CSN Stores Giveaway WINNER!

Drum roll, please! The winner according to Random.org is.....

#2

Heather, I have sent you an e-mail with all the information you need! Enjoy your $35 gift certificate to CSN Stores!

We have some major snow coming down today! We already have approximately 4 inches and we have a Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 10 PM tonight. I can't wait to bundle the kids up and head out tomorrow for some sledding! I hope to have pictures posted later this week. It has been quite awhile since I posted some current pictures so I need to get on that!

Have a great day!

CSN Stores Giveaway!

Since starting this little blog back in 2008, I have received numerous requests to host giveaways. Unfortunately, most of them are items I would not want to bother my readers with. For example, the past three requests were for a toothbrush, holiday chocolates and a personalized song by a music duo. Boring, right?

When CSN Stores contacted me about hosting a giveaway for my readers I was very excited! With over 200 stores online, CSN sells everything you could possibly need including home decor, tools, bedding, lighting and even TV stands! The possibilities are endless!

One lucky Life in the Hen House reader will snag a $35 gift certificate good at any one of their online stores! In order to enter the rules are simple:

1.)Become a follower of my blog (right sidebar) and leave a comment telling me that you are a follower. If you are already a follower just let me know in your comment.

2.) Include your e-mail address in your comment so I am able to contact you if you win.

That's it! I will announce the winner on Monday morning! Good luck!

Our Card

I send out "Happy New Year" cards every year from our family.

Last year was the first year I attempted it since the year before I had just sent out "birth announcements" that were really "welcome home" announcements when Jacob came home from the NICU. Since it was September by the time we mailed them I didn't bother sending anything else out.

Last year, I took a picture of both kids together that came out great and a picture of each kid separate which was easy with Grace since she was still immobile, but trying to get Jacob to sit still and not flip over and try to get off the couch took about 52 takes. I was exhausted! Unfortunately, since the card was made by Tiny Prints I do not have a proof of the card that was sent, but here are the pics we used:







Notice the tears on Jacob's face?! This year, I was fortunate that we had just had our family portraits done by Black Thumb Studio and I decided to use Becca from Jumping Jax Designs to make our card. She recently revamped my blog with our new Life in the Hen House theme. She is a work-at-home Mama who is also a preemie Mama just like me! She does fabulous work and I had to share this year's card with you all:



It completely describes how I feel. Blessed.

If you are still in need of a holiday card, a blog design, a logo or birth announcements check out her website! She is great to work with!

Jacob's Orthopedic Follow-Up

This morning I dropped Grace off bright and early with her Auntie Jill and headed into Boston with Jacob for his follow-up with the Orthopedist.

When he got the cast off back on September 9th the doctor told us he would limp for approximately 3 months so not to expect him to stop limping until this appointment. Jacob only limped for about 4 weeks and then was back to jumping with both feet off the ground and running! I cringed every time he jumped or fell for the first few weeks, but he seems to be doing fine. He is doing well navigating on uneven surfaces and I don't notice any difference in the way he walks.

I was not shocked when the doctor remarked on how well he has recovered. I had a chance to take a look at the x-rays and you wouldn't believe the difference from the day of the break to now. There is so much new bone regrowth and it is making his leg good and strong so the doctor said I shouldn't be nervous at all. He actually said it would take a very serious fall (worse than the original fall) to break that leg again.

His right leg is still slightly shorter by 1-1.5 cm, but the doctor said they prefer to have it heal this way since the broken leg tends to grow faster once it starts healing and they want his legs to even out in the end.

Overall, they were very happy to see him up and running all over the place! He doesn't have to be seen again until next Summer and they will do another x-ray to make sure everything is starting to catch up.

I have been slacking lately on posts and pictures, but we are heading to Edaville Railroad this weekend for the annual Festival of Lights and since the railroad is up for sale for a cool $10 million this may very well be the last year we can take the kids. I remember going to the Festival of Lights when I was a kid and I am excited to take my own kids! Hopefully, I will have lots of pictures to post this weekend!

March for Babies - 2011

I am excited to tell you that the dates for the 2011 March for Babies have been announced!

Our walk here in Boston is going to be on Saturday, May 7th @ 12:30 PM and begins at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River. It is a very leisurely 3 mile stroll around the Charles River and has phenomenal views of the skyline and the city itself.

If you are interested in joining Team Chicken Wing, please feel free to contact me or visit our team page here to join.

If you would like to contribute by donating to our walk there is a badge on the left sidebar of the blog. We are attempting to raise $1,000 this year so even the smallest donation of $5 will help us reach that goal!

Thank you for your continued support of this worthy cause!