Special Delivery

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The Gang's all here!  The Woodall Twins were born Yesterday, Tuesday, April 28, 2009. Twin A, now called Lillian Grace Woodall was born at 3:24pm 4 pounds 14 ounces 17.5 inches Twin B, now called Ella Rose Woodall was born at 3:26pm 5 pounds .06 ounces 18 inches The Girls and Jessica are all doing GREAT! Here is a picture of them both from the delivery room.  Ella is at the bottom of the picture and Lily is at the top of the photo. The Twins

Jessica is in the Hospital

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Jessica is at NYU hospital having contractions. We have been here for about 30 hours. She and the babies are fine! Her blood pressure is a little high. The doctors feel like the delivery is inevitable within the next week. This is typical and happens to about 60% of twin pregnancies. They are giving Jess a steroid shot to ensure the lungs are mature because we are at 34 weeks (37 weeks is considered full term for twins). The babies heartrates are being constantly monitored. They have decelerated a few times. If the deceleration happens more often or becomes more severe then they will take the babies out. They would like the babies to stay in for another week but we are ready if they don't. This really is not a big deal, everything will be fine. I will write again when there is more to report. If you want all the little details "blow by blow" in realtime, follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/shanewoodall

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

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We paid a visit to Brooklyn Botanic Gardens on Sunday for the start of Hanami, the Cherry Blossom Festival. Apparently we were early, as there was only one tree in bloom. However, there are lots of other beautiful plants to look at. I think we will be heading back there later in the Spring or Summer when more plants are in bloom. Check out the pictures in the Photo Gallery. _MG_0275

It's a Girl!

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Jess had a sonogram today and we learned that we are having at least one girl.  Twin B is a girl.  I am going to have a daughter!  Holy crap!  I don't stand a chance...she is not even born yet and I know she is going to have me wrapped around her finger.  We are already talking about Easter bonnets, Prom dresses, and walking her down the isle at her wedding (I guess I will finally have to learn how to dance).   Twin A was not as cooperative.  "He" was sitting down in a "butterfly stretch" position and "his" feet were covering him up.  Our next appointment is January 14.  If Twin A cooperates, then we might find out what "he" is.  Both babies are health and developing properly! There are more sonogram photos in the Photo Gallery.  17weeksB

Pregnant!

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We are proud to announce that Jessica will be 16 weeks pregnant this Sunday.  Her due date is May 24th, 2009, however twins are considered full term at 37 weeks (May 3, 2009).  That's right I said TWINS!!  As you can imagine, the twins were quite a surprise.  When we were in for the first sonogram at 8 weeks, Jessica could not see the monitor, but I could.  When the first images showed up on the screen I saw that there were two babies and my mouth dropped.  Jessica looked at me and said "What?".  The technician replied, "There's two!"  And Jessica said "Two what?"  And that's how we found out about the Woodall Twins. Over the last 8 weeks we have been planning for their arrival.  I bought the website www.woodalltwins.com and we traded in our car for a minivan.  Yes, I said minivan.  At least it's a "cool" minivan.  Wow, when did I get so old? In other exciting news, our goddaughter, Rory, will soon have a little brother or sister of her own. I'll have more updates when they become available. There are seven sonogram photos in the Photo Gallery. 13weeksAB

Photographic Memories

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As my busy CPR season draws to a close, I have more free time to start those long term projects that I haven't been able to get off the ground.  First up is scanning, restoring, and publishing all my parents old photo albums.  This is going to be quite a long journey!   Here's a little background info just to put everything into context...1)A couple years ago I took a serious interest in photography.  I have purchased lots of equipment, taken classes, and am designated photographer at all family functions.  2)In recent months Jess and I have been pondering if/when we should start trying to have children.  3)Dad died about 4 months ago and I haven't really had a lot of time to come to terms with that.        I opened up the first album entitled "Dec 76 - Dec 77"  I don't remember ever looking at this album before.  It is filled with photo after photo (around 200) chronicling my first year.  As I skimmed through the pages and started to make notes on which ones to scan and which ones to color correct, etc.  I noticed that my father was not in any of the first 100 photos.  Why would my dad not be in any of these shots?  An then I realized the obvious...Dad is taking all of the photos.  I rapidly turned through the pages and finally I fund a picture of Dad and I.  It was at my great grandparents 50th anniversary banquet.  I started to tear up a little bit.  Wow, he was so young...25 years old...six years younger than I am now.  I continued to flip through the pages...only 2 more photos with me and Dad.  I am sure photos exist of Dad and I from that first year maybe grandparents, aunts, etc. have them somewhere, but I have no idea where they might be now.  I am a little sad about that.  I wish I had access to more photos of us.  I realized that it is important to occasionally step in-front-of the lens from time to time instead of always being behind it.  I wish I had learned that lesson a few months ago.  I took over 250 photos each at McKenzie's and Rory's first Birthdays and I don't think I am in any of them.   And then finally it hit me...I am looking at my first year through my Father's eyes.  I get to see what he saw...all the important events, my mom holding me for the first time, my first smile, my first tooth, my first steps, my first first football.  What a unique perspective!  Thankfully my camera has an automatic mode, so that Jess can take some pictures with me and our children during those important moments.  (NO, Mom and Rose, we are NOT pregnant or trying yet!)