THANK YOU!

Shouting THANK YOU to my friends that are seeing me and lending a helping...meal. 

A huge shout out to my Whitney who loaded my doordash account so that I didn't have to cook when I simply couldn't. I was able to keep the kids fed and to eat after my surgery took me out for a few days. You are an angel. 

Tonight we were provided dinner by Meg. It was delicious and oh so needed though I didn't know we needed it so. I guess I didn't realize the weight of deciding, planning, making, serving and living my life during dinner time. It was carefree and effortless to warm up the meal and I was able to sit with the kids and enjoy it!!! 

Turns out, the beginning of the school year plus a pandemic, plus a new baby (can you believe he's three months old?) plus a gallbladder removal equals a bit much? I just rolled with it and kept on keepin' on but my goodness- it was such a relief to have help. I didn't ask for it and I think that made it 100% just stress-free- they saw me and poof! Like magic. These magical friends of mine...swoon....

If you've held my baby, or caught a falling toddler (Or climbed the jungle gym to rescue an over confident Miles-AMANDA), you are appreciated. If you are giving me grace because my mental capacity has somehow diminished, thank you. If you covered my class when I covered myself in breastmilk after trying that cordless pump (which I totally have the hang of now!), I owe ya! To the parent that sent homemade brownies in for me, I love you.  I appreciate all the 'wish wells' and happy thoughts being sent my way. Life is wild and I need help sometimes. <3

Now, the big guy! I won't have stats until next month- but he's just no longer a newborn! He reacts to people and voices. He giggles and he fusses like he's got an opinion or something. He can swivel that head around as fast as my big kids can talk. For being so little, he's getting too big. He is a smiley little booger who loves his crew. He enjoys the outdoors, no matter how hot it gets! His sleep pattern could use some improvement, but I also can't complain too much....He's the sweetest Bratcher for now and we will reevaluate that when he learns to talk. 

We continue to defend him against Miles and all that um...love... Callie has gotten confident with sitting with him and Lucy knows exactly how to talk to make him grin. He is loved. Also, he pukes on Matt pretty consistently...not sure what that's about. ;) 

 Lucy is about to be FIVE if anyone wants to hear about, she will be glad to tell you all about her rainbow unicorn birthday party plans. She is being oh-so-helpful at her school four days a week. She amazes me with her counting and spelling and her pure joy at outsmarting her Daddy with camel facts. Which shows me she can be a good listener! 

So we're doing well, growing these crazy kids and somehow staying sane! Thanks again to all the wonderful people in my world!!!! 

"You must be so organized!" Rowan- 2 months

      

     It was only Rowans third week or so... we were visiting Polly's Freeze with all four kids and Matt was in line ordering or picking up food and I was at the table with the kids while they were searching for cicadas and wandering around table to table. The tables we were at were kind of close to the road and in a super sunny spot, so I decided we needed a table in the grass. I corralled the kids, held as many hands as possible and we walked together across the parking lot to the table in the grass far away from the road. As we were slowly making our way through, a grandmotherly lady leaned out of her parked car and said, "You must be so organized!" with a genuine smile on her face and proceeded to tell me how darling my children were. Those words and that interaction will stick with me forever. 

    I was ready to hear, "Your hands sure are full!" or "You guys stay busy!" or the weirdest one that I have heard several times since we've become a family of 6..."Are they all yours?"  It's fun to look at people when we are strolling through somewhere and our parade just keeps coming. Four doesn't seem like so many now, but at first... and well, depending on the setting... :) 

   I keep going back to that interaction when I hit a rut or start to doubt myself because you know what? I AM so organized! My life is pretty neat and tidy. My  schedule, also neat and tidy. Always? Well, no. Lately I've had to add in more doctors appointments than I'd like. 

     It started out as an emergency room visit with chest pain, back pain and overwhelming pressure in my core. The pain eventually subsided, and the chest x-ray along with blood tests were normal. A week later, it happened again and I waited it out. Another week, another episode, another trip to the ER but we waited for the pain to fade in the parking lot. My doctor saw me when I wasn't experiencing a flare up- and ordered an ultrasound of my gall bladder. As I waited for the ultrasound, I was experiencing a flare up- cried during the ultrasound and everything. The ultrasound showed multiple gall stones. Who knew a gall bladder would cause enough pain to make me think I was dying... if you've experienced it, just know, recovering from a c-section is easier. So I had an appointment with the surgeons office to discuss options for surgery because at this point, I want it out! I am watching what I eat, as the things that likely caused the flare ups are pizza, fried things, chips & queso (heart breaking, right?) so now I'm eating lots of caesar chicken salad wraps. I'm hoping we can get it out without too much time off school and I can still help take care of the four crazies. The plan is to have surgery Weds Aug 11 and get back to school the next Monday- so send all those well wishes!

  Ah, yes, back to school. Back to schedules! We have made the most of our summer break, on our own time though. We are all in for a shift when we get back to business next week. Even sweet Rowan won't know what's happening when he's using a bottle- which Gran says he's taking like a champ. He ate through a small freezer stash when they stayed at Gran's this week. 

There is some refreshment in schedules though, knowing what to expect and what needs to be ready by when. I ~super~ enjoy teaching, being a teacher and all things school! Going back to school is fun for me and I'm glad we got to have a pretty normal first day of school this year! Last year was weird with pushing the schedule back and then having so many restrictions and the year before I was out with Miles and Callie so I didn't have a first day! And a lovely first day it was! 

So big stuff, Mr. Rowan, is now two months and some change. He is also learning that I love schedues- not that he cares, but at least he knows, haha. He is sleeping longer at night... I think... As soon as I think I'll get more sleep we throw in breathing treatments in the middle of the night for Miles or Callie's getting out of her big girl bed to play with toys or Lucy's having a bad dream so she neeeeeds to sleep in momma's bed. Sleep is my favorite though, so I will continue to fight the good fight. I am really looking forward to that anesthesia nap next Wednesday. 

 So Rowan is up to 12 lbs 2.5 oz and 23.5 inches long.He's chatty, he's smiley, he's an all around good guy. He's lost his newborn hair but he's already getting more. He still loves a good swaddle and cuddles like it's his job- which it is, right? He likes to be heard- which can be tough some days with our noise. He's a quiet sleeper and really does go right back to sleep after he eats at night. I try not to blame him for my bum gall bladder- but his pregnancy was not fun and it seems to continue with the gross times. I'm a little worried about pumping and supplying milk when it comes time to surgery, but I am working really hard on providing now that I'm at school, so maybe it'll be fine. 

 

     

Happy Birthday, Miles & Callie!

 

We had a Taco TWOSday for Callie and Miles, because it turns out chips and queso are the key to happiness! (Unless you ask my gallbladder, but thats a story for another day)

    

The colors were bright, the toddlers had great naps and IT DIDN'T RAIN!! The forecast for their birthday went from 100% chance of rain all day to slight chance in the evening. It was magical. 

     TWO YEARS! With a pandemic from 1-2! I mean, these kids- they are awesome. They are fun, silly, smart, rotten and just all around a good time. :) 

Miles is up to 36 inches and 29.2 lbs. 

Callie is 34.5 inches and 26.6 lbs. 

both were total champs at the doctors appointment! One tear between the two of them, blood draws and shots!

For Mister Miles and Callie- Allie! 

Miles and Callie, Callie and Miles.

Sometimes you’re “the twins” and you used to be “the babies” (that one was hard to outgrow), but more than ever now your individual personalities make you Miles and Callie. Not quite opposites, yet definitely not the same in any category. You’re both as sweet as sugar when you choose to be and rotten as they come when you find it necessary. Most of the time, those traits on are opposite schedules, thank goodness. You’re both learning how to handle those big emotions with your growing vocabularies. You both love Lucy and Rowan… but it’s clear that Miles is Rowan obsessed and Callie can often be heard asking, “Where Lucy go?!”

Callie is my snack queen and Miles will wipe out nearly any meal. Callie is quick and coordinated and Miles is strong enough to push Daddy down. You both think for yourselves even when Lucy is bossing you around.

I’m lucky to be your momma and I’ll always be ready for your big ol hugs!

Happy 2nd birthday to Callie & Miles!