Ryan's Christmas Program

Ryan was in his school performance along with every other child from the 2's, 3's, and 4's. He was a King though he kept calling himself a shepherd. Not sure why since he clearly had a crown on his head?? Anyway, this program was on a Tuesday which is not a normal school day for us. I dropped him off in his classroom and dropped Kaitlyn off too (thankfully). Colin and I went and grabbed a seat. Well, I think I started hearing him call for Mommy down the hall from the auditorium where I was sitting. Great!

I videoed him coming in and going on stage. he knew all the songs, but didn't participate in all of them. He kept pointing at me and saying "Mommy, Mommy" over and over again. I finally talked to him after the program was over and asked him what was going on. He said, " I wanted you to come on stage with me so I kept calling to you." Oh, well, that makes perfect sense. I can definitely say that he was a little "off" that morning. We had a little reception for the parents and Ryan was back to his old self...

December 10 - Christmas pics

Sibling Love

My sweet, almost-4-year-old!

My Christmas card picture attempts. It is so hard to get 3 children to look at the camera and smile all at the same time!! Then, the one that is finally the best has poor Colin screaming. The least likely of the bunch to be screaming!!! Oh well...maybe next year I will get a smiling picture!!

December 7 - 5 weeks and the "Biting"

5 weeks old!!

He is getting to be so big!!

At the 3 week appointment, Colin weighed 9lbs and was 22 inches.

I picked Kaitlyn up from school today to find a HUGE bitemark on her cheek. She has some biters in her class and one finally struck! It stayed around for another day or 2 and bruised a little, but she didn't seem to be in any pain. It was crazy how swollen it was and how deep the bite. That child definitely took a chunk out of her!

Santa

Santa came to our neighborhood. Kaitlyn was SO NOT IMPRESSED!!

It was a fun night and I am glad that the children got to meet him, but Ryan didn't tell him what he wanted and Kaitlyn cried. Ryan still doesn't quite grasp what all Santa means. I guess next year he will finally understand the whole list and naughty/nice thing. :)

December 1 - 1 month and 18 months

Big Milestones today.

Kaitlyn turned 18 months.

Colin turned 1 month.

Time is going to fly by, I can just tell!

November 27 - 3wks, 5 days

During the week Colin turned 3 weeks, the kids were in SC with my parents...Heaven!!!

What a godsend that was. We had Monday-Friday with just 1 child. Why did we think this was so hard 3.5 years ago? Our sweet Colin did so well. We slept in 2 mornings until 9am and he went 2 different nights from 11-6am. CRAZY!! Even Ryan didn't do that!!

It was a wonderful, blessed time to bond with our newest addition, but we were so happy to have the older 2 back the day after Thanksgiving. Here are some pics from Sunday after they got back. They are so sweet with Colin. It is a joy to watch them shower him with affection!! (well, at least the times when Kaitlyn isn't trying to bounce him out of the bouncy and Ryan isn't smothering him by trying to hug and kiss him so much!)

really Mom, another picture. Come on already...

cute smile!

Loving their baby brother

Just a picture of me to prove that I did exist in Colin's infancy.

November

2.5 weeks old

Growing, growing.

This is a newborn outfit that Ms. Beth gave me. I was getting swallowed in Ryan's 3 month clothes.

This is my lovey and my Chocolate bunny that my sister and brother gave me.

I am really not cross eyed. I just look like it in this picture.

November 15 - Colin is 2 weeks old

I am 2 weeks old.

I am WONDERFUL...or so my Mommy says.

I sleep a lot.

I eat every 3 hours or so...sometimes even going 4 hour stretches.

What a BLESSING I AM!!!

kait's pose

This is how I find Kaitlyn these days...in the bouncy seat with my phone...that she thinks is hers. All I hear anymore, "Mine! Mine! Mine!"

Leaves...

This was the day Gigi and Pop left - November 11. The weather was beautiful, the kids were having a blast playing with each other, Colin was asleep inside, and Mike and I were enjoying looking around us and marveling at how blessed we are.

It was a sweet moment...

throwing leaves!

Kaitlyn thought the leaves needed to be raked again...

Nov. 12 - Family pictures

So, after we got home and Kaitlyn was sick and then Ryan got pink eye and then Colin had to be on the Light Therapy constantly, we talked Priscilla (Mimi) into staying one more night so that we were only alone for a few hours on that first Sunday. My parents arrived that Sunday evening and stayed until the following Saturday. The only pictures we got the WHOLE week was about an hour before they left. (having 3 kids certainly leaves little time for pictures!)

We were so grateful to have Mimi here for almost 2 weeks (1 week before colin and the week that we were in the hospital) and to have my parents here for Colin's Day 5 - 10. It was wonderful to have some built in entertainment and attention lavished on the 2 older children so I could concentrate on Colin and feedings and healing from another c-section.

hallelujah for Parents!!!

I don't think we could ever find the words for what their time meant to us during these first 2 weeks. I was really struggling with how I was going to balance being a mother to 3. (especially since I never thought I would be a mother to 3). I just wasn't sure how to give sufficient attention to each child. Having grandparents here certainly helped ease that burden in the immediate timeframe coming home from the hospital. We appreciate every moment they can give us with their time, their efforts in the house, their entertainment for the children, their constant care of us as well as all the children. It is just amazing to have parents like ours.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

November 11 - 10 days old...3rd bath

Colin's Gift

Colin decided that he would join our household with a gift for the older children...what did he bring? A "jump jump" aka Bounce House for the children to jump in during all of the cold winter days when we have to stay close to home with an infant. Ryan and Kaitlyn LOVED it and have already spent a ton of time jumping with their friends. Colin couldn't have picked a more perfect gift to get these two "on his side".

While at the hospital

Colin was born on Tuesday, November 1 and I was in the hospital until Friday, November 4. Those few days were relaxing and crazy all at the same time.

On Wednesday, our kids stay at school until 4pm. So, Priscilla went to pick them up and then we get a text from our neighbor, Beth, about 5pm telling us that Kaitlyn has a 103 temperature. Well, of course Mike rushes home to find out what is wrong with our little girl. He spends the evening and most of the night at home administering medicine, feeding supper, doing baths, etc. with Priscilla. Then he heads back to the hospital about 11pm to stay the night with me on that "oh so comfortable" couch that they provide for all the daddy's on the maternity ward. (he has got the "making of the couch/bed" down to a science these days)

He wakes up at the crack of dawn to go back to our house and get Kaitlyn for a doctor's appointment. We find out that she has double ear infections and double pink eye!!! WHAT?? You have got to be kidding. This is coming from the child that has never even been on an antibiotic and she has the major things while we are in the hospital!! AHHH!!

Anyway, she seems to be doing ok despite her sickness, so Mike heads back to the hospital late Thursday evening. (thank goodness Colin has not required much of me while in the hospital)

We get home on Friday about 3pm or so and are greeted by our adorable children. Wake up Saturday morning EARLY to get Colin to a doctor's appt to test his bilirubin and find out that Ryan now has pink eye. (oh, and did I mention that Beth got it too...ugh!)

Colin did not do well on his bilirubin test and now has to go on light phototherapy. Great, just what we need...more things we have to do in addition to having this new life. Oh my goodness...overwhelming first day home. :)

Just some pics from our few days in the hospital...

Dr. Christine delivered all 3 children

Beth and Walker

the same outfit Ryan wore home

Ryan welcoming us home!