balance

i'm going to try to keep this post short because i don't have much energy for much more. i'm struggling with balance today. Mom left today to go back home, and it was a rough afternoon. i was tired, kids were tired - rough combination. i'm trying not to look too far ahead of myself, but find myself going there and becoming overwhelmed. i'm so excited for josiah and his first day of first grade on wednesday - i know he's going to love it. but i'm feeling terribly guilty that his last few weeks of summer have been so terribly boring for him. i know he's feeling cooped up, and i hate that i haven't been able to do more fun and exciting things with him before he's back to school all day. sometimes i think he gets the brunt of things - having to play quietly while the little ones are napping so that i can lay down and get some rest. i know i need to rest and recover, but how do i balance that along with making sure that his needs are met. it's rough. i say this everytime i have a baby, but they all need such different things from me these days. it will be a balancing act trying to keep all the balls in the air. one day at a time, i know. i'm just saying. rough afternoon.

A quick stop before vacation

Beth & her family got to stop in on Thursday for a quick visit before heading to their vacation on Friday - hooray! I love stop-overs!!! The kids LOVED having her kids here to play with them, and they picked up just where they left off - as always. Josiah and Harrison played games, games, and more games, Jacob and Jackson played dinosaurs and rescue heroes, and Callie and Addison played with their baby dolls and strollers - it was so fun! I enjoyed getting to sit with Beth and talk while she held Baby Caleb for me (I think she enjoyed that part too!) - I was SO glad they could come by!! These sleepovers are fun!

"Baby" Addison meeting Baby Caleb

Beth's oldest (Harrison) with my youngest (Caleb) - crazy!

Meals are always awfully noisy with our crews!

Tutu meets Caleb!

Sorry for the absence!! My Mom came in town on Wednesday and got to meet Caleb!!! I was SO thankful she was able to fly in and spend some time with us. It was a big relief to me to know that the older three kids would have someone with some energy to play with them, and that they'd have a great time. I felt bad that we didn't do very many fun or exciting things - but I guess that wasn't the purpose of this trip! She got to be here for Caleb's first bath, and was a HUGE help to us in getting some of the last minute preparations for school starting done. We were even able to leave the other 3 kids home with her while we took Josiah to meet his new teacher at the open house. So it was a blessing! We're all in a depression now that she's left, but at least we know we'll see her in a few more weeks (Labor Day weekend). Thanks for coming Tutu - you saved us!

Mom helped me give Caleb his first bath on Friday because his belly button finally fell off!!

Mom came with us to church on Sunday morning - my first Sunday back. It was nice to have some extra hands! :) As you can see by Josiah's face in this picture, he was in a foul mood that morning...sigh...

Caleb started to really follow our faces over the last few days. He's so smart!

I don't think he ever relaxes his eyebrows - they're always up!!! And eyes wide open!

Goodbye Tutu - come back to see us again...we'll be more fun, I promise!

I DO love my Mom!! :)

How great is THIS?!?

This came along with our meal that was brought tonight. Isn't it the cutest? A little "package" including paper plates, cups, napkins, and even 3 bags of M&Ms for the kids!! Talk about thoughtful!!! Dinner was DELISH too - I LOVE being back in the south!!! So thankful...seriously...for people that know how much these tangible things help!!!

Life Keeps Going

I remember, after I had Josiah, feeling like the rest of the world stopped. Nothing newsworthy must have happened. Everyone else's lives must have stopped, because I felt like we were in a little "baby bubble". I definitely don't feel that way this time. I don't know if it's because I'm more accustomed to it and know I have to keep going or what. It's really probably just the fact that I have 3 other kids who don't care at ALL if you've just had a baby or not - their lives and their day continues to spin!

We've been doing very well actually. I'm thankful that my deliveries and recoveries all tend to go pretty well - because things haven't slowed down MUCH here. I came home from the hospital on Thursday. On Friday, David had to be at church from 3 pm until 10 pm for a concert. Saturday was nice and quiet...although that night we went and bought David a new suit (the kids actually did well during a very "boring" errand for them...the boys played their new guess who game, and callie wheeled around luggage that was right next to the suit section. caleb slept through the whole thing). Sunday was Sunday - so David was gone at 7 am, but took the big boys with him (a big help for me). They were home at 1 pm, and then David left again at 2:45 until 6 pm for auditions he was holding. Today's Monday and David's back at work. He's been working on getting Christmas music picked, a budget worked out for 2010, some ministry planning stuff done, a church-wide labor day picnic that he's coordinating, OH - and normal Sunday morning music stuff too!! It's been busy.

So life goes on. I took the kids down to the pool this morning so they could burn off some much needed energy. We went early so it wouldn't be terribly hot, and caleb and i stayed in the shade (he slept in his seat the whole time). callie cried for half of the time because I wouldn't let her get in the big pool unless she was wearing her floaties. she played in the little pool for a while, cried & argued for a while, and then finally gave in and put her floaties on so she could swim around. hopefully next time she'll agree quicker! i really hate that I can't get in there and swim too. do i really have to wait 6 weeks? caleb and i are never going to make it!!

the last two nights have gone really well, which has helped me feel functional. Both nights, Caleb has done two 4-hour stretches, which i greatly appreciate! And sleeping in his own bed - so we're definitely getting there. Thankful he's such a healthy baby and a good eater!

I know that 3 of my 4 are asleep, and I haven't heard anything from my "resting" 4th...so he may be asleep too. i don't have enough time before i have to feed caleb next, so i think i'll have to clean the bathroom instead. bummer!!!

OH - and you know what my pick-me-up of the day from God was? An email from a friend here with a schedule of who is going to be blessing us with meals for the next couple of weeks. How amazing is that? SO very thankful - just when I start to get overwhelmed, God does something like that just to remind me "it's going to be okay. one day at a time. i'm still taking care of you and have you in the palm of my hand". Deep breath. Love it.

He FINALLY did it!

Hold Caleb, that is!! Jacob & Callie had already gotten in bed after baths, and I needed to run upstairs for something. I asked Josiah if he'd hold Caleb for me, and he said "sure!". They were so cute - my oldest (looking VERY old and grown-up) and my youngest.

Josiah has been VERY sweet with Caleb. Talks to him every time he walks by in that sweet little voice. Asks where he is almost immediately after waking up. He and Jacob were talking today at lunch about all the things they are going to teach him when he gets bigger, and all the things they'll do together and play together. I love it.

And on a less sentimental note, why are all my pictures lately of kids in their underwear? I do dress them, I swear!

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! :)