My oh my time is flying by the babies are 5 months old already!

Yep time flying by is my theme for today because on November 24th the babies were 5 months old.  I just can't believe how big they are getting already and I am wondering where my little things went.  They are just getting too big too fast.

So here we are at 5 months old!  Learning to do so many things and having a great time!


Cale enjoying his new favorite pastime!



Mallory enjoying her favorite pastime



He enjoyed it so much today he fell asleep in it!

Mallory chatting with Memaw Jo she loves to chat!


So it has been a wonderful week of celebrations for us but I must say that all 4 of my babies are growing too fast.  As we sit here and watch Polar Express for the 4th time today I will enjoy myself with my kids and let everything else go!

My oh my time does fly! The toddler times

I can't believe it Caden and Maggie are 3 today!  It seems just like yesterday that I was at the doctor for a regular check up, out to lunch, then back to the doctor, admitted to the hospital then delivered two babies who decided to enter the world 6 weeks early!  I remember laying there watching Rudolph the Rednose Raindeer thinking that it would be a long couple of weeks on bed rest for me.  I was planning all of the books I could read, things that wouldn't get done before Christmas, wondering how to keep my sanity when all of a sudden, ok this was like 4 hours, we were heading to the OR to deliver my babies.

To celebrate their birthday we had family over for a party and of course we had cake and ice cream.  They were totally amazed by their cakes and couldn't wait to for all of the people to get here so they could eat them.  Thank you to Sarah at Baby Cakes Bakery for her hard work and delivery! 

So 3 year olds on their birthday are fun, they are learning what it is to get presents, they pick the things they want, they have an amazing reaction to every present and they know how to make a mess with all of their gifts.

So we have come a long way from being preemies, growing and learning more each day.  I just can't believe that they are 3 today! 

I am so thankful for these two little miracles, they bring so much joy and laughter to our lives. 

They are becoming amazing little people who enjoy life to it's fullest! 

But my oh my doesn't time fly! 

I sure wish we could slow it down!

Let the Cream Cheese Season begin!

Thanksgiving kicks off my husband's favorite time of the year - Cream Cheese Season!  Thanksgiving is the official start of cream cheese season which goes through New Year's with a nice spike back at Super Bowl. 
He has deemed this time of year cream cheese season because at each family and friend gathering there is for sure to be at least 50% of the dishes with a cream cheese base. 

I have always laughed at him when he says this but when I was making my grocery list for the Toddler Twins birthday party I realized how right he is - I have a need for at least 6 blocks of cream cheese but I know I will buy about 10 because it is great to have them on hand during this yummy and festive season, you don't want to run out!  So from now until New Year's I know that Cream Cheese will be on my grocery list, it is a staple and a need as you never know when you will get an invite and need to bring an appetizer!

Matthew absolutely loves cream cheese season for the yummy foods but I love it for another reason. 
I love it because it means time with family and friends.  It means that we are together with the ones we love and having a great time!

Happy Cream Cheese Season to All!

Today I am thankful for Cream Cheese and the joy it not only brings to my husband but the gatherings that it creates! 

Sometimes it is the simple things in life that are the best!

Thank Goodness the End is Near!

The end of the basement construction that is....

Our basement has been a work in progress now for about 6 months now and I can finally say THE END IS NEAR!  It is almost done and I can't wait to do nothing but sit on my comfy couch and watch a movie.

This weekend has been dedicated to getting a lot of our jobs done and thanks to the fabulous in laws we got a ton done!  Memaw Jo and Papaw Frank graciously took the kids on Friday night so we could do our chores and go shopping at Lowe's, which I love.  Matthew hates going to Lowe's because lately we haven't gotten out of there without spending $500 each trip but I think those days are behind us. 

So our Friday night was spent picking out cabinets that will build the bar, painting doors and quarter round, cleaning the floors and carrying out trash!  I know everyone is just jealous of our fun but you know what, we worked hard and I can't wait just a couple more weeks and this basement will be done! 

Today I am thankful that this project is almost behind us, it is draining me of my energy and money, but mostly I am thankful for the space this project will bring.  It will be a wonderful family room, gathering spot and a hibernating location for the McCools!

Scrapin' for the NICU - giving a little something back!

Tuesday night at our Mother's of Twins Club we created scrapbook pages that will be presented to the parents of children who are at the Good Sam NICU. 
We adopted this project as a way to reach out to the community and give back some support and cheer to those who need it most.  Plus it was a great way to get to know a few of the newer mom's to the club, always an added bonus of more people to lean on it when I need it most!

Having a baby in the NICU is on of the hardest things a parent will ever go through.  For many of those babies may not see the outside of those walls ever.  For some it is merely a stop and a few eating lessons before getting to join the rest of their family.  No matter what the circumstances are I know that those who have to leave their children everyday in the care of someone else is extremely hard. 

I also know that the care those children receive while in the NICU is absolutely amazing and those nurses and doctors are the best.  They take care of these itty bitty babies who need so much help and guidance in getting their lives started.  The nurses are the ones who are always there when the parents are there visiting, they are the ones giving the progress reports on what your child has been doing each day.  They are the ones who are saying the encouraging words when it comes time for you to go home to your other responsibilities and giving the reassurance that your child will be in great hands.  They are the ones who take your phone call at 3AM because you want to know is he awake, is he doing okay, you want to know something because you can't sleep because you little one isn't home with you.  They are your connection to your child when you can't be there.

Our scrapbook pages will be a way for these parents to share with their children the start of their lives and later to share with their child the story of how their life began.  Sadly for some parents that scrapbook page will hold the only photos of their child.   Either way, we hope that our pages, which were created with love from moms, some who have been in their shoes, will bring a little joy to the lives of those who need it. 

I remember that dreadful day, December 2, 2007, when I had to leave the hospital after having Caden and Maggie and I had to leave my baby boy behind.  I had encouraging words from my favorite nurse, my sister Nicole, who said that he is in the best care and he will be home shortly.  She told me that there was to be no worries, I could call when I needed to and visit when I needed to and that she would check on him for me after her shift with progress reports included.  We were lucky, our wimpy white boy only stayed a total of 9 days, and he is now a happy and healthy almost 3 year old. 

That is what I am grateful for today, that my baby is here, happy and healthy! 

That cold and rainy day in December when I had to leave him seems so long gone and is impossible to believe it was real.

I am thankful that I did not have to got to bring both Mallory and Cale home with me - no NICU stops the second time around!

I am also grateful that our mom's group could pass along a little something to support the many parents who have children in the NICU. 

I am hoping their holidays are a little brighter because of our pages.

Here is Caden's scrapbook of his NICU pass through!

Getting a little breathing help at 4lbs. 10oz.

Needing less help breathing but still needing feeding support

Mommy visiting with Caden 3 days before he came home - s
till getting the feeding support but breathing on his own GREAT!



Ready to go home with my sissy!



home and getting comfy, he was so little

 

Now a healthy and happy almost 3 year old! 
He is a wonderful addition to our lives!



The difficult task of potty training - UGH I am scared of it...

So as we started full board potty training last week this was my thought.  Now 8 days later, I feel better but boy those first few days were rough.

It is so hard to tackle something new when you are not sure your child is ready for it.  Much less if you have never done the task - potty training that is - I think it is scary, I mean you want to succeed and not have your child going to kindergarten in a diaper. 

I tried to ready books, that didn't work for me so I went to my never fail - ask the mom's who have already done it!  I got some great ideas and thoughts from all of those mom's out there who and have been there and done it.  Not all of them worked but from each one I learned a little something that helped Maggie get to where she is today - almost there and fully potty trained!  SO THANK YOU FRIENDS, near far, here in person or in writing I apprecaite your sharing and encouragement!

The best advice though came from my friend Devon, way over in Boise, who at the point of me giving into my 2 year old who wanted to quit sent me a text that said, "YOU ARE NOT DONE! Put away the diapers and make her do this she is ready."  So I sucked it up and we tried again and I am so glad Devon sent me those words that day at that moment because I was ready to quit!  Maggie had told me she was done and she wanted her Elmo diaper so I was ready to give in, after all changing a diaper is much easier than cleaning up a mess on the floor and carrying around change of clothes.  You know what - she just needed mommy to give it one more try and she did too and we haven't looked back.  Sure we have had accidents and sure we need to figure out a few more things, overnight included, but she nowgoes to the restroom on her own when she needs to and ask for help when she needs it.  Just another step in her independence that makes me realize how fast she is growing.

I debated on writing about this topic but you know what, it is a big part of our lives right now and I need to be honest with Maggie when she asks for help in potty training her children, I was scared of doing it because I had no idea what to do or where to start but she didn't go to kindergarten in a diaper so she too can figure it out!  It is another lesson in being a parent and being pushed to do more than you thought you ever could. 

I am very thankful for the fact that long ago my mom taught me to never give up and to keep pushing to get things done!  I used those lessons in my lessons of potty to Maggie. 

I am also thankful for my friend, who I haven't seen in way too long and her words of advice and encouragement that day at that moment. 

Without her I would have quit and Maggie would still be wearing diapers. 

To those of you who have to yet potty train a child, I won't lie it isn't fun (4 loads of pee clothes alone last week) but you can do it.  Rely on friends and family for help and suggestions, just know what worked for them may or may not work for your child.  Keep at it and when they are ready they are ready!

By the way - Maggie is working towards her Princess Tiana doll (thank you Aunt Haley for the suggestion) and we will be sure to post pictures when she earns it!

She is a lady of many outfits!

Most people wear many different hats in life but not our Maggie, she wears "outfits"!  You never know what each minute will bring and she is very serious about everything she wears.

Just this morning, after a bath, I got out her clothes and we were getting dressed, well she saw a pair of red socks laying on the floor that she was insistent that she was going to wear, no big deal right?  After all Caden wore green ones to school and we are only going to Adam and Haley's so no arguments from mom.  Well, she wasn't quite finished - I had gotten myself ready to go, came downstairs  and I got to see her shoes she picked with her red socks and Bengals outfit - Princess SANDALS!  That's right, red socks and sandals in the middle of November.


And yes she is crossing her eyes!

This is just part of who she is, she doesn't care if her outfit doesn't match.  She makes it work and she has a ball in everything she does!  Here are a few more of Maggie's outfits that she has entertained us with over the last 2 years...

Maggie Lynne, I have said it once and I will say it a million times over, your love for life is amazing. 

Don't ever lose your love of life and your ability to do everything in a big way!

I am very thankful for this daughter who is her own person and lives life to it's fullest!

Couch and carpet shopping - our Sunday date!

So I have to say I am catching up on getting a few things posted!  This past week was a busy one and I started a lot of thoughts but never got to finish them.  This was one of them.  From Matt and I's day date last Sunday, November 7th...

Matthew and I got a date day!  It may have been out to pick carpet and couches but we made some time for an extended lunch and I wouldn't trade it for the world.  Time with just the hubby and I is so very precious.  I will take what I can get.   Plus we picked carpet and couches, that means we are that much closer to getting this basement complete which is something I cannot wait to have done!
We had a wonderful lunch that was driven by my CAG family giving us a gift card prior to the babies being born, I never thought we would get to use it just the two of us but we sure did.  So thank you to  you all - it was just what we needed!

So while it wasn't a huge elebrorate date it was a productive one and a few hours away with my hubby and I will take it! 

I am very thankful that I got a date day with my hubby!

Oh and we did pick some great carpet and couches!

A Lazy Saturday

It is just what I needed!  LAZY SATURDAY!  We don't get them very often, I truly treasure them when we get them and I sure wish we had more of them. 

The kids didn't get out of their jammies until I bathed the babies and put on new ones, Maggie only changed because she had an accident and Caden is still in his that we put on in the middle of the night last night.  We had no plans - well kiddos and I didn't - except for couch buying which I did and was back home with yummy Chipotle lunch within 2 hours.  Cale and I took a 2 hour nap that mommy very much needed.  A migraine was coming on and he obliged to cuddle for our nap.  Memaw Jo came down so I could grocery shop without kids.  I came home to 3 of 4 kids sleeping and the oldest two are still sleeping!  Caden fell asleep on the couch while talking to Memaw and doing a puzzle and Maggie fell asleep at the dinner table after eating some cereal!  I can only wish we had pictures of her falling asleep while eating!
I got the refrigerator cleaned out and groceries put away.  Made a pizza, cleaned up the kitchen, went through a week's worth of mail, folded some laundry and got all of the kids into bed! 

That to me is a perfect Saturday, no plans, no where to be and now time for bed at 9:15.  I must say part of me wishes we never had Saturday plans but I know that isn't us, this is a rare occasion, we are goers, we go and do things and I do love doing things with family and friends but I needed this recharge today.  I needed to get this house in semi order so that my brain will slow down on the mental "to do" list that is ever growing.  Trust me the mental one is way longer than the written one. I loved today, I love that I got a nap and time to hang out with my babies, I wish the older two didn't go to bed at 4:30 in the afternoon but hope that they sleep all night - they too need recharging!   This was a perfect follow up to my afternoon for mommy and this weekend is quickly becoming perfect.

Here is to many more lazy Saturday's this winter! 

Here's to a day of recharging and here is to tomorrow, football watching with family!  Go Bengals!

 I am very thankful for my Lazy Saturday

Really 20 weeks have gone by?? I am thankful for every minute of it

I know this seems like a common theme for me to write about but I just can't believe it - the babies are 20 weeks old today - really?  It feels like yesterday I was growing a belly and hoping that there would be a healthy baby in there. 

They are such an amazing joy to our lives.  Each morning I walk into their room to give them a kiss goodbye and 9 times out of 10 Cale is laying there patiently waiting for us to come get him so he can start his day.  You are always greeted by a wondeful smile from him. 

This morning he was a little hungry, after all he went to bed early and if I was him I would have been hungry too.  In the rush of the morning I set him down in his chair and handed him his bottle, I had all intentions of asking Caden to help feed his younger brother but guess what - he didn't need help, he held his own bottle for the majority of his feeding.  This was the first time he did that!

I don't like letting them hold their own bottle especially when they are this little, my time with them at this age is precious enough but I had to get ready and get out the door this morning so it was a neat discovery for us that he could hold his own bottle.   Miss Mallory has been holding her bottle for about two weeks, she beat Cale, but again it is not something I like to do but it is a nice option and a minute more of time I didn't have before.

Mallory still isn't rolling over but she will on her own time.  She is funny and loves to laugh, I see a lot of Maggie coming in her - oh boy!   Cale still hasn't figure out how to roll over completely very well (at least I haven't seen it) but he is getting there.  To be honest I am not sure if I am truly ready for them to be mobile, that will be a whole new world to all of us but especially Caden and Maggie as their space will become more invaded than it is already.

I don't know where this year has gone, much less the last 20 weeks, I can't believe Caden and Maggie will be 3 very shortly.  I do know that I am enjoying every minute, even the hard ones, they strengthen us beyond what we thought we could do. 

I am proud of my kids and what they are learning, all 4 of them, they are developing into their own beings and it is a wonderful gift to witness. 

That is a gift for which I am very Thankful!

I am thankful for the time change!

Not for the extra hour of sleep, that did not happen in our house but rather because this morning I got to show Caden that the sun was coming up and I didn't have to tell him that it was still sleeping!

This started another great conversation on where it was exactly and when it would be fully up for him to see but neverless it was a wonderful lesson for both Caden and Maggie and quite a stretch for mommy to teach them where it would come from exactly.  I am not a meterologist or a scientist but know enough to teach them something about a lot of things.

Right now they believe it comes up by the river, he knows that landmark and could see the sky lightening over that way so that is what we will go with for now.

I can't wait for our morning commute in the days to come and our conversation on where is the sun. 

A simple but wonderful thing to give thanks for today! 

Learning through your children will teach more than you know.

Happy Monday and here is to a great week of potty training at our house!

My morning commutes...

My morning commutes to daycare with Caden and Maggie are always interesting and full of chatter.  I never know what the conversation with my toddlers will be but we have basically the same conversation every morning it may not be the same order but it usually goes something like this:

Maggie, "I see the stars, I see the moon"
Mommy, "yes honey they are out this morning, lots of stars"
Caden, "Why isn't the sun out?"
Mommy, "It is sleeping"
Caden, "It needs to wake up right now"
Mommy, "I agree Caden but unfortunately it is tired today and running late like us!"
Caden, "how come?"
Mommy, "it just is honey it will wake up soon"
What else do you say to a little quizzical boy who is almost 3?  At least we are learning that the sun and the moon aren't usually out at the same time!
All of this is our on short trip down Parkside

Next conversation starts as we turn onto Ridge Avenue
Caden, "that's the way to Papaw Casey's house"
Mommy, "yes buddy that is how we go to Papaw Casey's house"
Caden, "we go back to his house again to see him?"
Mommy, "of course!"
Caden, "the babies go?"
Mommy, "Sure will"

By this point we have reached the stop light at Ridge and Belleview.  This trip takes a whole 2-3 minutes and then we start another conversation:
Maggie tells me if the lights are red, yellow or green and whether or not we can go - after all "Green Means Go mommy!"
As we turn onto Belleview and head to Route 50 we usually see a school bus, well at least during the school year
Caden, "There's a school bus!"
Maggie, "I see the school bus, it is yellow"
Mommy, "very good guys."
Caden, "Is Mason on that bus?"
Mommy, "No Buddy, that isn't Mason's bus"
Caden, "How come?"
Mommy, "He rides a different bus"
Caden, "Oh okay"
Everyday it is Mason who he asks about - not any of the other boys who also get on the bus and I don't know why but it is always Mason.

So by then we have made the turn to head down Route 50 - just 3 more minutes to get to school:
Caden, "There's Connor's House"
Mommy, "yes buddy that is where Connor lives"
Caden, "I go back again"
Maggie, "I go too"
Mommy, "yes you can go back again"
Caden, "I play with the monster trucks" - mind you he has only done this twice but that kid does not forget!

Now this week we have added another conversation to the rotation:
As we turn to go up Stateline, after Maggie has told me what color the light is and whether I can go or not, I hear from Caden,
"I go to the new house" - meaning Uncle Adam, Aunt Haley and Natalie's new house
Maggie, "I like that place!"
Mommy, "yes we will go back again"
Caden, "the babies go?" This is his big thing since the babies have been born, this sweetheart wants to make sure no one is left behind!
Mommy, "of course they can go"

And then we pull into the parking lot and start our 5 minute journey into school - not kidding it takes 5+ minutes to unload and motivate the kids into school plus another 5 minutes for putting up our coats and saying goodbye.

Then once I am back into the car, by myself, I try to remember to turn off our Elmo CD (sometimes I forget I am listening to Elmo for at least 5 minutes) I smile because that is just the best way to start off a busy day. 

The point from waking up to getting us all out of the door into the car is not always a pleasant but once we are in the car, Caden has his milk, Maggie has her 'nola bar - if she is fully awake, those 15 minutes of my day are simple, beautiful and a time away from everything else except a few precious moments with my toddlers (I just stopped myself from typing babies, they are definitely not babies anymore).  I know there will come a day when we will get in the car, they will put in the earphones for their ipods, or whatever the technology is for that time frame, and we won't get to have these simple but amazing conversations so I am cherishing each and every one of them, even if they are basically the same thing every day.

To continue the November Thankful theme I hope it is obvious, that I am very thankful for my time with my toddlers, even if it is 15 minutes in the car on our way to daycare, I will take it! 

And I am very thankful to that friend who 2 years ago told me to write it all down, write down what they are saying because you will quickly forget!

Just a few photos of these fun loving toddlers that show their spirit!

Maggie wearing Uncle Adam's Motorcycle helmet



Proud Big Brother - helping with those babies!



Here's to being on the road to recovery!

Today I am very thankful to be on the road to recovery.  I have been fighting a flu bug for a couple of days and because Mommy and Daddy don't get sick days it has been very tough around the house to say the least.  Matthew was also fighting the bug as well as a bum leg so for the sake of all of us in the house, here is to Mommy and Daddy recovering from their aliments.  I have determined we can never ever be sick at the same time again.  So for today in giving thanks I am thankful to be feeling better, not 100% yet but on my way and can maybe just maybe get a few things done tonight!

On the bright side of this illness, since I could barely stand up the last two nights and didn't feel like completing any of the chores needing to be done, I got the chance to have some one on one time with Mallory.  This was LONG over due and in a way I am grateful that my not feeling well forced me to sit down with her and have the most amazing chats.

She is such a happy baby and all she really wants is for you to talk to her.  She of course will talk and respond back but those big smiles are the priceless part of any conversation with her.

Having 4 kids makes it extremely difficult to get quality one on one time unless you plan it in advance as a special outing and it hardly ever happens at home on a whim but that is exactly what occurred on Tuesday night with Mallory.  She was being a little fussy, really she just wanted some attention, so she and I went upstairs to sit down and watch some Dancing with the Stars.  We didn't get to watch much television but I had the most amazing interaction with my little girl that a mom could ever ask for.  I so loved our time together that I ended up turning off the television and just hanging out with her until she fell asleep. 

Last night it was the same thing, a little girl who was a bit fussy, a mom wants to sit down to rest and so upstairs we went to "talk" again!  And just as she was on Tuesday she was a happy little thing with the biggest smiles and loudest coos to share with me. 

Even though I felt miserable during this time with her it was all forgotten and I truly enjoyed my one on one time with my baby girl. 

My lesson to myself, don't wait until you are sick to make that one on one time happen with your children at home, they have the most amazing things to say and sitting down to listen is important!   I know this is important but when the day to day stuff overwhelms you and gets in the way it is easy to forget the important things and then you realize your children are quickly growing up right in front of your eyes. 

Life is too short to not stop and listen to what the little people have to say!



Mallory during our "chat time"