Goodbye 2011!

We started 2011 as four

And end it as five!

What a beautiful year.  Looking forward to 2012 & many more fun adventures with my forever family.  Wishing you many blessings in the New Year! 

Bree to Eli

"Eli, you're my best boy in the whole world."

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours...MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sickies...again

Eli is sick again with bronchitis.  Poor little bean woke up this morning with a runny nose & mild cough.  By 5:30pm it was so bad he was struggling to breath & eat.  I took him to Urgent Care where they ordered a chest xray because of low oxygen levels.  I struggled not to cry as he got his xray done, he was so miserable.  He was diagnosed with bronchitis- put on a higher dose of albuterol, a steroid, an antibiotic & alternating between tylenol & motrin (to keep fever down).  We head back to the doctor tomorrow to check out his oxygen levels again & reassure the doctor that this course of medications in working.  It is scary to see my little guy so sick!  He's been sleeping for a couple hours without coughing- I hope he gets a good night of sleep & feels 100% better by Saturday!!!

Christmas Program

Breena was in her very first Christmas Program at church this past weekend.  She sang & did (most) of the actions.  She even sat with her class all by herself without Dave or I with her.  I knew it was going to be a struggle to sit through her program without tears (from me, not her) but I was completely unprepared for how overwelming it was going to be to watch my little baby girl up there.  As soon as the kids started walking to their seats I felt the water works coming on.  All I could think was where did the time go?  Wasn't it yesterday that we were sitting in church for Breena's first Christmas?  She is such a beautiful little girl.  She's so funny & playful with a huge imagination.  She is a great big sister & a huge helper for me around the house.  I am so proud of her.  I just wish I could hold onto this little girl forever.  It's difficult to accept that she is growing up.  But rewarding to watch her blossom into a sweet little girl.  She's my only daughter & we share a special bond.  I love this precious girl more than I imagined possible. 

I love these kids so much it makes my heart hurt. 

26

I am officially 26 years old today.  I've entered the "late twenties" club.  Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself married with three kids by 26.  This morning I slept in with Toby in my arms.  I got up to two kids singing "Happy Birthday Mommy" while they handed me homemade cards.  Dave surprised me with a gift certificate for a pedicure.  To described my life at the age of 26 takes just one word: BLESSED.

My Loves

"Mom, I think I'm getting sleepy..."

 2 Minutes Later

Almost Big Enough for the exersaucer!

Someone misses being the baby!

Snow Fun!

3 months old already!

Breena asked Toby to babysit her new baby.



Yep. He's eating snow off of my boot.

Silly Girl.  She is so excited for Christmas!

Domestic

Today I am trying to be domestic and make a nice supper.  Poor Dave (who never complains about it) always gets stuck eating the things I can do easily.  When we were first married I spent more time making a nice roast with potatoes.  Now-a-days he gets spaghetti, tacos and pizza almost weekly because they are quick & easy for me to make.  I got to go shopping alone this morning (thanks to Dave's mom & dad!) and purchase all the things I needed to make my dinner.  Garlic Mustard Pork Roast & Mashed Parmessan Baked Potatos....mmmm.  I prepared my dishes while the kids ate lunch so I could just pop it in the oven later.  Toby screamed the whole time.  Eli was mad at me because I wouldn't let him have more cheese.  Breena (bless her heart) was doing her best to be my helper & console her brothers.  All this chaos led to my kitchen looking like this:

At least I'm trying...right???  Hope it's worth it!  

Well no break for us this weekend.  Eli, Toby & I are nearing the end of our colds (finally!) but now Breena has come down with the stomach flu.  She had been complaining o & off about an owie tummy this morning but cobbled down her eggs for breakfast.  I knew something was up when she didn't eat chocolate chip cookie she was given at her Christmas Program rehearsal today.  As soon as we got in the car she started throwing up.  She is nestled comfortably in my lap watching tv as I write this blog.  I can tell she feels rotten.  Every few minutes she wimpers & cringes from stomach pain.  She next second she seems okay.  Hope tomorrow is better for her!

Christmas Card Picture

One Mama trying to take a picture of three kiddo = This

There's got to be one I can salvage for a Christmas photo!

Boogers On The Couch

Eli came down with an icky cold on Sunday and he has been a whiny mess ever since.  If you know our family you know that Eli is dramatic (for lack of a better word) & emotional.  I know the little tyke doesn't feel good but honestly I don't think he is nearly as miserable as he is acting.  He is male I guess and they tend to exaggerate illness.  Men are babies.  Eli will be no exception to the rule.  He walks around whining & complaining.  He has trouble napping when he's sick & therefore he hasn't taken a good nap the last few days.  That in combination with interrupted night sleep (due to cough) has led to a super cranky Eli.  I started feeling icky Tuesday night & yesterday Toby came down with a cold as well.  I am so glad that tomorrow is Friday & that the week is coming to an end.  Its tough to listen to someone cry the ENTIRE DAY!  I'm ready for Saturday & to have Dave home during the day this weekend- hopfully we all get a chance to get rid of this bug.  At one point today Eli was whining at me for one reason or another. I was nursing Toby on the couch & told Eli to crawl up next to me.  As he started to climb up he let out a huge gross sneeze.  His nose was running.  I started to reach into my pocket to get out a kleenex but Eli had another plan.  He leaned over & smeared it all over our couch.  Boogers on the couch.  That pretty much sums up my day.  

From Our Album

Bree Putting Star on the Tree

Digging in the decorations- yes that is a Christmas Stocking on her head!

Someone thought my Christmas figures needed to watch T.V.

My Boys@

A lot of babies in the bath! (no I don't usually bath them together- this was merely because I wanted a photo!)

Best Big Sister!

Tober Toots

Toby changes each day.  I literally could write a daily blog on what he discovered or did new each day.  Toby is eleven weeks old & is still pretty easy going IF he has my full attention.  He likes to be held & talked too.  If he feels ignored he gets cranky!  Every morning he grunts & whines in his bouncy chair while I make the other 2 breakfast.  He likes to be included in everything- which is impossible with a 3 year old & a 1 year old!  Toby doesn't sleep thru the night & often ends up sleeping with me (hey- I'm :desperate for some rest!).  Toby doesn't seem to care much for formula, I hope he warms up to the idea because eventually we'll need him to supplement with formula.  He tries to sit up on his own (unsucessfully of course).  He loves taking a bath & I love bathing him.  It's special mommy/Toby time and even though there's usually 4 little fists banging on the bathroom door wanting to come in- i really enjoy focusing on pampering my baby for a few minutes.  Toby is getting big!  He hit a growth spurt recently & I could hardly keep up with his hungry belly.  I love everything about my newest little addition...except one thing...he didn't get the nickname of Tober Toots for nothing!  That child can clear a room!  He always decides to release his fatal odor when he's nursing.  And I'm trapped there!  I don't get how something so awful can come out of someone so cute!?!  And of course tooting is funny in the eyes of my children (and okay, I think it's funny too).  So whenever Toby lets a sink bomb fly everyone starts giggling & claiming they tooted too.  *sigh* Oh Toby sure has brought a lot more love & laughter into our home!

"You're a good mom!"

Today at Walmart...

~ I ran over a bag of chicken nuggets with my cart
~ Had to carry Toby (been fussy lately) & push the cart one handed
~ Did my best to shield Eli from the wind as we walked into the store; he SCREAMS "HAIR!" and grabs his head when the wind blows
~ I unknowingly dropped apple juice & chips from the bottom of my cart & two seperate strangers hunted me down to hand them to me in the parking lot!
~Breena nearly knocked an elderly lady down TWICE
~ I stood in the toy isle for 20 minutes while Breena contemplated what toy to buy with her chore money

I felt like a walking circus. I had broken a sweat ( i often do at Walmart!) from the stress of getting groceries with three little ones.  When we went to the registers I let Breena buy her toy first with her own money.  I held her up to had the clerk a $10 bill.  She handed Bree her change & I told her to put it in her pocket so we could save it for next time.  She clerk looked at me and said "Way to go Mom.  You are a really good mom.".  I was taken back but I thanked her for the compliment.  On the way out the door a older couple stopped me and said "They are precious.  All three of them.  You should be proud.".  I needed to hear that today.  They are precious & I am proud of them.  I am glad that we don't look like a circus to strangers (at least not the kind people that I talked too).  Most days I feel like a good mom; but it's always nice to hear it once in a while.  This was the first time I have ever left Walmart in a better mood than when I went.  Thank you kind strangers for lifting my mood today!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Found the Perfect Tree!

So Blessed!



Tobes & His First Christmas Tree!

Watching Daddy Cut!

Pretending to Drive the van while Daddy Straps Tree to the Top!

First Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for my husband. I don’t know how I got so lucky to be married to someone so selfless. He works hard to provide for our family & goes out of his way to help me around the house. He is a fantastic daddy. I am so grateful that he is so willing to help out. When Eli had bronchitis it was Dave who sat up with him at 3am giving him a neb & rocking him back to sleep. He insisted on doing it. I feel bad for anyone who goes through life without a “Dave”. He is my better half & my best friend. Together we’ve built a beautiful life.

Tears For Toby

Breena & Toby had their checkups today. We were there A LONG TIME but thanks to the portable DVD player & Barney on repeat it went fine. Breena is in the 63% for her height! She is 30 pounds now & checked out completely healthy. Toby weighed in at almost 13 pounds which puts him in the 40% for weight. Breena had the flumist today & did great. Toby was due for his first set of immunizations- 3 shots & an oral. Breena stood next to the exam table as I held Toby's little arms in place. The nurse administered the shots & he let out a wail followed by the I'm-so-mad-I-am-not-breathing type of cry. I always feel bad for them when they get shots but I know a little prick is a million times better than the illness would be. The nurse put bandaids on Toby & left. I was trying to comfort Toby & Breena started rubbing his back. I looked over at her & noticed her eyes were red & filled with water. I asked her what was wrong. She blinked and a single tear ran down her cheek. She said to me "I'm really sad for Toby. That shot hurt him". I tried to explain to her that Toby would feel better in a minute but she didn't quite understand. It took her until we got home with our McDonalds (a treat for being so good) for her to perk up. It was sweet of her to feel compassion for her brother. But I think next time I will spare her the heart ache & take Toby alone!

Eli's Snack Misfortune

Lately the kids have really enjoyed eating a snack mix I throw together(cereal, m&m, mini marshmallows). When Eli woke up from nap today he immediately demanded 'mallows' for his snack. I fixed him his new favorite treat & told him to go find a spot to sit in the living room while he ate (I always allow a cartoon after nap). On the way to the living room he dropped his bowl & his snack went anywhere. Eli said "uh oh! i baccum!" He ran into his bedroom. In the meantime I got down & picked up the food. He returned with his little toy vaccum. When he saw that I had picked his food up his little heart broke. He started to cry yelling "mama I baccum! I baccum!". I felt bad for cleaning up his mess & so i dropped a few pieces on the floor for him to vaccum up (he basically just crushed them into the rug). By this time Bree had woken up & was eating her snack in the living room. Eli had set his bowl on the couch. He was singing & dancing to Barney & every once in a while went back for a nibble. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Breena snitching out Eli's chocolate chips one by one. Poor guy had no chocolate left. He didn't even notice so I opted to let it go. After dancing to Barney & ignoring his snack for a few more minutes Eli returned to the couch only to find an empty bowl. My little boy asked "where 'nack go? mallow all gone!". I looked in his bowl & it was wet from slobber which could only mean one thing: the dog ate it. I told him Allie took his snack & boy did he get mad! Eli waved his finger at Allie & scolded "No no Awie!". He decided that wasn't enough of a punishment & went after her ready to hit. I warned him not to hit the dog so instead he chucked his bowl at her. Then he turned to me with big eyes & asked "more mallow pwease mama!". Funny kid.

WARNING: TMI (but really funny!)

I've written on here before that Breena likes to analyze her poo when she goes potty. Sometimes it's a mommy, daddy & baby poo. Other times it's a bracelet. Sometimes it's a bunny looking for it's mommy. That girl comes up with some wild things. Yesterday she went to the bathroom & it was kind of loose. She yelled to me, " MOM! There was poop hair coming from my butt!". I gotta agree this time- it did look like poop hair! :)

Naked

Oh Eli.  That kid is so funny.  There are days where Dave & I laugh at just about everything he does.  He can be so silly without even trying.  But oen thing drives me crazy about Eli...he is constantly getting naked!  It started with his pj's.  He would immediately strip them off.  One night he woke up SCREAMING hysterically.  I went into his room only to find him buck naked in his crib.  He had peed all over his sheets!  The next night he woke up again screaming.  This time i found him in his crib buck naked & shivering (no pee this time!).  My mom suggested we start pinning his pjs & that solved the bedtime problem.  Since Eli couldn't strip off his jammies anymore he started to take off his pants during the day.  I chase that kid around several times a day trying to wrestle him back into pants!  I've tried putting him in overalls, one peice outfits & onesies  and he STILL manages to strip off his clothes & diaper!  Last week he started to pull his pants down at his early childhood class.  Thank goodness I caught him just in time.  I guess the little stink really likes to be 'free'!   I sure hope we can convince him to keep his clothes on by the time he starts school.  It'd be hard to make friends pantsless!  Haha!

Bragging Moment...

Toby just discovered the hanging toys on his bouncy chair.  He has been happily wacking at them for twenty minutes! :)

Our Family

Glamorous Life of a Mom

This morning I had to call the credit card company that I use at work to process credit cards. They open the phones at 7am so I thought it would be a wise idea to call while the kids ate their breakfast.  Bad plan.  I no more than began explaining to the representative the reason for my call when Toby starts wailing in the background.  No problem, I picked him up and bounced him in one arm while I held the phone with the other.  Than Eli spilt his apple juice.  "Uh Oh Mama!  Uh Oh Mama! Duice!"  he repeated over & over.  I laid down Toby (who started to cry again) & soaked up the juice.  Breena decided she needed to go potty & it appeared to be an emergency.  I ushered her into the bathroom.  By the time i got back into the kitchen Eli had decided to plop his bowl of vanilla yogurt on top of his head.  "I sealy Mama" he laughed.  Thankfully, the yogurt was gone.  Toby was still crying in his bouncy chair & I was still trying to talk to the credit card lady.  I started cleaning Eli off when I hear Breena yell from the bathroom "Mom! Come wipe my butt!".  I ignored her.  She started yelling louder & louder & louder!  I walked to the bathroom & mouthed "Sh! I am on the phone. Wipe your own bottom!".  I started to walk away & she screamed at the top of her lungs "But MOM! I need YOU to WIPE MY BUTT!".  Toby was crying.  Eli was crawling on top of the table eating the leftover breakfast bar crumbs.  It was then that I heard the women on the other end of the phone laughing.  She said to me, "someone doesn't sound very happy this morning!".  My life is so glamorous these days! ;) 

Toby's Birth

I woke up at about 4am on the day Toby was born.  We needed to leave for the hospital shortly before 6am.  I had some time to kill!  I took a nice hot bath & even decided to put on makeup & curl my hair.  Hey, I was about to meet my son!  I had to look somewhat decent!  I woke Dave up around 5:15am so he had time to shower.  Dave's parents arrived around 5:50am to watch the kids and after one last preggo picture we headed out the door.  We checked into the hospital & I was taken back to the room to get changed.  There were three nurses/aids working with us that morning.  They were all so nice!  I think it makes the experience much more pleasurable when the nurses are great.  They started an IV of fluids.  I felt myself getting light-headed but tried to ignore the feeling.  It didn't work.  Whatever they had given me made me sick.  After a few minutes with a cold cloth on my head & a puke bag in hand I felt better.  They offered to give me an anti-nausea medication.  I accepted & it was inserted into my IV.  Uh oh...sick again!  This was not a good start!  With my previous c-sections I wasn't nauseous until I was on the operating table- and even then it lasted only minutes.  It crossed my mind more than once to run out of the hospital & opt to come back a different day!  But it was too late- I was already in my gown & hooked up to machines.  Fortunately the second round of sickness was short lived & I was praying it wouldn't happen again.  About a hour after arriving at the hospital it was time to head back to the OR.  Dave (who had already changed into scrubs) walked beside my back as I was wheeled back.  He had to wait outside the OR doors while my spinal block was placed.  For me, this is by far the scariest part or the whole ordeal.  It is scary to have a needle in your back.  And it is painful.  Once the medication was in place I could instantly feel my legs tingle & go numb.  And I was horribly nauseous once again.  The anesthiolosist kept inserting medication into my IV trying to combat the nausea.  After several doses it was finally kicking in.  Dave was brough in and sat by my side.  I remember holding his hand tightly.  A c-section isn't painful.  But it is the weirdest feeling.  I could feel no pain but could feel tugging, pulling & pressure.  My doctor then said, " you're going to feel a lot of pressure".  I knew that ment Toby would soon be here.  And then there he was.  Hearing him cry was a relief.  They held him up over the drape that covered my face.  He was SO tiny & very purple.  I felt a hot lump in my throat but the tears wouldn't fall.  It's as if I was too happy, too grateful, & too blessed to waste time tearing up.  I could tell his crying was labored, it sounded like he was struggling a little bit.  Dave went over to the warmer to get a good look at our little boy.  The nurses were gushing over him.  They kept saying "he is so cute!" and "what beautiful red hair" and "I love the name Toby!  How unique".  Toby needed a little bit of oxygen to help get his lungs working.  Other than that he was perfect & healthy!  Toby & Dave headed to the nursery where they measured him & gave him a bath.  I was taken to a recovery room where I waited forever to hold my sweet baby.  Finally Dave brought me our son.  He was beautiful.  His eyes were open & his hair had a tint of red.  Holding him in my arms felt so natural- as if he'd always been a part of our family.  A few hours later we were able to introduce Toby to his siblings who absolutely adore him.  What an amazing moment it was to have my forever family together for the very first time.  We have been so blessed.  I often sit in awe at how lucky Dave & I are to have this life together with our three precious children.  Toby completes us &  we love him so  so much.