Update

Two weeks have gone by and I'm feeling a lot better after my surgery. The first week was pretty hard but I'm up and moving around much better. I know the babies are what everyone wants to hear about, so I'll move on. I LOVE them!

It was so fun to finally have the mystery solved as to if they were identical vs. fraternal. The entire pregnancy we thought they were identical because the technicians could only see one placenta but when they were born, there were actually two placentas right next to each other that were fused together. And with blood tests, they found they have two different blood types. So we have fraternal twins. Just looking at them it's so obvious. They look nothing alike!

Spencer who was born first is our little guy and such a sweetheart. He is so relaxed all of the time and only fusses when he really needs something. He will sit through his twin brother crying in his ear and not even budge. He looks %100 like the Peterson side. So cute and melts my heart.

Tanner is our younger but bigger one. He is a little more high maintenance but still a great baby. I still can't see any resemblance in him with anyone in our family. I keep staring at him to figure out who he looks like but I think he has his own look. He is beautiful.

They love to be by each other. They sleep better when snuggled up in the same bed. I love that they already have a special bond. Here are a bunch of pictures of their first two weeks of life. They are already growing up too fast. Knowing that they are my last babies, I want them to slow down and let me enjoy each stage. They are so sweet and I feel so blessed to have them in our family.

Note: I know there aren't a lot of pictures with Jake. When we got home from the hospital, he had a skin infection on his face. So we kept him away until he finished his medicine. Also, the beautiful blonde is my sister Emme.

Welcome Baby Spencer and Baby Tanner

Just returned from the hospital. I am going to keep this to the point as there are sure to be many posts to follow.  Here's the scoop:

We went to the hospital this morning at 6 am for a scheduled c-section. We had practically the entire hospital on hand for the delivery. There were an estimated 20 to 30 people present at all times during the delivery. Two of every team. You couldn't hope for more personalized care or attention to one patient. The surgery started about 8:25 or so and by 8:35 there were two perfectly healthy boys screaming (and peeing).  In a nutshell things couldn't have gone any smoother. Spencer came first at 8:35 weighing 5 lbs 5 ounces and 18.25 inches long. Then Tanner arrived at 8:36, 6 lbs 15 ounces and 19.5 inches long. Obviously a discrepancy in size. However, the doc said that size alone has nothing to do with being identical or not at this point. They do look very different, but again, the weight could make all the difference.  They both have all fingers and toes, breathing great from the start.  Perfect.   At this point we are leaning toward not identical since one has O+ blood and preliminary tests show the other having O-.  More tests will be done know for sure. 

Mom is doing great. She is drugged up and a little nauseous  but over all said the experience was very stress free. A sharp contrast compared to previous births. She will continue to recover for a couple of days with the babies in the hospital.

So that is it in a nutshell. There are pics below and video will likely be added a little later today. 

We'll be interested to hear who you all think the babies look like. We're a little stumped at this point. 

Getting closer

I know these posts are just info and no pictures but we still have a ton to do before the babies come and I'm sure it will be picture overload when they arrive. So I thought I would just share thoughts right now since I can't really do much other than just sit. We are getting settled more everyday, thanks to the help of my mom. She has not stopped working to get our things put away and organized. She is truly saving us right now. I don't know how we would do this without her.

I'm very big and uncomfortable. I'm now 36 weeks and grateful to have gotten this far. Everyday that goes by helps me feel the babies will be OK and healthy. I have one more week before I'm scheduled for a c-section. The countdown is on. As uncomfortable as I am, I still want to make it as long as I can for the babies. I really want them to be full term and as developed as possible. I can't wait to see them and hold them. I really love babies and I still can't believe that I get to have two at the same time. As hard as it will be, I know it will also be so special. We know what their names are but we are going to wait until they are born to announce them. So stay tuned.

Caden, Max, and Jake are such great boys. They have endured so much this year but they are still as sweet and good as ever. I'm lucky to have them. They are so excited to meet their baby brothers. It's a daily conversation now. I hope their enthusiasm continues through the crying and struggles we will face juggling two.

Nick is working hard in his new dental clinic. He is really enjoying the people he works with and the work itself. He has a lot on his plate as well. A couple of weeks ago in church he was asked to be a primary teacher. Most of the kids speak Spanish so they were thrilled to have him come. I thought it would be great since that's simple and he will still be able to help me and the babies on sundays, etc. Well last sunday when we showed up, our Stake President was there to meet us and asked to talk to Nick before the meeting. As members, we all know what that means. They have a new job to give. Well the new calling, is for Nick to be the 2nd counselor in the Branch Presidency. Wow- that's huge and it is not going to be easy. Our current President and counselor only speak Spanish, so we both felt that he would have the opportunity sometime since he's bilingual. But we thought that was down the road a ways. AND they are NOT going to release him from his primary teacher calling. Somehow, I'm going to have to juggle all five boys on sundays without Nick. How is it possible? I sure am glad that I have faith in our Heavenly Father because it seems too much to handle.

I keep thinking, what else could possibly happen this year for our family? 2009 will be unforgettable. I better go put my feet up. If I sit in this position for too long, they swell even bigger and they feel sprained.

We will post something exciting next time for sure. The 28th is the deadline. I'll be at 37 weeks!

Nothing New

This isn't going to be too interesting, but at least we are posting something.

Our household goods came yesterday so now we are trying to put the house together. It's getting there and should be good to go by the time babies come. Rebecca went to the doc and they said everything was great. So far she has lucked out. No need for steroids or bed rest, just taking it a little easy. She is 35 weeks and going strong. They set a date for her to be induced at her 37 week mark, the 28th of August. From the looks of things she should make it. She is measuring 44 weeks pregnant right now! So you can imagine that the body is wanting to get this over with. Her mom showed up today to spend a month and a half. She will be well utilized while she is here! We were realizing yesterday that we were being spoiled... They showed up at 8 am to remove our loaner furniture and deliver all of our new furniture, and even assemble it. Then someone from church showed up bucket and rags in hand to clean our house and bring us dinner-- dinner we couldn't eat because out neighbor had already offered a spaghetti and meatball meal (Katie if you're reading, it made me think of you), then family shows up today to help. Spoiled.

Totally unrelated, check out the cool videos below. I know they are random, but thats what happens when I do these posts.

Un Saludo Desde España

The blog is alive... and so are we. This is going to be a quick summary of our current state. We will post more regularly once a few more things get settled. I will post a few photos below as well.

Here's the latest:

Rebecca is still very prego. 34 weeks. Goal is 37. Measures 42 weeks. Healthy, swollen, minimal signs of delivering, trying to take it easy.

Nick has been working some, got out on the bike a few times through the Spanish country side, trying to keep up with life on the move. Is currently getting over feeling deathly ill.

We are in our beautiful house out in town, but with temporary furniture. Shipment coming in a couple of days. House tour to come to the blog later.

Haven't had a chance to travel too much. Live 150 yrds from the beach, went to Gibraltar (English territory), traveled a little around the local cities.

We are enjoying speaking Spanish. The boys think they are pretty cool. Jake says Rebecca's Spanish "doesn't sound good 'cuz it sounds like English." They are brutally honest.

More to come soon. Please drop us a line or comment so we know if it is worth keeping this thing updated!

If you zoom in on the marker on the map, you will see the row of houses the the lower left corner. We are the third one in going from left to right. They are some of the bigger houses around so we lucked out. Our backyard is the forest area and about 100 yrds to the beach. Zoom the map out to get a better view.


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3+2=5

We are so happy to be adding two more boys to the Peterson house.  The Dr. said everything looks good and both baby boys look healthy.  As far as she could tell, there was only one placenta which is a guarantee of identical twins. Even though they are a little more at risk during the pregnancy, (one could take more nutrients than the other) identical boys will be so fun. We already have three beautiful boys, it will be so fun to see who these little guys resemble.  I know the phone is going to be ringing off the hook from all the girls who are after my cuties.  I love my boys and am thrilled to meet these two and see what fun personalities they bring to our home.   

Hello again... time for a BIG update

If anyone does look at this since we never blog,  I'm sorry  I'm not posting pictures.  I want to just post the upcoming crazy things going on with us.  I'll try to make this short but there are no guarantees.  So in a nutshell, I'm 17 weeks pregnant with TWINS and we are moving from Japan to Spain.  I know that sentence seemed short and simple but it's not.  It has been quite crazy for the last four months around here and it's only going to get worse for the next couple of years. 

First, I couldn't be more happy about adding two babies to our family.  I LOVE babies.  I feel so blessed that I get two more when we were expecting to be done after one more.  I know it's going to be one of the hardest things ever, but I am thrilled to add two more to my gorgeous three boys. We are finding out what they are on the 13th.  Five more days.  We are ready and thrilled for whatever they are.  As much as we are going to love having twins, we know it will add some craziness to our  lives along with this move to Spain.  

As much as we know we will enjoy Spain, it means we have to leave our friends and life in Japan.  Those that live here know what I mean.  Those of you that don't, I can't express how hard it will be to leave the "family" we have here.  When you move to a new country across the globe from family, your  friends and neighbors fill in for the time being.  I will miss my Okinawa family so much.  When someone goes through something hard, they fill in.  When, someone needs a hand with kids, they fill in. When it's time to go to the beach, our crowd fills the sand.  When someone is pregnant with twins and moving to another country, they bring dinner over three times a week for THREE weeks! Parks, holidays, sightseeing, impromptu desserts, etc.  I could go on forever but I will always remember the support system we had here.  I hope I can find it in Spain.  As much as I've been homesick for my family in Utah, I know when I leave here, I will be homesick for my Japan clan.  It will be hard to go.  I love you guys.  

Moving is not a good thing for me.  I'm not the best at dealing with change.  When I was little, my siblings would tease me because I would cry after they would repave the road in front of my house. Or if my dad would prune the trees.  Or when my mom wanted to redo my whole bedroom with new wallpaper and a beautiful bedspread.  I cried because I didn't want to forget the old stuff that really needed to go. Did I just admit to all of that?  And I wonder why Max is so emotional.  I grew up in the same house my whole life and threatened my parents they could never sell that house.  Now as an adult I moved away to Cleveland for four years, came to Japan for three, and now we are moving to Spain for three more.  THEN COMING BACK TO UTAH!  

Anyway I should be used to leaving places by now.  It's not fun getting attached and then leaving with the knowledge, that we'll never live here again. 

I think right now, I'm sad mostly for my kids.  This is all they know.  Jake was ten months when we moved here.  He loves his friends and his cute little three year old life.  Max was three and is now a big six year old.  He too has friends that he will miss terribly.  Caden is old enough to know what is going on.  My nine year old! He asks me everyday if he will see them again. It's just not an easy answer.

This has gotten too long.  I guess I needed to get this all out.  At least through this move I get to see my family I haven't seen in three years.  I'm leaving in a week and a half and Nick has another 6 weeks.  I get to fly from Japan with my boys, pregnant with twins, all by myself so I can spend more time with my family.  We have a week and a half.  I leave on April 18th.  It's so soon.  I know I will go through culture shock going back to America.  Japan is so familiar to me. But I can't wait to go back to the country and family I love.  Then after two months, we leave for Spain.  We leave on June 26th so I can get there at my 28 week mark.   I think that is all I can post.  I have major work to do to prepare for next week.  I hope you made it all this far.  I will try to post what the results of the ultrasound are after monday.  I know the big question everyone wants to know is if we are going to have five boys or if there is one or two girls in there.  Pray for healthy!

Tokyo Trip #2

I had been looking forward to my trip to Tokyo for a long time.  That's where I got to meet my parents, my brother Craig and sis-in law Char.  I hadn't seen them in over two years and I missed them so much.  Nick took some leave from work so that he could stay home with the boys.  He did such a good job.  They all had a great time with dad and the house was spotless when I got home.  Good Job, Nick!  We had been to Tokyo last year and loved it but this time I got to see the city without carrying my boys up and down the million subway steps.  

The trip was perfect!  We had such a good time.  It had been so long seeing my family that I had to pinch myself that they were in Japan with me!  My brother Craig served his LDS mission in Tokyo 15 years ago and hadn't been back to visit.  I was SO impressed with his Japanese and it helped us get around a lot faster.  We visited his mission areas and his mission home.  It was so fun seeing and hearing his stories about his two years in Tokyo.   We also met up with an old friend of his and he took us around Nikko.  A beautiful tourist spot full of Shrines and a bus tour on top of the mountains.  ( I thought I was going to die driving on the windy road)  but it was so beautiful.  

One of the best things about Tokyo is the train system.  It is so entertaining to ride among so many people around the city.  We loved to people watch.  There are some really interesting people in the city.  I wish I could describe how much we laughed at some of the crazies but it you just had to be there.  

 Just remember rain and humidity make my hair frizz!

           My Brother Craig is 6"6.  A whole head taller than the Japanese. 

                    He looked like a giant. They are walking across THE busiest intersection in the world.  It's amazing.  

Char on the train. We were getting a picture of the cool hair style from the guy two seats to her left.  

Eating Katsudon and Soba in Nikko with Gokan-san.

My mom is in "Heaven".

My 2nd Tokyo trip was awesome.  It was so great to be with my mom and dad and Craig and Char.  It was a trip of a lifetime.  After Tokyo they came back to Okinawa, but that's a whole new post for another time.

Mighty Mike and TJ's quick trip

Nick's dad,  Grandpa Peterson (AKA Mighty Mike) and Uncle TJ came for a quick visit in September.  We didn't tell the boys so we could give them a great surprise.  Nick new that his dad was coming but he didn't know that his brother TJ was coming.  So he was shocked at the airport when TJ jumped out from behind the wall.  Nick was not expecting it.  Yea! We love family coming.  When you live across the world from family, it's just not everyday that Grandpa and TJ would be here.  It was so much fun to see the boy's excitement.  Max and Caden are old enough to understand and know but Jake was just a little hesitant.  But not for long. He joined in all of the fun and loved every minute of it. Nick got to take them on one of his favorite bike rides and they went golfing.  Typhoon Sinlaku was supposed to be headed right for us but we lucked out and  it turned and went to west instead.  We still got some rain but it was still a great trip and we made some great memories.  It's so fun to show our loved ones what our life on the island is like.  Thanks Mighty Mike and TJ for flying over many miles to see us here in Japan.  

                               TJ reading the boys bedtime stories.
The bikers all ready for their ride.  Sorry, Mike for Nick running you off the road.  I hope your ribs are healed!
Yoshi Hashi sushi bar.  We got a picture with  Yoshi himself. People say that he is THE original Iron Chef.

Exploring the caves at our favorite beach Maeda.  We love that place.  It's a snorkelers dream.

Obon Festivals

In August the Japanese celebrate Obon.   It's one of their major holidays.  They believe that their ancestors' spirits come back to their homes to be reunited with their family during obon.  It includes lots of festivals and parades.  We love to see them dance and listen to the Taiko Drums.  It is such a fun culture to be a part of.  When they play the drums (very loudly) the boys just watch in awe.  It's such a fun beat.  And their dancing is so beautiful.