Update on Us

I don't have as much free time to blog these day (as I'm sure you can imagine!).  I try to nap when the kids nap which eliminates that time during the day.  Plus I am basically asleep on the couch by about 8pm every night.  I know this feeling of exhaustion will get better soon but for now I am just getting by with doing only what's nessecary during the day!  Tonight's an exception- I am sitting here waiting for my long overdo haircolor to process!  I have a half hour to let it sit on- here is an update on each of us!

Breena
Breena has been struggling a little bit with seperation anxiety lately.  I think the combination of starting preschool while I was in the hospital & having her schedule jumbled with Toby has really affected her.  She has had a rough few days being dropped off at preschool- crying to come home with me.  We are going to give her a few more days to adjust & if things don't get better we may be choosing to remove her from preschool this year.  Other than that- she has been loving on her new baby brother every chance she gets!  She is always willing & eager to help out with him- it makes my life easier!

Eli
Eli loves Toby.  He likes to give him (not so gentle) hugs & kisses.  I've noticed lately that Eli is really starting to mature a little bit more.  He seems to understand simple instructions now & often chooses to listen.  He is such a copycat.  He tries to repeat everything Breena says!  It is so funny to listen too!  Eli is so unique & makes me laugh often!

Toby
Toby is so precious.  He is so far a pretty easy going baby.  He now weighs 7 pounds 10 ounces!  He checked out perfectly healthy at his doctor appointment today.  It seems like he may be starting to follow a bit of a schedule- he eats every 3 hours.  He still naps often during the day & is usually sound asleep by 7pm.  He wakes frequently during the night and insists on sleeping either in my arms or by my side.  I prefer that he sleeps in the bassinet- but right now I am in 'survival mode' and I am willing to do whatever it takes to get some sleep myself!  Toby completes our family perfectly.

Daddy
Dave went back to work last week.  He has been swamped & working a lot of hours.  I am grateful that he is willing to go to work so early (often leaving our house at 5:30am) so he is home by supper time.  He is so great with the kids & has definately made sure to give Bree & Eli extra attention while I was recovering.

Me
I'm doing good considering I had a csection two weeks ago.  I forget that I have physical limitations so by the end of the day I am pretty sore.  It's hard to find time to rest & recover with three children under three years old!  I'm slowly getting back into a routine.  I have had my mom to help the past week and a half.  She is heaven sent!  I'm not sure how I could've possibly gotten through the past week without her help!  Thank you Mom!   I head back to work in a week & half.  I'm not looking forward to leaving my babies but I need to get back behind the chair. 

So that's how we are doing!  Life is busy & crazy right now- but it's SO FUN!  I love love LOVE having three children.  I feel very fulfilled & complete!

pictures!

Bragging Moment...  We make beautiful babies!!!

Sleepy Boy

Family Walk

We went for a walk tonight for the first time as a family of five.  Here is how it went:

After supper we got the kids all ready to go which includes a 2 diaper changes & a potty break for Breena; shoes & coats on; shoes on a second time after Eli removes his; putting a coat on Toby & strapping him into the baby bjorn.  We were literally about ready to walk out the door when Toby started crying quite hysterically.  He needed to eat.  Toby isn't on any set schedule yet.  Sometimes he goes 2 hours between feedings & sometimes it's 5 hours.  He decided he needed to eat the moment we were trying to get out the door.  So I had to take off the baby bjorn & strip off sweatshirt in order to nurse him.  Breena understood that he needed to eat first but Eli was pretty angry.  He fussed & complained the whole time Toby ate.  Finally Toby finished up & we were able to head outside.  Breena insisted on riding her trike.  She isn't very good yet & it takes FOREVER to get anywhere but it's important to practice so we let her.  I pulled the wagon that Eli sat in and had Toby strapped to my chest.  Dave helped Breena with her trike.  Bree was doing pretty good & cruising along nicely when she spotted an orange leaf on the ground.  Naturally she had to pull over her bike, get off, pick up the leaf & put it in the storage compartment of her wagon.  Eli saw her to this and he was very upset that he was strapped in & couldn't get out to find a leaf for himself.  I tried handing him a leaf and he threw it on the ground.  We ignored Eli's complaints and kept on walking.  We made it about a block & a half and I asked Dave to check the time.  We had been walking for 25 minutes....and only made it a block & a half!  Had we continued our walk at this pace we wouldn't make it home before bedtime!  We convinced Breena to ride in the wagon with Eli so we could continue walking further.  Dave carried the trike.  The kids spent the rest of the walk fighting over where Breena's helmet should go & getting scolded for touching the wagon tires while we were in motion.  Close to a hour later we made it back home.  I consider our first family walk a sucess considering we have a 2 year old, 1 year old & a 12 day old!

Photos

Three under 3!

Family Photo (pure chaos!)

Going home!



 Reading to baby brother!

Celebrating & Grieving

Today is Toby's one week birthday.  Just one week ago I could barely feel my feet.  I was confined to a bed.  And I was loving every minute of it because I had just had welcomed my sweet son into the world.  It's been a week.  We are now at home.  Toby is healthy & beautiful.  The other kids are starting to adjust.  They loved their extra time with grandparents and daddy last week.  I am so in love with this new little boy.  He eats well and lets me get some sleep during the night.  My other kids love him too.  But even with all this goodness surrounding our family right now I cannot help but feel a little sad.  A part of me is grieving the end of the childbearing chapter of my life.  Never again will I hear one of my own newborns cry for the first time.  I won't bring another new baby home.  In time I will probably forget how wonderful it feels to snuggle a newborn as we both fall asleep.  I will miss this.  The past four years of my life have been full of pregnancy & nursing new babies.  It feels weird to be done and to close that chapter for good.  And yet I feel like celebrating Toby's one week birthday and celebrating the adventures that lay ahead.  It's odd to grieve & celebrate at the same time.  I'm torn.  I'm tired.  And I'm grateful.  I was talking with a friend about feeling sad that we are finished having children.  Her words to me helped put things in perspective.  She said, "I felt sad too.  But I knew deep in my heart that my life was going to be full.  And that was enough." 

Daddy

This man has made my life so easy this week. 

Thank you for taking care of our children & allowing me to rest.  It means so much to me to be able to snuggle our newborn without worrying about anything else.  I love you.

Preschool & An Update

Here she is!  My beautiful preschooler!  She did awesome on her first day!  Daddy brought her to school & she was shy- but no tears!  She came to visit me in the hospital immediately after school and she was all smiles!  I am so relieved that she had fun & very proud of her!

 First Family Photo!

Brothers!

 Big Sister!

How are we doing?

Pretty good!  I am hoping to be able to head home today but we will need to wait to see if I get the doctor's ok.  Toby's lost about 10% of his weight which may or may not keep us here an extra day.  I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed!  Breena is absolutely in love with Toby.  She is so gentle with him!  Eli points and says "Toby" but that's about it.  Dave is taking good care of mommy & Toby at the hospital!  Thanks for checking in on us!

Introducing...

TOBIAS ALLEN LUIKEN

(TOBY)

Born September 12, 2011
7:52am
6 Pounds 14.7 Ounces
21 & 3/4 Inches Long

Perfectly & Beautifully Made :)


 

Dear Son

Dear Sweet Baby Boy,

I've been waiting for you, praying for you, & carrying you safely within me for nine months.  Tomorrow we meet.  I'm anxious to have you in my arms and know you are healthy.  I cannot wait to smell your innocent baby breath and kiss your tiny cheeks.  When you come out you will instantly become:

*a sibling to 2 amazing kids

*a cousin to 7 equally as awesome kids

*a nephew to 3 aunts & 3 uncles

*the seventh grandchild on one side

*the six grandchild on the other

*the 14th great grandchild to your great grandmother
*the 15th great grandchild to your other set of great grandparents

You already mean so much to so many people who will love you & help guide you through life.  As your mother I promise to always have your best interest at heart; to encourage you; to teach you about God, to protect you; and to love you forever & ever.  Tomorrow we will complete our "Forever Family" with your arrival.  I'll see you tomorrow precious son.

All My Love,
Mommy



ON A SIDE NOTE: Today is grandparents day!  Happy Grandparent's Day to the awesome people my kids' are fortunate to call their grandparents!  We feel *SO LUCKY* to have grandparents that are extremely involved in our kids' lives & love them as much as we do!  Our kids adore & look up to you.  You are all GREAT!!!  Love you!

Pic

In about 41 hours there will be another baby in this picture...

we can't wait!

Sweet

Eli just pulled up my shirt, said the baby's name & kissed my belly.  I might be in tears the rest of the day... 

My kids couldn't be any sweeter if they were dipped in chocolate & covered in sprinkles.