Welcome Madeline Belle and Savannah Noel

On December 18, 2008 the twin baby girls made their arrival! Madeline Belle Massengill was born at 3:35 PM, weighing 4 pounds, and 17 inches long. Savannah Noel Massengill was born at 4:19 PM, weighing 4 pounds 11 ounces, and 18 1/2 inches long.

Because they were born early, they were sent to the NICU to monitor and assist in their breathing, eating and any other problems that might arise. With God's help, they progressed so much quicker than expected and on Christmas Day, Chris and I were able to take our precious girls home! It was a Christmas we will never, ever forget. We are so thankful to God for these two gifts, and are cherishing every moment we have with them while they are so small and so fragile. They are truly a packaged gift from above!

Enjoy the pics!

Proud Daddy!!First time holding them together at the same time!!!

Madeline on left, Savannah on right

Catchin' some rays under the bilirubin lights


Finally taking them home from the hospital on Christmas Day!

Daddy holding Madeline after bathtime...he's so smitten by his girls!

Madeline on left, Savannah on right

Savannah on left, Madeline on right
Our first Christmas family photo! Chris and I with the two best Christmas presents ever.

Chris Finishes School!

I am so proud of Chris! Exactly 96 master level credit hours later (and another 11 prerequisite hours), he finished his requirements for the Master in Divinity program at Andrews TODAY! After arriving on campus in May 2007, he successfully pulled off all A's in his classes while taking on huge, full class loads. (And only 1 B and 1 B+ with the rest A's in total. He deserves to be bragged on for this incredible accomplishment!!) After finding out we were expecting twins, he took this final semester to another level....going over the maximum amount of hours allowed per semester so that there would be no class left to complete after December. Even then, he still finished with such high marks. Tomorrow he makes the final trip out of Berrien Springs to come meet me in Tennessee where we prepare for our next big (but much more fun!) challenge in life...becoming parents! I am so grateful to God for giving him the wisdom to accomplish all that he accomplished, and so proud for the blessing he is to my life and the lives of his soon-to-arrive twin daughters!! Congratulations, Chris on completing your Master's Degree!!

The Girls Head South

The babies and I a day before leaving on our long trip out of Michigan to Chattanooga!

Once again, we are so thankful for such a supportive family. Because of the impending due date and the also impending major move south, Chris and I decided it was in the best interest of me and the babies to get down early, get "settled in" to a doctor's practice in Chattanooga before the babies arrived. We also didn't want the babies to arrive on the side of the road on our trip down in mid-December! So, my mom and step-dad Bob graciously agreed to drive up and drive me back down to Chattanooga. At the same time, we had this ski boat that we needed to get out of Michigan before the real snow hit and Chris would be stuck trying to pull a boat on a trailer in 12 inches of snow. Again, Bob graciously agreed to take care of that for us as well.

Early Sunday morning arrived, and the weather was cold, but no snow. All looked good.

Chris and his dad checking the air on the trailer tires, making sure everything looked good. We even took the high cover off so that it would make the drive smoother for Bob - less wind resistance we were thinking....

Um...the girls aren't even born yet, and wow did the adventure begin. I think I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves. The girls were kicking like crazy as their mommy's anxiety levels hit the roof, following behind Bob and the boat.

Here comes the snow , and the icy roads. And nope, not a cover on the boat either. As the snow worsened, we passed at least 7 cars in the ditch. Good times.

As the snow let up a tad, Bob and I checking under the engine for the fuse that blew on the trailer lights thanks to an exposed wire hitting the cold trailer, which we also had to search out.

At least somebody's relaxed...in the front seat with Mom while I'm reclined in the back seat to try keeping the pregnant swelling down...

After a quick, but very relaxing lunch break at Cracker Barrel (at a table right next to the warm fireplace) helping put all our of nerves at ease, Bob found the fuse and the wire and rescued the nonexistent trailer lights back to life, just in time before darkness set in!

One picture we didn't get was running into Pastor Steve, the Pastor that Chris worked with in Greeneville who also married Chris and I - a very dear friend - at a random Wal-Mart along our route where we purchased the fuses! I know that God set that meeting up as seeing a friendly face who also happens to be your pastor in the middle of a highly stressful trip was a great comfort! With the snowstorm, the trailer lights, and a pregnant mommy who had to stop for frequent breaks, we finally made it to Chattanooga 16 hours later. My mom and Bob had to be at work bright and early the next morning and both Chris and I can not thank them enough for all they did to get me and the babies safely down to their home in Tennessee where we are now settled in and waiting for Chris to finish school and move our things down.

Somehow, with twins on the way and Chris not here yet, and us not even moved into our new home yet, I have a feeling the adventure is not yet over.

Packing Up

We are so blessed to have such a supportive family. We would have never made it through the last week without them. On Tuesday, Chris' parents flew in to spend Thanksgiving with us and help us pack our house. With me not able to lift heavy boxes and pack things up, this would have all ended up on Chris' shoulders had they not been there. Sunday evening, they were sweeping the last remnants of a packed up basement and cleaning out the empty cabinets of the kitchen! Thank you Nana and Papa for helping the girls not overdo it and helping Chris take on this huge task!!