Christmas Eve 2012

 

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a Quad was stirring, not even a mouse.

The baby was sleeping the cookies set out, what Santa would bring would soon be found out.

The presents we’ll open “Happy Birthday” we’ll sing as we remember and celebrate the birth of our King!

Wishing you all a very Merry & Blessed Christmas!

Bret, Heather, Brody, Baxlyn, Kylee, Korbin & Blade

Holiday Happenings!

We’ve been busy busy over the past week or so. 3 Christmas parties and a beautiful wedding all in one weekend – CONGRATS Holley & Scott!

Each year the company Bret works for has a huge Christmas party for all of the employee’s kids. This was our 2nd time to attend and they loved it! We arrived a bit early and while walking up to the door we heard the fire truck sirens which indicated Santa was nearing! Korbin and Baxlyn were a bit nervous but so excited at the same time. They both ran and stood on a nearby rock to try to get a higher/better look at the jolly ole’ guy as we arrived. I LOVE this picture below of Baxlyn – she could hardly contain her excitement!

Sweet Korbin waving his little heart out yelling “Heeeyyyy Sannnttaa! Heeyyyy!”

As Santa got off the fire truck Korbin and B, along with other kids nearby ran out to greet him. I love how nervous Baxlyn holds on to Korbin as they go together to get a closer look.

Meanwhile, Kylee & Brody and staying clear of Santa. Brody isn’t too sure about Santa but Kylee is terrified of him…and Chuck E Cheese and the Easter Bunny and any other “live” character she comes in contact with.

While waiting in line to see Santa Kylee was able to see other kids sitting on his lap, smiling for pictures, and receiving their candy canes. Thanks to that and us constantly reassuring her he was nice she agreed to take a picture with her siblings.  I could not believe my eyes! She wouldn’t dare sit on his lap but a picture she would do and she walked away saying “I’m not scared anymore!”

Korbin & Baxlyn working hard at making their ornaments while Brody & Kylee watch a puppet show from afar…

Baby Blade snoooozin’ away!

Cookies with frosting. Umm.. frosting with cookies would probably be more fitting :/

Kylee enjoying a show while the others watch the trains go around and around…

My sweeeeet sweeeet boy!

Making their Christmas trees…

Brody proudly showing Blade his work of art :)

“Signing” their names on the “Support Our Troops” sign. While trying to help others write their name I look over to catch Brody sniffing the life out of a sharpie “Ooohh dat smells GOOD, Mommy!” Nice.

The next morning we attended a much smaller Christmas party at Linda’s work. There were just a handful of kids, ours being the majority so when Santa arrived they got some serious one on four time with him! First thing they noticed was that Santa’s beard was about half as long as it was the night before. Santa explained to them how it got caught in the reigns the night before so he had to cut it ;) Nice cover, Santa, nice cover! They all stood and talked to Santa for quite a while. Rather than tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas, they insisted on telling him all of the bad things the others had done. Kylee: “Wast night, Bwody touched the Chwistmas Wights” Korbin: “Kylee was a bad girrl and had to go to time out!” on and on the tattling went!

Sunday afternoon, our Moms of Multiples group went to a local place called Pump It Up. It was a private party where all of our little multiple people could run, climb and jump their little hearts out! While Bret and I were running around trying to keep track of our four, another mom brought me a very scared, very upset and bawling Kylee. Apparently she laid eyes on the Santa who was there and she didn’t fall for him. Although I didn’t see him myself another mom said the dude in the costume weighed about 82lbs definitely not your everyday Santa…come on people, the kids totally notice! No Santa pics that day, needless to say!

This weekend Santa visited our local library. We left Blade home with Daddy and met our friends Anna & Levi there to see Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Sunday morning all five kiddos were a part of the church play. Blade played an excellent Baby Jesus while the quads each had a different line they were to say. Three of them ended up saying the same line, but they said it and I was proud!

Blade sat awake and content through the whole little program hiccups and all! There was a manger but he was a bit too big for it, go figure, so we laid a blanket over his carseat and it worked just fine!

Korbin saying Kylee’s line loud and proud :)

Brody helping hold the microphone while Miss B says her line…

I had to include this one. They called the nursery and preschool down so the bigger kids could do their presentation and afterwards, called the little ones back up to end in a song. Baxlyn was less than happy she had to leave her Daddy’s lap…hence the attitude she’s sportin’, arms crossed and everything, during the classic “We Wish You A Merry Chirstmas” Ahhh, gotta love her!

DIY BIG Picture

So, it’s been a while since I’ve done a Do It Yourself project and this one I LOVE! I had been searching a while back for cute, inexpensive ways to decorate the kids’ rooms, I found this “Big Picture” idea on pinterest, it looked easy {and cheap} enough so I gave it a whirl!

I downloaded a few pics onto a jump drive, took it to Office Max and asked for a “Engineer’s Print” of my picture in black and white. There are multiple sizes to chose from so Bret and I decided to go with the 24 by 36 inch print which cost a whoppin’ $2.79! The little printer guy behind the counter looked at us like we were a little nuts and warned us that our picture wouldn’t come out clear and crisp. I assured him it was fine and gave him the green light to print…worst case scenario, the picture looked bad and I was out my $2.79. The picture was printed on the huge piece of paper and in my opinion, looked great…at least for what I was using it for.

Our next stop was Home Depot. We grabbed some spray adhesive for about $15 (we could have done Walmart or found a smaller can of spray for cheaper, I'm sure) and a 4 foot by 8 foot polystyrene foam sheet which cost just under $10.

Once home, we unrolled our paper picture, laid it flat on the foam board and cut around it with an exacto knife. Our next step was to spray the board with our adhesive spray and CAREFULLY place the picture onto the board – I recommend not trying this alone, Bret and I held each corner and placed it down together. I then took a little black craft paint (acrylic) and painted around the edges to cover the pink foam. I waited for it to dry and Wa-la!

I am very happy with the results, especially for my first time making them! For less than $5 each (that foam board and especially the glue will last a while and I’ll get multiple uses out of them) I now have fun, BIG, canvas-looking pictures on the kids’ playroom wall. If they fall a) they won’t break or shatter b) they’re super light so if they do fall of the wall, no little people are gonna get hurt and c) if they do get damaged in any way they’re super easy and CHEAP to replace!

Brody, Baxlyn, Kylee & Korbin noticed the new décor the morning after we hung them and  loved seeing their big pics on the wall!

I’ve got some BIG ideas on more projects to do using this same concept and will share them as soon as I have the time to give them a try. The prints can be ordered in color as well but are a bit more pricey. I think the size we got would have been a little over $10 verses the $2.79 – still not bad but I’ll perfect the art before splurging ;)

Stay tuned!

Life With Blade

Where do I start? Blade is not quite 6 weeks old now and has stolen my heart no doubt! Now that he’s well (look back if you missed his hospital stay) he’s doing great and I am healing nicely from my surgery as well. My recovery has been a WORLD of difference from recovery with the quads. I’m sore and things jiggle…good gosh do things jiggle… and my back feels like I’ve been carrying around a whale but overall I’m doing great!

Adjusting to life with a new baby has been much easier than I anticipated. The quads were super easy babies so I was a bit worried I was pushing my luck with a number 5. People told me “you can’t get lucky twice”. Well people, somehow we did. We are truly blessed to have such an easy guy who eats well, sleeps well and only fusses when there’s a need. He’s still young so maybe he’s holding out on me, but I think we’re in the clear ;)

Look at this lil’ half smile…melt.me.

I’ll be completely honest and say that when we decided to “try” for another one (thinking of course we may struggle like last time and it may not happen) and it happened SO quickly after being on metformin, I was a bit nervous. The “idea” of adding another baby became a reality and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wondered what I was getting myself into adding a newborn into our family that already consisted of 3 year old quads. Now that he is here, there isn’t a doubt in my mind that God placed him with us for a reason and he’s a perfect addition!

Clockwise: Baxlyn, Korbin, Brody, a very tough looking  Blade (4 weeks) and Kylee Mae!

The quads totally adore their little bro and help out whenever needed. I was afraid they would be “overly” helpful but they actually do really good. They’re always there to lend a hand, retrieve a passy, blanket or diaper when needed. Below, Kylee, Blade & Brody.

L-R Brody & Kylee (who resemble  each other like crazy here!) Baby Blade, Baxlyn & Korbin

I’d have to say Brody is by far the most in love with Blade. Blade is the first thing he asks about each morning and he always insists on his morning kiss. While the other 3 play, Brody would much rather be watching Blade and “helping” him.  He still, although we try to teach him that Blade is a blessing from God, insists on thanking my doctor for giving him to us! He thinks it is so cool that Blade uses his old passies, burp rags and a few other random things. I catch him all the time sitting about an inch from Blade’s little face talking softly. He tells him about things outside, the golf carts and how much we all love him. So sweet to witness. Here are some pics I managed to catch the other night of him talking to Blade while hanging out by the tree…

The other night I was in getting the girls clothes ready for the next day’s doctor’s appointment. I had Blade in their room with me laying contently in Baxlyn’s bed. When I was done Blade was being good just chillin’ checking out all the PINK so I left him. A few minutes later went to check on him and Brody had given him his passy, covered him with a blanket and surrounded him with lovies! Ever since then, Brody has tried so hard to convince me that Blade could sleep in his bed at night, that I could bring  him the bottle and he would feed Blade himself haha!

Everyone asks me how different it is to just have one infant to care for. Not only is there an obvious difference this time around only having ONE baby but I’m amazed at just how many things are so different having a full term baby. In many ways, it’s like I’m a first time mom. How much do normal (and please, don’t be offended by that word) "average” full term babies eat? But then again he’s not the size of the average full term baby. How much are they supposed to sleep, I know it’s a lot, but the quads slept non-stop for like 2-3 months once they came home. Is he supposed to poop THIS much? Thanks to prematurity they dealt with major constipation. Ahhh, so THIS is “normal” spit up! The quads had ridiculous reflux for monnnnnths. “Oh my gosh, he choked up a little…crap…flip him over, stimulate….oh, wait…he’s fine and recovered so easily on his own! Cool!” Soo many new things, I could go on and on!

Not only the differences above, but you could imagine the difference in bonding I get with one baby. The quads go to bed at night and I sit my hind end on the couch and love on him like I’ve never held a baby before. To be able to sit, snuggle and shower him with kisses is soo great. I never realized just how much we missed out on when having four at a time. We experienced so much that most people never get to and I am grateful for that but WOW what an amazing experience to have just one! People always say “sleep when they sleep” umm not an option when you have four babies at a time. Now, with just one, I get it. I still can’t do it, but I get how you could with just one. Blade and I both are getting a little spoiled with our special one on one time :)

Another major difference is obviously his size. In Bret’s words “the quads were born 3 months premature and Blade was born 3 months mature!!” The first time they brought him to me after birth they told me “well, he didn’t fit the newborn diapers”. My big man was born into a size 1 diaper and moved up to a TWO at 5 weeks old. I took a picture of the difference in size between the quads’ first diapers and his… simply amazing.

Diapers are not the only thing he’s flying through. He’s wearing 3-6 month clothes on a regular basis now too. What baby wears a 6 month outfit to his 4 week check up?!?! I sat in disbelief as I packed up his newborn clothing and diapers the day we brought him home. At his 4 week check up, he weighed 12lbs3oz and sat nicely in the 98th percentile. My guess is he’s a good 12 1/2lbs now, well on his way to catching up with his thin brothers and sisters!

Mommy & Blade LOOOVVVEE!

Watching a little football with Daddy!

I’m asked all the time who I think he resembles. Many say Korbin, who looks just like Bret but I see a little bit of Baxlyn in him. Like little bitty NICU Baxlyn. From the eyes up, he reminds me so much of her. Regardless of who he looks like, I must say he is one dang cute baby ;)

Korbin loves Blade and is always willing to be a helpful big brother but he’s always been hesitant to hold him. The other night he asked to hold him which shocked Bret and I both. He sat for several minutes and did great…has had no desire to hold him since, but still!

My big man, crammed into a newborn shirt that looked more like a crop top, ready to go to church for the first time!

For now our little man sleeps in our room, something we never did with the quads. He does great with feedings and is starting to go up to 5 hours between them at night. Hoping we can get him sleeping through the night sooner than later!

So excited, but in no rush, to see what God has planned for my new little big man’s future!