IT'S OFFICIAL -- UNCLE PEDRO GRADUATED!
Not only did Pedro graduate from high school, but he also earned his Associates Degree while in high school AND he was the Class Speaker! Woah! Jorge just got home (really late) but he managed to tell me that Pedro did an great job, that it was the best graduation he had ever been to, and that lots of girls (lots and lots and lots of girls) kept wanting to take their picture with Pedro....! Wait... is that a SMILE I see in this picture??? Has Pedro truly turned over a new leaf??

Congratulations, Pedro! The girls and I are all so proud of you! Sorry we missed it... but I'm sure your brother will tell us lots of (exaggerated) stories about your big day!

Great pic!
Hi, everyone! We're doing well. We're still waiting for the results from Joli's MRI, but we figure "no news is good news." Jada is doing awesome and sleeping through the night. Hurray!
Joli is really testing the boundaries these days. Funny story: the other day, she was playing with Tita Grace when she asked if she could have a "vanilla shake" (aka Pediasure). Grace said, "You have to ask your Mom." So, Joli ran up to me, asked me, and I said, "No, Joli." But, before I could get the "li" in "Joli", she turned around and yelled to Grace, "MOM SAID 'YES!!'"

Uh.... great.

Good times...
Joli is asleep right now recovering from her MRI. It was cool - this time, Jorge got to go into the room with her. Rather than put a gas mask on her, they gave her an IV sedative that went through her port. So, there were no tears and no fighting the mask (which she hates!). She just got her port accessed and "went for a nap." The doc said it'll take a few hours to wear off, so she's sleeping while Jada and I hang out in this 97 degree heat....

This past week has been fun as Joli and Jada have spent quality time with cousin Gavin. We all went to Boston to hang out in the commons while Mari still had energy to go out (and JP was here to see Boston in the sun rather than in 4 feet of snow!). We miss you, Uncle JP!

Here are Jada's (almost) 2 month photos! Joli's will be soon to follow!

SMILE!
Hi, everyone! Sorry it's been a while since we've posted pictures. The girls and I have been spending time at my parents' house helping out with Mari as she just had her first round of treatment. We do have great pictures of Gavie and the girls swimming, so I'll post those as soon as I get home.

Jada has found her smile! Hurray! She started flashing her toothless grin 2 days ago... on her 2 month birthday. She also has found her little hand and likes to chomp on it. So cute -- when she sleeps, she likes to grab her left ear. So strange, but it's absolutely adorable!

Joli is adjusting to having cousin Gavin in Lola's house. He likes to climb on her, and he cries whenever she leaves the room. Joli's a great babysitter for Gavie - and she also talks to Tita Mari about getting a 'little shot.' Joli has an MRI coming up, so please keep her in your prayers.

Stay cool!

DEDICATION IN NY
Hi, everyone! We're back from NY. Happy birthday to Jorge! :) Jada Grace was dedicated on Sunday and we were surrounded by lots of family. Jada enjoyed her first long car ride, and both girls did awesome! Jorge and I kept saying how fortunate we are to have good "car kids".

Thanks to everyone praying for my sister Mari and her family. Mari, JP and Gavin arrived yesterday. Please keep their family in your prayers.

SCOOPERBOWL!
ahh.. the joy of ice cream!
The Scooperbowl was a perfect day, and Joli, Grace, Jada and I had a blast (and a subsequent belly ache!). Jada is sleeping really well at night and only gets up around 1am and 4am (and then up for good around 7am). We call her "Miss Serious" as she has yet to really crack a smile!

just for fun!
Here's a sweet picture of Jorge and the gals after a long day! We all went to a birthday party and came home totally exhausted! Jada is growing bigger each day. She's about 10 pounds and a totally solid little girl. Joli is super helpful as a big sister. As you can see in the pics, Joli's hair is growing back so fast! We can wait to start putting her hair back in "puffs" again!

IT'S JADA'S TURN!
Here are some great pictures of Jada! The girls are both doing great, and we're eagerly waiting for Cousin Lillian, Aunt Marie and Uncle Andy to arrive!

Happy 1 Month, Jada!
Jada is now 9 lbs, 10.5 ounces, and 21.5 inches long! Hurray!

Jada has been doing awesome! She alternates between days that she really sleeps and days where she's completely awake! She's now smiling and holding her head up quite steady. She also makes this adorable "hoot owl" face (which I've been trying to get on camera for you!) that makes us laugh. She LOVES riding in her car seat and in the Baby Bjorn - Joli calls Jorge a "kangaroo" when he wears it. Joli is also a great helper with Jada, and she calls Jada her "little fella!"
Jada is getting super spoiled because she loves being held. You think she's completely asleep... until you try to put her down. Then, miraculously, she's awake and ready to play!

RESCHEDULED
Well, thanks to good old traffic (and a stand-still HOV lane), we didn't make it to our MRI. When we got there, they also said that Joli seemed too congested due to allergies (we think it's allergies because she's had a cough/runny nose for about 4 weeks now) to go under anesthesia. So, we've rescheduled. At least we got a good breakfast out of our early, early morning trip!

MRI tomorrow!
Yup, yet another MRI tomorrow. We'll let you all know how it goes.
Happy Belated birthday to Aunt Jenny!! We can't wait to see you!

34 months!
That's right! Joli is 34 months old -- I can't believe she's almost 3 years old! Here's also a great picture of Jada, too! Notice the awesomely growing curly hair on Joli! It's growing back really fast!

happy mothers day!

some lost pictures
I found these cute pictures on Lolo's camera...

We're doing well, although cooped up in this rain. Jada has now turned the corner from sleeping all the time and is now awake more (read: we are sleeping less, too). Joli is doing awesome and is still so helpful! We can't wait for Jon, Jenny and Mia to arrive in a few weeks! We're also looking forward to our visit from Aunt Marie, Uncle Andy and cousin Lillian, too!

A DAY AT THE PARK
Wow... two posts in a row (oohh.. ahhh....). Today was perfect weather, so we went to the park. Here are some great pics of Joli, and a rare photo of Jada smiling (but still asleep).

The ultimate back seat driver...



Jada loves the nice weather

Great Jada News!
Sorry we've been out of the loop lately, everyone! We've had our hands full! Thanks for all the messages on our voicemail and all the nice emails, cards and gifts. We'll try to get to everyone as soon as we can! Right now, we're just trying to catch up on sleep (yeah, right), laundry, doctors appointments, and work!

We've had a really busy week! Just after Jada was born, we had 2 pediatrician visits for both girls (Joli has a major cold and Jada went for her 1-week follow up), a bridal shower for Kirsten, then a clinic visit to have Joli's port flushed in Boston, and then the big Jada visit to the retina specialist in Boston. Here's a GREAT picture of Jada with Lolo, complete with "red eyes" which is EXACTLY what we want to see! The doctor did not find any signs of retinoblastoma in Jada today, and we'll return for (get this...) exams every 3 months until Jada is 2 1/2 years old. The next visit will be under anesthesia.... So, yes, we'll be at the doctor's offices every single month between the two girls (MRIs, port flushes, pediatrician, exams under anesthesia, etc). Who said this was a summer "vacation??"

Joli is doing awesome with Jada! She's a great big sister and constantly wants to be near her. She spent the day today, though, with Tita Grace and Lola in Boston. That picture is of Joli holding a crab (aka.. dinner...) they bought!

Okay, hopefully we'll be better with updates... once we get some sleep.... :)

Doing great!
We've been doing well these past few days. Jada basically sleeps... all the time. So, we're counting our blessings knowing that it could change any day! She goes about 3-4 hours without waking up, then nurses, then sleeps for another 3-4 hours. Joli is a huge help - she helps us change diapers, comforts Jada when she cries (which is rarely happening), and holds her when I need to get something. Awesome big sister! Jorge goes back to work on Monday, so I may be singing a different tune next week, but so far so GREAT!

Jada already went to the pediatrician, and she now weighs 7 lbs 10 oz.. still big and healthy! Joli got to sit up on the table with her, and she was such a pro! After the visit, Jorge and Joli spent a nice afternoon at the movies and saw "The Wild."

Next week, Jada has an exam with Joli's retina specialist at Mass Eye and Ear. Joli also has an MRI coming up at the end of May, too, so we'll keep you posted on those medical things. But, it IS nice to be focusing on the fun we're having with Joli and Jada rather than all the hospital visits and doctors appointments!

3 days; 33 months
Here are the girls at 3 days old (exactly at 1:06pm on Tuesday) and 33 months (Joli was 33 months on April 17th).

Doing well, despite doing 2 hours shifts all night... Joli is at the park with Jorge. Jada, Lola and I are going to find a reclining chair. Yup, nothing like going shopping when you are 3 days old!

The Talusan-Vega sisters meet!
I'm gonna take this quiet opportunity to blog real quick! We're finally home - Jorge is out buying "feminine supplies" (what a good man!), Jada is sleeping, Joli is watching 'Annie', Gordon is trying to get some lovin' time and is snoring at my feet, and I'm sooo happy to be home! Jada is doing great and already nursing well. Joli LOVES Jada! Here are some pictures while still in the hospital of them meeting. Labor, as Jorge wrote earlier, was fast and good! Jorge's trying to get our new blog up and running, but for now we'll use this one for the two girls. Enjoy! Thanks for all your nice comments and for checking up on us!

INTRODUCING JADA!

Jada Grace Talusan Vega, or "Baby Sister" as Joli calls her, was born yesterday afternoon at 1:06PM. 8lbs and 7 ounces! That's a BIG baby.

Liza was AMAZING-- pushing for only 26 minutes because she refused to let up. With every contraction she grabbed me and the nurse and said "Let's go!"

More details later cause we all know what we're here for... the pics!