Squeezing One In...

Before the end of April! A ton has happened but I just haven't had time to sit and blog about it all. Hopefully I will remember all of the highlights. I have a ton of pics but still need to download them, be patient, I think they will be worth the wait!

Kate turned 6 months last Wed. She continues to roll over both ways and is very impressed with herself when she does it. I just started her on solids yesterday. She was very ready but I wasn't ready yet. She is a true champ and loves to eat. Her first meal was rice cereal mixed with some sweet potatoes. She loves the spoon and decided while she was eating that she would start blowing raspberries for the very first time as well. The raspberries have continued but the feeding ended when that started. Two days now and she has the hang of it. She is still sleeping like a pro, she traveled very well for her second trip to Chicago, and she was a true party animal that slept through both of her great grandparent's parties. A little over a week ago, she scared us to death with a case of croup. But really after one bad night, she seemed to kick it. Don't really care to deal with that again.

Megan has had hives again for just over a week. It doesn't seem to be any allergies that we know of, but goes along with her other signs of teething. The only problem is that we haven't seen any signs of teeth and it has been a couple of months now that we thought that they were coming. She dazzles us with her memory and sensitivity. Always asking for "BIG hugs" and a ton of kisses. We take advantage of these moments knowing that they won't last forever.

Hannah hasn't stopped talking since her birthday. She also sings "happy birthday" daily. Asking whose birthday is next in our family before she fills in the line "happy birthday dear,......" My mom commented to me this morning how conversational she is-not sure where that comes from because neither Charlie nor I am that conversational. Maybe she is trying to compensate for my lack of it. But honestly it is hard to get a word in edgewise here! Her latest is talking about the weather and the color of the sky...
H: Blue skies, mommy.
L: Yes, Hannah there is a blue sky today.
H: No grey, mommy?
L: No grey, Hannah, just blue.
H: Clouds in the sky today. Thank you Got (God) for blue skies.

Aunt Carrie joined us for a week long visit here. The girls enjoyed their cousin Alicia, but it gave me a taste of what is to come with Kate. A little girl trying to keep up with and have all of the same things that the big girls have. Oh, man. I thought having two of everything was crazy, now I have to get three of everything? There goes the spending freeze I'm on. At least I have about 6 more months. But really it was nice to have Carrie and Alicia here, with them living in CA we know the times are limited when our girls will get to see each other and it was so nice to have them here. Next time we promise not to get Alicia sick!!! Congrats on your beautiful new home. We can't wait to come out and see you guys!

With Carrie and Alicia we traveled to Chicago to celebrate the 80th birthday of Great Grandpa Bill. We got to see almost all of Charlie's dad's side of the family (except for the two cousins that share H and M's names). It was a beautifully executed surprise party with every detail in place, even little bottles of apple juice for the great grand kids!!!! Thanks Grandpa Chuck!

Then Charlie's other Grandma turned 75 this weekend as well, so we got to see Linda's side of the family too. Pretty thoughtful of both great grandparents to be born with in a week of each other in order to save us a trip down. It is no small feet to pack up my three children for a couple of days. But it was made extra special this time for the girls because Grandma Linda had special big girl beds with fairy blankets for them. We also got to visit the Brookfield Zoo and the girls had a blast seeing all of the fun animals, the Sea Lions put on their own little show for us.

Carrie and I also decided to give Linda her mother's day gift this weekend too. We know how busy she and Bob are, so we took the liberty to makeover her powder room in a day. We purchased all of our supplies here and were finished about 24 hours later. We really like it....just hope she does too. Linda is a wonderful hostess with a beautiful home and she always makes us feel very welcome in it. Thanks for all of your hard work this past weekend, the girls love seeing Grandma Linda and Grandpa Bob.

Uncle Wes, can't show up without a trick up his sleeve. Saturday was a windy day in Chicago (imagine that) and what did Uncle Wes bring for his three favorite nieces M, H, & A? Kites of course! So those had to be flown at the girls favorite park across the street from Grandma's house.

Kate's 6 month appt is on Thursday along with her 6 month pictures. I will update her stats then but for right now, this momma is still catching up on her sleep and boy do I need to hit the hay! Signing off.....

The month of April

is National Organ Donation Month. A little background here first.

Because I don't often have the ability to type with both hands, I am often left to just read as I am bouncing a baby on my lap or quickly stop by to check my email and favorite blogs. Well, amazingly enough I was led to a fantastic blog with an amazing story about a couple effected by Cystic Fibrosis. They are an awesome couple, dedicated Christians and full of miracles. Check out their blog, http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/

But here is the short version. Nate is a music pastor down in NC, his dad the head Pastor. Nate married Trisha, who has CF. Trisha was getting ready to go to Duke for a double lung transplant when the day before they were suppose to leave, she found out she was pregnant. Baby only has about a 50% chance of survival. Trisha gave birth to Gwyneth at 24.5 weeks gestation (a micro premie). Baby is doing well in the NICU but has never heard her mother's voice except for a whisper. Trisha has been on a vent since the birth of their baby. Trisha just got a new set of lungs last week and is about to leave the ICU.

Trisha was given a new chance to live because someone lost their life. How much more could we give someone then the gift of life. Here is the link to making the commitment of organ donation, something we should all consider. I have and I hope you do too! http://www.donatelife.net/ and then click on "commit to a donation".

Ok, Now I am just being obnoxious!

Yes, four posts this week. This one has great purpose though.

A couple of months ago, Charlie and I watched a special news show on a soldier in Iraq who got a RPG impaled in his leg. An amazing story of bravery, the commitment our military shows to each other and to our country. It is a short 6 minuted clip but WELL worth the time. Thank you, thank you, thank you for serving your country with such honor, US Armed Services!
http://www.militarytimes.com/multimedia/video/rpg_surgery/


Also, a short time ago, a very sad story broke about a bank VP in Iowa who was caught embezzling. He violently took the lives of his wife and four children, before taking his own. I was sickened at that thought but then realized that all four of their children were adopted from South Korea. Here is the link to that news article.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=4521545&page=1

One story of bravery the other of an extreme coward. The saddest part is that SK also picked up on the story and reported it in their newspapers. It is suspected that SK will no longer be allowing Korean children to be adopted into homes in IA. Not that that would really do anything because it could have happened their but I can understand their fear.

Strangely enough, Charlie had heard of the embezzlement story but didn't know about the children's heritage. He is involved in some business with the owner of the bank that the guy embezzled from. It will make you just sick to see the beautiful family.

Yup, Again...

No, not Kate rolling over but I am blogging again this week. That makes, ummmm 3 times this week? Pretty proud of myself. Also, while I am on the subject of myself, I finally did what no one (at least in my family) has done before. I did bedtime with all three girls all by myself. Here is where Megan would exclaim, "Yeah Mommy, all by myself(meaning yourself) with no medicine!" You see, since Kate's arrival, our elaborate bedtime routines have required two people, which isn't hard when Grandma lives just down the street and we can coordinate schedules. Only last night, Grandma was still in Mexico and daddy was in Boise. So that left yours truly. I know my sister is now saying something along the lines of "try doing it with four all by yourself at least once a week." I am not asking for a bozo button or anything, just proud of myself for doing it without help, without loosing it, and for enjoying it. All of the girls were so good. Can I just say how lucky I am to have such enjoyable, fun girls? There...I said it.

Megan's new favorite thing to sing is Happy Birthday to Farmer Birthday Cake. I would try to explain it but then this would turn into a novel. I just laugh every time she sings that phrase.

Hannah sang a song to me yesterday, it went like this...Rock a baby, on tree towers (to the tune of Rock a Bye Baby, On the Tree Tops). Precious to hear them both sing.

Kate, she just yodels, not sure where that comes from, but it also makes me smile.

Two days in a row...

Well, that goes for me bloggin and Kate rolling over. It only takes place in her crib but it wasn't just a fluke thing, like Abby and I thought. Only this time she rolled over to the other side. What a wiz kid she is.

I surprised my SAH self today, would have made my dad proud. My stove hasn't been completely working for about a year now. Well, thanks to my brother in law and his recommendation of a great website, I purchased the part online and repaired it myself today in 10 minutes flat!!! How's that for ya? I pulled out the stove, unplugged it, cleaned under it, then removed the panel of it. Most of the time was spent cleaning under it. I then pulled out and replaced the needed wires, unscrewed the part and viola, it's working again. So proud of myself, can't you tell?

What part was it, you ask? The locking mechanism for the stove. My self cleaning oven wouldn't work without and well, I wanted it clean. Charlie didn't see the need. I did! Imagine that. Saved us 350.00 buckaroos!

We're Not Foolin' Here

Kate FINALLY rolled over today (she's now 5 months old). Only no one saw it happen. She started to fuss at the end of her nap but it took me a minute to get up there. She was on her back and looked just as startled as I did. You see...I left her sleeping on her tummy (I take every precaution I can but the child won't sleep on her back) and I found her on her back! Pics to prove it! She must have heard Aunt Abby telling me that Ainsley was close to doing it and Kate can't be outdone by her cousin who is 1.5 months younger then her!

Here are a couple of other pics that I took today. Silly little girls!!!

Hannah thought Kate needed to wear a hat this afternoon. Kate didn't argue, she trusts her sister's fashion sense!!! And so she should....

Wouldn't you trust Meg's fashion expertise? She's a diva! In this she's decked out in her favorite blue leotard and her chenille red shorts from Shelby and Summer.

Here Hannah is applying her blue "chapstick". No Alexandra, it isn't real chapstick, I still don't let them wear the real stuff-so don't even ask!!! Love ya-Girl!