Justin

Poor Justin has strep again...or still as he was only off anitbiotic for 2 days before it flared up again. But they don't take out tonsils until you have it 6 times in 1 year.

Every time he gets strep he gets more sick. The first time he barely complained about his throat hurting. Now he sleeps all day, vomits like crazy, runs a 102 to 103 fever, his body aches, and he cries every time he wakes up that his head and throat hurt! It's awful!

This time he started throwing up at 3 am. Went to the Dr's at 9:50 where on the way he threw up in Circle K when Alex tried to be nice to get him a cold drink to cool his throat, threw up in the Dr's parking lot, and Alex had to pull over 2 times on the way home for him to be sick and as soon as he walked in the house he opened the slider and threw up all over the back porch. He slept all day yesterday. Didn't want any food other then cambells chicken noodle soup broth - no noodles at all! And when he was awake he layed there and cried, wined - and not the poor me give me attention but the I'm hurting kind. Noone could make any noise at all in the room he was in or he would burst into tears because his head hurt! My poor kid!

The Dr asked Alex if he had a blanket in the car for him since he had the chills and was shivering so bad in the office.

My poor boy!

Nic had a run of strep in 3rd grade and he was put on maintenance antibiotics to get him threw the last few months of school. If he didn't get it again after school we would assume there was a carrier in the classroom. He still has never got strep again, so some how he built up a good immunity to it. Poor Justin, I hope he builds up an immunity too!

He was up about 5 times last night before Alex (Thankgoodness because if I didn't get some sleep I would have been crying myself!) took him downstairs and he finally got him settled down enough that they both fell asleep on the couch some time in the night. I am so hoping the medicine has kicked in overnight and he feels much better today! Although I am giving him more that the usual 24 hours off of school. Technically he could go tomorrow, but I sent him right back last time and this time I think we are going to give his body a little more healing time before we send him back.

5 Months

Today I am 5 months with my little Miss and Mr! I still can't believe there are 2 babies growing in my tummy some days! This pregnancy is going so fast - I think because it's my last one I am trying to treasure every moment!

My tummy is quite large, according to my scale though, I still haven't gained any weight but have stopped dropping it as dramatically as before - bummer!

My c-section incision is sore as are my stomach muscles and hips. I guess that's too be expected with 2 babies growing. It does make it painful to sit and get up off the floor and to carry William. I try to let him walk and get Alex or Nic to help him up and down the stairs as much as possible. When I sit down my stomach sometimes feels likes it's stretching apart - I'm thinking that's the babies needing more room cause I'm so short. I have to eat a lot of small meals as my stomach gets full so fast and some nights I am up every hour to use the bathroom.
(disclaimer - I am not complaining, just want to remember... I'd hate people or God to think that I was complaining about these babies that I've prayed for, for so long - it's a fear of mine - irrational? Oh probably!!)

The nurseries are getting close to being done... I still need to buy:
- Material for 1 more blanket for little Miss.
- 2 Mattresses
- A pink crib sheet
- Sheer curtains - or material to make them.
- Brown material for little Mr's and William's crib dust ruffle and curtains.
- Light blue binding to bind William's new crib quilt to match his baby brothers.
And misc items:
- Going home outfits
- a small travel swing - I have a big 1 upstairs and a big 1 downstairs and thought a small 1 so I could carry up and down so they each have 1 in both places.
- a bouncy/vibrating seat
- 2 carseats
- a stroller
- a bumbo seat - hopefully I can find in pink or purple. William LOVED sitting on the counter in his while I cooked AND he wouldn't scream that I wasn't holding him! I LOVE these seats!!

Gosh, writing it down makes it sound like a lot! I've been watching craigslist for some of it, but am waiting for more $ to build up to chip away at the list.

In the good news department...

My mom and sister's packed up a lot of my niece Ava's 0-3 month clothes and shipped them out this week! I can't wait to go through them and see what if anything I will need! What a blessing and SO much $ saved for me! Thak you so much Kelly and Ava! It will be like Christmas opening the box! And, as little Miss needs the next size we will get more boxes. I will save them as she outgrows them too so if Kelly has another little babe I can mail them back to her.

The whole house - indoor and out has been fall cleaned! The big trash pickup came Wednesday and all items have been moved out of little Miss's room! I couldn't have done it without the boys and Alex. Actually with Alex's crazy hours Nic has helped the most, lending his muscles to move things - although he thinks his mom is now a crazy cleaning lady and I've heard him making fun of me to his friend :).

In the mixed news Department:
Alex's work has decided that they can only carry over 1 week vacation into next year. Last year he carried over 3 and this year he was going to carry over 4. It's almost like a layoff $ plan for us. If he got laid off he would get a check for 4 weeks pay in addition to what they gave for the layoff if anything. In this economy you can never plan enough... But hopefully that doesn't happen! So now he needs to find a way to use 3 weeks or he loses it :(. Good thing is he will be home a few more days and I will have some extra help with William. That will be nice for him too as he has been working so much lately! He still has a lot of vacation for next year. He gets 4 weeks and will carry over 1 so that's 5 weeks. Plus he gets 3 months paid paternity although he is only taking 3 weeks - we like his job too much to take off more than that in this economy...

Stay tuned for some blog changes soon. I need to change out all the boy things and make it boy and girl both! So exciting! Plus I found the perfect new name for my blog! I'm in love with it! It will be....

"IF you think my HANDS are full, you should see my HEART!"

It's just so perfect! My hands will be so full taking care of my 5 children but oh, will my heart just be overflowing and huge with all the LOVE I have for them!

William at 15 months

Stats:
Weight: 19.1 lbs - 3rd percentile
Height: 30" - 15th percentile
Dr watching that he has fallen on the growth chart, but not overly concerned. Recommended trying to get more calories in his diet through pediasure because she will be concerned if he hasn't gained weight at his 18mth check-up. I think he is eating normally for his age. He is picky about certain foods and loves others. His favorite food right now is fruit - banana's, grapes, cantelope and pears - which has few calories though... He is very active running and climbing. 1 shot and the flu shot today. Happy and Healthy.

Stealing daddy's pool sticks off the rack! We have to find a new home for them!
Giving mommy a heartattack standing on the chair.
Eating your favorite fruit - a nectarine - you run and steal them out of the fridge when we open the door.


William you were 15 months on Monday October 17th! You are growing up so fast!

You are both independent and Mommy's cuddlebug!
You like to feed yourself and do pretty well with a fork. You try and hold a piece of pizza just like your brothers and take a bite. You have learned to climb on the couch all by yourself and like to run on it - scary! You love to be outside walking around and swinging on your swing. When we have guests you get a little shy and like to stay with mommy until you are comfortable. You love to give kisses and hugs! And you still love to get books off your bookshelf and read with mommy, daddy, or your brothers. You still usually take 2 naps a day - during the 1st one I try and clean and during the 2nd I try and rest with you.

Mommy needs to cut your hair but I can't bear to cut off your beautiful curls!!!

You are growing up so fast! I Love you to the moon and back 1 million 5 thousand times William! And yes, that is a lot!

Reality...

I keep seeing cartoons making fun of Facebook users stating, "if only my life was as good as I make it sound on Facebook".

Well my life is that good! All the time? No. But am I going to complain about teething or a fresh teenager? No.

Here is my reality!
I have a 16 year old, is he fresh, Absolutely!
I have a 14 mth old. Is he sleeping through the night every night? NOPE!
Am I exhausted after getting up with him and getting up to use the bathroom countless times because I am pregnant? Absolutely!
By the end of the day am I fall down exhausted with slightly swollen feet, a sore back, and aching hips? Absolutely!
Do I wish my husband didn't have to work so many hours that during the week and some Saturday's I am a single mom? Absolutely!
Do I yell at my kids sometimes and then feel bad? Absolutely!
Are my degrees gathering dust on the shelf in the closet! Absolutely - the most expensive pieces of paper we own doing nothing :)
Do I sit on the floor most of the day because William screams bloody murder if I sit on the couch? Absolutely!
Do I HATE doing homework with my 7 year old. Yes! HATE IT!
Do I LOVE my life? ABSOLUTELY!

My life is wonderful and I am so thankful for this time right now! I hope it remains in my memories when things are really rough!

I love being pregnant with all the good and bad. Luckily, I have relatively easy pregnancies and when I am not feeling well I can't complain about something I chose, hoped for, prayed for, wished for, and spent a ton of $ on. My pregnancies and my children are wishes, dreams and answered prayers. My life right now is spent being their mom and even on mine and their worst days I couldn't imagine or want a life where I wasn't doing exactly what I am doing every day! Taking care of them, loving them, being their mom!

And even in the midst of an argument with my husband, I am always extremely thankful for his willingness to accept Nic as his son and love him, to go on the very difficult emotional and financial journey of IVF 3 times to grow our family, and for his willingness to work so hard and such long hours to support our family. And even more so his willingness to support me as a stay at home mom raising our children.

I use to think that God only gave us what we can handle. I no longer think that. I believe that God gives us more than we can handle so that we turn to him. There was a time that life was overwhelming - hospital bills, lack of hours at work, Alex working 3 and 2 jobs. I remember sitting and just pleading with God that I couldn't handle any more and that I was breaking and to please help. And, over time life has improved... I try now to turn immediately to God for help because for sure some burdens my shoulders are not strong enough to carry, but God's shoulders are strong enough for all our burdens and to hand them over to him grants us such peace! And that is not to say that by handing over our burdens we stop helping ourselves, but with God's help, helping ourselves and all it entails, becomes much easier.

The Twins - Gender Reveal!

I Just Love My BOYS!

And that is a Wonderful thing!


Because...

Baby A is a....

BABY BOY!
Trucks and Cars, Puppy Dogs and Balls, Running and Climbing, and lots of BLUE!


And...

Baby B is a....

BABY GIRL!

PINK, PINK, PINK

Lace and barbies, Bows and Ribbons, Dresses and Dolls!

I feel so completely and utterly blessed. 4 Sons and 1 Daughter. My Dream Family!

PS: If this is a dream I don't want to wake up! I am so excited that William will have a brother so close in age to be his best buddy! And I am so excited to have a little girl to dress all girly, play dress up with, share my barbies and my dolls and doll clothes with. And heaven help her boyfriends with 4 older brothers and an overprotective father! :)

18 Week Specialist Appt

Babies and Mommy are doing GREAT!

Today we saw the Mommy Dr Specialist and the Baby Dr Specialist.

Both babies are measuring 8oz and are perfect! Just what we want to hear!!

My blood pressure is weigh down 115/70 and I PASSED my 3 hour glucose. I will repeat the glucose test at 24 weeks and then again at 30. The Dr thinks it's just a matter of time, but I am going to eat real healthy and we will see if we can beat this, this time!

I need to be done the deep housework cleaning and yardwork now. The babies are getting too big in my tummy to keep up the lifting. So it's time to slow down just a bit and no more bending unless I have something to use to hold onto to bend and stand back up.

I am so happy, that all looks well! :)

Vacation time

This is the boys 2nd week of vacation. We aren't doing anything big as we will be going to CT in June. Can't wait! But a little anxious to fly with 5 children! Mostly we have just been hanging out and getting stuff done around the house.

The 2 older boys had their physicals yesterday. They are both healthy and well! Justin is my biggest boy, 50th percentile for weight and height! They got their flu shots also. We had the choice between the mist and the shot, but after hearing the mist was a live virus which could cause the flu, we went with the shot.

With Alex home this week (he actually took a whole week of vacation off!) we've moved onto more of the outdoor work. The garden and trees are weeded. The curbing has been weedwacked and weeds pulled outside the curbing. Alex rebuilt the roof of the playscape. Tonight we will hopefully move the weight bench and move cribs upstairs. Tomorrow the plan is to put the roof on the house, close up the hole for the rockwall area, reput a fence around the garden and if the rain holds off to spray weedkiller. Then Thurs's plan is the doorstep - it needs to be built out a bit for the screen door and fix a light.

William has been enjoying being outside with us swinging or sweeping the porch. He loves to hold on to the broom and move it back and forth. He really hates stepping on the grass even with shoes on though.

I am so excited for Friday and to see the babies again. They feel heavy in my stomach lately and I think that I am as big as I was at 8 months pregnant with William. Hopefully by the time they arrive I will still have clothes that fit me! :)