Another baby present

THe wife of someone Paul's mom works with made Andrew a baby present. We have never met this woman (and neither has Paul's mom, actually), so it was really sweet of her to think of him. Have you seen the tissue box covers at the drs offices? These are rattles made out of the same thing. 24 of them! Not only did she make one for a stranger, she made him 24!!! Andrew LOVES them. I took them out and showed them to him and rattled them and he was smiling and laughing at all of them. It was ADORABLE!!

Abstract Art

I have had two walls in Andrew's room I have been trying to figure out something to do with. I went and got wooden letters to paint and hang on one wall (they spell out his name - I will post a pic when I finish). I decided with the other wall I would let each one of the boys paint a picture for him. Here they are:


Isaac's abstract

Caleb's abstract

Bryce's abstract

Changing More and More

I think everyday Andrew changes more and more. He has great periods of happiness throughout the day everyday now. He likes to smile and laugh at you. He especially likes it when Daddy holds him and plays with him. You have never seen so many smiles and laughs from a 7 week old!

He seems to be getting bored now too. He does not like to lay in bed or in his swing or bouncy seat all the time anymore. I am going to have to find the time to go get him some kind of play gym or something to lay under. He has his little mat for tummy time, but it does not have anything he can lay on his back and stare at.

There is also this little turtle I have been trying to find. It lights up and changes colors and puts stars on the walls and ceilings. I can't find it in a store anywhere, so I may have to breakdown and pay the shipping and order online.

I don't remember having to try to find things to entertain the others at such an early age! Maybe I just don't remember the others ever being at such an early age!!

WHAT?

Caleb started talking about his Christmas list again. We had a talk about what Christmas means, because he has apparantly forgot in the past 5 months! Then I asked him why he wants a cell phone so bad. I asked if there were kids in his class that have them and he said there was. He is wanting a Firefly phone so I asked if the other kids have Firefly's. He said they have RAZR phones...at 8(?)...you are kidding me!

He has broken two pairs of glasses in less than a year and he is wanting a phone and laptop...hmmmm!

He said he did not even know Santa would bring a present as expensive as a laptop. I asked who told him Santa would and he said he read it in a book. I reminded him that just because something is in a book does not always mean it is the truth!

This is the same kid that does not believe in Santa until he wants something for Christmas!

And Now...

Caleb is planning everyones birthday parties. At least birthdays are closer than Christmas!!

For Mom & Dad

This is not really what I wanted to do, but I don't have enough family photos to do what I wanted. I love you both and wish you Happy (late)Mother's and (early)Father's
Day. Thank you for everything you did for us and gave up for us!

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY HEATHER!!

SISTERS
A sister's love is special
in oh so many ways
Now miles stretch between us
and minutes turn to days.

We've shared so much as children
the tears, the joys, the pain
A lifetime spent together
those memories remain.

In times gone by we've pondered
the paths our lives have taken
Knowing that in spite of this
our sister love unshaken.

A sister's love is special
in ways that are unspoken
Still that binding force exists
our sister love unbroken.

~© Rosemary Wynings~

Christmas in...May

Now, Caleb has his brothers making their Christmas list. Except, since his brothers can't write - he is writing it for them. That would be fine, except he is telling them what they want. If they say they want something that Caleb does not want them to have he says he won't write it down.

Aren't big brothers great!

My Birthday Plans

We are having a party on my birthday this year. The firemen are coming and they are bringing their firetruck with them. We will all get to ride the truck around the block and play with the sirens!

Oh, wait. The party is on MY birthday, but it is Bryce's party! Just kinda happened that way! It will be a blast, I am sure!

BEWARE SANTA!!

Caleb is starting his wish list already. It is a good thing too - Santa needs lots of warning this year. So far, he wants
a cell phone
a laptop
a kayak
a supersoaker gun (I actually want one of these-now they have them where you put ice cubes in it - with a blasting distance of 35 FEET!!)

How old is he again? Do most eight (well, technically he will be nine at Christmas) year olds ask for these (or get them for that matter?)

And, so it begins! They were already suppose to have a kayak, but did not get it because they could not behave and be nice to each other. Caleb starting telling me his wishlist two days ago, and two days ago he started being VERY good! Coincidence? I doubt it!

Andrew's "Tummy Time"

Isaac Gwadiated

Isaac receiving his "diploma" and metal at graduation


Isaac kissing (?) his medal

Isaac with his diploma and medal

MUG SHOT!! The boys enjoying cupcakes after graduation.

Isaac with one of his teachers

Isaac with one of his teachers

Isaac at home after graduation.

Isaac's graduation was really quite chaotic!! To top off the chaos of trying to get 20+ kids to do what you want when you want, the room was hot. Someone got an industrial fan and put behind the kids, blowing on them and the audience. Since it was RIGHT behind them, they all start screaming, their diplomas are blowing everywhere - HILARIOUS!! They pointed the fan up, got all of the kids calmed back down and a few minutes later it fell to where it was angled at the kids again - and it all started over. I got video, I will have to try to put on here.

Isaac sat most of the time with his elbows on his knees and chin in his hands - looking COMPLETELY bored! He looked so cute though and was so excited about it!

Mr. Independence

Isaac came up to me a few minutes ago and told me that I will not see him in kindergarten. I told him I would and he said that noone could go, but him. I joked that we were ALL going to go to kindergarten with him. He told me he did not want anyone to go with him - he wanted to go all by himself!

A Day In the Life...

Here is what our schedule has become (on a GOOD day):
1:30 AM Andrew wakes up to eat and goes back to sleep in his bed.
2:30 Andrew (lately) has been gettin up fussy. I put him in the swing with his womb sounds and pacifier and he goes back to sleep.
5:30 Andrew is up to eat. He goes back to sleep in either our bed or his bed (I know the alarm is about to go off and I want the extra few minutes of sleep!! I am sure it does a lot to help me!)
6:30 We get up and get the kids up and ready for school.
7:15 Andrew wakes up, diaper change, bathe and dress.
7:30 If Paul is in town he leaves to take Caleb to school and go to work. If he is not, I am leaving to take Caleb and Isaac to school.
7:45 I leave if I am just taking Isaac to school.
8:15 I get back home and get laundry, etc started and Bryce a drink.
9:00 Andrew goes back to sleep
I frantically try to do housework and play with Bryce while all is "quiet"!
10:30 Fix lunch for Bryce and cook dinner (if it is something that will refrigerate and reheat easily and still taste good!)
11:00 Read Bryce naptime story - TWICE (he always wants the same book read twice before nap)
11:15 I eat lunch and feed Andrew
11:45 Andrew goes back to sleep and I sit and relax until Bryce gets up
Whenever Bryce gets up we play until...
2:15 Feed Andrew
3:00 Pick up Isaac and Caleb from school
3:30-3:45 depending on traffic - we get back home. I straighten the house up, play with the kids and try to get dinner going (if it is not made already). Andrew usually stays awake for a good period about this time.
5:30 Feed Andrew, Daddy gets home
6:00 Dinner
7:30 Feed Andrew
8:00 start getting kids ready for bed
8:30-9:00 kids in bed - including Andrew
Around 10 - get Andrew up and top him off before I go to bed
1:30am - it all starts over!!

This is assuming we are home and not running errands and it is still pretty generic, but you get the idea of how things are! I try to get all of the errands done while we are out taking kids to school. At least we have gotten somewhat of a routine going, and Andrew is going longer between feedings now. We are DEFINENTLY getting more sleep!!

Bryce is doing MUCH better during the day, for the most part. He still has break-downs every now and then, but his bad part of the day is when we leave to pick up his brothers from school - until bedtime! Obviously, he is doing better during the day because he has a lot of alone time with me - for a couple of more weeks, than his brothers are out of school!

We will see how well this stays the same over the summer with all four kids home all day! I think I need a nap now! :-)

Andrew is six weeks old today!! Makes me want to cry!

WHY?

Why is it that when you get something you REALLY like, you cannot find it anywhere? I was given some Huggies Disposable Changing Pads with a baby gift. I LOVE them! They are big, but fold small, the top is soft but the bottom is a non-slip waterproof plastic. They are so easy to carry in the diaper bag, and unlike the changing pads that come with diaper bags (which are big and bulky) these actually keep Andrew from touching the nasty, germ-infested public changing tables.

I have even used them at home with exceptionally nasty diapers. It is much more convinent to change him on it and throw it all away than to have to wash the fabric pads.

If I had known I could not find them anywhere, I probably would not be using them at home though. I have looked at all of the stores in the area and no one sells them. I can buy them online, but after you add shipping you end up spending $10 or more for one pack!

How frustrating!

It Seems Like Just Yesterday....

When he was starting school and now he is GRADUATING!!

Thursday night, Isaac is graduating - from Preschool, of course. He is SO excited! Mommy - not so much!

He is really looking forward to starting kindergarten. He tells me where he is going to be going to school at everyday!

I will post pictures Thursday night or Friday morning.

Jungle Explorer Caleb

Next Friday Caleb is supposed to dress up as what he wants to be when he grows up. Lately, he has been saying he wants to be a Jungle Explorer. He said he wants to have a lab in Madagascar and after he studies the animals and jungle he will go back to his lab and go over and record his findings.

My mission over the next week and a half is to find "jungle explorer stuff." He has made a list of things he "needs" like binoculars, a hat, clipboard, compass, etc. If we call pull it together, I will take pictures and post them.

WHAT A SCARE!

Last night, Andrew really scared Paul and I. He kept waking up crying and really should not have been hungry. I finally gave up trying to console him with him in his bed and got him up. He was really congested again and I thought I would try to keep him sitting up more (one side of his bassinet is raised but does not seem to help much).

I laid him on the bed to get a burp cloth and he kept screaming so Paul picked him up. As soon as he did, Andrew threw up and started gasping for air. He was arching his back and throwing himself around and turning purple. I am starting to panic about now!

I am trying everything to try and calm him down and get him breathing normal and nothing was working. He was gasping and still red and thrashing around. I finally got him calmed down and he just sat in my lap staring.

I don't know if he was just choking between the congestion and throwing up or what, but it almost seemed like he was having a seizure. I wrote it down and unless it happens again I am just going to bring it up when we go to the dr in a couple of weeks. If it happens again, we are making a drs appt!!

Needless to say, I did not get much sleep last night. He slept on top of me all night - maybe more out of my own fear from what I had just seen than his need to be there!

IHOP?

I had my check-up today and Paul met us at the drs office to take care of Bryce while I was seeing the dr. After the appt we went to eat lunch before he had to catch his flight out. We passed and IHOP restaraunt and Bryce asked what the blue sign said.
"IHOP." I told him.
"No, I hop." he said.
"No. It is IHOP." I said again.
"NOOOO! I hop, on one foot, but I won't do it again because I fell and scraped my knee" (he did when we leaving lunch).
"Bryce, the name of the restaraunt with the blue sign is IHOP."
"What blue sign? You don't hop, I do!!"

I GIVE UP!! He did not even remember that he asked what the sign said!

FYI - check-up went fine - I have lost a little more than half of the 40 pounds I gained during pregnancy. Maybe if I quit eating ice cream every night I could lose the other 20 pounds a little quicker! Everyone thought Andrew was gorgeous and LOVED the fohawk!! The dr. even started telling us how that is what all of the "young men" are wearing their hair. I told him he was naturally in style!

Andrew's Fohawk and Other Pics

Andrew is already sporting the latest hairstyle with his natural fohawk. For those of you who don't know what a fohawk is, it is like a mohawk except you have hair on the sides, so you can wear it down as well (except his doesn't really lay down very well!). He kind of reminds me of a Kewpie doll for those who know what that is! Here are some fohawk close-ups (and some other cute pics from today):

First Road Trip

Andrew had his first road trip this weekend. We went to Texas, and came back, on Saturday. He did SO great!! It is a 4 hour trip, so I was hoping he would make it without having to stop to eat. He did, but barely. He made it all but the last 5 minutes on the way. On the way home I had to feed him about 30-45 minutes before we got home. That is still a pretty good stretch for him.

He is still sleeping well. Saturday night he woke up to eat about every two hours, which I was expecting because he did not eat as much during the day as he normally does (because of traveling). He is sleeping in his bassinet all night, only waking up every 3-5 hours to eat. Since he is actually sleeping at night - he is staying awake a lot more during the day!

He has really started smiling a lot lately. He has been smiling for awhile, but it was kind of sporatic. Now, he is starting to get more playful. He likes you to talk to him and play with him - especially Daddy. Paul will say Andrew quickly in a deep voice. Andrew's eyes get real big and he wrinkles his face. Then Paul will say AJ in his normal voice and Andrew will get a huge smile on his face and look for Daddy. It is so sweet. This weekend he has started laughing a lot too. I think before this weekend he had laughed - vocally - once or twice. I absolutely love hearing his little laughs!

Wednesday will be six weeks, so here is an update on what he looks like. He still has dark blue eyes - so I am guessing they will probably stay that color. He still has hair - which is amazing - but it is not as dark. It is beginning to have a lot of red in it. I am just glad it did not all fall out! He has really filled in - really chunking out!! He has all of those little rolls that are so adorable on babies!! He still has long fingers and toes, but they to have little rolls on them!

He is moving around a lot now too. His legs are always kicking and his arms flailing around a lot. His tongue is always sticking out (unless he is eating), even when he is sleeping.

Andrew's Nicknames

Poor Andrew has so many nicknames!! He has Piranha because he always trys to eat anything and everything around him. He has Squeaky because he is so noisy when he eats (well, really he makes noises all the time). Daddy has started calling him AJ (his initials).

This weekend we went to TX to help my parents unload their Uhaul. Andrew slept the entire way until about the last 5 minutes. I fed him as soon as we got there and then Dad wanted to hold him. I warned him that Andrew throws up a lot after he eats. Dad called him "New Yorker." I was not really sure what he was talking about.

Apparantly, Andrew gets the throwing up from my Dad, who also threw up a lot after he ate when he was a baby. His parents called him "New Yorker" because he was new and liked to york (throw up). With that explanation - that is a perfect nickname for him. This morning he got me from both ends at once. He threw up down my shirt and pooped all over my pants (through his diaper and clothes).

Oh, the joys!!!

Isaac's Behavior Incident Report

Isaac came home with a report because he would not rest at naptime. This is what his teacher wrote: "Issac (yes she misspelt his name) kept getting off his cot and talking to another consumer. I had to put him totally by himself."

When did our children become "consumers" at school? Unfortunatley, at this preschool he does not "consume" much when it comes to learning - because they don't seem to teach much!! From what I see and hear it is basically just play time. He would have been pulled a long time ago, but he was put in for social reasons, so that he could try and pick up some of the things they were teaching in therapy from being around other kids.

I am so happy he only has a few more weeks and then he will be starting a "real" school. Wait...I am not happy!! Well, maybe. Do post-pregnancy hormones cause undecisiveness - or does that just come with the territory of a Mom whose kids are growing up too fast?

By Golly...

I think he's got it (or he is getting there anyway).

Andrew has slept pretty well the last two nights - in HIS bed! I think the two of us have gotten down a good routine (or he may just be teasing me!). Monday when I got home from Bunco he was asleep. He had not eaten since I left. As soon as I laid down he started wimpering. I got him up - took him to the rocking chair and fed him. He let me lay him back in his bed when he was done.

He slept for three hours and woke up hungry. We went back to the rocker and he ate and let me lay him back in his bed. He woke up about an hour later, I rolled him over, started all of his "stuff" back and he went back to sleep for three hours.

His "stuff" - you may ask. Daddy figured out that he has to have his little bed vibrator, his womb sounds and a light (that actually is right in his eyes). When all of these are going at once, he stares at the light until he falls asleep.

Last night was pretty similar to Monday night. He stayed awake quite a bit of yesterday afternoon. When he got fussy last night, I fed him and put him down. Paul and I went to bed before 9 and Andrew slept until 11. I got up, went to the rocker and fed him and he went down with no problem. He woke up at 1:30 ate and went back to bed. I had to get up and roll him over at some point and then he slept until about 5. He got in my bed then because I did not want to go to the rocker!!

Apparantly, with him if I sleep while he nurses, he falls asleep pretty quick and is not eating much. I FORCED myself to get up and stay awake Monday to see what he does. Between that and figuring out his light and sound needs, we have fallen upon something good!! I have gotten more sleep in the past two nights than I have gotten since he was born, I think!

Losing It!

I try to be patient Mom, but sometimes it is just impossible! Take this morning for instance. Well, let's start with last night - Bryce would not do anything I said. He would look me straight in the eyes and yell "NO" at me. If I put him in time-out, he would look me in the eyes, say no and run off. When I would put him in time-out or his room - he would immediately get up and go back to playing. Needless to say - he went to bed EARLY last night.

So, this morning, after telling 719 times to get his shoes and socks on and being ignored, we were going to go to the park to walk. He was excited until we were on our way. He decided he wanted to stay home all day - he did not want to go to the park, the store or to pick up his "stupid brothers." We did not go to the park - did not want to deal with him! We HAD to go to the store though. He was pretty good in the store. It all started when we were leaving. He was eating fruit snacks. He dropped two in the parking lot. I would not let him eat them. I had to PRY them out of his hand - him kicking and screaming.

We get home and he had picked out a lunchable, so I sat him down to let him eat. He chose pizza. I was trying to nurse Andrew and Bryce came out eating the candy that came with his lunch. I went into the kitchen and there was shredded cheese EVERYWHERE and he took ONE BITE out of his pizza.

I told him to go take his nap and he LOST IT. He started hitting me, kicking, pulling hair, etc. I would put him in bed and he would be right behing me by the time I got to his door. I held the door closed and he started throwing all kinds of toys at the door (lots of toys went to the trash!!). Nothing I said or did would calm him down (until I told him I was telling Daddy to come home and take care of him!).

I don't know what to do with him! I have tried EVERYTHING and nothing is working. I am really fearing that fours are going to be a lot worse than twos or threes were!! I can't even sit down and feed Andrew without having to put him down to take care of Bryce - it is no wonder he throws up so much and always has an upset tummy!!

The Mommy Test

Thanks Em for sending me this email - it is GREAT!!

The Mommy Test

I was out walking with my 3 year old daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that. "Why?" my daughter asked. Because it's been on the ground, you don't know where it's been, it's dirty and probably has germs" I replied. At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, "Mommy, how do you know all this stuff? You are so smart." I was thinking quickly. "All moms know this stuff. It's on the Mommy Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Mommy." We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information. "OH...I get it!" she beamed, "So if you don't pass the test you have to be the daddy." "Exactly" I replied back with a big smile on my face.

Sleep?

Last night I broke down and out of sheer exhaustion decided to try giving Andrew a bottle of formula. I was thinking that maybe the thickness would help him sleep longer, but also I could get an idea of how much he ate before he went to sleep. Unfortunately, my breasts did not coming with a built in measuring cup to see how much he is eating!

Paul gave him the bottle while I pumped. At first, he just sucked away at the bottle like it was what he always ate. He has had breastmilk out of a bottle a couple of times, but this was the first for formula. He ate about an ounce and then realized that this was not what he normally ate. He would suck a couple of times with his nose wrinkled up and then push the bottle out with his tongue, then immediately suck it back in, wrinkle his nose and suck a few times. He did this until he had taken about 2 1/2 ounces of the 3 ounce bottle. Then he had enough, but was not satisfied.

I thought maybe if I nursed him a little he would go to sleep. He did, he nursed himself to sleep and stayed that way until I layed him in bed. Daddy tried everything at once, we had his bed gently vibrating, womb sounds and soft music - and also a very dim light and pacifier. As long as ALL of this was going - he was quiet, but if ANY of them stopped - he screamed. Unfortunately, they all automatically turn off after so long!

Paul had to be up at 4 am to drive to Tennessee for work, so I did not want to try and let him cry to see how long he would scream before he fell asleep. I finally got him to go to sleep in his bed. I was SO excited and Paul and I went to bed hoping this would work. That was about 11pm.

Fast forward a whole 2 1/2 hours and Andrew is screaming. He made it about an hour longer than he normally does, but I don't know that is enough to make me continue to give him formula before bed. And, after I nursed him, he would not let me lay him back down - so he slept on top of me (with me on my back!) the rest of the night.

Mom pointed out that he was two weeks early so it may take a little longer for him to sleep well, so I am trying to be patient. I have NEVER had a baby early, so it is a little odd to try and remember that, but.... Tonight, unless Paul stays here (he is driving home so I can go to Bunco and then either going back to Tennessee tonight or tomorrow early morning)I am going to try to see how long he will cry if I don't go to him immediately.

Life Lesson

I taught the boys a very important life lesson Friday. I was eating a Twizzler in the car waiting for Caleb to get out of school. The boys saw me eating it and asked for one. So I gave them one and took the oppurtunity to teach them the correct way to eat a twizzler.

I bit off both ends of the twizzler and stuck it in my drink. I showed the boys how to make a "twizzler straw." We came home and all of the boys got a drink and asked for a twizzler.

For a small moment in time - I was the coolest Mom in town!

Have To Brag

Last week while Paul was out of town, I received a package. I called him and asked him if I was suppose to open it or wait. He told me it was a dress for Friday night (it was Parent's Night Out). Friday, he took me to Cajun's Warf (which overlooks the Arkansas River) - and I had the best pork tenderloin ever (I'm not a seafood person) and Paul had half a pound of boiled shrimp and a pasta dish with shrimp in it.

Tomorrow night is my monthly Bunco night. I have missed a lot lately because Paul has been out of town. I IMed him Thursday to ask that if he had to go out of town this week to try and leave Tuesday (I ONLY ask for two hours out a month!!). He IMed me back and said that he had to be back at 7:30am Monday.

He made plans with those involved to be there Monday, drive back in time for me to go to my game and then he has to drive back. I told him not to worry about it because it would mean 5 to 6 hours of extra driving for a two hour game. He is insisting!

He does things like this all the time! Thanks Babe - I love you!

Happy Motherhood Day

I know it is Mother's Day, but I want to celebrate motherhood. I consider it a privelege that I was blessed with four beautiful, healthy boys. So, they don't always behave or use their manners, but what do you expect, they are kids! There are so many people that cannot have kids or have kids that are not born healthy, it makes me wonder how I got so lucky FOUR TIMES!

They are, by far, my greatest acheivements in life (other than finding the worlds most perfect man!) and I try to remember that even when I am at the end of my ropes! I can only hope that I (we) have the strength, knowledge and endurance to raise them into great men that one day can take the teachings they learned from their father and I and make awesome friends, husbands and fathers.

As much as I want a daughter, I have accepted that there is a reason God gave me four sons (I will let you know when I figure out what it is!). I just have to have the patience to do the best I can with them - and that takes LOTS of prayer for strength and courage!

It amazes me that I have enough love for all of these guys in my life! I guess that is part of the wonder and joys of motherhood. On one hand I want them to stay babies forever, but at the same time I cannot wait to see the kind of men they grow up and become.

I hope they just know that no matter what they will always be my babies and I will always love them. They may disappoint me from time to time, but they could never make me stop loving them.

To All Mothers

Somebody said a mother is an unskilled laborer . .
Somebody never gave a squirmy infant a bath.

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby...
Somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, "normal" is history.

Somebody said a mother's job consists of wiping noses and changing diapers
Somebody doesn't know that a child is much more than the shell he lives in.

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct . . .
Somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.

Somebody said being a mother is boring . . .
Somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a permit.

Somebody said teachers, psychologists and pediatricians know more about children than
their mothers . . .
Somebody hasn't invested her heart in another human being.

Somebody said if you're a "good" mother, your child will "turn out" okay. .
Somebody thinks a child is like a bag of plaster of Paris that comes with directions, a mold and a guarantee.

Somebody said being a mother is what you do in your spare time . . .
Somebody doesn't know that when you're a mother, you're a mother all the time.

Somebody said "good" mothers never raise their voices . . .
Somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child wind up and hit a golf ball through the neighbor's kitchen window.

Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother. . .
Somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math.

Somebody said you can't love the fifth child as much as you love the first
Somebody doesn't have five children.

Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books . . . Somebody never had a child stuff beans up his
nose.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery . .
Somebody never watched her "baby" get on the school bus for the first day.

Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back . . Somebody never organized seven giggling Brownies to sell
cookies.

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married ...Somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a
mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home . . .
Somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said being a mother is a side dish on the plate of life . . .
Somebody doesn't know what fills you up.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her...
Somebody isn't a mother.

Cute

MOMMY BRAIN

If you've left the crayons to melt in the car,
And forgotten just where the car keys are,
There's a perfectly good way to explain:
You see, you've come down with "Mommy Brain."

When you're not sure where the past 8 hours went,
Or whether the phone bill check's been sent,
If you've left the laundry drying in the rain,
It's just---you guessed it---Mommy Brain.

If you find yourself chatting for hours on end
About diaper prices with your cyberfriends,
You've just caught a particularly virulent strain
Of that affliction known as Mommy Brain.

If you left your bags at the grocery store
Or completely forgot what you went there for,
If you called the cat by your baby's name,
You can bet that Mommy Brain's to blame.

And if you know the words to "Goodnight Moon" by heart, Or you study your sleeping babe like a work of art, If you're always surprised by how time is flying,
And the thought of that first birthday starts you crying...

It's unavoidable girls, and I feel your pain
For I, too, suffer from Mommy Brain.
But I'll admit one thing---of this I'm sure
I hope they never find a cure.

- Carlotta Eike Stankiewicz


A Parent's Prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my sanity to keep.
For if some peace I do not find,
I'm pretty sure I'll lose my mind.

I pray I find a little quiet
Far from the daily family riot
May I lie back--not have to think
about what they're stuffing down the sink, or who they're with, or where they're at and what they're doing to the cat.

I pray for time all to myself
(did something just fall off a shelf?)
To cuddle in my nice, soft bed
(Oh no, another goldfish--dead!)

Some silent moments for goodness sake
(Did I just hear a window break?)
And that I need not cook or clean--
(well heck, I've got the right to dream)

Yes now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my wits about me keep,
But as I look around I know--
I must have lost them long ago!

One More for Mother's Day

Why are you crying, a young boy asked his Mom?

"Because I'm a woman," she told him.

"I don't understand," he said.

His Mom just hugged him and said,
"And you never will, but that's O.K.".......

Later the little boy asked his father,
"Why does Mom seem to cry for no reason?".
"All women cry for no reason," was all his Dad could say......

The little boy grew up and became a man,
still wondering why women cry.

Finally he put in a call to God and when God got back to him, he asked "God, why do women cry so easily?"

GOD answered......

"When I made woman,
I decided she had to be special.
I made her shoulders
strong enough to carry
the weight of the world, yet,
made her arms gentle enough to give comfort...

I gave her the inner strength
to endure childbirth
and the rejection
that many times will come
even from her own children.

I gave her a hardness
that allows her
to keep going and take care
of her family and friends,
even when everyone else gives up, through sickness and fatigue without
complaining....

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all
circumstances. Even when her child has hurt her badly....

She has the very special power to make a child's boo-boo feel better and
to quell a teenager's anxieties and fears....

I gave her strength to care for her husband, despite faults
and I fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart....

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but
sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him
unfalteringly....

For all of this hard work,
I also gave her a tear to shed.
It is hers to use
whenever needed and !
it is her only weakness....
When you see her cry,
tell her how much you love her, and all she does for everyone, and even though
she may still cry, you will have made her heart feel good.

She is special!
Please send this to women you know, and those with mothers,
sisters, and special women in their lives.

But, also send this to men so they will understand about what a
wonderful thing a woman is.
Each day is a mountain that must be climbed; with courage each step
gets easier.

Things My Mother Taught Me

Our pastor opened with this today and I thought I would post it because it was good (and I have heard A LOT of these!)!!


1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY.
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
"You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, They are going to freeze that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOUR.
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. And my favourite: my mother taught me about JUSTICE.
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOM!

Everything Mom
How did you find the energy, Mom
To do all the things you did,
To be teacher, nurse and counselor
To me, when I was a kid.
How did you do it all, Mom,
Be a chauffeur, cook and friend,
Yet find time to be a playmate,
I just can’t comprehend.
I see now it was love, Mom
That made you come whenever I'd call,
Your inexhaustible love, Mom
And I thank you for it all.
By Joanna Fuchs



Thank you for everything you did for us, and for making me who I am today. I know we took you for granted and we did not always understand everything you said or did, but guess what - I understand now!! It is so funny to have the boys do things that make me think of things I did growing up or I hear myself saying something that I heard you say and swore I would never say!!

Just know that I love you and appreciate you!!

P.S. I tried to put together a slide show for you, but I cannot get the photos to scan properly. I will keep working on it and post it when I get it to work!

The Jokester Emerges

I have always thought that Bryce would be the one getting in trouble in school for being the class clown. The last couple of days he is REALLY showing that he will!! Last night, before Parent's Night Out, I called him to the sink so I could wash his face. He announces "I'm DIRTY DAAAAAAAN!" I asked where that was from and he said SpongeBob.

We get to the church and I realize he has spagetti sauce all over his shirt. It was a dark shirt, so I had not noticed it until we got outside I guess. We walk in and he announces to the woman over our preschool at church that he is "Dirty Daaaaaaaan!" I admit my embarressment to her and that he really fits the description tonight! He walks into class and the young lady working his class asked him his name - "I'm Dirty Daaaaaaaan!" I told her his name and told her he is apparantly answering to Dirty Dan tonight!

This went on all night and then again this morning.

Then, this morning the boys were told to clean their rooms up. After awhile, Isaac comes into my room carrying a dirty diaper. "Bryce put a dirty diaper under my pillow on my bed!" Luckily, Paul and I were still laying in bed, so we were able to cover our faces before we started laughing so we did not encourage it.

Bryce is the only one of the boys that will take the dirty diapers to the trash. Usually, he either asks if he can throw it out or he will just see it and take it. I guess he has started stashing them in places other than the trash!!

I can see someone getting in a LOT of trouble throughout school. I guess we will know the principal well!!

You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing.
- Michael Pritchard

Look At Him Smile

My Reason

Many people have either made the comment "I don't know how you do it!" or asked me how I manage with a house of boys. I have five words for you:
Paul, Caleb, Isaac, Bryce and Andrew.

Even if I wanted to stop - they would not let me. They somehow always give me the motivation I need to keep going, no matter how much sleep I don't get or how horrible I feel.


that is an incomplete family photo - so let me add ( we need to take care of that!):




These five boys are why I keep going. They are the reason I pull myself out of bed every morning - long before I am ready! I love them all. They are my inspiration and motivation!

Andrew's Dedication Pic and Verse

This is the photo we used for his dedication on Sunday. His life verse is Luke 2:40 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.

Pictures of Andrew

Here are some pictures of Andrew. I was actually trying to get a really good picture for his dedication with the pictures of him in the red plaid shirt. The other pictures, we were just playing on the floor today.

Goodbye Trees

this is after the trees got cut down and they were working on cleaning it up


nothing but stumps left


a lot of the yard damage came from this - they used this to pile up the brush so the big claws could pick it up and put it in the truck




the finished product - our yard had FINALLY turned green and really started looking good - now this is what it looks like!!

Gone Again

Daddy got called last night and told he had to go to Memphis today for the rest of the week. He told them he had to be home by Friday! I was so impressed he remembered that Friday was Parents Night Out at church - and WE NEED IT!!

I managed to get Isaac and Bryce both to school and back home with no accidents!! YEA ME!! Andrew slept a little better, but he is still wanting to have that skin to skin contact ALL the time, so the only place he really sleeps good is on top of me! That would be fine, but a big reason I had a hard time sleeping when I was pregnant is because it hurts my back to sleep on it!! Since that is the only way he can lay on me, it makes him sleep, but I stay awake. At least that way I can snooze off and on and Paul can sleep!

He is still getting up frequently to nurse. He is nursing ALL the time! I am going to have to start pumping so Paul can give him bottles and I can get stuff done - and sleep!! He is worse than Isaac was and Isaac was BAD when it came to his eating frequency. Paul made the comment last night that he was going to be bigger than Isaac - and that is scary because he has always been a pretty big boy!

I want to keep nursing, but I feel like I am wasting my time even getting a shirt on in the morning, because he is ALWAYS attached! I am going to keep going as long as I can handle, but... Hopefully, he will slow down since he is getting bigger and will start getting more active. Maybe he is just bored and doesn't know what else to do when he is awake!

Papa and Marmar Visit

We had a baby dedication ceremony at church on Sunday and Andrew was in it. We were lucky in that my parents were in TX for some job interviews and they got to come up and see it and visit. The boys were SOOO excited when they found out that they were going to be here - so you can imagine their excitement when they found out that they were moving back to TX!!!

Caleb asked if we could move in with them when they get moved. I told him no, but that we would visit, and they could visit us. He is already making plans for things they can do and places they can go. It has been hard on him to have no grandparents close to him. He sees how his friends have family close and they visit and are close to and it is hard for him to not have that. The only problem is that he thinks all of these plans he is making is just for him and Papa and the other grandkids don't get to join in!

By the time they left, all of the boys were trying to get in the car with them. Bryce came in and asked me where his bag was. When I asked why he said he needed to pack some stuff to take with him to Papa and Marmar's house. I told him he could not go because Papa was going to be busy packing and he said he would wait to move in with them until they get moved.

Isaac has spent since they left yesterday and this morning before school talking about how his grandparents are moving to TX, so he would be able to see them more.

I am glad to see and hear them so excited about it.

I will be posting some video of the dedication asap. Thanks Papa for taping it for us - since we forgot to bring the digital or video camera with us!!

So Many Sounds

I think Andrew is the most vocal baby out of all of them. He continuously has some kind of noise coming from him and has since he was born. Even when he is sleeping he makes all sorts of grunts and groans and growls at us. It is so cute to listen too, that even when we are somewhere like church - I love hearing it!

Not only does he like to make noise, he seems to like to hear noise too. He sleeps very well when his brothers are home and up, but when the house gets quiet, he gets loud. Maybe that is why he does not sleep as well at night! When he hears noises, he looks around everywhere trying to see where the noise is coming from.

It is hard to believe he is almost a month old already, but it is so neat watching him grow everyday and becoming aware of things around him. He smiles everytime one of his brothers gets in his face (which is ALL the time when they are home!!)

Andrew's Hospital Photos

If you go to www.growingfamily.com and click on visit web nursery (on right hand side of page) you can view the pictures the hospital took of Andrew. Just put his birthday in (April 11) and the rest of the info they ask for. A list of babies will pop up. His is under Baby AB. There are four photos, you just click next through.

He Has a Radar

He has too, because he can sleep forever without a peep, but the second my head hits a pillow - he is hungry and wide-awake. I got Bryce to sleep and went to lay down. I was not laying down for a few minutes when he starts wailing. I fed him, hoping he would go back to sleep before Bryce wakes up. NO!!! He just went to sleep, and Bryce started coughing - which will have him up soon (especially if I lay down!).

He has to have some kind of sleep radar!

Andrew's Birthday Movie (this one should work)

First Casualty From No Sleep

Not counting me not sleeping in 3 or 4 months - it is FINALLY REALLY hitting. This morning, as I was leaving to take Isaac to school, I backed into our 96 gallon trash can. Unfortunately, it was completely full of trash and very heavy - so instead of just knocking it over - it broke my tail light and then fell over in the middle of the road, trash everywhere.

We were already late, but I quickly got out and stood in the middle of the busy road picking up trash. I struggled to stand the trash can back upright, but finally got it.

Luckily the only damage to the car was the taillight (I was barely moving) and hopefully that won't cost TOO much to replace.

Here is the sad and embarressing part: I was staring right at the trash can as I back into it. Even when I heard it hit, I had to look around to see what the noise was!! That is how I know it was lack of sleep and not just me not paying attention!!

Paul's last words as he left this morning: "Maybe you will get a nap today!" That has only happened once since I had Andrew, and that was Friday so I am not counting on it happening today!!

I will only be on the road if I ABSOLUTELY HAVE to be, but if you see a silver Mazda 5 with a broken taillight - STEER CLEAR!!!!

Three Weeks

It is so hard to believe that it has been three weeks since Andrew blessed us with his presence (literally!!). Things are already going to fast!!! I knew this is how it would be before he was born, it is the same for all of the boys - but...

We are kinda getting a schedule down for days, but nights, well I am not sure that we will ever get there!! He is doing a lot better, he wakes up and eats and goes to back to sleep, but he wakes up with gas. Mylicon has not done a whole lot thus far!

Still falling asleep after about 15 minutes at most feedings, so we are still eating frequently. He is spending more time awake during the day. He is usually pretty happy when he is up. He only crys if he is hungry or his belly hurts. He seems to prefer to sit in a wet/dirty diaper as opposed to getting a clean one put on. Unfortunately for him (since he HATES being undressed), we are still going through a lot of clothes. Between spitting up on everything, poo that comes out the diaper and peeing (or pooping) as soon as a dirty diaper comes off - I feel like we are always at the changing table!!

The entire time he nurses his bottom is rumbling - so I change his pants right before I feed him, usually once in the middle of feeding and then once when he gets done. Sometimes, we get lucky and don't have to change it quite so often!

Bryce is great a diaper duty! He is the only one that comes in and volunteers to take dirty diapers. It doesn't matter where in the house we are - he ALWAYS takes the diapers to the diaper pail in Andrew's room - usually passing 4+ trashcans.

Isaac and Caleb help out, too - they just choose the "cleaner" help. They get burpclothes and blankets and they will get CLEAN diapers (and then run and hide before I have a dirty diaper to be taken care of).

They are all doing great with him. I am so proud of them and hope they will stay like this - but I am sure they won't.

I just wish I could stop time!!!

Rant Update

My phone rings at 5:40 pm. It his the Heat/Air place calling to tell me that they are not going to make it today. REALLY??? I never would have guessed that you weren't showing, but thanks for the call AFTER I sit here for half the day waiting on you!! I assume I am supposed to sit all day tomorrow too!?!?

To The Moon!

Caleb has a birthday party this weekend for a friend. I told him that it was Jordan's birthday today and he asked if he was having a party today. I told him it was on Saturday. He asked where it was going to be and I told him I did not want to tell him because it was something he has been wanting to do.

He gets really excited and asked "We are going to the moon for his birthday party?"
I apologized for having to burst his bubble and inform him that he is just going to a karate party!

A party on the moon? That is a new one!!

Caleb Gets Tested

Yesterday I got the permission slip for Caleb to be tested for the GT program. It said it had to be turned in TODAY!! That would be fine, but their was a two page questionnaire I had to fill out and send with it. At 11pm last night, Paul and I were on the phone trying to fill it out.

I forgot to send it to school with Caleb, so as if I did not have enough running around to do today, I had to go to his school and turn it in. Good thing I did, because they were doing the testing today.

So he came home and said he had to take two REALLY hard test. I asked what they were for, and he said he did not know - but only a few people in his class had to take it. I assume that was the test. He said he thought he did okay on it though.

We should know before too long whether he makes it into the GT program.

Lesson in Business Etiquette ( This Post is a MAJOR RANT)

One of my biggest pet peeves (next to people telling me not to worry about getting therapy for my son until he starts school, that way he STARTS school BEHIND) is when a company tells you they will be there at a certain time, and does not show up on time (or at all).

For example, when I call the air conditioning company at 4:30 on a Friday and ask for them to come back AGAIN because the house is not cooling properly and I am told that all of the guys that work are gone for the day and to call back another time (this was an actual person not an answering machine) early in the morning. The better way to do business would probably be to get my name and number and either set an appointment or have someone call ME!! Or just do the job right the first time!

Then, when I call at 8 am on Monday morning and talk to the same woman and tell her the same thing, she takes my name and number and asked if I would be home for the day. I tell her yes and she says they will be out - so I sit at home ALL DAY and no one shows up or calls to let me know they will not be there.

So on Tuesday you HAVE to be gone for the morning because you are trying to get your son registered for Kindergarten, but they require a ton of paperwork and proof of this and that so it takes all morning. When you get home you have a message from the guy that is suppose to come out. This conversation takes place at 11:40 and he says he is at a restaraunt waiting for someone, and as soon as they are done with lunch he will be here. So I sit and wait (even though I need to go to the store while the kids are at school). At 2:15, I call him back to tell him I have to pick up my kids from school and he tells me he gave the job to someone else and he thought he would have been there already. So I tell him I am going to be gone until 3:45.


Oh, and lets not forget the tree service who calls on a Sunday and says he will be out that Monday to see what needs to be done. So I sit at home ALL DAY waiting and he shows up at 5:30. He then calls me at 6:30 in the morning early in the week to tell me he will be out on Friday. At 5 pm he calls to tell us he landed in a ditch trying to avoid a school bus that pulled out in front of him and he totaled his truck (while this was not his fault and I can understand not being his FIRST phone call - he should have had SOMEONE call and let us know he would not be there), but that he would be here Monday. So, Monday comes and goes without even a phone call. I call today and ask when they are planning on coming and I am told they were planning on tomorrow - but it looks like it will be raining, so he is not positive.

I asked a time they expect to be here and he said between 7 and 8. I told him to call me in the morning and let me know if I should be sitting at the house waiting for day #3.

The point is - you are getting paid to do this work. Why am I having to spend a week sitting at my house for you not to show up!! Believe it or not, I have lots of things I have to do that does not include waiting for you NOT to show up! I don't feel like the person paying the bill (ok - this stuff is covered by the builders under our warranty - but this is not the first time stuff like this has happened and usually I am paying) should be expected to sit and wait on the person getting paid to do the work!

Isaac is Registered!

Well, after a morning of running around to get all the necessary paperwork to register Isaac for Kindergarten, he is registered!!

The boys were talking about school when I was taking Caleb to school. Isaac pointed out the kindergarten building and said that is where he was going to be going. I told the boys they were going to have to go to a new school. Isaac's immediate response was "Mrs. Kim is going to see me at the new school?" That is his occupational therapist. I explained to him that he was going to have to see a new therapist when he started school.

When I dropped him off at therapy this morning, he immediately asked Mrs. Kim if she was going to see him at the new school. I explained to her what the asst. superintendent said and that they would not let him go to the school she is at. She started crying!! See why I want him to continue seeing her? She is one of the few that actually care about him and what is best for him!

After seeing the way Isaac reacted this morning, it will be interesting to see how he takes all of the changes when he starts school!!