Six months already!

I cannot believe it was six months ago today that our precious babies were brought into this world. It seems like yesterday I was laying in the hospital bed watching TV with my Mom. We tried to have some photos taken yesterday and it did not go so well. For now here is a video of some of them, we will try to update again soon. When you get to the video portion with Logan and myself I am trying to get him to say "ohh", he says it all the time and it makes him happy.

Happy SIX month Birthday my sweet precious babies!

Love you all!

Click on the link to view the video.

http://www.holdmymemories.com/my_familywebsite/moment_page/1101947?familyname=sather&page=1

Sisters, Sisters...

I know what you are thinking, TWO blog posts in one week, what is wrong? Nothing just lots to say.


The babies are all really noticing each other so much more lately. The girls have always noticed Logan and his cry or scream and now they are starting to roll their eyes. Okay, so maybe not really roll their eyes but that is what I see. It is so cute to watch their conversations! Here is a video from today, Elizabeth had to let it off her chest.

Little Miss Madison telling Mommy a story. You can hear Logan start in the background trying to defend himself. As soon as I stopped recording she really had something to say.

Both girls are rolling over from their back to their tummies, Logan has decided to do things on his own time. They are such big kiddos, I cannot believe they are going to be 6 months old on Tuesday! Their six month appointment is going to be a little late due to us switching Pedis so their official updates are not going to be for a couple weeks. Another wonderful happening in our house is Madison is trying to hold her bottle! Elizabeth is starting to try, but tends to take it out of her mouth. We are still using the bottle props to make sure they are eating and trying to "help" them hold their bottles more during the day. Things are starting to get a little harder as when I am changing one baby during the feeds I come back to at least one upside down on their boppy. All of them have started trying to to head stands when they are angry during feeds...this gets Momma terrified their necks are going to snap.

This is what Logan looks like when he won't nap. Poor thing was so exhausted.

Look at those beautiful blue eyes...

Go Madi, making your Momma proud!


Yes she can breathe and no I don't leave her there like this.

There is a happy boy!

I was able to get together this past weekend with some of my Quad Momma sisters, I have no idea what I would do without these ladies, love them and the ones I have yet to meet! We went to see CAVO at Crue Fest, you must buy their CD that was released yesterday, Bright Nights Dark Days. They are great guys and one of them is married to Beth Walker a Quad Mom. We had a blast with some great friends and it was a night out both Brandon and I were able to enjoy.

Me, Casey, Misty

Misty and me

Me, Casey, Beth, Misty

Brandon and me

Misty and I with CAVO

Me with the band

Love to you all!

Amy-Jo

Sleep

Four months ago if you told me I would have a post all about sleep I would have called you crazy. At that point we were getting about 3-5 hours of sleep a day, so the idea of writing a blog about it would have made me laugh. But here we are 4 months later and we have made huge progress in the sleep routine. After months of not napping or sleeping I finally started researching sleep training and ran across Dr. Ferber's book. Its probably not for every parent but it worked wonders for us. Within a few days we had the kids taking naps when WE wanted them to, sleeping through the night (we still keep the 11pm feed so we have to wake them up) and going to bed in their crib, NOT their swings. So naturally we have been able to sleep a little more as well. We still wake up to a crying baby now and then but its usually a change of a diaper and a pat on the bottom away from getting back to sleep.

Of course the weekend after they started sleeping they all got sick. This threw our sleep schedule out of whack but once everyone was feeling better it was pretty simple to get them back on schedule. Lizy had the worst of it, which is lucky for us because even sick she is a very good baby. Her voice got really hoarse and she had this pathetic little cry that made you come running anytime she started to make a noise. As a result she was held A LOT for several days, something I think everyone enjoyed. We really don't get to hold them all that often so its nice to get an opportunity.

We even started getting out a little the past couple weeks, and by we I mean Amy-Jo and myself. I am still too big of chicken to take them out anywhere, but AJ is breaking me down and a family outing is probably coming up pretty soon. They are getting better as long as they don't miss a nap. HUGE thank you to our nanny Kaity. She is AWESOME with the kids and has been a huge help. She came over last week when AJ was sick and took care of the kids all day, huge task especially when you don't have time to prepare yourself for an all day affair.

Amy-Jo made it back to the hospital where we had the babies and visited her friends (nurses) on 4 north. Everyone there is so great and we miss all of you. I understand they still check in once and awhile so I wanted to send them a little shout out. Anyone needing to be put on hospital bed rest for 3 months should choose Presby Dallas, hands down the best nursing staff in the country. Now that's how you kiss some butt!

Anyway now on to the reason you are all hear....the photos. Keeping with my sleeping theme here are some funny pics of the kids sleeping, and other happenings.

Lizy is so funny when she sleeps, arms are always above her head sprawled out.

This was too funny, she isn't sleeping she is trying to claw her way out of the pack and play.
We have a video of this as well, I'll see about getting it up no promises.

So Miss Madi Belle has learned to roll onto her stomach. Now there is no keeping her off of her stomach. Which means she sleeps this way and drools like crazy. You can see the fresh drool marks on the second picture. We have to change her sheets every day. And for those saying babies shouldn't sleep on their stomach, we know there is just no stopping her.

Ok so you may remember the Bumbo picture of Logan sleeping in the last post, well this kid can sleep any where, any time. I offer up the below pics as proof.

On my lap.

Hunched to the side in the swing.

Resting on AJ's hand laying on her lap.

Laying in my lap.

Blue keeping my chair warm.



Blue hit the "sauce" pretty hard and passed out on the TV tray.

This is me using the "Looginator" on Logan. Its a massager but it helps get all his gas out. He hated it at first but it does work to get all those burps out. If we don't he wakes up screaming after about 10 minutes.

Fellow Quad Mom's and friends at a BBQ
(Suz, Moni, Casey, AJ, Misty)

So we started giving the girls rice cereal in their bottle, Logan does not get any the below picture is the reason why. He has a slight....okay big....allergy to the rice cereal or oatmeal. Not pretty.

Starting to use the jumpers and exersaurcers.

Lizy in the jumper.

Madi in the exersaucer.

"Daddy your to big to be down here"

Girl talk.
Madi L, Lizy R

Picture of all three from today.
Logan, Lizy, Madi

Girls where holding hands, very cute.

Happy girl Madi.

This is Lizy's face every morning when you get her out of bed or anytime you start to play with her. It might be the greatest face I have ever seen.

Logan hamming it up.

One year ago today...

I would like to start off by saying sorry for the rambling in this post :o).

One year ago today our lives were changed forever. This was the last chance our insurance would pay for an IUI and our next step which was IVF was going to be out of pocket. We had been trying to conceive for over two years and had some really tough months. Dr Lee our Reproductive Endocrinologist was positive from day one that I would get pregnant some day, just not sure when or how. I had already had five months of injections plus medicine, one which worked and ended in an ectopic pregnancy. The shots Brandon had to inject in my stomach were a different brand this month plus I was taking even more medicine. I remember being more nervous this time as I was just drained emotionally and was not sure how many more times I could be disappointed.

After eight days of waiting on August 1st we found out we were expecting, we already knew we were pregnant from a home pregnancy test; I took this 3 days before it should have found a positive pregnancy. The day we found out the IUI worked (officially) the nurse called and told me my HCG numbers, we were hoping for at least 50, and when she said my numbers were 865 I was in disbelief. I asked what this meant and I was told we were most likely pregnant with “at least twins”. When I told Brandon this he went into complete shock and couldn’t wait to get to the doctors’ office for a scan. I repeated blood tests to make sure my levels were not dropping and they just continued to increase…YEAH! We had to wait until September 5th for a sonogram, what a wonderful but nervous wait that was.

I luckily did not work the day of the sonogram, I was so nervous. The night before I had a dream we were going to find four babies, Brandon thought I was crazy and was sticking to twins. Dr. Lee started the scan and then called her nurse in, they then called in the sonographer that works with another doctor in the office. I was terrified of what they were going to say, I just knew something bad happened and I had all of these people in my room watching the monitor as they look for the babies. The sonographer said “well you had three…and now you have four.” The third fetus split into 2 creating identical twins. The room was silent, I was smiling from ear to ear and at the same time I was in complete shock. Brandon didn’t really say anything until we got to the car. Dr. Lee talked to us afterwards and told us there was a chance something could go wrong but to relax and take it all in.

The first thing that came out of Brandons mouth as we were driving down the highway was “you know we’re done right”. I agreed at the time thinking that maybe I could change his mind one day. We called our parents and they were happy but scared for us. Although it was still so early our family and close friends knew we were trying and knew there should be some results soon.
Everything went great in the following weeks, I had my weekly scan to make sure there were four heartbeats and that they were growing as they should. I was trying to eat my 4500 calories; I had morning sickness (better called all day sickness) for a long time and did not have an appetite so this was difficult. Then came November 13th, I was in my eighteenth week it was my last day of work and I didn’t feel right in the morning. On the way to work I call my OB to let them know something just wasn’t right and they told me to come in ASAP. They were so cautious as were we with any little pain or and feeling I had. I was admitted to the hospital due to incompetent cervix and had my cerclage put in. They told me after the weekend I should be able to go home, yeah right; things were steady but not improving. I laid in that hospital bed in trendelenburg position, with my feet higher than my head, which caused many headaches.

Then the fateful day came when on the sono Cody no longer had a heartbeat. I have never really talked on the blog about this, I still get so emotional and do not understand why this happened. In the sono that day I think I was the first to see that there was not a heartbeat. I remember staring at the screen and hoping that Cody was just lying in a funny position. He laid there with what looked to be his hands together over his abdomen and so still. The nurse had tears in her eyes and I knew what I saw was true. She felt so bad and didn’t know what to say, nobody did. It, so far, has been the worst day of my life and I never wish that on anyone. We call him our Hero and our childrens Guardian Angel as he sacrificed for his brother and sisters. He will always be with us and I treasure the time I got to know him in utero. I was able to feel when Logan kicked Cody in utero up until the day I delivered and all four of our babies were delivered at the same time. On a positive note I am so lucky that I can look at Logan every day and know what Cody would look like. I was told to remove the cerclage and see what happened, well being so stubborn there was no way I was going to do that. I told the doctors to tie me to the ceiling by my toes and I meant it if that was the only way to protect our babies. I was bound to prove I could do this and that I could carry our children to at least viability and much longer. My OB asked what he could do and all I could say was send me home, I was home for the week of Thanksgiving and then right back in I went.

I was then on bedrest another 80 days, 92 days in all on hospital bedrest. Believe it or not I actually miss being in the hospital. I LOVE the nurses I had, they become family and they were always there for me no matter if I needed water or someone to talk to. I miss my nurses so much and I keep saying I need to visit but I never have the time and am not ready to take the kiddos just yet. Love you ladies!!!!

I cannot believe it has already been a year and what a difference that year has made. I have three healthy babies here with me and love them more than life. They are my world and I would do anything for them. Brandon is such a wonderful father and tries to spend time with each one individually every day when he gets home. Everyone is doing great. Naps and sleep at night is still a work in progress. The girls are eating more cereal, only through bottle, we are still working on Logans allergies with everything.

Okay, I have gone on more than I had planned, but some things just needed to come out. Thank you to everyone that has been there whether we know you or not, I know there were so many prayers out there for us from our family, friends, and blogger family. Thank you to our family that has come down from Michigan to help. Thank you to our neighbors for stopping in to help out and for the delicious food. I don’t know where we would be without every single one of you. I hope one day we can help you all in some way. We love you all!

Here are some recent pictures of the little ones.

Bumbo time!

Logan and Mommy spending quality time

This is what happens when you don't nap or
sleep at night.

Madison and Logan loving on each other

Madison striking a pose...too sweet!

The girls during gym time...they love "talking" to everything

Sweet sweet Elizabeth

Madison showing off, we cannot wait for them
to all do this every feed

A little more sisterly loving!

Love - Amy-Jo

Heart Doc Updates and Stages of a Tantrum

First we can start off with some good news, Madison and Logan had their follow up with the Cardiologist last week. Madison had a small PDA which closed on its own between now and the time she left the hospital so she is free and clear. Logan still has an ASD which is growing at the same pace that he is, the hope was it would get smaller or grow at a slower rate. Still the good news is it really won't effect him in any way right now and will be reevaluated in a year. It was quite a day a the doctor. AJ and I were flying solo and we were there for 2 hours and 45 minutes. There were several diaper changes and one feed that took place in the room. Mommy and Daddy were whipped and thought the kids would sleep when we got home, we were wrong. Long day turned into long night, but we survived.

The kids never want to be good so here is AJ holding Logan and Madison, I am taking the picture and holding Elizabeth.

Madi and Logan sitting in a tree.....

Lizy saying "Hey my heart is fine why do I have to sit here all day?"

I have been saving the below pictures since the "rewards" blog. We had already loaded up the pictures last time so we didn't add it then but planned on posting it later. This was my "solution" to the rewards problem. He couldn't stop going so I was determined it would not leak out the next time. This is a size 6 diaper by the way, probably a bit of over kill but hey I was desperate.

We said good bye to the last of our helpers 4th of July weekend as AJ's Nana flew home. Thank you so much Nana for all your help, the babies are all missing you. For those who have not had the pleasure of meeting Nana, I can promise you there is not a Great-Grandma anywhere with more energy then her. As a matter of fact she has more energy then me, if you add up my two best days. She kicked butt and took names, but I think she missed her golf a little. Well that and the outdoors since we didn't let her leave the house the whole time she was here!

Here she is with all three. (M, L, E)

Some good close ups off the kids.

Logan

Lizy

Madi Belle

I thought it would be fun to show everyone how much "stuff" we use on a weekly basis. Yes you read that right the picture below is what we use in a week. It is 7 cans of formula, 280 packets of thickener, 216 diapers, and 4 packages of wipes. I usually buy all the formula the store has on the shelf and the check out person always makes a comment, when I tell her it won't last 2 weeks they are typically stunned in silence.

This is one day's worth of formula, our night nanny saw this for the first time yesterday and was shocked so I thought I would post it as well. I guess it is no big deal to us by now, I mean I make one up every day.

I will leaving you with the following pictures I call the "Stages of a Tantrum"

Starts with a nice pout lip

Pout lip starts to quiver

Almost there, wait for it....

And Tantrum is achieved!