Life has been crazy busy around here. The kids have been sick and as soon as we THINK everyone is healthy... someone else gets a fever. We just can't win! Rick missed a day and a half of work last week, my mom had to sacrifice some of her work time to pick up Timmy from the babysitter, and I am missing a day and a half of work this week. You throw in a bunch of snow days, and we have no routines, no consistency and lots of grumpy people because we are stuck inside with all these germs! I feel like everyday we are in survival mode... we just think about one day at a time. I never know what is for dinner, laundry is piled up, my house is disgusting, and the list goes on and on. A few warm days and some SUNSHINE would make everything better! But, on a positive note, life as a family of 6 is starting to feel more normal. Although things are always busy and chaotic, we do manage. Emma has been the perfect storybook adoption. She is amazing. She is happy, she loves to eat, she loves to play, she catches on to things so quickly. She is attached to Rick and myself and her babysitter. She is growing and thriving. I can honestly say that I feel like she has been here forever. I really don't know how I managed to live without her. She is so stinkin' cute and sweet, she makes me want to get on a plane and go get another one.
Speaking of that... Rick and I have decided that the only way our family will grow from here on out is through adoption. We are finished with the baby stage and we feel comfortable with that decision. So comfortable that we have gotten rid of everything. For the first time since we have been married, we do not have the desire for anymore babies. I feel so fulfilled with that stage of my life, that I am ready to move on. I can honestly say that we WILL adopt again, but not for several years. These babies are quite the dynamic duo. Until they get older and more independent, I am not sure how we could possibly handle another one. We will continue advocating and supporting orphans until it is time to step up and adopt again. Thankfully, my very dear friend is having a boy this June. And I have an insane amount of baby boy clothes for that season. So, they all went to her and Timmy's clothes went to her sister. You know that you are done having kids when you don't feel an ounce of sadness giving away your stuff.
Even with my 4 kiddos and a crazy life, I am so thankful for my job. I love it. It keeps me busy, but without that outlet in my life.... I might be making these posts from a special home of mothers who have lost their sanity. Rick's job is causing him to go gray faster than he wanted, but I know he likes it. Andrew loves school, Timmy and Emma are so attached to their sitters and Matthew.... well, he survives. One more year and he will be at school with me.
Here are a few pics of life around here the past few weeks.
Yes, my dear... I feel the same way. I would match rather be by the pool working on my tan.
Trying out the snow
This is one of my favorite dresses on Emma Grace. She is so adorable in it!
The boys wanted to sleep in our bed. This is how we found them when we came up to go to sleep.
Look mom, no hands! Emma is standing all the time. She has PT and OT once a week (another complication to our busy lives, scheduling that in) I have seen her take up to 11 steps across the room. She is wobbly, and those ankles of hers are still so weak. She is now over 18 months. I took her to the doctor yesterday and she weighed 18 lbs 10 ozs. Ugh. I was depressed. A few weeks ago I took her and they weighed her with shoes on, fully clothed and her winter coat and she was almost 20 lbs. I was so excited that she had gained that much... but looks like it was the clothes. Sometimes I get a little down in the dumps that she is still so tiny and not walking, and she will be 2 in 5 months. But, I have to think about where she came from, the health problems she has had to overcome and how much progress she has made in 3 months. My goal is walking by 2... her PT says walking by Easter. We'll see.
