Kids and Language

Last night, I met up with my Chicks for a Girls Night Out.  Karrie was in town from NC, so it was GREAT to see her, and catch up.  We went to one of our favorite places, Olive Garden and got a table in just 10 minutes, instead of the 30 minute wait we expected. 

Our waitress was really lovely.  It's always nice to get someone who makes conversation, but is intrusive when she needs to be.  I always appreciate servers like that.  At one point, she asked us if we would be staying awhile.

We said, "Yes, we like to close down the house, is that okay?"

"Oh, please do, that's TOTALLY fine with me.  I'm so glad you all are staying.  You're the nicest group of ladies I've had in a long time."

My friend Joan asked the waitress why she looked so relieved.

The waitress said she'd had a family in to dine before us.  There was a Mom, Dad, and their two kids, a boy and a girl.  At one point, the boy said to our waitress,

"Hey, can we get some more f___ing bread?"

WHAT!?  My friends and I were agast.

Wait...it gets better.

The waitress continued her story, saying she initially was shocked this boy (who was only about 7 or 8 years old) would say something like that to her.  Her shock turned into major disappointment because the parents, instead of disciplining their son, laughed and didn't say a word.

The parents didn't do anything...at all.

We told our sweet waitress we were sorry she was subjected to that.  She said her night was much better after we came and sat in her section.  We all agreed that if we had said something like that as a kid, our mother/father would have backhanded us right then and there.  We also concluded we would never have allowed any of our children to say that word to anyone...let alone an adult without serious consequences. 
I thought (and said aloud) it was too bad those kids (and the parents) were obviously living in a barn. 

Wow.  I'm still thinking about that waitress and her story today.  Ironically, Rebecca and I had a conversation about appropriate language earlier this week.  I revisited that topic today while driving the girls to Choir Camp at our church. 

I told the girls what happened last night.  Both of them were surprised someone their age said the f-word, and even more astonished the parents didn't punish him.

Rebecca was thinking quietly for a moment.  I watched her facial expressions briefly in my rear-view mirror...and then she spoke up.

"Mommy, tell me why again the f-word isn't a nice word." 

I explained that curse words were a poor choice of language because it displayed a lack of respect.  Using curse words would only make others look down on you, and God gave us much better, kinder words to say.  The girls also told me curse words didn't sound nice, they sounded ugly.  Funny how kids can deduce that certain words aren't nice...even when they don't know their meanings. 

Christina chimed in and said,

"Mommy, if I said a bad word, not that I EVER would, you would ground me forever and ever and ever, and ever, right?"

"Yes, honey, you know I would!"  (I like the way that girl thinks :-).

Rebecca became rather passionate at one point, saying she would have refused to serve that group, sue them, etc.  But I told her the only thing she could do was pray for this family; one day might realize they would have more respect if they chose not to use curse words.  She said that was true, but I admired her spirit.  I also reminded her it was important to think before we speak (something I'm still working on!). 

I'm thankful I had the chance to talk to the girls about this, and reflect on my own choice of words. The language we use around our children is SO important. I've been reading a book, Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches.  This not some "feel good" book, and it doesn't sugar coat motherhood. It's refreshingly honest and practial wisdom from a mother of 5 (ages 5, 4, 2, 2, and 5 months!)  I read this blog post a couple of weeks ago, saw that the author also had a book out, and decided I could use a refresher course.  I thought I was outta the trenches, but then along came Theresa, so now I'm back in the dugout, so to speak. ;-)

Anyway, halfway into the book, I though...man, I could be doing a better job speaking to my kids.  I asked myself--am I building them up, or tearing them down with my words? Since Theresa was born, I've had more moments of talking down to my kids instead of being kind.  So I really need to pray for the grace to not only seize the moments when I can talk to my kids, but build them up with more positive words.  And here's another thought.  I get frustrated easily, and it's aways over something that in hindsight, wasn't such a big deal after all.  So, when something happens, do I blame my kids for the incident or take charge and responsibility for the spilled milk on the table, the laundry waiting in the dryer, or the piles of shoes by the back door?  Honestly, I know can work harder to not vent my frustration of the day on my kids. 

Have you cringed at something one of your kids said to you lately, and realize they're starting to sound like you?  I came to that not so comfortable conclusion today.  Ouch.  I'd better watch my mouth, hold my tongue, and when I do speak, remind myself to use words of praise, comfort, and love towards my kids.  It's been a good lesson...not just for my girls, but for me too.

San Antonio

The kids are loving summer, and even though all they seem to do is sit around and eat, they're really enjoying the time off from school (so am I!). We had Vacation Bible School at the end of June, and Gabriel was able to go for the first time. He cried a bit the first day I dropped him off, but he loved it, and said, "Mommy, I go back...I had fun!  Our sweet angel is getting so big!
We made a weekend trip to San Antonio 2 weeks ago to see my grandparents. For the first time, we got two hotel rooms adjacent to each other, and I must say, it was great to have our own space with Theresa while the older kids had a whole room to themselves. We got the rooms at aloft, and it was very nice, very contemporary, and resonable thanks to Hotwire.
It was the first time my Grandparents had met Theresa. Unfortunately, Grandma fell and broke her hip about a month ago. She is recovering amazingly well (the nurse say she is such a trooper) and is able to do her physical therapy to stay as mobile as possible.  Grandpa is about the same...he cannot remember things from day to day, but can make decent conversation and knows who we are.  He looks so much better than the trip I took last summer, not long after he got out of the hospital.  I pray God will grant them a little more time.

Grandpa and Grandma's room is pretty small, so David would take the older ones out after 10-15 minutes.  That was as long as Gabriel would last.   They'd go for a walk outside or to the lounge area just outside the Health Center, where there was more room for an active toddler.  But overall, the kids behaved very well.  Sometimes I worry that seeing their great-grandparents in essentially a hospital room would scare them, but I also want them to understand that growing old doesn't mean we love people any less, and they are still beautiful souls, even though their bodies are fading. 

I got a really close look at Grandma this visit.  She is bend over to one side, and can only go from her chair to the bed, but her smile was just the same, and she still has the twinkle in her eye.   I held her hand..it seemed so frail, the skin so paper thin...I could see every vein and bone.  She also had numerous bruises all over her, in various stages of healing.  It was hard to hold back the tears at one point when she told me she was sorry I had to see her under these circumstances.  But I said she had no reason to be sorry at all, and we loved her and wanted to come see her no matter what.  She said she loved me too.  It chokes me up just remembering her words again. 

Both Grandpa and Grandma were both so glad we came to visit.  Theresa was a bit of a celebrity...every nurse stopped us and wanted to hold her.  I am sure infants are a rare sight in a nursing home.  So our baby girl was passed around like a football, and she didn't mind one bit, bless her heart.  Grandpa held her for a minute while I got the pictures, and Grandma played with her toes and said she looked just like her Daddy (which is very true).  Grandma was so frail, I was afraid Thersa would bruise her if I put her on her great-grandma's lap, so that's why in the picture she's off to the side of the chair.  We were able to talk until Theresa grew tired, and started to fuss, so we left and got lunch.  We went back to the hotel and got changed for Mass, and went back to the Health Center.  It's very fortunate they have a chapel right on the grounds and a local priest comes and says Mass for the residents.  So we met up with Grandpa for Mass.  After that, we left to get dinner, then back to the hotel...the kids hit the pool, and finally, got to bed.

The next morning, we paid my grandparents one more visit before heading to the Riverwalk and taking one of the riverboat tours.  The kids hadn't gone up until this point, and they loved it, even though it was hot. I had my hands full holding the baby, so I handed the camera to Rebecca, and she took all of these pictures.  I was really impressed...she got some great shots...check it out. :-)

 We walked by the Alamo but didn't go in; the line was a mile long, and we knew the kids wouldn't last in the heat.  We got a picture outside though, amongst a million other people (seriously...it seemed very crowded for a holiday weekend). 

Lunch was at Fundruckers (so glad I saw that place before the kids talked us into McDonalds!), and then we took the kids to El Mercado...a Mexican market David and I had been to before.  The kids talked Dad into buying them guitars (of course!), and I bought another handpainted dish from one of my favorite vendors.  I'm getting to the point where I need bigger bowls to serve dinner with...maybe because our kids are eating more than ever?

After the market, we drove back home to Houston.  Theresa did amazingly well on the drive...she barely fussed on the way to San Antonio, and only cried when we were 1/2 an hour from home, and I knew she was getting hungry.  It was a long weekend for 5 kids, but I am truly thankful we were able to spend precious time with my grandparents.  Only God knows how much longer we will have them with us. 

Envy

It's no fun to admit you've been going through a streak of jealously lately. 

Yes, that'd be me. 

I've been reading my friends' posts on Facebook, and a few have been able to go on some pretty dreamy vacations.  You know...to some really great places.  Like Rome.  Colorado.  New Mexico.  Florida.  Someplace cooler than Texas right now sounds REALLY nice.  You know what I mean?  Unfortunately, when you have 5 kids all your budget goes to them.  And in retrospect, I'm not upset that all our money seems to go to the kids.  I'm extremely thankful we have enough money to provide for them, even though they claim they'd skip meals if it meant they could go to Disneyworld.  Sorry guys..it doesn't quite work that way.  Heck, I'd like to go to Disneyworld myself. 

I've been envious of my husband, believe it or not.  David left his job at Sterling Bank a week ago and has a a new position as the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) at a company that puts the Santa and Easter Bunny photo sessions on at most of the major malls in the United States.  The CEO of this company has been friends with David for many years.  Recently, he made David an offer to come on board, and it was David's dream opportunity.  So after 15 years, David no longer has to wear a suit and tie, and is working with a relatively small team of very nice people.  I am truly happy for him.  But envious?  Yeah, some.  He has a lovely commute down country roads, but has been VERY, VERY busy working very long hours (I don’t envy that of course, I already work long hours!). He’s enjoying his new adventure... and I'd like a new adventure myself.   I wish I could have a change of scenery around here, instead of wiping up orange juice, hauling the toddler out of the pantry and the open box of crackers for the umpteenth time, yelling at the kids to stop bickering over the computer, and praying I just might get a nap when Theresa goes down in the afternoons. Sigh...

I wish I had more time to myself. One thing about breastfeeding...you're always on call.  Theresa will take a bottle, which the other kids wouldn't, so I should be thankful for that.  I can leave Theresa for a little while, and do on the weekends when she is asleep. And David is willing to watch all 5 kids so I can go out Wednesday night.   So I know I just have to bid my time, be patient, and love the nursing time I have with Theresa...which I really do.  I LOVE snuggling with her in the mornings, and I must say, she loves it too.

See?  Think she's spoiled? ;-)

Oh...my dear, darling hubby has this great idea.  He thinks we should take another 2 week road trip next summer, this time to Washington DC and Pennsylvania.  That would be really fun!  But I tend to look on the other side of the coin.  It's hard for me to think about all the great benefits of a trip with plenty of learning opportunities for the kids because I think well...Theresa would be 18 months old.  So that means instead of reading exhibit captions, and enjoying the sights, I'll be chasing a toddler, changing diapers, and picking up 1,000 Cheerios off a dirty restaurant floor.  I would MUCH rather take a week next summer and go on a vacation with David, just the 2 of us.  We've been able to get away for a long weekend every few years, but we haven't had a serious vacation since our honeymoon 13 years ago.  Would someone please tell me I'm not being too terribly selfish? I think David's idea is great...but I want to wait until Theresa is just a bit older. 

Here's one last thing.  I'm envious of those who have the time (and money) to work out and lose weight...I really need to lose more weight, but just can’t seem to. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact I’m just mostly home this summer, and eating carbs out of boredom. No...really?!  I shouldn't be bored with 5 kids right?  Well intellectually, I'm not bored.  We just don't have anything going on these days, and it's too dang hot to walk outside like I was doing back in May, unless I get up at 5 AM.  Oh yeah, that's right...I'm already up at 5:00 AM to nurse the baby.  Sigh..excuses, excuses.  I hate exercising anyway.  But I need to.  Sigh...

Anyway...this little jealous funk I've been in started on Monday, and yesterday, a friend posted this article on Facebook.   

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/motherhood-is-a-calling-and-where-your-children-rank

How does God know when to send you just the right grace, right when you need it?  :-)

The author of the post has a book out, called Loving the Little Years. You bet I’m going to order a copy tonight! I think God has been trying to tell me to embrace my cross, just like Jesus did.  My cross right now happens to be jealously.  And instead of trying to avoid it, I need to face it head on, admit it, and then MOVE on.  If I have to dig my trench a little deeper, so be it! 

Thank you Lord, for reminding me not to be envious.  Mothering is NOT for wimps...and I need to stop complaining, stop being jealous, and just realize this is a great life...it's not always easy...but it's always an adventure.  I've got a crown in heaven with 5 jewels in it waiting for me.  I'd better go earn it, right? :-)

Summer...

Well, I made it.  Survived the last couple of weeks of school, watched Joshua finish up 5th grade (sob), wrapped up teachers' gifts, and kissed the hustle and bustle of the school year goodbye. 

Whew...I made it. 

For a while, I wasn't so sure.  I hate to admit it, but some postpartum anxiety and depression crept in about 2 weeks after my last post.  It wasn't too bad...I knew I just had to work through it, but there were a few days when the darkness hung over me like a bad shadow, and lingered long after the sun went down. 

The worst part was the week before Theresa's baptism.  David went to Joshua's Boy Scout meeting Tuesday night, came home, and essentially told me he was going on the campout that weekend. 

"WHAT???"

"Our daughter is getting baptized!  You CAN'T go!  How am I supposed to get everything ready for Theresa's baptism party???"

Oh man.  It was bad.  I yelled, I cried, I yelled some more, and I threw the laundry basket at my dear hubby.  He survived.  For about a day, I didn't think I would. I knew David wasn't trying to put more stress on me.  They really needed more drivers to safely transport the boys to the campsite, otherwise they would have to cancel the campout.  I just didn't want MY hubby to be the one to the rescue.  Dang it. 

The next day, I gathered up all my remaining sanity, and told myself to figure things out.  David's parents were coming on Saturday.  I knew they would help out...and they really came through.  I had already decided to cater in most of the food, but now I placed a bigger order, so I wouldn't have to make a thing except one salad that would take only 15 minutes.  David promised to be home in time to shower, change, and get to the church, AND wear sunscreen so he wouldn't look like an overcooked lobster at his daughter's baptism.  He did both...I know my MIL's sigh of relief when they pulled up Sunday morning was nearly as big as mine! 

Speaking of Theresa's baptism, it went beautifully.  She was the first of our children to have the full immersion baptism implemented by our pastor, and while she didn't really appreciate the water, it did make for the most fabulous photo.

See? :-)                                             Photo by Pat VanDeCapelle

Here's a few more pictures from that day.

 We had a great party at the house afterwards with my sister and her family, my uncle and his 2 grown kids, Grandpa and Grandma Reisinger, and the Nolte family. I honestly think other than our 10 year anniversary party we had 3 years ago, it was one of our best celebrations ever. Theresa hadn't slept hardly at all that morning, promptly crashed on our bed when we got home, and slept like a baby for 3 hours straight. She missed her whole party, lol. "It's my party, and I'll sleep if I want to..."

Whew...I made it.  I've said that before, haven't I? ;-)

Thankfully, all those dreary and dark cobwebs from the past month are pretty much gone.  Once school was over, and we had nothing going on (PRAISE GOD), we literally all fell into bed and didn't get up until after 8:00 AM the entire first week of summer vacation.  Well, Theresa got up a bit earlier, but bless her heart...she was actually able to take all her naps at home several days in a row, instead of catching a few winks here and there in the van.  How wonderful that must have felt to her!

I actually sorta started a new hobby too.  Rebecca learned how to crochet months ago from her cousin Mary.  Mary and her family (Peter, Stephanie, and the rest of their crew) were in town the first weekend of June.  While they were here, Mary taught me some crochet stitches.  I actually did crochet as a kid, but I'd forgotten the basics.  Once I figured things out, I started making those super cute baby beanies for Theresa.  And well...I made 5 in one week.  I told y'all we had nothing else going on. ;-)

Not pictured...a pink hat with a brown flower.  Every baby girl needs a pink hat. :-)

Of course, having a gorgeous little model doesn't hurt either.  The best part is, I can make the hats to match her outfits, not that I'm picky about that...why would I bother, right? ;-)

Cute huh? 

Anyways...this week the crochet is on hiatus while I run the older girls back and forth to art camp.  It's right by Gabriel's preschool, so I kept thinking it was over at 1:00.  It was actually over at 12:30, and I'd barely make it, because my mind was so set on the wrong time.  Yesterday, I leisurely went to the grocery store, and then went to pick up the girls.  I was just about there, when my cell phone rang.  The staff was calling me to see if was on my way.  Guess what time it was?

12:58. WHAT WAS I THINKING???  (Obviously, I wasn't).   

I got to the pavillion, jumped out of the van, and apologized, profusely.  The girls were fine...they had been helping the staff clean up, and were just finishing up.  So the staff really weren't put out, but still, I felt awful.  I can't imagine where my brain was.  It's not like me to forget something so important!

Gabriel and Theresa have been hanging out at home while Joshua has been at Boy Scout Camp at El Rancho Cima all week.  He'll be home on Saturday, and honestly, I haven't missed him as much as I thought I would.  But I can't wait to see him!  Email reports from the troop's Scoutmaster say the boys are having fun...some of them are homesick (I am sure Joshua was), but they are learning so much. 

I really hope Joshua was okay.  Josh is hesitant to jump into things, and often needs a good deal of guidance, instruction, and monitoring when he's in new situations.  Add in ADHD, and it really can be challenging for our son, especially since he doesn't have the reassurance of David being there.  There were times I am sure he was frustrated and ready to melt down, but hopefully he pushed through.  My biggest prayer is that he comes home and says, "I can't WAIT to go back next year" instead of "I am NOT going ever again."  'Cause let me tell you, he is going, every year.  It's the best thing for him.  He may think we're "throwing him in the deep end, " when truthfully, he knows how to "swim," and he just has to go for it.  You know what I mean?

I can't wait to see Joshua and say, "Hey buddy, you DID IT!"

Hmm...what else is going on?

Oh yes, I'm so glad summer is here.  It's hotter than...well, you know.  I don't have to say it.  And we're in the middle of a serious drought here in Houston.  At least our garden is alive and producing tons of beautiful tomatoes right now, so if you want to see what I'm cooking with them, click here.  Using home grown produce to feed our family and eating healthy always makes me feel good. 

Okay...that's the wrap up from the past 2 months.  We have VBS coming up next week, a weekend trip to San Antonio (so my grandparents can meet Theresa for the first time), Junior High Youth week, Choir Camp, and that's it.  Plenty of time in between to veg and do nothing.  Thank God for nothing!

Living in the Now

Our sweet baby girl is nearly 10 weeks old now.  Theresa is pure joy, and we all love her.  She has begun to coo and smile a lot, and it's just adorable.

That being said, Theresa is a very different baby from all our other children.  She started out a very calm baby, but by the time she was about 6 weeks old, I felt like something was up.  I had to hold her ALL THE TIME.  She was fussy, crying, and sometimes screaming two-thirds of the day, spitting up quite a bit, and every once in a while, she would throw up an entire feeding.

After talking to one of my best friends who happens to be a lactation consultant, I took Theresa to see our pediatrician, who listened to me.  One of the "perks" of having 5 kids is having a good pediatrician who doesn't just brush you off.  Dr T told me "since you have all these kids, I know you're not just imagining these symptoms."  So she decided to start Theresa on some liquid Zantac, and it seems to be just the thing.  I still am holding Theresa all the time, but she's not crying nonstop now.  That was the toughest part, holding her, and still not being able to soothe her, no matter what we tried.

Once we had the reflux issue mostly resolved, we now have to try and get Theresa's belly button to fully heal.  She lost her cord at 18 days old, but she developed a umbilical granuloma, which after 2 treatments with silver nitrate, still refuses to dry up and fall off.  The first application of silver nitrate didn't do anything, and the granuloma actually grew in the week's time it took me to get her back to the pediatrician for round 2.  This time, it took off the outermost layer of the granuloma, but Theresa still has a bit of it left.  I wish I could say we won't have to go back a third time for silver nitrate, but so far, it doesn't look good.  The granuloma has to come off, and the silver nitrate actually burns the skin as well, so poor Theresa's belly button looks awful right now.  In some ways, I have to laugh.  All our other babies had jaundice as newborns (both the boys needed light therapy), and Theresa was the only one who had practically no jaundice at all.  So I guess she's making up for it now by having a granuloma, LOL.

Sigh.

I really didn't expect anything like this.  I knew I'd be tired, heck...exhausted these days.  I knew the house would go to pot, the dust would be very visible, and I'd go nuts just trying to get the simplest of meals on the table for dinner.

What I didn't expect was a sweet baby, who I love to pieces, but will not let me put her down for anything.  I'll nurse her, cuddle her and put her in the swing, boucy seat, or the floor.  By the time I go to the bathroom, make a quick sandwich, or read a book to Gabriel, Theresa is crying her eyes out.  Lord have mercy!

So, I am trying really hard not to sweat the small things.  Unfortunately, that's what gets to me the most.  I can supervise homework, make dinner, do the laundry, you know, the big things.  But I can't pay the bills, order my contact lenses, sew the kitchen towels I'm making for teachers gifts, or fix a button on one of my favorite summer blouses.

I'm definitely living in the now.  Just ask my husband.  If I try to think about what needs to be done in a week's time, or just in a few days, I just can't.  I literally shut that part of my brain off, take a deep breath, and say at least 3 Hail Marys.  I get completely overwhelmed, and I feel like crying.  I really want to spend more time with the other kids, take a walk all by myself, or sit down and really enjoy a good book.  None of that is possible these days.  All I can do is get through one day at a time, and pray I didn't forget to sign someone's homework folder (which I've already done 2x), or take something out of the freezer for dinner the next day.

I'm trying so hard to just focus on what I CAN do.  I can pray.  And I can offer it all up.  We are just about to celebrate Easter, and this past Lent, I know our Lord has asked me to sacrifice all of my fears and failings.  He wants me to focus, to live in the present, to trust Him, and believe His plan is best, even though I am afraid, and don't fully understand why.  Having a new baby again has placed me, and our family on a new path, on the road of a different journey, which we're all experiencing together.

As a mother, I know it's up to me to be the example.  I am really hard on myself sometimes, and I've fallen short many times in the past 10 weeks.  Often, I would rather stay down, and have everyone just leave me alone.  I want time to recover, and I'd like a longer pity party than normal.  But when you're a Mom, that party is over really quick. Somebody always needs something 3 seconds after I started crying.

Oh, I can see it now, the Blessed Mother standing over me, saying, "All right now, we can talk later, but you need to get up and get on with it!" 

So I get up.  And I get on with it.  Maybe they'll be time for tears later, but for right now, I'm living in the now.

Cover Tune Grab Bag - "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"

This video is so great...I can't stop watching it. It features MercyMe, Jars Of Clay, Matt Maher, Thousand Foot Krutch, The Afters & Lecrae. If you search under "Cover Tune Grab Bag" on YouTube, there's more videos to laugh over.

Enjoy!

One Month

So...our little Valentine is one month old already. 

I am seriously in disbelief.  Where did that month go???

That's the one thing about being sleep deprived.  Time goes by fast. ;-)

But honestly, I'm not too tired.  Theresa gets up 2x at night to nurse.  95% of the time, she goes right back to sleep.  If she doesn't, she'll cry (and sometimes scream) for a while.  But eventually, she'll crash again.  I've kinda given up on going back to my own bed to sleep.  Once Theresa gets up the first time, we snuggle up together on the futon bed in her room, and I'll sleep with her the rest of the night.  It's just easier for me (instead of going back and forth multiple times).  And I've been able to take a nap nearly every day since she was born.  I'm betting I won't be so lucky this week, since the kids are home on Spring Break. 

I suppose I should post a few pics of our sweet baby girl.  I admit we haven't taken very many...but the ones we have are pretty cute. 

Christina wants to hold her baby sister ALL THE TIME.  Thankfully Theresa will let Rebecca or Christina hold her for a good 10 minutes at a time...as long as she's not tired or hungry.

She'll come home from school and say,

"Mommy, where's Theresa?"

"She's asleep."

"Oh.  Well, can I wake her up and hold her?"

"NO!  Never wake a sleeping baby!"

Theresa's godmother paid us a surprise visit when she was just a few days old.  Lara brought the most beautiful bouquet of dark pink roses...I should have taken a pictures of them.

Godfather Jeff came when Theresa was 2 weeks old.  He only got to hold her for a minute before she started to fuss. 

Aunt Jenn came one day bearing gifts, and brought dinner too.  Yum.

And no, you're not seeing things.  Yes, we're twins.  Don't know if I've ever posted a pic of my sister on my blog.  But now you know. ;-)

And Uncle Jim came last weekend.  He didn't bring dinner, but he did bring a present for Theresa (including an adorable pair of striped socks) and flowers. 

David won't admit it, but Theresa has got him wrapped all around her pinkie finger.  She has already cooed at him once. 

I managed to get one shot of all 5 kids together in the backyard for the birth announcements...it was nuts!  The kids were all cranky by the time I finished, but one good pic was all I needed.

Other than nursing, pooping, and sleeping, Theresa doesn't do much else.  But the younger three want to kiss her all the time, and Gabriel especially seems enamored by his baby sister.  Sure...he's had a few tantrums, but it hasn't been too bad.  I physically feel back to normal...albeit tired.  And my mental capabilities aren't all there yet.  David had to order the birth announcements because I just couldn't (he had to do 2 separate orders to use the $40 of credit we had with Shutterfly). 

So...I'm off to clean the kitchen, and hopefully grab a nap later today.  Later!