Thankful for the People in our Lives

Today, I did an interview with a lady from the Lafayette Journal and Courier.  This was my 4th interview since the quads were born, but the first time that I got emotional (yes, I cried) during the interview.  There were many of the same questions:  How did you react when you found out you were expecting four?  What is the most difficult part of raising multiples?  How has Lilya adjusted?  and the question that got me...Do you have a lot of support?
Yes, I've been asked that before and have answered without getting choked up, but this time was different.  I think maybe it's because we are here 7 1/2 months later, and the love and support that we have coming in is still as strong as ever.  How do I thank the people who donate time, money, baby items or all of the above.  In a world where there seems to be so many bad people, I sure feel blessed that we know so many that are wonderful.  I only wish there was a way that I could give back to them.

It's Christmas Time

Wow, I have not been as good at this blog thing as I'd like to be.  I can't believe that Halloween was the last time I posted.  I have so many posts saved (Things I'm Thankful For), but never posted.  I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to writing, and tend to read them over and over again, and not post.  So, here it goes, one that I'm going to post without reading and trying to fix it first.

I took the kiddos to see Santa last night.  Again, so thankful for Anne.  She met us there, and helped things go as smoothly as possible.  Thankfully, even at 7 months, the babies seemed to be ok with him.  Benjamin and Harrison sat on his lap while I held Jaylyn and Oscar.  Lilya stood next to his chair...very careful not to get too close.  I knew the lady that was taking the pictures, so she offered to take individuals of the kids with him.  It will be so nice to have them, and by the time each baby took a turn, Lilya had warmed up and took a turn of her own.  She told Santa that she wanted a baby doll and a rattle for her sister, Jaylyn.  So sweet of her to think of her babies.  I can't wait to post the pictures that were taken.  Until then, here are a few pictures of them in their Christmas outfits that I have taken.  Hope you enjoy!


Benjamin's first look at the lights.

Jaylyn looking so cute wrapped in lights.

Harrison is pretty curious.

Big Sister, Lilya, is quite the ham.

Love Oscar's bright eyes!





These could be the cutest little elves ever!





Benjamin, Harrison, Oscar, Jaylyn and Lilya

Trick or Treat

I love Halloween!  For Lilya's first Halloween (she was only 6 weeks old), we dressed her as a ladybug and stayed home to pass out candy.  This year, for the quads first Halloween, we decided to venture out.  The events started on Friday night with Trunk or Treat at Blue Ridge Elementary.  The kids were a huge hit with everyone, and the comments cracked me up as always. 
Stranger 1: Wow, are those 4 twins?
Me:  Wouldn't that be 8 babies? (in my head, not out loud)
Stranger 2:  Wow, you have triplets?
Me:  Oh no!  Did I leave a baby at home? (in my head again)

We made the Fox 59 news again with this picture!

We decided to rest up on Saturday and Sunday, and did the regular trick or treat thing on Monday.  We stayed in Mulberry, and pretty much just walked up the highway and then back with the exception of a detour to go by Uncle Rob's.  I think people must have given Lilya enough candy for all five kids...she came home with a ton!  What a great night!  I hope everyone got to enjoy it as much as we did.

A Fan is a Fan is a Fan

Ok, I admit it, we're Cubs fans.  In fact, we're fans to the extent that we named one of the quads Harrison Kerry (get it...Harry Kerry)!  We also gave Benjamin the middle name Ryne after another Cubs great, Ryne Sandberg.  Yes, we are aware that they had a losing season this past year, but we are fans no matter what.  Anyway, if you've ever seen Back to the Future II, you know that 2013 is their year, so we're going to at least stick it out until then.
With that said, we haven't given up on our Colts either.  It was another rough day with a loss to Tennessee to put them at 0-8 for the season, but we are still wearing our blue and white with pride and will do so for the entire season.

We're on a Roll

 5 months old already!  We went for a check up last week, and here are their stats:       
They have grown so much, and look so big to me until I see singletons that are the same age or younger.  While we are already on the growth chart for their actual age (Jaylyn is at the very bottom, of course), they are all still small for their age.

Benjamin is 14 pounds, 14 ounces and 24 inches long.
(Big Ben)

Jaylyn is 10 pounds, 6 ounces and 23 1/4 inches long.
(Our little peanut)



Oscar is 12 pounds, 9 ounces and 23 1/2 inches long. 



Harrison is 12 pounds, 13 ounces and is 24 1/4 inches long.



We are hitting new milestones by the day it seems like.  The boys are now able to roll from their bellies to their backs, and Jaylyn will be soon to follow, I'm sure.  They have all discovered their hands in the last month, and like to suck on their fingers more than their pacifiers.  They are all smilers and cooers.  Benjamin will laugh outloud more than the others.  Everyone loves to do patty cake.  Our biggest change in the last couple of weeks has been our sleeping arrangement.  For their first four months at home, we slept downstairs; me on the couch, babies in random spots (swings, bouncy seats, boppy seats, crib).  They are now in cribs in their own room upstairs, and I am able to sleep in my own bed again...yay!!!!  It is all new for me.  With Lilya, we never put her in bed awake.  She never cried herself to sleep.  Not the case with the quads.  After their last bottle of the evening, we put them in bed...sometimes they cry, and sometimes they are so tired, they just go right to sleep.  Either way, they usually fall asleep fast, and the best part is that they are sleeping anywhere between 8 and 10 hours a night!  I can't believe how fast time flies!

We have a busy week again this week...First steps evaluations, RSV prevention shots, trick-or-treating, and our normal day to day adventures.  Some things are fun, and some are not so fun.  I think we'll make the best of the fun things.







Good Friends + Max and Ruby = FUN



Headed in!



My best friend, Amy, and I have been to many concerts together.  We've seen Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, and even sang with Keith Urban a couple of summers ago, but I think I can speak for both of us when I say that this weekend's concert tops them all.  Seeing how excited our little ones were to see Max and Ruby (for those of you who don't know, they are a brother and sister bunny pair that have a show on Nickelodeon.) was priceless.

After my father-in-law had mentioned that there was going to be a show at the Murat Theater in Indy, I was searching for tickets on the internet, and came across a very cool site called macaronikid.com.  It is a site that advertises activities that are happening for kids.  A website to help plan family outings.  It just so happened that they were having a contest, and were giving away 4 Max and Ruby tickets.  I took my chances, entered the contest, and WON!

The girls loved it!  They sang, danced, yelled,"MAX...RUBY" trying to get their attention, pretended to be Max and Ruby...it was awesome.  I am so glad that we got to spend the day with such great friends, but even more, I LOVED having such a fun time with Lilya. 

Busy Beginning to October

Harrison enjoying the swing

We couldn't ask for more beautiful weather to begin the month of October.  We have been keeping so busy.  Lilya is still loving pre-school on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and I have enjoyed getting to go to Suncrest to work with some of their kiddos.  We have been able to play outside some, and yesterday we walked the babies up to the bank, post office, phone company (to visit Daddy), Pizza King (for a drink), and finally to the park.  Lilya was such a trooper...she has to walk so that I can push the babies in the stroller.  After playing for a short amount of time at the park, she decided she was tired, and wanted to go home.  She started to whine about how her legs were hurting, so I just put her on my shoulders and carried her (yes, I still had to push the stroller) home.  She kept telling me, "We're almost there, Mommy.  You can do it."  She must have been able to hear me panting.  I was exhausted by the time we got home, so it was nice that it was "church dinner" night.  The Trinity Church members have been taking turns making us dinner on Wednesdays to give the Methodist Women a break.  It is amazing how our community has surrounded us with so much love and support.

Benjamin back in the ER

I wish that I could say that we've just been out and enjoying the nice fall weather, but we have sickies again.  Everyone, including myself, have had a cold...Benjamin ended up the worst again.  Monday, we saw the doctor who sent us across the street to the ER.  We ended up spending 3 hrs there getting steroid shots and breathing treatments before they let us go home.  Wednesday, it was back to the doctor for a recheck.  His chest sounded much better, but he still sounds pretty wheezy, so she decided it would be best to send him to Indy for a swallow study.  This is to rule out that he might be aspirating while he eats.  We will be headed down next Tuesday for the test.  Today, First Steps is coming out to evaluate the babies.  They are a service that offer therapy for developmentally delayed children.  I don't imagine that they will qualify because they are all progressing so well, but we wanted to make sure that they get anything they need.  Tomorrow, Lilya goes for her 3 year check up.  She's going to have to get a flu shot, so it should be a really fun trip (can you sense the sarcasm there?).

Saturday is going to make up for it all.  I won 4 tickets to see Max and Ruby at the Murat Theater, so Lilya and I and Amy and Ellie are going to have a girls trip to Indy.  The girls are so excited...so are the moms!  I can't wait to write about our trip, and how much fun the girls had.  I hope we all stay well enough, so I have the time.