My little peanut... and piggy!

Thursday we had a doctors appt. Rachel has gone from 3.5 lbs at birth to a pawltry even 13 at 9 months. I was really worried she was going to be "failure to thrive" but she is okay. The doctor assured me that even though she is NOT on the growth charts she has a healthy growth curve that is all her own. She thinks b/c I am small Rachel will be small. It isn't my doing anything wrong, it is just tiny genetics.

Cally is doing great at 17 lbs. He is around the 50th percentile and if you adjust his age he is actually in the 75th percentile for length and height on the growth chart. Of course Chris is worried this means he is going to be shorter than Harm who was in the 95th percentile for height (his 2yr appt predicts him at 6'2 to 6'4). My husband is 5'11 and is pretty sensitive about the height thing being the smallest of his brothers. So we will have to see at Cally's 2 yr appt! The only bad news is that Callum is getting further screened for hearing loss... hopefully it is still just bad machines.

I love that they are so healthy and happy. I am still confident this hearing screening will be okay in the long run. When we think of how they were 9 mos ago these little ones are miracles :)

It can go so bad so quickly...

Today was just another day. Usual stuff, we had a great doctors appt w/good stuff to report (if I have time I will share it tonight, otherwise I will share it tomorrow) but other than that really it was just plain Jane day.

At 3:00 I realized Callum is still asleep, Rachel is getting tired, and Harmon will also be going down for his nap. If I timed it all masterfully I might have 15 minutes to myself until a 4:00 appt came to the house.

3:05 Cally woke up at but that was doable, 2 were going down, all was not lost!

3:10 or so I was rocking Rachel when Cally started SCREAMING bloody murder (he was constipated again). This woke up Rachel. She was wired... so now I have an upset kid and wide awake kid. So I put her in her crib hoping she would just fall asleep.

3:25 After getting nowhere comforting Cally and having the lovely pleasure of putting in a suppository. It was time to put Harm down. He was excited. He went right to bed, kissed me good nap, and said "night night".

3:30 After still getting nowhere comforting Cally, Rachel began to scream. Now I started to worry b/c I was suddenly outnumbered but at least Harm was down.

3:45 Harm began to scream and of course I had gotten no where comforting two twins who were each PO'd for different reasons so I go and check on Harmon... THIS IS WHEN I ALMOST DIED... the boy was covered in poop. He had for the first time ever taken his diaper off and decided to play in a poopy diaper rather than tell me he had pooped. The good thing is that he hated this feeling and was deeply disturbed.

Just a recap... so now I have a tot covered in poop, another child who can't poop and is beyond comfort, and an overtired little princess, w/a 4 o'clock coming in about 10 mins. So when my 4:00 came I had Harmon in the tub, Cally just had a 2nd suppository, and Rachel was still PO'd.

It all worked out. I got the room cleaned, Harmo dressed and ready for night night, Cally did poop, but there was one last piece of drama... I had accidently put Rach in Cally's crib and Cally in her crib which is bad b/c Cally's crib hasn't been lowered... right when I was picking up a fallen pacifier under the crib I saw Rachel falling out... but I got her before anything happend!!!! So alas, all is well that ends well.

No I didn't get 10 mins to myself this afternoon (which I rarely do) but I did have a good appt. once it got started. Days like this though make me think maybe I should have my nanny a little later in the day, b/c man when you are outnumbered by 3 in 2 yrs, THEY CAN REALLY KICK YOUR BOOTY!!!!

Dear Harmon...

Dear Harmon,

Please do not use the 3 minutes I use to get the twins out of bed and into clean diapers as a chance to scale the entire fridge and than sit up there (I would have taken a photo for posterity but I was too dang scared too). You are very very talented and think you have the potential of becoming a world famous mountain climber but not now. Right now you are SCARING THE CRAP OUT OF ME!

While we are at it while I am in the bathroom I ask that you refrain trying to spray shaving cream on your sister's head, put on my make up, and pour out shampoo all over the floor. A women does have too pee in the morning. Furthermore while we are feeding twins this is not a time to pour dishwater soap all over your clean clothes and the countertops.

Other things that would be nice is to stop trying to bury your brother with pillows and blankets or to push away your sister while she is playing on the floor simply b/c you want to now play w/that toy. You will live in time out until you are 18 and ready for college before I let you get away w/behavior that

Finally when you have done all these things to drive me insane and the nanny shows up, do not run to her w/a big grin acting like a sweet innocent w/a mean mean mommy. You and I both know the truth.

Thank you,

Your loving but tired and very worried mother

Oh man Harmon is in a class of his own. Today we got his test results and he is definetly still behind on speech (and some other stuff) but heck what 2 yr old do you know that can climb a fridge to the top? It just goes to show we are all talented in our own way... albeit I hope Harmon can show his talent in otherways. Today at gym he just amazed me. I will have to do pictures in the future but he does the climbing wall great and w/help does a mean hand stand. Of course tot gym has it's down falls. He broke Rachel's crib this weekend b/c he realized how much he LOVES to jump. He is just so smart and full of promise!

It is funny b/c Chris' mom used to always say he would be the death of her. He was just as crazy and full of energy. But just like his Dad he is also one of the most sweetest, kindest, gentlest, loving people I've known. His favorite thing is to sit on my lap facing me, hold my face, look into my eyes, and give me a HUGE kiss... than repeat for a few minutes. It is WONDERFUL. The other day Rachel was crying so he brought her his Elmo toy. Sometimes when I am not looking he starts giving the babies kisses. He may not know how to say I love you but I know he sure does.

Our Last Ad!

The company is going in a new direction so this is the last "family themed" ad that I will design for the HB as far as I can foresee. It just seems like people in our town don't read the Real Estate section of the newspaper to make it worth while (we are the last of the major companies in town to still run ads in the paper).

This is a sad milestone for me, I've loved designing these ads b/c it is my family :( We started using our kids for the ads when I first starting in marketing for HB. Everyone wanted a family feel to the advertising but we didn't want to pay money for models so my brother-in-law thought it would be cool to use us. At first it was awkward and I never liked having me in the ads but I did love seeing Chris, Harmon, and later the twins. Oh well, at least the kids won't have to worry about being so recognizable now on the street.

Taking time for Mom...

So this morning I realized something. Us moms, LOVE to play martyr. My mom is still an excellent example of this. I have followed in her footsteps. With all the stress and drama that has unfolded these last few weeks I've started to stay up at night worrying. Despite all the real things I have to get done I spend time organizing bottles and picking out everyone's outfits for the next day. I realized last night at 2 am I was so overtired from EVERYTHING that my body just hurt, especially where I had my surgery.

For the 2nd time in a row this week I was in so much pain and so stressed I had to take a sleeping pill. But did I sleep in? NO! I wanted to make French Toast for Chris. It isn't Chris' fault. Friday he tried to send me to a Spa but they were all full so instead he sent me for a pedi/mani and let me get my hair done. He really tries to give me "me" time. He tried all weekend to let me sleep in but I feel guilty when I hear the 3 ring circus outside my room. I hear someone crying... I imagine Harmon trying to get Daddy to give him pizza for breakfast... I wonder what the heck Chris is putting Rachel in for clothing... I worry little Cally is lonely... and I just have to get up and go take charge.

I don't like to give up control. I've always been that way. Ever since I can remember, I always have to have everything "just right" when it is something important; and we all know there is nothing more important than these kids! With that said I need to learn to relax and just let Chris do his thing on the weekends. I need to take some time to care for myself. So tomorrow I am sleeping in... PROMISE! That man is on his own w/this motley crew!

Involuntary Smiles...

I have a friend who blogs and she talks about "Involuntary Smiles". She defines them loosely as spontaneous smiles that just HAPPEN when something unexpected makes us smile. If we really look at our days I think she is right. You have tons of oppourtunites for these moments!!!

I've been a little whiney these last few weeks between all that has been going on in my home: illness, injury, obligation, sleep deprivation, etc. I've kind of felt life has been kicking my a**! Today I realized mid-day that it was time I stop the complaining and started thinking positive. That is when this concept of "Involuntary Smiles" came to mind. I started thinking all the times in my day that I am happy and it made me realize how blessed I am. It really is the little things...

Just today there were so many hard things but so many smiles!!!

~Harm jumping into my arms splashing me in pool class

~Cally w/a face full of green beans

~Rachy standing in her crib waiting for me to find her this morning

~Opening my Coke at lunch time or having a small scoop of ice cream for desert

~Chris texting me that he misses me

~Seeing a big smile on my kid's faces as they play w/their toys

~Taking a nice warm shower

~Heck NOT ONE of the kids or I have gotten Chris' plague... That is a big smile ;)

I could go on and on. They happen all day, every day. Life is never all bad! I think the key for me is just stopping to appreciate and remember these moments rather than rushing by. I get so busy and stressed. My kids are growing fast. I need to appreciate these special times with them and I need to appreciate the good things I have in life w/0 them. I just need to let myself appreciate life more!

Welcome the plague! (Bad Omens)

Maybe it is b/c I am half Puerto Rican but I've always been hugely superstitious. Last night was a lovely evening and we really had such a good time. We got the kids to bed early and I wrapped up everything and got into bed by 10:30. But I couldn't sleep... I just had a HORRIBLE feeling something bad was coming. I took a sleeping pill... it didn't work... so I took another... I finally drifted off into a Benadryl stupor when I awoke to the oh so HORRIBLE wretching noise... BLAH! Poor Chris got soooo sick and has spent the whole day in bed today or worse. His whole family has been passing around this horrendous stomach virus (so far 7 have come down with it) and so now I just have this horrible feeling of a new foreboding: I CAN'T GET SICK!!!!! Or worse, my Nanny better not get sick!!!! Or even WORSE THAN THAT what would happen if we both got sick???? Or the most worse scenario at all WHAT IF THE KIDS GET SICK????? Hopefully this is just silly worrying not another omen... just in case I washed all our emergency crib/tot bed sheets so I am prepared for the worse.

So if you are wondering if having Chris sick was bad for me? YES, yes it was! I am so spoiled at night that he deals w/colicky Callum (he gets lonely in his crib). Between Callum, and being worried about Chris I think I slept 3 hrs. Today was logjammed w/appointments and "must do's" so there was no time to feel sorry for myself and of course Harm woke me up at the butt crack of dawn (obviously he went to bed way way too early last night). I've got through everything in a coma. In fact I didn't realize I had Harm's poop on my pants until a few hrs after it happend. Chris is feeling better and it was cute having him call me on my cell phone each time he wanted fresh Gatorade ;) I will miss him tomorrow. But I got through everything, the kids show NO signs of illness, and neither do I so I am VERY grateful. Hopefully the plague is over!!!!

Doing his own thing...

I sometimes don't post as much on Cally as I do the others b/c well he is just "doing his own thing". He is the type of little guy who would be perfectly happy sitting on my lap all day just chilling and watching TV. Cally is doing very well w/his milestones though. He is making strides towards sitting and crawling! He is also is verbalizing much more than Rachel is. I think our family might have our first real "talker". His breathing is much better and his torticallis is almost gone. I love my sweet Cally so much b/c he is so cuddly and has the best laugh. All you have to do is make a cute face or say something cute and he nearly passes out w/laughter. Our house is a special place b/c of him!

Oh and here is a picture of Rachel pulling up. I finally remembered to snap it. They are getting too big too stinkin fast :(

A little about my Chris!

It is interesting b/c parents of multiples have something like 60% divorce rate while parents of kids with special needs have a rate of 80%. Add in a the fact that we are sort of wrapped up in the all consuming family business and have personalities that go together like fire and ice I think many people around us give us the Vegas odds of 10 to 1 odd that we won't keep things together. Those people don't know who we are though together when the world isn't looking.

Despite all this stress we are still very much in love with each other and we love our children. The day to day stresses are rough and we are lucky to have marriage counseling provided through the kids Early Intervention program but I must admit I think the real hero is Chris. I'm such a stress ball and very tightly strung but he has such a great attitude (unless you are asking him to put up curtains or gasp WALLPAPER) day to day. He brings sunshine when I am to my limits! Chris has been really stressed at work b/c of the new home tax credit ending and making sure about 40 homes are done by July 1. I think it makes me realize what I've taken for granted. When he isn't all sunshine it is like a huge rain cloud comes over the home. I will be glad when things are back to normal but it is teaching me what I really take for granted!

One of the things that shocks me about my husband is how he nurtures and loves our kids. He really is in more ways the "mom" out of the two of us! It boggles my mind how a man who does most of the late night feedings and duties, deals w/vomit on the head, and does the baby wearing can still come to me and ask me "so are you sure we are done? Come on you want another!" Of course the answer is a resounding NO WAY, NOT NOW, NOT EVER, but you have to admire the mans love of being a Dad.

He knows how important it is to my diesease that I get good sleep. Last night he fed the twins as usual around 2 but than around 3 little Cally woke up again and was screaming. He just dealt with him for about 30 or 45 minutes and went back to bed. About 15 mins later Harmon screamed and despite my offers to get him he dutifully went away... I fell asleep and about an hour later realized he never came back. I came out to see him putting Harm to bed. He had thrown up again and so Chris cleaned up the room, did the laundry, and bathed Harmon. He layed them down again for just a few minutes before waking up and going to work first thing in the morning to go to work.

So if you have read this nauseating ode to my Chris you deserve a FUNNY story. Wednesday he was home late... AGAIN (I think he has been late every day this week except today)! So once again he said "you can't be mad a man bearing gifts!" He had stopped at PickQuick and got me this goofy statue. He said the first frog is Harmon going "nenenahnene", the second it Rachel laughing at Harmon, and the third is Cally hiding. It is the GOOFIEST yet most thoughtful gift I think I've ever got. I might put it in my office or keep it in the kitchen so I can see it on a regular basis. You know I suspect we will beat the odds; after all where would life be w/o my best friend?

I really don't think I can believe tonight...

So about four months ago we took off one of the sides to Harm's crib b/c he learned to climb out. We have been putting off buying a new bed b/c the transitions has been HORRENDOUS but little Cally is getting picked on in the crib (Rachel is a roller and plays bumper cars all night). We try to buy good high quality furniture but b/c we don't know if we are going to be in the house for much longer I didn't want to buy anything permanet. Once we are settled for a while longer I'm gonna buy some good quality stuff for each room that hopefully will grow with the kids into teen-hood but in the mean time I decided a cheap temporary Walmart tot bed was the way to go.

Chris spent 2 1/2 hours tonight putting it together while I took care of kids and rearranged the twins furniture. Everything was so cheap it took forever for Chris to do it. FINALLY it was done and than CRACK... the support beam just spontaneously CRACKED! I couldn't believe it... so it is 9:45 and we have just WASTED our entire evening on this piece of junk. So I trounced back to Walmart tonight b/c tomorrow I have appointments all morning and just wanted it out of my car before I needed to transport kids anywhere. Of course we had lost the reciept and they argued w/me about taking it back but there was NO WAY in living heck I was leaving that store w/o a full refund!!!!

So tomorrow night what will we be doing??? Same thing we do every night Pinky... try to put together a toddler bed! (If we can even find one that isn't crap in this small town).