This is Natalie. Natalie is an 8 year old little girl. An 8 year old girl that should be at school, playing with friends, having fun … yet she sits in a hospital fighting … fighting leukemia.

One of my fellow twin moms asked me to post about Natalie in hopes that one of you will be able to help.

You see this is not Natalie’s first time fighting leukemia. This is her second. Natalie went through several rounds of chemotherapy last year and her leukemia was in remission but now, now it is back. Natalie has just weeks to find a bone marrow donor match so that she can have a chance at life. Doctors have told Natalie’s family that her best chance is to find a match of Asian descent.

That being said what can you do?

You can: Help spread the word. http://www.hopefornatalie.com

You can: Register as a bone marrow donor. http://www.dkmsamericas.org/home
Even if you are not of Asian descent consider registering because while you may not be a match for Natalie you might be a match for another child.

Become a donor. It’s as simple as a cheek swap.

And if you happen to be chosen think of what Natalie’s mom wrote, “She was a little sore from the biopsy draw. It made me think that this is what her bone marrow donor will feel when we find that special donor for her. The only difference is that her donor will only have to feel the soreness once and be done with it all. Natalie has had to do this procedure and deal with the soreness so many times.”

OR

You can donate money. Natalie’s medical expensive will be extensive.

It’s time to step up not just for Natalie but for any child having to fight cancer.

Lunch time at the Cordell’s involves two things – food and books.

.

Is your food good? Hello.

Are you listening to me? I could have poisoned you.

MOM! I’m trying to read!

I’ve resorted to just peering over their shoulders.

• took the Dominos Challenge. Not as good as Crozet Pizza by any stretch of the imagination but it's now a decent cheap option #
• New Boots? http://bit.ly/9qey71 Thinking it might be love. Never mind that I already have 5 pairs of boots. Not cowboy boots though. #
• @NBC29 Do you know anything about flights being canceled? Husband due to fly in this afternoon. in reply to NBC29 #
• So far flights aren't being canceled but I wonder how he will get from the Cville airport to Crozet … #
• just found R outside trying to scoop up snow with a milk jug. Lesson learned – he can open the backdoor. #
• thinking about making @thepioneerwoman's cinnamon rolls today. I bought 6 extra pans. #
• @ryancordell would love the mess I am about to create in the kitchen. Maybe I'll leave it for him to clean up when he comes home. #
• Yeah I made these. http://yfrog.com/334z1vj #
• quickly realizing that my graduation party might not work at my house. Already over 50 people on the invite list … #
• wondering if it is to early to contact @eatateppies for catering options. #
• @ryancordell No. in reply to ryancordell #
• wonders if her husband @ryancordell thought that asking for a video game on twitter would guarantee a yes #
• @rustinc @ryancordell answer is no in reply to rustinc #
• @ryancordell if i can buy cowboy boots you can buy mass effects #
• Cadence just found this. http://bit.ly/9Lo1Vq Guess where she wants to go this summer. #
• friend just told me I had no longer babies but toddlers … sadness #
• She was saying this in order to encourage me to have another baby not to be mean. Can't decide if she is crazy or has a point # five? hmm #
• Craigslisted my double stroller, cloth diapers, & baby boy clothes an hour ago. Already getting some hits. YES! #
• @ryancordell YEAH! pick up some garlic bread on your way home. We're having lasagna for dinner. in reply to ryancordell #
• @ryancordell is on his way home from the airport. How are driving conditions 250? #
• So when do you think the county schools will reopen? I'm betting Wednesday. #
• @hethermc I really wish I had cable right now and Cadence was up. Bon Jovi is her favorite singer. in reply to hethermc #
• @hethermc all thanks to Rockband. Although her classmates look at her really weird. in reply to hethermc #
• Wondering if the girls will go to school at all this week or next week. Packing them all up to load up the fridge/freezer. #
• You know the Calvin and Hobbs strip when Calvin makes a line of saluting snowmen for his dad well my girls are trying to replicate that. #
• http://bit.ly/aTxf6a The comic strip. #
• @Marijean I'm thinking the kids might get to go to school Thursday and Friday this week. in reply to Marijean #
• had dinner with a fellow twin mom at Mas this evening without kids! It was yum. #
• AAAAAAHHHHHH! RT @ryancordell: If these predictions are right, Albemarle County Public Schools will be closed until spring break #fb #
• Trying to decide if I should attempt my afternoon classes or flee to the safety of home in the face of the impending snow storm. #
• @DailyProgress the more important question is who still has sleds in stock? in reply to DailyProgress #
• Made decision fleeing for home instead of attending classes. #
• Walked into the boys attempting to climb out of their cribs. I thought I had more time. Time to lower to the last setting. #
• finished watching the season premier of Lost … #
• After 3 days of working out my thighs and butt are still on fire. When will the pain end? I will do it again this evening. #
• RT @ericrettberg: we didn't have this sort of weather before Bob McDonnell was governor-elect or governor. #justsayin #
• Apparently there is a possibility of snow on Tues & Wed. You know in case you were wondering if your kids were ever going back to school. #
• @ericrettberg they went today – two hour delay. in reply to ericrettberg #
• It's easy to tell my boys apart right now … one has a black eye the other doesn't … BOYS! #
• just ate the chocolate ice cream out of the neapolitan ice cream I bought for my girls as a treat … #
• @Marijean I'm planning on it! in reply to Marijean #
• UPS is suppose to deliver my cowboy boots today. Wonder if they'll make it. I might need them … for um … for shoveling snow. #
• Also cowboy boots will allow me to feel more authentic when I make recipes from @thepioneerwomen's cookbook #
• told girls that I was not a short-order cook to decide on one thing for lunch and I would make that. A brawl ensued. #

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The second half of 2008 was a period of adjustments.

Adjusting to life as a family of six.

Adjusting to life with twins.

Adjusting to life in a small house with baby equipment times two all over the house.

The last adjustment was a bit to much. You ever have to deal with two cribs, two bouncers, two swings, two exersaucers, two times the diapers, two times the wipes. For some reason we even had two baby bathtubs! Luckily we were able to find and rent a much better (1000 sq ft bigger) house. It was amazing. It still is amazing.

I began my post with a serious of demonstrations.

Here I demonstrate how to successfully use a laptop with twins.

C demonstrates her big sister skills.

R and J demonstrate how to use one pappy.

E demonstrates her big sister skills.

C took her first communion. The kids had to make family banners. This was the one C designed.

The twins went to the lake house for the first time.

Me being utterly exhausted.

Twins.

Twins demonstrate their sexy faces.

Sisters.

Ryan demonstates his amazing ability to hold twins. This hold is particularly soothing for colicky babies. E was particular colicky, which resulted in Ryan having absurdly large right forearm muscles. This time around he could work both arms.

Lakehouse kids.

Telling secrets.

the Girls.

HOLD UP! Who in the world told E she could start school. I thought we had a bargain. Look at that stinky little face. You want to know what she told me right after that picture.

She said, “It’s okay, Mooommmm. You can go know. I’ll be fine.”

I’m sorry but you won’t be fine. You’re supposed to be screaming and clutching at my legs. I’m supposed to pry you off and give you to your teacher. Are you suggesting that I am going to bawl my eyes out in the car? Are you? Well I won’t. I won’t little E. If I cry it’ll be because of the hormones of breastfeeding twins. You got that! WHAT!? Yes, I’m leaving now. Love you. Have a great first day.

Handsome husband. He wears hats. That’s his thing.

Photo session.

And that is how we went from four to six.

It’s taking me a while to perfect a chili recipe that Ryan and the girls will eat without whining.

1 lb hamburger meat
2 cans Bush chili beans mild
1 can black beans
1 can garbanzo beans
2 cans tomato juice

Spices
1/2 chopped onion or minced onions
1 tbsp minced garlic I buy the jar kind
kosher salt
black pepper
1 1/2 tsp cumin
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 1/2 tsp oregano

Cook hamburger meat add the onion and garlic. I love the smell of onion and garlic. It makes me happy.

While that is cooking dump dump the chili beans in the crock pot. Drain the garbanzo and black beans and then dump them in.

Add in the two cans of tomato juice. Sometimes I fill on of the cans with water and then dump that in. Sometimes not. Completely up to you.

Now put all the other spices in the crock pot.

Your meat should be about done. Drain if needed. I find that the lower the fat in the meat the less likely I have to drain it.

Dump in crock pot and stir.

Cover and walk away. Let it cook on low for 6-7 hours. I usually throw it all in around 9 and then we eat it at 5:30.

You will have to spice it up some if you like it spicy. It’s made with kids in mind. I usually add Tabasco sauce, cayenne pepper, and chili powder to mine.

Now, I know that not all my ingredients are organic nor fresh nor does my meat come from a grass-fed cow. I am using canned beans. I honestly don’t like grass-fed beef. I have bought it a couple of times at the local farmers market. It tastes weird to me. That being said go experiment. Add fresh … cook your own beans and add them. Add some peppers, crushed tomatoes. I know I would if my kids and husband wouldn’t have a complete mental breakdown.

As daily life implodes around me I shall attempted to blog …

The Twins Arrive

Identical BOYS born one minute apart.

A bitty baby Jonas. No need to worry all these wires are helping him. The thing on his head is called a CPAP. While Jonas was able to breathe at birth, he sometimes forgot too. The Cpap helped him.

Rory.

C meeting her brothers.

E meeting her brothers.

Ryan getting to hold his boys.

Almost ready to come home.

The boys came home 48 and 50 days after they were born.

The NICU is a place of roller coasters. It is a place of unspeakable joy and at the same time sadness. Modern technology and medicine and most definitely God’s grace allow babies to be born that in times gone by would have died. This is the joy. The joy to know that your baby has a chance to live. The joy of life.

Yet, the pain that comes from having to leave your child in the hospital. The feeling of failure from not being able to carry a child to term, of having your body fail you. Carrying and bearing children is suppose to be one of the most natural things on the world – yet our bodies sometimes fail. I struggled with this after I was released from the hospital. I curled up in the rocker chair on the day I came home – the one in which I had sat and rocked my two older girls in – and cried and cried. I wondered what I had done wrong.

The pain comes in the setbacks. Of telling yourself it’ll only be a few more days and then that few more days turns into weeks and in my case into months. The pain strangely enough comes in life as well. In the constant worry and stress that caring for two children in the NICU and two more at home.

The boys spent a long time in the NICU – 48 days for Rory and 50 days for Jonas. I honestly can’t tell you what happened in that month and a half. I know that I spent everyday in the NICU. During the week I would get up drop the girls off and go. Ryan would pick the girls up and I would come home at 5. He would help me get the kids into bed and then he would go till 10 or so. The weekends were much much harder but we always went. We always took the girls.

In the end it was all worth it. The boys came home. Healthy and Happy and Growing little boy and amazing in a month and a half I’ll be posting about their two year birthday.

or How we roll

Living Room -
1) all pillows pulled off of couch and arm chair.
2) 4 Blankets stretched from back of couch to window seat to make a tent.
3) small pile of pjs and diapers in corner
4) my dr pepper from dinner last night, tea glass from midnight last night and mug from this morning on the tv cabinet
5) random books, papers, coupons, magazine, ball of yarn on desk, and playdoh on computer desk
6) napkin holder on floor
7) kids toothbrush holder complete with all toothbrushes
tons of kids books
9) Emi’s bedsheet
10) a clean potty chair – has never been used. Promise.

I’m on my way to my twelve-week appointment. Ryan had conferences with students all morning so I told him not to worry because it was just going to be paper and blood work and IF I was lucky I would get to hear the heartbeat. It’s our third baby so no big deal right? So off I go by myself.

At the doctors I explained how sick I was. I couldn’t keep anything down. For the first sixteen weeks I lived on on crackers and tea. I also explained how I had to already buy maternity clothes … I don’t typically show until six or seven months. Yes you all may hate me now. The doctor decided to do a little impromptu ultrasound. I was SO excited. I was so planning on rubbing it in Ryan’s face. HA TAKE THAT! I got to see the baby first. Okay so I am a little immature at times. So I get all comfie and she put the jelly on my belly and the machine thing and moves it all around. I can see the screen.

She then says, “Oh yes.”

I look up. “Huh?”

“Now just let me make sure.”

PAUSE

“Yup. Here is baby A and here is baby B. You are having twins.”

I immediately burst into tears. I calmed down and we talked for a bit about what carrying multiples would mean.

I slowly walked out to our car. Our little car that WOULD NOT hold 4 kids. I called Ryan. He didn’t answer. I called my mother-in-law. She didn’t answer. I called my mom who did answer. Now my mother is the freak out queen. She started crying and screaming with joy all at the same time. I kept my cool somewhat. After I got off the phone with her my mother-in-law called back. She was at a job training session. She was so happy. She announced it to all her friends. I burst into tears again. I am pretty sure I freaked her out but she was great at calming me down.

I try to call Ryan again no answer.

Next I called my best friend, Virginia. Our conversation went like this:

Me: “I am having twins.”

Virginia: “Really? You’re joking, whatever.’

Me: “No, really. There are 2.”

Virginia: “Oh. [long pause] Well, shit.”

Me: “After talking to the grandmothers that’s what I needed to hear.”

This is why I love Virginia. She knew exactly how I was feeling and voiced that.

I decided to ditch class for the rest of the day. I just found out I was having twins there was no way I was going to be able to calmly sit through a lecture and not cry my eyes out.

I did go to campus though and I found Ryan.

We stood huddled next to each other under his umbrella. The rain pouring down around us. I give him a small kiss on his cheek and muttered, “Hello.”

He seemed slightly confused and looked at me strangely, “Umm how did the doctors appointment go?”

“It went alright.”

“IS everything okay.” You can hear the slight edge of concern to his voice.

“Yes.” I fumbled around with my bag. Trying to find the ultrasound pictures without getting myself or them wet.

(Please ignore the Infertility Center. This is just what the machine had programmed into it. I did not have fertility treatments nor was I trying to get pregnant. UVA Northridge had a very good infertility center though.)

He holds the pictures in his hands. You can tell he is confused. Finally he says,“You know I can’t tell anything from these.”

So as a good wife I held them for him and pointed, “Well here is Baby A and here is Baby B.”

“Fuck.”

Yeah I love this man.

Twin Pregnancy in fastforward.

10/18/07

11/27/07

12/21/07

12/21/07

1/18/08

1/29/08

2/26/08

• The girls assured me that they would get up with the boys tomorrow morning so I could sleep in. hmmm …. #
• the boys have finally realized that their sisters names are, Emi and Cadence, not sisters. #
• really hard to read pdfs for class with 2 year old on lap. #
• PLEASE if you assign your students PDFs to read for class please make sure they are legible. These things are killing my eyes. #
• wonders if I should be critiquing an article when I just now realized that the hair tie I have been looking for is on my wrist … #
• J's got a little cold. Sleeping with me. Hoping it doesn't go into his lungs like every single other cold he gotten http://yfrog.com/3niwubj #
• When J gets sick I am forced to remember that no matter how big he is he was once a premie fighting for every breathe. Damn cold. #
• i don't really feel like going to Target today … I think I must be sick. #
• Boys got asked to do a modeling gig today. Free Clothes! YEAH! #
• I need chocolate … #
• RT @dancohen: Rather obvious way for Obama to regain momentum at State of the Union speech on Wed: unveil revolutionary tablet computer. #
• sleepy time. School in the am #
• My hands are so dry. Just waiting for them to crack and bleed. #
• Afro-Creole religions will be a good class. I know it but it doesn't make watching a goat being slaughtered (on tv) any easier. #
• although watching pigeons, chickens, & doves' blood being dripped over people's feet didn't bother me in the least … #
• @babyrabies Her post angers me as well. Especially the pictures – the lady bfing uncovered looks distracted while (cont) http://tl.gd/5eqjg in reply to babyrabies #
• two more classes then a MOM's meeting. #
• Is in frat boy hell #
• Must stay awake. #
• @CBS19Weather I'll add a no. I have to pick @ryancordell up from the airport on Saturday. in reply to CBS19Weather #
• Prof. asked for a person to lead discussion on Thurs. Scared 2nd year volunteered. I felt so sorry for her I offered to help. I'm a sucker. #
• 169 page book to read. Doesn't seem like much till you see the title, The Immigrant Church: New York's Irish & German Catholics #
• I should mention I have to have it read by tomorrow and since I have class all day tomorrow that means tonight. #
• R goes peepee everytime I put him on the potty. After 4 kids you think I would have potty training down … NOPE! #pottytrainingisscary #
• watching the State of the Union on Hulu. http://www.hulu.com/live/state_of_the_union #
• Fox News sucks. And with that I state my political affiliation. Love you Obama. #
• republicans sit on one side democrats on the other. I think they should mix it up a little. Would make these things more entertaining. #
• @ryancordell just called to tell me that his plane had to be deiced before it took off. Wonderful. #
• "no one should go broke because they decided to go to college" preaching to the family with both parents in college. #
• very strange. RT @amywebb: What was that about Muslim Communities and Science…Huh? Did I mis-hear that or am I just not getting it? #SOTU #
• Don't pick your nose during the #SOTU. You never know when the cameras might be looking your way. #
• @MckMama I can't even explain how much your Target experiences mimics mine. I feel like a super-mom every time we run errands. in reply to MckMama #
• #SOTU is over. Guess that means I need to actually do my homework now. #
• kids are up and dressed and ready for school. We have 10 mins before we have to leave. I think something may be wrong. #
• the boys were screaming when I left them with the sitter today. Never fails to rip my heart out. #
• can't concentrate on the lecture … boring boring … YAWN #
• RT @acavender: @ryancordell #hereshopin Fingers crossed! double crossed! #
• R is wearing undies. J is not. They are twins potty-trainning is to occur at the same time. Also I prefer the summer. #pottytrainingsucks #
• near constant whining since I got home from school. Feel a migraine coming on. #
• Where the heck is Fayerweather Hall? I'm going to get so lost tomorrow. #
• really really want to call @ryancordell to see how today went #
• Probably shouldn't have hit the snooze button 4 times … #
• Moms of Multiples Playdate today at Fashion Square Mall 10-11:30. #
• No Rory the potty chair doesn't go on your head. #1 reason not to use a nasty potty chair. #
• I amaze myself with the ease I can go having an intelligent conversation in class to screaming about poop and/or pee at home #pottytraining #

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2007 – What a year.

Our in-laws bought a lake house at Smith Mountain Lake. The house came with a boat. Can you say WHOOHO for free amazing family vacations?

Two new members joined the extended Cordell clan – Rudy & Lucy. Puppies! These are only pictures of Rudy.

This is Emi’s school picture. However this is not Emi’s dress. Emi went to school that day in stained shirt and a wrinkled skirt and light up Elmo sandals. Her dear dear teacher had Emi borrow a classmates dress for the pictures. She then did her hair. Thank goodness.

This was Cadence’s school picture.

We went to the greatest most magical place on earth – Disney! And not only did we go to Disney but we went with the girls’ best friends who happen to be sisters. The first day we spent at Universal Studies. The second day at Epcot. The third at the Magic Kingdom and the fourth at the Animal Kingdom. With over 600 photos I can’t very well put them all in. So I choose 6 of my very favorites.

We joined the Catholic Church. Our children were baptized in the Catholic Church.

We spent a lot of time at the lakehouse. Doing things like fishing and swimming and eating and sleeping … and that’s about all.

I had a slight cancer scare. A mole on my back decided to triple its size in the matter of a month. It came back precancerous but after two surgeries everything was okay.

We went to visit my family in Texas. It was hot … very hot. I do not recommend going to Texas in August. Ever.

C started the second grade. sob E started pre-K. double sob

I started at UVA then two weeks into school we found out I was pregnant. Ten weeks after coming to terms with that discovery we found out that I was pregnant with twins. I will post that story next. I successfully completed my first semester at UVA. On the 20^th of December I found out we were expecting identical boys. Ryan almost passed out.

I took this picture of E.

Hero.