Caleb's first smile caught on camera. Kirk and Jen dressed up for Kirk's Halloween Party at
work.
Yesterday, Caleb was 1 month old!!! I can't believe it. We also had Cara's birthday party. She was so cute. She had a special birthday bubble bath Friday night. Then Saturday morning she just wanted to light her candles. She was so happy about every present she got. She would say wow, or oh my goodness, or yeah. She had a great time. Then we set off for Karissa's Fall Carnival at school. Kirk and I worked her class booth, pumpkin bowling for an hour. Then we took the kids around. It was fun but very HOT. Today we built a fire. The girls were so excited to have our first fire of the year. Kylie is still sick. I think it is just allergies but enough she can't go to church. She hasn't run fever but she has lost her voice.
For some reason I can not comment on your blog. It says only team members can comment and I am not a team member. So here's my comment to your rant. Cheer up chicky. Don't be worried about being alone with the kids. It really is kind of fun. Do you have any family that can come and help? I have completely lost my train of thought now. The phone rang and Cara is having a fit because she wants on the computer and now she and Cara are screaming. I'm sure they will wake Caleb up soon. I'll pray for health, and the move and Ben's job and deployment.
I just had to blog today, especially after yesterdays rant. Today is the first day I was completely alone with my four children!! Caleb had a rough night. He was up til about 1:30 am. Then up at 4:30 and 7. He cried the whole time I was getting Karissa up and ready for school. So then things calmed down. We went for a walk and to the park. What a workout to push the double stroller and carry Caleb in the tummy carrier! After the park we ran one errand and then Kylie had a tantrum, so we came home. The kids laid down and so did I. Peace didn't last long ,but I think I rested about 40 minutes. Time to pick Karissa up from school. So far I have remained patient most of the day and the girls have only fought a few times. So I decide we will have a snack and play at Mc Donalds. The girls were wonderful!!! They all three played for 45minutes without fighting. They played hide and seek and laughed. It was fun for us all. Then we arrive home and Cara falls apart because Karissa stole something fr0m her. This would be the begining of the end for Karissa. She lied about taking the toy. So we have dinner and baths. Kylie ate her chocolate dessert without eating her supper when I left the table for a minute to start the other girls bath water. We were having a battle of wills and she won! Karissa proceeded to tell 4 more lies. These are lies that she doesn't even need to tell. She was not in trouble or anything she just lied. So she had to sit on her bed until bedtime and pay me a quarter everytime she lies. If any of you have any good discipline for lying I would love your input. Overall, we had a good day and I feel like I was more in control and more patient.
I think my small group is praying for me and that is carrying me through. We have been doing a great study on Communites. Learning how to be a closer more loving church and fellowship of Christian people. Kirk and I love our small group and really feel a part of it. Sunday night we spent the last half just sharing personal struggles and prayer request. I told them mercy and patience with my kids are a big struggle for me.
Why is it we always try to do so much on Saturday? Someone once told me either the even or the odd years are worse behavior wise for children. Guess what? I have even and odd years and today they were all bad. My girls are all so different yet all so annoyingly the same. We decided to shoe shop with all of them today and then take them all grocery shopping tonight. What were we thinking??? Kirk was way stressed out. I think it is good for daddy to see the not so nice time you can have with your kids. Now Kirk can empathize with me on the bad days. Karissa can be the sweetest most helpful big sister one minute and then lose control and stomp and yell and pout like a baby the next minute. She gets angry very quick and you can't calm her down. Cara on the other hand is sneaky and gets her feelings hurt and has to be cuddled to make up with her. Kylie is showing strong willed tendancies (Lord, not another one). She throws tantrums and whines and repeats herself until you want to put a sock in her mouth. She is also the most cuddly little girl and still wants to be rocked and held when she is sleepy. Who knows about Caleb. He doesn't seem to know he is the fourth so should therefore be laid back. He wants what he wants NOW and he sure like being held and cuddled. I guess that is enough of a rant for now.
Kylie had her first haircut today. I finally gave up on the no bangs thing. She will never wear a barette and we are tired of seeing her through her hair.
I just can't help but post pictures!! Caleb is doing well. He eats all the time. I am learning how to change boy diapers although we have had to wash a lot of laundry. He wets through a lot and squirts when he's being changed (girls don't do that!). We are doing well. Kirk's work is a little stressful right now so I am grateful for his mom being here. I am struggling with headaches everyday. Hopefully they will go away soon. We have been very fortunate and had 8 meals brought to us. I am not going to know what to do when I have to cook again. We had some sad news yesterday...Our dog, Sam died. He has lived with Kirk's parents for the last several years so his dad took it pretty hard. He was a good dog. The girls will miss him.
Earlier this week, Mom and I were trying to soothe Caleb. We walked and bounced and patted and tried the swing. I tried nursing and burping and everything else we could think of. Then Karissa asked to hold him and we thought why not? So Karissa sits in the recliner and we hand the crying Caleb to her. He curls up on her chest and falls fast asleep!! She held him for almost an hour. Now when Karissa comes home from school she wants to sit and hold Caleb and he is happy to oblige. Cara thinks if she puts her hand on his tummy it calms him down because that worked once. Now when he fusses Cara says "he needs my hand mommy. " Kylie is just the house cryer. She runs to find me and tell me everytime Caleb starts to cry. I am afraid he is already spoiled!! He has no chance with three extra little mothers. I included a picture of my new haircut. I really like it. It isn't necessarily easier but now it does more than just hang there. I still need to take care of the color issue but I don't have 3 hours or $100 bucks. I will probably try to do it myself. I included Kylie's picture because she is actually smiling.
It was very cold and windy. We visited the pumpkin patch yesterday.Kylie was a little scared so her pictures didn't turn out.
Yesterday, was Caleb's two week appointment. Luckily, my mom was here to watch the girls. So I arrive at the office and Caleb is sound asleep. Then he starts filling his diaper and wakes up crying. So I pick him up and he has wet through his sleeper. So I ask where I can change him and go back and change him. While I am waiting this happens two more times. I am out of clothes and have three yucky diapers in my diaper bag. So finally the doctor comes in and we find out Caleb is a HORSE. He has already gained from 8lbs 1 ounce to 9 lbs 4 ounces and grown almost two inches. I guess I make greta milk. Anyway he is doing great !! He is already trying to hold his head up. He lost his cicumcision ring on Sunday. I was so worried I was going to mess him up for life. The doctor says it looks fine. His cord is hanging on by a thread. I hope it falls off soon. I worry that it will get pulled or torn off with the girls wanting to hold him.
I just remembered...this morning we were getting shoes on for bible study when Caleb started crying. Cara says I'll get him and runs into my room. As I am putting on Kylie's shoes in her room I notice Caleb's crying is getting closer. I run into the living room and sure enough Cara had "gotten" Caleb. She had gotten him off the bed and was carrying him under the arms across the house. He weighs so much she was almost dragging him. Needless to say I rescued him and tried to explain to Cara she couldn't pick him up all by herself. Another note on Cara...up to now she has been staisfied with the answer the doctor takes the baby out to her question of how babies get out of mommies. Now she says "I know the doctor does it but HOW?" Any advice on what to tell her. She is only 3!!
Caleb is such a sweet baby. All I want to do is hold him and cuddle him all the time. He has truly brought out my maternal instinct. He loves to curl up in a ball and sleep on whoever is holding him. I had to include this picture of Cara, too. This is her hiding corner that she runs to whenever she thinks she is in trouble (she usually is). We are all well. The transition from 3 to 4 doesn't seem too terrible. My mom has been here for a week so I haven't really experienced it yet. I have loved all the mommy and Caleb time while my mom handled the girls and the house!! This weekend hasn't been too bad but Kirk has been here the whole time. I think once Caleb eats less frequently it will not be so hard. I have more to blog but I will have to do it later. Everyone is asleep and a hot bath and book are calling my name.
