All My 3 Week Old Babes

Everyone keeps commenting on who Baby Girl does or doesn't look like!  So, I thought I'd settle some of the debate and let everyone see for themselves.....

Bubbie, 3 weeks old

Peanut, 3 weeks old

Buggy-Boo, 3 weeks

As you can see, Baby Girl doesn't really look like any of her brothers... a bit of Bubbie and a bit of Peanut and one dimple like Buggy- Boo.  

She's a beautiful and unique creation from God!  

A Mama With Wood Floors

In the past, when Hubbie and I talked about owning a home, we never did much dreaming.  We are practical.  We know how much things cost and there isn't much use to dreaming when you are a realist and know dreaming doesn't put the money in your pocket book!  But we always said we hated our carpet.  The last place had berber carpet and yes, its nicer than tradition carpet, but it still was a pain because of sippy cup spots or dirty marks made from little boy's muddy shoes!  So, in the Spring, when we began looking at homes, most of the places had hardwood floors and we thought it was SO nice!  

Fast forward a few months and we've now lived in our home for 2 months (this weekend!  YAY!).  We have hardwood floors and the amount of dust is insane!  I sweep our hallway and living room daily....sometimes twice a day.  Our kitchen must be swept several times a day and the fact that our kitchen is connected to our living room, I'm sure makes it a bit easier to get messes from one room to another.  But not only do we have to wrestle with the hardwood floors and dirt that travels to them, but also the rugs.  Pulling out the heavy vacuum daily just isn't going to happen.... Although, I must say, we're doing pretty good with sticking to the rule of keeping food at the table and its helped!  Drinks?  We're not doing so hot.... but one thing at a time!  Anyway, since moving in, we have been dreaming of some type of device that would make cleaning up a bit easier!  I've drooled over all the spiffy new contraptions, but haven't found anything that did everything I needed it to and is the right price!    

Wal-Mart had a sale on their Bissell 3 in 1 lightweight vacuums and I immediately purchased one!  This new handy-dandy vacuum came to us this morning.  We quickly plugged it in and I was able to vacuum the area rug in the living room and the hardwoods around the rug in less than 2 mins.  Its amazing!  And another thing that sold me on this was the fact that its also a handheld vacuum!  Love it for the car and smaller messes!!!  And for $15- who could beat this!!!  

Now, who wants my 3 yr old vacuum for a steal of a price?!  That big boy is taking up much needed space!!

Baby is 3 Weeks Old!

Its really weird as I type that our daughter is 3 weeks old!  It feels as though she's lived with us for a lot longer!  I look at family pictures we have and wish that she had been in those shots!  She is just such a joy- even when she's screaming- and our family just adores her!  The brother continue to love on her...so much that its getting ridiculous!  HAHA! I can't even sit down to nurse her without 3 boys coming to sit next to me to "hug her" or "hold her" or "kiss her".  Its like "Geesh! Boys!  Calm down!  She's not going anywhere"  But I am thankful for no jealousy or anger over Mama spending so much time caring for their sister!

Our darling daughter also had her first bath during this past week!  Her cord fell off on Thursday after her doctor's visit.  Not sure she exactly enjoyed her first bath.  I think she was trying to figure out what was going on.  She'd scream a bit and then settle down.  Hubbie did the washing so that I could capture the moment.  The boys thought it was pretty cool that sister was getting a bath!  After getting all clean, her hair looked a bit lighter and was so soft!  It had gotten a bit greasy from all the kisses and loving she has been getting!!!

I was able to get a quick little outfit made for Baby Girl the past few nights!  I gotta say, between house work, nursing around the clock, diaper changes, occupying the boys and so much more, sewing doesn't always seem possible!  Especially when any free time I have, I try to sleep!  But I was able to finally get a little onesie dress with a matching hair-do-dad made.  I had seen this tutorial before our precious one was born, but I had lost the tutorial and then never had the energy to find it or work on the another project!  

Don't you just love those cheeks!!!  

Anyway, the onesie dress was super simple so I decided to add a little pinwheel accessory to the dress and then a hair do-dad!  I love her ensemble!!!  The colors are so summery and fun too!  

Baby Girl had her first "over night" trip to her grandparents house, with me and her brothers, of course.  Our A/C went out on Thursday evening so we quickly gathered our stuff and went to sleep at Nana and Pops' house.  Hubbie stayed at our house to await on the A/C man that was suppose to be at our home first thing in the morning.  Around 5pm, the A/C tech finally showed up, took about 20 mins to replace the part and then left.  We were so thankful for A/C and to be home AND for our home warranty.  Baby Girl definitely knew she was in a new place.  She was very alert and looked around the room with a wide-eyed wonder look.

And no update about Baby Girl would be complete without a picture or two of her adoring brothers!  :o)  What a crew they are!  They exhaust us.  They try every bit of patience that we can muster.  The younger boys have a love/hate relationship that I am thinking will eventually make them to be inseparable, but for the time being, it just adds more chaos to our daily lives.  These boys make us count our blessings and wish we were on vacation....far, far away from them!  All at the same time!!!   We did a video of Baby Girl's first bath and in the background, you can hear the three boys running laps in our house- screaming and laughing and making "race car noises" at the TOP of their lungs!  When they are playing like this, in the house, you can hear them outside of the house, by the road!  They are THAT loud!!!  When I say our days are filled with chaos and noise, those aren't even the right words for the noise level and confusion!!  :o)  But, like I said, they fill us with joy and gratitude and thankfulness!  To me, we have the most beautiful and perfect family- not that we're perfect- but its just perfect for us and I love it!  Just Heaven help us keep some bit of sanity and peace while we try to endure these days of such active little ones!

Moments From the Sleep Deprived

At the doctor's office on Thursday, the doctor and I were discussing Baby Girl's weight gain.  I kept saying it was such fantastic weight gain for a week.  He continually said 10 days.  I kept referring to it as 7 days.  HAHA!  He left the room to grab something for us and while he was gone, I realized that we had been to the doctor's office the week before on a Monday and it was indeed a Thursday.  DUH!  Once the doctor came back in, I apologized and told him why I kept saying a week!  Time flies, huh?!

As we were leaving the doctor's office, I made Baby Girl's appointment for a 2 mos. well baby check up.  I knew all my boys were due visits in the next few mos, so I went ahead and requested that one, if not all three, boy have the same appointment, to decrease the amount of trips to the doctor's office!  When we decided that Bubbie would be the lucky winner of that particular day appt, the receptionist asked what Bubbie's birthdate was.  I told her Dec. 5 over and over again.  I probably told her three or four times.  Finally she asked, are you sure its not Dec. 4.  HAHA!  Yes, yes it is!  DUH!

After leaving the doctors office, Baby Girl and I headed to the bank to do a stop payment on a check that has been lost in the mail.  I opened my purse, grabbed my wallet and started to search for my ID.  Hmm.... no ID.  This is not good.  Especially when you were wanting to get cash from the bank as well.  UGH!  Thankfully, the lady was able to verify some information for me and helped me out so that I did not have to come back to the bank with all four kiddos.  While signing some paperwork, I wrote July 21st 2010.  Hmmm...... not good!

I told the lady at the bank about all my "moments" in the last hour and she and I had a good laugh about the "fog" that you are in after having a baby!!!  Goodness!  Maybe I shouldn't be allowed to drive!

Happy 2 Weeks Baby Girl!

At doc visit- 6 days old 

At doc visit- 10 days old

Two weeks(and 2 days) have passed since we welcomed our Baby Girl into the world!  The two weeks have been filled with lots of feedings, tears, hugs and kisses, thankfulness to the Lord, happiness and learning curves!

Baby Girl continues to be a great baby.  She is my quickest nurser and even if she is "cluster feeding" she still finished up in less than a hour.  We've had a rough day here and there, but I'm thinking it has a lot to do with gas, so I'm slowly taking things out of my diet to see what is causing her issues.  Two days in the past fourteen she's had an eating frenzy and eaten, off and on, for three or four hours and the times in between eating, she's been extremely fussy!  Thankfully those days are behind us and hopefully, we won't have too many more before we're able to figure out why!

She continues to sleep wonderfully at night.  I bring her to bed with me or beside us in the swing and she wakes up once during the night.  Seriously, the best sleeper we've ever had as well.  (Hope I'm not jinxing it!)  She does much better when she's swaddled and her Daddy is the best at swaddling his babies!

Her brothers continue to adore their "new baby" and dote on her.  They bring her bows if Mama has forgotten her accessories.  They love to kiss and hug and "show love".  Thankfully no one has tried to pick her up, but a few times, we've had to intervene because the love was just too much for a little one!

Baby Girl had another weight check visit with her pediatrician this morning.  I am pleased to announce that since last Monday (10 days ago) she has gained 1lb and 1.5oz!  Woo hoo!  I am so happy that she is gaining so well.  Doc is super impressed that she is exclusively nursing as well.  I'll probably continue to wake up her and feed her during the night every 3 or 4 hrs, if she hasn't woken up, but I'll re-evaluate that once we go to her next visit in 6 weeks.  If she's had incredible gaining again, I'll probably stop waking to feed her.  Doctor said that she's doing good now, not to worry too much about her, since she is nursing so frequently and for long periods during the day, but she is still so little and she wasn't even due until yesterday.... so I would feel more comfortable with her being a bit bigger before letting her go an extended period of time between feedings!  Of course, by the time she gets to be a month or two old, she may be wide awake and ready to feed every 3 hrs!  Like I said, I've never had a babe that has needed to be woken up to nurse.  She is definitely a precious and different little one!

Our little girl continues to favor her oldest brother.  When Buggy came out into the world, I instantly knew that he made the other brothers "make sense".  One was fair skinned and blonde and the other was darker skin and dark features (eyes, hair)....Buggy came out with a great mixed skin of both and light features than his oldest brother..... he just made everyone mix.  When we saw Baby Girl, the only "person" we could see how she might favor was Bubbie.... and mostly just the dark features- dark hair and eyes.  Her eyes are a beautiful chocolate brown.  So very dark.  After a beautiful sea blue eyed baby, its different having a dark eyed babe again!  :o)  We think, no matter who she looks like, that she is beyond beautiful!  Even her brothers call her "pretty girl"!  (Swoon!)

Yes, she has enormously long feet for such a petite lil thing!

Baby Girl fits perfectly in newborn sized clothing.  I'm anxious for her to fit in her 0-3 mos clothing, but I am trying to not wish these early days away, because once they are gone, they will be gone for forever!

She has definitely changed in the last two weeks.  Her cheeks are fuller and she is more alert.  All of our children have been very alert babies, but she came out alert and never had that "sleepy" newborn period.

Happy Two Weeks Baby Girl!!  :o)

To The Edge

I don't think I ever had "rose colored" glasses on when thinking about life with four.  I knew that my three boys took me "to the edge" most days and that having another (an infant) would put me "over the edge".... and its true.  Sure, adding one more isn't like adding no. 2 for me, which was my biggest adjustment of having children, but its definitely an adjustment of timing and dividing yourself between needs.  Most days, even with help from my fabulous mother and hands-on Hubbie, I only meet the children's physical needs.... getting dressed, fed, diapers changed.....  how long will life be like this?  I joked a few months ago that this would probably be our life- survival- for a few years.  And now that we're in it, I gotta say, I was pretty close to being right.  The sad part is that its not that we have four that puts me over the edge most days.... its the ages and temperaments and that we haven't been anywhere, doing anything, but the same ole same ole!  I like to keep my kiddos away from places and things for a week or two while we have a new baby.  I just don't think its good for tons of people to come in the house, snuggle with the babe and for our older kids to be around too many germs.  I know we won't be able to do this much longer, but for the time being, I consider the added chaos of "finding things to do at home" worth not getting my Baby Girl sick during these early days.  But anyway.... its not the four kids.... its the ages of the kids.  The younger boys have moments or days of disobedience.  Buggy isn't at the age you can "reason" with him yet, so he's physically needy.... which I am not able to physically handle him yet.  Peanut is...... just PEANUT!  Loving, cuddly, yet so disobedient and sensitive.  We just haven't figured out his "thing" yet in order to get him to obey.....  And then there is our Bubbie.....Bubbie is the biggest help.  He plays well with his brothers.  He helps do physically demanding things, like take Buggy out of his crib, etc.  He can buckle himself and his younger brothers in the van for me.  He is awesome!  But sometimes....that attitude and "always needing to know" just gets to me!  I guess we give him lots of responsibilities and he thinks he's an adult because of it.  So frustrating!  :o)  I was quietly reminded last night, after a rather difficult afternoon of disobedient little boys, that resulted in the little ones skipping out on family movie night and going to bed early, that we needed to keep plugging along.  We aren't trying to get our children to obey just for the sake of nap times every day.... but we're truckin' along for a bigger goal- a future one-

But, its worth it.......  I love my three boys.... couldn't imagine life without them.  And my Baby Girl takes my breath away!  Last night, as I starred at Baby Girl, as she was sleeping, I realized that she had become more beautiful over the last day or two.  How can she do that?!  I am completely in love and in awe of having a daughter.  I was head over heels for each of my sons, but I guess the mystery of having a daughter makes this time new and fresh and different.  Deep down, I hope I can always describe to Baby Girl how beautiful I think she is.  

In the mean time, we will continue to plug along, be consistent, pray a lot more than I ever thought possible, forever be in debt to my parents and try to get a schedule down as quickly as we can so that we can find some order among the chaos!

2 Months Shy of 2

Buggy is 22 months today!  

It feels as though we just celebrated his 1st birthday and now the big boys are eagerly planning their youngest brother's 2nd birthday party!  

We found out we were pregnant a month after Buggy turned one.  Maybe thats the reason why this year feels as though its flown by.

Buggy is sweet and oh so naughty!  

He loves kisses and cuddles and attention, but isn't always eager to please!

His 2nd and 3rd fingers are his favorite!  I so wish he had had a pacifier!  Fingers and tags from blankets!  Oh brother!  If he sees a piece of clothing with a tag on it, he snatches it for his very own!  

He still doesn't talk as much as his big brothers did at this age.  I am convinced its because he couldn't get two words in when most kids can chatter away!  Even though Buggy doesn't talk in sentences yet or put many words together, he does a fabulous job communicating his needs.  And if we don't know what he's saying, he'll just squeal or yell or make animal noises!  We will see what the doctor says at his 2 yr old check up!

He loves his chocolate milk, granola bars and gold fish.  He isn't a fan of sitting at the table longer than absolutely necessary.  He is doing much better about picking up toys and being a "helper" but you must say "be a helper!" in order to get any results.

He is in love with his little sister and dotes on her daily.  We've only had a few hours of jealousy or showing out and after he and I spent some good alone, snuggle time together, he's been such a good boy!  It has definitely been an adjustment for him not being able to climb in my lap or for me to carry him.  I am so proud of him for being so loving of baby!  

Buggy has been sleeping in the same room as his older brothers since right before the move and has done much better than we thought.  We assumed he wouldn't sleep with them in there, but its been the exact opposite.  When he's gone to bed before the older boys, he's pitched a fit and has wanted his big "BUBBIES" in there with him!  :o(  So sad to hear him crying "Bubba! Bubba!"

Buggy is such a cut up!  We really thought we had our hands full with Peanut, but oh no! Buggy is his own little man!  Aggressive!  Strong willed!  Always trying to get us to laugh at him!  Sometimes its so hard to discipline him because you just can't believe what you just saw or you are laughing too hard from the insanity of it all!  Yes, my days of "trying" to look good in front of other mothers is far gone.  HAHA!  My child will be THAT child on the playground that pushes other kids out of the way!  Hopefully it'll NEVER happen outside of the home!!!

Oh, but we love this little boy so!  He is such a joy and a precious one!  Always wanting to look after his Bubbas by bringing them their drinks or toys or clothing items!!  

A Week Into Her Life and A Bit About Ours

Today we celebrate our darling daughter being a week old.  My! My! My!  How time flies!  

Last Tuesday, we went in the hospital for my last c-section.  Four c-sections, I now concur, is ENOUGH!  I think Hubbie and I both felt a bit bittersweet about this phase in our lives being over.  Even though, deep down, we know we're done, its hard when someone else tells you you have to be done.  My SIL told me that God decides our family size and He can do it through your doctor.  We prayed and discussed having more than three kids, before our last c-section, and we both agreed to leave it up to Doc S.  We said it would all depend on what she found once she was in the c-section.  She said that she had given us the "deluxe" package so that if we did decide to have another, we'd be safe.  I feel so blessed to have had such an easy fourth pregnancy after so many c-sections.  Doc S said that once she started my c-section she realized that it was a challenge.  She had to cut a new incision.  Instead of the normal cut from the last three, she had to do one a little off to the side.  She said the tissue was very thin and that it was challenging to sew me back up.  The tubal went well.  The c-section went quickly and I never had any knowledge of the difficulty of the surgery.  My biggest fear was bleeding severely and having to have a hysterectomy.  God protected me and I am very thankful.  Immediately after the c-section, instead of being taken to the Day Surgery recovery area (kept there for about a hr, until vitals are checked and have movement in your legs), I was taken to Labor and Delivery and able to bond with baby and watch her being cleaned off.  To me, this was just absolutely the best thing EVER.  After having three c-sections and not getting to my babies and getting to nurse for a hour or more, I was able to nurse within a hour.  Baby Girl latched on like she knew exactly what to do and I couldn't be more thrilled with our nursing experience thus far.  Again, after a non-nursing baby (Bubbie), a difficult latch-er (Peanut) and then a challenging first week of nursing (Buggy), a natural nurser is just a dream come true!  During this short recovery period, I was able to bond and nurse with Baby Girl and my dear friend, Dana was able to stay with us and take pictures.  What a blessing to have these memories of us welcoming and getting to know our newest family member.  (To see the fabulous video, go here) Once we were OK'd, we were taken to our private room and able to watch the boys meet their new sister!  What a precious time!  Our family was complete and the boys were so excited to meet Baby Girl.  Not sure Baby Girl will ever realize how happy and excited her family was to finally meet her!  Each of the boys insisted on holding their new sister.

We had a 2 night stay at the hospital and those days were tough.  Wednesday I was able to get out of bed and man! I think it was then that I remembered the recovery from a c-section.  I couldn't have survived those days without my husband.  I had planned on sending Hubbie home the 2nd night to stay at home with the boys- thinking that this recovery would be similar to Buggy's, which was a tad bit easier.  I didn't anticipate all the pressure and "gas" built  up inside (which I have now learned is very common after a tubal).  The pain was excruciating and took my breath away.  If I hadn't had that pressure against all my newly cut open body parts, I would have been fine, but man! I just couldn't get the pain to go away!  We were released on Thursday morning (thank Goodness!) and home by noon.  I was so thankful to be in our home.  Sadly, after c-sections, I have to wait a while before I can actually get INTO our bed, but it was so nice to be comfortable in our home.  Hubbie picked up the boys from my parents house before dinner time and I was so thankful to have our family together again!

We spent all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday at home.  The boys were fabulous.  Very eager to help and hold baby.  They picked up nicely.  Naps, here lately, have been atrocious, but besides that, life was good.  I was one content Mama- aside from the pain, pressure and lack of sleep.  My milk came in before we left the hospital and Baby Girl continued to be an excellent nurser!  By Sunday afternoon, Buggy started to "show out" and boy! the two's were upon us!  I was starting to melt down mentally, knowing that I didn't feel up to physically handling him and with Hubbie going back to work so soon!  Thankfully, my Mom said she could help out, so I stopped begging for Hubbie to stay home longer!

Monday we had a full morning of doctors appointments.  We made our way to Baby Girl's first pediatrician appt.  She did excellent.  We love her doctor.  He has small children and takes his time with his patients!  The doctor was super impressed that Baby Girl had gained so much weight, being exclusively nursing and she was only 6 days old!  She was born 6 lbs 9 oz.  Of course, babies lose weight after being born and she had "bulked" up to 6 lbs 12 oz at her doc appointment!  After our doctors appointment, I had to go to my OBGYN and get my staples out.  My incision is healing nicely, which is always a nice thing to hear!  We were blessed by Nana taking care of the boys so that Hubbie could care for me and Baby Girl.


Tuesday morning was the day I have been dreading for weeks!  Hubbie went back to work.  We are anticipating quite a long next few months with quite a few deadlines hanging over Hubbie's head at work and very limited employees to do the work!  I have been praying that the Lord would bless us with health, lots of family time and for Hubbie to be able to accomplish everything that is being put on him.  I definitely don't want him to miss so much of family time.  This is our last baby and I'd hate for him to miss out on so many memory makers during these early months!

Baby Girl's arrival has been such an exciting and challenging time!  I really didn't anticipate having such a hard time recovering but God is teaching me a lot about myself.  I hate depending on others, but its something that over the last week, I've had to do.  I cannot WAIT until I can move my body normally and be myself again.  I am looking forward to wearing normal clothing and getting out and about.  After over a week of hibernation, I am getting cabin fever!  I'm sure the kids are getting there as well!  I am keeping busy (during all these nursing sessions) trying to prep for school.  Over the last few months, I have had quite a few moments of doubt about my ability to home schooling Bubbie with a preschooler, toddler and a nursing newborn.  I have thought a lot about enrolling Bubbie in a private school and sending Buggy and Peanut to preschool/Mothers Day Out a few days a week.  But my heart hurts every time I even think about it.  I just don't feel like thats what God wants us to do and any peace about it.  I have given the situation over to God and am just praying that the Lord would guide us.  Hubbie is very supportive and encouraging about my ability to do this, which I appreciate greatly.  I have a hard time not comparing my ability and Bubbie's schooling to his friends that attend "normal" school.  I know I shouldn't compare, but I do care a bit too much about what others think when it comes to the raising of my children.  After coming home from the hospital and being so sore, I just thought that there was no way I could handle the 3 boys and a new baby AND schooling.  Now that I'm starting to feel more like myself, I've decided to, again, just give this decision over to God and ask Him to guide us.  I am starting to rethink my curriculum choices and perhaps do something a little less demanding on me (as far as planning).  This, to me, is kinda disappointing, but I also feel like it may be an answer to prayer.  Just because we won't do my curriculum of choice or EVERYTHING I'd like to do this Fall, doesn't mean, we can't try to accomplish some of it in the Spring or next year.  I need to understand that this year, we're in a new season.  A season of several little ones.  We have 4 under 6.5 yrs old.  The three little ones are each 21 mos apart.  A season of....perhaps.....survival!

No matter what the last few months have brought... the chaos, stress, frustration, exhaustion, pain and recovery.... I feel blessed with our family and what God has done in our lives.  I am so thrilled to be starting this new chapter in our lives with our family size complete.