Saturday Snoozing...

What is it about babies loving to nap with their daddies? I have pictures like this with all the kids - it's always their favorite position for the first few days! :) And I don't think it bothers David much at all!


Calming down for the night...

Doesn't he look like a little man?

Which looks yummier?

Caleb had his first sponge bath on Friday night...not by plan either. David had to head to church around 3 pm for a concert that he had brought in for the evening. I was on my own - with all 4 - after being home from the hospital for less than 24 hours! We did great....until Caleb had a blow out. And I mean blow out! Everywhere. I had no other choice but to put him in the kitchen sink to wash off the lower half of him...and then once the kids were in bed, I decided I'd have to give him a sponge bath (with soap) to make sure he was GOOD and clean. I felt bad that David missed it and I only have this one picture...but desperate times call for desperate measures!
And THIS arrived for us from Justin & Andrea! What a SPECIAL treat!!! Thank you so much guys - we can't wait for you to come visit and see Caleb in person!

Which looks yummier? The left or the right? The left was yummy, but I could just eat up the little guy on the right! :)

Rock Me!

Nothing better than all curled up with Dad!

These pictures are special because Caleb is in the same cradle that my sisters and I were in as babies. All of my own children have now laid in this cradle too - sweet pictures!

This was Caleb's coming home outfit - I thought it very appropriate for our little musician!

This was Josiah's idea - he wanted a picture of "all the brothers"!

Going Home...Finally!

I had to break my streak of leaving the hospital 24 hours after having a baby - the soonest they'll ever let me leave, I'm outta there. With Josiah, I stayed two days...I had no other kids at home waiting for me, David and I just camped out and were fine. But once there's other kids involved and the logistics of arranging child care, going back and forth to see them and bring them to see me, it just is more difficult than helpful.

However, this was our first baby born at nighttime - 9 pm. They weren't going to allow me to be discharged on Wednesday night at 9 pm! So I had to wait until Thursday. And we couldn't leave until Thursday afternoon because Caleb had his circumcision at about 2pm. It was probably a blessing - forced rest. David had stayed the night with the kids at home on Wednesday night and so they just hung out on Thursday. The church had a preschool play date at a bouncy place that morning, so they went and had fun there and then went home from naps. Then they all came back to collect us and FINALLY go home! After a full day on Wednesday with so many visitors and much excitement, a quiet day on Thursday was probably a real blessing! But we were READY to get home!

My FOUR very excited kids!
Yes, Callie sat on my lap in the wheelchair as we left...

Waiting in the hallway...

I swear I didn't plan the fact that we were both matching in our blue! :)

David wrestling with the car seat. They are SUCH a pain to adjust the shoulder straps...and it was my fault because I made him adjust it down to the shortest one...only to have him move it back up once we tried Caleb in it. Oh well - he's a trooper!

Finally - buckled and ready to go HOME!

Our van is FULL now - it was a GREAT feeling!

I had saved this banner from my baby shower in VA and David hung it up to welcome us home! :)

Meeting their NEW brother

On Wednesday morning, David woke up and went home to relieve Mary (she stayed the night with the kids). He had some time with them at home and then brought them up to the hospital to see me and meet their new brother!!! We had their reactions pegged! Callie came in talking about "that mommy's bed, that Baby Caleb's bed, that Baby Caleb's blanket, etc",Josiah came in asking if he could open his presents from Caleb, and Jacob wanted to hold him right away.

Callie wanted to be RIGHT up on the bed next to me to see Caleb.

The boys were trying SO hard to be patient, but were DYING to open their presents from Caleb (everyone got a book and a toy from him...)

Taking in the chaos around us....

Reading her new Dora book...again, right next to me...

This picture cracks me up...it doesn't matter that I had just had a baby 12 hours before...I was already having to get onto one of the boys for something...life goes on, right!

She was brushing the hair on her new Dora doll (which we presently can't find....)

Josiah got the Guess Who game (Marvel comic heroes edition!) He hasn't stopped playing it...

See how Jacob and Callie are fighting over who can hold him and Josiah is completely uninterested? Hilarious.

We had a TINY room, but it was the last room available the night I delivered. Anyone who delivered after me had to stay down in L&D - so I was thankful!

Jacob got some new Kid K'Nex - the boys LOVE these building things!

Playing the first of MANY games...

Wearing mommy's socks

Callie LOVES holding Baby Caleb! She keeps saying "so cute so cute!"

Giving kisses...

The newly expanded Schrodt family (even including the back of Dora!)

I can't believe all these kids are MINE - am I blessed or WHAT!?

This was the shirt he wore when the kids came to see him :) It says "I'm the Little Brother".

Callie's feet look HUGE next to Caleb's!

This is what he does when he gets to hold Caleb - Jacob just BEAMS!

David and all the kids :)

Dr. Josiah

David and the kids taking Caleb to the nursery before they had to leave.

Special Visitors

I felt SO loved while I was in the hospital. Seriously. We had SO many people come and visit us, come to see Caleb, PRAY over him and for us and our family - it was amazing. I wish I had thought to take pictures of all of them, but I was a little distracted I guess! I did get a picture of these two special people though!

This is our senior pastor at Northside - Pastor Rocky. Caleb was fussing until Rocky held him :), and then he just STARED at him the whole time Rocky was praying for him. It was very special.
And THIS is Rocky's wife, Sherrie! She's a mother/baby nurse at the hospital I delivered at, and was working the days I was there, so she got to be Caleb's nurse for his first day!! What a blessing THAT was! :) She took GREAT care of us!