Our New Family

We hope that we'll all be going home today. Francesca has been giving lots of kisses so far (even though in the picture she's more interested in a lemonade coolata). Her reaction to their arrival home coming soon! We're all looking forward to getting settled in!

First Visitors

Big Sister Francesca welcomes Ella and TJ!

Aunt Linda, Grandma P. and Aunt Betty with Ella


Aunt Darci with Ella

Aunt Joy with Ella and TJ

Grammie C., Ella, Mommy and TJ

Grampie C. with Ella and TJ

Ella, David and TJ

Aunt Nikki with TJ

Daddy with Ella

Uncle Garth with Ella, Aunt Michele with TJ (They're next!!)

Scott with Ella

They're here!!!

This morning at 4:00 AM we welcomed the first twin, our son, into the world. Thomas Joseph (TJ) Pisciotti was 7lbs 5oz and 20 inches long. His sister, Antonella (Ella) Lisa Pisciotti followed shortly after at 4:24 AM. She weighed 6lb 12 oz and was also 20 inches long. The babies' names are extra special as they are named after their grandfather Thomas Anthony. Both babies are doing wonderful, and I'll be posting pictures later this evening!! We are very blessed to be their parents.

"Start spreading the news..."

"...I'm leaving today." I hope I didn't throw too many of you off with that title :) It is my tribute to the Yankees playing their final game last evening at Yankee Stadium. We watched about 7 hours of pregame celebration leading up to the game itself, and then, I fell asleep before Damon even hit his three-run homer for the Yankees to take the lead. Brian and I were a little upset that the twins weren't here to see the last game but know that they'll have many more years of Yankee memories to come.

As promised, the sonogram pictures in the previous post from top to bottom were Baby B (Girl), Francesca (at 39 weeks), Baby A (Boy). While it's not the best image of Francesca, we do think that there is a resemblance in ultrasound images of the girls...we'll see soon enough!!

We hope to be sharing the big news by the middle of the week. Each day is becoming more and more challenging for me physically and therefore, we're taking relief in the fact that the end of the pregnancy is near. We are anticipating that I'll be induced on Wednesday if something doesn't happen before then, but we have a doctor's visit tomorrow and will certainly confirm all of those details then. We are ready for their arrival in many ways - including repotted plants :). Below, I snapped a few pictures of the new nursery - no decorations/pictures on the walls yet but ready just the same.

The "Musketeers" are growing!!

On September 14th, Francesca turned 18 months old!!! It's hard to be believe we've already had a year and a half of milestones and memories with her. She is every parent's dream (most of the time). On Monday, we took her to the doctor for her 18-month check-up. She now weighs 23lbs and is 34 1/2 inches tall!! She is right on track where she should be both physically and developmentally.

Yesterday, we also had my 36-week appointment with the twins. Things are moving right along and the babies could literally be here any day. With our doctor's office attached to the hospital, our routine for the past month has been to start with radiology for an ultrasound (where we usually wait about 30-45 minutes - even with an appointment). We were checking for growth this week and oh boy (and girl) have they grown!! Baby A is measuring at 6lb 8oz and Baby B is measuring at 6lb 12oz - certainly big enough for me to deliver :)

Then, we proceed upstairs where the nurses in labor and delivery (L&D) strap three velcro belts around my growing belly - one to measure each babies' heart rate and the third to measure contractions. They also hand me a little button (Jeopardy style) that I have to push every time I feel one of them move. The process is called a non-stress test and ensures the babies are active and that their heartbeats fall within an acceptable range for a period of time. They have been behaving wonderfully!! Brian jokes that every L&D nurse stops by now just to see how big I've gotten since the previous week. They are all hoping that they'll be on the schedule when I do go into labor so they can help deliver the twins. We've gotten to know them well.

Finally, after those appearances were complete, we headed over to the doctor's office where typical afternoon traffic usually results in another wait- yesterday about 30 minutes with all sorts of characters in the waiting room. We met with Dr. Marziale (who delivered Francesca), and we walked through all of the results from the day's tests. Since things look good, it was decided we'll let the babies grow another week - unless they decide to come out earlier on their own.

Below are our ultrasound images of the "musketeers" (including Francesca's from the same time frame). They are all profile shots (forehead, nose, lips, chin). Can you tell who is who? (Answer will be posted sometime this weekend.) Stay tuned for more Baby Watch 2008 news!!

Getting ready for babies!!!

It has been a busy few months at 2 Hidden Brook Way as we make room in both our home and our hearts for the twins. We've been cleaning, assembling, reorganizing, and having lots of fun. As I grow by the day, things are getting more challenging physically but the time is giving us more time mentally to prepare for our new arrivals. We've been reading Francesca lots of books and talking to her as much as we can about the twins and her role.

Many have been asking how Francesca is handling the transition. She certainly knows where the babies are right now and where they will sleep when they get here, but I don't think she quite understands the love and warmth they will soon bring to her life (ok, the noise and chaos too!) We have no doubt she'll be a great big sister.