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.
We got to come home around noon today. The doctors cleared us at 8am and we waited and waited for the nurses to get the paper work done. Finally at 11 we said"can we go home" thay said oh are you ready?? Aargh! Anyway the girls were excited to have us home. Karissa and Kylie said Hi and gave us hugs. Cara said "where's the baby." So much for mom and dad. Cara had to hold him and kiss him and then things got really interesting. I had to nurse Caleb and Cara climbed right up and asked a million questions. She is my first inquisitive child. Karissa didn't care about the nursing thing when Cara was born and I guess Cara was too young to care when Kylie was born. Caleb will definately have a little mother in Cara. I forgot to tell you she sang songs to him at the hospital. She is all about the baby. Kylie was a little unsure but then she took her cues from the other girls.
I am happy to report Kylie is on the mend. She slept the last two nights through. They started her on an antibiotic Thursday and she looks much better. It was really hard to be at the hospital having one baby with another sick baby at home. I am glad to be home with them.
Sorry we didn't post a picture before now. We have been a little busy. Caleb Michael arrived at 1:01 pm Thursday September 22. He was 8lbs 10 ou and 20 and 1/4 inches long.
We began the induction at 6:30am. I had an epidural at 11:45 and had my water broke. At 12:15 Kirk went downstairs to get lunch and I was at a 5. By 12:25 I was at a 7 , so I called Kirk and told him to come back. By the time he got to our room I was at a 9. Holy cow!! He came very fast after about 6 pushes. He wasn't even in the birth canal long enough for his head to get distorted. When he came out Kirk cut the cord and then they whisked him away. All I could see were his feet and they were blue and not moving. He didn't cry and it was very scary. Kirk says they shoved a tube down to his lungs and suctioned out a lot of gook. They did get him pink and moving and he always had a heart beat. They said he came so fast all the fluid didn't have a chance to get squeezed out of his lungs. I got to hold him and then they had to take him to the nursery for a couple of hours. The girls did get to come in and see him before he went to the nursery. Cara was estatic. She wanted to kiss an hug him and take him home. Karissa was a little bashful and said she wanted to name him Cameron. Kylie was still a little sick and really not interested.
Caleb seems very calm. He sleeps a lot and really doesn't cry too much. I know all that can change when we get home! Hopefully it won't. When the picture lady took his picture this morning he held his hands up as if to say "touchdown." Kirk was very proud . When I burped him Kirk was proud of our "little man." It seems so strange to change his diaper ans see a little "peanut" down there.
For any men who might read this I'll say I am sorry for the birth story. Every woman likes to share her experience in detail. It's like a war story. This is the first baby I have felt an immediate bond with. I have always felt like I just am not very maternal because I don't instantly feel bonded. Maybe because he is a boy...I don't know. Everything has definately been different this time around.
Well, we are off to the hospital. Hopefully sometime this morning there will be a picture of our new son posted here. We still have no name so hopefully he will inspire something!!! We are having the baby at Baylor All Saints on Summit in Fort Worth. I know we won't see any of you there but we will be in touch through the blog world.
We will be induced Thursday morning at 5am. Thank goodness!!! I am so ready. The baby is engaged and I am dialated to a 3. I am tired of walking around feeling like I have a soccar ball between my legs. Anyway we should have our son thursday morning. He still has no name. Pray for kylie to get well. I tried to take her to a walk in clinic this morning because we still haven't found a pediatrician. They wanted $170 for an initial visit. Yeah right!!! So I called Dr. Peters, our ped in W.F. She called in a prescription and said if she isn't better call Friday and she will call in an antibiotic. Hopefully she will get better soon. I guess that's all.
Yesterday, Cara was helping Kirk put his birthday present (see other picture) together. She walked out of the living room and came back in Kirk's shoes and hat. She was very proud of being just like dadddy.
There is still no baby. I had contractions most of Friday night into Saturday and then nothing!!! Kylie is sicker...running fever. Then last night I slept better than I have ain a long time but the baby didn't seem to move at all. I was concerned that something was wrong. I drank juice and laid on my left side and still nothing. By about lunch time there was some movement. I think all the contractions must have just worn him out. I hate all this anxiety. Hopefully, he will come soon!! I never had false labor or braxton hicks or anything with the girls. I always went into labor and had a baby. This on and off stuff is killing me.
Today was not a good day. First of all at 1 am I see Kirk walking around with a flashlight and say what is going on. Apparently, the power was out but should have been restored by 4am. I feel really bad for complaing with the whole Katrina thing but it was really hot in our house. So we woke up at 7am to the cell phone alarm and still no electricity. We called Kirk's aunt and they had no power either. So we get Karissa ready for school and tell Cara and Kylie 500 times they can't watch TV. When I take Karissa to school the main road is blocked off due to an accident that had caused the power failure. There was no power at school either but they took the kids and let them play outside until power was restored. So I am tired and grumpy and worried about the food in my fridge. I take the little girls to the park and come home to shower for my doctor's appt.
Last week my doctor had scheduled an induction for this Friday. Today was just a check and then welcome baby on Friday. After waiting an hour, with both my girls and Kirk, to see the doctor we find out we have been bumped from our time Friday and the next available slot is next Thursday. That's just GREAT!!! I am due next Saturday anyway. And besides all that she says that I am dialated but not very effaced. Come on this is baby 4 he should practically fall out!!!
So we come home and we have power. Yeah!!
Then I remember Kirk is not coming home from work but going to shop for an entertainment center for his new 36 inch TV(happy birthday to him). So I am tired, depressed and alone for the night. Our pantry is empty because tomorrow is payday. I was not even up to going swimming. I scrounge dinner for the girls and get them ready for bed. Then I discover Kylie has a green runny nose and a cough and Cara's rash is getting worse. So much for my great Thursday morning bible study. I feel like we will never get involved due to illness. Everyone always says that's what happens when you have 3-4 kids but that doesn't help any in the midst of your isolation.
Sorry for my rant!!
Karissa in blue, Cara in pink.
I tried to post these with my other post but for whatever reason it didn't work. This week the girls have taught themselves to swim under the water. Karissa can even get some things off the bottom. Cara swims on top with her face in the water and runs into things. It is amazing how much they have taught themselves. Yesterday there was a swim instructor at the pool with her kids. She said the girls look great...they haven't developed any bad swimming habits or techniques from teaching themselves to swim.
Yesterday, was the first women's bible study of the fall at our new church. I was a little disappointed to learn they do not have anything comparable to MOMS. Their moms program consists of small groups of women who meet in homes to pray for their children and maybe read something together. I was very impressed with their Women in the Word study yesterday. It runs from 10-1:30. After a 15 min fellowship and eat time they start in small groups to discuss the homework questions, then they have 20 minutes of praise and worship and 45min of lecture. Then from 11:50 - 1:30 we can eat lunch at the church (ordered in from different restaurants) or go out to eat with friends(if you have any :( ) or run errands!!! They have a wee school for the kids from 9:30 - 1:30 absolutely free. The best part is my kids loved it. Cara said her teachers told her she HAD to come back today. Kylie cried because we dropped Cara off at her class first. Anyway I didn't meet anyone yesterday because we didn't have small groups. So I went to Kirk's office and had lunch with him. I am very hopeful although sitting in a group of 100 women and not knowing a single one can be difficult. The study is on the book of James taught by the pastors wife. It is very meaty and I am excited to get back in the word. The schedule is a little hard for Kylie (she usually naps from 12 - 2 or 2:30) but I hope she will adjust. I just knew the girls would fall asleep on the 20 min. ride home. They didn't!! So at 2pm I put Kylie down and had to wake her up at 2:50 to pick Karissa up from school. She did fine and they were all ready for bed last night.
Cara has decided she needs to go to school all the time now. She told me this morning she was a "pre-kid so she needed to go to pre-school." I think she is a little bored at home right now. I am going to put her on the waiting list for First Baptist Wee School.
Karissa is still loving school. She complains about P.E. all the time and about the mean boys at school. She also seems to have a lot of free time in class to read. She finished 7 chapters of her book at school one day.
She got her mid six weeks progress report. She made three 100's in language, science and social studies and a 99 in Math.
Kirk and I were all set to watch the first NFL game of the season. I was so excited I could hardly wait for Thursday to get here even though it was only the Raiders and the Patriots playing. We have been watching pre-season but it is just not the same because they don't play their starters much. Anyway the first half of the game was great then I was so tired I fell asleep on the couch. I can't believe I missed the second half. Kirk says it was boring and the Patriots won. The problem was when I woke up at midnight I couldn't fall back asleep. Today, needless to say, has been dragging by.
Mommy Moment of the day: Cara told me in the car she wanted to be a architect when she grows up. I asked her what they do and she said build things. I asked her where she learned about them and she said from church. They built a house together in her class and learned what an architect is at three years old!!
Cara woke up early at my parents house Sunday and she and my Dad were sitting outside on the swing. They were peacefully watching the animals and not talking. Then Cara says" you know Grandpa we could pray." Cara is our little prayer reminder. She always wants to pray and hold hands.
Karissa has discovered she can read quietly to herself. She has started reading the magic treehouse series and has finished two and a half chapter books in three days. She reads at school in her free time and at home, too. It is so much easier when your kids like to read!! She takes after me I guess. She is definately a fast reader.
Kylie is reverting to the baby role already. She wants to be rocked at night and she cariies her blankie and her paci around all the time. She does talk about the baby some but I don't think she has accepted him yet.
Yesterday, Kirk's mom and dad were here for the day. We moved the cradle in our room and set it up. Cara came in and wanted to make up his bed. She put her special blankie as the sheet and her special Nemo cover and pillow in the bed. When I asked her about it she said "He can have my white blankie...I don't need it anymore." This id the blankie with holes in it she has slept with every night of her life!!! She also said she had filled the cradle with her love for the baby. So far she hasn't taken any of her things back out.
Karissa taught herself to swim underwater. Sometimes she plugs her nose and sometimes she doesn't. She was trying yesterday to get a penny off the bottom of the pool. It was so funny!!! She would put her face in, kick for all she was worth and her bottom never went under the water. Then she asked me " Mom, why do my goggles make me float?" Anyway since Karissa did it Cara decided she could do it, too. She has arm floaties on but she just plucks her head in the water and swims away. It's like they were never afraid of putting their face in the water. Karissa is very competitive and I think she wanted to keep up with some of the older girls at the pool
