2009 Christmas...What a Year in the Ortega Household!!!

As I sit to write this letter, it is December 15, 2009, 9:15pm.  I am reflecting on how absolutely blessed both John & I are…I am also thinking, the babies could be up in anywhere from 5-7 hours, so why not just send the picture this year w/out the letter & get some sleep!!

It all happened a little over a year ago.  John completed the New York Marathon in November (beating his previous record by almost 32 minutes, coming in at 4 hours and 2 seconds-yes 3 seconds that will probably haunt him for the rest of his life!).  Lisa was the great cheerleader as always, even running to catch the subway so as sure to meet him at each of our strategically planned mile markers!  Do you think that qualifies me as running it too!?!?!  Did I mention I was REALLY car sick in the cabs…?

Then it happened…first on Nov. 11th we found out we were expecting!!!  We were sooo delighted and excited at the thought of becoming parents.  Then the day that FOREVER changed our lives.  Monday, December 1st- 9:26am, literally Ann our ultrasound technician said, “Oh, looks like you bought two for one!!”  SILENCE filled the room…Yes; John for the FIRST time in his life was speechless!!  Oh, I forgot to mention we seriously did not talk to each other about the fact of having twins until that FRIDAY – 5 days later.  Yes, these two type A-soon to be parents had some serious planning & envisioning to do in our minds before verbalizing what we had just been told.  The good news was that we woke up that Friday morning just giddy and laughing hysterically!

The months of Jan and Feb were filled with finding out we had one boy and one girl on the way.  We also took our final baby moon trip to Costa Rica with our great friends Buzz and Tina, where Lisa felt the babies for the first time. 

We will also never forget the day of March 8th when daddy felt his baby boy kicking for the first time before church.  Clark was definitely our early bird, and little miss Kennedy was ALWAYS our night owl.  She loved keeping mommy up from 11pm-2am.  This is when her and John’s secret language & father-daughter bond began.  Every morning he would wake up & say, “I was grabbing your belly last night & Kennedy and I were communicating!!”  We also attended a MARVELOUS MULTIPLES class.  We thought we were worried before the class…lets just say afterwards Lisa went home crying &  terrified.  We sure met some WONDERFUL friends though, who have been complete & total God sends!!

Ah, the Bank…I almost forgot the bank.  March was also the month were John’s dream of becoming an entrepreneur actually happened!  Houston Business Bank opened for business…well; let’s just say the doors were open anyway, even though we had a Houston downpour and the place flooded shortly after opening!!  Let me take the time to point out that my husband has had probably one of the most stressful, amazing, and crazy, “what the heck was I thinking” poo filled years ever.  So far the babies are still alive, and the bank is making money!!!  I am very proud of him. 

April and May were basically spent interviewing pediatricians, (who knew this had the same intensity as the NFL draft!?!?!) & the start of our AMAZING showers.  How blessed we were to get so much stuff for the babies’ arrivals.  John scored HUGE brownie points when he had all of the baby furniture delivered and set up in the nursery as a surprise.  He had EVERYTHING laid out…blankets in the cribs, books in the book shelf and all!!  We also attended a few more CPR and safety classes and did those CRAZY belly/couple pictures.  I am not sure how this became such a cool thing to do…Must have been that picture of Demi Moore on the Rolling Stone magazine.

After being off of work for most of June, the typical late night car ride to the hospital finally happened.  Luckily, it was actually time to get the babies out.  If not, John would have NEVER let me live that night down.  Seriously, you husbands need to start a revolt about those TERRIBLE couch/chair/bed things they try to get you all to sleep on in the delivery rooms.  Ridiculous!!!

Then it happened, Tuesday, June 30th, 2009, 10:03am – Clark Ray Ortega enters the world with a shrill little cry and 10:04am – Kennedy Ella Ortega being her patient little self awaits her turn!!

And that is the end of this wonderful story…we seriously remember NOTHING since then…HA!!

On a serious note, we could not be happier.  Well happier now that our nights are filled with a little more sleep.  We have two beautiful and healthy babies, who amaze us each and every day.  Kennedy loves grabbing her toes and putting her feet in the air.  You must constantly be moving with her and she loves music…could be a little ballerina or cheerleader on our hands!  She also learned very quickly how to arch her back…I have a sneaking suspicion she is going to be our tantrum thrower!?!?!  Clark, after being nick named High Maintenance Officer in the beginning has finally begun to settle down and loves giving kisses already.  His smiles are infectious!!  I think he is going to be our little Latino lover, and he has definitely acquired his father’s love of hearing his own voice!! 

Please know that each of you is in our thoughts often.  We just can’t call, write or e-mail because we are giving baths, cleaning bottles, participating in tummy time, lighting candles to hide the poo smell, trying to run a bank or feeding the dogs.  Oh, the poor dogs, the only ones in this family who are NOT thrilled about the 2 new additions.  Unfortunately, our first children have been banished to the back shed…Where was I…Oh, gotta go, somebody needs a passi!!  BTW, this will be the Ortega household’s New Years Resolution…NO PASSI’S!!

 

  Merry Christmas from the Ortega’s!!
Lots of Love from Giancarlo, Lisa, Clark & Kennedy

 
PS. That is what it says on the picture…I thought it looked good before I hit, “place my order…” oh well! ;-)