Big update!

I know it has been some time, but as most of you know, Bella became very Ill in December and we are still working on figuring out what is going on.

We are back at Cook Children's, we have been here since Wednesday and this is the first chance I have had to answer e-mail. She is down to only 12 pounds, and still getting sick at least once a day without anti nausea meds and an IV. We have had numerous test, most are normal, some slightly abnormal, so we are waiting for the metabolic doctor to return tomorrow to let us know what that means. We also have to face putting her to sleep so they can get enough blood/plasma to run the rest of her test. Some of the blood/plasma needs to be sent to Mayo Clinic to be tested, and will take a few weeks to get back. When she can keep her food down, and eat at least 20 oz of formula in 24 hours, with weight gain of any kind, then we get to go home. That could be tomorrow, or a week or more...

The good news is, between blood draws and vomiting, she is pretty happy and gives us lots of love and hope for answers this time. The Doctors are being much more thorough, and we are working with peds, GI, renal, neuro, and metabolic together. So if there is anything known to man wrong with her, they should find it this time!

Just to let you know how Dax is perfect as all other little boys his age. About 22 pounds, and has one tooth with a second ready to emerge any day. He is such a happy baby, it is hard to be away from him, but we have lots of help taking care of him while we are at the hospital. David was here most of the time with me, but will go back to work tomorrow.

There are several new photos below, mostly from the last month, I left my camera on an airplane a little while back, so we lost a lot of photos...

Thanks to you all for your prayers, help and support the last few months! I will keep you posted as I can on the progress.

Love David, Lisa, Dax and Bella

The other day I jokingly put my diet coke straw to Dax's mouth, he got a huge mouthful before I knew what happened! So, I decided a sippy cup with straw was a great thing since he won't hold a bottle. He LOVED it!

Dax is tired at the hospital, but mommy missed him so much I didn't want to put him down.

Aunt Brenda visits at our second visit to Cook's. AND Dax went home with her for his first sleepover without mommy or daddy. He had a great time and even got a new toy! Elmo's airplane.

Thanks Aunt Brenda and Uncle Jeff!

Daddy's little man... his first real ball cap...

I am sure many more will follow, but isn't this one just the cutest!

Playing music for my daddy here -

Uncle Jeff and Aunt Brenda gave these to us and we just love them!

Bella loves to play patty cake and blow raspberries!

Bella loves to play with her feet, she can pull both socks off at one time!

Dax finally finds his feet! I guess that means his belly is either a little smaller,
or his arms are a little longer. Now, how does Bella get them in her mouth?

Bellas first trip in the Red Wagon. She did okay, but the elevator made her a little sick.

Grandma and Grandpa visit Bella

Bella at Cooks the first visit. She has a new baby to keep her company - From nana.

Dax is all ready for bed. He is pretty easy to put to bed now, and sleeps most nights until you wake him in the morning. Sometimes he loses his passy and needs a little help.

Dax must have spit up here. Duke loves the kids, but loves

when they spit up or drop their puffs more... snack time!

This looks like more fun when brother does it...

maybe when I get a little bigger I can make it work like he does...

Who me? From the looks of this, I may be in real trouble when

he gets old enough to talk his way out of whatever he did!

He is sooo ticklish it is great. Sometimes you just have to look at him and laugh a little to make him laugh until he can barely stop.

Daddy's little girl!

Santa Clause is Coming to Town!

Well today we ventured to the forbidden mall... David is not so crazy about shopping or crowds, but he didn't want to miss the twins seeing Santa for the first time. So we left early (we tend to be wide awake by 6-7am anyhow - and that is on a GOOD day!)

Amazing at it seems, there was only one or two people in front of us, so he survived, and the kids did very well, short of Bella trying to pull Santa's beard off, which was REAL by the way! We even managed to get some shopping done before it got too busy.

ALSO big news, just in case we didn't already tell you. . . I start my new job Monday!!! I am excited and scared at the same time. I know I will soon miss being home with the kids - seeing all of the little things they learn each day, but it really is best for all of us - at least for awhile.

Thanksgiving went well, we went to Nana's house, and even though I warned her about feeding the kids, she had to try it anyway. Dax did very well with a bite or two of mashed potatoes, Bella on the other hand did not.

She spit them out, Nana tried again, and let's just say she taught Nana not to feed her if she starts to make a funny face!

Dax and Santa - he liked all the attention and seemed to enjoy his first meeting. Let's hope next year goes as well.

Bella really enjoyed her first visit. As you can see she is already trying to tell Santa something... now if only we knew what it was. I think she was trying to get his beard again. He had to hold her hand down to keep it out of his beard and her mouth!

We hope you all have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

We will post more photos soon.

Love to All

Dax, Bella David and Lisa (and don't forget Duke!)

Halloween Outfits

We didn't go out for Halloween, so we just had cute outfits this year... Maybe next year we will be able to stay up longer and go to a couple houses... We can't wait!

Dax's says "So Cute it's Scary"
Bella's says "I have Mommy Under My Spell"

Update from The Adkinson's

Well once again it has taken awhile for me to get new photos up. But we have been busy as ever. I am still in the process of looking for a full time job, but have a couple prospects at least! And I have been working on building the Agency business while I am home and able to. I had a great time "Mystery Shopping" for a local builder... And later this week we are shooting a commercial for them.

New photos of the Twins follow, I can't believe they are almost 5 months old! I know it sounds crazy as hard as the end of my pregnancy was, but I almost don't remember being pregnant already...

Enjoy the photos, we can't wait to get our Christmas ones taken - we already have multiple outfits which I am sure shocks all of you!

Lots of Love from Us all!
Dax and Bella enjoy the activity centers at daycare - but they are not as much fun at home, without the other kids to entertain us! We spend time in here while the older babies are playing so they don't tackle us and poke our faces.
Dax was literally "hanginng" out this time... I didn't know how to lower this one but he seemed to enjoy it!

One of our new Twins outfits from Nana - it says "2 times the Diapers, Feedings and Love" We also have0 "Twins are twice as much fun", and of course "If you think I am cute, you should see my twin"

This is of course just the beginning of our Winter Wardrobes. I had a garage sale and sold about 1/2 of the newbrn clothes, and I still have a box to sell. We even sent some to family in Chicago but it just never seems to shrink our supply!
Her first bite of Rice Cereal... not so sure, but add a little sweet potatoes or carrots and she will eat like a champ. Her favorite veggies are peas and squash.
Rice cereal plain is not his favorite, but we have tried all of the veggies and LOVE them all except peas... I really like oatmeal and squash too!
This one is for Auntie April... Maybe she will remember why this is so funny if she thinks back to Mommy and her days of going out... Hint: pinch pinch! She is REALLY getting good at this, she loves to get my neck.
Dax and Boo Bear... He can finally pick him up to play - mostly they like to bite on their toys, but we are making progress!
Doesn't she look like an angel? Bella has turned into a sweet little girl who has been sleeping through the night since she was about 3 1/2 months... Dax is still hit and miss, but again, we are making progress.

UT Football at Nana's House

Nana Loved the back of our shirts too! Daddy was back in the Theater watching the game and we are still on this silly floor playing with mommy.

Daddy bought new outfits for us and a shirt for himself, but forgot to get one for Mommy... But that's ok, she already had one!

Daddy getting us ready for the game... Nana thought 'Frank' would be a UT fan too!

Here are Our 3 month Portraits

We had so many photos to chose from, but this has several of our Favorites! It took awhile for them to come, but they were worth the wait.

Our 3 month pose in our Boppy - this thing must be shrinking! Or maybe it is from all those bottles - we stille at every 3-4 hours... Mommy wants to know when that will slow down - any one want to make a guess???









Bella was watching her first Presidential debate with Daddy... amazing that at 3 months she already is puzzled like the rest of us - wonder what she is thinking? And who is she going to vote for???









Just another cute shot of Dax "sleeping it off" in is bumbo

















We got new toys again! Don't tell, but Mommy likes to shop for us a lot - what are we going to do when she goes back to work and can't go so much??


Dax got to play in the Baby Einstein jumper first, he can get one foot on the ground if he leans over... but doesn't really know how to jump yet. His eyes get REALLY big if you make it bounce for him. He does like the music and lights on this toy better than the farm animals on the other exersaucer.







Daddy took a break from his break to help Mommy feed - Bella fell asleep in the "big bed"

Nothing is cuter than sleeping twins! Dax is in his chair, but we didn't get his picture this time. Bella fell asleep right after Daddy fed her - they both like being in our bed, it must be because they have so much room and it is softer!

Bumbo Chairs for two

Dax does a bit better - I swear he can sleep anywhere!

Holding on seems to help...

Ahhh - finally upright again (Thanks mom)


But she can't quite sit up yet... it is cute to watch her for about 30 seconds... then she gets frustrated or upset and cries - REALLY loud.

Here we are enjoying a bit of Noggin channel in our Bumbo chairs. Dr. Meyer said this will help Bella's head become more round - she lays around a bit too much... what will they think of next?

Three Months Already!

So Mom and Dad decided to try the couch - as you can see not much was different.

Now Bella decides to join Dax in a screaming match... is there ever really a winner when this happens?

This looks like a smile, but it really isn't - Dax is screaming and Bella is just watching

Maybe if we sit up it will be better.... NOPE!
Mommy and Daddy got us all dressed up to take a picture in our cute hats and tried really hard to get us to smile at the same time... this is as close as it got!