A Day in the Life

Just in case anyone wonders I have disappeared from Blog world, here's a day in the life of a mom of 3 young boys (oh-and BTW we adopted a 3rd son in September!  He is now 6 months old :-)

1:20 AM-wake to the sound of 4 year old screaming bloody murder.  Run up the stairs to see what is wrong only to discover that he is sound asleep.  Hello, night terrors (again).  Lay him back down, rub his back until he calms down, then head back downstairs
1:30 AM-just got laid back down when the baby starts crying-not just a little fuss, but an "I'm hungry right now" wail.  Fix bottle, run back up stairs, change, feed, re-swaddle, and put baby back to bed.
2:15 AM-get back downstairs and attempt to sleep
3:40 AM-wake up to sound of baby fussing loudly, working towards a big cry.  Bolt out of bed, run upstairs as quickly as possible, frantically search around crib for lost pacifier in the dark, find pacifier, give it to baby and gently rock him side to side in his crib for a few minutes to get him back to sleep.
3:55 AM-back downstairs attempting to sleep again.
4:30 AM-neighbor's car door slams, dogs go crazy barking, baby starts crying again.  Run BACK upstairs, give baby pacifier back again
5:30 AM-hear 2 year old whisper "mama?" in a very confused voice.  Tell him that it is ok and rub his back while he falls back to sleep.
6:30 AM-2 year old wakes up for the day, head downstairs.  About the time first foot hits the bottom step, baby starts screaming.  Run back upstairs to get baby in the hopes of keeping 4 year old (who needs a lot more sleep than the other two) from getting woken up early and therefore being a grouch.
6:40 AM-feed baby a bottle, get 2 year old a cup of chocolate milk, turn on a PBS cartoon in hopes of resting for just 15 more minutes while the baby plays and the 2 year old watches TV
7:00 AM-4 year old wakes for no apparent reason, arrives at bottom of stairs with a scowl and saying he is still tired.
7:15 AM-get yogurt, fruit, and cereal for the 2 and 4 year olds on the table, take baby into bathroom with me to attempt to brush teeth, comb hair, and get dressed.
7:30 AM-realize that I am not going to be able to spend much time getting ready as a screaming match has broken out in the kitchen over who is touching whose cereal bowl.
7:45 AM-get all 3 kids dressed (well, B wore his pajamas because it was pajama day at school, but since I didn't put him in the right pajamas the night before, he still had to change into the "cool" ones!)
8:15 AM-pack diaper bag, get coats together, find a clean spit up cloth for baby, referee at least 3 arguments, use the sentence "do not pull your brother around by his head", "we don't throw wet pull-ups" and "cereal does not belong on the floor" all in 20 minutes time, feed baby cereal and fruit
8:55 AM-mad dash to get everyone's shoes on and in the car
9:00 AM- leave to take 4 year old to preschool
9:10 AM-be reminded by my 4 year old that we need to pray before I drop him off at school, pray while driving
9:13 AM-pull in preschool parking lot, get 2 and 4 year olds out of carseats and into jackets and hats, get baby out of car and bundled under a blanket in his seat, realize I forgot my own jacket at home so get cold and wet in the snow.  Also realize my jeans are too long for the shoes I wore and hem of jeans get totally soaked
9:15 AM-get B inside just as the teacher opens the door to let the kids in the classroom.  Notice his shoes are untied and tie them.  Have him hang up his back pack and get his folder.  Kiss him goodbye while wondering what havoc 2 year old is reeking while I am paying attention to B.
9:20 AM-get 2 year old and baby back in car and head for the bank to make a deposit.
9:45 AM-Arrive at bank only to realize it is closed for Veteran's Day and I don't have an envelop to do an ATM deposit or night deposit.  Drive away realizing I'll have to come back the next day with all 3 kids.
10:00 AM-arrive at grocery store.  Get 2 year old out and in coat/hat, put him in the front of cart.  Get baby seat out and put him in back of cart.  Realize that while I was getting baby out of the car 2 year old has kicked his boots off into a giant puddle and they now have water in them.  Put them back on him anyway and head into the store.
10:15 Baby demands a bottle in the middle of the store even though it is not close to time.  While feeding baby, 2 year old announces he has pooped in his pull up to the entire store.
10:40 AM go to restroom in store and change both baby and 2 year old.  Try to use the restroom myself while 2 year old opens door as I am sitting on the toilet.
10:50 AM-realize we have to rush to pick up the necessities and check out before we have to leave to pick 4 year old up at preschool.
11:00 AM-get in check out line hoping we have at least the bare essentials in there and not being at all sure since 2 year old was adding to and taking from cart every time I turned my back.
11:15 AM check out is done, go back to car, load up both kids (taking of coats, hats, and blankets), load up groceries (while still freezing and getting soaked due to forgetting my own coat)
11:25 AM-get in car and drive straight to preschool to pick up B.
11:43 AM-arrive at school with 2 minutes to spare, unload both baby and 2 year old again (coats, hats, etc) and rush inside.  2 year old jumps off sidewalk into mudpuddle on the way, of course.
11:45 AM: get 4 year old from teacher, get backpack, coat, and the Mystery Box (it's his turn to bring in a surprise that starts with the letter of the week for his classmates to guess). Get all 3 kids, backpack, mystery box, etc back to car and loaded up.
12:00 PM Arrive home, unpack all 3 kids, carry in all groceries, put away all groceries as 2 and 4 year old run around the house like wild men and baby starts fussing for nap time.
12:20 PM-Put baby down for nap, start making lunch, which is salami sandwhiches, carrots, and bananas today.  Get lunch on table.  4 year old comes out of bathroom asking for a "butt check", I follow him back in the bathroom only to discover hte toilet is clogged because 2 year old put a shape sorter shape in there, then 4 year old pooped on top of it and attempted to flush.  Get plastic bags around arm, dig in toilet for shape sorter shape, toss it in the trash, flush the toilet again, wipe 4 year old's bottom, wash hands and head back for lunch.
12:45 PM in middle of lunch 2 year old has typical reflux episode and pukes up half of his lunch all over himself and his plate.  4 year old starts grossing out and saying yuck, etc.  Clean up 2 year old, who keeps telling me the vomit looks like applesauce, which by the way, it does NOT.
1:00 PM make 2 year old new sandwich
1:15 PM-clean up lunch trash and dishes, read a story to the boys, lay them both down for quiet time.
1:30 PM-baby wakes up (can't have all 3 asleep at once!) run upstairs and get him, play with him for an hour while boys rest and baby then decides to go back to sleep.
2:50 PM-7year old niece arrives home from school, big boys get up, baby is napping.
2:50-3:30-the most relaxing part of my day.  The boys play with my niece while I check email, return a phone call, etc.
3:30 PM-sister arrives and picks up niece
4:00 PM-baby wakes up, make bottle, run upstairs to get him, nearly step in dog poop in front of his door, clean up the dog poop, get baby and feed him
4:30 PM- play in  living room with the boys
5:00 PM-begin cooking dinner, all 3 boys coming in and out of kitchen the whole time, sort laundry while dinner is in the oven
6:00 PM-dinner on the table.  Nobody besides me likes it.  They eat only grapes and a crescent roll.
6:30 PM-give in and let hte boys watch a cartoon and play my kindle while I clean up from dinner-get about half cleaned up when baby starts crying for his dinner, feed baby veggies and a bottle.  While doing this, 4 year old comes out of bathroom and walk through entire house carrying a dripping wet plastic grocery sack which came out of the toilet.  clean up water from all over downstairs.
7:30 PM-get baby in sleeper, read him a bedtime story, swaddle him and put him to bed.  Switch laundry, re-sort the piles the 2 year old mixed back together.508:15 PM get 2 and 4 year old in jammies, read story, brush teeth, put them to bed.
9:00 PM sit down to write blog post
9:30 PM baby wakes up screaming for no apparent reason, run upstairs and calm him back down
9:45 PM come back downstairs to work on blog post.
9:55 PM baby starts screaming again.  Give up on blog post and admit that I don't have time to blog...

4 years ago...

Four years ago was a memorable day.  I was literally shaken awake by an earthquake here in central Indiana.  At the time, that was the most remarkable thing about April 18, 2008.  In fact, it took me a few months to figure out that for our family, the earthquake was of little interest compared to the other event that happened the same day that rocked our world a LOT more than any old earthquake!

We had no idea that a thousand miles away in Houston, Texas, the sweet baby who would become our son was making his appearance in the world.  We had no idea that the next day I would accidentally stumble upon the information from the agency his birthmom would use to make an adoption plan for him.  We had no idea that 4 days after that I would be waiting as patiently as possible to meet our son in the NICU of a Houston hospital.

Benicio Jose, your arrival literally rocked our world.  You are our miracle, our dream come true, our hearts' desire, the answer to prayer, and our beloved son. Your smiles have healed our hearts in ways nothing else ever could have. We are so blessed to have you in our family.  Happy 4th Birthday, my beautiful miracle son.  I love you more than words could ever say.

Benicio Jose  April 2008

 Super Ben  April 2012

 
What a difference 4 years have made!  I wouldn't change a thing except maybe to slow down time so I could appreciate your hugs, kisses, snuggles, and even sassyness just a bit longer!

Have I mentioned that I love these sweet faces?

These boys keep me busy non-stop and some days I think I might pull my hair out, but one look at these sweet faces melts my heart and makes the chaos worth it.  Love my boys!

This is why I don't have time to blog....

These boys are soooo much fun!  They keep me on my toes and don't give me much chance to sit and relax.  I wouldn't have it any other way :-)

Soccer Boy

This year Ben talked me into being his soccer coach.  I have never played soccer in my life.  My only qualifications to be a coach is that I've been being a "soccer aunt" for the past 6 years since my nephews moved in with us, so I know the basics.  It's enough to coach 3 and 4 year olds at least :-) 

I have to say that I have, surprisingly, really been enjoying coaching.  Our team decided to name themselves the Coconuts.  It's a fitting name since I think they are all a little nuts (and I must be a little nuts to be coaching!!).  We don't technically keep score in the preschool division, but we have managed to score some goals.  Ben got his first one today and he was excited (almost as much as Mommy was!).  Here are a few pics from the past few weeks of soccer.

Ben and Mommy before the game

This is his game face.  He is all business on the field unless he just scored.

This is what Nico does while we're playing.  Luckily he has both grandmas and one grandpa to spoil him rotten with snacks, drinks, and taking him to the playground during games! 

Throw in!

I LOVE the look of determination on his face while taking this goal kick!

If you love American Girl dolls...

Then you might want to check out this giveaway:
http://obedienttogodscalladoption.blogspot.com/2011/08/its-giveaway.html

The proceeds all go to help a family bring their precious child home, so you could win a cool prize and help them and their child "win" an even cooler prize of being a family forever!

Summer Fun!

We have had a busy summer, and I have been a bad blogger!  I took tons of pictures, but I haven't edited even one and haven't posted many either.  So, here's a big catch-up post all about our summer!

In June, we spent a week in Houston.  While there, we got to spend some time with Nico's birthmom.  Will had to work during the day, so the boys and I did most of the "touristy" stuff without him.  He did get to join us on Sunday, so you'll see a few pics of him too.

Will and the boys at the Downtown Aquarium in Houston. 

Ben LOVED the giant ferris wheel.  Will was not as thrilled :-)

Nico was very excited!  (Notice how Will is holding on?? lol)

Ben and I touching the sting rays

Not sure why there are white tigers at the Aquarium, but they were pretty cool.  Ben was convinced he needed to "save" Daddy from this one!

The boys at the Houston Children's Museum.  It was a nice museum, but really was geared to kids older than mine.  And the baby area that Nico would have loved was off limits to Ben because he was 38 months old and the cut off was 35.

Ben at the Houston zoo.  This tree was begging him to climb it, but the sign said no!

These boys are like fish and thoroughly enjoyed the hotel swimming pool many times

Ben jumping in!

Mr. Chill "napping" in his float.  He is a little water bug!

Ben checking out a skunk pelt at the Museum of Natural Science

Nico was very excited about touching the skunk, armadillo, and turtle.

Ben took the butterfly identification card very seriously in the butterfly center.  He was determined to find every single kind of butterfly.

Nico was more impressed with the water than the butterflies :-)

Ben the astronaut at Space Center Houston

The boys in the shuttle mock-up.  They LOVED this place.

Nico at the end of a busy day at Space Center Houston.  He was such a good sport about all of the museum stuff! 

Nico loved the sand, but was not so sure about the water at Galveston beach.

Ben loved the sand and the water.  He is a beach baby!

Ben taking in his first Astros game.  Will and I used to go all the time when we lived in Houston.  It was nice to be "home" again.

Nico was more interested in people watching than baseball watching!  The man holding his is one of Will's co-workers.  Nico really liked him.  Of course Nico likes most people!

Besides the fun in Houston, we had lots of fun at home too!  Here are a few pics of some of our fun.

This is Ben's "battle scars" from a game of backyard catch with our neighbors.  He was so busy watching the ball that he tripped and fell face first onto the fire pit grate.  Thank goodness the grate was cool!

Ben with his swim teacher.  His teacher says Ben is a natural back stroker because he would much rather be on his back than on his belly.  Crazy boy!

Nico at swim lessons!

Ben with a meerkat at the zoo.  We went to the zoo lots of times this summer!

Nico was worn out by our zoo trip too!  He is sporting brother's sunglasses and was quite proud of that right up until the moment that he threw them in the duck pond!  Oops!  Ben was pretty upset  but recovered quickly when Daddy suggested maybe one of the ducks or flamingos would wear them.

Nico made a new friend at Build a Bear.  He named it "me-me", which is also what he says when he wants me to pick him up!

Ben made a smurf, which he named "Ben Smurf"! lol

In July, the boys and I went to Chicago for the weekend with my mom and sister.  We went to Navy Pier and took a sail out on Lake Michigan.  We also ate at Bubba Gump's.  While there, Ben scored a free pass for all of us to the Chicago Children's Museum.  I am always amazed at the way people flock to my boys and how much "stuff" they have been given!  So we spent a few hours at the Chicago Children's Museum.  The boys loved it, but I was bad and didn't take any pictures.  I also didn't get any pictures on the sailboat.  Bad momma! On our way home from Chicago, we stopped at Fair Oaks Dairy Farm.  I did get a bunch of pictures there.  Ben LOVED this place and Nico thought it was fun too.

Ben on the human-powered "cow"rasel.  That thing was heavy to push!

Nico on the "cow"rasel with Grandma making sure he didn't jump off.

This was Ben's favorite part-the "dairy-go-round" where the cows get milked.  He was enthralled with watching this process.  He also stumped the tour guide when he asked her WHY the cows make milk.  She wasn't sure how to explain that to a 3 year old!

Back home again in Indiana....we took a few trips to the Children's Museum here too.  Most of these pics are from a play date with our friends.  We can't get enough of the Indy Children's Museum.  Seeing the ones in Houston and Chicago make us really appreciate how great ours here is!

Nico the paleontologist!

Ben takes his dino digging very, very seriously

Nico on the playground at one of at least 6 parks we have checked out this summer.

Ben playing at Pioneer Park

Back at the Indy zoo, Ben is waiting to feed the giraffes.

We got to see the new baby elephant.  She is so tiny compared to the other elephants!  And boy is she a cutie!

Of course summer would not be complete without a trip (or two) to the State Fair.  The boys had so much fun on the first trip that we went back the next day!

Ben at the livestock nursery

Checking out a cow in Pioneer Village

Nico wanted to kiss every animal he saw-luckily this one was a statue!

More love for the animals!

My little farmers LOVED the Little Hands on the Farm

Ben planting a seed in the Little Hands exhibit

Nico couldn't pedal the tractor, but he suckered the worker into pushing him around anyway :-)

Feeding the goats was a big hit-until one of them bit Nico's shirt when he ran out of food.  Nico was NOT thrilled about that at all.  He kept telling everyone we saw, "Goat bite" and holding out his shirt.  Soooo funny!

Petting these little cattle was a big hit too.

Ben was obsessed with this water feature and wanted to know if he could climb into the center of it.  Silly boy!

We have had such a great summer.  I really hate to see it end, but we're also looking forward to a fun-filled fall too!