Hunter

I forgot to add pics of Hunter. He asked to get his pictures taken, and he was oh so cute, modeling for me, telling me that he saw it 'somewhere'. I have a million cute pics I'll have to put together in an album. Who am I kidding? I have a million cute pics of ALL my kids I have to put together in an album. Someday.

Exhaustion

All of you mommies out there know what it is like. Being so tired it takes forever to fall asleep, and then waking up when you hear the baby start to shift around and grunt, knowing that she is hungry. Again. Being wide awake at 2 am for the 28th day in a row (or so it feels like), with the realization that in a few hours three other kids will be awake vying for your attention and time.
Last night was the culmination of three nights and three days of hardly any sleep for Miss Callie or her mommy. There was fussiness to the extent that I almost moved up her doctor's appointment to find out what was wrong. I was so very very tired, I was swaying on my feet as I tried unsuccessfully to get her to settle down last night. She was awake basically from 4pm - 11pm. Crying, grimacing, kicking and squirming. She tried to fall asleep numerous times but always woke herself up. When I was finally able to put her down, I fell into some sort of coma, sure that in two hours she would be up again like the last three days and nights.
Thankfully, God heard my pleas, my tear-filled prayers, and she slept until 5:30. Today, she must have been exhausted, because she was fairly quiet all day and fell asleep twice in her bouncy seat. Unheard of this week. Even now, she is sleeping, and has been for FOUR HOURS. I would wake her up, but doing that doesn't gain me more sleep time at night. And she needs the rest.
So do I.
But even in the midst of the sleep-deprivation and the baby who refuses to calm her squirming and screaming, I know that it is all worth it. And I would rather be here at home, comatose tending to four children, than working. I can't help but think about the day I have to go back, though it is 5.5 weeks away. I won't think about it, instead enjoy the time with my children.
Next week we're headed to Holiday World, weather permitting. A mini-vacation that the kids are so excited about. I am, too. Except the bathing suit part of it, not sure how I'm going to get through that. Ughhhh. Having a 10lb baby (well, 2 10lb babies, a 9lb baby, and an 8lb baby) does things to your stomach. I start jogging tonight.
Anyway, I'm off to check on Miss Callie. Again. For a while there, I thought the poor baby had forgotten how to sleep. Thankfully, she has figured out exactly how to close her eyes and keep them that way. I can only hope and pray she remembers how to when it is my bedtime, too!!

New Pics

So much to do - so little time. And Callie has been extra fussy and unhappy - so I don't have as much time. But here are a couple pics, I'm getting some of Hunter tonight and of all four one day very soon.

The tail end of an unfinished dragon tattoo . . .

Nothing Done

Gwen riding through the flooded driveway



Hunter being silly on Lex's tri-cycle



Lex deciding that his winter hat was a rain hat



Miss Callie - cozy and warm inside!



So it seems as though I can't get through my massive to-do list. I had high hopes for maternity leave, I wanted to get things in order, such as scrapbooks and kid's rooms and remodeling. I have a mirror that needs to be painted, and a 1/2 bathroom that needs lots of work. But there are only so many hours in a day, and Miss Callie takes up a bunch of them.
Thankfully, the house is cleaner and we have better meals than when I worked full time. I spend more time with the kids, and we do things like visit the game center and library, ice-cream shop and take walks. We bake cookies (today was oatmeal chocolate chip - gotta keep the milk supply up while nursing large babies) - but I want to do so much more!!
Callie did sleep 6 hours last night, if she makes that a habit my energy level will go up. I hope :) And she smiled at me yesterday - made my heart melt.


I just love summertime, the weather, the flowers, the sun. This weekend we visited newport aquarium, and it was great. But I've noticed we get LOTS of stares having 4 kids 6 and under. At the grocery store I get comments and laughter (Lex shakes his booty in the aisles, it's pretty cute), but that's okay. This is my family and I love them. I wouldn't trade them for anything!
Now if I can just find a way to do this full time . . .


A shot of Callie and I at the aquarium - courtesy of Kevin :)

Tiny Feet

Right now I am in a sleep deprived haze. Little Miss Callie was up from 12-5 last night, and has barely slept all day. I've gone through the checklist - and I'm not sure what the issue is. But she's not a happy little girl.
She even refused to sleep in her car seat while we went to the library for story time. She refused to sleep while I attempted to clean the house.
Thank goodness for nice neighbors, and the meal that she is bringing us tonight. I fear that if I were to cook - we would wind up with something only resembling food. I know this is only a small part of her life, and I'll forget it a year from now.
But wow am I tired.

Two Weeks

The little pampered princess is 2 weeks old, and the latest weight check was 10lb 14oz. I know she's getting plenty of milk, even though nursing is still a bit painful. I have a crack that just won't heal, and the nice lactation consultant wasn't really sure what else to do to help me. So we'll just endure it, and I know that it will eventually heal and nursing will no longer hurt at all.
Things are settling down at home, we're getting used to having six of us instead of five - and though Callie had a very fussy time last night before bed, she only got up once. Which makes for a happier mommy.
Lex is getting so very vocal, everything is for him, when I ask the other kids to do something he says, 'No, ME!' and tries to do it himself. Mr. Independent. Now if I can just get him potty trained :) Changing a million diapers a day isn't too much fun.
I can hardly believe we've only known Miss Callie for two weeks. Her dark hair, her little noises when she nurses, those fingers that grasp anything she can get a hold of. The dimple in her fat cheek, the dimples in her elbows. It seems like she has always been here. Before I know it, she'll be running around the house after Lex, Gwen, and Hunter. Though I'm not quite ready for that yet :)

Being Home

It's amazing being home in the summertime. Even with the new responsibility of a fourth child, issues with nursing (still painful, but the mastitis is gone - I'm nothing if not determined), it's been great being home. We've visited the park, picked daisies in a nearby field to display in our kitchen, played games, and baked cookies. Today we just sat outside and soaked up the sun while Callie nursed under a blanket so she didn't get a sunburn. We've gone to the store twice this week as well. I figured what better time than to figure out how to handle four kids at a store, then the first week alone?
It does get tiring at the end of the day, especially if Callie has been unusually needy, and Kevin works late. He also has to work this weekend. But still, I am home with the kids and the dogs and the horses, and it feels so good to be home. I can't explain it, the euphoria that comes over me at times when I look at my kids, or when Lex does something especially charming, and I know that I have the whole summer to enjoy being with those that I love.
It's amazing, really it is. And I don't want it to ever end.

There was a nurse at the hospital caring for baby Callie, and every time she came in to visit us (even at 2am) she would look at me and say I was positively glowing. I'm not sure THAT was the case, but I sure was happy. With kids like mine, who wouldn't be?

I forgot to share this picture that Gwen took at the hospital. I love it, because I don't look incredibly frazzled and tired and exhausted. And Callie is looking at her sister, with wide - eyed wonder.
I can't wait to see what the future brings for these two sisters, and two brothers, and for us.

First Day

So the first day with all 4 kids, and I was diagnosed with mastitis. And Kevin worked late. But the lactation consultant was helpful, and she's coming again today. I thank God for sending her to help me. I know the pain goes away, eventually, but sooner is better than later.
Today was my first call to poison control - and a trip to the ER with all 4 kids. Thankfully, Lex is fine and didn't actually ingest anything.
The week has to get better, right??