The Storm

Somehow, we will get through it all...

I meant to post pictures of the kids rooms. I am so proud of what we have done to them.

I wanted to show you my babies in their recent photo session. 

And then the storm hit.

Something we never saw coming, something we could not ever have avoided. Something that could blow over, or something that could cost us everything and then some.

Something I would be foolish to ever discuss on the internet. But that many of you already know. 

How we will come out of this, I have no idea. How we will survive during it, I also have no idea. 

All I know is this: we will get through it together. And we will cry. And we will pray. And we will come out, one way or the other, on the other side of this hot mess as a family. 

That's where I've been. 

My First Haircut

Look at my big boy haircut!

Do you see I got my ears and neckline all trimmed up?

Landon got his first haircut today. He wasn't amused. He cried and cried, and not even his favorite person in the world, Ellie, couldn't make him happy. But when it was all over, he looked so handsome. The store people were in love with him, and could not believe his hair. I did feel a bit bad for the mommy with the little girl behind us getting her first haircut. She was probably Kailey's age, but she had way less hair than my boy. And all the people were oohing and aahing over my boy. But not that bad :)

Chocolate Milk Detox

Kailey is an addict. I am her enabler loving mother that let this happen.

You see, she has a great love of chocolate milk. She drinks it all day long. She asks for it first thing in the morning. She carries it all around the house. That right there has become a huge problem. You see, we started finding chocolate milk cups stashed around the house. Chucked on the floor anywhere. Under beds, in toy boxes, purses, laundry, etc. Hidden from sight. Now you can imagine what that is like when we find it 3 days later...

Anyways, here she is, drinking her milk. And eating nothing. Nothing at all. Because food does not compare to her love of chocolate milk. I saw the warning signs of addiction. Her whole focus of being has revolved around where her chocolate milk is. The way she sucks it down as fast as she can. The way she hides the evidence. And I, the tired new mother, kept giving it to her to keep her from melting down. And when she'd lose one cup, I'd give her a new one. And another. And another.

I know, so unlike me.

Finally I realized how much she is actually drinking. The numbers aren't pretty. At least 54 oz a day. Well, thats just got to stop. No wonder she doesn't eat. No wonder she is all of 23 pounds.

So into detox she went. One cup in the morning, and one with dinner. Thats it.

It isn't pretty. There has been a lot of screaming, crying, throwing oneself onto the floor, begging, pleading, and all out temper. But 3 days into it, I think she has gotten the message, and is starting to accept that sometimes, we only drink water. And we don't die from it. And now we sometimes eat some food. Because when you are not filled with milk all the time, you get pretty hungry every now and then.

Will this kick the habit? Probably not completely. Relapse can happen even with the most determined of recovering addicts. And this one isn't all that determined. Here's to hoping, though.

PS: Took a couple room pics today. Maybe this weekend...

Cleaning and Scrubbing

"Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow, "

(although clearly today would be better)

"For babies grow up, we've learned to our sorrow."

 (like from this..

to this in seconds, apparently)

"So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep,"

 

(big sister, get your homework done)

"I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep."

 (you are so sweet and cute and fluffy)

  (sleep well,little guy. you'll be big too soon)

New Attitude and New Princess

I read the most lovely story today while feeding my son. ( I have been to the end of the internet and back feeding babies.) A wife and husband and their children are having a hard time making ends meet. There is no money, no time, and so much work to do. A woman tells the wife that it is her duty to make a nice home and cheerful attitude so that her husband can better himself and be more motivated to work hard to support the family. So, she puts on her prettiest dress, cleans the house, cooks, and flirts with the banker that is coming discuss foreclosure on their farm. In the end, she realizes that the stranger woman was right, and look how much better things can be for them. It was a lovely story.
It had a nice end.

That is not the way things work at my house.

I believe this story does have a good morale though. Attitude and gratitude will get you the directions you want to go. Sometimes, it helps so much to just take a shower and dry my hair, after I have washed dishes, and washed floors, and washed diapers and babies. I have began to make my bed every day, something that hasn't happened in years. Partially to keep myself from crawling back in, but also, because it feels so nice to have something clean and nice-looking. Yes, I pick up toys every single day. Because, in the morning, I like my home so much better when it is at least picked up. Sometimes, its the little things that make all the difference in the world. Its all how you look at it.

That being said, I went to target in my yoga pants with spit-up on my t-shirt today. Such is life :)

I must leave you with a picture of my new niece, Parker. I didn't know that aunts had a different section in their hearts for their nieces and nephews. A section that could love them endlessly and so completely. That part was opened up for me on Sunday night, when Parker came into the world. She will always be so special, because she has made me an aunt. I am head over heels in love with her, and it is all I can do not to bother her parents 6,000 times a day to let me come love on her.

Ellie and Parker

Doesn't he look huge! They weighed the exact same at birth.

Welcome to the family, sweet girl. You can never know how much joy you have brought me already, and you are just a few days old. I can't wait for you to show me how to be an Aunt. I can't wait to watch you grow up along side my own sweet babies. And I hope you will love me even a fraction of what I already love you.

And I hope your daddy bought a really big shotgun :)

Where Have I Been?

What a whirlwind few months we have had!

Here's a little about what's been happening here. After our boy made his appearance, life pretty much ground to a screeching halt. Taking three kids out is a daunting task. As in crazy, scary, do I have everything task. Especially when one is a perpetual eating machine, one strives to put herself in the most dangerous situation possible, and one complains about the babies at every chance she can.

I am hoping to post the big reveal pics of our room makeovers this week. Ellie's room is very close to being done, just needs a few finishing touches. Kailey's room is done, save for one lonely picture that needs to be hung. And Landon, well, that is my masterpiece that is almost done and I am SO excited about!

Our basement is finally finished up as well. After a whole year, we have the family room and bedroom done. And hopefully the bathroom will be sometime this winter.

Ellie started first grade this year, and is thriving. I think it was a relief to her to get out of the house and away from the little ones all day. Kailey spends every waking moment plotting what she can do to make my life hard. One minute she is as helpful as can be, and the next, she is destroying my house. And she has that look like the donkey on shrek, you just can hardly get mad at her for it.

Landon is huge. HUGE. MASSIVE. His sisters were never this giant. He has fat on his fat. His clothes are busting at the seams. Thank goodness we bought the carseat with the higher weight limit. Although I can hardly heave his giant body in the car these days.

As for me, I am officially a part time worker. Love it. May never work full time again. May strive to work less and less.

So, I will attempt to be better at this posting biz now that I am used to things. And maybe, just maybe, tomorrow there will be pictures.

Until then, I leave you with this. Because it is ridiculous.

A Bit Of Fun

Not often you can fit in a bitty baby bed :)

All 3 of my kids have had their photo taken in this bed

The doll bed made my Matt's grandfather

Yeah, Ellie and I are mean, aren't we?

Kailey loves her baby! The feeling does not seem to be mutual...

Get that dolly away from me!
My sweet baby boy :)