The night Before The BIG DAY!

  (the babies like to sit outside and wait with Brooklynn for her school bus)

Well, tomorrow is Shilah, Lexie, Maddox, and Rylee's first birthday!  I have no idea where the time has gone.  It seems like just yesterday I was on bed rest in the hospital.  I have been thinking a lot today about what the past year has been like.  I can remember when I was finally told I was pregnant with 4!  A lot went through my mind the weeks that followed the news.  How was I going to carry 4 babies far enough to make sure they were healthy?  Would my body be able to carry all 4 babies?  Would any of them come out with major health problems?  How would I have enough love for 4 babies? What have I done to Brooklynn & Alyssa?  Would we be able to financially support 4 babies?  (Believe me that was just the start!)  I can remember calling my sister on numerous occasions to cry and reach out for support.  I can remember it like it was yesterday!  All we went through to get pregnant, then to stay pregnant with all 4, and then to finally give birth to 4 healthy beautiful babies has been one of the best experiences of my life.     

There have been lots of ups and lots of downs.  There have been days where all I could do is cry, and there have been days that all I have done is laugh.  There isn't anything that could have prepared me for what the last year has been like, but I would not trade it for the world.  I feel so blessed to be the mother of these wonderful children.   

Here are a few things that I have done over the last year that I would never have imagined I would be doing:

1. being on bed rest 4ever
   
2. giving birth to quadruplets
   
3. trying to hold 4 babies at one time
   
4. breast feeding 2 babies and pumping for the other 2
   
5. spending over 1 hour just to bathe my kids
6. setting up 4 cribs
7. buying 5-7 packages of diapers in a week
8. feeding time consisting of 6-8 jars of baby food (at least)
9. going through 6 cans of formula in one week
10. washing 20 bottles a day
11. trying to keep 8 hands out of the toilet
12. watching Rylee and Maddox play chase
13. teaching Brooklynn to change a diaper
14. watching Matt feed 2 babies in his lap while watching the Broncos play football
15. seeing  both sets of great grandparents hold 4 babies in their arms
16. we have really been able to see the love and support that people have for us
17. watching  Alyssa play peek-a-boo with here little brother and sisters who love her so much
18. go for a walk with a quad stroller (funny story- Matt and I were out for a walk with the family the other night (we took the quad stroller) and 2 young guys did a U turn in the middle of a busy street to come back and take our picture.  I think it is so crazy......any way)
19. being interviewed by a Denver news station, and being in the local news consistently
20. and last but not least, still being some what sane

Any way, as you can tell it has been a very eventful year.  We have been filled with more love and joy that you could possibly imagine.  People always ask us how we do it.  I guess we just do it with LOVE!  Happy Birthday to the babies tomorrow!  We love them and are so blessed to have them as part of our family! 

HOME ALONE!!!

Well, sorry its been so long since I have posted very much.  Matt was gone for 5 days and I was here by myself with all 6 kids.  I needed a little extra help so I had Shilah and Lexie do their own hair.....

Then, Rylee decided to take it upon herself and have a treat.  (She found some of the girls carmel that was left over from their apples)

Then, as you all can imagine I had lots of laundry to do, but I couldn't handle it on my own so Lexie stepped in and took the "load" off my back.....

Then it was time for dinner, Rylee who obviously loves food, jumped right in and wanted to help...............

Of course we had to make room for playtime!  Brooklynn, "the BEST BIGGER SISTER" jumped right in and took control.  Between reading them books, walking them around the house, playing with toys, and somehow squeezing everyone between 2 cribs, we survived another day.

Did I forget any thing?  Oh, the babies need to eat, right!  Well thank goodness for Alyssa, she kept me on my toes and told me she would feed the babies so I could do dishes.  What a great helper.  

We had a terribly busy week and were so relieved to see Dad walk in the doors tonight, I almost broke out into tears.  I am grateful that I have such wonderful helpers that got me through the week.  We also have good friends that stopped by to see how we were doing and lend a helping hand.    I was actually shocked that I made it through the week without breaking down.  But we survived and I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family!  I wouldn't trade my life for anything.

Alyssa is so Adorable

I wanted to share this because for one it is adorable and two I didn't want to forget it! Yesterday Alyssa and I were out on the front porch while the babies were napping.  She was so cute.  She was pretending to be a butterfly (dressed up in her butterfly halloween costume) and was racing other butterflies in butterfly land.  Oh my goodness.  She was flittering across the front yard as dainty as she possible could.  I just watched her in amazement and felt so blessed to be her mom.  I know it sounds silly, but it was one of those moments that I haven't had with her in a while because I am so busy with the babies.  Okay so it was just flat out adorable!  Here is a picture of her in her butterfly costume on Halloween.

Aunt Emmy

Here is Aunt Emmy with Shilah at Easter.  Aren't they adorable.  Aunt Emmy lived with us for the first 2-3 months after the babies were born.  She helped with all the fun stuff.  Changing diapers, feeding babies, burping, rocking, laundry, dishes, loving, and just playing. She has a special bond with the babies.  We love her and are glad she is such a great aunt!  This post is for you Emily!