Jethro & Judah: The Birth Day Video
Because we love you all so much and know you would all love to be here right now, we did the next best thing: live video! Gavin took an assortment of video clips throughout the first day and I (Tara) was able to put it all together in a nice lil presentation for ya’ll. We were actually able to video the cesearean birth, so view with discretion (may not be suitable for all viewers: some birth fluids and blood are visible).
Today the boys are 6 days old and we are all doing great! Eden is loving the novelty of the baby boys; she confuses their names still, but her heart is overflowing with love and helpfulness. She is learning lots of new words this week: burp rag, bottle, etc. She wants to hold them all the time, but settles for lesser things like fetching a burp rag, depositing diapers in the “Diaper Champ’, or simply sitting close by to observe and comment on the whole wonder of it all. I am healing at an incredible rate (the hospital staff called me the ‘twin c-birth poster child’). Gavin is rising to the moment with grace, patience, and perseverance. The boys are up every 2-3 hours in the night with hearty appetites; but they don’t yet have the energy to totally get what they need from the breast. So our days compose of a regime of nursing, pumping, bottle-feeding, changing little wee diapers, swaddling, cuddling, and finally sleeping! Jethro is a hearty guzzler whereas Judah is more slow but steady. They are definitely fraternal twins, but easily mistaken for identical at first glance. It’s the dark hair. In the wee hours last night Gavin and I were quietly talking as we went about another round of caring for newborns, we realized that we had both given them similar Roman nicknames. Judah without a doubt reminds of us a “Little Ceasar” because of his Ceasar hair style, fair skin and noble quietness. Jethro is our Wild Boy, who Gavin calls “Gladiator” because of his wild thick hair, ruddy skin and strong (almost surly!) personality. Makes me think of Paul ( the refined Roman Jew) and Peter (the burly fisherman.)
These next weeks will be a bit of work around the clock because they need extra TLC at feeding times (thank God there are no digestive problems cropping up as of yet!). But by their 40 week date (April Fools Day) things will change. So for now, it’s one day, one hour at a time. Sleep is precious, our children are wonderful, healthy, and full of life. We are blessed beyond description.
March 20th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
WOW!
That was AB-SO-LUTELY AMAZING!!! Gross at times….but amazing! Thanks for posting this video it was beautiful and such a great blessing for those of us who are away.
I can’t wait to meet your boys.
I love you guys,
Jason.
March 20th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
wow… that’s so amazing.
what beautiful boys!! congratulations my friends!!!
March 20th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Wow. The wonder of birth is amazing. Thanks for sharing. They are beautiful
March 20th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Absolutely amazing!!! Thanks for sharing! Isabela should have fun playing with the boys! She’s due in Late May! Can’t wait to move in next door, and see the boys! God Bless you guys!
March 20th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
wow! what an incredible birth video, thank you so much for sharing it. your boys are beautifully handsome. we are praying for you often, and are so blessed to see Gods faithful hand upon your lives.
March 21st, 2007 at 12:22 am
Oh!! I cried as the boys came out, that was amazing - thank you for sharing! I pray for peace and rest from Jesus as your family continues to enjoy and settle in with your new sons!
lots of love!
-bek
March 21st, 2007 at 5:35 am
I was tear-y eyed as I watched it, especially the miracle of birth (as my own experience wasn’t long ago) and the meeting of Eden with the boys. Absolutely precious. It was cute to see Tara “dopey” as she put it!:-)
May God bless you with sleep and also with the rest that is beyond natural—supernatural.
March 21st, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Oh man this was Beautiful…the birth was a little more so alot of blood and what not but it did make me want to cry. man they look strong and like little men! and i love Eden’s reaction to them that is so great! she is so gentle and you can see the love in her eyes….i cant wait to meet them on Friday! and Tara you looked like a Rock Star! and Gavin you look like a Proud Papa!
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Thank you for being so gracious as to share , I have never seen anything like that. It was truly amazing I can’t wait to meet them one day. I hope that everything continues to go well.
With love,
Bonnie
March 23rd, 2007 at 7:20 am
WOW I am typing through my tears of hapiness for you!! I so cried through the birth, thank you for sharing with us!!! I cannot wait to give them a cuddle!
What a lovely family the Lord has blessed you with!
God Is GOOD!!!!
Love The Van Hofwegens!!!
March 23rd, 2007 at 5:24 pm
BEAUTIFUL!!!!! (I’m all teary-eyed)
I still need to meet those little guys…
Congrats again!
March 23rd, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Wow Tara this is amazing. God Has blessed u with 2 beautiful boys… Its amasing. God bless u and ur family… And I want to baby sit soon…. VERY SOON!
love u..
March 24th, 2007 at 5:34 am
I am wept as I watch the miracle of Jethro and Judah being brought forth!
They are amazingly sweet. They will teach you soooooo much……..
God gives us such gifts, beyond our imagination.
Praise our God!
Rest when you can, give up housework….snuggle those babies (that’s including big sister) Nurse like a champion, eat like a horse to keep your strength up.
love from the Jennings!
March 27th, 2007 at 9:06 am
Yeah! Ain’t God great! He is amazing. Many many blessings to you both, praying for good eaters and good sleepers! Get rest whenever you can and accept any help folks offer. Remember to take time for the two of you
Love ya Linda
March 28th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Hey!! Congratulations!!! We haven’t been able to play the video yet, but your little ones are adorable!!! I’ll be praying for you as you labor through the next few weeks! Beth
March 29th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
What a lovely family. Can’t wait to see all of you again and the twins for the first time. Felicitation ma soeur.
April 7th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
So I didn’t realize that I actually wanted children until I watched this. I literally sobbed through the entire video and don’t even know why!! I guess I was wrong about not wanting kids of my own someday. I can’t wait to meet my little nephews in May
Eden is such a joy! I love you all 
April 7th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Wow — sobbing eh? That’s awesome actually:) I’m so honored that God used us to be a means of His healing in your heart. Yeah Meg, being able to bear children is a gift…one that I do pray you’ll share one day. There’s nothing like it in the whole world…you think you can’t love more, but then your heart expands miraculously and you can love on levels you never even knew…and you learn so much about the heart of God…it’s unexpressable. I love it…and I wouldn’t trade the honor of being a parent for anything in the world.