They're on the mend!

Well, we went to the dr last Friday to get the babies checked out.. Turns out they had their first sinus infections :( So, they all went on antibiotics, and are getting better already! I've gotta say, those little oompas are troopers, even when they're sick!

I made all of the girls some halloween tutu's for me to take their pics in. SO, yesterday I set up my own little studio. Here are some of the shots I got :)

The big boys were a HUGE help, while I took these pics!!! The babies automatically quit smiling when they see a camera, so I had to have someone to distract 'em =)

Whew!!!!!

This past week has been nothing but CrAzY!!!!!! All 4 babies have been sick with nasty noses, and coughs. Up until today I thought it was just allergies, but they've got fevers now...So, we will spend tomorrow morning at the dr =) Having my big boys around while the babies are so needy is such a BIG help for me.. The babies absolutely love their big brothers! Welp, I meant for this to be a bit longer, but babies are screaming.

So overdue =)

    Obviously I've been disconnected from the blogosphere for the past few months...Honestly, I've been disconnected from much more than that!The past few months have flown by!!! I seriously feel like I blinked, and my babies are nearly 7 months old already!!! I'm trying to savor every second with those angels, because I know that all too soon they will be heading to kindergarten. They really are GREAT babies! I can't believe how God blessed our family. Their personalities have changed so much in the past few months....

   Hensley, once the most quiet and reserved baby has found her voice =) She's not afraid to let you know when she doesn't like something. She is still very easy to please though. She has always been the baby that was slower than all the rest when it came to developmental milestones. She was the last to smile, the last to finish her bottles, the last to roll over. I think you get the picture now =) Hensley prefers sucking on her toes over the traditional paci or even sucking her thumb! She's so flexible.

Karson has done a complete 180! That baby started out as such a fussy and hard to please little guy. He is now the sweetest and most content little boy! He is happy to just play in his floor gym or jumperoo. He loves playing peek a boo with his big brothers. We like to joke that he's become so much easier because he lost his red hair =) He went bald, and his new hair appears to be blonde!

Paisley.....Dear sweet Paisley =) Paisley is not afraid to let her voice be heard....She is the most demanding of the group, and could probably qualify as the fussiest too! She wants things a certain way, and if you don't meet her standards she will unleash the loudest screech that you have ever heard! She is the most sensitive of the group now. It seems to be easy to hurt her feelings. With that said, Paisley is such a smiley baby. All you have to do is glance in her direction and she flashes the sweetest gummy smile you've ever seen! This girl will be my busy child, who is in to everything. She already moves constantly!

Presley is technically the youngest of all 6 kids. That girl is definitely NOT the smallest though =) We are pretty sure she's finding a way to steal "skinny Henny's" food when we aren't looking! Presley is definitely pudgy, but she is just so stinking cute! Her whole face just lights up when I walk in to get her out of her crib each morning... She always wakes up in a playful happy mood.

It's time for me to go catch some sleep, I suppose. I promise I'll be back much sooner than 4 months!

Lesson from God

I find myself wondering "why did God choose ME to have these babies?"...Don't get me wrong. I don't ask myself that because I wish I didn't have them. I am so so SO thankful to be their Mommy! I'm just that kind of person. I always wonder 'why?'.  I think i've found out why....From the beginning of my pregnancy people have gone out of there way to help us... They helped bring Howard back from Iraq early. They helped bring us back to Texas to have the babies. Once we got here we started looking for a church family. We knew we had to hurry because I didn't have much time before I was on bedrest. You know how they say "3rd time's a charm"? Well, that's how our church hunt turned up! The 3rd church we tried out was THE one. We just both felt at home that very first Sunday there!

Fast forward a little bit. I went into the hospital on bedrest, and church members were asking left and right, "How can we serve you?", "How can we help?", "what do you need?", and so on. They've fed us 2-3 meals a week since February, which has saved us! They gave us literaly thousands of diapers!!! More than the things we have received from the church,we've received love and support. They've been true servants to Him through me.

So today, while I was home with the babies and Howard was at church wih th big boys, a light went off! I decided that God chose us to have the babies to teach us a lesson. He's teaching us how to serve through being served! And, hopefully he knew that we would make good parents to these angels =) So today, I want to thank all those who've helped us out and are teaching us how to be Servants!

7 Years

I've been kind of sad about this post that's been looming over me...But, I suppose I should be rejoicing.7 years ago on May 15, Howard and I were blessed with our 1st child Haden. I can remember my labor like it was yesterday....all 20 hours of it =) That baby did not want to come out!! But after a long HARD labor, he as born into the world at 1:08 am. He was the easiest baby we could've asked for, and always so smart.  He's a 30 year old man stuck inside of a 7 year old's body!  I never would've imagined back in2003 that in 7 years I'd be the mother of 6, but I'm so glad. And, i'm thankful that Haden came first because now he is the biggest help with his baby brother and sisters! I just want to say a BIG Happy Birthday to my sweet Haden. WE LOVE YOU!

Best Mothers Day Ever

I can remember Mothers Day 2009. We had just moved to England, and were getting settled in. My mother and father-in-law were visiting after our family vacation to Dublin, Ireland. We had a great time. I was getting anxious awaiting my first doctors appointment at my new reproductive endocrinologist, which was the following Tuesday....We had been trying for so long to have A baby...just one! I never stopped trying, even when people told me, "maybe you're just not meant to have more kids", and "be happy with the kids you have"....Those comments were always so hurtful, but they never made me give up hope. I always had this feeling that I was destined to have one more baby. So, I pressed on and started seeing my new dr. We attempted and IU in June, and it didn't work. We had another try in July but we had to abandon the cycle when and ultrasound showed that I had too many follicles (meaning that I had a big chance of high order multiples)... So, we found out in August that Howard was deploying in September..I had one more try before he left. I wasn't very hopeful, just for the fact that i was so stressed preparing for him to leave. We went ahead and did the procedure when an ultrasound showed JUST 2 follicles. So, on August 15 we began our journey. Howard deployed 2 days after I found out I was pregnant. 2 weeks later, we discovered the quads =) My normal state during a pregnancy is.....stressed, but happy. I'm always so worried that something is going to go wrong, or happen. It's so strange,but in such a high risk pregnancy I was calm. I was relaxed. I had this feeling throughout my pregnancy that God was with me and everything was going to be alright. It makes me teary eyed to think about, because I'm just so grateful. I had such an uneventful pregnancy for such a high risk pregnancy. So, as I sit here in the peace and quiet listening to my 4 little angels breathe, and grunt...I'm just so thankful. My kids are the best gifts that I've been given. This mothers day I was given the gift of having all 4 of my babies be healthy, and at home with my 2 big boys. I'm so full of love and happiness. My 6 kids are an answer to my prayers. They make me smile every day, and make me a better person. So, here's to my BEST Mothers Day ever!!!

4 little people

It's so funny how someone SO small can have a personality SO big...I've spent the past week with my babies,trying to learn them. Trying to figure out what each cry is for, and trying to figure out what they need individually. Here's what I can tell about each baby.....

Hensley is our 'dainty' little girl. She is long and lanky, and has a perfectly round head. She rarely cries, and if she does it's more of a wimper....just to let us know that she needs something. She's such a happy easy baby, and definitely daddys little girl =)

Paisley is our chunky monkey... She loves her bottles  =) She's not a huge screamer, but definitely has a set of lungs on her... She is fairly laid back, and is definitely going to be a handful, I think!

Presley is our tempermental little girl. She's got the loudest scream of 3 girls! She seems to be the playful one. She'll lay on the floor and just kick around, and have a good ol' time! She's got these cheeks that you just cant help but to wanna squeeze!!

Karson.....ahh little Karson! He's by far the biggest screamer of the group!!!! He's a demanding little fellow, that knows what he wants!  He loves to be held, and hates having his diaper changed!!! Hes the one that has to eat 15 minutes before it's time!!Mommy's little boy =)

Catching up

It seems like catching up is all i've been doing for the past month since having the babies....especially since they came home. There's just not enough time in the day now. I finally caught up on thank you cards today!!! I'm trying to catch up on my blogging, but I'm so exhausted I'm not sure I make sense =) Everything else is still waiting to be done.... The laundry,the dishes, dusting, cleaning toilets...I'm trying to just sit back and focus on what's important.....Those babies, my big boys,Howard, and myself!

They're Home!!

Well, it's been a long time coming.... The babies are finally ALL home! We got to bring Paisley and Presley home on Friday April 23, 2010, which was exactly one month after their birthday!! Hensley followed on Monday April 26, 2010, and Karson came home on Wednesday April 28, 2010.. We feel so blessed that the didn't have to stay longer in the NICU. I can honestly say that I miss a lot of the staff there. They had some really great nurses that took the time to get to know not only our 4 precious babies, but to get to know us too. They really seemed to care, which made it so much easier for me to leave at the end of each day. Words can't express how FULL my heart is now that all of my children are under the same roof. Thank you God =)

My moment

This past week has been great! The babies are doing excellent, and are continuing to grow! All of the girls are 4 lbs -4lbs 11oz now! Little Karson is still .....little Karson =) He's growing too though, and is now  3 lbs 11oz! I am so in love with these little people! They were all Ok'd to attempt breastfeeding last week. We've been working on it! Paisley got a "gold star" on day 1 for eating like a champ, but has since backed off. Presley has not got a clue of what/how to nurse! Karson is excellent. That little guy really surprised everyone!! And Hensley is the BEST of them all! ( she told me she is Baby "A" for a reason ;) Yesterday I got to have a "moment". It was so special. My 4 babies and I were reunited! I got to hold all 4 of them at one time!

Almost 3 weeks!!

Somehow, my precious babies are now almost 3 weeks old! I don't know where the time went! Seems like I just had them yesterday! It could be my exhaustion tricking me though! I've gotten questions like, "How are you exhausted if you don't even have babies home to take care of?"..ANSWER: I wake up to pump every 3 hours througout the night! AND, I go go go non stop daily to get Keaton to school, and get myself to the hospital! Im one busy momma!

The babies are doing really well. 3 of them are still out in open air cribs, and are beginning to try and bottle feed some. Tiny Karson, however, is back in the warmer. He was struggling to maintain his body temp and stats, so they decided it'd be best for him to be in there.

Have I mentioned how blessed i feel to be the mommy to my 6 awesome kids!?!? GOD IS GOOD!

Whew!

The last two weeks have flown by for me!! The quads are here! They decided to not wait until their scheduled Csection to arrive though =) March 23, I went into labor on my own, and delivered my 3 girls and 1 boy via Csection at 12:27, 12:28, 12:30, and 12:31 pm. They attempted to stop my laboring with the dreaded Magnesium Sulfate, aka: the Death Drug! Obviously, it was not effective! The babies were all born relatively healthy, and perfect! Hensley came first, and then Karson, Paisley, and Presley followed. They ranged from 2 lb11 oz to 3 lbs 8 oz. Karson (my growth restricted baby), was obviously smaller than his sisters! That little guy has been a fighter though!

The babies have all been graduated to the Level II NICU now, and are classified as "feeders and growers". They are doing so so well, and we couldn't be more pleased! We are both completely in love with these tiny people that God blessed us with.

My little heavy weights

So, even though they were an hour late to get me, I was wheeled down for my growth scan today. I went into that appointment with mixed emotions. There was a selfish part of me that wanted to just be done being pregnant because I'm SUPER uncomfortable now. But, the mommy in me wanted these babies to all be perfect and healthy in there! I've found that when I go into these appointments thinking everything will be good to go, there's usually a bump in the road. Today proved to be no different. Here are their new weights:
A: 3 LBS 9 OZ
B: 3 LBS 8 OZ
C: 3 LBS 1OZ
D: 2 LBS 4 OZ

If you compare to 2 weeks ago, Karson (D) as only gained 2 oz.... On top of that info, because his tummy is so small his arteries are sparing in other areas of the body to "feed" the tummy. That can be dangerous for him. So from here on out, i have daily BPP's (Bio Physical Profiles) to check all of their fluid, movements, and bloodflow.

As of right now, we should be having babies on Friday March 26. That could become an earlier date depending on what the BPP's show, or if I were to just go into labor. I started my course of Betamethizone (steroids to mature the lungs) today, which is not fun. It's a nice big needle with thick liquid that goes into your booty =0

With all of this going on right now, things are a little crazy at home! And, I forgot to mention that today is my Keaton's 4th birthday =) He's such a good boy, and so smart and sweet. I'm the luckiest momma! Also, Howard is testing for promotion on Wednesday so we could use a lot of prayers! We could definitely use the extra money that that rank would give us =)

I've made it to 31 weeks!

So, I just wanted to post a quick update. As of today, I am 31 week pregnant!! From what I'm told, this is HUGE for these babies =) I know I sure am huge FROM these babies! So, Monday I have a growth scan....It's a BIG one, because the dr will make a decision as to whether she will or won't take the babies out this next week. At this point, it's all up to my little Mr Karson!! If he isn't growing, or has too low of fluid,then D day will be SOON! Either way, I have no more than 2 weeks and 6 days til these angels are born..I can't wait to see them and hold them! Their brothers are excited too! I'm praying I can get over my OCD enough to allow Haden to help out with feedings and such =) Hes really excited! Kids really are the biggest blessings in life. I love being a mommy! I will be sure to update you on the babies new weights after the ultrasound! I won't update you on my new weight, since its ridiculous!! But, here's what I look like now!

Are they done yet?!?!

We struggled with infertility for over 2 years.. After wanting a baby for so long I vowed that if I DID ever get pregnant again I would never complain about the common aches and pains that accompany pregnancy. We'll just say I never considered the fact that I would ever have quads =) So Sunday night was a little rough for me. Apparently my blood is now too thin after all the heparin, motrin, and aspirin i've been on, so I was bleeding from one of my injection sites, and it wouldn't stop. They got worried that I could have one of several different things wrong with me, so they ran a million different tests!Then, they decided that at midnight, I should get an IV in place "just in case". I got to see their lovely faces again at 4:45 am for yet another blood draw! I was so exhausted that when they took me for my biweekly ultrasound, I fell asleep on the table! After that, I was just ready to be done baking these babies!
I've forgotten to mention the facts that I'm now to the point where I can stand for a max of 4-5 minutes before i'm EXHAUSTED. I can barely get my feet in my pants, and I can't roll over =) I'm telling you all this so that you can hold me to my promise......I want to remember to not gripe about the discomforts of this pregnancy, but to be thankful for the fact that I GET to feel these discomforts! I'm so blessed to be pregnant with these babies, and i can't wait for them to join our family!

PS~ I get weighed tomorrow, so i may have remind myself of all this yet again...I hate that cattle scale!

Guess Who Got Bigger!?

I'm assuming you guessed me, right!? Well, I'm sure I have gotten bigger, but i was referring to my little munchkins! I had my growth scan on Monday, and got new weights for them! I love seeing how they are growing every couple of weeks! Although, I do have to say that it's getting harder and harder to make out what/who I'm looking at while in Ultrasound!

And the weights are:

A: 2lbs 8oz
B: 3lbs
C: 2lbs 9oz
D: 2lbs 3oz

So, I have over 10 lbs of baby in  me! That definitely makes me feel better about my latest weigh in! Yesterday I passed a huge milestone! I was 29 weeks and 4 days, which is the national average gestational period for quads...So, there's proof that I am above average =)  At this point in the game, I could have these babies ANY DAY! But, we're hoping I can get them to 32 weeks. I'll be allowed to go up to 34 weeks, but that just seems really optimistic. I just keep praying for a safe and healthy delivery for myself and all 4 of my precious little munchkins!

29 weeks

Guess who's 29 weeks!!?!? I consider it a huge accomplishment to have made it to 29 weeks, without many complications, if any! I'm getting a little nervous because the national average gestation for a quad pregnancy is 29 weeks and 4 days!I really think i'll make it past that, to about 32 weeks! (If the dr has her way I'll get to 34) I want what is best for these babies, but I can NOT imagine growing for 5 more weeks! It seems like there is no where else for them to grow into right now! We've got our next growth scan on Monday, so I look forward to updating you on their new weights =) Hopefully Karson is catching up to his sisters now!!

32 days!

Well, the sonographer showed up at my door at 11:30 yesterday to take me down the hall for the babies growth scan. Everything went well. As most of you know, my goal was to have the babies all above 2 lbs. I almost made my goal =) Here were the babies weights:

Karson -(D) 1 lb 13oz
Girls - 2lbs, 2 lbs 2oz, 2 lbs 6 oz

They assured me that all was well and that babies were doing "phenomenal" for quads. So, I was wheeled back to my room, and ate my nasty hospital food =D As I was finishing up, another OB doc came in and was telling me that she had just been briefed on the babies progress. Turns out, the system that they use to calculate  babies' growth was averaging the 4 of them together. After putting them all in the system separately, the found that baby D is considerably small. He is measuring in the 12th percentile... He's considered to be suffering from IGR (intrauterine growth restriction) once he hits the 10th percentile... So, they had to take me back for a doppler of him to make sure all of his blood flow was sufficient, which it was! So now, we just have to watch closely to make sure that he continues to grow and develop as he should. Today marks 2 weeks that I've been in the hospital... I miss my life back home, but am so glad that these babies are growing =) Only 32 days til my goal of 32 weeks!!!!

Pay it Forward

You know, I watched the movie 'Pay it Forward' when I was pretty young. I don't know that i ever thought much into it....until now! Being pregnant with quads as been a whole different experience all together. I never imagined that i'd get to be a mother to multiples!! I'm SO happy and blessed.  Since movng back from England, I've become a member of a few different MOM groups. I never expected to get anything from it, but boy have I! The one thing I've learned, is that these other moms are always there for you...to answer questions, or just to lean on for support! Well, the other day I spoke with another mom for the first time on the phone... I had emailed her previously to let her know that I was interested in buying the nursery furniture that she was selling. After meeting Howard, she called my hospital room, and explained to me how she wanted us to HAVE the furniture. Words can't describe how shocked/blessed I felt when she told me that! It lifted such a burden off of our shoulders .....Needless to say, having 6 kids can be financially straining =) Moreso though, than the "material" gifts that we've been given...I've been given the gift of friendship, and for that i'll be forever thankful.  Howard and I are going to Pay it Forward in the future! Thank you God for the gift of friendship....

New at this Blog Thing

So, I'm new at this whole "blog thing"..But, I figured that it was time to start one considering our lives are about to change! I'm 26 weeks and 6 days pregnant with quadruplets. We're expecting 3 girls and 1 boy! I think that most people would be a mixture of nervous/anxious/scared....But, I'm not! I can NOT wait to meet these babies when it's time, and to be their mom =) Haden and Keaton are SUPER excited too. Howard on the other hand...I think as the provider and "man" of the house he's definitely nervous/anxious/scared!!! I'm just so happy to have been blessed by God with this opportunity to be the mommy to 6 perfect little humans. I'm currently in the hospital on bed rest, and have bee for over 1 week. Our goal is to get these babies to at least 32weeks, which at this point looks promising! I have a growth scan on Monday, and will update you more then.