Oh, my word!

I just found I've had 891 hits on my blog just today! Someone decided to post a link to the birth story on a babycenter forum! So, needless to say, my story is popular! I have had people tell me it's a fun story, so I guess the truth is in the numbers. Scott and I just laughed when we saw the counter! 

Santa!

Santa came to our house to pay a little visit. Richard was excited. Audrey was scared. We all received candy canes. We're so excited it's the Christmas season!

Updates

Peter and Marie are now 7 weeks old! Wow how time has flown! Marie is starting to sleep more at night. She had one stretch where she ate at 8:00 p.m. and didn't eat again until 4:00 a.m.! Peter ate during that time, so I didn't get much more sleep, but it sure is encouraging! They usually have at least one 4-5 hour stretch now, which is nice.

They are also smiling! It's difficult to get a good picture when I'm alone, so this is the best I could do! They are getting cuter every day!

I know I said Audrey was good with potty training, but she's really struggled the last week. She doesn't full-out have an accident, but she usually at least gets her underwear if not part of her pants wet. Sigh. I had hoped the babies were old enough that the risk was gone. So, we're back to doing marshmallows as an incentive to get to the potty. She's trying. Life is just stressful for her right now.

Both Richard and Audrey are getting to be good helpers. They'll bounce the bouncy chairs and give Marie and Peter their binkies to help them settle down. They also like to get in their face and try and make them smile.

Birthday Bash

At this time of year, my family has a lot of birthdays. We just celebrate them all at once, because it makes things easier and more convenient. I have rarely celebrated my birthday alone and on the right day. In fact, I was born on my brother's birthday. My mom promised him he would always have his own cake. So, we all always get our own cake! I had told my mom I didn't need one this time, as we we would have enough cake and I would just make one on my birthday. She surprised me by making this cake that I had found in a magazine and had earmarked to make one day. It was just as yummy as I thought it would be! We did presents for my Dad and for me.
My family was great and helped take care of my four kids so that I could enjoy myself. My sister and her husband have four children, but, by six weeks, they are all older than my four children. My niece made sure Audrey ate her dinner. Both my nieces, my sisters, my Mom, my brother, and my brother-in-law bounced babies throughout the evening. (Not to mention what Scott and I did.)Audrey being silly with the bags. She's so spazzy!

I always have fun at our get-togethers!

More nice people

On Sunday, I had a woman from my ward inform me she was coming to my house once a week to help. We set up a time and date. She had triplets, and so she's very aware of the work involved. Another woman told me that if Scott needs help when I go back to work, she'll take one of the babies. I don't know if Scott will take her up on that offer, but it was very kind of her to even offer.
I am just so grateful to people who recognize that we need help. I appreciate people who say, "If anyone can do it, it's Lucille." However, I more appreciate people who recognize how hard it would be to be wonder woman and that I need help to keep my sanity. More importantly, I need help so Richard and Audrey aren't neglected. I appreciate their taking time out of their busy lives and schedules, even though it's not convenient for them.

thesis update

Scott now has a date and time that all his committee has agreed on for his thesis defense! Yea! He still needs to have them sign a form and then turn it in to the secretary for it to be officially scheduled. Cross your fingers. We may almost be done!

Things to fight about

Richard and Audrey like to fight over things that drive me nuts! This is a list of the most commonc causes of contention.

who gets to open a drawer
who gets to close said drawer
who gets to close the door to the house
who gets to do the buckles on Audrey's carseat and booster seat
who gets to flush the potty
who gets to put certain dishes away
who gets to get the dishes out to set the table
who gets to open the fridge
who gets to close the fridge
who gets to get the milk out of the fridge

Why can't we all just get along?!

dessert pizza

I am a sucker for all things dessert. I LOVE desserts! I cut out recipes and I'm sure 75% of them are dessert related.

Well, I've wanted to do more with Richard and Audrey to let them know I still love and care about them. So, I had the idea of making a dessert pizza. They love to help me make pizza, but we haven't done that since the babies were born. I think we had a good time!

It turned out super yummy!

Could it be?

Is it really she?
Sorry, I'll stop that...

However, is it really the light at the end of the tunnel? Scott turned his thesis in to his committee today. He's hoping to schedule his defense in the next few days. We've been waiting for this thing to be over for so long. That elusive light seems to have escaped us until maybe now. Is it possibly really almost within reach?

I'm famous!

All I can say is I'm just stunned at the amount of traffic my site is receiving. I used to get about 5 people checking a day. Now, I get people I've never met commenting on my blog. My husband and I just laugh at how the numbers climb!

My other kids

So, I still have other children which I also think are adorable. Richard still loves preschool and is always asking if it's a preschool day. He's learning so much! Audrey is doing much better with potty training. She had a short time where she'd have about one accident a day. Granted, she did much better than I feared. I'm very glad she seems to not have any more problem. They both still seem to like the babies. My wonderful primary president gave the kids these plates, because she doesn't want them to feel ignored with all the attention Marie and Peter are getting. Richard and Audrey were so excited!

One Month!

Marie and Peter are now one month old! They are still small. At their check-up, Peter was 8 lb 5 oz (14th percentile) and Marie was 6 lb 11 0z. (4th percentile) So, she's now his birth weight. I realize they are both smaller than a lot of newborns! Marie is still smaller than Richard was when he was born.

Food

I love to eat. I'm so glad I have room to eat again. I just get self-conscious when people point out that I eat a tad more than others. When was the last time you ate for three?

People are so nice!

I am in the primary presidency in my ward. Well, the president and one of my visiting teachers put together a baby shower for me. I felt very silly, because people normally don't have baby showers for 3rd and 4th babies. However, they were very kind and wanted to help since I was caught unprepared. I mostly received diapers and baby hygiene items, but that is what I need! 

I'm just overwhelmed by the generosity of people in my ward. I've had so many women offer their services for babysitting. I've had them offer their daughter's services. In fact, I have two girls that come over for an hour every Wednesday so I can run errands! I have never felt so much love from a ward. 

My mother has been amazing and come to help at least 3 days every week so far. She has no plans of stopping anytime soon, which is such a blessing. She makes sure I have a decent dinner and even takes care of days she won't be there! She entertains Richard and Audrey and helps bounce Peter and Marie. I would be drowning without her! She has been a lifesaver. I can't say enough how much I appreciate her attention to me. My sister is also coming to help, which is a huge sacrifice for her since she has four of her own children at home.

I just want to thank those who've made the birth of Marie and Peter less overwhelming and not a sanity breaker. I thank Heavenly Father for blessing me with such a great husband, fantastic mother, and wonderful ward. My siblings have done what they can with their resources and time and I'm so appreciative of that. I hope to be able to pay attention to other people's needs as well as my needs have been noticed.

Halloween

So, I have a lot of posts tonight. I've gotten a little behind, because I've been a wee bit busy. Enjoy.

Richard dressed up as a pirate this year. He's really been into pirates since we went to Disneyland last Christmas. He often watches the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride on the first Pirates movie special edition disk. He was excited about the hook, the patch, and the sword we borrowed from my sister.

We borrowed a couple of costumes for both kids from my sister and brother. However, Richard was so excited about dressing as a pirate, I really wanted to make that happen. Then, I found this costume for quite cheap and couldn't pass it up. Plus, it's big enough he can wear it next year!

Audrey had two costume options, but the one from my brother was quite large and she could wear it another year. This lady bug costume was a little big but worked quite well! We told her she had to wear the hood or couldn't get candy. So, the hood stayed on!

We dressed the twins up, just because we have the costumes and they look so cute! Since you probably can't tell, Marie is a cow. Peter is a bumblebee.

Both kids were really excited about the candy and enjoyed our ward trunk-or-treat. I wasn't too eager to go door to door and felt this was a great alternative.

Milk Jug Pumpkins

I got this idea last year from a "Family Fun" magazine. Richard had a great time last year, so I wanted to do it this year as well. If you can't tell, these are faces he's colored.This time Audrey was old enough to participate and seemed to think it was great fun! I was glad to do something with just Richard and Audrey.

Can you tell which two I did?

Pumpkins!

Scott helped Richard carve a pumpkin he got on his preschool field trip to a pumpkin patch. I was busy feeding babies and so just took pictures. Richard was so excited! He didn't so much like pulling out the seeds and strings and gave that job over to Scott.

However, he was very excited for Scott to carve the face and was even more excited to "put fire in it."

First baths

We gave the babies their first real baths at 2 1/2 weeks. They didn't really like the bath! Of course, they sit in a chair instead of in warm water. So, once they're wet, the air makes them cold. I wouldn't like that either! Peter was first.

Then Marie had her turn.

They both have hooded towels I received from a co-worker.

Two weeks old

Trip to Grandma's and Grandpa's

The babies had their first checkup on October 16. Turns out they're little! Who'd have known?! Marie was in the 2nd percentile and Peter was in the 15th percentile. My Grandma was able to meet them for the first time.