My life is busy.

So apparently blogger hates me. Or hates the idea of me posting more pictures of my incredibly good-looking children. What’s up with that? Probably jealousy. So I’m attempting a post with no pics, it’s been awhile so we’ll see how this goes.
First of all I feel this need to number my post, because I have so many different things to talk about, that I don’t want anyone to get confused, and numbering the paragraphs kind of helps, right?
1. Collin has formed an attachment to Michael Jackson, and before you get too worried let me explain. Awhile back I thought it would be very fun and reminiscent to order the Michael Jackson History video from Netflix. Well to my surprise it arrived yesterday, and I was all excitement to watch the old school videos and dancing and singing. So I put it on. Talin was interested for like five minutes and then disappeared upstairs to play on his own. Collin on the other hand watched the entire two-sided DVD in awe and amazement. Trying to imitate Michael’s smooth dance moves and asking how he can learn to dance like him, and drooling over the incredible moonwalk. It was amusing.
2. Last summer when I was pregnant with Caleb I let the boys play soccer at the YMCA. It was hell. After one game I was so upset I locked myself in the bathroom and cried for an hour, looking back I think it was probably the hormones. But anyway, I thought I’d give them a second chance this year, so I signed them up for indoor soccer. And I wish I could post the pictures, because then you could get a feel for how much fun it is to have your kids in sports. They are so cute and uncoordinated. And thank goodness it’s indoors, which means they can’t wander off into the foliage and pick flowers.
3. We took the boys to a minor league basketball game on Monday when they had the day off. And what’s really cool about this is that the team is the Iowa Energy, and they are affiliated with the Phoenix Suns, so the really good players get to go back and forth from the Suns team to their minor league team. Anyway, the kids had a great time and it was the perfect thing to kill the cabin fever we’re getting.
4. Mr. Caleb is doing really well lately. In fact he’s getting quite fat. He is now 17 pounds 11 ounces. I’m so proud of him. He gives me quite the work out hauling him around everywhere. And I’m becoming increasingly freaked out at the idea of him being a year old in two months, where has the time gone?
5. I have found myself increasingly busy lately. I would like a vacation, does that exist when you’re a mom? We are starting therapy for Caleb now. Thank goodness he doesn’t have to have physical therapy, which we previously thought. He only needs speech and occupational. But occupational comes every week, and twice every other week. On top of that there is speech, there is the home nurse Tanda coming every week, and the Early Access who comes every month to assess Caleb, and then the normal doctor’s appointments. My day timer is ridiculously full and my life line as well. And when you add in taking the kids to school and picking them up, which is three times a day, it becomes so incredibly hectic, and to think I wanted to start working out?! I still try to squeeze that in occasionally. On top of it I have been asked to do a drawing for the Stake Relief Society theme this year. The theme is something to the effect of “May the Savior Life You Up”, don’t quote me on that, I might be wrong. Well, I hardly feel capable of drawing the Savior, so I’ve opted to do a woman’s profile with her hand reaching up, and the Savior’s hand coming down to grasp hers. If it turns out somewhat decent I’ll post it. The real kicker is that I need it done soon, like in a couple of weeks!
6. I used to think it ridiculous that my Aunt Nina would bathe everyday for like an hour, not an exaggeration. And now I’m realizing why she had that need. With everything going on, my only escape as of late is to grandly announce that I’m going to take a bath. And then I sneak away with a good book and soak myself in warm bubbles and forget that I’m a person for a while. I totally understand the bathing escape, and I don’t even have six kids, five of whom are boys, like she did!

My attempt at blogging today...

We USED to like squirrels.

They were great entertainment for Caleb during the day.
Until yesterday.

It came down the chimney.

I screamed.

I sealed up the chimney as best I could.
I waited two hours for animal control to come while listening to squirrel chatter.

He came.

He wasn't very good at catching squirrels.

It jumped over his head.

Peed on my carpet.

Ran behind my couch.

Knocked over my pictures.

Scaled my blinds.

And was finally caught.



Then another one fell out of the chimney.

Ran around my couch.

Was caught much quicker.

Did not want to let go of my adorable leopard blanket.

Had to have each little claw peeled off the blanket.

Squirrel hair everywhere.



There was a lot of screaming.

I have thoroughly sprayed every corner in my living room with Lysol.

Oh the adventures we've had in Iowa.

(Most of the screaming was done by Collin who was discovered locked in my bedroom upstairs with the laundry basket covering the door, hiding under my comforter with Caleb in his arms. What a man.)

Another Morning in my Life

The kids are home.

It's -15 degrees outside. Yes you read that correctly, -15!

(and yes, I'm shouting that in my head right now)

My house is a disaster.
The boys are watching Harry Potter downstairs, after a scrumptious breakfast of whole-wheat waffles. (I'll have to post this incredible recipe sometime in the future)

I haven't showered, I'm not sure that's in the future today, except for the fact that the home nurse Tanda is coming over in two hours, and my current bra-less, pajama wearing, crazy hair state might frighten her.

Caleb is finally sleeping.

I'll only write the follow information about this morning if people promise not to freak out and call CPS on us.

Caleb woke up at 6:30 this morning with his cord wrapped around his neck three times. Yes, you read that correctly as well, THREE TIMES!!

(and once again I'm shouting that in my head)

Then he proceeded to vomit, again and again.

I know, but what am I suppose to do?? The kid has to be hooked up to a 12-hour drip feed overnight, and I can't sleep by his crib to make sure nothing goes awry during the night. What to do....what to do?

And then when Tom was bathing him I started to change his sheets only to discover a monstrous spider residing in his crib!

I learned something.
NEVER leave a monstrous spider to go into the bathroom to beg your husband to go back into the room to kill spider. Spider will have left the premises by that time and found a new home. I have chills with this thought.

Don't worry Caleb is safe for now.

(this shot was taken minutes ago!)

On a good note I have made the big return to the YMCA. Went in, renewed my membership and worked out yesterday. And wow, I'm really out of shape, like really, really out of shape! I have to start somewhere right? And my little Caleb was in the daycare for the first time in his life, and I fought with the guilt of leaving him in there, but at the same time, he needs to stand on his own two feet, right?

Second chance for the veggie burger

Eat Me.

NOT Me.

I hope to have saved some from the pain of experimentation.

I got tagged baby...

...which is pretty cool cause I never get tagged. And this is a fun baby tag, so only read this if you like birth and babies and mommies.

1.Where were you when you first found out that you were pregnant? With Talin it was in my parents bathroom. Collin, I just knew. Caleb was in my bathroom.
2.Who was with you? For Talin, Mandi was with me (well outside the door!), the others I was alone.
3.How did you find out that you were pregnant? Peeing on a stick!
4.What was your first reaction to finding out you were pregnant? Excitement, anxious…
5.Who was the first person you told? With Talin, it was Mandi because she was with me, then of course Tom, and then we told my dad. Collin-everyone knew I was pregnant, I didn’t really have to tell, and when I did they all responded, “oh, I figured”. Caleb-Tom was first to know.
6.Did you plan to get pregnant? Yes for all of them.
7.Did you tell everyone else right away? With Talin, yes. And as soon as I was willing to admit I was pregnant with Collin, yes. With Caleb we waited the twelve weeks, which is weird for me. In fact a lot of people didn’t even know I was pregnant in my ward until I was about five months along.
8.Was everybody happy for you? Sure, if they weren’t, they didn’t tell me!
9.Did you go out and celebrate? No.
10.Did you want to find out the sex? Yes, I’m way too impatient and curious to not know. I would have died not knowing, and all three of my boys were very obvious, if you know what I mean!
11.What was the sex? Three boys, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
12.Did anyone throw you a baby shower? With Talin I had two, a work party and a family/friend shower. I don’t think I had one with Collin, unless I’m just forgetting. With Caleb I had one thrown by my friend Betsy.
13.Did you get any outfits at the baby shower that you just knew that you wouldn't put on your baby? I can’t remember, but they always exist, so I’m sure I did.
14.How much weight did you gain? Talin-25 pounds, Collin-25/28 pounds, I think I lost some at the end, and with Caleb-45 pounds (yeah, it was a bad time for me!).
15.Did you lose all of the weight that you gained? Yes with all three pregnancies, and surprisingly enough, more than what I gained each time.
16.Did you get any stretch marks? I’d rather not talk about it, but I will. Talin destroyed me!! I was huge, all belly and looking full term with twins by seven months. My stomach is forever scarred! Collin I only got a couple, and surprisingly enough Caleb was the only one I didn’t get any with, and I put on the most weight!!
17.What did you crave the most? I can only remember lots of chocolate with Collin, and with Caleb I craved chocolate and grapefruit.
18.Did you crave anything crazy? Not really. Fried things, which gross me out, like Long John Silvers.
19.Who or what got on your nerves? I don’t really remember, I was too busy eating.
20.Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? With Talin I had pupps, which is a pregnancy rash on your stomach, so they induced me two weeks early, it was the only way to end the itching agony! With Collin he tried to be born at 32 weeks, and I dilated to a six one evening with silent labor. I was in the hospital for a week, and then on bed rest for two weeks after that. He came four weeks early. And with Caleb it was mainly emotional and a lot of appointments because we found out about his heart defect when I was around twenty-two weeks pregnant with him. So I got a bazillion ultrasounds and was monitored very closely, and finally induced at 38 weeks.
21.Where and when did you go into labor? Talin-I was induced Monday morning and had him by the afternoon, it all went very quickly. Collin-it was a Friday night and I was really crabby, so my mom told me I was in labor, I didn’t believe that my bad mood was really labor, but we went into the hospital anyway, and I was already at an eight and having full blown contractions. He was born quickly after that. Caleb-I was induced on a Monday with no pitocin, only some pill that was put inside me to soften my cervix. It did the trick in the end, cause labor progressed on it’s own and he came that evening, my only birth that didn’t require the pitocin.
22.Did your water break? It was broken both times with Talin and Collin. With Caleb it broke on it’s own, it was so cool and crazy, I was excited, but oh the pain that ensued afterwards. As soon as my water broke that baby started coming down!
23.Who drove you to the hospital? Tom did for all of them. Except for that close call with Collin, that was Rachel, thank goodness for someone with a brain!
24.Who was in the room when you gave birth? Talin-It was Tom and Cyndee, Amy and Mandi were in there until Mandi got faint and almost passed out, then they were kicked out. Collin-Tom and Cyndee. Caleb-Tom and Cyndee.
25.Did you go early or late? Early on all three. Tal-38 weeks, Collin-36 weeks, & Caleb 38 weeks.
26.How long were in labor for? Talin-approx. 5 hours. Collin-quick, I don’t know the exact time. Caleb-when labor finally started in the afternoon, about 3 hours.
27.Did you have any drugs for the pain? Talin-epidural all the way, didn’t feel a thing. Collin-epidural, but I felt things with no pain, it was cool. Caleb-epidural from hell. Didn’t work, I would like to say it was freaking natural, and I wish I didn’t get the epidural and instead had the glory of doing it naturally, cause I felt like I did.
28.Did you go natural or have a C-section? Natural.
29.What was your first reaction after giving birth? Hyper, excited, happy, worry.
30.How big was the baby? Talin-8 pounds 1 ounce. Collin- 7 pounds 6 ounces (and that was four weeks early!!). Caleb-6 pounds 11 ounces.
31.Did your husband cry? No. But he was a good coach throughout the whole thing.
32.What did you name the baby? Talin Thomas, Collin Tyler, & Caleb Allen.
33.Does his name have any significant meaning? Talin is a name I loved, and Thomas is obviously my hubby’s name. Collin named himself I think. I wanted to name him Gavin, but for some reason couldn’t decide. That night I slept fitfully in the hospital, and every time I woke up the name Collin Chambers kept shouting in my head. What?? I didn’t even like that name. But it’s what it was suppose to be! And Tyler is my brother’s name. Caleb means heart (and dog lover), but it seemed appropriate for our little heart baby. And Allen is my grandmother’s maiden name.
34.Did you have any visitors? With Talin I had everyone, a lot of people, too many to name. Collin I had my mom and the Jones’ and Rach, and Tom’s mom and dad and sister came up to see the baby. With Caleb my mom came out for the birth and Amy and JoDee came out a week later.
35.Did the baby have any complications? Do you have a few minutes?? Talin-healthy, but was readmitted a few days after he was born because of a fever, turned out he had a UTI, but in the ER they gave him a spinal tap. My week old baby a spinal tap!! Oh how I wish I had been a smarter mommy when I was younger. It was awful. Collin-born four weeks early he didn’t breathe very well. He had a lot of different things because he was premature, but ultimately it was just the oxygen issue. He had to be in the NICU for a week and then he went home and was on oxygen for three weeks. It was such a pain having a newborn hooked up to an oxygen tank. Caleb-Wow, where do we start. He had a complete AVSD and his heart valve was formed wrong, he had to have open-heart surgery. He was born with hearing loss in his right ear and an atretic ear in his left. His heart condition made him difficult to care for, lot’s of drugs, difficulty gaining weight, which led to eventual, nose tube, and then to eventual surgery to put in a GI tube. He doesn’t eat anything orally, and is exclusively tube fed. He works with an ENT, an audiologist, a speech therapist, an occupational therapist, an early access intervention, a GI specialist, a cardiologist, sees his regular pediatrician frequently and keeps his mother beyond busy!
36.How old is your baby today? Six, five and 10 months.
37.When is the next one coming? Ha! Ha! Ha! We’re adopting down the road, I don’t dare risk conception again, I mean what if it’s another boy! Ha ha ha!
38.If you could, would you do it all over again? Without a doubt.

Food

I REALLY like to eat good food. And last nights dinner was simply divine and beautiful. Seriously beautiful, I wish I would have taken a picture, but I was much too impatient to dig my fork into the luscious salmon and devour it. And I devoured it, I think I ate half of the salmon myself, we had a pound and a half fillet I cooked. But on with the recipe, cause you are so going to want to make this, and soon. And Amy, feel free to copy this onto your food blog, although you probably feel entitled to do so without my permission, which I so don't mind. And I wish I knew who to give credit to in regards to this recipe, but it was a random find in my recipe/web searching from days ago. I can not remember where or whom I stole it from, sorry.

Broiled Salmon with Spicy Maple Basting Sauce
6 T. maple syrup
1/2 C. water
2 T. minced fresh ginger root
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 t. dried hot red pepper flakes, or to taste (I halved this cause my kids are super sensitive with heat, and who am I kidding, so am I. I thought it worked out perfect.)
1/4 t. salt
four 1-inch-thick pieces salmon fillet (about 6 oz. each)
In a small heavy saucepan combine maple syrup, water, ginger root, garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt and simmer until reduced to about 1/2 cup. This took about 15-20 minutes.
Cool basting sauce.
Preheat broiler.
Arrange salmon, skin side down, on oiled rack of broiler pan and season with salt. Broil salmon about four inches from heat four minutes. Brush salmon with sauce and broil until just cooked through, about six minutes more.

Enjoy!

So Completely Random

16 pounds 10 ounces

That is a two pound weight gain since surgery, yeah!!

He sits up, rolls everywhere, started scooting briefly, and can get himself up into a crawl position. All within the last month. I thought the past month would be spent strictly recovering, I was so wrong, the last month has been spent wiggling incessantly. He's becoming impossible to hold for very long.


I've been in a total blogging slump for the past couple of weeks. I've felt a little down since holiday is over and the kids are back to school and Tom is back to clinics. I don't see why they can't all stay home all day and we can color, craft, play UNO, watch Harry Potter and bake cookies all day. Oh, and run to Target occasionally.


But thank goodness it's finally Friday, because this is what we're going to be doing tonight.

(that's us watching a movie and vegging and cuddling on the couch, if you were wondering.)

I miss my boys and I'm sick of responsibility, and spelling words and dinner and frosted animal crackers with sprinkles.

And I only added this pic in because I think my arm looks buff, and I seriously don't have buff arms, so I thought that was kind of cool. Maybe it's that 16 pounds 10 ounces I'm hauling around everywhere.

Christmas has come and gone already!

Christmas Eve

Older brothers can be cruel.

I guess mom's can be too.


Because instead of helping the poor boy get his beloved binky back....

...I decided instead to snap pictures of the amusement.

I love this final look of resignation.
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More Christmas Eve Pics:

After having friends over for dinner, I was more interested in crawling into bed than taking pictures. But Collin's persistent little voice left me little choice, "mom, turn you head and smile, now smile mom!! No, you need to smile!"

And the following outtakes are proof of the frustrating task of taking pictures of my children. Does everyone else have this problem?
Seriously, check these out:

This is what happens when I let them pick out their own Christmas pajamas.
Two matching adorable snowflake pj's.....

....and one spaceship themed pajamas.
(it seriously wasn't worth the fight to make him give these up)

I think Caleb is wondering why they can't just be normal.

And an almost decent shot, if Caleb didn't look like he was in a severely uncomfortable headlock. We tried. and tried. and tried.

I've dubbed this one the official Christmas Eve Pajama Wearing in Front of the Christmas Tree Shot.

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Christmas Morning

The following is an insane amount of pictures of my family showing off their Christmas spoils. I really don't see the necessity of writing a caption in between each pic, so enjoy in silence!

That was awesome...now on to Friday.

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Friday

We had been promising the boys a "big hill" to go sledding at.

How freakish is it that yesterday was in the fifties?

What???

So the big hill covered in snow was turning into a water park.

They each took a few turns, but the bottom of the hill was a huge puddle, which was fine when they went by themselves, cause they would just hydro-plane right over the water.

But when they went together it ended up in a big splash.

So the sledding didn't last.

And the only pictures I got are these of Tom pushing them back towards the car on flat ground.
It was still fun.

Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas!!

The Big 30

Tom turned thirty yesterday.

We bundled up the attitude and ventured the backyard cold (okay, cold is an understatement to the temperatures we've been enduring here in the Midwest!).
And we went sledding.

Thank goodness for a hilly backyard.

Even I ventured the cold, only briefly, I certainly don't tolerate it as well as the boys do. Nor do I have the mind to let myself acclimate. I'm convinced this kind of cold is not humane to live in.

Collin venturing out on his own.

And then Talin.

They love being out in the snow. I don't get it. Usually tears accompany the inside warm up after playing outside, and they have to sit in warm baths and drink hot chocolate to thoroughly defrost. So much work.

The Birthday Boy's ride.

Don't worry, we had a lot of fun going out on a date the night before.

But oh the enjoyment of the simple pleasures in life, like sledding in the arctic, I mean my backyard.

Often this is how the boys ended up, on the ground face planting it.

Can you believe they're still smiling?

Little Talin, who definitely isn't little anymore!

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And the past week has been monumental for Mr. Caleb, at least in our little world.

He's been attempting new stuff. Like holding the crawl position for about fifteen seconds. This usually ends up in a face plant since his upper body isn't very strong, but he's getting better.

The big accomplishment is him sitting up now. He's so much happier to be up and aware of the world around him. He seems so much bigger now, and all grown up.

He had his nine month check up this past week as well.

His stats:

Weight- 14 pounds 12 ounces (under 3%, but he's getting there!)

Height- 25 3/4" (right at 3%)

I set him in front of the Christmas Tree to encourage him sitting up.

It worked.
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This morning the kids put on their Christmas duds, and they looked so good.

Here's my proof:

Merry Christmas!