Thursday, June 29, 2006
I had another ultrasound today, to check the fluid. I guess the doctor wanted to make sure the twins were sharing and being fair with things. He's pretty sure there is only one placenta so unless he's mistaken, it looks like we're going to be having two of the same, whatever sex they are. Afterwards I took the boys to playgroup which ended up being lots of fun. Kami set up her slip-n-slide on a hill which the boys absolutely loved and of course, there were popsicles and the boys love popsicles.
After playgroup we had lunch at Dairy Queen because it was close by and it was hot and I'm pregnant and "why not?" And then we headed to Michael's Craft Store to get a few things for a summer project we've been working on for the Fourth of July. By the time we got home, Chris was here to pick up Megan much to the boys' dismay. So after Caleb had a little nap we went outside to clean the chickens' coops and play a bit. The chickens are getting so big and they are so beautiful. I can't wait until they start laying me some eggs.
 
After swinging in the hammock with Caleb and Denver and snapping a few pictures of Mark playing with Caleb, I noticed some exciting happenings in our garden. Our squash is beginning to blossom and our Sugar Snap Peas had several pods ready to be picked. The boys were so excited. We all just stood around picking peas and eating them right there on the driveway. Then the boys proceeded to offer the peas to any passerby that stopped long enough to hear what was being offered. They are finally reaping some of the rewards of all their hard work out there in the garden. It's so exciting. Between the garden and our chickens I feel a little bit like a farmer and I kind of like that feeling.
 
Anyway, yesterday after picking Mark up from the train I just sat in the car crying because the thought of two more babies has me absolutely petrified. I hardly feel like I can meet the needs of the four babies I already have, let alone two more. And the work. . . oh the work. But today as we ate dinner and enjoyed Hunter's homemade jam and the peas we grew in our garden and discussed the future of our chickens and all the fun plans we have for the summer I didn't feel so worried about what lies ahead, just happy for the blessings we already have. And somehow I felt reassured that the boys have everything they need to be happy and they aren't deprived in anyway. All of the hard work Mark and I do on a daily basis isn't for naught and it's doing all of us some real good. And that made me feel very happy indeed and very thankful for all of the blessings the Lord sends us, whether we've asked for them or not.
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Tuesday, June 27, 2006
So Hunter was really sick for about three days. His blood sugar sky-rocketed and Friday night I thought for sure we were headed for the Emergency Room. Barfing all day is one thing. Barfing all day when you have diabetes and are peeing out every last drop of fluid you have left in you is a whole other thing. Anyway, by Monday he seemed to be alright and his blood sugars finally returned to normal. Of course, we've also been blessed with several rainy days in a row which means summer vacation has been sort of a flop so far.
Today, however, the skies cleared and the sun burned bright and we managed to get out and about for awhile. First we had to go to the library to return some overdue material and get Hunter started on their summer reading program. Going to the library is hardly my idea of fun. Taking four boys who like to run and scream and climb all over the place to a place where none of that is allowed is kind of like volunteering to let the dentist pull your teeth out one by one without pain medicine. I was dripping with sweat five minutes into it. Of course it doesn't help that they don't have A/C. Anyway, Noah and Denver decided they wanted to sign up for the reading program too. I later concluded that it wasn't because they wanted to read books and develop some extra brain power. No, it was because they wanted to spin the noisy wheel they had been told not to touch for the past several years. But we signed them up anyway and they each spun the wheel twice and off we went to the Non-Fiction books to find something they all can read and understand. Hunter picked some book about "I can be a woman engineer" which was definitely something he could read all by himself but left me feeling baffled and frustrated. Were we there to read and learn or to get by with the bare minimum. I mean, did he even look at the title and did he even look two sections over where all the space exploration books were? Aaarrgghh!
I ran back and forth collecting one kid at a time, trying to help them find their books as well as other books they were interested in. Hunter wanted Cross-Section books, Noah wanted volcano books and Denver wanted truck books. Thank goodness the good librarians were in today and after being unsuccessful at finding any good Cross-Section books, I sent Hunter to ask one of them for help. He happily returned with three and was grinning ear to ear. Megan (my niece) helped tote Caleb and books around and I think both of us were extremely happy to be leaving when the time came.
As we walked outside, Denver pointed out that today was hot and sunny and that we really should be at the Lake. I agreed and we returned home for a quick lunch and swimsuits. Off to the Lake and a little bit of sun and sand. We ended up staying two hours and the best part of my entire day was when Hunter said, as we were leaving, "When can we do that again!?" Success--I had actually made someone happy. Tomorrow and the rest of the week is forcasted rainy and cloudy. So we're off to the free movies tomorrow and crossing our fingers that Mr. Weatherman is wrong, which out here, he usually is and that would be a very good thing.
 
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Sunday, June 25, 2006
Noah is very much like a roller coaster these days. Up one minute, down the next. His temper is red-hot. But he has a sweet side that can melt you like butter. A few days ago I made this really great Pear Lime Jello. It's more like dessert than a side dish but we eat it as a side dish because that's just the kind of people we are. Anyway, after I had it all mixed up I gave Noah and Denver the bowl to scrape out. Denver was fine until Noah took over the scraping, leaving very little left for Denver to enjoy. So I intervened and told Noah he needed to take turns scraping. To which Noah responded with, "BACK OFF!" Now, all of our boys have gotten a bit mouthy lately and we're trying to correct that so, I immediately went to confiscate the spoon and tell Noah he was done scraping the bowl. Well, when he saw me coming at him he scraped up as much green jello gook as he could on that little spoon of his and. . . he threw it at me. Whoa! Talk about scary. I ended up dragging the boy, kicking and screaming up to his room. Mr. Hyde. . .is that you?
A few hours later, I sat down to feed Caleb a bottle. Noah and Denver were watching television and as I went to sit on the couch I asked if either of them had seen Caleb's silkie. Then I remembered it was upstairs in my bed and said, "Nevermind." Noah immediately jumped up off the couch and said, "I'll get it!" Keep in mind, I didn't even ask him to do it. He just automatically volunteered. So he ran upstairs and not only got Caleb's silkie but Denver's special ble-ble too, just because. Dr. Jekyll returns.
I'm not sure what's happened to or changed in Noah. But it's amazing to me how quickly he can go from anger to pure bliss to anger all over again. Guess it's all just a part of growing up and still being so little all at the same time. Either that or I need to spend a little more time with him--that always seems to do the trick for Noah. A little bit of extra TLC.
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Thursday, June 22, 2006
Hunter is really sick today. Some stomach bug. The poor thing can't keep a thing down--not that a popsicle and two ounces of Dr. Pepper count for much. He can't seem to sleep either--his stomach hurts too much. Just goes to show. . . not every day of summer vacation is fun. Just didn't expect it so soon. Hmmpphh!
Anyway, I've been meaning to post a few fast and easy summer meals that we especially love around here. Today seems like a good day to do it, considering I'm not going to have much time to cook up anything fancy for dinner. Hopefully they'll come in handy next time you're having "one of those days" when everything seems to go "not your way."
Chicken Pita Sandwhiches
4 cooked chicken breasts torn into bite-size pieces
Miracle Whip or Mayo (whichever your family prefers)
Salt and Pepper, to taste
Pita bread, cut in half to form pockets
Cucumber, sliced
Tomato, chopped into small pieces
Mix the Miracle whip and torn chicken breasts together just like you're making a tuna fish sandwhich. Salt and Pepper. That's it. Stuff the pita bread with the chicken, cucumbers and tomato and enjoy. Great with watermelon and corn on the cob or Creamy Frozen Fruit Salad.
BBQ Chicken in Tortillas
4 Cooked chicken breasts torn into bite-size pieces
Bottle of BBQ sauce
Shredded cheddar or colby-jack cheese
Sour cream or Mayonnaise (whichever your family prefers)
Tortillas
Mix the chicken with the BBQ sauce. Serve in warm tortillas with sour cream and cheese. Again, great with watermelon and corn on the cob or Creamy Frozen Fruit Salad.
Creamy Frozen Fruit Salad
Fruit of your choice, cut into bite-size pieces. I used:
Watermelon
Grapes, Cut in half
Blueberries
Maraschino Cherries, cut in half
Crushed Pineapple, drained
Strawberries, cut in half
Bananas
Mix the fruit with 1-2 small cartons of Cool Whip. I used 2 because I made a really large batch of salad, since I'm trying to stock up for Baby Mayhem once again, but one is probably plenty. In a separate bowl combine 8 ounces of cream cheese with 3/4 cup sugar. It was a little thick so I added some strawberry puree (since I had some on hand). Lemon juice would also do the trick. Stir the cream cheese mixture into the fruit. Pour into a loaf pan and freeze. Slice and serve. Really yummy.
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Yesterday was Hunter's last day of school. Hallelujah! No more getting up early and running myself ragged before 8:00am. I love lazy summer days and wearing our pajamas till noon and watching the boys turn brown and eating popsicles in the hammock with my babies and watching the kids chase fireflies in the evening with Mark sitting by me in our big, rusty porch swing. That's what I call Heaven!
So anyway. . . we kicked off the summer with playgroup in our backyard. Hunter chose a new slip-n-slide for his end-of-the-school-year treat and we fired that up along with the kiddie pool and several water guns. We had the biggest turn out to playgroup yet and it was so much fun. Even Caleb braved the slip-n-slide and crawled right across the entire two lane slide, sprinkler and all, in order to get to the swingset. We had popsicles and lemonade and granola bars and lounged around until well after lunch time. It was fabulous! I tell ya, there's something therapeutic about getting together with friends and just chatting for awhile. I definitely need to do that more often.
 After our friends had gone we retreated indoors and sat in front of the A/C for awhile. I forced the boys into working on a summertime journal and managed to fold several piles of laundry while they played their computer games. After dinner we returned outside to clean the chickens' coops and squirt their poop off the porch and play a bit. Denver is our "Poop-inator" and loves to hose down the porch and driveway and free us of all the chickens' droppings. Noah pushed Caleb in the swing to earn a dollar to pay off a new gadget he got at Target. And Hunter invented the "Flying Rocking Chair." (See Picture of Denver.) I only wish I was five years old so I could sit in it awhile.
When I could stand the humidity no longer, we returned indoors once again where I finally got around to making that strawberry pudding (and some chocolate pudding for Denver.) I thought it was the perfect ending to our first day of summer vacation. But then Mark came home from Elder's Quorum meeting and announced that the fireflies were out and I love the fireflies. So we watched the fireflies for a little bit and then our first day of summer break really was complete. I know not every day is going to be this fabulous but I sure am glad for the days that are this wonderful. Noah is already wishing summer was over and that Hunter was back in school because he knows when Hunter goes, he goes and he can hardly stand the wait. But I think I can wait awhile longer and I hope the summer goes really slow. My heart aches at the thought of another one of my babies growing up and going off to school. I'll sure miss him come the end of summer.
P.S. Did you know that Fireflies need humidity almost more than they need air to breathe? It's true. So the next time you catch fireflies in a jar, make sure you give them a wet papertowel, even before you worry about punching holes in the lid. They'll thank you for it.
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Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Mark introduced Caleb to the piano a few weeks ago and he immediately fell in love with it. On a daily basis, I have to put Caleb in his highchair, in front of the keys so he can play. He especially loves it when someone sits next to him and plays and sings loudly. He thinks it's hilarious. Today, Caleb got tired of waiting for the highchair and decided he didn't need it (or me) to play the piano. And with a little bit of stretching and reaching, he did just that, all by himself.
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Monday, June 19, 2006
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Sunday, June 18, 2006
I thought I had lost this video clip several months ago, when I was cleaning old files off of my computer. What a surprise to find. Anyway, there's something about the way Denver is trying so hard to be like his Daddy that I couldn't resist posting it here for Father's Day. It will never cease to amaze me, how desperately our little boys love you Mark and want so much to be like you. You are such a wonderful father and such a great example for them. May their little feet grow to fit in your shoes and may they end up just like you. In that, they can never go wrong. Happy Father's Day "Daddy" and I love you!
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Saturday, June 17, 2006
Unfortunately I have no pictures of the boys in the actual process of picking the strawberries. We seem to have a million cameras laying around the house but none of them are currently usable. Either the batteries are dead or we don't have a memory card or we're out of film. It's the same thing with computers--we have a lot of them but all of them have their ticks--some are missing keys, some don't have keys that work, one has a virus, one doesn't have the internet, one you can't play Starcraft on, etc. But with that said, we did have a great time picking strawberries. It was overcast and cool (which is perfect berry picking weather) and came home with 20+ pounds of ripe red and juicy strawberries. Caleb was content most of the time climbing all over me while I tried to pick berries but he did manage to make his way over to my basket where he helped himself to a berry or two. Reminded me of Blueberries for Sal only Stawberries for Caleb instead. Little rascal. Hunter worked his little bottom off and picked this whole basket of strawberries on his own.
Noah and Denver happily padded along behind Chris and Ben and managed to pick enough beautiful berries to make this delicious concoction of which we'll be serving to the missionaries tomorrow:
And I couldn't resist making some of these of which I ate more than my allotted three servings but enjoyed every bite of:
Hunter refused to let me touch his strawberries because he's saving them to make Strawberry Jam for his end-of-year gift to Mrs. H. So looks like we'll be making some Jam tomorrow and of course, it's not strawberry season if we don't have some of Mark's Homemade Strawberry Pudding. So, the strawberry eating festivities will continue for a few more days and then it's time for Blueberries Season. I can almost taste that Homemade Blueberry Pie already. Yum!
Mark's Homemade Strawberry Pudding
1 cup strawberry puree
3-1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch
2/3 cup sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1-2/3 cups milk
1/3 cup cream
1 tsp. vanilla
Warm strawberry puree in microwave (about 1 to 1-1/2 minutes). Set aside. Mix dry ingredients together in saucepan. Gradually add milk and cream, stirring constantly over medium to high heat. Heat until pudding thickens and cook for 1 additional minute. Remove from heat and let cool 5-10 minutes before adding strawberry puree. Add vanilla and mix well. Serve warm or chilled.
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Friday, June 16, 2006
Our ultrasound went well today. No alarming discoveries. Both babies seem to be doing well and are very active. Baby A weighed in at a whopping 9 ounces and Baby B, an astounding 8 ounces. We even had the priviledge of watching Baby B kick Baby A repeatedly in the nose. I assume the same was happening on the other end of things--we just couldn't see both at the same time.
Anyway, we decided we didn't want the Ultrasound Tech or the Doctor to tell us what we were having. That didn't mean we weren't looking though. After Baby A's examination, Mark was sure he'd seen a boy. I hadn't seen it and of course, the Tech wouldn't deny or confirm anything. So, after Baby B's examination (of which neither Mark nor I saw anything) the Doctor came in to do his job. At that point both Mark and I were convinced Baby A is a boy. Again we saw nothing on Baby B either way. The Doctor also denied seeing anything at all on either baby. Right. After further exploration, the Doctor started thinking he could see only one placenta and for all of you who don't know what that means (I didn't), it means Identical Twins. Of course, he couldn't tell for sure but the way the umbilical cords came off the placenta(s), he definitely thought it looked as though they were sharing only one. With all that said, we still have no idea (at least nothing positive) what we're having. But then again, can you ever really be 100% sure until they're born? I didn't think so.
So. . . we have another ultrasound in two weeks to check the babies' fluid since the Doctor thinks they are sharing a placenta and he wants to make sure everything is fair and square. Then another ultrasound in four weeks to make sure they are gaining weight. Apparently all these ultrasounds are common with twin pregnancies and I'll be having them at least monthly until they are born. Maybe if I take all four kids with me and no husband, they'll start bringing the machine to me instead. That would sure be easier. They also said the average duration of a twin pregnancy is 36 weeks and all I can say about that is "music to my ears!" I have a feeling though, since I seem to have a uterus of steel, those babies won't come until the doctor decides to take them, which I'm assuming will be around 38 weeks. Here's hoping my back (that is already killing me) will hold up another 17 weeks.
Now without further ado--meet Baby A and Baby B.
 
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Tuesday, June 13, 2006
I saw the doctor today. The babies seem to be doing well and the doctor said it's going to be pretty tricky scanning them on Friday because they are so wiggly. Both Mark and I have felt them moving--Baby Left seems to be more fiesty than Baby Right, but they have both become quite active. Anyway, after the doctor scanned their heart rates I started second guessing my original prediction that I was having identical twin boys. Here's why: one heartbeat was 141 bpm and the other was 165 bpm. Now all along I've been told that boys' hearts beat slower (in the 140's) and girls' hearts beat faster (160's). All of my boys have been in the 140's. I realize this is an Old Wive's Tale, but just the fact that the heart rates differ makes me wonder if their gender differs as well. Of course I made the mistake of saying out loud to too many people that my worst nightmare is having one boy and one girl because first, I would feel sorry for her and second, I'm afraid of the certain "Princess Mode" that would result in six boys getting all mushy over one wee lassy. And, I've been quite happy blaming this twin pregnancy on Mark and his family history of twins. I don't like the thought of having to admit that we're having two babies because of me.
Anyway, Mark and I are having fun hearing what everyone thinks we're having and of course, while making your guesses we want you to have as much current information as possible. So, with this new set of facts I'm wondering, has anyone else changed their minds and should we put an end to all of this guessing on Friday and find out what we're having? I know we just put the poll up recently, but Mark wants to know who's guessing what. So if you don't mind--will you all please guess again, only this time in our comments. Happy guessing!
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Monday, June 12, 2006
This past weekend we took a road trip to Washington D.C. Mark's sister, Christie Sue, is getting ready to go on a mission to Ecuador and was going to the Temple for the first time. So of course, she wanted family to be there and Mark and I wanted to go. So we loaded up our minivan and headed South for a couple of days. Here's what we learned:
As many bottles of soda and water as the kids drink, we can refill with pee: It's one of the benefits of having all boys. We don't have to make frequent pit stops because all three of our potty-trained sweethearts are great at relieving themselves in just about any kind of container on the road. Of course, just because they all can do it, doesn't mean they all have to do it at the same time and so, between Mark and I, it seemed like one of us was constantly holding a water bottle for someone that just had to go.
Denver has a super nose: It never failed. As soon as I would open a bag of chips or take a bite of a brownie, Denver knew exactly what we were eating. I had eaten maybe two BBQ potato chips when Denver, from the very back seat said, "What smells like chicken?" After Hunter "cracked one off" it was Denver that immediately asked who was making an egg salad sandwhich. Later, after one bite of a brownie, Denver asked, "Who's eating one of those brownies that I baked last week?" He was so good at sniffing things out he could've been a hunting dog. It was very impressive.
Mark is a great tour guide, especially when he doesn't know where we're going: On our way home, we decided to drive down to the National Mall and see a few of the sights from our car. We saw the Washington Monument and the White House (complete with snipers on the roof and the lift off of President Bush's helicopter) right away. Then, Mark kind of took off on a sight-seeing tour of his own and quite by accident we saw: the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Capitol, the Marine Corps Memorial/Iwo Jima Memorial, the Pentagon and the Arlington National Cemetery. The more lost Mark seemed to get, the more fantastic our sight-seeing tour got. So, if you ever want to see all the sights, maybe you should consider taking Mark along with you and get yourselves really lost.
You should ALWAYS carry a barf bag with you in your car, even if your kids are all grown up. No one barfed on this trip. Blessing already counted. But Mark and I have learned from experience that little kids tend to get stomach bugs only when you're driving in the car and have nothing for them to barf in. So, even if we forget to pack a barf bag, we make sure we locate something the kids can barf in within minutes of hitting the highway. Unfortunately on this trip we learned that no matter how big you get, unexpected barfing still occurs as we witnessed a full-grown boy barfing out the window of his buddy's very expensive and very fancy Cadillac Escalade as they sped 75 mph down the highway. Not a pretty sight. I don't think I'll ever go on a road trip and forget a barf bag for as long as I live. Yuck!
Even the most passive, shy person will become aggressive when driving in New York City traffic: Somehow I got behind the steering wheel as we approached New York City. That meant I had to drive through two hours of bumper to bumper traffic with some very aggressive NYC drivers, as thousands of us tried to cross the George Washington Bridge. Now I consider myself a very passive, shy person and an even more considerate driver. But last night as we pushed our way through all that traffic and my blood started racing through my veins, I became a person I never knew I could be and actually became. . . agressive. There was no other way. And it was horrible, horrible, horrible and I hope I never have to do it again but then again, I got some weird sort of feeling of accomplishment after completing the task. Maybe I'll design a t-shirt for myself that says something like "I survived driving through New York City traffic" or maybe just "Be Aggressive" with a great big picture of Manhattan on the front. Yeah, that would do it.
Hunter is actually learning something in school: As we drove around the National Mall and pointed out various monuments and memorials to Hunter, he kept insisting there was one he had learned about at school that he hadn't seen yet. We continued searching and finally he suggested it was a building on a coin, perhaps a penny. So I dug out my wallet and started handing him different coins and he immediately perked up when he saw the nickel. The Jefferson Memorial--that's it! And sure enough, he was right. When I asked where he learned about the Jefferson Memorial he said Mrs. H had taught them about the different people and buildings on the coins during the money unit at school. Hmmm, I thought. He's actually learning something there. Cool!
Even a seven year old can curl up in a stroller and sleep their way through the entire National Zoo: Hunter came down with some nasty stomach/fever bug Saturday morning, just as Mark dropped us off at the National Zoo. He insisted on riding in the stroller and within minutes, was curled up in a ball, sound asleep. And he stayed that way through the entire zoo, all four hours. Nothing excited him, not even a sno-cone, which he's been asking for for weeks. Nope. I pushed him and Caleb and Denver for four hours through the National Zoo and about died. But. . . the hippopotamus was really cool.
More expensive hotels aren't always the best hotels: Our first night we stayed at a Marriott Residence Inn in Bethesda. It was nice but the only pool they had was an outdoor pool and it closed at 8:00pm. It didn't open the following morning until 10:00am. Hello? Ever heard of kids? The hotel was nice but old and a bit on the stinky side. The elevators were slow, the parking was expensive and the breakfast was okay. So, we decided to move to a different hotel (the Marriott Suites in Bethesda) our second night and save ourselves fifty bucks. Even Denver, who's only three mind you, was thrilled with the difference and kept on saying things like, "This is a fancy hotel" and "This is a very nice room." The pool stayed open late, the room didn't stink, the elevators were fast, parking was half-price, and breakfast was fabulous. And it cost us much less. Go figure!
Driving in a cramped minivan, with four little kids, for two days just to see Grandma and Grandpa for half an hour is still worth it: Despite some of the hassles we faced on our little trip, we had a great time. It was especially nice to see family and be with them, even if we only got to see them for a short time. We had so much fun with Daniel and Brittney and their kids. Our boys are already planning our next excursion to be reunited with their new found buddies. We're crossing our fingers we can make it to reunion this summer so we can spend a bit more time together with everyone. And I guess the fact that we're already planning two more road trips says it all--we love family and we love being together, no matter how cramped the space or how long the drive.
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Tuesday, June 06, 2006
It was a bad day today. Not horrible, just bad. So I decided I deserved a break and made myself this Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae and fired up my foot spa and settled myself in for a little R-n-R. Well. . . the ice cream is freezer burned and the water in my foot spa is scalding my feet and try as I may to relax and unwind I feel like the girl in Rumplestiltskin, only instead of being forced to spin straw into gold, I'm being forced to fold a room full of laundry. And instead of promising some cute little elf my unborn child if he'll fold it all, I have the promise that my unborn children will only make the mountain of laundry worse. And unfortunately, the room I'm trying to unwind in is the same room that I've piled all the clean laundry in. And it's looking at me and begging me with great big puppy dog eyes to please fold it and put it away. And all I want to do is get the darn dirt-embedded calluses off the heels of my feet and fancy-up my toenails a bit. Ah, the frustration.
The day started off with Lucky screeching her little head off at 5:30 in the morning. In my half-awake state I thought she was crowing and ran like a chicken with her head cut off, out the front door and around the back to free her from her cage and stop the noise before our neighbor threw a fit. About halfway back inside the house I realized that Lucky wasn't crowing, she was screeching and when she screeches it means she's in danger, not "oh lookie what I see--the sun, the sun!" So basically I took Lucky from her completely safe coop and threw her into the jaws of her predator. From that point on I tossed and turned in bed, waking up every few minutes, certain I was hearing Lucky being attacked and killed by some wild animal in our backyard. I should have just gone and tossed her back into the coop, but I was too exhausted to get myself out of bed again. Then at 6:10 am two neighborhood cats started some feline mating ritual, where else but in our backyard. And they didn't just sound like cats but like two newborn babies crying and howling. So pretty much, I quit sleeping at that point.
Maybe that was my problem, that I was tired and maybe I should have stayed in bed. Maybe it was today's date. I heard on the news that a lady was trying really hard not to deliver her baby today just because of the 6-6-06 factor. Maybe that's what made today so bad. Who knows. Either way, we got up and got going and somehow I managed to get Hunter to school on time. The rest of the morning went pretty well. I posted a blog, had a shower, got everyone dressed, Caleb had his nap. . . the usual. I even played lego with the boys for an hour. Then I told the boys to pull the sheets off their beds so I could wash them, which they happpily did. However, when I told them to give me their "special ble-bles" so I could wash them too, they went into hysterics and Denver proceeded to cry for 45 minutes because the dryer would make his ble-ble warm and he likes it coldie. I managed to calm them down and they once again started playing and Caleb woke up so I sat to feed him a bottle. I then informed the boys that we had to go to the store to get more wood shavings for the chickens and when Caleb was done with his bottle it was time to go. Denver started protesting that he was "playing" and suggested I go do something else first, like "sweep the kitchen floor." Trying to be considerate, I did just that. Within seconds of starting to sweep, Denver came running into the kitchen to help sweep up the pile of dirt, which is nice and great, but wasn't he playing with a great big "do not disturb" sign on his forehead? So he sweeps up the pile and by that point I'm starving, so I sit down to have a bowl of cereal and offer the same to the boys. But they only want dry cereal and it has to be Marshmallow Maties, not Honeycomb. And as they eat it, piece after piece of cereal falls on the floor that I just swept! And then they want a brownie and I give them each a brownie wrapped in a papertowel for the ride in the car, only crumb after crumb of brownie falls all over the floor and they keep smashing it into the tile with their sweet little feet. So finally I send them out to the car and snap Caleb into his carseat and. . . the phone rings.
So I answer the phone and end up chatting with the RS President for a few minutes. During that time, Noah and Denver discover a dead bird. And do they just poke it with a stick? No. They both pick it up and do who-knows-what with the poor thing. And then Noah gets this whiz of an idea and decides to throw the dead bird where else but in Lucky's nesting box. So when I finally get outside, Denver tattles and says, "Noah put a dead bird in Lucky's cage." And I'm thinking, "What?" And Noah shakes his head innocently and says, "No. . .it just fell there." So, off we go to check on Lucky's cage and sure enough there's a dead bird in her nesting box, of course where no bird can just fall. And I stand there for a minute wondering if I can really touch the thing without passing out and then, I grab it and throw it away. At this point I know Noah's touched the bird, but not Denver. So I insist Noah go wash his hands, "twice, with soap!" And then I ask Denver if he's touched it and he looks at the ground with a half smile on his face and says, "no." Inside--wash everyone's hands with soap.
Finally on our way, we manage to get the wood shavings without so much as a hitch. We stop by the grocery store on the way back home so I can make Swedish Pancakes for dinner, to which Noah protests, "I'm tired of having pancakes." The boys proceed to fight throughout the entire store and when they aren't fighting, they are climbing up on top of the car-cart, like it's a jungle gym. We get home just in time to pick Hunter up from school, so we leave the groceries in the car and run up to the school to collect the first-born. And the first thing out of his mouth is, "Can we play at the park." No, there are groceries in the car. Second thing out of his mouth, "Toaster Strudel for snack, you promised." Whatever happened to "Hi Mom! Nice to see you. I sure missed you today." Nothing. So we walk home and Hunter invites the crossing guard's daughters over to the house. Great. So I carry Caleb and the groceries into the house and Caleb is in hysterics because he's hungry. And Hunter's nagging me for Toaster Strudel. And the Lollipop Lady's girls are begging to hold Caleb, who is screaming. And I'm doing everything I can to not scream myself.
Things calm down for a few minutes so I decide to check my email while I feed Caleb his bottle. At that point I remember the boys' special ble-bles and that I promised to have them back before bedtime. So I drag myself off the couch and start some dinner and switch the laundry and try to put away groceries all at the same time. And in the process, I leave Caleb to run to the bathroom. And in that one minute I'm gone, he finds the back door and opens it just enough to get his wee little fingers stuck in it. And he's screaming and I'm peeing and as fast as I can I run to see what's the matter. And oh. . . his poor chubby little fingers. So we sit and rub ice on them and snuggle and finally he calms down. And all I can think is how lucky I am he didn't get the door all the way open and then fall down the concrete steps. And I'm kicking myself over and over and over for not locking the door, which I always lock. And all the while I'm mixing up the pancakes and I start cooking them but they aren't working. They just keep falling apart. I chalk it up to a bad day and keep doing my best to flip the thin, flimsy pancakes. We sit down to eat and all of the sudden it clicks--I doubled everything in the pancakes except the flour! Of course I remember with just enough time to save only the last two pancakes.
 We finish dinner and head up to the school playground. Noah gets a live caterpillar stuck in his pocket and insists I fish it out--yuck--but everything else runs smoothly. The kids run and play and the fresh air feels good. Caleb and I swing and I start to think things are going to be okay. Then I try and take this picture and no one will look at me and no one will smile and Hunter doesn't listen and it makes me crazy all over again. So we head home and I throw the kids in the shower while I try and make the beds. The special ble-bles of course won't be dry in time for bedtime. Then I run back into the bathroom and Denver is wrapped up in the shower curtain, because he's trying to stay dry, and water is pouring all over the floor. Somehow I manage to get them all scrubbed up, in their pajamas and in bed and hand them each a bag of "G-Force fruit snacks" which they've been waiting all day for. They say their prayers and I feed Caleb his bottle and finally it's over.
Denver asks for the "Had a Bad Day" c.d. for bedtime and Hunter asks if I'm going to read a chapter to which I reply, "No, I'm too grumpy." Hunter wants to know why I'm grumpy and I explain that it's been a long day and that he is one of the many reasons why it's been so bad. After he thinks for a minute he starts asking about the radio and if people call in to request songs. After I explain it all to him he says, "Well, if you called the radio station you wouldn't ask them to play 'Had a Bad Day.' You'd ask them to play 'Save the Last Dance for Me' (by Michael Buble) and it would be for us boys." And though I'm frustrated to tears and exhausted by those four little boys, he's totally right. And somehow I get the feeling that he's trying in his own little seven-year old way to say he's sorry and that he loves me. And I love him too.
I love all of them and that's the craziness of it all. For so long I've felt bitterness towards all the YW leaders that ever told me being a mother is "so wonderful." Cause it's not. It's hard, hard work and most of the time it's not even fun. And I feel like it's the cruelest lie you could ever tell a young girl--that having babies and taking care of them 24/7 is the most wonderful, most rewarding work they'll ever do. And I feel angry towards my mom on days like today, because she always made it look so great and told me how much she loved it. But she never told me it sucks sometimes. And she never told me how hard and exhausting it is. But then, at the end of a really bad day like today, someone climbs up on my lap and wraps their tiny little arms around my neck and kisses me. Or someone says something sugary like Hunter and all the bitterness turns sweet and all the blood and sweat and tears somehow seems worth it. And I don't think I'll ever understand how it all works but I guess I'm just glad it does work that way. And boys. . . I hope you always save that last dance for me cause I'll always be waiting, no matter how bad the day's been.
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Monday, June 05, 2006
At eight months old your favorite thing is definitely eating. There's not much of anything that you won't eat (except green beans) and when you do eat, you make it sound oh-so-good. Your favorites so far have been pickles (yes, pickles) and cottage cheese. You are also a big fan of bran muffins, frosted cheerios, apples, bananas, watermelon, baked beans and french toast (as long as it has syrup.) I guess the two teeth that you have, grew in sweet. You still haven't mastered the sippy cup or holding your own bottle for that matter, but you love both, almost as much as you love sucking your thumb.
You've had quite a month of firsts--your first tumble down the stairs, your first swim in a real swimming pool, your first ear infection and your first visit to the beach where you actually got to stick your toes in the water and the mud. I've never seen anything quite so cute as you wiggling your itty-bitty toes through the sand and water, back and forth, just like a grown-up would do. You thoroughly enjoyed it. You've also accomplished the amazing feat of pulling yourself to your feet and cruising along the furniture. Occassionally we'll find you with your silkie in one hand and your thumb in your mouth and your two feet planted firmly on the ground, without so much as a wobble. It's only a matter of time before you take that first step. You haven't shown any interest in the stairs as of yet, but I dread that day and I know it's just around the bend.
Besides food you continue to love your Daddy better than anyone else. The other day as he was trying to get dressed for work, you refused to go to anyone else. Daddy would set you down on the floor and I would call to you with outstretched arms, "Caleb, come here. Caleb. . . " And you would make a U-turn and head straight back to Daddy. He'd pick you up and snuggle you and tickle you and set you back down. And I'd try again to tempt you away from your best buddy, but to no avail. When I can't calm you, Daddy can. When Daddy walks in the room, your face brightens. There's just no one as wonderful as Daddy and when he's around, you're complete.
You also love typing on the computer. At this very moment you are standing next to me, reaching as far as your wee arm can stretch, trying to bang on the keyboard. Daddy even set up one of the laptops so that everytime you hit a key, it beeps and oh the joy! You've successfully published a blog I wasn't ready to publish, switched identities, shut us down and aggravated each and every one of your brothers in the middle of their computer games. You love chasing the chickens, playing the piano, swinging, and bathtime (or should I say anything that involves splashing in the water.) Ever since you took off crawling the things you used to love, like your jolly-jumper, are no longer satisfactory. You love your freedom and protest when we try and keep you in one place for too long.
In every way, Caleb, you are a bundle of joy. You are happy and content and wonderful. Your brothers love you. The neighbors love you. Everywhere we go, people melt in your presence. You are adorable, you are silly, you are clever. When I look at you, I can't help but smile and my heart goes all gooshy. Not a day goes by that Daddy and I don't thank Heaven that you belong to us. It's just too bad every mother doesn't get so lucky to have a baby as fabulous as you. I trully am blessed. Happy Eighth Month, Caleb!
**To see Caleb perform his amazing "Biter Biscuit Disappearing Act" click here.**
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Sunday, June 04, 2006
Most of the time I feel like I can handle all four of the kids that were dished out to Mark and I just fine. Sure, we have our moments, but 99% of the time I've got it all under control. Today was not one of those days and on a day like today I feel like everybody's looking at me and thinking "how in the world is she going to handle two more kids, especially twins?!" I probably think that because I'm wondering that myself and I really have no idea how I'm going to handle six kids, especially twins. However I handle it, I have a feeling it's going to be ugly.
Anyway, I had to take the kids to church solo today, which is never fun. Honestly right now, church just isn't fun--not for me or the kids but especially when I have to take them all by myself. You know. The kids don't want to be there and as I wrestle one kid after the other, I can't say that it's doing me much good to be there either. And then it's off to primary we go and then I'm not dealing with four boys that don't want to be at church but rather 40 kids that don't want to be at church. Today was no different except that Denver and Noah were exceptionally grumpy and Hunter was extremely obstinate and Caleb was so sweet and so snatched-up by everyone but me. And I just sat there thinking, "Make it stop. Please, make it stop." But it didn't stop, it just got worse and worse and worse.
And we get home from church and I just want to curl up on the couch and go to sleep but Hunter wants to play Battleship and Caleb wants a bottle and someone needs their bottom wiped and I've gotta cook dinner but I don't know what to make. So we have pizza rolls and I manage to pull a salad together for myself and some fruit for the boys and we eat dinner together. And Hunter and I play Battleship and then I teach the boys how to play Yahtzee and it's really fun. It's really, really fun and the entire yuckiness of the day melts away in a matter of minutes as we take turns rolling the dice and having Caleb blow "lucky breath" on our rolls. And all of the sudden it's over. The day is over. And we read a chapter in our book and the boys go to bed and I survive. And I guess my point is I suppose I'll handle six kids the same way I handle four kids--just one minute at a time. Either that or when things get bad. . . we'll play Yahtzee.
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