twin cousins part dos

Cortney snapped a couple of pictures of these two little lovelies so we could take a picture into the doctor that delivered them. He has delivered 7 of our 8 eight kids, we totally love him. Aren't they cute?? Sorry to only post about the babies...I keep meaning to post about other things but these were the only pictures I had.




I love how Henry looks like he should go on weight watchers next to skinny little Fiona. My kids always have such a chunky square face. I love it.

Tomorrow is my birthday. 30. I feel so old...

without further ado

Everyone kept telling me I needed to post a picture of my new hair....
Honestly it doesn't look that bad in this picture. But this picture is after a lot of work to get it this way. It is hard to explain what I don't like about the cut. The lady didn't thin my hair the right way...I have a lot of hair and it just needs to be cut a certain way. Only a hand full of people have understood how to cut my thick hair.

Everyone gave me such nice comments too...that is really nice. Honestly I didn't write that post to get nice comments but it sure didn't hurt. :)

Every time I post I think I have to get better about updating. I have a million things I want to put on here but I always forget, or don't take the time. I am resolving to be better. There are a lot of areas in my life that have been neglected lately. I kept feeling sorry for myself, sorry that the dishes weren't done or the laundry wasn't put away. Every once in a while I start getting sad that no one is coming to my rescue to take care of me. Hahaaa...sounds crazy right?? Yesterday I realized that the only person that can come and take care of me is myself. If I want the dishes done...get up and do them. Sheesh. It sure was a lot easier when I didn't have a little guy to take care of...but totally worth it.

Here is my hair. Ther are just tons of crazy layers...I can barely wear it in a pony tail. I wanted layers but they are just so blunt and heavy...
I know this picture makes me look like I was being dramatic...maybe soon I will become brave enough to post a picture of my hair looking not so good.

Here is what I am afraid my hair actually looks like...

Or if I try to curl it, it looks a little something like this...

All I can say is YIKES.

slump

I got my hair cut today and I think I hate it.

It might be too soon to tell but, so far it isn't looking to good.

I was going for a new do, something to make me feel better about the fact that I just had a baby, that I don't fit in my clothes, and that I am tired and overwhelmed.

I might need to go to the store and stock up on hats...or maybe I'll just never leave the house like I am already doing. (sounds depressing right??)

4 month stats

Henry went to the doctor today. I am pleased to say he is finally growing (now that I am not nursing go figure)...and getting chunky.

His stats...for the record...

weight 14 lbs .5 oz. 29.28 percentile

Height 25.25 inches 60.86 percentile

Head 16.3 inches 25.64 percentile

He has gained a pound a week since I stopped nursing. Wow. I knew he was getting tubby. I love it.

4 months

Man time is just flying by...it seems like only yesterday Henry was born. In the past two weeks since I have stopped nursing he has chunked up like nobody's business. He seriously has turned into a round ball...and is looking more like my other babies.

Last night I started trying to train him to sleep through the night. He does it sometimes so I know he can. I fed him at midnight and then committed (to myself) not to feed him again until 7. It is so hard to have to hear him cry, but I know it is for the best. He started crying around 4:30...and luckily for me he didn't cry too hard just fussed a little on and of for about an hour until he went back to sleep and then slept until almost 9. I know there are people out there that think this is a cruel thing to do...but I bet they have never had kids that sleep as good as mine. :)

At four months he still isn't bearing any weight on his legs. He kicks them like crazy but he will NOT stand. Fiona on the other hand ONLY stands. Cali and I think they look like the number 10...with fiona being the 1 and Henry the 0.

He is a super verbal baby a gooing all day long. Cali says he is my most expressive baby so far (which isn't too hard...Oliver we called botox baby because he made no expressions).

He also started holding on to little toys and trying to eat them.

I can't believe he is growing up so fast.

We got out the camera today to take some pictures of the boy. He is getting so chubby Oliver said he looks like a bull dog. I think he looks like how I imagined professor Umbridge to look from Harry potter (you know kinda frog like).

He was beyond done at this point.

Cortney got some photography lights. He has been so sick of trying to get pictures inside in the winter without good lighting.

So far I have been having a great Valentine's day. Somehow my kids think it is a holiday for girls and they have been showering me with love all day. Rob even said if we had another baby and it was a girl then Valentines day would be for her too.

They went with Cortney this morning and got me Einstein Bagels (tradition) and some chocolates from costco, Cortney also let the boys pick me out a necklace from forever 21...mainly because that is what Oliver told dad I should get for Valentine's day. Cute. I am so lucky to have such great boys/men in my life. Happy Valentine's day to me.

Formula woes

This is how I sat a lot of the day...Henry must not be feeling good and wanted me the whole entire day.

Poor Henry.

This formula thing has been a roller coaster ride for both of us (of course...it can't just be simple)

We have tried many different kinds of formula...

some make him projectile vomit, others give him diarrhea and a bloody bottom.

Last night we started a target brand (yes he does differently on different brands) with added rice. He slept 8 hours straight and no more bloody diaper rash. Today though he hasn't slept the whole day...I don't know what is going on.

When you have a newborn you seriously spend your whole day wondering. Wondering what is wrong...or what is causing them to fuss, or be constipated, or whatever. Just a lot of wondering. I had forgotten.

I think this new formula will work for him (fingers crossed) he is even spitting up less. In the meantime I am exhausted.

I keep having tons to post and then I just don't I really need to get back on track.

family skate night

well Cort posted these on his blog too...but I thought they were just so beautiful I couldn't let him have them all...so i posted them all exactly the same. whoops hahaa.

Tonight Oliver's elementary school had a free skating night. Last time Cortney took just Oliver but this time we decided to be brave and take all the kiddos. Rob tried skates for about 1 minute. He thought it was too scary and didn't want to try and learn. So he sat next to me most of the night. Cortney ordered two nachos and Rob said to me "I wish I could eat all these nachos" I told him his wish could come true...he really did almost eat both orders.

Oliver's athleticism never ceases to amaze me. There is almost nothing he can't do...with a little practice. That boy was skating around so fast I couldn't believe it.

Henry and I sat and watched...even though we didn't skate it was fun to be all together as a family.

Cortney bladed all around and also pushed rob while he just stood on the scooter...Cortney is such a good dad. I tried to get a picture of them together but they were going too fast.

Anyways...now some beautiful pictures of a pretty gross roller skating rink.

p.s. My first date was roller skating. How romantic huh?

Me eating nachos and chillin

hens shocked

We had a great night. THANK goodness for Cortney and that I didn't have to put on a pair of skates...that would be a nightmare.

nursing with RA

First let me just put this out there...if you don't want to read about nursing...just skip this post. Kind of a gross topic to blog about but, when I was pregnant with Henry I would have killed to read someone else's experience with being a mom with Rheumatoid arthritis. There aren't a lot of resources out there for people like me. So if someday someone does a search (like I did) on nursing on prednisone...or nursing with RA...and they are directed here...I think it will be nice for them to read what I did and my feelings about it.

During my pregnancy I was on 2.5 mg of prednisone. A very low dose. It scared me (a lot) to be on medications during my pregnancy and I tried to go off of the drugs completely, only to not be able to use my hands. So my doctor sent me to meet with a perinatologist (an ob specialist) to talk to me about the risks of being pregnant with RA and being on steroids. After a long discussion, he felt, and I felt...that the risks to the baby were minimal, and he seemed to think not much higher then a regular pregnancy. I felt so good after I talked to him.

As my pregnancy progressed I had it set in my mind that I wasn't going to nurse. It was a hard decision for me but I felt pretty good about it. About a month before the baby was born I met with my rheumatologist for a check up...and to come up with a plan for medications post baby. He seemed to think that I should try nursing. I was on a pre-existing condition waiting period with my new insurance and I wouldn't be covered for anything RA related until February 1st. That left me with 3 1/2 months after the baby was born that I would be without insurance. Because of this he decided that I should try to nurse and up my prednisone dose to 10 mgs a day. He only wanted me to be at this dose for 3 months though (anything longer wouldn't be good for me).

Three months. I didn't know if I only wanted to nurse for three months. I did know that I didn't want to be in pain...like I was when I had Robert. My doctor assured he wasn't going to let me be in pain. (I liked that plan) So after a lot of prayer and thought I decided I would do it. I would try to nurse.

When Henry was born and they placed that little baby in my arms...I couldn't imagine doing it any other way. Here he was little and helpless. And three months is a really long time actually.

It has been an interesting road. I am glad I took it though. Tomorrow is my doctors appointment I will start some other drugs instead of these steroids (yay!). I haven't nursed Henry for 48 hours. He is so happy now that he isn't nursing. NO more stomach problems.

One of the reasons I'm glad I did this, tried to nurse, is that it has made me realize that next time...when I have my next baby...I won't nurse. I am glad I did it this time but it made me see that you can love your baby wether you nurse or not...and that I just have to do what is best for both of us, and that isn't always nursing.

I have felt pretty good...only a few joints hurt. But even when only a few joints are hurting it is really hard to take care of a baby without hands that work all the way.

As I weaned my little boy this last week...I felt a myriad of emotions. I hoped my baby would still love me the same. And as I sat there all cozy and cuddly there with my baby I felt sad that it would be my last time probably FOREVER. I worry about comforting Henry...nothing comforts a baby faster then a little nursing. I know I am going to miss the quiet moments that I have with my little guy.

Sorry for this long rambling blog post. But, I want to remember how I feel right now, for next time.