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!