Fun on the Farm

One of the biggest challenges I have experienced as the mother of 5, is how to give my kiddos the experiences that they need and deserve.  This is a challeng for a couple of different reasons.  The first, and probably the least of the two, is the energy it takes to get 5 ready, pack supplies, load into the car, load stroller or wagon, unload, have fun, load back up, unload again when we get home.  Just getting them in and out of the van is quite a chore.  But, the biggest reason for this challenge is the cost.  If you have gone to the movies, the zoo, any sporting event, etc. lately, you know what I'm talking about.  We are not quite at a movie viewing age yet, but I'm already dreading it.  With 5 kids and 2 adults, a trip to the movies will surely cost us over $100.  I'm sure that we will be seeing a lot of the free matines that are offered. ;)
With all of that in mind, I'm thankful for days like today when we can get out of the house and have fun for under $20.  We spent a little while this morning at High Hopes Farm.  It was a beautiful day, and although I had to pull our 100 lb wagon up the drive, it was wide open enough that they could get out and run and play.  They were able to feed some animals (they didn't like that the goats were trying to eat their clothes.), take a wagon ride, play, check out what the garden looked like, and just enjoy the outdoors on a beautiful day.  I'm so thankful to know the Wood family, and am glad that they opened up their farm for this event today.

The wagon migh look like a cool way to travel, and if I got to ride in one of the cars, I might think so too.  Problem is, it's
HEAVY!  Pulling it in the grass is not fun either.  Glad they could get out and run!

Harrison loved the horse, but still a little unsure about petting.



The boys are off to visit with the horse.

Our little horse whisperer.

Xavier and Lilya checking out the donkey.

They loved watching the farm animals.  The baby goats, Grant and Abraham Lincoln, were a hit!

Love that Anne could bring her niece and nephew too!  This is the best that I could get with all 7 kiddos checking out the goats.

Oscar loved watching the horse eat!

I think we're going to have to buy one of these for our swingset.



Xavier and Lilya playing on the teeter totter

Guess Who's 2?!?

Well, I guess the fact that it's been a whole year since I posted last, has it's perks...you don't have to look back far to compare how they've changed in the last year. ;)

It is hard to believe that our little miracles turned 2 today!  We celebrated on Sunday (Mother's Day) with a Sesame Street themed party.  They of course got more gifts than what we have roomed for, and had so much fun playing with family and friends. 

This has been a year full of many more firsts.  Here's a brief run down of some of the major ones that I can recall off of the top of my head :

                        * First steps (for everyone: the boys were first, and Jaylyn followed a couple months 
                                                   later.)
                        *First question (Usually sounds something like this, "Mommy, where are you?")
                        *First plane ride, hotel stay, National t.v. show appearance (Kathie Lee and Hoda
                                                                                                                            show)
                        *First surgery (Harrison had a needle removed from his foot)
                        *First double ear infections (Benjamin and Harrison)= first round of antibiotics for all
                        *First experience with Mommy working another full time job

I'm sure there were so many other things that have happened over the last year...I guess that should be motivation for me to post more often.  For now, here are a few pictures to catch you up.

                       

Introducing the newly 2 year old, Oscar James.  A few of his favorite things:  Playing ring-around-the rosies with his brother, Ben, being outside, sleeping with his blanket, eating Deedee's cat food (yep, I said it...we have to hide the cat food), singing, dancing, and playing the harmonica.  He is a Daddy's boy, and cries every morning when Tony leaves for work.

 



Next up, Benjamin Ryne (a.k.a. Big Ben).  He might be the biggest, but he is the most gentle of our crew.  This is a rare shot of him without his pup pup and his pappie (pacifier) which he asks for often.  I have realized lately that he is the mediator of our children.  Just a few days ago, Harrison made Jaylyn cry, and I heard Ben say, "Harrison, hug, Jay!"  Best part was that Harrison actually listened and knelt down and hugged Jaylyn.  He is also the best talker of the bunch, and I love that he calls everyone by their name when talking to them...I especially love when he says, "Love you, Mommy!"  He loves to run around the house, play ring-around-the-rosies with Oscar, and wrestle with his brothers and sisters.  He also loves to sing and dance like Oscar.  We are hoping that he will outgrow the little bit of asthma that he has, so that he can enjoy all of these activities to the fullest!

 

And, Jaylyn Rae.  You will rarely see this little peanut without a blankie and her fingers in her mouth.  Although she is still wearing 12 month clothes on her second birthday, this little firecracker can hold her own.  Her favorite word is "nope", and in case you don't quite get it, she sometimes will add a little smack to the face to go along with it.  She loves snacks...just like her sister, and she keeps up with the boys as they run laps around our house.  She is the best eater of the four, and makes it a wonder that she is so much tinier than they are.

 

Last, but in no way, least, I give you Harrison Kerry.  Definitely the most energetic of the bunch, he has that smile that just screams, "I'm up to something!"  A needle in the bottom of his foot, a bout with the flu, a double ear infection...nothing could slow this kid down.  He is constantly on the go.  Just like the others, he loves to sing and dance, and would much rather be outside than inside no matter what the weather.  While he has such an onry side, he is also very willing to share with his brothers and sisters, and can be very loving too.   Our favorite game to play when we put them in bed at night is the "I LOVE YOU" game.  He screams, "LOVE YOU" and we answer the same over and over even after we have left the room. :)

I shouldn't leave out this incredibly grown up little one.  I cannont believe that Lilya Catharine will be 5 in less than 4 months.  How is that possible?  She has her moments where she loves to tease and torment her little brothers and sister, but she is also very quick to comfort, soothe and love on them.  It is so fun to watch their sibling relationships blossom. 



 Just a few pictures from Sunday's Birthday Party:
 

Playing on the table after everyone left.

Present time...yes, there is a Santa bag ;)  (it did kind of look like Christmas at our house!)

Time to sing Happy Birthday! 

Cake


I'm so thankful for all of the blessings in my life!

1st Birthday Party

It was about this time of  night a year ago that things started changing.  The day was as normal as any that I had spent in the hospital.  An ultrasound showed that all four babies were doing great, all growing at a good rate.  I felt like I could keep going for at least 3 more weeks!  I was so excited that my friends, Anne and Sarah, had come for a visit, but as soon as they left, it started.  I was having back to back contractions, and was in a lot of pain.  Medicine was not making it any better.  And then, the dreaded Magnesium...I HATED that medicine.  I knew it was for the best, but never have I felt like my body was so on fire.  By morning, it was decided, by my doctors, that it was time.  So, May 14th, 2011, Oscar, Benjamin, Jaylyn and Harrison came into the world at 9:41, 9:42, 9:42 and 9:43.
I can't believe that these little babies, who spent the first few weeks of their lives with tubes, wires, alarms and sensors in their own little incubators, have grown so quickly and will turn 1 tomorrow.

We celebrated yesterday with a Dr. Seuss themed party at the Mulberry park...

I don't think Benjamin was feeling the best, so he wasn't really into his cake.
The other three LOVED it!

Oscar about to take another bite!

Benjamin is looking for someone to save him from the table.

Harrison kept getting so excited!

Jaylyn was the most fun to watch!  Look how intense she looks. 
She did more smearing than eating, but it was still entertaining.

So glad that our feeding grandmas could make it.
Elaine, Nancy, Vickie, Barb (pictured), Marlene, Betty and Bonnie
have been wonderful!

So many cute gifts!  Here they are in their new patio chairs from
our friends, the Ades'.

Don't Jaylyn and Harrison look cool in their new hats and shades from
Aunt Amy and Brianne!

Our wonderful friend, Brenda Thomas, made these adorable
smash cakes for the babies.

We are so thankful for all of our family and friends who came out to celebrate.  We are blessed beyond words!

Hey Batter, Batter

 Last night was our first t-ball game.  Yes, I said OUR first t-ball game.  It was Lilya's first time playing in a game, and my first time as the assistant coach during a game.  Being the youngest on the team, she took up most of my time and energy.  After less than an inning and a half, I was exhausted and sort of glad that the rain started coming down hard enough to call the game.  The kids all did a GREAT job in that short amount of time...maybe God knew that we needed to be eased in to these games a little at a time. :)  I'm looking forward to our next game tomorrow evening.  (Thank you to my friend, Amy Perez, for coming and taking these wonderful pictures for us!)

Taking the field for the first time!

First time batting.

Listening to Mommy's advice

She almost got a "live pitch" hit, and then blasted it off of the tee!

Oh, the Emotions!



These were even our little bottles...
the big bottles take up more room!

Wow, I can't believe it is already time for this post.  I have spent the last month and a half planning a 1st birthday, and now that all of the details are covered (cakes, decorations, pictures, invites), it is starting to sink in what this celebration actually means.  This weekend, we had a garage sale, and sold almost all of our baby, baby stuff.  It's hard to believe that soon there will be no bouncy seats, no swings, no boppy pillows, and NO more bottles in the Stewart House...what will I do with all of that extra counter space!?! 

I didn't get emotional when Lilya turned one, but something feels different this time. 

Is it normal to cry at a 1st Birthday party?

I feel full of emotions...excited, happy, nervous, sad.

I am thrilled to be having a party that will allow us to get together with the many of people that have supported us over this last year.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again, God sure blessed us with more than just 4 beautiful babies this year!

This Saturday, May 12th, we will celebrate with a Dr. Seuss themed open house at the Mulberry Park.  We are expecting anywhere between 70-100 people to make it...ALL of whom have played an important roll in our lives this year.  It will be such a wonderful day.

On their actual birthday, May 14th, we'll celebrate at the park...cheering on big sister, Lilya at her t-ball game!

I guess there'll be no time for crying!

Call us CRAZY!!!!



Lulu and Lilya

I was on Christmas Break in 2010 when I took our miniature daschound to the vet because she was breathing funny.  The vet sent us to Purdue to have what he thought was a hernia fixed.  At the time, we were about 16 weeks pregnant with the quads, so when they came out and told me that it wasn't a hernia, and the surgery to fix what would save her life was going to be $4000, maybe I shouldn't have paid for it (or gotten the carecredit card to cover it).  I just HAD to.  She was my baby.  She was only 6 years old, but I had her before I had any of my children, and she was like the oldest child.  I'm surprised that the worrying I did over those next few days didn't end up putting me in the hospital.  She was in the ICU at Purdue for 3 days, and still had a chest tube when we brought her home on Christmas Eve.  I was sure that we had just paid and arm and a leg for a surgery that was going to fail to save her life, but she pulled through.  She was much better, and back to her old self for about 3 months.  Then, we noticed she was beginning to look pregnant.  Since she was not able to have puppies, we knew right away that something else was wrong with her.  By this time, I was being admitted to the hospital so they could keep a closer watch on the contractions I was having, so Tony was in charge of taking care of Lulu (the dog) and Lilya.  When it got to the point that she could no longer get up and down stairs by herself, he took her back in to the vet.  Draining some of the fluid, he was 99% sure that she had lymphoma.  It was then, that we made the very hard decision that we didn't want her to suffer.  The day before we brought home Benjamin, Jaylyn and Harrison, we put Lulu to rest.  It is still hard to think about as I wanted so badly for there to be something that we could do for her.  I swore that I would never get another dog, I would never go through the heartache of losing again...

Well, meet our new puppy!  Skippy Jon Jones-Stewart (aka-Skippy) is a full blooded Chihuahua...the runt of the litter.  The kids are absolutely in LOVE with him.  The parents...well, we are second guessing ourselves already ;).  Crazy how much having a puppy is like having a baby, and I'm thinking maybe this would have been easier if we would have taken all 4 from the litter!

Benjamin loving on Skippy

Lilya loving on her new best friend.


Go ahead, call us crazy!

Wow, a look back at this time last year

 It's hard to believe that this is what I looked like at this time last year.  Trying my hardest to keep those little ones in for as long as I could.  I was 30 weeks in this picture, and still would not completely let myself believe that all would be well, and we would go home with four healthy little babies.  The staff at St. Vincent Women's Hospital in Indy were wonderful.  I was very well taken care of in the short 3 weeks that I was there.

 I LOVED when Lilya could come and visit me.  I'm so glad that when we look at these pictures together, she doesn't really remember that I had to stay away from her.  She asks if we were sleeping in that bed together. :)  This was a little over a week before delivery, and I'm amazed at how NOT pregnant for quads I look here.  I guess that's why I'm sharing the one photo below this.

 WOW!  This is what I looked like 5 days before delivery.  It's the last picture taken that shows how big I was.  Amazing that there were 4 little babies in there.

I can't believe that just two weeks from tomorrow, the babies will turn 1!  As unreal as that sounds, these stats sound even crazier.  In the last 365 days we have:

 -changed aprroximately 8000 (yes, 8000) diapers

-clipped approximately 2500 fingernails

-clipped approximately 2500 toenails

-fed approximately 7000 bottles

-fed approximately 800 jars of baby food

-given approximately 520 baths

and the best of all

-received countelss smiles, coos, hugs and kisses!

Just notice that I said WE.  I don't just mean Tony and I either.  We are blessed with wonderful people in our lives.  We have wonderful family and amazing friends that we would be lost without.  Looking forward to celebrating this first year with so many!