Officially Kansans Again

On Friday afternoon David and I decided to brave the trip to the DMV to get our new driver license. So I gathered all the necessary documentations and away we went. The worse part of the whole trip was trying to find the place. Since we both had previous Kansas license that was not expired all they had to do was issue a replacement license. We didn't even need all the documents I had gathered. David is excited to be a Kansan again. I on the other hand hold mixed feelings (my true Nebraskan is coming out!).

We enjoyed a nice weekend. We took the boys to check out the new Bass Pro Shop in the area. They enjoyed looking around at all the animals and fish. We also prepared the for summer by getting them their first pair of sunglasses. Michael (top picture) is not sure what to think, while Thomas is loving them. We were also able to meet David's family in Manhattan and spend Sunday afternoon with them. We love being so close to our families.
You can also check out a few new pictures of the boys in the gallery!

More pictures

As promised I have uploaded more pictures to the website. We are all doing well. We are glad the weather has warmed up again. The boys are enjoying going for walks each evening after daddy gets home from work. I hope to soon get things ready to plant a small vegetable garden in our backyard. This could be interesting, as we have never planted a garden before, hopefully it will be a success.

Finally!!!

No we haven't forgotten to take plenty of pictures of the boys lately. We just forgot the correct passwords needed to upload pictures. Finally after some digging we were able to find the correct passwords and I have uploaded more pictures of the boys. Hopefully I will get some more uploaded early this week.

Nine Month Check Up

Well in the last week, we have been to see a doctor 4 times. We had to go to the urgent care center twice last weekend, due to respiratory viruses the boys have. We had to take Thomas into our doctor on Wednesday, again for the virus. Thursday was our 9 month check up. Besides RSV (a respiratory virus) and ear infections for both boys, they are doing well. Thomas weighed in at 15 lb 15 oz and 25 3/8 inches in length. Michael was a bit bigger, 16 lb 3.5 oz and 25 7/8 inches in length. They are still small for their age, but that is to be expected. They have mastered the art of sitting up. We have noticed that when the boys are trying to crawl that they end up moving themselves backwards instead of forwards. It won't be long and they will be mobile.

In between the trips to the doctor, runny noses and coughs I have been preparing to host Easter dinner. The one plus to the boys being sick is that they are sleeping much more and I am able to accomplish more. All is continuing to go well for David at the city. He is enjoying his work and the challenges it presents to him.

We wish everyone a Happy Easter!

The sound of laughter

The other night David and I set the boys on the floor and went into the kitchen to prepare dinner for the boys. As I was getting something from the pantry, we could hear the sound of laughter coming from the living room. This struck me as funny since both David and I were in the kitchen. So I peek around the wall to look at the boys and I see Thomas lightly hitting Michael on the head with a block. They both thought this was funny. After I showed David, he tried to get a picture of boys playing together, but we weren't quick enough, as the moment had passed. I think that is the first time that the boys have found each other and played together. They do play together when we set them together and put toys in front of them. I am just glad that we heard laughing, instead of crying, which I am sure we will hear plenty of.

Last week the weather was so beautiful that the boys and I were able to get out in the stroller for some walks. If the boys were lucky they got two walks, one with mom, and one with mom and dad in the evening. The boys are doing a much better job of sitting up and we are able to go out in the stroller with out our car seats. The boys like this better as it is easier for them to see and look around.

Thomas wants no more of just laying around on the floor. He would much rather be sitting up and playing. Michael too enjoys sitting up. I am still a little leery of leaving them sitting up, so I put a pillow behind their back, so if they fall they don't hit their head too hard. It took Michael longer to get the hang of rolling over, but now that he has it down (which he has for a while), look out. He is rolling all over the living room floor. Both of the boys are getting closer to crawling. Once they figure it out, I think they are just going to take off. They are so active. When they lay on their backs, they kick their legs and move their arms, like they are running away.

Let's roll!

Thomas and Michael are locked and loaded in their carseats and ready to go for a walk in their stroller. Michael is in the tan hat, you know it is Michael because his tongue is out! Thomas and Michael enjoyed a visit from their Aunt Danielle, lots of hugs, kisses and holding! They are ready to make a visit to Grandma and Grandpa Dillner's house this weekend!

The boys are also cheering for KU in the NCAA tournment, they are making their daddy so proud. Go Hawks!

March Madness

It's March Madness again and that can only mean one thing:
the Naismith Championship!

The Dillners would like to invite you to participate in the
6th Annual Naismith Championship! To accept this invitation
and join the group, click the link below (or cut and paste
the link into your browser's address field). You'll be asked
to enter the password before you can join. The group
password is included in this e-mail, but if it's not for
some reason, it is "ku".

As in years past, David Dillner, the Championship Chair has
elected to host this year's Naismith Championship on the CBS
Sportsline web site.

This year we want to once again encourage everyone to invite
at least one other person to play in the championship. The
more the merrier!

According to tradition, the winner will receive the coveted
Naismith Bobblehead Basketball Trophy.

Last year was the first year the Naismith Championship was
decided by the tiebreaker rule of the National
Championship's final score. Amanda Highland was only seven
points away from guessing the total National Championship
game score of 130. Congratulations to her victory!

2006 Top Five Scores:
Champ Amanda Highland - 72 (tiebreak)
Gina Chitty - 72
Kevin McKinney - 71
Scott McKinney - 71
Ron Shaver - 69

Previous Naismith Champions:
2006 - Amanda Highland
2005 - Kevin McKinney
2004 - Mike Weber
2003 - Gary Havercamp
2002 - Rex Lowe


Good Luck and as always, Go Jayhawks!

http://dillner.mayhem.sportsline.com/e

Our Group password is: ku

It is hard work!

Practicing sitting up and reaching for all our toys is hard work. Mom and dad put toys down in front of us and we can't quite reach them. It is like they want us to go and get them. They maybe wanting us to crawl, but to they realize what it will be like when we get mobile? It is such hard work that we get pooped out and crash wherever we are (like the middle of the living room floor). Michael even falls asleep with toys in his hands.

All in all we are doing very well. We like our new house. Mom and dad did a good job finding a new place to live. We also like that Aunt Jilinda, Uncle John and Cousin Dominic live so much closer. We just had them over for dinner on the weekend. We have also overheard mom and dad talking about seeing our grandparents soon!!

Connected again!!!

I think that we finally have the computer situation all taken care of. It seems that we have had computer/internet difficulties for the last couple of months, but that is all over with. We had to break down and buy a new computer. Needless to say, David is like a kid in a candy store with his new computer. I am just thrilled to have internet again. We have been with out a computer for atleast the last week. Give me a couple of more days to figure out the picture program and I will have new pictures uploaded. It should hopefully be a lot easier with the new computer.

We are all doing well. David is enjoying his new job. It is going to be a challenge for him, but that is a good thing. The boys are finally over their colds. They have the rolling over thing down. The minute you put Thomas on his back, he is rolling over to his tummy. Michael is capable of rolling over, he just prefers his back. So therefore I will put him on his tummy, so he will then roll to his back. They very much enjoy seeing the world from the sitting position, instead of the laying down position. We are working on sitting up on our own. They are getting much stronger. They can sit by themselves for a short time. I don't set them down and walk away, but that day will be coming soon. They are also enjoying eating baby food and cereal. We haven't found a food that they don't like yet. I am doing fine as well. Just working on getting things settled. We are doing pretty well with they unpacking. It is time to get stuff up on the walls and organize the basement. Organizing the basement will be the tough job, as that is all the stuff we don't know what to do with.

Back in Kansas!!!

Well we are moved into our new home. We were very fortunate to have lots of help over the weekend and we are mostly settled. We are down to the odds and ends unpacking, like hanging pictures, etc. The move went very smoothly. Boy am I glad that we moved last week, and not this week. They boys are adjusting well to the new house. They are fighting a cold, but that was to be expected with all the traveling and all the extra people around. David has started his new job and is enjoying it. Slowly but surely he is getting his office at City Hall organized. His phone is being put in this afternoon. Other than a cold that I am fighting, I am doing well. I love our new home. As we finish unpacking and getting settled, I will post new pictures of the boys on the website as well as pictures of the house.

I wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day!

Half Done

Well the move to Edgerton is about half completed. Yesterday the truck, loaded with all our belongings left Winchester and started for Edgerton. My dad come out to Winchester to help us load the truck and then fly back to Omaha with the boys and I. The boys and I are hanging out in Omaha until our belongings arrive in Egerton. David and his friend Justin are driving to Edgerton. They hit the road today and will probably arrive in Edgerton tomorrow. We have closed on our house and it is officially ours!

Double Fisting it.

Thomas just gave new meaning the the phrase 'double fisting it'. While he was upset and crying on the floor, he was trying to get both of his thumbs in his mouth to suck on. Needless to say this was not going to work, so he proceeded to get more upset, but once he was picked up by his daddy, he was happy as a lark. I think someone got spoiled while in the Midwest for the holidays.

The boys have managed to roll over a couple of times. They are able to go from the tummy to their back pretty easily. It is still a lot of work for them to get to their tummy from their back. They can get up on their side and even kick their leg over, but they get stuck trying to move that last shoulder out of the way.

Michael has decided that he is going to like rice cereal. I was not getting it warm enough for his taste buds. Once I figured out the right temperature, he was chowing it down like his brother. The boys have now moved on to eating peas for supper. I was not sure how the peas were going to go over, but they have been a hit.

David and I are keeping busy, trying to get the move coordinated and the house packed. I wish our stuff would magically pack itself. I suppose I should get some work done now while the boys are happy.

Big Changes

We are back from our doctors appointment. They boys continue to keep up with each other, when it comes to length and weight. Both of the boys we about 14 1/2 lbs, with 1 oz difference between their weights. Both boys are also around 24 1/2 inches long, with a quarter of an inch in difference. David was beginning to think that Michael, was bigger than Thomas, but he was wrong, Michael maybe a bit bigger, but not enough to tell a difference. Michael is working on the start on an ear infection. We are going to get him started on some antibiotics and get that taken care of. The doctor continues to be impressed with their growth and how well they are doing. They also got 3 shots apiece. Neither one of them cried during the first shot. Michael waited until his second poke, while Thomas waited until the final poke to cry. They settled down quickly after being held by mom or dad. We put them in their stroller and then took a quick walk to visit the NICU and our friends there. They NICU staff could not get over how big they were getting.

The boys are continuing to adjust to the lack of people being around, who want to hold and play with them. They have been a little on the fussy side and I think that is why. Thomas has really taken to eating rice cereal, Michael on the other hand is not so excited about it. He is making slower progress.

We are very excited and pleased to announce that we will be moving back to Kansas. David will be taking a position as the City Administrator of Edgerton, KS. Edgerton, Kansas, where in the world is that, you ask? Well Edgerton is a small city, about 1,600, 20 miles south of Olathe. We will be moving in early February and David will start his new position in the middle of the month. So while we were back in the Midwest for the holidays, we also spent some time house hunting. We found a nice 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage and unfinished basement home in Edgerton. We engaged in some negations and came to an agreement with the sellers. The next few weeks will be very busy with packing and taking care of arrangements for the new house. We are so very excited to be moving closer to our family and many of our friends. We will only be about 3 1/2 hours from both sides of our families. That is so much better than half way across the county.

Home Sweet Home!

After a whirlwind of a holiday trip, we are finally home. Our trip home was wonderful. It was so nice to spend time with our friends and family. We did not manage to survive the trip without the boys getting sick. Michael had just a cold, but Thomas got an ear infection. Thomas had a couple of bad days, but after being on the medication for a couple of days he was feeling much better. The boys were so good. They went all the places we went, and did not complain too much. They traveled well in the air. On our return flight, I thought Michael had pooped his pants. Many of you saw the damage they can do to a onesie or an outfit with a poopy diaper, so I decided I had better change him. The airplane did not have a changing table in the restroom. Luckily the flight was not very crowded and no one was seated next to me, so I laid Michael out on the two seats, got all of my tools prepared, only to find out that he had tricked me, he was only farting!!! The boys are glad to be home and have life slow down a little bit. They are enjoying sleeping in their own bed.

While we were in the Midwest, we decided that it was time to start the boys on cereal, but we decided to wait until we got home. So last night we started the boys on cereal. They did pretty good. Michael had more on his bib than in his mouth. Hopefully they continue to do well.

We go back to the doctor on Friday!!! I can't wait to see how much weight they have gained. I can wait for the shots that they will probably be getting, but I guess that can't be avoided!

Hopefully soon we will be writing an update saying that the boys have rolled over. Thomas was soooo close this morning. He had his legs kicked over, now he needs to work on his shoulders.

Good to be home!

We are all enjoying being back in the midwest for a while. David and I are enjoying having extra help with the boys. There is always someone who is willing to hold a crying baby or change a poopy diaper!! The other day, David and I went to Walmart, together and alone!!! We were also enjoyed a date night!! The joy of built in babysitters.

The boys' first Christmas was very nice. They enjoyed mass on Christmas Eve. They tried to open presents but are a little too young. Unfortunately, Michael came down with a cold on Christmas Day. Christmas Day was a little rough, but he is feeling better today. Thomas has a slight cold, but feeling better as well.

The boys are doing well with the change of schedule and all the extra people who want to see them. We are wrapping up our visit in Omaha and will be heading to Beloit, KS on Thursday.

Professional Pilots All

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the airport, not a Michael or Thomas were to be found. For up in the air at 35,000 feet, the little babies flew trying their best to be discrete. Although their ears could not pop and the pressure was oh so strong, they managed themselves quit well to the gate.

Kansas City they came, where they first met their aunt (Jilinda). Tears filled her eyes, much to her disbelief, Michael was pooping and bags had to be gotten. Our ride was ready, as their aunt (Danielle) came to pick us up. Quickly gathering our things, we made for the door.

Up the road and to A-town, the boys finally got a whiff of quiet sleep. After meeting more friends, the boys again hit the road. Heading north to Nebraska, where they would see their Grandma and Grandpa's new abode.

Joyfully they arrived, after flying and driving so long. Now they are professionals, travelers all!

****
Good News! After some aggressive persuasion, Michael's monitor has been taken off. Too bad for the people who will have to tell them apart, especially their mother! The boys did excellent on the plane rides over to the Midwest and have finally caught up on their sleep. They have also settled into a holiday routine, whatever that is.

Tomorrow they will be baptized at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church at 10:30 am.

Getting Excited!

We are getting very excited for our trip home for the holidays!!! It is hard to believe that it is almost the middle of December. Time flies when you are having fun.

Last week Michael was a little bit fussy. He wasn't too bad, but bad enough to make me very grateful that the boys are generally very good babies. I guess I shouldn't complain. We decided that we thought Michael may have been teething. That was the only thing we could come up with, since we could tell that he was not sick. Thank goodness he is doing better this week.

It has been so much fun to watch the boys these past few weeks. One of them would start doing something, like grabbing at and swinging his arms at this hanging toys. The other one would then catch up in a couple of days. The boys do love to laugh and talk. We have decided that Michael is more like his father and Thomas more like his mother. Michael is more like David in the fact that he likes to be the center of our attention. If we leave the room for a few minutes then he will start to fuss until we come back in and start talking to him. When we start talking to him or pick him up Michael gets a big smile on his face because he got exactly what he wanted, our attention. Thomas on the other hand is more likely to entertain himself for a longer time with out us in the room. Thomas is definitely more patient, like his mother.

Many of you may be disappointed that I have not posted pictures in a while, but have no fear, I am doing that today! So please go check out the photo gallery!

A weekend alone

David is preparing to go out of town for the weekend and I am preparing for a weekend of just me and the boys. So it probably won't be just me and the boys, I have enlisted some help from a couple of my friends.

We had a very nice Thanksgiving at my godparents house about an hour from us. We have so many things to be thankful for this year. Starting off with our healthy boys and our wonderful friends and family.

Thomas and Michael are continuing to do well. They are not rolling over yet, but getting closer to it everyday. They are beginning to enjoy spending time on their tummies, working on getting strong. They are also big laughers. I will be changing them, or getting ready to feed them and they will just start laughing, for no apparent reason. They are both ticklish. I find it very easy to get them laughing. Both Thomas and Michael, also are big talkers.

A few of our favorite things.

Thomas and Michael have many favorite things they would like to share with all of you. We like it when mom and dad pat on our tummies. We like talking to mom, dad, and anyone who will listen. Heck we will talk to no one at all. We like to watch and listen to the purple phones that Aunt Jilinda gave us. We enjoy taking a seat in a bouncy seat or the swing. We like going for rides in the car, as long as we are moving, or the stroller. We also like to eat, which is evident by how big we are getting. I (being Michael) laugh really hard when mom tickles me under my chin. I also enjoy sucking on my fist. I (now being Thomas) love to suck on my thumb. Most importantly, we like our sleep! Lastly we like it when mom puts more pictures on the website for all of you to see (which she has done today).

The Poop Monster and Thumbsucker Extraordinare

We call Michael the Poop Monster, because when you hear the sound of him filling his pants, you all know the sounds I am talking about, you don't wait too long before going to change him. You give him just enough time to make sure he has finished pooping and then you go to change him. When you do change him you are afraid to discover where you will find poop. Will it be up his back, up the front or running down the legs? I think in one day he managed to poop through 3 onesies! Thomas does a much better job of containing his poop.

Thomas is the Thumbsucker Extraordianare! He has discovered the joy of sucking on his thumb. We hadn't been able to get the boys to take pacifiers for a while, instead they liked to suck on their fists. Thomas has discovered that he can get his thumb in this mouth and suck on that. I am torn about his thumb sucking. On one hand it is nice because he can pacify himself, if I am busy with Michael. On the other hand, I know from personal experience how hard it can be to stop sucking your thumb and effects it can have on your teeth. Michael has yet to discover that he can suck on his thumb, he is still sucking on his fist.

We did survive the shots. The afternoon and evening after the shots were a little crazy. I think I spent the majority of the afternoon holding one of the boys, while the other slept. I was glad when David got home. Once we got the boys to sleep they did okay, it was getting them settled down that was the difficult part. They were fine the next day.

They boys are still inconsistent when it comes to sleeping through the night. I would say that they have more nights that they sleep from 10:00 pm to 6:30 or 7:00, than nights when they wake up once. They were on a pretty good roll, until last night, when they woke up around midnight. I am loving the full nights sleep that I am getting, especially since my sinsus have been giving me trouble for the last week or so. David is probably not telling much of a difference, as he doesn't get up with the boys, since he can't do much for them.