Mystery Spots, a Mini-Vacation, and Time with a soon to be Two Year Old!

I feel as though I should share how the rest of our week went after my last posting (although I've really tried to block it out). The week didn't get less exciting, in fact, by Wednesday Finn woke up with spots all over his body. I was juuuussst a little freaked out. By Thursday, Carter also had the same strange spots. It was the weirdest thing. Very, very long story short, it was likely caused by a virus and by the weekend they were doing much better. However, it was a long week, in part because we couldn't really go anywhere. I mean, the boys looked horrible, even though they felt okay and since they felt okay, they had a lot of energy, which only increased the longer they were housebound.

This picture was taken after they were doing much better.... ahhhh these two birds. 

By the weekend though, we were assured that Finn and Carter were absolutely no longer contagious and were able to take an overnight trip with Carter and Colin, to my parent's house. They were all JUST a little excited about this trip! From what I hear, there was a lot of rock hunting (my boys are very into rocks lately... as a boy mom, I'm learning.....), treasure hunting, and a trip to the Farmer's market which resulted in balloon swords. They had a ball! And once again, I feel just so thankful that the boys are able to spend quality time like this with my parents.

Owen stayed back with Chris and I and let me just say it was a little strange and quite delightful to only have one kid to look after! Holy smokes, life was kind of a dream! I mean, it's a DREAM with five kids don't get me wrong ;-) but it's also dreamy to remember what it was like to have just one child to care for and spend time with.  Life when we had just Colin seems like a lifetime ago. And after five, caring for "just one" feels infinitely easier. We've never had this kind of one on one time with Owen and although I'm guilty of saying that Owen can be kind of a "pistol" I realized that actually he's NOT hard and he's REALLY super easy going, when one on one! He also seemed to relish having us all to himself because when we'd ask him if he missed his brothers he'd say, "NO" and shake his head. Ha!  (I must add, lest you think he hates having all these brothers, that when they were reunited, there were big hugs and tackles all around).

Eventually we picked up the brothers and found our way back home again. Which brings us to now. Two years ago right now, I was sitting in a hospital room getting to know our Owen. He was just one day old and today was the day he met his four older brothers (although Colin had met him just hours after he'd been born). Watching Colin, Carter, Everett and Finn all excitedly, yet timidly (is that possible?? That's how it felt) charge into the hospital room and then so gently hold their little brother, wearing their "I'm a big brother!" t-shirts, is obviously something I'll never, ever forget. They were so genuinely excited to welcome another.

Owen is such a special kid. I call him my "luvie" because he's like a little teddy bear and has always loved to cuddle. He's feisty. Seriously, don't mess with him. You push him, he WILL push you back. He goes with the flow..... and yet he also knows what he wants and will be very vocal about getting it if need be! He wants to do EVERYTHING that his brothers do, and is often successful at doing it! I seriously think this kid is going to take off on a bike with training wheels soon simply because the tricycle just isn't what his brothers are doing.

He just fits. Owen filled a place in our family and a spot in my heart that could only be filled by him.

Owen, we love watching you grow! You are unique and special and oh so loved by your brothers, your Dad and me. We couldn't love you more!

Here he is having breakfast over the weekend. Doesn't he look miserable being stuck with only mom and dad for two days?

Happy Birthday!!!

Our Brave Little Boy

If you follow us on Instagram, you know we made it to Florida! I wrote a blog post about our trip but haven't had a chance to add pictures yet, so I'll post it at a later time.

So far, we've had some wonderful experiences here, like soaking up the sun, swimming in the pool for hours on end, and searching for shells on the beach. However, the experience I wish we could somehow rewind and have not happen, is that on day two of our trip- Sunday evening- Owen's finger got caught in the hinge of a pack n play and it literally almost severed the end of his finger off. It was horrible, to say the least. As you can imagine, Owen was hysterical and although there was lots of blood, I was trying to tell myself, maybe it wasn't that bad. Chris knew it was bad. When we carefully pulled back the towel that we'd immediately wrapped his hand in, it was clear that we needed to head straight to the ER.

Visiting the Fort Myers ER was certainly not on our list of things to do here, but the doctors and nurses at this hospital took such incredibly good care of him..... and us. I was so worried, because first, my baby was in excruciating pain and then also because his finger seemed so injured, I couldn't imagine how it could be repaired.

But they were wonderful and skilled. When it came time to numb his finger and start the stitches, they warned us that he'd likely be very upset and that they'd likely have to hold him down because this was almost always the case with kids his age. However, somehow by the grace of God, Owen just sat in my lap, and calmly watched the whole process. Heck, I couldn't watch the whole process! But he did. They stitched his finger back together and re-attached his nail. I was amazed.

So, no swimming or digging in the sand for Owen this trip. It's such a bummer because he loves the pool and the sand and also because that's pretty much what there is to do here! But we know things could be worse. It's very sobering to realize how accidents can happen in a blink.

Today we had to go back to the hospital for a follow-up, to change his bandage and check the wound. Things are healing but it will take awhile and we'll follow up with specialists once we get home. Today took hours at the hospital and I'm so thankful to have my parents here as they entertained the boys to no end while Chris and I were with Owen.

He's a brave little boy, this one.

After Motrin, but waiting for stitches. 

Starting the stitches

 Heading home and pretty tuckered out. 

The amazing staff said they were so impressed with him that they gave him this bear to take home.... which he's calling "dog". Owen has never attached to a luvie or stuffed animal, like his brothers all did, but the past two days he has been carrying "dog" around with him everywhere. :-)

Up All Night: Adventures with a Mostly Co-Sleeping, Nursing Toddler

This too shall pass....this too shall pass....this too shall pass.....

Over the weekend Chris was out of town which naturally means that something will happen. This past weekend, that something was Owen getting some new teeth. My parents were here helping, THANK GOD! Owen had trouble sleeping and when he has trouble sleeping, he wants me. Owen never took to a pacifier or luvie, like our other children. I am his pacifier and his luvie.

His night nursing was at an all time high over the weekend but in truth, it's been keeping me up at night for awhile now. Gone are the days where, while co-sleeping next to him, he'd quietly nurse and I'd sleep. Now, there's no way I could sleep through his middle of the night snack fests.

This is the longest I've breastfed any of the boys. I'm not necessarily ready to stop (and it doesn't seem that Owen is either) but I'm not used to this phase of what I'd describe as "acrobatic nursing". He's upside down, he's twisting around, he's off and on and shoving his fingers in my belly button and playing with the excess skin on my tummy and pinching and laughing..... and basically acting like he owns my boobs. At all hours. He can now say, "NAH!" for nurse and pulls at my shirt for them. He does not like to wait. It's kind of obnoxious :).

Lately, his desire to night nurse (read: nurse all night long) has become exhausting. We are supporters of co-sleeping and if he'd simply come into our bed and actually SLEEP, we'd be totally fine with that. But the all night acrobatic nursing? No thank you. I'm over it. I'm done.

Like I said, this is new territory for me because this is the longest I've breastfed any of the boys. I know that for right now I want to continue breastfeeding but not through the night. However, I'm not sure the best way to change up this pattern we've gotten ourselves into. I should add that my mommy instincts are also telling me that it's time and that he's ready. So I feel comfortable making this shift, even if it's hard.

Our current plan, that we're fully implementing this week, is that Chris is getting up in the night to comfort Owen, instead of me (Owen always starts in his crib, but usually calls for us during the night at some point and expects to be brought to the boobs). In fact, I'm pretty sure that if he could talk in full sentences, that's what he'd say at 2 a.m. "TAKE ME TO THE BOOBS!" Instead, Chris is going in his room, comforting him and putting him back in his crib to sleep. Let's just say that Owen does not love this plan. But it seems to be working.

The first night was really hard. The second was much easier. Each night is getting easier. This, coupled with the fact that I still feel good about the decision, tells me that for us, it is the right decision.

If this works, and I can reclaim the night for restful sleep, then I think I might be a new person. I'll be ready to take on the world!

Brother's just know

Before I get to the triplet's birthday party details I want to share something I thought was so sweet and so telling about the bond of siblings. Before the trip's birthday, I took Colin to Target and told him that he could pick out gifts for Finn, Carter and Everett. I thought it would take forever for a five year old to pick out gifts. I thought maybe it would be hard for him to focus on others and not get ideas for himself. I thought he'd need help and guidance to find appropriate gifts for each of them.

However, Colin knew exactly what he wanted for each brother and they weren't things I'd have necessarily chosen. He was adamant about a jack hammer for Carter. "Are you sure he wants one of these?"

 "Mom, he really wants one of these!"

He chose a Disney puzzle assortment for Finn. "Are you sure?" I'd asked. 

"Yup! I'm sure."

Finally, he picked out a pretend birthday cake for Everett. "I saw him playing with this toy at Edie's house and he really liked it."

His presents were the first ones that his brothers got to open as soon as they woke up on their birthday morning. They LOVED what he'd chosen for each of them and Colin stood there with his arms crossed, proud as could be.

Owen is 9 months!

Owen, you are so special and we are so thankful that you are a part of our family!

It's hard to believe that you're nine months already! It was just about this time last year that I finally shared the news of my pregnancy with more than just close friends and family. I was so excited and grateful to be welcoming another baby into our family and yet also worried about how we'd manage you and your four active brothers. If only I knew then what I know now. I'd have never worried.

One of the things I'll remember most about this time in your development, are your little hands and how proud you are to be able to pick up pieces of food off your tray. 

And how unfazed you are by all the constant commotion around you! 

You just fit Owen. You were always meant to be in our family and we love watching you grow!!

Snow Day

Today was a snow day. I woke up early with the boys and we marveled at all the now. Yes I'm using the word marveled. It was just beautiful!

All of the local schools were closed however, this doesn't affect us much as Colin is the only one in school and he only goes three days a week. At first we thought it was too cold to even go outside but by afternoon the boys were stir crazy, so out they went! It was very sunny and it took a lot of work to move through the snow so they warmed up quickly. Some lasted longer than others but I think they all had fun. There was so much snow! Just TONS!

The boys dug a tunnel through a huge pile of snow. They were so proud!

In other news, Owen is getting very close to crawling! Every day he gets a little closer.... 

The other night Colin happened to pick out the same pajamas that unbeknownst to him we'd already dressed Owen in too. They were new for Owen (size 12 mo!) and it was fun to watch how excited Colin got that they were dressed the same. 

I haven't been consistent about blogging lately.... and I hope to get better about that.... but I assure you, life is good.

The Christmas Card That Never Was

This will be the last post about Christmas 2013, promise!

I had every intention and hope of sending out a Christmas card this year! But....it didn't happen :(

Did I ever tell you how last May I found a pile of stamped, sealed, addressed and ready to go Christmas cards that I never mailed? I felt terrible! I vowed to do better this year and even took some pictures of the boys to use on the Christmas card before Thanksgiving.

But then December just went and FLEW by on me. I blame December. It got to the point where I realized that I could either be stressed about getting this done and spend a good chunk of time addressing cards or I could let it go.

I chose to let it go.....and vowed that next year I will start in September getting pictures taken and getting the cards ordered! (If that really happens people, it will be a Christmas miracle!)

It was the right decision this year. Once I decided not to worry about sending cards, I instantly felt lighter and space for other things opened up. Like playing in the snow with my kids, helping the boys make wrapping paper and sending my 93 year old grandmother hand made ornaments and drawings from the boys. I can honestly say that we really enjoyed the holidays this year in part because I let much of my "to do" list  fall away. 

For a minute, can we just pretend this is our Christmas card? Can you pretend that the mail man just arrived and you are opening our card? And could you maybe pretend that it's not January 13th??

From youngest to oldest, here's the crew!

Owen

Finn

Everett

Carter

Colin

Wishing you a blessed 2014!!!

Wait, you're telling me it's New Years Eve??

I almost forgot amongst all the temperature taking, fever monitoring, puke cleaning, child soothing and lack of sleep that has been the past 48 hours. Finn and I (knocking on wood right now!) are not sick but everyone else is.

Last night:

8:30 p.m.- We get the older boys settled (they all share a room and it can take a while)

8:30-9:30- I feed Owen and try and get him to bed (Owen is a complete night owl. He TOTALLY gets that the nights are HIS time with Mommy and Daddy- no interruptions! Even if he goes down to bed around 8:30 or 9:00 is always gets back up for more fun!)

9:30- Colin is up and all out of sorts, but his fever seems to have broken. I bring him downstairs and hold him by the Christmas tree. He asks me if its his turn in the tunnel. "You know, the one that owl built". WHHHAAT?! I think he was half asleep and still dreaming.

10:00- Chris gets on a work call that will go very late. No better night ;)

10:30- After holding Colin for awhile I decide to go to bed, that way I'll get a good night sleep which will be important since the boys will most likely be sick again in the morning and since Chris will be up so late.

11:00- I fall asleep

11:15- Carter is up and feeling horrible

11:30- I settle him and get back in bed. I fall asleep

12:15- Carter is up again. Chris is off his call and takes him into the guest room to help him settle.

12:30- Now I can't sleep so I read on my phone. I'm just waiting, WAITING for the next kid to get sick.

1:00- I decide it's safe to fall asleep.

1:30- Everett is up sick.

2:00- I climb back in bed and this wakes up Colin. He rolls over and says, "Yogurt please Mommy"

I kid you not! I had to seriously laugh out loud (but not loud enough to wake Owen!)

And so the night went.....

Now Chris is upstairs waiting for the boys to fall asleep and I just got Owen to bed too. He'll be up again soon I'm sure!

Once Chris gets down here, we're going to open a bottle of wine and watch some t.v. shows. I've got pizza dough in the oven. Yup, wild and crazy night over here!

In the grand scheme of things though, we are doing great and even on this illness filled night, my heart is truly filled with gratitude. We are getting to go through this life with five amazing boys. We have incredible families and wonderful friends.

2013 was an incredible year for us. It brought us Owen.

My favorite day of 2013.

Clan of brothers

Well... I wrote this post a few weeks ago and thought I posted it. Turns out I didn't! So here it is.... and it still makes me smile thinking back on that sweet afternoon watching the boys play. :)

Today, when were all playing on the floor in the playroom I decided to lay Owen on his tummy with the support of his Boppy pillow (you know, to get in that tummy time and also so that he could watch his brothers from a new vantage point). It was the first time he'd used the Boppy pillow in that way.

As soon as I put him down he was surrounded by his brothers!

Brothers wanting nothing more than to be a part of his experience.

They smiled at him, brought him toys, stared into his eyes,

and even dangled their stinky feet in his face in case he wanted a sniff. {BOYS!!}

Actually, I think Carter wanted to show him how dirty his feet were. 

Owen seemed to love it all though. He was thoroughly entertained!

I love how they *love* Owen and how they embraced him into their little clan from the start. I realized watching them, that Owen will always have this. He'll always have big brothers looking out for him and that makes me happy. It makes me happy for all of them, that they have each other.

Although it can be exhausting day to day, moments like these remind me of the positive aspects to having triplets and children close in age. It's like having built in best friends for life!

"Want this toy? How about this toy? Or this toy?" and on and on....

Bjorn ride anyone?

On vacation, my sister in law Madeline and brother in law Kyle often carried their daughter Reese around in a Baby Bjorn carrier. Reese loves hanging out in the Bjorn! 

One night I saw Madeline helping Colin to put on the bjorn. I thought it was cute that he wanted to try it on.

But then next thing I know he's marching over to me and immediately I know what he's going to ask....

"Mommy, can you help me put Owen in the Bjorn?"

Ok, so if Owen was my first baby and a four year old wanted to carry him around in a Bjorn I'd have said, "Not a chance!". But Owen's my fifth, and with that comes a more laid back attitude. :)

 Plus I know how sweet and careful Colin is with Owen.

"Okay, but you have to be VERY careful. Mommy will help you."

I made sure everything was tight and secure and stood very close to him.

He was so proud! If I'd let him, he would have carried his little bro around the whole night.

I almost never post videos on this blog but I had to this time.

I love how he even has the bounce going on.

Owen was a sport too. He's such an easy going baby! 

Thursday smiles.

Owen, every morning when I wake up to you snuggled up against me, my first thought is always one of gratitude. We are so thankful for you Owen! So blessed to have you a part of our family! 

This morning you waited patiently in your swing while we dressed your big brothers and sent them outside. 

Then it was your turn. As I weaved your arms and legs through shirt and pant holes, you just kept looking up at me, smiling and cooing. 

So I sat you in the rocking chair by the window and took some pictures before heading off to the park. You made me laugh because it almost seemed like you were posing for the camera!

11 weeks already.

Growing up fast little man!

Such an" Owen" look!

Someday soon I need to get out pictures of your big brother Colin at your age. You guys look soooo much alike!

Owen- 2 month check up

Owen,

At two months you weigh 13 lbs. 10 oz. and you're 24 1/4 inches long.

Your big brother Colin came along to your appointment. He wanted to see the shots! You were very brave... but quite upset by the shots! :(

Love you little man!

Good Morning World!

These days, your Daddy gets up first, when he hears your bothers wake up (he's awesome like that). I barely hear him as he takes them all downstairs. You and I get to sleep a little longer before getting up :) When you do wake up you're always smiling. 

Owen, I love waking up to your sweet face. I love watching you stretch your arms and legs and make your little stretching noises. I savor those quiet moments with you, and soak up your smiles. I know that once we head downstairs to join the rest of the crew, the day will take off like a train leaving the station!

So I linger there with you, loving every minute of it. 

Bath time!

Dear Owen,

We gave you a bath tonight in your new delux bath tub which was a gift. It even has a sprayer and you enjoyed it much more than the baths we were giving you in the sink!

Your brothers helped. At first it was just me and Carter bathing you and to be honest, I couldn't figure out how to get the pump/ shower sprayer to work. I had the directions laid out but I just couldn't figure it out!

Then Colin walked in and I was so relieved!

I knew he'd figure it out.

And he did.

Then he wanted to spray you too.

Next Finn strolled in and before you know it all your brothers were there wanting turns to help bathe you.

You are so loved.

When you got out of the bath, I wrapped you up in a big towel and we sat by the window rocking for a while. You were so awake and alert and seemed to look at me like you get it. You know I'm your mamma and you seem quite content with that.

Then you fell asleep against my chest, still wrapped up in your towel.

We love you so much little man.

I love getting to know your likes and dislikes and watching your personality slowly emerge.

P.S. Bathing one baby with this bath system, seems much easier than bathing the triplets ever was!

Owen, your birth story

Owen, I cannot believe that you are four weeks old today! Two nights ago, I tried putting a clean change of clothes on you, newborn size, and realized that newborn size no longer fits! Time passes so quickly. I know this to be true so I wrote down your birth story just days after you arrived, so I wouldn't forget all the details of my thoughts and experience of that wonderful day. Then I sat on it a few weeks to make sure it was what I felt comfortable sharing. In the end, I didn't change a thing. This is your birth story.


Dear Owen,

The night before you were born, I couldn't sleep. Around 6:30 a.m. I heard your brothers Carter and Finn stirring so I went to get them and brought them downstairs. My pajama pants were quite wet and my stomach was  cramping. "Could this really be the day?" I wondered (although in my heart I knew).

This was the day you'd be born.

Everett got up and then Colin and I sat there on the couch with your brothers knowing that this was probably the last time we'd do this morning ritual of cuddling on the couch and watching Sesame Street with milk sippy cups, just us. Life was about shift and change once again as we welcomed another.

I took this picture:

I told Colin first.

While Elmo danced on T.V, I leaned over and whispered, "Guess what? Baby Owen is going to be born today."

He was THRILLED. For nine months now, he's been asking when you'd arrive and finally I could say with certainty, "Today. Today is the day."

Then I went and woke your Dad and Mom-mom. Thank God your Mom-mom and Pop-pop were here!

I labored at home for a bit and then finally (reluctantly) went to the hospital around 9:00 a.m. I wasn't sure it was time to go and honestly I was scared to go because I knew I could relax through contractions much more easily at home than at the hospital. I was hoping for a natural birth and I knew laboring at home for as long as possible would help. However, the doctors thought that you might come fast and so reluctantly I headed into the hospital. Although the contractions already seemed pretty darn strong, I was only 3 cm when I arrived at the hospital. That was so discouraging! I stuck to my plan of no drug intervention for the next 4+ hours only to be still at 5 cm. I was so tired, hungry and getting scared. This labor was taking longer than I'd expected (only because I'd expected to go fast). As it turns out, my bag of water was only partially broken and there was still a small cushiony bag of water between your head and my cervix, preventing you from descending and in turn slowing labor.

By about 1:30 I was exhausted, discouraged from my lack of progress and getting overwhelmed by the pain. I had flashbacks of Colin's birth, where the pain ended up completely overwhelming me. At a certain point while laboring in the shower, I peeked out and told Chris, "I think I'm ready for an epidural". As with everything, he backed my decision 100 percent.

Boy is that epidural a game changer! Wow! Soon I was resting comfortably, texting with friends and family and feeling completely relaxed. I think natural childbirth can be a wonderful, empowering experience.... but this time around I learned that knowing yourself and being willing to change plans mid course based on what's best for you, can also be empowering.

I have no regrets. The nurse even commented that my contractions on the monitor resembled contractions of someone who'd been given pitocin although I hadn't been. They were strong and almost continuous. But by that point, I was pain free, completely relaxed and giddy with excitement to meet you.

The doctor eventually broke the rest of my water bag and soon after I felt pressure to push. Things started happening quickly. The doctor was immediately paged and the nurse started positioning me to push, telling me that you were right there ready to arrive! Your dad was taking a nap (hee hee) and so I quickly woke him. "CHRIS!! GET UP! IT'S TIME!!!" What makes me laugh out loud even now is that he actually said something like, "Give me a minute to wake up." You were not waiting!

There was just one nurse and the doctor in the room to help you into this world (unlike with both Colin's birth and obviously the triplets birth). It was a beautiful day and I remember the sunshine beaming through the window as I got ready to push. Your dad was to my right supporting me and watching your birth. Our doctor wore glasses and so I could also see you being born in her reflection. I was able to put my hands down to feel your head and help you out. Nothing about this was scary. It was just peaceful and beautiful. The next thing I knew Owen, you were on my chest, all chubby, a little bloody and covered in baby goo. I watched your Dad cut the cord.

I never thought I'd have the experience of having my baby immediately laid on my chest after giving birth (Colin and each of the triplets needed to be taken away for brief monitoring before we could hold them. Chris had never cut the cord before). Yet there we were this time and it was all happening.

Owen, you are SO cute. Before you were born everyone had been pondering who you might look like but in the moment our eyes met, I realized that you just looked like you. You immediately filled a space in my heart that I hadn't even realized was vacant. A space that had been there waiting all this time.

Waiting for you.

Colin's birth story is here (written back when no one knew I wrote a blog and I also didn't use Colin's real name).

The triplets birth story is here.