The sTate of Things - Nichol's Confusions

Just don't feel like bloggin'

nospam@example.com (Nichol Tate) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:00:13 +0000

So it isn't that we are totally boring and nothing exciting happens. Quite the opposite with 4 kiddos. It just as I've gotten older, I've gotten wiser. I've finally realized that try as I might, I just can't write. My humor can't seem to translate to writings, so I'm thinking it is more slap stick style. And things that I found well written, not so. So it has left me not wanting to blog, but wishing I could. So maybe I'll try again some time.

Changes

nospam@example.com (Nichol Tate) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 18:32:42 +0000

So the biggest change with having four, it that life never ends. Though that could be due to always having to either take kids to school or pick them up, so every three hours (or at least it feels like that) I'm back in the van picking up a kid. The house is always in a state of chaos, and there are random wet spots on the carpet. Callan is STILL a big spit- upper and he leaves his mark everywhere, I smell like yo baby yogurt right now. And I must admit banana yogurt doesn't make a very nice perfume.

Joseph is still super busy with work, so busy I don't know how he can survive on average 4 hours a sleep a day, and that is if he is lucky. I'm kept busy with the kids and my huge list of crafts to do before Christmas, hopefully everyone's present will be on time. Alex is doing very well in school, though his fine motor skills are challenging and frustrating him. Hopefully we will be able to get him some help from Occupational Therapy. Teagan has overdosed on button pushing pills and annoyance pills, so there are days that I'm ready to leave him somewhere. I think it is cause he is so darn cute, he thinks he can get away with it. And he usually sneaks by, and I've not left him anywhere, preschool doesn't count. Teagan is slowly learning how to read, he just can't sit still very long.

Abby Sue loves to sing and "dance." Though her dancing is more running or walking in circles. She has turned into an assistant chef, and I have to be extra careful about knives and even spoons. If she sees a spoon near by she will try and stir whatever it is I'm cooking. She is also too "loving" to Callan. Though I'm sure Callan thinks she is annoying not loving. Callan crawls everywhere! He does have a "croc" type of crawl, his arms are out and squared instead of under and straight. Fortunately, it slows him down. He is presently crawls over small things and climbs up things. He uses the climbing up things to sit, he is still figuring all the different ways to get into a sitting position. It is hard for him with a sister smothering him with "love" all the time.

We are very excited about this time a year. October was full of fun adventures! My sister and her hubby were able to visit with us for a week! We had loads of fun at the State Fair with aunt and great aunt too! And Abby Sue would NOT be left out of any ride, no matter what. And she loved them all, except the bumper cars which I'm sure she'll love next year when she is a bit bigger. And then Halloween and costumes and candy! November will be busy with helping Great Grandma settling into this chapter of her life, a few birthdays and an anniversary (9 years) and the biggest cooking holiday! So it might be a while before I'm back to report about life and load a few pictures too.

Labor Day

nospam@example.com (Nichol Tate) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:16:07 +0000

For Labor Day we went to the lake and went fishing and swimming, or at least that was the goal. While Joseph and the threesome did these things, Callan and I wrestled trying to get him to take his naps. Those four did have a lot of exhausting fun, and fortunately it wasn't super hot so I survived holding Callan the whole time. Here is our catch for the day. She even took it off the hook by herself.

Goodbye Newborn

nospam@example.com (Nichol Tate) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 13:04:32 +0000

I'm so excited and sad. Callan is showing signs of growing out of the newborn stage. This is very exciting because he is becoming social, smiling, laughing and playing with toys. It also mean sleep will be an event I'll be able to attend more often. But at the same time it means I looking whatever little bit of newborn I had. Yes I know, he was nearly 12 and half pounds so there was very little there to start with, but I had a little. (PS milk issue is no more!)

In other news, Abby Sue and Teagan are love to fight each other. Which usually ends with screams and corner time. I hope they learn to get along soon cause it will be a long 3 months till preschool starts.

Dulcinea ran away yesterday, but Joseph was able to find her at 3am this morning. Now we worry about the babies. Did she have then? Are they alive? Was she even pregnant? So when Joseph wakes up we are going to dig up the borrow to see.

Swimming is full on, which highs around 98 help. So the kids have been loving swimming, though we have had to throw Teagan in the water a few times to get him in. But we are having to drag him out when it is time to go.

Lessons taught by a 12 pounder

nospam@example.com (Nichol Tate) — Thu, 12 May 2011 02:21:53 +0000

I must admit Callan is teaching me lots.

Lesson 1.) A 12 pound baby needs LOTS of milk from their first breath or their bodies start shutting down and then barely gain weight. Oh and they are very cranky. Unfortunately we had to learn this the hard way for three weeks before we figured it out. Now to bring in more milk...

Lesson 2.) He might think he has too many siblings, he startles very easily.

Lesson 3.) It is harder for him to figure out the night and day thing.

Lesson 4.) He is trying to monopolize my time and arms which makes life a challenge with three kids.

Lesson 5.) Naps are more fun when you cuddle. I did learn this one a while ago, but it is one you always need a refresher course on. Especially after being pregnant, it was so hard to cuddle with that huge bump in the way.

Lesson 6.) There is always something new to learn even if it is your 4th kid.

Lesson 7.) Despite it all, he is still sweet angel that I am truly blessed to have in my life.

By Popular Request...

nospam@example.com (Nichol Tate) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 18:06:06 +0000

the gory details of Callan's birth, or at least what I remember. But I wasn't a witness to all the gory stuff, I was a little busy.

We arrived at the hospital at 9am hopeful of a good induction. I already had some regular type of contractions, which has never happened before. But when the midwife came in to check me to get the pit going, she couldn't find Callan's head. Panic ensued, at least I was growing panicky. In a few minutes an OB resident came in with an ultrasound machine and the game of where's the head began. After a while they found the head, he is laying across my belly. So now they had to juggle the obs schedule a little bit and get her in to move the baby. One OB holding up the baby's bum while another dragged her hands in a downward motion. OUCH! Fortunately, he moved pretty quick and was happy to stay there. Though I don't think he could have moved, they had me in a surgical binding and splinted with towels. Yep, another OUCH! After a little while to make sure Callan was ok, it was time to start the pit. Now it is just a waiting game, though a painful one with the added pressure of the binding cutting into my back. And change was slow (since Callan head is so big, 16 inches around, the water got stuck and kept his head up highish.) So my midwife was scared to break my water due to the risk of the umbilical cord coming down instead of the head. Now it turns into a begging game, please break my water followed by many reasons not to by the nurse or midwife.

I give up, and later that evening I get an epidural. It was the most wonderful thing! Pain is gone! Life is good. Though I felt like I had elephant feet that were sort of asleep, but not really. Though my patience is running thin. It was been about 12 hours since the pit started and I'm only halfway to having a baby. I guess Callan is tired to because a miracle happened, my water broke! Though it felt more like an eruption than anything else. And about two hours later it was time to start pushing. I've no clue of time, so it could have been 5 minutes of pushing or 45 minutes. You'll have to ask Joseph. A baby began to crown and kept on coming out. All I can remember is the nurse freaking out that he was still coming. Apparently she didn't take us seriously when I said I've big babies. But this one tore me up very well. My midwife actually got an ob in there to stitch me up because of the extent. Here again the epidural was a life saver. I knew I was torn up, but I felt no pain. So, I was able to keep remotely calm and spent the first few minutes calling and texting family about the new arrival to take my mind off the fact that Callan was getting cleaned up and to ignore the pokes and pulls from the stitches and doctors. We finally finished! Though the nurse made sure I took plenty of time to get my legs back under me. I finally got to my room at 5:30am, starving. I hadn't eaten hardly anything all day Monday, I was too excited and ready to have a baby. So Joseph and I inhale a turkey sandwich each and decide that sleep would be a good idea. Joseph tracked off home to enjoy an undisturbed sleep in his bed, while I'm stuck at the hospital in an funky airbed that make a bunch of noise inflating or deflating every two minutes and nurses and nurse aids coming in every hour to get my vitals. That being said, I'm sure you guessed I didn't get much sleep at all on Tuesday or Wednesday morning. But I did have some awesome nurses and nurse aids.

I've decided that 8am is way to early for doctors and nurses starting their poking and prodding rounds. Though Wednesday, the lab nurses got started at 6am, which I just got Callan to sleep at 4:30am and then myself to sleep. And we did get stuck with the newest lab nurse, and Callan has tough skin, or maybe hiding blood vessels, so it took two of them 45+ minutes to get the blood for the newborn tests. But we left the hospital later that morning! And I finally got a nap. Though I am still catching up on sleep.

Sweet Thought...

nospam@example.com (Nichol Tate) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 00:46:06 +0000

Alex said the sweetest thing to me tonight and I just have to share. Alex has noticed that I've been more tired that usual lately. It really shows at breakfast when I get everything mixed up. Alex informed me tonight that they will be quiet in the morning to let me sleep in. And they wouldn't bug me for breakfast. How sweet. I wish I could take them up on this offer, but with the list of things to do tomorrow there is no way. Joseph has a basketball game at 9am, and then we have to get the garden in order and planted.

Dogwoods

nospam@example.com (Nichol Tate) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:09:09 +0000

I do love spring, despite the high pollen around these parts. But the most exciting part about spring this year is my pink dogwood is blooming! It has only bloomed once since we owned this house, two years ago when Sue Sue was a newborn. But it looks like between Joseph and myself we figured it out. Previous owners put down plastic all around the tree, and then let things become overgrown back there. So as I was digging out a dead azalea I discovered the plastic. Next we were pulling climbing thorny vines and plastic. Several times last year I added compost to the soil and dug around the tree. And Joseph just added fresh leaf mulch from mowing this weekend. After the flowers go, I'm planning on pruning. I hate to cut of summer growth but also want to encourage more. This is very exciting, especially since I lost one of my white dogwoods and a purple azalea. But there is always this year to try again.

Everyone has days like this

nospam@example.com (Nichol Tate) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:30:18 +0000

That is what I'm telling myself. Everyone has days they have to constantly remind themselves that they love their children. Everyone has days they have to mumble it to themselves all day long. Everyone has days they can't wait till the kids bedtime. But why does it feel like I have more of those days with Teagan than I should? As I buckled Teagan into his car seat, yes he refuses to do that, and I told him for the millionth time to keep his feet off the seats I actually wished I had rope to tie his feet to the seat leg to ensure he would obey. Today when I told him to use his inside voice, I was half tempted to get the duct tape to help him stay quiet. And it was tempting to tie him up and gag him during naptime, just for the joy of having a quiet house.

Most of these visions of half temptation come after the fact and only lasted a split second, and I truly hope they go away. VERY SOON. I'm sure they will due to the fact life will change in two weeks. Energy will come back! I'll be able to move again without pain or feeling like I'm going to pass out! And I won't have to pee every two hours, if not more! I'll actually want to go outside and enjoy the beautiful spring weather and playing in the dirt gardening and taking picture of all my dogwoods in bloom (the pink one is blooming more this year than any other year we have lived here!) as well as all the other plants. Though I can't decided if my daffodils are done. They didn't bloom very much, but then again we went from 30 degree weather to 70+ in a week and summer looks like it might come sooner too.

Toast a glass of water with me to two weeks going by very fast (as long as the quilt gets done).

Stubborn

nospam@example.com (Nichol Tate) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:31:46 +0000

Stubborn is a great word to describe Alex, though mule headed would be even better. Alex point blank refused to learn how to ride a two wheel bike for a good long time now. So, I told him that if he wanted another birthday he better learn how to ride it. Still he resisted. But Saturday we had a break through. A few hours of successful bike riding! No big falls! And he did it mostly by himself! Today was round two! He worked on self starting and did it a few times. Though it was quite difficult trying to help him and keep Abby Sue out of the road, thank goodness we live on a very quite road and the driver was paying attention. Though Abby Sue is a very cute little sister cheerleader, crazy curls and all.

My Three Favorite Words

nospam@example.com (Nichol Tate) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:15:24 +0000

I've three favorite words. And I could only wish I hear them more. My heart just jumps for joy every time I hear "I did it." It means less for me to do and independence for my kids. I only wish Teagan would learn to use them more.

Applesauce snob

nospam@example.com (Nichol Tate) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:08:07 +0000

I've come to the conclusion, I'm an applesauce snob. I know it is very rude of me, but I can't help it. When we were in Florida, I bought a jar of applesauce at the grocery store for the kids to have applesauce and cottage cheese (Teagan's and Abby Sue's favorite). I took one lick and couldn't eat it. It was so flavorless. All this homemade applesauce is ruining me. I jumped for joy this morning when that jar was FINALLY emptied and I could open up on of my jars. And I didn't wait long to either. I guess next time we take a trip I'll have to bring several jars of different foods with me (cause I'm also a jam/jelly snob too).

Moment of Pride

nospam@example.com (Nichol Tate) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:20:40 +0000

In Primary, Alex's teacher has been giving them silly bands for good behavior. I've no clue what Alex got yesterday, but it did provide entertainment to many adults behind and around us. Abby Sue liked to hold it in her mouth and shake it. Which is funny, but then you add those curls bouncing everywhere and it is even better.

Though Teagan's was the best. At the beginning of a song, the band goes shooting straight up in the air and lands in the aisle beside us. Teagan was beaming and excitedly announced "I shot the band!" We informed him that wasn't the place for shooting rubber band. And then I spent the rest of the song trying to recover from laughing. I don't know who was watching, but I'm sure they also found it amusing.

Blossoming Humor

nospam@example.com (Nichol Tate) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 01:48:45 +0000

Alex's humor has began to blossom. Tonight is proof.

Alex: I'm thirsty
Joseph: Well, we will visit the water fountain when we get to Costco.
Alex: No!
Joseph: Why not?
Alex: Water fountains don't talk.
Joseph: Ok, we will get a drink from the water fountain when we get to Costco.
Alex: Ok.

Needless to say this conversation had Joseph and I laughing the rest of the way to Costco. I'm sure it isn't as good as hearing it in the moment, but still amusing.

Hunting for Alligators

nospam@example.com (Nichol Tate) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 01:39:53 +0000

We recently went hunting for alligators. It isn't what you think it is. We really went to Florida to visit some of my Grandparents and while we were there we went hunting for alligators. We had so much fun and lots of relaxing. I mean how could you not relax with high 70 to low 80 temps at the end of December? Especially after all this snow we have been getting. We did lots of simple things like play video games, playing at a park, did a quarter mile boardwalk hike into the Everglades where we saw two alligators, go to the Napels Zoo (yes, they had alligators too), and swim in both a pool and a hot tub. I think the kids preferred the hot tub with all the bubbles and jets to splash. Kids loved having a screened in porch to play on all day long, and proof was their very black feet at the end of each day.

Alligator hunting isn't as fun as butterfly hunting, one alligators don't move very much this time of year. It is also tricky getting close to an alligator and being able to walk way whole. But we had to find alligators for Teagan to believe we were in Florida.