Laundry room!!

Have I mentioned before that Stephen is pretty much awesome? Well, he is. This break has been so fun! He took 3 days off this week, and it was so fun to have him home! We played lots of Christmas games, and he did some wood working projects. Both he and I love him doing wood working projects--I get custom furniture and he gets to work with his hands.

Check out our new shoe cubby! There is even a cut out for the broom! He thinks of everything.

He also made a washer & dryer pedestal for me. I had him paint it purple, because purple is a cool color, and everything else in the laundry room is white, so why not? I'm going to see if my sister-in-law will make some vinyl letters for the base. I'm thinking "Hats", "Gloves", and "Scarves". :)

And just for fun, here is the rest of that laundry room wall. We have more storage in another cabinet as well as under the stairs. Funny thing about those shelves...I really wanted storage shelves with doors. I didn't want all my canning (in glass jars) to end up all over the tile floor. Stephen really didn't want to go to the hassle of making them for me, so instead got these. I have to say, he was right. We keep all the glass jars under the stairs, behind a closed door (that Lincoln can't get open). 

That's not to say that I haven't had any broken jars--Lincoln tried to get a jar of apple cider to bring upstairs and it ended up all over the floor. I didn't know about it until some time afterwards, when he came to lunch with the bottoms of his pants soaking wet. It's a miracle that he didn't slice himself. *shiver* It was one of those times where I think my grandma was watching out for him. I like to think that Grandma is still an active part of my life. I just can't see her now. Just like I like to think that she and Trevor knew each other before he was born. 

Christmas

At bed time on Christmas Eve I told  the kids they couldn't open presents until everyone was awake, and they couldn't wake me up until at least 6:30am. But they could have their stockings as soon as they got up. I'm sure they had visions of pop tarts and oatmeal dancing through their heads that night!

They ended up letting us sleep in until 7:30am, and then Lincoln still wasn't up, so both Stephen and I got showers before opening presents. Eventually Lincoln woke up, and then the fun began! Since we're so far from all family members, we had received tons of packages filled with presents, and the kids had been looking at them for days, wondering what was inside.

We got several new games for Christmas--Jungle Speed, Chinese Checkers and UNO Attack (or as we call it, Salad Shooter UNO). We've played all of them--it's fun to have new games! Our other numerous gift item was books. All in all the kids got at least 2 dozen new books--that's my kind of Christmas! We've read (or started to read) almost all of them. The kids' big-ticket items were:

Elise: Friendship Bracelet book
Mason: 2 sorter boxes for his electric components
Sammy: A gigantic shoe horn
Lincoln: A bouncy ball
Trevor: Um...I didn't wrap anything. :) But he did get warm milk!

Sammy was pretty taken with his books...we're big Graeme Base fans here!

 My (incredibly talented) sister-in-law Jen made the kids hats, and my mom subtly (like a freight train) reminded  us that we belong at Oregon State by fitting out the entire crew with OSU paraphernalia.

Celebrating Christmas on the Sabbath was wonderful! We only had an hour-long church meeting, and it was full of music and the scriptures. Then back home to make Christmas dinner. It was really fun because we had the missionaries serving in our ward over for dinner. Their names are Trevor and Jeff, and they are the closest thing we have to family way out here. :o) They skyped with their families when dinner was done.

It was a wonderful Christmas--the only thing that would have made it better was spending time with family. I was so stinking homesick! I've called my mother every day for at least a week and a half. Sometimes twice. Oh well, we won't always be so far apart!

Another Sammy quote

Sammy just came upstairs sobbing because his (second) mini tape measure just broke. Through his sobs he told me, "I shouldn't have tried to break it!!"

Another lesson learned.

***

Lincoln threw up 4 times last night, and woke up at least 3 other times. Between him and Trevor it's hard to keep track sometimes. I was very glad that Stephen is taking a couple of days off work, so I didn't feel guilty kicking him out of bed.

A Poem by Sammy

Sambo Jambo had some tears,
So he cried and cried and cried.
Now Sambo Jambo dancing in hambo
Knows not to jump on chairs!

Trevor's 8 week stats

15 lb 4 oz
24 1/2" long

Our big boy continues to grow!

One more thing

I've been pondering what it means to be a mother lately, maybe because I know this time won't last forever, and also because Trevor is going to be the last baby for awhile. Some days (most days) it seems all I do is feed children, clean up and change diapers.

This last Monday was a great day. I did my Jillian workout, showered, had school with the kids, we ate lunch together, I put Lincoln down for a nap, cleaned up lunch, had the older kids go downstairs for quiet time, nursed Trevor and laid him down. I got out my list of things to accomplish during the week and everything I would need to do a couple of them--my computer, planner, insurance documents, phone numbers, etc. I grabbed my Book of Mormon and read that first, because I've learned that if I don't read first, I usually don't get back to it.

I finish reading and start in on insurance. What a headache! Just when I got to the point of almost understanding some of the charges, Trevor woke up. I went in and nursed him and laid beside him for a few minutes to help him sleep. Then back to insurance. Then Trevor woke up again and I rocked him again. And back to insurance. After a few minutes I heard Lincoln waking up, and then all the kids came upstairs for a snack. And then Trevor woke up.

I was so frustrated with the insurance--trying to make sense of the charges as well as the fact that before I had Trevor I was in frequent contact with them to make sure that I was covered at the birthing center, and now they had denied almost every stinking charge!!! Grr.

So here I was in the middle of frustrating insurance when everyone needed to have a snack and wanted to talk to me. I tried to do both, and continued getting more frustrated--trying to focus on something annoying anyhow with 4 sweet children clamoring for my attention doesn't bring out the best in me.

Amid this happy ruckus Stephen called. He told me all about his very successful day (which I totally credit to the faith of our mothers who were praying for him--and me) and then asked how I was doing. HA! I told him how I had been trying to get the insurance situation taken care of but kept getting derailed by the needs of our kids. Trevor not sleeping well. Needing to clean up. Lincoln waking up. The kids needing a snack. As I was talking to him Lincoln finished eating and needed to be taken to the sink so I could wash him up. Here's what I said to Stephen (read with tears in your voice):

"Lincoln needs to be washed now. There is always one more thing that I have to do!"

And my very sage husband replied:

"It's not just one more thing, it's the thing."

I stopped in my tracks. That's right! I don't just wash faces and read books and nurse my baby to get to something else. The goal doesn't need to somewhere other than where I am. As I'm told in Ecclesiastes, there is a time for everything. Sooner than I can imagine my sweet babies will be grown.

So right now, I get to choose every day: am I going to make this a happy day or a grumpy day? Either way the day will pass. It's like when somebody spills the orange juice--it's spilled, that can't be changed--what hasn't been decided is how I am going to react. I can't change what has happened, but I can control how I respond. After all, it's not like they spilled the juice on purpose!

Having a baby is so good for me. Everything slows down. I see things in a different light. I remember the overwhelming love I had for each of my children when they were so small, and have more patience with them as they make mistakes now that they are bigger. I appreciate the stage they are in, even the annoying parts, because I know it will pass so quickly.

I realize that I can only do so much, and so I let the little, unimportant things go. So the older kids don't always make their beds; I'll live. Elise leaves her socks on the garage steps; I can kindly ask her to put them away. Mason can't stop talking long enough for me to answer his questions; he'll learn. Me getting upset or annoyed really doesn't accomplish anything except making me upset and annoyed. Who wants to be around someone like that? At the end of the day it's really not worth it.

One tender mercy from a loving father in heaven is that even when I don't get much sleep (TD has been congested and wakes up at night coughing and/or gasping for breath--pretty much freaks me out and keeps me awake) I'm not mad. Usually when I'm tired and/or hungry I get mean. I've been working on that for years (and years and years). But lately I don't get mad. I'm just tired. What a great blessing!! I like myself the same whether or not I'm tired, but I really don't like to be around me when I'm angry all the time. I imagine my kids like to be around me more when I'm just tired, too. :o)

I've been surprised at how relaxed I've become (for the most part--see above example...) ever since having Trevor. In general I've finally realized that I can't do everything right now, and happy day!, I'm fine with that! The thing now, for this time of my life, doesn't go far beyond the 6 people that make up my home.

And, oh, I'm so happy!!!

Made for each other

I was having a bit of a rough day on Friday, and my sweet husband (after prompting from his mother) brought home flowers for me...

He drew these for me (on his bus ride home) with a black pen, a blue pen, a green highlighter and an orange highlighter on the back of a bibliography of a paper he is reading for school. I think they are perfect!

They have a place of honor on the refrigerator.

What we've been up to...

Stephen and I made yummy Asian food for dinner on Sunday. I really love having him around!

 Watching the First Presidency devotional on Sunday

Things Mason does while I'm in bed...

Getting taller...

Sammy fell asleep on the top step after getting mad at Mason and storming out of the room

Life with 5 kiddos

These next couple of weeks Stephen is going to be crazy busy. I'm not really looking forward to it--but, I've managed before and I will again. :) At least his being crazy busy isn't all that common--not like my friend whose husband works finance in NYC. She's a wonder woman.

Anyhow, Monday started out a little rough. Trevor was congested all night, and when he did sleep he was so noisy he kept me awake. I ended up sleeping in until after 9am. I have to say that I have an amazing daughter. Amazing!! When I got up everyone was dressed, fed and had all their morning chores done. In fact, they were playing outside in the snow!

I learned later that Lincoln had had a poopy diaper and his diaper had come undone...so when Elise went to change him the diaper was hanging down one leg and he was covered in poo! She put him in the bath and swished out his poopy pjs. And the whole time she was concerned that the water running would wake me up. She helps put Lincoln down for naps, or holds the baby while I do that. She makes pancakes and gets snacks and can get both babies in their car seats. She does her school work without being reminded (she had most of it done this morning before I ever got up--and I was up early today!) and is always willing to help out.

The rest of Monday went well--I made bread, played games, watched "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", (their favorite show!) and had FHE and prayers, all with the kids, because that's how we roll here. Elise and Mason made dinner--their favorite: Macaroni & cheese with hot dogs and beans. We had a "romanticky" meal with a tablecloth, candles and our new Christmas stoneware (another sweet thrift store find!). Sammy & Lincoln took a bath while the others cooked. The bath is my new dinnertime babysitter. :) Stephen got home a little after 10pm.

I feel like I'm falling behind. The piles are beginning to grow--on my counter, in the hall, on my dresser, in the front room....But I'm simply not able to do everything right now. It seems like just when I'm about to get something (as in clutter clean up) done Trevor needs to nurse or Lincoln has a poopy diaper or Mason has a new invention to show me or it's time for school or lunch or ballet or dinner.

Yesterday I got in my workout clothes and was all set to do my Jillian workout--I had it all planned out (I should have known something would happen!): Trevor had nursed recently and was asleep, so I could work out, get a quick shower and then do school and nurse the baby. Well, Trevor woke up, Lincoln had a poopy diaper and the kids all decided to do the work out with me. Then Trevor needed to nurse so we did school right then. And then it was lunch time. Put the baby to sleep, make lunch, soothe the baby, put Lincoln down for his nap, nurse the baby, finally take my shower! Only 3 hours later!

Mason's ear was really hurting him yesterday, and when Mason complains of pain, I know it's bad. The last time I took him to the doctor he had a double ear infection, but hadn't even noticed! Sammy woke up in the middle of the night because "it felt like mice were biting my legs." Lincoln is currently cutting molars, so isn't sleeping well, and Elise has an uncomfortable-sounding cough. I cut the boys' hair today.

I think that once I get a good night's sleep (which is totally relative with a newborn!) I won't feel quite so far behind. I do enjoy this time of life!! I know there are things that only happen with my babies in the newborn stage--the cooing and new smiles and curling up and swaddling, along with the frequent nursings and diaper changes and night-time wakings. It's all par for the course. It, too, shall pass. And I'm sure I'll miss it.

So,

Cleaning and scrubbing can wait 'til tomorrow
For babies grow up, I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.

Trevor stats

Trevor and I went in to see my midwife this week for our 6 week postpartum check up. Trevor was 14 lb 4 oz!! And 24 1/2" long. Here's his life to this point:

Birth: 9 lb 11oz
3 days: 10 lb 4 oz
1 week: I've already forgotten
3 week: 11 lb 14 oz
6 week: 14 lb 4 oz

Trevor fit into his newborn clothes...never...and was out of his 0-3 month clothes within 3 weeks. When I pulled out his getting-bigger box I was very dismayed to find that while I had a plethora of 0-3 month and 6-12 month clothes, all I had in 3-6 month clothes was about 15 onesies. Yeah, not so great for a Minnesota winter! My mom sent me some clothes, because I was really worried about keeping my little guy clothed. Fortunately, he fits perfectly into his 6 month clothes now, so we are set.

He's also in size 2 diapers--we went through one pack of newborn diapers (they were really too small at about 3 days...) and 2 packs of size 1 diapers (he grew out of them shortly into the second pack, but we kept putting them on him anyhow--can't waste that money!). So he's in size 2 now, but I should put 3s on him at night, because he's wetting completely through! And of course I'm mostly using cloth diapers, but he's on the outside leg snap on the small diapers, so soon he and Lincoln might be wearing the same diaper.

Here's the best smile I could catch today:

Isn't he so cute?!?!

Sammy-ism

Tonight Sammy was holding Trevor, who was screaming. Sammy hollered to me (I was in the other room) that Trevor needed his binky, and I should look in his car seat for it. I found it and brought it in to him. Trevor continued to scream, however, and the following occurred:

Sammy: He's trying to get milk out of the binky. He wants to nurse.

Me: Try holding him like this (I show him how to hold and bounce him).

Sammy tries the new position, and it seems to be working...but then Trevor starts crying again.

Me: Let me know if you want me to take him.

Sammy: Take him!!! He wants to nurse! He's trying to get milk out of the binky!

I take Trevor and hold him, trying to console him by bouncing him a little.

Sammy: Nurse him! He wants milk!

I nurse him and all is well.

What is wrong with this picture?

Trevor's blessing day

Today Stephen blessed our little Trevor David. It was a bittersweet day--we didn't have any family with us, but we did have our wonderful ward friends. It was also the primary Sacrament meeting program, and we had great fun watching (and listening to) our kids participate. Mason especially sang with gusto! 

There was a little concern on my part before we left for church--Trevor hadn't pooped for 72 hours, and I was incredibly worried that he was going to explode in his white blessing suit (which thankfully arrived yesterday afternoon!) that my mom made for him. 'Cause three days equals a LOT of oozy yellowness. Fortunately, as soon as I put him in his car seat the explosions began, and we escaped the eruption with no yellow on any clothes! I used a lot of cloth diapers to catch everything (because I know you wanted to know that). Go me, go mommy, go me! We missed choir, but caught the explosion, so all was well. 

And for posterity's sake, here's who was in the circle to bless our little TD: Bishop Mark Macdonald, his counselors Fred Larson & Jim Roberts, our Stake President Mark Paynter (he and Stephen ride the bus together), our home teacher Bobby Diller, and good friends Brian Hamilton and Joel Helgeson. 

Oh yeah, Trevor is starting to smile!! It makes me happy. :o) :o)

p.s. check out that dress Elise is wearing--$4 at the thrift store!!!

My girl makes me proud!

After going through Target with Stephen the other day, Elise had some concerns over a picture that she saw there. We encouraged her to do something about it, so she wrote the following and took it to Activity Days for the other girls to sign.

Just stuff...in no particular order

We love love love our little Trevor David!! At his 3-week appointment he was 11 lb 14 oz. Wow! He's a great nurser and sleeper--I almost always get at least a 4-hour stretch at night. Funny how that is so great.

Poor baby got thrush (more like poor mommy!), but the gentian violet cleared it right up!

Elise reading with her brothers (Lincoln must have been down for a nap):

Happy Halloween! Elise is a pirate, Lincoln her (rather unwilling) parrot, Sammy is the same dinosaur that I was for Halloween many long moons ago, and Mason...Mason is a zener diode. And yes, he can explain what that is to you. :o)

An airplane, helicoptor and "hopper". See this post for more on the hopper.

Lincoln blowing bubbles from another of Mason's inventions. Unfortunately the bubble blower didn't quite work out.

Today the kids played "Atlantis"--they built a barge out of every couch cushion we own and proceeded to sail to Atlantis. These are their "SCUBA suits" so they could dive into the water to search for the lost city (in this picture they had already cleaned up their barge).

Lincoln loooooves breadstick dough!!

See! I make cookies with my kids!

Lincoln loves pulling out all the cookie sheets/muffin tins/placemats and spreading them across the floor. He always cleans them up, too! His version of the clean up song goes, "ee-uh, ee-uh, ee-uh, ee-uh". He loves cleaning up!

Just being silly :)

Trevor helping Daddy study.

It's always fun when grandparents come!

As I mentioned before, my mom got into town about 16 hours before Trevor came into the world. She was here for 12 wonderful days. My plan for after I had TD was to do nothing but take care of him for about a week. My mom took care of everything else--cooking, cleaning, homeschooling, hair cuts, carving pumpkins, reading, field trips, and painting the front room, hall and kitchen/dining room. So, she did way more than I ever do! :o) In fact, I made a list of things for her to do--like cleaning my fridge--and she was glad I had that list! Crazy woman!

Monday night she gave all the boys haircuts (don't worry--Lincoln still has curls!):

She took the older 3 kids to the circus:

And because she didn't have enough to do, she washed walls and painted:

She took all of us to the apple orchard--my first venture out of the house:

She did school with the kids. Notice Mason's concentration? Mom made him hold his pencil correctly, and it was kind of tricky for him...:

She took Elise to ballet:

And the older kids to the St. Paul LDS Temple, and Catholic Cathedral:

Somehow I didn't get any pictures of perhaps the most surprising thing to me: how Lincoln took to his Grammy! I spent several days in bed with the baby, and Lincoln got croup, so couldn't really be near us. In fact, everybody got croup on Tuesday--the day TD was born. Not fun. Sammy was so bad we took him to the ER (but ended up only at Urgent Care) on Thursday. But back to Lincoln and Grammy...

The day that Mom took the older kids to the temple Lincoln cried and cried when he realized he didn't get to go. He was so sad! His face about broke Grammy's heart! She put him down for his nap before she left, but wasn't back by the time he got up. I went in to get him when he woke up, hoping for some snuggles, but he wriggled out of my arms and ran out of the room calling, "MA! Mama!", looking for my mom!

With the croup he started waking up at night, and my angel mother would get up with him (and Sammy). Even after he was over his cough he kept waking up and Mom would rock him and sing him back to sleep. Funny thing, since Mom has left Lincoln has slept through the night as usual. Stephen and I figure that he really liked that time alone with his Grammy. :o)

She carved pumpkins with the kiddos:

             

And read lots and lots and lots of books!

Stephen and I introduced Mom to our new favorite show, "White Collar", and we watched quite a few episodes with our new projector, compliments of my dad. :o) No more watching movies on my little laptop screen!

Speaking of my daddy-o, he stopped by for a couple of days on his way back from Germany! We went to the Science Museum with him yesterday--Mason loved. having him there to do experiments with--and at home to solder and desolder with him. We went out for dinner at Famous Dave's rib house, and he took the kids out for donuts this morning. And of course they wrestled and tickled. :o)

Come back soon, Grammy & Papa!!