It's been TOO long...

I cannot believe it's been SO long since I last posted. Wow, there have been so many things going on! I will quickly update here and then go back and start posting photos and updates from September! Phew I have a LOT to catch up on!

First of all, I am 4 weeks and 1 day past my hysterectomy! And praise Jesus, the results came back NO cancer past stage 0. AMEN!!!!! I have a very detailed post on the whole ordeal coming. It's been an up and down recovery but really not too bad.

The girls are all great! Boy, are they all growing so fast! I cannot believe Anna will be SIX months this month! Seriously, where is the time going? Not to mention, the triplets will be THREE next month! Like, OH MY GOSHHHHH! They have been enjoying lots of little preschool projects and learning so much each day that passes. They are speaking in full sentences and giving us attitude that we thought we wouldn't see until they were teens!

If we are "friends" on facebook, then you are well aware of why I haven't been blogging. Long story short, I found out that someone was stealing my photos and my story and claiming it as their own. Since this has happened to me numerous times, I have started to think of ways that my children can and will be protected. I don't write this blog for anyone but my children. It is a document of their childhood and it's just the way I choose to do it. So, I am pretty sure that our blog will be going private. I think January 1st 2014, will be the day. I have already received hundreds of emails of those that want to keep reading the blog and I will accept anyone that gives me a good explanation of either how they know me, my husband, our extended family, ect. I just want to keep the random strangers out. and hopefully help with the protection of my babies. There is nothing I won't do to protect them. I have a whole post on all of this coming so hopefully my story can help others stay protected! I will not be posting photos on my facebook very regularly of my children either. The lengths this person went to with my story and photos was mind blowing and it started with facebook. Facebook is a beast and I have a very strong love/hate relationship with it. 

I have been busy already preparing for Christmas and of course the girl's birthday party! The time just flies by! I have a list about a mile long that I need to get done!

I also want to say thank you to all the prayers, thoughts, texts, emails, and meal that we received over the past few months. It has meant so much to me that we were thought of!

I'll leave you with some cute photos of my monkeys! These were taken just the other day! They are getting SO big!

Happy Tuesday!

We had a pretty good weekend here! The weather was so nice and we spent lots of time outside! 

On Saturday, I did some meal planning in the morning for the next two weeks and cleaned up since we had family coming to visit from PA, which of course the girls loved. During naptime, Tammy and Aunt Bonnie stayed at the house and Megan and I went to get some more maternity stuff at Target. I got a few shirts and a pair of jeans. After the girls nap, we all went for a long walk and played at two different parks in our neighborhood. The girls were sooo happy to be outside, and so was I! It was seriously so beautiful with the sunshine and warm temps!

On Saturday night I found the girls in the corner of their room on the floor with all of their stuff, laughing, talking and giggling at 10pm! They seriously melt my heart!!!! I LOVE how they are best friends!

On Sunday, Tammy, Megan and I took the girls to get new shoes for the spring/summer!

Here are the big girls while waiting for Tammy and Megan:

They LOVE sitting on the coffee table.

They had so much faun and we're so well behaved. A couple funny stories to share...

Claire wanted ONLY the pinkest, sparkly, glittery, gemstone shoes she could find. She would pick them out and say, "oh momma!" Needless to say, we didn't get them. There were a few others that she was "looking at" and of course they were all pink and sparkly.

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While we were there, Claire said a new phrase, "oh shit" and I am sorry to say I am not surprised. Megan, Tammy and I almost busted out laughing before I quickly said, "just ignore that, don't even acknowledge that she said it!!" She then proceeded to say it all evening. Tim could not believe it! But she hasn't said it since. Honestly, I don't know if she was trying to say something else but then it just sounded like that, I don't know. We have been trying to watch what we say so much, but ya know, sometimes that proves to be really difficult!

So Tammy got the girls some really nice sneakers for the spring and I can't believe how big the shoes look on them! Every day they seem to get bigger to me!

We then went to Bob Evans for lunch and the girls again did great. The lady next to us even said how well behaved the girls were. At least once when we are out someone tells me how well behaved and good listeners my girls are and that is seriously the best thing you can tell a mom! I contribute that to running a tight ship, with structure, planning, and preparing!

We got back around 2pm and during their nap, I went to the grocery store which took me FOREVER. I try to not go when it's super busy (I prefer 6am on Saturday morning) like on Sunday afternoon, but we were just so busy that I had no other choice.

After the girls nap we went for another long walk in their choo choo wagon and then went to the park for awhile. When we got home Uncle Nathan and Emily came over to visit and we had a great meal!

Yesterday, (Monday) we had a low-key day, cleaning up the house, doing laundry and lots of playing. I finally started getting stuff ready for the Tot Swap which is next week/weekend. I cleaned out both closets in the girls rooms and today I am going to do all of my bins with stuff in them. Oh my Lord, we have SO MUCH STUFF!!!!!

Sorry it's so blurry...taken with my phone. Claire with all her jewels on!

I had my perinatalogist appointment in the afternoon and my mom came with me. Next post will be on that.

Hope everyone has a great week!

{ Randoms }

I feel like my blogging has taken a back seat and I need to get back to it. It's just been crazy around here. Here's a little glimpse of what we have been up to...

Let's see...

Emily started climbing the stairs a few weeks ago. I have a video of it and I keep trying to upload it and it isn't working. Driving me crazy. There's a funny story behind how we figured out she could climb the stairs.

Emily is cursing around on all the walls/furniture and is ready to start running!

I'm really trying to learn how to sew on my new sewing machine. My wonderful MIL was gracious enough to buy me lots of patterns and some fabric and I have all these awesome ideas in my head, but honestly everything I read is like a foreign language to me! I think of myself as a fairly smart individual, I mean, I do have a Master's Degree...but the sewing manual, seems to be completely foreign to me! My mom used to sew all her own clothes (before kids) and my MIL is very talented too, so I hope with their help, I can really get going on it soon! My goal is to get good and open a business {one day}.

It's been really fun having my SIL here while her and I are both pregnant {her first and my fifth}. I have enjoyed our conversations so much about babies and pregnancy. I love telling her all the things that the books don't tell you...ya know, so she is prepared! :) She is only going to be here another month or so, and it will hard to say good-bye, especially for the girls. Luckily they are young enough that they won't remember, but still it has been so nice having her here. I hate that she lives in New Mexico and I hate it even more that my first niece or nephew will be so far from me! :( Hopefully in the next year or so, they will be moving back to the east coast and be much closer {and close to Disney World!}.

We are expected to get a big {possibly more than 12 inches} snow storm tonight and all day tomorrow. My heart is happy! I cannot wait to take the girls outside in the snow {a real snow} and pull them around in the sled! I also am so excited to have a family day in the middle of the week! What could better?!

Tonight I have my oncology appointment. I have my list of questions I need to ask and it's a must I get some answers before leaving. I never in my life thought I would be going to an oncologist, especially at 27 years old. A little freaky.

The big girls are OBSESSED with Caillou. OMG. OBSESSED. Like, don't even bother talking to them or asking a question while they are watching it, or you will get the death stare, like "excuse me, why are you talking to me, can't you see that I am watching my show!"

We went to visit some of my mom's side of the family this Saturday in Dover, DE {I forgot my camera}. It was the first ALL DAY trip for the girls {with NO naps} and I must say they were angels! We left here about 7:30AM, picked up my sister and went. We only stopped once at a rest area a little over half way there and let the girls run in the 30 degree weather and by the time we got in the car they were more than ready. We also stopped at my grandpa's grave but they didn't get out since it was really muddy and freezing. We got to my grandma's house about 11AM and they were so good. The only person who has met the big girls is my grandma {once} and no one else on that side of the family {expect my cousin, her hubby and their son!} has even met any of my girls. The last time I was there was for my baby shower in October 2010....so it's been awhile, but I've been busy! So it was nice for them to finally meet my girls! The big girls stayed up all day and played and played. We even ventured outside for a little and let them run! Emily did take a nap and then we ate dinner and left around 6:15PM. The big girls immediately fell asleep but that didn't last long. They watched Barney the rest of the way and we were home by 8:30PM and they went straight to bed. Tim and I were beat, it had been a long day! But now we know that we can do it for a long car ride in one day! Whahoo!

The girls got baby dolls with bottles from my grandma for Christmas and since we opened our presents when we were there, the girls just got them. To say they are now obsessed with their babies...feeding them, burping them, rocking them, it's so cute! I hope it continues when AK is born! :)

The Tot Swap here in town is coming up and once again I have so much to tag and enter in. Ugh, it gets so overwhelming in the beginning until I get going. I just procrastinate and then have to rush to get it all done! I am trying to decide if I want to go the the one that is a little farther away this week...depends on the snow and everything. I should just wait until the one here but I already missed the mom of multiples one, so I could easily go to this one! :) Just depends!

Okay, that's all for now! I will update about my appt later tonight or tomorrow!

Catch-Up: Our Weekend!

I feel like I get on a roll with posting and then boom, I drop off the deep end (which would actually never happen because I HATE deep water with a passion - were talking, even the pool.) Any who...we have had a nice relaxing weekend at home, which was nice. I get stir-crazy so easily, since I don't get out much, but sometimes it really is just nice not to go anywhere!

On Friday, I got to take the girls to Pump It Up...it's a local play place that has lots of blown-up moon-bounce-type-things. It was sponsored by our local Infants and Toddlers and even though we aren't a part of INT anymore, they still let us come, which is seriously so nice of them! Let's just say the girls had more fun in the two hours we were there than their entire life combined. They jumped and bounced, and jumped and bounced...the whole time. They play so well without me, I must say I am very blessed. There were so many kids who would not leave their parent's side or get in any bouncy-thing and my girls are like, "bye bye momma...were playing!!!" They went up the tallest ladders and slid down the biggest slides....even so many of our therapists were like, "I cannot believe your little peanut Natalee who is 19lbs can climb all the way up there!!!" I'm like, "yeah, don't let her little self fool you!!" The girls had fun throwing balls and playing with all of the different toys! It was seriously so fun! I got a little nausea while sitting in one of the bounce houses for awhile but it passed. I was so lucky that Emily had so much fun playing on the floor (she did go in the bounce house but only when I was in there!) and riding on the toy cars. She amazed me going back and forth on the toy cars..and we have three of them at home and she has never done that. I was so proud of her. She also got lots of cuddles from one of our INT therapists and for that I was thankful because I got to run around chasing after the trio! I cannot wait to take Tim with us next time, she is going to be shocked at all the strength the girls have to do some of the activities!

Here are just a few photos that I took with my phone. I didn't even bother bringing my big camera because I knew I wouldn't have time to take photos and honestly, I do not like my expensive camera sitting where I am not watching it at every second. I would die if something happened to it!

On our way out the girls got a snack and then we picked up MCD for lunch. The girls ate better than they have in weeks. Some nuggets, fries, cucumbers, apple slices...they were in heaven. And then they slept til almost 5pm, which I normally wouldn't let them do but I knew they were absolutely exhausted....and so was I!

Saturday we stayed home and Nana came over to visit! The girls were super happy about that! I got a lot of cleaning and laundry done, which after I turned around and it was all done, I was like, "WOW, this place was a mess!" After nap time, we all ventured in the car and drove down to Rockville to drop off a toy bin that another awesome bloggy Momma wanted. It was so awesome to meet her and her sweet little ones in person!! Her babies were born on the same exact day, one year apart! I am hoping we can get together sometime soon and let our kids play!

Sunday, we had a relaxing day at home and the girls snuggled with Daddy before breakfast. Love this photo I snapped of them watching ESPN with their Daddy. 

Natalee is on a "DA-EEEEEE" kick right now. Everything is, "I ove Da-eee" and "where da-eee?" and "my da-eee"...ALL.DAY!!!!! She even calls out for him when she is in bed at night...."da-eeee, da-eeeee". MELT.MY.HEART!!! She must say "I love da-eee" one hundred times a day!

Again, Nana came over to play and Tim went to play golf. Yes, in the 45 degree, wet weather....but he had fun so that's all that matters!

Today, I get to see little Miss Anna-Kate at my appointment so I am excited for that! I will post any photos I get, if I do.

Playing Catch-up!

I don't even know where to begin with this post. So much has been going on and everyday I say to myself that I am going to sit down and blog and then, well, I just don't. Not that I don't want to. Not that their isn't a hundred posts that need to be written. It's just so much has been going on. SO let me start with a list and then all the posts will be post dated to be when they should have been published.

Enjoy!

1. The girls 2nd birthday party was December 15th. It was a great party filled with lots of love and laughter! To be honest, I haven't even uploaded the photos off of my camera...that's just how busy I have been! POST COMING

2. Preparing for the Christmas season. Shopping. Cooking. Baking. Wrapping. Decorating. Planning. Making lists and checking them twice. The list goes on and on. POST COMING

3. My biggest babies are TWO. How did this happen? How did time go so fast? They were TWO on December 23rd. POST COMING

4. All the girls have been sick for weeks, it may have even hit a month now. We have been back and forth to the doctors at least once or twice a week. I swear they should just name rooms after us there because we are there so often. It's a miracle if I go a whole week without taking one or two of the girls. Claire started with an ear infection. She was on antibiotics and the last day of antibiotics she got a fever. Each of the girls have had a fever, bad cough, horrible runny nose, and have just felt like poop. Madelynn and Emily have been on nebulizer treatments, which helped immensely. But every time we go the doctor, they have been tested for flu and RSV and it's always negative, and we leave with just the same news...bad, bad colds for all. It's been around the clock care for all four of them and it's non-stop, let me tell you. Much of my days have been spent wiping noses, giving medicine, rubbing backs, and cuddling my sick girls. 

5. I had my second ultrasound on December 24th. The doctor gave me a good guess on what the sex of the baby is. I keep saying and telling everyone it is a BOY because everything has been SO SO SO different this entire pregnancy, so stay tuned to see if I was right. My next appt for the gender and anatomy scan is on January 21st, so we will know for sure then what this little bean is. POST COMING

6. Christmas was wonderful. Except for my four sick girls. They slept most of the day on Christmas, but when they were up, they had loads of fun and were spoiled to the core my all are friends and family. POST COMING

7. SNOW! We have had two little snow storms this week. Christmas Eve afternoon and evening it snowed about 2-3 inches and made traveling a nightmare, but it was awesome to see snow on Christmas Eve and made waking up to a white Christmas really neat. And then yesterday, December 26th it snowed about 4 inches here at our house. On Saturday we may be getting another storm. Hoping that's the case...I LOVE SNOW! I love it even more when my family is all together inside spending the day together. Nothing is better.

8. I have another exciting announcement for the blog! POST COMING

9. Tim and I are hoping that we can get a quick trip into go skiing at the end of January. Keeping my fingers crossed. The deals we normally would get won't be around in January, but oh well, we want to go and we can't wait until the end of February, since my belly will be too big by then. I am giddy like a little girl when I think about it. We haven't been skiing since 2009, before our family grew!

10. My birthday is coming up. It's next Friday and I have a list of possible places I might want to go for dinner, so I must narrow it down asap and make reservations. So looking forward to a quiet night with my hubby! This is the second year in a row that I am pregnant on my birthday!

11. Emily is now 11 months old...as of yesterday, December 26th! She will be ONE in less than a month now! Holy crap! My bayboo! I guess I better send out her birthday invites. See it never stops! Oh my! POST COMING