Tis the Season

And so it begins! I am now back to living at the pediatrician's office. Piper has an ear infection and Paxton is having reflux issues again.

I guess with four kids I'm bound to be there more than most, but even when I only had three I felt like I lived there over the fall and winter season.

In my many trips recently I have noticed things that I have never had time to see before (the Grandma's were watching the other kids allowing me to take just those that had an appt). As I'm sitting and chatting with whomever I happen to have with me, I've noticed parenting/pregnancy magazines sitting on the shelves in the room. Now I would like to know who has time to be reading these magazines other than people they don't pertain to? These magazines target audiences with younger children (often birth through preschool), not school age children or teens. I know that I do not have time to read these mags, because I'm usually catching juice cups before they hit the floor or find their way to the trash can, picking up books and puzzles up off the floor, keeping little hands out of all the unlocked drawers filled with medical supplies, chasing kids off the big scale that beeps every time they weigh themselves, keeping the boys from fighting over who will sit in the one and only chair in the room, keeping curious toddlers from unrolling the huge roll of paper, ripping pieces off and throwing them around the room, and keeping them from dragging their hands across the germ infested room and then conveniently making it to their mouths. As I was saying... who has time to read these?

I must give a little thanks to both Grandmas for watching the other kids for me because its been rather relaxing to take just one out with me.

Tanya

Pumpkin Patch

Today was pumpkin picking day.... We had a lot of fun taking a hayride to go and pick out pumpkins, climbing on haybales, playing in corn sandboxes, and playing on the combine slide.

Tanya

Laughter

Today is just one of those days where I need to laugh it off! I need to laugh as Piper has gotten into the frig for the 20th time and is now carrying around the bottle of salad dressing, as Parker is throwing grapes across the table at Peyton, as I'm cleaning smashed Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich off the floor and the bottom of my foot, as I chase Piper around with a vacuum as she eats a muffin (I know its my own dumb fault for not putting her in the booster seat, but I just wasn't in the mood - guess I paid for my laziness), as Parker is sitting in time out and screaming at the top of his lungs (and then proceeds to scream for the next hour till he finally crashes for a nap), as we are racing to the bus stop which ends with Parker screaming because he can't get on too, as its 1:30 and I am just getting to finally put food into my shaking, hungry body, as Piper tries to scale the entertainment center for the 100th time today and finally Parker gets so tired of hearing me tell her to get down that he lifts her down (did I mention that he's only 10lbs heavier than she is).... its just one of those days where I gotta laugh!!!

Tanya

Refreshed

Today we went to the library and of course any adventure out with all 4 kids on my own is, well exactly that, an adventure! We pull into the parking lot and there isn't a spot in sight and end up in the overflow lot. Of course stress level is starting to rise knowing I'm going to have lug all 4 of them from Never Never Land into the library without getting hit by a car. The parking lot is always a challenge because of the lack of arms to carry 2 toddlers and a baby. So with both boys cooperating and holding onto the stroller that is carrying both babies we make it safely through the front door, we return our books, and head to the children's section.

I don't like to take them places where they can't be coralled because they all head in different directions and I can't keep up, but surprisingly they did AWESOME! Everyone stayed in one little section (which is no small feat with two toddlers), they all shared with each other and the other kids there, there was no complaining when it was time to go, no one ran away when we were trying to leave...It was a rather stress free trip out.

Topping it all off were the comments I got from other people. Typically I get comments that get under my skin and are hard for me to shrug off. Pretty often I get, "WOW, you have your hands full!" - which is usually code for you are insane for having 4 kids or you have no control over your kids so why did you have them (Or maybe that's me thinking that!!) :) Just kidding! Most people have very negative comments or their tone is very negative and with my stress level already so high, it just really gets to me. BUT, today as I'm watching everyone watching me handle my four kids, biting their toungue as they take it all in, one sweet lady with her toddler grandson says to me, "You are one very busy lady." To which I say, "Yes I am!Four kids keeps me moving." She says, "And you are so calm!" Me, "That's because they are all being so good. The key is to get out before someone has a meltdown".

As we're checking out, the lady checking our books out says, "All I can say is wow (as she looks in the stroller, my arms carrying Paxton and at the boys, silently counting) and you are cool as a cucumber. I am throughly impressed!!" "Thank you!", I say with a HUGE smile on my face.

Its not often that I get positive uplifting comments about handling all my kids that leave me feeling refreshed and as if I can really do this whole thing called motherhood. Often I am just trying to survive, hold my head above water, do whatever I can to get through the crazy moments without crying or screaming, and to have two people point out how well they thought I handled the kids was really nice to hear.

So, how long did their good behavior last, you ask? Until they got into their carseats and the boys were already exchanging slaps back and forth! Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

Tanya

First smiles

My heart just melts with those first smiles... After weeks of what seems like a blank stare, wondering how much they can see and just what they are thinking, the reward is BIG. The first smiles always bring tears of joy to my eyes. I'm trying to capture every first moment and savor it as I know this is my last baby to go through all these with. (Even though this was 11:30 at night and my eyes were burning with exhaustion!

Its extrememly hard to get a good angle with a chubby little baby who only can only lie down, but cute nonetheless!

Tanya

Our Kindergartener

So I'm only about 2 wks late on posting this, but better late than never, right?? I had my first official mommy letting go moment. Peyton started Kindergarten on Sept 7th and is LOVING it!!! As I fought the urge to follow the bus to school (and throw up), the tears were running down my cheeks as my first baby rode to school with a complete stranger behind the wheel and with no seatbelt, but we all made it! And now sending him with such eagerness and excitement in his step has been a joy for him and for me! We love you buddy and are SO proud of you!

Parker had to wear a backpack too and cried when he couldn't get on the bus too (and still does EVERYDAY!!)

Tanya

My week has just been one of those weeks and its only Wednesday!

As a mother of 2 toddlers, life is a constant whirlwind of testing the limits. Now that Jeff is back to work after a week off with us, the kids have decided its a free for all and they are going to see how far they can push mommy before she blows.

Piper has mastered a few new tricks this week like climbing up on the couch, stopping the baby's swing right after I get him to calm down, and standing on the endtable between the couches, all leaving me pulling my hair out. As I sit helplessly feeding a baby with bad reflux who really could benefit from a few straight minutes of feeding rather than me constantly stopping him to put an end to the toddler antics, I wonder when it ever got to the point where just getting her to sit down on the table (rather than get down) became satisfactory. Or when she falls off, I don't gasp and rush to pick her up, but rather ask her if she's ok and think to myself "Well maybe she'll learn to not jump around on the couch!"

Oh how things change from the first child to the third. Sorry Pax, but you just might be fending for yourself soon. :) To think that I still have one more to put through this toddler stage....

Tanya

Eternally Grateful

As I sit with tears running down my cheeks, watching the minutes pass until my husband calls to say he's on his way home, my clothes covered in spit up, feeding a very fussy baby, watching helplessly while my two toddlers crush Cheezits all over the living room floor, use the coffee table to practice their balancing skills, do gymnastics with the ride on horse, climb into the baby swing, throw toys all over the room, I am reminded of a story I read on another mommy friend and cousin's blog about a mom of a 2 yr old who has a brain tumor and currently is in a comma.

With a breaking heart for this family, my mommy woes become moments to treasure and remind me how eternally grateful I am for the 4 little blessings God has given me. God is a God who gives AND takes away, reminding us to cherish every moment as if it were our last, EVEN when you're sitting on the floor holding two toddlers all while trying to quiet a crying baby aching for the moment when your husband walks through the door to lend a hand. Thank you Lord even for moments like these!

1 month checkup

Our little man is officially NOT little. He had his one month well check today and he weighed in at 13lbs 1 oz and has grown an inch!!

I love watching these two hanging out together (even if it is watching the TV ridiculously close). :)

Our littlest man

Our littlest man is growing and growing!! He's now 12 lbs!

We're home

We're home and everyone is very excited to have a new baby in the house (well most of the time). As expected they have all had their share of jealous moments, but we are just taking it one day at a time.
Parker loves to hold the baby....

Piper likes to try to steal his pacifier... :)

Snoozing with Mommy.....

A little awake time (these moments are few and far between - He's quite the sleeper)....

Peyton is a big brother AGAIN! He tells me that we should have lots more babies. I have assured him that will NOT be happening anymore and that we have plenty of brothers and sisters to love. :)

He's here!!!!!

Paxton Jaret was born on August 3rd! He was 10lbs 1oz and 22 inches long. Our biggest baby and the completion to our family. The delivery went well; I was given pitossin in the morning, but had to wait for other emergency deliveries to break my water and get to meet this "little" guy. Unfortunately I started not feeling well after the delivery and within a few hours of having him my SVT (my heart condition) started acting up and I ended up in the ICU for the first night. It took about 4 hours to get my heart rate to come down from an average of about 196 to the mid 90's. It wasn't until about 2am that my heart came back down to a normal level (in the 60 and 70's). I ran a marathon from my hospital bed!
It was a very emotional few days for us all; I wasn't allowed to have the baby with me (I was barely able to see him), Jeff stayed with me instead of going home to be with the kids, and of course I was hoping to get out in 24 hrs to see the kids and get a chance to rest (its extremely hard to rest in the hospital with people constantly in and out of your room), but I had to stay pretty much confined to bed for a day and then down to the maternity ward with constant IV fluids and checkups from nurses, drs, nurse practioners, nursing students....

And the verdict is in....10 lbs 1 oz. Jeff was the closest in his bet. Needless to say I wanted to punch him when he guessed close to 10lbs. :)A trip to the ICU to see Mommy and Daddy...

Kisses...

Daddy's turn...

Our baby boy...

As you can see, coming home photos didn't go to well...

The biggest and littlest brother in their Phillies outfits....

The boys....

A couple more days!!!

My belly is HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!! But, only a couple more days and we get to meet our newest member of our family. I am scheduled to be induced on August 3rd. I have mixed emotions about it. 3 pregnancies in 3 years has made this pregnancy horribly painful making me very anxious to be done, but at the same time its a little sad knowing this chapter in our lives will be closed.

Will keep you posted....

The only one

If it wasn't for these faces....

days like today would do me in. Today was a definite "Not Me Monday" kind of day. I feel like these days only happen to me.... I'm the only one sweating it out (literally) as I'm chasing my kids around the store and trying to get something accomplished at the same time. The only one with holy terrors racing around the shopping cart and screaming. The only one who is 39.5wks pregnant, carrying a 35 lb toddler, another toddler trying to climb out of the cart, with one foot in the women's bathroom door to still be able to keep an "ear" on my oldest. The only one with a toddler and an almost 6 yr old (who should know better!!!!!) running over to the eggs, opening the carton to have my 2 yr old pick one up and squeeze it. The only one wearing raw egg all over my dress as I finish up my grocery shopping, because I didn't get this far to quit now! The only one with a one yr old who is taking a bite out of everything she can get her hands on in the cart, including the bread and hamburger rolls. The only one with the toddler pulling all the crap they have in checkout aisles off the shelf and into the cart with her and onto the floor. The only one with diced peaches leaking all over the whole cart to just put them back on the shelf because I just might start to cry if I have to admit to one more person that my life is out of control. The only one who's 6 yr old is twirling his hat around and catches the edge of my dress, lifts up, and ever so kindly gives everyone in the aisles behind me a show. The only one who has the bagger who only puts 2 items in each bag, making things take 4 times as long and all the people around me telling me I have my hands full, to which I want to say "Thank you for stating the obvious and unless you feel like helping me out, SHUT UP!!!!"

BUT, look at those smiling faces and how cute they all look and how could I possibly do anything but laugh off these days!?!?!? :) (just need to keep telling myself that)

Monkey Joe's

On Mother's Day we decided to go to Monkey Joe's to let the kids play.

Tball

Jeff and I have been waiting for 3.5 yrs for this day... Peyton has been hitting a baseball since he was two. He first learned in our apartment living room, knocking the pictures off the walls. His first Tball game was this weekend and it was the longest and funniest 4 innings of baseball I have ever watched! The kids chase their own balls, fight over who is going to get it and throw it, play in the dirt, pick grass, and one little girl even took the ball from the pitcher that was trying to tag her out with it!

Peyton as pitcher...

Second base...

Can't resist playing in the "sand"... He insists that its sand and not baseball dirt.

Running to first after his first hit...

Waiting to be up to bat...

I can't believe my first baby is old enough to play the one sport he has LOVED since he was a toddler. Love you buddy!!

Too smart for his own good (or maybe mine!)

Not Me Monday (except its Wednesday)! I just had to post what most definitely DID NOT happen to me today in a Not Me story. Today I had two "quick" errands to run (as quick as any errands can be with a 2 yr old, a 10 month old, and my friend's 5 month old). I was finished at my last store and I had bought Parker an Icee on our way out. On the way out, he did NOT drop it in the parking lot. I pick it up and save most of it to get back to the car to try and wipe it up. Parker climbs in the front passenger seat which was fine with me since he couldn't get into much (or so I thought) and he was at least not going to take off on me and run around the parking lot. (He was there for literally 30 seconds tops!) He did NOT start playing with the buttons on the door. I put him in his car seat, Piper in hers, lean over and start the car to start the DVD player, put the bag in the car, close all the doors, and am going to go put baby K into her seat to hear a big CLICK. All the doors most definitely were NOT locked with the car running and two kids in it. Oh and did I mention my cell phone was in the bag in the car!!!!!! I did NOT start to panic, I did NOT plead with a 2 yr old to unbuckle his seatbelt and help Mommy out.

Thank God for a very sweet woman who asked me if I was ok and when I asked her for her cell it was NOT broken! The tears are filling my eyes, but just as I am about to ask her to go into the store and call the police, a nice man asks if he can help and I am able to call 911 and admit that my 2 kids are NOT stuck in my locked and running car!! After both of my "rescuers" leave I am left to wait for the police by myself with slight panic that they might not show up and I won't have a cell to call again. Fortunately they show up shortly and unlock my car filled with a screaming 10 month old and my toddler who has decided that he does NOT have to listen to Mommy and put the lid back on his Icee!

This photo doesn't show the red stained hands to go with it and the red stripe down his belly to match.

Oh and to top off the day, he decides to take off his diaper, pee the bed, and not take a nap!!!!!! Really????

Happy Easter

Rare photos with all 3 of them sitting together...

Love these guys!

This was snapped really quickly before Parker decided he was done and pushed Piper off his lap. Good thing for quick reflexes!

The gang.... Parker, Braycee, Peyton, Piper, and Tilman (all coordinating so well) :)

Daddy and his princess.

Chunky Thighs

Probably one of the last times I can call her "chunky", but I just love these thighs!! The rolls are all the way down her legs and into her ankles. Baby chub.... gotta love it! :)