Her super cutey cute baby girl, Aubry... I miss them!!! Just thought I would introduce you. :) 

 My other sweety sweet baby niece Rozy!!

Other Luster Family news:

 We are of course still pregnant... Ready any minute now to head to the hospital.  We are praying they would just come on their own but our Dr. doesn't want them to go past 38 weeks.  Last week they weighed 5lbs and 4lbs 13 oz.  so 10 lbs of baby in this body is just about enough I would say :) 

If being pregnant with twins wasn't enough for us we also moved to Kirkwood, MO which is actually just about 10 minutes from where we lived before.  We are sooo thankful for the opportunity because while we were ready for the challenge of living in a 2 bedroom condo with 2 babies and double everything, and 2 flights of stairs... we probably would have lost our minds!!!  So now we are living in a really sweet neighborhood with 2 wonderful families across the street. 

The Lord has been so faithful!!!! 

Have a terrific Sunday!!  And Please pray for these babies to have a soon arrival!!!

I should have Called....

"I am so sorry I haven't called... Every time I had a minute I kept thinking I have so much to talk about and I haven't called in so long..." 

You know the conversation... This is how I have been feeling about blogging for ummmm months!!!!

And now here I am with a million things I could share and write about.  

So here is a brief overview of the last couple months.

November

We were so blessed to get to go be a part of my cousin Carolyn's wedding... in the VIRGIN ISLANDS!!!!  It was an amazing get away!!  I was almost completely over my food aversions (red meat still kinda creeps me out) so I definitely was able to enjoy myself.  I ate Banana pancakes almost every morning at the hotel restaurant which was outside and steps from the beach.  We went for walks every day and spent so great time with my family and especially with my new niece Rozy.  The wedding was beautiful and it is always so fun to get a chance to see my aunts, uncles, cousins, and Grandparents!!  We were all excited to welcome Shawn Cox into our Family!

My super handsome husband and I at the top of the island...Beautiful view!

Eating out at the famous Glady's Cafe on St. Thomas Island

Betty and Granddaddy... I always love getting to spend time with them!

The Beautiful Couple!

My Beautiful Sister and Rozy... (Rozy is sayin its hot out here...lets go swimming!)

The Men :)

 The whole gang, wish Ali, Scott, Brady, Will, and Aub were there.

 The adventurous ladies who will go anywhere they are invited :) Last year they went to Israel.

Aunt Elaine, Love this lady.... she reminds me of my JoJo so much!!!


Thanksgiving

Just 2 weeks later we packed up and headed to Branson.  This was my parents year for everyone to be with them for Thanksgiving.  We decided if we could find a great place to stay we would try to rent a cabin and all meet there for something different.  My search began!!  Working along with my mom we found the perfect place which was WAY out in the middle of no where... actually just minutes from our beloved camp Kanakuk, in Lampe MO.
We ate a lot, of course, learned how to make my Great Grandma's (Mamaw) chicken and dumplings, played games, watched football, watched Christmas movies, and took family pics.
So thankful for our family!



Cassie and Geoff's Wedding in Austin, TX

Yes we are still in November... man o man we crammed it in!!! After searching the world for a dress that would work for a bridesmaid dress that would fit this prego body and still fit in the guidelines of what Cass wanted her bridesmaids to wear... My mom finally saved the day and found one!!!

Their wedding day was actually Dec. 1st but we got there for the wedding festivities before the actual day.
What a blessing it was to get to spend a few days with my sweet friend Cassie before her wedding day!
Her wedding was beautiful and was such an amazing testimony of God's grace and love.
Especially evident in how the Lord can bring so many totally different people together and have the most amazing time of loving and encouraging one another in the Lord...
We had an amazing time dancing the night away!!!  I love dancing with my hotty hot husband!!
There is something about being at a wedding with my husband that just reminds me of how blessed I am to have married a man after God's Heart!!  Someone who loves Jesus more than me which is so reflected in how he leads us and loves me so well!!!
(Wish I had some pics because it was an incredible wedding)

December

This month has flown by and I can not believe its New Years Day!!! I some how managed to get out a Christmas post card (before Christmas) to a lot of people, stayed busy working for my sweet friend Rosemary who lives down the street,  Christmas shopped, worked on our baby room for our fast growing twin boys,  and helped Anthony at his office.  Anthony has stayed busy with running our still new State Farm office.  They say after 5 years things will get easier :)
 I am so amazed at what he knows how to do!!!!
He is really so great at his job and can only get better because of his teachable heart.  He meets with other agents, they call them "study groups" to discuss and work on their business.  He visits with older, wiser agents that teach him all the tricks of the trade... basically work really hard!!!
Christmas was wonderful and simple.  Anthony and I got to help with the worship at our Church's Christmas eve service, and then we headed to Arkansas to spend time with my older sister and her sweet family!  We are so thankful for Jesus and the true and perfect gift that he was and is to our very imperfect lives.  

This was our pic for Christmas cards taken at Thanksgiving.


Thanks for hangin in there!!!  That was not so brief but hopefully you got a glimpse into the Luster Family's last few months.

I promise to call more often :)

Report Card is In and we Have Straight A's

This last wednesday we had our big doctors appointment and this Momma and both boys got GREAT reports!!!  This ultra sound was definitely my favorite out of all the ones we have had.

They measured the boys heads, bellies, arms, legs, feet, hands, kidneys, hearts, EVERYTHING.... It took forever but I would have stayed all day!!  It was so fun to see them at 17 weeks!!!  

I haven't actually felt them moving in side me yet...BUT... they are active little boys.  They were moving like crazy during the ultra sound.  

Here are a few pictures... Our Nurse was amazing and she printed sooo many for us!

There is no doubt that these little guys are BOYS... :) Their daddy was so proud of how proud they seemed to show us with no shame they are BOYS :)

I love the Thumbs up :) "Mom, we're doing great in here!!"

I love how they still call them baby BB and baby CC... You can't see our sweet Glory baby, Baby AA but we will never forget her/him!  All three babies will be in the beginning of the baby book.  

Also other Fun things going on at the Luster Home is our Amazing St. Louis Cardinals!!!!

We haven't missed a game, on TV that is :) We did get to go to one of the Cards games against the Nationals which was both of our first post series game.  We got to go on Friday as well for the last game in St. Louis and even though the game was stinky!!!  We still always have fun!  Hoping for a world series game... Tonight's game is do or die!!! 

  Nationals vs. Cardinals

This was my layered up...Its going to be cold outfit!!  T-shirt, long sleeve tee shirt, polar fleece, vest, hat, long underwear, jeans, wool socks, and hunter boots... I was NOT cold :)

 San Fransisco vs. Cardinals

Saturday Night Movie and Cookies on the Couch...

Hope you have a great week!!  Happy Monday!

.....And I'm feeling gooood....

17 Week Update!!!  

I can't say thank you enough to everyone that has been praying for me!!!!  Everyone keeps saying that I feel better because I'm in the 2nd trimester and while I will say that may have something to do with the smile on my face in this picture but... I tell ya I know it is truly a miracle and an answer to prayer that the hyperemesis didn't last any longer.  Lots of woman with this are sick for their enitre pregnancy and I am so happy to report I have been completely medicine free for a whole week!!!

I have gone back to pretty much normal daily activities and I am eating more than just PB&J, granola bars, cream of wheat, and canned fruit.

I am drinking carnation instant breakfast for the protein and vitamins. 

(Still not eating ANY meat... Gross Me Out)

 I'm eating Carbs... Bagels and Cream Cheese and Beans, Rice and Cheese Soft Tacos :), and Lots of Apples.  

We found out early that we are..... Drum Roll Please.... Having 2 

BOYS!!!!! 

For some reason since the beginning of our pregnancy I have thought boys... BUT really wanted girls.  I have always been the babysitter of girls!!!  I love to play with hair, make crafts, color, play princess!! And its Adriane that was always so great with boys!!!  She had a girl of course!!  And she is the sweetest girl momma!!  Look at her :)    

I am very excited about having boys... They may not have names for the first year of their precious lives... because we can't think of 2 that we like together or just two. :) This naming stuff is hard!!!

If for some reason they made a mistake and there is a girl and a boy inside of me I think we could name them tomorrow but as for now we are on the hunt for boy names.

We have a big Doctors Appointment this next week which will decide a few things for us.  They will do a very thorough ultra sound which will include measuring my cervix and making sure that everything is on track and healthy for a long full term pregnancy.  This will determine if

I am going to travel to my cousins wedding in the VIRGIN ISLANDS.... Yeah... thats what I said...the Virgin Islands :) Which would be an amazing little get away for Anthony and I.  We would go with my family and get to stay for 4 days.  AMAZING!!!     

I really need to write blogs more often.  I feel like I just wrote a book and could keep going.  

Things I could talk about:

The Bible Study I am In (Loving It)

Sweet Mom's that keep telling me they have FREE baby boy stuff for me.

Cleaning out Stuff Trying to start preparing for babies

How Wonderful My Sweet Husband is!

Why I love Fall so much!

Maybe next time :) 

Have a great Weekend!!