Lucy's Special Day

Today there was an open house at preschool for Lucy. She loved it. I had to drag her away. Met both of her teachers. I think she will cry for a couple days but then be ok. After the open house, I told her I was going to take her to lunch. She wanted to go to "the store" to eat...meaning Hy-Vee. I told her it was her special day so she could eat wherever she wanted. As we pulled into Walmart she said, "Yeah, and it's my special day so I can stay in here." (Meaning she wanted to stay in the van while I went into Walmart.) Nice try.

Things I'll Miss When They Grow Up

Lucy's sweet face peeking over the tub.

Sweet Smiles

Gavin

Lincoln

A Rainy Day

Lucy loves the rain.



Grace would prefer to watch from the sidelines.

Double Triple Trouble

Jamie and I got a chance to take the girls to Blockbuster for a movie and go to the park while Brad, Jackie and her sister Jean watched the boys. I know the girls enjoyed being outside. Something we haven't got to do much of this summer.

We came home and babies were strewn everywhere. :)

Only Jackie could calm a fussy Vaughn.

Brad was a thirsty man. He was the only one to change a dirty diaper. Go Brad!

Jean said her and Lincoln were "kicking butt".

Time Flies

Paul and the boys.
The weekend flew by again. All I can remember about Saturday is that we went to church. Sunday, Nana & Papa and Jenny & Paul came up. The boys dug holes for a fence and the us girls took care of the kids (& I did a little cleaning). Oh, and Paul put our table together - thanks Paul :) Nana spoiled Lucy with new clothes for school.

Monday night Steve, Donna and Kim came over for dinner. We figured we better feed them or we'd come home to empty cupboards. Kim brought some RNB's (Replacement Nutter Butters). But as usual, we laughed the whole time they were here. It's amazing how laughter can energize you.

Sleepy Girls

Looks like we're not the only ones sleep deprived :) Both of these were taken on Monday.

Grace at lunch. Notice the chicken nuggets in her mouth?

Lucy at supper.

Failed Photo Op

The picture was supposed to look like this:

But ended up looking like this:

New Table

We got rid of our huge table, downsized to a small round table and downsized once again to a 10"x32" table. No joke. It's time for the boys to start eating solids and now that we have to add 3 highchairs to the 2 booster seat high chairs already in our kitchen...there just wasn't any room. This is a gateleg table where the leaves fold completely down...so if we need the table space, we've got it...but mostly we plan to leave it folded down. All we ever use our table for is a junk collector anyway.

The ER

Took Gracie to the ER last night. She cut her foot on her toy vacuum - I think. Not exactly sure. Found her in her bedroom screaming with a bleeding foot. Couldn't decided whether to take her or not. It was pretty deep and she was bleeding quite a bit. So Jamie took her. The doctor said he could give her stitches but that it would heal better without them because the cut was in the crack of her toe. So he trimmed off loose skin on the side and bottom of her toe and sent her on her way.

Saturday

We've been waking all 3 boys up around 10 pm to feed them for about a week and a half. Before that they were all ready to go by 9:30 pm on their own. Last night Jamie decided that he wanted to see how long they'd sleep for. So he said he'd get up and feed all three in the middle of the night. Sounded good to me :) We fed them all around 6 and put them all to bed around 7. Gavin was the first one up around 4 am! Can you believe it? He came out of his swaddle and was cold. Jamie swaddled him and he went right back to sleep. Vaughn and Gavin were up and ready to eat at 5. So they slept for 10 hours without eating once! Yay!

After feeding boys at 10, Lucy and I went to Walmart to get a gift for Emma. She turned 4 today. After Walmart we stopped by Amy's house to meet little Harrison. I took her some chicken noodle soup that I made this morning. I was so proud of it. Except when I went to take it out of the van...all the broth spilled all over the front seat of our new van. Yeah, Jamie was happy about that. I gave her the soup anyway. Took Lucy to the Environmental Learning Center for a birthday party. I stayed for about a half hour because Lucy was having issues being there without me. After getting to pet turtles and frogs, with a promise of snakes to come...she was ok with me leaving. Jamie will pick her up and take her to church with him tonight...producing again this week. Last week he's doing it...he's taking a break for a while. Now I'm home with three cranky boys and one stinky girl. Off to change another poopy diaper.

I used up all the extra energy I had last night and am exhausted again today.

Happy Birthday Carol

Energized

Not sure what happened but I woke up with tons of energy today. Fed and changed all the boys before Jamie even got up! Was nice to let him sleep in for a change since he often makes me go to bed early and then feeds the babies himself at 10 pm. Did some major cleaning in my office at work. Took the kids to deliver flowers to Alice and Carol whose birthdays are today and tomorrow. Came home and fed the boys by myself. Cleaned and organized Lucy and Grace's room (except for the craft shelves which aren't in too bad of shape but need to be reorganized). Their room has been a mess for a couple of weeks now...really bad. Took all afternoon. Fixed homemade pizza for supper while Jamie fed the boys. Did dishes. Had a picnic on the floor with all the kids and played. Put Grace and the boys to bed (until their 10 pm feeding) at 8. Did a couple loads of laundry. Cleaned our bedroom (another huge undertaking...time to get the unused cradles out of there). 6 minutes until feeding time and still energy to keep going.

Daddy's Little Girl

This is a shout out to Shawn Mears. Jamie

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Grandpa Mike!

Happy Birthday Alice :)

And Happy Birth Day to little baby girl Adkison.

Last night Jamie cleaned house and let me sleep in the big chair while holding Vaughn. I was so tired that when it was time to feed boys at 10pm, I was slurring my words and could hardly move. Yesterday was an exhausting, help-free day. After feeding all the boys by myself at 2, I was able to nap. Only after getting in a fight with Lucy over whether we'd watch Tom & Jerry or Days of Our Lives. She won. But then she fell asleep in the rocker after about 10 minutes. So I turned on Days. I fell asleep after about 10 minutes too. Jamie came home and I had nothing for supper...as usual. So he made BLT's. For us, a BLT means Bacon, Lettuce and Toast. I actually started boiling a chicken right when I got home from work that I deboned after supper. My plans were to cook a chicken for soup, a ham and make a couple of meatloafs for the freezer. Nothing else got done...just the chicken.

Boys weren't up until about 5 today. With all the sleep I've gotten, you'd think I would be bright eyed and ready to roll with the day. Nope. Exhausted again. Left work at noon today to go to Iowa City for a CT scan. Just a follow up visit from when I had my kidney stone in December. No kidney stones here :) Lucy went with me...mom and Susan watched the other 4...plus Susan's 2 girls(ages 1 1/2 and 1 week) so I'm sure they were very busy. Was waiting to hear good news from Mindy...but only found out that they had to wait another day because UI was full of pregnant mommies-to-be. They'll go in tomorrow and she'll be induced then...hopefully.

Cheryl and Penny watched our 5 for about an hour and a half tonight while Jamie and I went to Applebees for dinner. Can't remember the last time we were there. We had a gift card to use. So it turned into a cheap date. Always a good thing. Was nice to sit and visit. We actually had fun.

Lucy randomly tells me she loves me a lot lately. Melts my heart. A couple of days ago she said I was her best friend. I hugged her and told her how sweet that was. Seeking more affirmation she said, "Yeah, all my friends are my best friends" and then looked to me for more praise. The girl cracks me up.

Ok...time to pump, feed boys and go to bed.

Gracie

Gracie wanted in on the action...I told you she LOVES food.

4 months

Lincoln

Gavin

Vaughn

Life

Wondering if and how my life could be any better than it is right now? I have the most amazing husband and kids. I love our families. I love my job. I have great friends. I'm not trying to brag or be conceted...but just looking at how God has blessed my life. Wondering again...why me Lord? I could have a nicer house, make more money, get more sleep, be thinner...but I don't think that any of those things would make me any happier than I am right now in life. God has changed my life so much over the past several years. So many hardships and trials that have brought me to where I am today. Thank you Lord, for all you are and all you've done for me. Praise and glory be to you forever.

Three Miracles

Edit video online at onetruemedia.com

The birth of Lincoln, Gavin & Vaughn

Click the picture above to play the video.

My Favorite Thing About...

Lucy: The way she rubs my hand between my thumb and index finger with her thumb and index finger when she's tired or nervous. The way she acts bashful when I compliment her. The way she tries to take care of the babies. Her Pinky Dinky Doo Dance. The way she notices all the small things in life - which reminds me how God created everything and how special the little things are in life.

Grace: The way she runs to me yelling "Mooooommmmmmmyyyyyy" when I come in the door. The way she calls all the boys "Vaughn". Her "Hi-Yah" karate moves. The way she talks to the boys - "Hi Boy" (like when Pauly Shore says "Hey Buddy").

Lincoln: His sweet personality & how he tries to talk a lot. I love his crooked smile.

Gavin: His smile & happy-all-the-time personality.

Vaughn: His need for attention & how he loves to be held.

Monday

Well...things went pretty much as planned yesterday. Took the girls swimming. Lucy actually started "swimming" for the first time yesterday. She was kicking off the steps of the pool and would then kick her legs and move her arms. Gracie was having more fun playing in the hanging towels than swimming this time.

On the way home...Lucy fell asleep in the van so I was able to put both girls down for a nap and do some power cleaning and cook supper (pigs in a blanket) before Steve, Donna, and Kim came over.

Jamie and I finally made it to Wal-mart. Exciting date. Ended up taking Lulu with us...Grace was sleeping still.

Team Garwood stayed until about 8:30. We laughed for the whole entire hour they hung out with us. It is so energizing to laugh so much with friends.

Today...slept in until 5:30 and Jamie only got up once with the boys. Gracie is sleeping, Lucy is in my bed watching a movie (and will hopefully go to sleep), Vaughn is fed, Gavin and Lincoln still need to be fed...so off I go...

Sweet Memories

Lucy came up and put her arms around Vaughn. His arms were on his shoulder and Lucy said..."Look, Mommy, he's hugging me." I said, "He really loves you Lucy." She said, "Does he want to keep me?"

I told Lucy how tall she looked one day. With eyes as big as saucers she said, "Am I big now?" And I said, "Yes, you are!" She unexpectedly jumped into my arms while I was standing up, threw her arms in the air and shouted "Hooray!!!".

Lots of Babies

Anastasia Lorene 7/31/06

Jaden Alisa 8/14/06

Lucy Anne 8/14/06

Harrison Dean 8/19/06

Really Tired

Coming out of the weekend exhausted. Woke up early Sunday and headed to my sister's house about an hour away to see her new baby and my dad who is visiting from North Carolina. It takes so long for us to get ready. Feed babies, change diapers, dress babies, get girls dressed, get ourselves dressed, prepare bottles to take with us, load diaper bag, put babies in car seats, put babies in van, load girls into van. We planned on leaving by 9. Got on the road at 9:43. Had to stop for gas. Hung out with the fam for about 4 hours. Then loaded everyone back in the van. Planned on visiting the Amy & Kelly in the hospital - just had a baby - but saw a huge oil leak under the van which took a while to get figured out and put more oil in the van. By the time we were ready to go again...we were about 20 minutes from feeding time and an hour from home. So we skipped the hospital and made it just in time before the babies started protesting that they haven't been fed yet. Jamie fed babies. I cleaned and cooked supper for 2 hours straight...again wondering how I could clean for so long and have the house still look the way it does. We were exhausted, the kids were full of energy and we found ourselves counting the minutes until we could get away with putting them to bed. Jamie gave them all baths. I held a fussy Vaughn (I know, big surprise). Every time I would move he'd wake up screaming. Finally the girls went to bed. I fell asleep holding Vaughn. Woke everyone up at 9pm so that we could feed them and go to bed. Got to bed about 10:15. Babies starting waking up at 3. Jamie took care of them most of the night. I got up twice to put binki's back in...and got up for good at 5am to start feeding them. As I woke up I made an executive decision that I was going to take a half day off of work to come home and sleep or clean the house...whichever I felt was needed most at the time. My executive decision was squashed when I realized that a coworker is on vacation this week and I am covering some of her duties (not complaining Peggy:) You cover me when I'm gone :) ). I have survived so far. Plans are to leave work and take all the kids to the Reed's house to swim. If I'm lucky...they'll get wore out and take a nap when we leave there around 3 or 4. Maybe I'll have time to clean the house before Team Garwood comes to help at 5:30. They'll be happy to hear (not!) that our date night will consist of going to Wal-Mart (again) since we've been trying to get there for groceries for 3 days with no luck. Someday I'll look back on these memories. Kids gone. Bored out of my mind. Aching to be exhausted from taking care of my precious children.

How Time Flies...

I really want to blog our day to day activities. I think in a few years when are kids are grown...we'll enjoy looking back on these times. It is so hard to find the time though!! Anyway...

Today was crazy. As usual. Was up early with Vaughn again. I am convinced now that he doesn't wake up because he's hungry...it's because he's not tired. I put him in the swing while I made a bottle. He didn't fuss at all while waiting for the bottle. Went back to bed and Jamie was up early feeding the other two boys. Got ready and needed to stop at the church to do some cleaning before we headed to Wal-Mart. Never made it to Walmart because the church was flooded. I helped Jamie clean and suck up water for a couple of hours...then took the kids home since there is no way I could take 5 kids to walmart by myself. I came home and cleaned...Jamie stayed several more hours. He came home for about an hour and then headed back to church because he was "producing" tonight (helping record the service for t.v.). I gave the three boys baths. Lucy and Grace both took naps...although not at the same time - bummer. Then we headed to church and were very excited to learn that cousin Mac was gonna be there too. After church we went to the Pizza Ranch to hang out with Mac, Jamie's sister Jenna, her hubby Terry and their friend Wes. But was very stressful because 2 of the 3 boys fussed the entire time. Mostly Lincoln and Vaughn...but occassionally Gavin piped in. Now we're all home. Getting ready to go to bed. Heading to Susan's tomorrow to visit my dad who's visiting from Raleigh.

One, Two, Three, Cute As Can Be

Thanks Aunt Janet, Uncle Mike, Rachel and Sara for the adorable outfits!!

Vaughn Takes The Lead

Vaughn, Lincoln, Gavin

4 Month Wellness Check
Lincoln - 12 lbs. 13 oz.; 23 1/4"
Gavin - 13 lbs. 14 oz.; 22 3/4"
Vaughn - 14 lbs. 3 oz.; 23 1/4"

Vaughn & Gavin - Buds

Lucy

More Fun than Toys III

I think "More Fun Than Toys" will be a weekly regular.




These are "funnels" we got from Ikea. You screw the large open side to the wall and use them like shelves or baskets.

The girls

Grace, Lucy, Cousin McKenna

Fun For All

Gracie sneaking chocolate

Lucy playing swords

Went to the local care center. Jill and Mona went with us to help. Jill was AMAZING! She is very gifted at working with elderly. She jumped in, grabbed a boy and went from person to person - helping them hold a baby. Mona and I were much more timid...but tried to follow Jill's lead. I gave baskets of candies and cookies to Lucy and Grace to pass out. Mainly because I knew if I gave them something to give out, they'd actually interact with people rather than get into mischief. Gracie pretty much ate candy the whole time. She is pretty social though and did give lots of hugs (Although candy trumps hugs. She was actually taking back some of the candy for herself that Lucy just gave out). Lucy passed out LOTS of cookies and candy. Then pulled out some styrofoam tubes and had sword fights with some of the folks. When bored, she decided to use the workout equipment on the other side of the room. The boys were a hit. The residents loved them. Jill said she was almost in tears because she could tell that the residents were overjoyed by the experience. One person told Jill that she hadn't held a baby since 1956. It was such a great experience for all of us that we decided to do it again some day soon.