Wisniewski's are Sleepers

Over Christmas we had some visitors and all three of them did a good deal of sleeping. I can't blame dad for sleeping so much because he was extremely ill. We let him sleep as much as he wanted and in the end I think it paid off because he left here feeling pretty good.

Please do not be misled by the burp rag on dad's chest. We did give him something larger to cover up with when he slept. In fact we gave up our bed and slept on the hide-a-bed in order to keep the parentals happy and healthy.

Mom also did a great deal of sleeping but we can't blame her either. At the age of 6? (age partially altered) she tends at least six children under the age of four, manages to keep a clean house, cooks dinner for dad and grandma, crochets blankets and burp rags, quilts and well who knows what else! We think she should be allowed a nap or two if she feels like it.

As for our other guest, she just slept and as you can see from the picture it was usually in a strange position. The first night after they arrived, she told me to wake her up at 7:30 am the next morning. So, like a good little aunt, I did just that and she had the nerve to tell me that I woke her up too early because back home it would have only been 6:30 am. My apologies, I didn't know that I had to account for the time change.

Even though there was a whole lot of sleeping going on, we also managed to have a lot of fun also. The boys got carried way more than they usually do when it's just me and I think they liked the added attention. I also enjoyed the company because when babies cried in the middle of the night, I could keep on sleeping. Perhaps it wasn't a vacation for some of the company after all...oops!

NDE

In case you don't know, that is a Near Death Experience. I didn't actually leave my body but it was a close call. Not really...well maybe...who knows. Let me get on with the story.

So this morning we (the boys and I) were awakened by some really loud beeping. This is what the boys looked like when all of the beeping was going on. The bunny in between them is a souvenir that the fire department gave us to remember their visit.

Back to the story, I was a little frustrated because I thought it was Kekoa's oxygen concentrator and we really tried to get rid of the crappy one when Makaio was taken off of oxygen. Anyway, I was tired and a little crabby because I was hoping to get a little more sleep before I got going for the day. After a couple of minutes I drug myself out of bed and much to my surprise it wasn't the concentrator at all but our carbon monoxide alarm.

I wasn't sure if the beeping meant that we needed new batteries or if it was detecting carbon monoxide. I climbed up on a chair and next to the flashing light it said "If beeping four times, call 911." Who did I call you ask, our landlord. I knew that nothing in the apartment was operated by gas so I thought that this might be a false alarm for sure. The landlord didn't answer and I kept thinking, "Carbon monoxide is the silent killer, all I need is for Sterling to come home to a dead family."

So I took matters into my own hands and called 911. The fire department was dispatched out and of course after I made the call our landlord returned my call and said that it was probably nothing and that I should just unplug the alarm, take it outside and let it air out. I was not okay with that answer so I was glad that I called 911.

Once the fire fighters arrived, the immediately started walking throughout my newly cleaned house, tracking snow and mud all over my newly mopped floors and vacuumed carpet. All of their contraptions were detecting carbon monoxide. They were trying to decide where it was coming from and as soon as they approached the garage, the CO detecting contraptions went CRAZY!

Evidently the levels by our garage were at 200 ppm which they informed me would have dropped me if I entered the garage. Luckily for me I was too chicken to go around the house investigating the source, finding it and leaving my children motherless.

Today I am grateful for carbon monoxide alarms in houses even though there is nothing that is gas operated. Today we are alive because someone invented an alarm and another someone installed it in our house!

There's a new concentrator in town! On Monday, January 20, we had a change of oxygen concentrators in the house.

Old Concentrator

New Concentrator

That's right...Makaio is officially off of oxygen and oh what freedom we are experiencing! It is so nice to pick him up and walk around the house freely. However, the best thing is that I no longer have to carry around two car seats and two oxygen tanks when we go to doctor's appointments.

I was nervous to take him off at first but if the doctor says he is ready then I guess he is ready. Kekoa is scheduled to get off of oxygen on January 21 and I am already counting down the days! Let's just hope his transition goes as smoothly as Makaio's did.

The Monkey and The Frog

My sister Jaycia got each of the boys a little stuffed animal for Christmas. Makaio got a monkey and Kekoa got a frog. They seemed to really enjoy looking at and touching the stuffed animals once we had opened them.

After enduring a full fifteen minutes of opening presents, the boys and Papa George snuggled up on the recliner for some quality time and a little nap.

I promise that we didn't stage these photos. They really did fall asleep in Papa George's arms with their stuffed animals right in front of them.

Dear Family and Friends,

As the end of the year approaches we often contemplate the many blessings that we have received. We love this time of year and the opportunity that it provides to ponder the giving and receiving of gifts. In our family we have a tradition of giving three gifts to each family member. These gifts are representative of the gold, frankincense and myrrh that the three wise men brought to the baby Jesus. Each family member receives a gift of worth, a useful gift and a gift of spirituality or healing. Thinking of our many blessings this year, we decided to pattern our Christmas letter after our gift giving tradition.

A Gift of Worth

On January 4, we discovered a plus sign on something more permanent than an etch-a-sketch and celebrated being pregnant with our first child. A couple of weeks later two heartbeats graced the ultrasound screen and our previous feelings of excitement quickly turned to panic. On June 1 our lives were forever changed when at 25 weeks gestation Makaio and Kekoa made their grand entrance into this world. The addition of twin boys to our eternal family is the most precious gift we have received this year

A Useful Gift

In December of 2009, Sterling was offered an externship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. On August 2 our family was temporarily separated when Sterling moved to Minnesota to begin his training. We were reunited on September 22 when Kekoa was finally discharged from the hospital. The experience at the Mayo Clinic has provided Sterling with a great deal of experience and preparation for a successful career. Sterling will finish his externship in June 2011, at which point we will move again in order to pursue a PhD.

A Gift of Healing

Immediately after the delivery of the twins, we were introduced to some of the most talented, capable and loving people we may ever know. We will be forever indebted to the NICU staff and nurses at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. With their knowledge and expertise they took two very fragile and sick infants and literally healed them. They altered feedings, adjusted ventilators, monitored a variety of health related issues and willingly gave of their time, talents and love.

We are thankful for all of the blessings and gifts that our family has received this year. Above all, we are grateful for the life and love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the greatest gift ever given.

Happy Holidays!

Love,

Sterling, Cylynn, Makaio and Kekoa Sheffield