Can I Get a Break, Please?!

Our vacation is coming to an end in a couple of days and now my kids get some random virus!  Flynn got a random fever the other day, woke up with red bumps and was crabby.  I took him to see a doctor and turns out he has hand, foot and mouth!  Are you kidding me?!  Where did this come from?  Now tonight, Oliver got a fever out of nowhere!  We will see what tomorrow brings.  I am just hoping and saying lots of prayers that all the boys sleep tonight.  This momma is tired.  It is so hard when you know that sleep will help them feel better and they don't want to sleep.  I thought we were having a pretty good day.  Since I am from Wisconsin, I am a huge Green Bay Packers fan.  We watch the games back in Michigan when we get them, so the boys also like the Packers.  I thought it would be fun to head to the stadium today and go on a stadium tour and check out the new Pro Shop.  Flynn seemed to be feeling better, although he did get crabby towards the end of the tour.  The boys thought the stadium was super cool.  A couple of years ago, we took Jamie to their Family Night...which is just a Packers scrimmage, but is really affordable.  We got to walk out of the tunnel and go to the field, Jamie said that was his favorite.  I love being able to do fun things with them.  Oliver was doing fine the whole time.  He was fine when we got back and had supper.  Then we Skyped with daddy and he still seemed fine.  We said goodbye and then he just looked really tired and had a fever of almost 102.  I really hope he doesn't have the same thing as Flynn, but I'm not getting my hopes up.  We go back home Monday and I am hoping for healthy boys, otherwise that trip will not be very pleasant :)  I am so ready for bed.  Time to see if Jamie finally fell asleep and then it is bed time!

Hello

Here I am, I have not gone anywhere :)  We still do not have the internet....haha...no reason really, I just keep forgetting to sign up for it.  We have been really busy and it was placed on the back burner.  How about a nice update?!

 

We are in Wisconsin right now and a 2 week vacation.  Daddy was here for a week and then headed home to finish the wood floors in our house!  We ripped out the carpet like a year ago and found beautiful wood floors underneath.  They just needed to be sanded and a new stain.  I am very excited to have this done.  J is on break from school this month.  I have to say, our first full year of school went pretty well.  He loved kindergarten and did excellent!  I know every parent is going to say that, but he really did do an awesome job.  When he started, he could barely write his name.  Now, he is writing stories and reading like crazy.  He is in love with school and was sad when he was done.  I don't know what we would do if we had a whole 3 months off.  He starts first grade on August 4 and can't wait.  O did 2 day-a-week preschool this year and had a blast.  He will be going back in the fall for another year.  He was pretty quiet but loved going.  He has the same teacher again in the fall and I am hoping he will talk more.  He knows so much, but just needs to work on the shyness.  His teacher was awesome (as well as J's).  She did so much for O.  He was having issues with his fine motor skills and she made him his own tool kit with special scissors, markers, it was great!  We also had to head back to therapy for about 12 weeks with O.  He was having some issues again, so it was best to work on it.  He did great!  As for the baby, he is growing so fast!  He turned 1 at the end of April.  He has his few words that he says and has been walking for a few weeks now.  He is such a blast.  He loves to play with his brothers.  He chases them, tackles them, gives them hugs and kisses.  It has definitely been busy with 3 little boys, but come the end of the year, things will be a little bit crazier!  Baby number 4 is due beginning of January :)  We thought that after F turned one, it would be a good time to start trying.  Well, it didn't take long for that to happen!  I honestly thought it would be a few months, but I suppose I should know better.  I am really thinking that this one is a girl.  I have been feeling completely different this time.  I am super tired all the time but haven't been sick...knock on wood!  I have been nauseous, but way better than the last one.  My doctor doesn't seem to think I need to worry about a seizure happening again.  All the stress I had with the last pregnancy is gone and as long as I keep sleeping, I should be good!  I will end tonight with some updated pictures and will hopefully write again very soon!

I Miss You

I really do miss my blog.  I got a new computer, but now need the internet back.  I miss not writing every week.  This have been busy here.  We are in full swing with school with the two big boys.  JJ is loving kindergarten.  I think I have mentioned it on here, but he is going to a year-round school.  I wasn't so sure about it in the beginning, but I really like the schedule.  He has Spanish every day and is having a blast with that.  He says his Spanish words so well.  His writing has gotten so much better since the first day of school.  I love seeing all the changes and how he keeps learning.  He does his homework packet on Monday night, instead of spacing it out throughout the week.  He is definitely tired and ready for bed at night which I love.  It is just me at night and putting three, sometimes four little boys to bed is not an easy task.  We are on a new medication for his ADHD and this one seems to be working very well.  I still struggle at times with putting him on meds, but it has made such a huge difference.  He even notices that he can focus more and do more things.  I know that it was the right decision, but still a hard one.  Jamie also just had his 5th birthday!  I cannot believe how fast everything is going.  Oliver is having a blast in preschool!  I wasn't sad one bit on his first day.  When I pick him, he is excited to tell me everything he did.  He is so much more talkative and full of energy after school.  I am glad we decided to send him for an extra year of preschool, it has been really good for him.  He was looking at an alphabet book the day and told me some of the animals and what letter the word started with.  Oliver recently turned 3.  We are also making some headway on the water issue.  I got him to take a bath, but he needed his swimsuit on.  I really don't care, as long as he gets in that tub!  I have also been able to lay him on legs and wash his hair.  He isn't always a fan, but doesn't freak out like he used to.  He loves when it is bath time for Jamie because he goes in there and throws all the toys in and will play.  Flynn will be 6 months old next week.....where did that time go?!  He is all about eating food.  We just tried sweet potatoes today and he ate the entire thing, no funny faces, no messing around!  I made him a bunch of food last night, so I'm excited to start some new foods.  He is rolling from his back to belly, but can't always figure out how to roll back :)  He is such a good little man, and I'm not just saying that because he is my kid!  He barely cries during the day, has been sleeping through the night since he was about 2 months old, he is a very content little man, he likes to eat and then go to sleep! 

 

Jamie on his first day of school.

 

 

Oliver was a tad bit excited for school!  He was all decked out in his Mickey shoes, shirt and backpack.

 

 

And Flynn, he is just happy :)

Here I am :)

I have got to say, I sometimes don't miss my computer.  But, I am hoping to get it fixed soon, life has just been crazy!  Jamie started kindergarten a couple of weeks ago.  He is going to a year round school and they start the beginning of August.  I was nervous about how he would do.  We had no tears and no sad faces!  He just loves school.  He is learning so much and has a lot of fun.  Oliver will be starting three year old preschool in a few weeks.  I am not big on sending kids to years of preschool, but I'm not sure if he will have any issues due to his sensory processing disorder.  I would rather deal with possible problems now then maybe have issues next year when he has to go.  Oliver is very excited to go, I just hope that excitement stays when he actually starts.  He even got a Mickey Mouse backpack :)  It will be weird having both boys gone at school.  At least Oliver only goes for 2 1/2 hours, twice a week.  Flynn is growing like a weed!  He is such a good baby.  I have really been blessed with easy going babies.  He is trying so hard to roll from his back to belly and we have started on eating rice cereal.  We have to work a little more on the eating :)  He is almost 4 months old and takes 6 ounce bottles and usually an 8 ounce bottle before bed.  His 6 month sleepers are getting snug and won't last for much longer, he is pretty long.  Things have been going pretty good with three kids.  I think it has been much easier adding a third, then adding a second.  Well, I would love to chat more, but we need to get the kiddos home and get to bed, we have school in the morning!

Oh My

Ok, I am finally getting my computer fixed :)  Hopefully I will be back on here very soon.

Say hi to Flynn Alister

He was born on April 29, after about 4 hours of labor (and only 7 minutes after the doctor gave the ok to push!).  He was 2 weeks early, but still came in at 8lb, 7oz and 20 inches long.  He is such a good little man.  He doesn't cry a lot, eats a ton, sleeps through the night sometimes, and is a handsome man :)  He is now up to a little over 10 pounds!  The 6oz bottles every 3 hours might have something to do with that.  I am so glad he decided to come early....otherwise he would have been a 10 pound baby!  I am also very glad that he is here and hopefully I don't have to worry about any more medical issues.  We are doing well with 3 kids.  The boys love having Flynn around.  The like to help with everything, including changing his diaper!  They ask to hold him all the time and are really careful with him.  I love that they are so kind and loving.  They want to make sure that he is taken care of and has what he needs.  They are such good big brothers.  Flynn is on meds for reflux.  Sorry for cutting this short, but we are at my sister's house and it is time to head home.  More to come soon!

Where have you been?!

So, I have been gone for a while!  My computer screen finally died and a new one isn't in the cards right now :(  So then we cancelled the internet because we wanted to switch anyway and can't use it right now.  Now, I have been having pregnancy issues.  I have been really tired this whole pregnancy and have problems sleeping.  I know that I have been over-doing it because Flynn's movements will slow down and I have needed a NST.  Then, Saturday night, things went downhill.  I had to work that morning and told them that I wasn't feeling good and that it was hard to catch my breath.  I was told I was couldn't go home and I even ended up working an hour later.  After the boys went to bed, I started to pack their Easter baskets and get things ready for the morning.  The next thing I remember, I am in the ER, gown on, IVs in both arms, feeling like crap, not knowing what in the world happened.  Eric told me he found me on Jamie's little chair (he was outside putting toys away).  I guess I wasn't breathing and was drooling.  He got me to come around and said that I was really out of it.  He called 911 and I wasn't answering questions correctly.  Luckily, a neighbor saw the lights by our house and knew that we had little boys and headed over.  She was able to stay until my sister got there.  The doctor figured I had a seizure, but didn't fit any of the other criteria for eclampsia (which is good), but they transferred me to the big hospital in Grand Rapids in case Flynn needed to be born, since I was only 34 weeks.  Flynn did awesome during everything!  His movements never slowed down and his heart rate did what it was suppose to.  They ran all kinds of tests and everything came back clear.  This is good but also frustrating because it makes it harder to pinpoint the reason for the seizure.  They think it is because I am so tired and try to do too much.  They are also thinking that my blood may be pooling in my legs and not moving like it is suppose to, causing a drop in blood pressure.  I had to get some of those lovely thigh high compression socks to wear :)  I got to come home Monday night, but have to take it easy.  Oh, they also did an ultra sound to make sure things were good inside and everything is!  I even got a cool 4D picture of him and he is a chunker and looks like Oliver!  He is already weighing in at almost 7 pounds!  Oh my :)  The big thing, I am not allowed to driver for 6 months!  I really hate asking for help and that is something we need to do a lot now.  I am not dealing with all of this very well.  I am so nervous that it will happen again.  I have to work tomorrow morning and I'm not looking forward to that.  I am just ready to have this baby and not have to worry about anything happening.  Eric's mom has been a huge help.  She is coming over tomorrow to help Eric put things away.  Our house has gotten cluttered because I was putting too much on my plate.  It really bothers me because things just need to be put away.  Hopefully after a couple of days, things will look better :)  I did manage to wash the baby clothes, although I think we will need bigger clothes!  So, right now I am trying to relax.  I am at my sister's now because I needed out of my house.  My arms are covered in bruises from the IVs and blood draws.  I have a huge bruise on my thigh from when I fell, my knee is a little tender and I have tender spots on my belly.  I also bit both sides of my tongue when I fell.  Both the boys had fevers yesterday.  They are much better today.  I am thinking it was because they were gone for a couple of days, not knowing what was going on.  Jamie told me today that he is happy that I am feeling better!  So, that is my little update for now.  I am hoping that I can relax and that Flynn will be born soon :)

One of Those Weeks

Have you ever had one of those days that just turned into one of those weeks?!  I am having one of those.  The boys have been off the whole week.  Maybe it is the crazy weather changes that are messing with them.  They have been getting up super early, not listening, I went to get them from Jamie's room yesterday and I found the mattress off the twin bed and the frame pushed to the other side of the room.  I have been yelling so much this week and I hate that.  I don't want to be a yeller.  I get so frustrated with everything.  I know I need to work on that.  But, when Jamie smarts off or they do the complete opposite of what I tell them....on purpose...it makes it even harder.  I need a break!  I go to work a couple nights a week, but come on, it is work...haha!  When I get home, I have to deal with two crying boys who are in no mood to listen.  Just now, they came downstairs from playing, Jamie didn't have shirt on, Oliver's clothes were off, socks missing, Jamie didn't have underwear on!  We are missing so many socks because he just takes them off and throws them!  And taking the clothes off...come on!!  What possesses little boys to do this?!  I wish I could get in their little minds and get all my answers!  It's not like my boys are bad kids.  Usually they are pretty good at listening and making the right decisions.  This has just been an off week and I'm just waiting for things to go back to normal.  Right now they are sitting nicely at their table eating lunch and watching Full House.  Jamie is even helping Oliver with his Go-Gurt.  They really are sweet boys :)  Soon, it will be nap time.  I am hoping to get some crafty things done.  This helps me to relax and to forget about how messy the house is!  I have decided to try and do another craft show in March.  I didn't sell a darn thing at the first one, but I am hoping for different results this time.  I will be working on relaxing today.  The stress and frustration makes my belly hurt.  Ok, things will get better!  Think happy thoughts :)