10.21.2012

{Quad Squad} Life Lately

Things have been pretty busy for the last week or so—four growing babies make for lots of work! Then there's doctor appointments, outings, work, family visiting and the general hustle and bustle of our busy life at home with quads. Here's a little of what we've been up to!

We've begun taking more frequent walks in our neighborhood with the babies. Thankfully the weather has cooled off a little bit and it's the perfect time to get out for fresh air and sunshine. We've only been tracked down twice by curious onlookers in their vehicles, but draw plenty of stares and open mouths as folks drive past or stare at us from their driveway. And we've received a mix of both snide and positive comments, which is the usual I've come to expect with quads. Some people want to judge for reasons I'll never understand and others marvel at our miracles!


We're still on lockdown around here to prevent any illnesses while the babies are working so hard to eat and grow, and only allow caregivers and close (healthy!) family members to visit right now. The husband's brother has stopped by several times to check on the quads and watch some football...


...and so have his parents, who came for a quick weekend visit. They were amazed to see how big the babies were getting—the kiddos range from 10 1/2 to nearly 12 lbs!


We also received a very special visit from my grandma and my Aunt Deanie, who were thrilled to see the quads so healthy and happy. My aunt had visited me in the hospital right after the babies were born and she was so excited to see how well everyone was doing. It's a big difference when they are no longer 2 and 3 pounds and aren't attached to various wires and monitors!

(Photo below, left to right: Me and Trystan, Aunt Deanie and Logan, the quads Great Grandma and Kailey and the quads Grandma—my mom—with Harrison!)


My Aunt was a huge hit with all the babies—getting Kailey to imitate her sticking her tongue out and cracking Trystan up with some funny faces. :)






When it came time for tummy time and practicing sitting in their bumbo chairs, my Grandma slid right out of her recliner and got on the floor with the babies! She stayed there all throughout play time, spending time with each one. I was amazed at this because, not only is she in her late 80s, but she had a stroke 7 or 8 years ago and was told she'd never recover. Even though her speech is impaired, she has continued to thrive and enjoy her wonderful family throughout the years. Seeing the quads was a long-awaited moment and I was so touched that she could be so involved with them!


Of course we had to have a four generation picture as well. Below is my grandmother, my mom and me with all the babies. 


My mom and step-dad are still living down here in their camper at a very nice RV resort just a few miles from our house. They are over every day during the week and occasionally on weekends helping with the babies, laundry, cleaning house, errands and all the eight million things it takes to run a household, tend to four babies and also make time for the husband to go to work and for me to be able to work from home. We couldn't do it without them!


Grandad always has a spot on his chest for a sweet little baby!


We've also had doctor appointments, including an eye appointment for all four with a new eye doctor because I absolutely did not like our previous one. And although I do like our new doc, things started off rocky for our first visit! I called to confirm the office location when we were on our way to be informed that our appointments for all four babies had been cancelled for an unknown reason!!!! I said through gritted teeth informed the receptionist that I had four babies loaded in the car and was halfway there and would not be turning around. She said they'd "squeeze" everyone in. It took three hours and some rather unaccommodating nurses, but they did see all four. 

I was glad to have our nanny with us that particular day, as well as my mom, who both helped keep away curious eyes and hands. It never ceases to amaze me how many people come up and try to touch babies without the parent's permission! With hacking, snotty nosed kids all over that office, I was so paranoid we were taking something home with us. When we did get home, we followed our usual post-doctor visit routine: everyone got baths and clean clothes, the car seats and strollers were sprayed down with Baby Lysol, adults changed clothes, washed our hands and arms, sprayed the bottoms of our shoes with Lysol the prepped bottles to feed the crew.


Recently, I had the pleasure of joining several other local quad moms—as well as two quintuplet moms and a sextuplet mom!—for dinner. It was a great evening out with much-needed cocktails and refreshing conversation with others who "get it." There were 11 moms amounting to 50 kids among all of us! Good thing the munchkins stayed at home!


Story time has become a staple for our evening routine after the last bottle has been fed. The lights are dimmed and the babies usually sit in their boppies or in my lap for a read from Beatrix Potter or a book of classic fairytales before bedtime. It's one of my favorite moments each day. :)


The quads have slowly begun to discover each other, like Harrison and Trystan exchanging looks below...


...as well as ceiling fans. They all LOVE to watch the ceiling fan, especially if it starts to move!


And mobiles. We love mobiles, like the ones that hang over the cribs. Logan, below, smiles and grins the sweetest things when you turn it on—and so does Trystan. I like to wake the babies in the morning and put them all under it and start the day with happy faces! Mom and dad wake up happy, too, now that the quads are sleeping an average of 9 hours a night!


And the husband and I also enjoyed our first "social night out" together since December 2011. We've managed to get out for a movie or dinner here and there, but nothing with a group. It was great to reunite with a friend that was in town visiting from Scotland (where we lived for a year from August 2009-2010) and to see many friends we hadn't caught up with in awhile. Oh, and of course drinks. There were lots of drinks. And not the virgin kind!

(Photos below: The husband and our Scottish friend, and then the husband and I with a close buddy reliving our glory days at a local bar!)



So, as you can see, things have been far from uneventful!
*said with a sarcastic snicker*

I've learned that not drinking for many months due to pregnancy and preemie babies in the hospital, suddenly broken by a raucous night out of endless beer equals one killer headache in the morning! And that new things are not meant to be kept new for long, like my new Coach purse that Kailey decided to christen with a projectile stream of formula while at the eye doctor's office. And now I'm fighting allergies, which I'm beginning to fear could be a cold, and have nearly worn the skin off my poor hands from using so much Purell! I can only hope my manic sterilizer efforts work and our household avoids the "ickies" for awhile longer. 

In the meantime, enjoy your fall days and be sure to wave hello if you see us out strolling quad-style!

11 comments:

  1. Great post, Honey!!! You are amazing!

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  2. Looks like you have your figure back. I always enjoy reading you and your Mom's bog. So glad Grannie was able to come. Looks like she had a wonderful time and the photo's will always be extra special to the quads someday. Just reading about your adventures makes me tired. You are doing a great job. :-) Hugs Kiddo.

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  3. love reading your updates :)

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  4. I agree with your great Mom, you are amazing:)
    Great pictures of your family and the babies,especially those with your Grandma.
    Sorry you got a headache after a nite of to many beers but at least you had a good time and that is what counts;)
    Hope the allergies clear up soon, and all the colds and "ickies" that come with this time of year stay clear of your home and the babies.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  5. I love your blog and your babies are gorgeous!! thanks for sharing!

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  6. Love reading your blog!
    Inspirational!

    -Anne

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  7. I look forward to every update. This is my first time commenting, but a follower of your blog & your Mom's since before you were put on bed rest. Thank you for sharing your journey.
    Mary from Boston

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  8. Hi! this is my first time commenting & I wanted to let you know that your babies are so beautiful! I understand what you're going thru w/ the hand sanitizer :) you might try safeHands, it is alcohol free but still kills 99.99% of germs/bacteria. this was a lifesaver for me when I had my daughter (yes, I know, only 1 but I was way over protective)

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  9. You look amazing, the babies look amazing and I would only be so lucky to see you out with the quads....I live too far away though! They are precious and favoring each other more and more! You'll have been so blessed! Enjoy!

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  10. It is so wonderful to go out for a walk! Everyone needs a little fresh air and a bit of sunshine. I was so desperate to talk a walk one lovely day, I attempted to cram our four into a twin stroller. Epic fail! I guess I just have to wait until they can sit up in the Runabout!

    I'm totally jealous of your night on the town too! I've really gotta find a set of babysitters so we can sneak away too.

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  11. I love the pictures with your grandmother and the babies and then the one of each of you with a baby, aunt, great grandma and grandma.
    Besides a killer headache after too many beers is keeping up the routine after too many beers. Babies have no compassion for a hangover or a late night out. LOL
    sorry someone is leaving snide remarks. I guess they haven't heard if you don't have anything nice to say just keep quiet.
    Those tiny little Bells are growing. One day I'll get to see them in person but for now I'll settle for pictures.

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