Vacation Updates

Well, we are home from our trip to my sister’s. We all had a great time and are so glad we did it. We can’t wait to do it again! As always, there are pictures on www.dropshots.com/5boysmom.We arrived last Saturday afternoon. We had lunch with a friend on Saturday. It was nice to catch up and visit. We hadn’t seen each other in a while. It’s amazing how busy lives can get! Then we arrived at Shawna’s later in the day. We spent the rest of the time relaxing. Sunday we relaxed and didn’t do a whole lot either, although the kids had a lot of fun! We had mom and Granny and Grandpa Charlie over for supper and got to visit with them. Ethan bit Granny on the shoulder and she yelped and said he had a tooth. I didn’t believe it, but on closer inspection, he does! He got the first tooth!! On his left bottom. So cute! It also explained why he was so owly at bedtime the night before and wouldn't take his nap that day!Monday we went to the Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque with my mom. Our kids love going there. The kids loved all the fish, the otters, the boats they got to control, and the William M Black. It’s neat for my kids to be able to tour the Black. When I was growing up, it was only open for school tours. We went every year, but that was pretty much the only way on. Now it is open year round as part of the museum. They also all got to touch a stingray. That was fascinating. Then they felt all sorts of odd little shelled fish things. If Austin was here, he could tell me what they were, but he’s not and I can’t remember. Even Noah and Ethan got a chance. Noah stared at it and found it fascinating. Ethan looked at it, but didn’t get too close to it. Emma was hesitant at first, but then touched them. Cael also touched them. Then in the afternoon, we went to the pool in Dubuque. That was very refreshing, as it was really hot!Tuesday we went to the Madison Zoo with my dad. That was really nice. The kids had a great time. We didn’t get through the whole thing…I think it was my first time ever not getting through it all in one day!! We kept getting stopped for everyone to see the babies. I felt like we should set up a side attraction, one day only! Oh, well…I don’t really mind and people love to see them. It just forces me out of my comfort zone a tad, but Steve and I are starting to believe that was God’s ultimate plan in giving us triplets! Aidan LOVED the goats. I could not get him away! He has always loved goats and he wasn’t about to leave them before he absolutely had to. Austin, as always, was the perfect tour guide and could tell us almost anything about any animal. We then headed home to grill out and Dad was going to stay longer, but there was a thunderstorm warning and he had his Harley, so he had to get going while the going was good!Wednesday (the Fourth) we went to Steve’s sister’s for Troy and Shane’s birthday. Aidan loves to see Shane, so he was excited. They played a really neat game and had fun with that. Aidan searched for the fish and figured out how to turn off Sue’s fountain so he could see them. We were ALL happy to see Daddy that day. Then we went to my mom’s for supper and got to visit with Granny and Grandpa Charlie again, plus my brother.Thursday we had a relaxing day again, which was nice. We made necklaces and just had fun. Friday we went to get pictures done for my mom and my dad, plus our grandparents. It was quite an undertaking, with seven kids (six of whom are under the age of 4!!), but it was nice to get everyone’s picture taken together. We ended up with some cute pictures. I hope they like them! Then we went to the pool again that afternoon for a while. My mom and brother and his friend came up to visit that night also. Saturday was my step-mom’s family reunion so we went to that for a while. It was another hot, hot day, so they kids had fun in the fountain. It used to be an actual little wading pool, till there was a little e-coli scare. Now it is just a faint spray fountain. It doesn’t matter to the kids, though! Then we headed home after a long week and we were so excited to be home again and see Daddy! The babies started solid food!! They were really ready, so we did it. I started them on sweet potatoes because our grocery store was out of avacados. But, today I got some avacados, squash, and more sweet potatoes. I made two huge sweet potatoes yesterday, but they are eating way more than I realized! So I am back to making a ton of baby food. They appeared to like it! We also separated them into their own cribs. While at Shawna’s, Noah was in his own pack and play and he did awesome. We thought we would continue when we got home and try Nathanial and Ethan separate, also. I really thought I would have the most trouble with Nathanial, but that was not the case. Ethan has had the hardest time and has been crying at night for a couple of minutes when he is first put in, then he stops and all is well and he sleeps good the rest of the night. Austin headed to Boy Scout Camp yesterday after church for a week. He comes home Saturday. I hope he is having fun! I know he was really excited to go. I’m just nervous for him! We get to go to parent’s night on Wednesday, so we do get to see him a little. I’m sure he’ll be so busy and have so much fun he won’t even miss us!Tomorrow, Austin, Troy, and Shane show, so we are going to the Delaware county fair. So Steve won’t work then, either. I survived my first trip with all five boys alone and actually enjoyed myself! It was great to get away and not have to worry about what time Steve would be home. And I am sure it was nice for him to not have to feel guilty about working late. He even took off yesterday for us! He brought home work, but he was here!

We have been trying for another baby with medical help since November 2005 and since Aidan was born on our own. In November, my doctor didn’t seem very positive. He did a suppression cycle and then we began medication in January. We had six IUI’s prior to returning back to Iowa City’s infertility clinic in the end of May. Since we know what worked with Aidan, we started the same protocol immediately. Then began the nightmare of injections, ultrasounds, and blood tests. On June 14, we went in for our IUI. Everything looked great, except one number. The nurse who did it said that with that one number being a little low, the pregnancy rate dropped drastically, so this cycle would not count towards our total of four. So we tried not to get our hopes up, but she still gave us some hope.We went about our “normal” lives for the next two weeks and went on vacation. I was exhausted and moody, but figured it was just PMS.On June 28, I went to Allen in Waterloo at 8:30 a.m. to get our hCG blood draw, so I could go off the progesterone and start everything all over again…so convinced was I that it did not work. I waited and waited and waited, and finally, at 5:30, the nurse from the clinic called. The number was 196…an excellent number that meant I was, indeed, pregnant!!! I was so excited and couldn’t believe it. I asked her three times if she was sure she had the right person and even took a home test at 3:15 a.m. to be positive it was correct. We are now waiting to go in for our first ultrasound on July 20, which will be seven weeks. That will check to make sure the baby has a heartbeat, and with a number like 196, to see if there is possibly more than one! There were three really nice follicles, so technically, there could be three babies, but we highly doubt it. They don’t think my one side works very well and on the side that does work, it only had one follicle. I guess only time will tell.Please keep me and this baby and our family in prayers these next few weeks and months. We can use every prayer we get…it has worked several times and it will work again! God is Great!!!

Cattle Congress

We just recieved a call from Austin's 4H leader and Austin was chosen to go on to the next level, which is Cattle Congress, for his Paint Bag presentation!! So that is awesome! It's the level below State fair and I am not even sure he is eligable as a junior to go to state. We're really proud of him. We get his evaluation form tomorrow along with his letter, so we can see where he can improve and what he did well.Also, I got on video tonight the babies talking to each other finally. Noah was really excited when he was speaking to Ethan and Nathanial was getting in on the action, also. You can see that on the dropshots site.That's it for tonight!

Summer Fun

We have been very busy the last couple of weeks and it seems instead of a relaxing summer, we will have a very busy one. Austin had Camp Invention last week and this week and had a lot of fun with that. He invented a “new” space station. The idea is that you go and take apart an electronic item (this year, a record player) to discover how it works and then rebuild it into something else. You also learn about different scientific things, how patents work, the invention process, and all sorts of stuff. Our school really encourages it for all students, but it’s almost mandatory for the TAG students. He loves going and I believe this is the last year he’ll be able to go. Austin also had his 4H Communication Day presentation today. He did a Working Exhibit on paint bags. He found the idea on Kid Concoctions and he loves to do them at home, so it was a great idea. We thought we had a lot of it figured out a while ago…he printed out his ideas, supply list, steps, posters, everything on Sunday so all we had to do was actually put it ON the display board. Easy, right?? Not so! We started around 7 last night and did not get finished until 11! It took forever, but it did look pretty good when we were all done. He received a merit ribbon today after he finished and was asked to do it at the county fair in August, so that was great! They are even willing to make arrangements for him because the working exhibit time is half way through his rabbit show, but they are willing to let him come late and do it. He is very excited. I put pictures of last night’s fiasco and today’s presentation on www.dropshots.com/5boysmom. I have decided I will be using that for pictures from now on.Aidan is, well, Aidan. He is so sweet sometimes and sooo ornery others. I cannot figure out if it is because he is trying to assert his independence or what. It can be very trying and then, just as fast as lightning, he will be his sweet little self again. It hasn’t helped that the weather has been extra icky, either. It has been hotter than blazes and then, suddenly, last night, it was storming really bad and today also. He started swimming lessons on Monday, but has actually had only two lessons, only one of which was in the water. Monday it stormed so they had a safety lesson, Tuesday was a swim meet, Wednesday in the water, then last night Tornado and Thunderstorm warnings killed it. He is actually doing really well.Nathanial is getting very close to rolling! He is now whipping himself onto his side and trying VERY hard to roll all the way. He just needs to move his arm out from under himself! Ethan has the back to front roll down perfectly and is trying to perfect his back to front. He gets stuck halfway and also needs to move his arm! Noah has got it down both ways and is deciding it is an excellent way to get across the room! Not so great!! They are all grasping toys when you put them in their hands and Nathanial and Ethan will even grab at toys themselves and hold on. Which also means they pick up EVERYTHING they find and it immediately goes into the mouth. I think they are all teething. They are all drooling and putting everything in their mouths and chewing on things a lot. Noah is very cranky, but the other two are really good.I think I am either slightly insane or really stupid (haven’t decided which yet!), but the boys and I are going to stay a week at Shawna’s in the beginning of July! We are all very excited. I am a tad nervous about the babies and Austin, but I am sure it will be a lot of fun. Steve always works the month of July non-stop (even holidays and weekends) because of year end, so we never see him. I thought this year instead of staying home, we would go away. That way he also doesn’t have to worry about being home for us at a certain time (which is usually very late). We are planning on going swimming, to the River Museum, and the Madison Zoo! I know it will be a lot of fun!The day after we get home from Shawna’s, Austin goes to Boy Scout camp for 10 days! He’s very excited. It will be his longest stay away from home, but last year he went to Webelos camp for four days and he has been on three weekend BS campouts in the last few months, so he’ll be fine. He also still has his Monday group that he goes to and the 4H fair to look forward to. So glad to have his Communication Day done!!!That’s about it for now. I hope everyone has a great 4th of July and we’ll update when we get home!

4 Month Doctor Visit

Nathanial, Ethan, and Noah had their 4 month check up and shots Friday. :( They all cried when they got them, Noah screamed for a few minutes. He wasn't happy at all. Thankfully Steve's sister went with us so I didn't have to go alone. We will not start solids until they are six months for a few reasons. I think that's the earliest I want them to due to prematurity and also then I don't have to do cereal at all. I do not want to do it; I haven't with either of the other boys. Troy was fine with us starting directly with avocado. Other than them staring intently at us every single time we eat, they don't really seem ready to start, either. They are still fine with their formula and do not act hungry when they are finished. Apart from Noah's reflux (we increased his meds), everything with them is great! They are all developing normally. None of them are rolling very consistently at all yet. Ethan rolled early, then quit. Nathanial has never rolled. Noah has rolled a few times (according to Austin). Nathanial and Ethan do not squeal yet or laugh. Noah laughs, though. Troy said not to be concerned about it, because when we account for them being early, they are doing everything they should and even a lot of stuff most "normal" 4 month olds do. They are getting really big! We thought that Ethan was getting pretty tubby and closer to Noah than Nathanial, but we were wrong. Ethan was 24 1/2" and 13 lbs, 10 oz. and his head was 16". Nathanial was 24 3/4" and 13 lbs, 6 oz. and his head was also 16". Noah was 23 1/4" (short little fella!), and 14 lbs, 10 oz., and his head was 16 1/4". So they are all growing really well! After the shots, Nathanial and Ethan slept most of the day away as did Noah at first. Then he screamed for about 3 hours again, but we are not really sure that was due to the shots at all. He has been cranky for the last week and drooling A LOT. I asked if he could possibly be teething and he said yep. So we think that is what is going on. He was cranky again yesterday and today and he just chews on my finger...hard. Everything he picks up, he sticks in his mouth, also. Poor little guy! They are all grabbing stuff and picking it up....on purpose! It is so exciting to see. We started putting stuff in their hands a couple of weeks ago and they would hold on, and then look at it funny like "how did that get there?" Now, they are grabbing things themselves and staring at them and beginning to figure it out. They stare at their hands and have discovered them, also. It is so neat to watch! However, they are also picking up stuff that they shouldn't have because we keep forgetting they are able to. Gotta watch them ALL the time now! Today Noah had a hold of a hard plastic tie thing (like they attach toys with)...thankfully I was right next to him and saw him as soon as he picked it up. Aidan turned FOUR on Wednesday! I cannot believe he is that old already! We had his George (Curious, that is) party yesterday. Much as I wanted a George (Bush, that is) party, he wasn't going for it! He had a blast. Austin and Aidan received a bounce house (early present for Austin) and Aidan just loves it! I do not want to see what our electric bill will be this month! His cousin Emma was here, so that was all he really even needed to have fun. Then last night we went to the neighbors for a fish fry (I refrained from the fish). So all in all a pretty good day.Austin is at a Boy Scout campout this weekend, so he missed the party. He made the choice to go to camp, which was fine by us. He is canoeing this weekend. I'm anxious for him to get home to make sure he didn't go down river! He'll be home sometime late this afternoon, but I am pretty sure he is having a lot of fun. He starts his weekly intensive Asperger group and Camp Invention this week. He has Boy Scout camp (week long) in July. He also is doing a bunch of stuff for 4H (fair and Communication Day). He got more rabbits yesterday, so he needs to start working with them now so they show well. One of them is especially calm already...I think she's the one he should show for his showmanship. And one of them is pretty ornery so hopefully he can get her to calm down. He usually can. Steve's still working on the roof to the back building so he can set up a rabbit house for them all. He is keeping one hutch outside and then four cages inside the building so he has a place to house all of them once they wean! So far Austin has 7, with 5 being in one cage (mama and babies). I started putting pictures on a different website...I can upload larger pictures, so it will be easier and there is more room. It is www.dropshots.com/5boysmom.