say what?!

It has only taken me 9 1/2 months - but I can now say with complete confidence :
I have Four kids and I can handle it!

I'm not going insane, I don't need to take as many breaks, and I enjoy every day.
With all of them.

We have moments when I would like to send them each on a play date, but for the most part I really enjoy each of them and all of them together.

Four kids can be very overwhelming and intimidating. Even more so the older they get, the smarter they get. You gotta be at the top of your game and then some.

I finally get it!
Like a rock hitting me over the head.
It's not perfect, but I am satisfied and I am my biggest critic.

Sleepy time

Okay, so this is what they meant when "they" say sleeping like a baby (who ever they may be.)

I went in to check on KD during a nap today and this is what I saw. She was sleeping as if she fell asleep sitting up and then just fell forward. I wish I was that bendy.

Time change and night terrors

I get that it is necessary to have day light savings time, it works for the most part and it serves a purpose, but it really messes with us for like a whole week. Who ever thought of this obviously didn't have kids. Or husbands that think the time change joke is still funny. (it feels like it's really 9 o'clock. this is said when the clock reads 8)

You would think that our biggest challenge would be with Chan - but honestly he makes these changes probably the smoothest out of all of us. It's not like you can tell your 10 month old about daylight savings time and have them understand that you are all losing an hour of sleep and if she could just go to bed an hour earlier and still sleep in a little that it would be greatly appreciated. Noosh is also not old enough to get this and came calling at 4am, or is it 5?

KD had her first night terror last night. Actually, I think she is the first child we've had that has had one, or it's just been so long that it feels that way.
Either way, I do know that we have never had a baby this little have a night terror. I was VERY close to taking her to the emergency room because they are so very close to what I would imagine a seizure would be like. It's heartbreaking and helpless feeling in one fell swoop. I immediately knew something was wrong when she let out a blood curdling scream. This was not a cry I had ever heard before, she sounded as though she was in pain. I tried to comfort her and could not, it was the most difficult thing you can do. We tried to wake her without scaring her. She was not waking and she seemed like she was convulsing a little. We stripped her out of her jammie's to help her wake up, it didn't work right away, but I think it was the best way, we took turns holding her and cradling her. I decided to nurse her to help her realize she was safe and everything was going to be okay. After about 5 minutes (felt like eternity) she calmed down and began to fall back into a restful sleep. I held her for the next hour, all the while second guessing my decisions on how C and I handled it.

After putting her back to bed I researched briefly on the Internet. I was relieved that indeed it appeared as though she had had a night terror. It was even more comforting to read that most parents DO mistake these for mini seizures. I wanted to make sure that we hit all the symptoms as I do not think I could let myself sleep comfortably if I thought in the back of my mind that it was something more serious like a seizure.

She slept okay the rest of the night and woke this morning in a great mood as usual. Night terrors are thought to be brought on by lack of sleep, so I will be making sure she gets plenty today. Good thing we lost an hour yesterday!

I can't think of a good title, so pretend you are reading something clever instead

I spent today with some much needed gossiping, I mean um, talking with other adults. It was so much fun to just spend the whole day with a group of women that I just simply adore and am comfortable being around. It has only taken me over a year to be able to say that I honestly feel as though I have really good friends here. We enjoyed a nice picnic lunch and playing with the kids at a local park. I am really diving in to my love of photography and while I only take pictures with my digital, I am practicing for when I can convince C to buy me the $600 one I really want. *wink * wink*

I took over 300 pictures today and not just of the cute Howerton kids, but the other adorable children of my friends as well - I had so much fun!

So, like every good mommy, I can not resist in sharing some pictures from our day outside.

Heart felt and a circled belly

I love reading to my kids.
I enjoy listening to them read to me, even more.
My favorite stories are the ones that sweet little Nooshie reads. Looking at the pictures telling me his version of the book. I could sit there all day and let the world run on around me as I enjoy this little voice dive into the world of a two year old imagination.

I enjoy watching the kids color, too. Nooshie now prefers his coloring book and some crayons over any toy or any cartoon on TV. Beans is always crafting something and almost never keeps these art projects to herself. She always gives them away to the rest of the family and they are always so heart felt and done with love and care. Chan has even found a love for this. It is calming for him and he has improved so much. His colorings are now almost always well thought out and planned. Carefully staying in the lines and making sure every detail is perfect.
So far, KD just sits with the kids and picks at the crayons. She has explored the world of crayons and tasted them to see if they are food, and then quickly spits it back out again.

Anakin Skywalker fighting the forces of evil, by Chan

Just yesterday, Noosh asked for a pen and some paper from my notebook. A little hesitant I gave in and made him happy. The cutest little Tank you was uttered from his little lips.
He comes to me every five minutes and explains to me each scribble and what it is he is intending on drawing. "great job, I love it" is repeated by me in reassurance for his little diaper butt as he waddles away with a smile on his face. He returns one last time before we get ready to leave for a friends house, and insists on showing me his circles he colored. I glanced over from the baby and her toys and noticed he wasn't holding his paper. His grin, now ear to ear- I can't help but smile and enjoy the art work of circles and lines that are now adorned on his naked belly.
"Those are the best circles, ever- Noosh!" I grab him in my arms and begin to tickle his little circled belly. I love his little laugh, but I enjoy his pretend laugh even more. When he finds something funny, and wants to get your attention, he lets out a skipping type of a computer generated laugh of Ha Ha Ha Ha! If you don't look, he will repeat it, and if yet you have still not given him the satisfaction of recognition, he will then just tell you what is funny and tell you, that you must now laugh.

Such a simple little laugh. I enjoy the imagination of the kids and love sitting in another room listening to them as they play. I realize how much of an example I lead as they play "mom and dad". I am so glad that we are able to show them such a wonderful example of love and respect. I hope that this will carry on with them for their entire life.

If I could have just one wish, is that I will be able to instill love and a great self esteem on each of my children. That they will know forever how much they are loved and appreciated!

Last night I adorned the kids simple dinners with something fun. I had been making some decent dinners and they just weren't being eaten. "I'm not Hungry" resonated in my house and then of course at bed, they would exclaim their hunger. I do not generally make kid friendly meals when C eats with us, but I also wanted the kids to eat their food. So last night we had a good old home cooked sloppy joes and tater tots meal in hopes it would be eaten. I'd like to say it was a huge success, but really I was only deemed cool. What are you gonna do?

I wouldn't have it any other way

I have vacuumed 2 times
I have loaded and unloaded the dishwasher
I have rotated the laundry two times
and folded 2 loads
I wiped 2 noses, at least 40 times
I have changed 3 Diapers
I have unstuck a grocery bag full of plastic food from the air ball toy
I have given at least 20 kisses
and recieved 10 back.
I have taken out 2 bags of trash
and brought the trash can up from the curb
the phone has rang 3 times
I have answered twice
I have made breakfast for 4 mouths
and gotten 4 kids something to drink
I have loaded 2 backpacks
combed one childs hair
I have brushed 2 sets of teeth
and watched a third to make sure they scrubbed REAL good
I have read 3 books
and listened to one being read to me
I have folded a half a dozen blankets
and changed the table cloth
I have straightened the shoes by the front door once
and shook the rug in the kitchen once
I have flushed a toilet twice
but only used it once
I have picked up a bucket full of toys
only to have more brought downstairs
I helped 2 little kids fly like an airplane
and had spiders tickle my arm
I have played power rangers
helped Doc bring Marty Back to the Future
and helped Darth Vader assemble his little helmet

I have done all of this before 10 am.

I have not yet eaten breakfast, no shower, still in my jammies.
But I love it!

Sick and Tired.

I don't know what it is - but I have not been able to pull our heads out of this cloud of sickness.

I am beginining begininning begining beginning to wonder if being sick is affecting my spelling, holy crud! What I meant to say, was that I was beginning to wonder if sickness was paying the rent, cause he's been here way too long and if it doesn't make me money- then it's time to leave!

Poor Nooshie whined from the moment he woke, slept for 2 hours in the morning and then whined again for the rest of the day. Do you have any idea what 8 hours of whining sounds like?
I'll tell you.
It's a lot of me saying "Nooshie, it's okay. Mommy will get you a tissue. Mommy will wipe your nose. Mommy will get your blankets. and your doggie pillow. Mommy will get another tissue. Mommy will get you something to drink. I already did that. I already laid your blanket down over there. I already got you something to drink. Okay, Noosh, just get away. Stop that. I just wiped your nose, there are no more boogies. Seriously, there are no more boogies. Fine, just do it yourself. Go back to bed, please." and more not so nice mommy like things to say to your sick two year old.

We all have a cough or runny nose of some sort and I really could use a break. KD is at the "I'm 9 months old and need to have my mommy at my side or in my site at all times" NO Exceptions, stage.
Then I had to check the ears of the two older kids to make sure they didn't have wax build up or ear plugs cause they are simply just not listening to me. I think they call it "ignoring someone" I could be wrong though.
For what ever reason when C and I decided to have kids, I don't think that either of us pictured it like this. Less time with each other, more time cleaning up after others and taking care of others needs, less sleep, more bills, I could go on and on. But somehow, even when they are sick I still crave their cute little smiles and tight, tight hugs. The laughter that fills the halls and the running - well, wait. Not the running part.

Anyone willing to sign a petition on our behalf demanding that sickness go away? you don't even have to be a registered voter for this. You just have to care.

Here's hoping a new week will bring a little relief our way.