2-6-09
It’s been a while that I’ve been meaning to send off a little update on how the kids are doing. For some reason I haven’t been able to get it done! ;) But I am determined today!



Everyone is doing great! Holly made the honor roll and is doing very well. We are so proud of her. She is done with cheerleading for the year but we still catch her practicing her wrestling claps. She joined band and is playing the bass clarinet. Which I happen to think is super cool.
She is busy with friends and doing latin dancing on Thursdays with a group after school. Tomorrow she is helping out with Stars on Stage program at the high school.



Bridgette is also doing well. She is especially rocking in spelling and math. She is a sweetie with the babies. The little ones adore her and Holly. Ella loves to play with Bridg, especially in Bridg’s room.
Forbidden toys! Whenever they are with us in the morning Holly helps load and unload the boys. (Which saves me.) And Bridgy always wants to take charge of Ella. She always says, “Can I get Ella out?” When we get to Mom’s. Bridg helps Ella out and holds her hand as Ella goes and picks up Grampa’s paper. Then they toddle in and up the stairs. Holly and Bridg amaze me with their patience with the little ones and their desire to help. They are always so happy to help me load and unload. When the boys get older they will follow the girls around like little ducklings.
It’s going to be great.



Ella is just over being sick, poor thing. She had an ear and sinus infection (that she shared with me). Then she got a sore throat and fever while on antibiotics. The day after we went to the doctor she got pinkeye! It was insane. She did not like the eye drops but did great with the antibiotic. Yummy. She is talking up a storm and will repeat most things after you. Even if you don’t want her to. He voice is very sweet and she loves to sing making up her own words and hitting the occasional correct word. Her favorite song is Elmo’s song. Elmo is her crack. She is weighing in at 31 lbs and is 34” tall. Calculations suggest she will be 5’8” when she is full grown. We shall see. If she is it will drive Holly nuts.



The boys are sweet as ever. They are very healthy and haven’t caught anything from sicky Ella. *crosses fingers* Rowan is 18.5 lbs. Flynn is 20 lbs. Tucker is 20.5 lbs. The doc is amazed. They are in the upper percentiles for their age even if you don’t adjust for them being preemies. :-O They started solid food. And they are so messy but they seem to like it. They can all roll over and babble and sort of sit up.
(They tend to slowly fall over) They sleep so well. I love that. They usually get put down at 9-9:30 and they sleep until we get them up at 6:30 am. It’s wonderful. They are still sleeping in the crib next to our bed but it is getting kinda crowded in there. I have been working on getting the nursery whipped around. Clothes are the main problem. I have been sorting everything that doesn’t currently fit so we can keep what we want and get rid of what we don’t need. So, anybody need baby clothes? J The end is in sight though. Then we need to return Ella's crib.
(It got recalled!) And move the crib from our room to the nursery. We’ll only have 2 cribs but I think that will be fine for a while. Then Ella will move in with Bridgy and hopefully not terrorize her. We have to get Bridgy’s room straightened out too. I am very proud of Bridgy, she’s been really cool about making space for Ella and having her move in. I know Ella is ready for a big girl bed. I’m just glad she has no desire to climb out of the crib.



As the boys get older we keep wondering if there isn’t a chance they might be identical. It would be amazingly rare, but they look so much alike it is wild. I still really have to pay attention to tell them apart. We keep that big toe painted their colors just to be safe.
Rowan is green, Flynn is red, Tucker is blue. We are planning to save up and get them tested to see if they really are identical, it isn’t as expensive as I thought it would be. Not knowing is bugging me. I think the big thing is that Flynn and Tuck really look alike, but Rowan and Tucker are the ones that are supposed to be identical. And they are hard to tell apart, but Flynn and Tucker are extremely hard to tell apart.
With Rowan you can tell by his lack of a cowlick in the middle of his forehead and the fact that he’s a touch smaller. I am very excited to find out.



At some point here I might have a hard time typing and keeping up with everyone. The docs say I need carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand.
Lovely timing. I will do it, but I don’t have to like it. It will be hard not being able to use my hand for a while, especially with the babes.



As always new pics are at photobucket
http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x175/womachka/ There are some great ones of the family over the holidays.



And hopefully I will be able to put together another video for youtube over the next few weeks. You can find us on youtube by searching for Womachka or going to http://www.youtube.com/user/mellimarie



Much love to everyone,

Mel