Six Pack of Kids - Thoughts on One Month In

This was the first - and probably only - six kids pic we've taken so far. The hospital didn't have a couch in the mother-baby room so we had to get the first kid picture at home when J was super new. Fast forward one month - how! - later and it probably wouldn't look too terribly different. 

If the walls could talk around here they would say that J has been loved into the folds of this family. They would say littlest sis has the best nickname for him so far - Joe-sis - but has already corrected herself to the proper pronunciation of his name - which super hurts my feelings. The walls would tell you the biggest sister adores this little guy and has been known to rush around the house to get ready for school just so she can hold him for a few minutes before it's time to go. They'd say that big brother was mortified of Mama feeding him for the first time and begged her to put her shirt down. 

For this mama, it is hard to believe that J has been in this family for a month but in some ways he's been here the whole time. He's a pretty great baby and I really like him - despite his tongue tie which is making nursing more interesting that normal - but will be remedied here before too long. Sometimes I don't know how he has passed him hearing test with all the crazy antics that go on around here - this week was no different but that's for another time.

We have been showered with love and support and gifts and food from so many family and friends over the past month it is pretty overwhelming. No more overwhelming though, when I catch myself literally having to count my blessings to make sure they are all in the car or in bed or where they are supposed to be. 

This last month with a six pack of kids and as a family of eight has been wild and crazy - as it was before J graced us with his presence - I really couldn't imagine our family without him. I've already learned so much from him being here and I can't wait to find out what the next month and year will look like with him. 

He's a keeper. 

Pascha 2019

He is Risen!

Well we survived Holy Week and all the church services that go along with it. I'd be lying if I didn't think we'd do terribly because Palm Sunday was ROUGH. Next year I need to remember that my children can get palms AFTER church. There was so much controversy surrounding the palms and who had what and why was this one bigger and let's rip the palm in half to get two palms... Church endorsed liturgical distractions I tell you!

Pascha was actually quite chilly - but dry. It rained ALOT Holy Week. I had to do a quick swap from sandals to tights for the girls but at least it wasn't raining and so the post church feast of City Chicken and Pascha cheese and lots of feast worthy goodies went off without a hitch. I told Lee I wanted to bring a pepperoni pizza but that plan got nixed because it was totally impractical and it wouldn't be fresh. 

Then we headed to my parents for basket hunts - some of which ended up hidden on the roof? and more really good food. The big girls stayed a few days and dyed eggs and made Easter cookies - which were some of the best if you ask me or Lee. The house was eerily quiet on Monday night at 7:30 - A and C were in bed and Lee and I just kind of sat and enjoyed the peace. Thinking back at one point or another it was always pretty quiet around 7:30 when E and R were 3 and almost 2. 

The volume around the house will certainly not be lowering anytime soon and come September it will be increased by one little person. Baby number six will be gracing us with his or her presence a month after school starts! We are very excited and honestly I am actually ready - as ready as one can get - for another baby. C is great but she isn't a baby any more. She is almost two with a lot of sass and spunk and opinions. I think everyone is on Team A Needs a Brother which is the only reason I'd even consider finding out boy or girl (but I didn't). Given our track record there's really only a 20% chance this baby is a boy and A has already declared this baby - his baby brudder. 

7QTs - Valentines, Laundry, Goggles

Linking up with Kelly and co... 

---1---

Laundry seems to be a bigger chore than it was in the past...

I am still married to my only-do-wash-on-Saturday philosophy and I can usually get it done but it doesn't ever get all the way put away or there are a pile of mismatched socks on the chair or the uniforms are still hanging up in the bathroom and need to be fluffed.

Attack of the laundry MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!

---2---

Splash away little girl!

She didn't even try to take them off for a few minutes : ) 

---3---

Speaking of goggles... 

M and R have had some good swim lessons this winter. Last winter I think I only got a few session in 

But this year we've gotten more than a few which is great because R is basically swimming by herself. She is still working out the whole side breathing thing and I still would keep a close eye on her but she's going to be rocking out this summer in the 6 and unders. M is close and she can swim as long as she doesn't have to take a breathe. 

---4---

Valentine's Day... The 2018 Catholic conundrum not to be confused with Pascha/Easter falling on April Fool's Day. So Valentine's Day this year fell on Ash Wednesday but as Eastern Catholic we started Lent on Monday BUT since our kids go to Latin Catholic school they go to Mass for it and with Papa Deacon being attached to a Latin parish sooooo... Ash Wednesday all around except not because Ash Wednesday is a penitential day but there were still parties at school (don't understand it, but not worth the fight) and preschool (not Catholic) so it was a wacky day. 

Which consisted of some prepping of class Valentines (and I already got Valentines for next year at Target for 70% off )

Our family Valentine's celebration was moved to Tuesday donuts, card and flowers all around

A

E

R

M

C

There were entirely too many sweets that crossed the threshold of the house but since it is good 'ole Lent we have select dessert days in addition to our Lent fasting and abstaining and praying and alms giving. 

---5---

E went to summer camp for AHG and received a few badges for her activities

She is super pumped about her badge-filled vest and cannot wait to go back again next year!

---6---

There is something therapeutic about doing a fresh box of Legos. 

R and M and I did a new set of R's Saturday afternoon. They are not too much help but I enjoyed it. The family project remains doing Eclipso's castle from Christmas but that requires E and Papa

---7---

C fell asleep like this at work the other day.

She is fresh off the 8 month mark and still coming to work with me. She is still nursing. She loves her yogurt breakfast and jar food (yes the actual glass jars and not the pouches because hello landfills) with a side of banana for dinner. Still no teeth to speak of but they are all probably going to come in with a vengeance. My favorite time to watch her is in her bouncer/jumper thing and in the morning when I bring her out of her room and all the other kids are at breakfast and tell her good morning or hi-hi. She lights up at them and they light up when they see her. 

I'm not sure why it took him so love to discover the heat wave but it acted so surprised . It was great. 

7QTs - Snow, Christmas and Advent

Linking up with Kelly and co... Going from newest to oldest...

---1---

My snowy bear

The snow is gone... We had our fun but it was up to 70 today and is headed back into the 30s tomorrow : ( 

---2---

M reminds me so much of E in so many ways and putting together puzzles is one of them...

50 piece puzzle for the 4 yr old in the books... except E just would have done it and moved on. M wants me to see it and know if she gets extra dessert because she did something good. riiiiiiight!

---3---

C is FINALLY on team bottle... 

Which is insanely helpful because I have a quick work trip that she is not privileged to. More on that later 

---4---

All the Christmas presents have been absorbed for the most part...

I haven't tried out my new goggles yet but I did manage a trip to the elliptical this week which was great

Working on Christmas Thank You notes... I still need to get a few out!

The tree is still up. I think A is really going to miss it. He keeps on saying lite treeeeee. lite treeeeeee. I cannot find his baby ornament which is of some concern so maybe it will turn up in clean up?

---5---

These 2 were ready to go back to school.

They were totally at each other's necks the last week of break and nit picking (now that I know that actually has to do with lice) each other and just generally being really an

---6---

A-isms of recent... 

He will grab the stool from the bathroom and attempt to get involved with whatever is going on

He rarely gets dessert these days because he doesn't eat much dinner unless it is steak or ham but when he does he loves it

He looks really cute in this hat

His hair can get really wild with static

He LOVES going with Papa in the truck. He saw E and Papa go to swim practice and fitfully watched them leave because he didn't get the nod to go too

---7---

Just to round out the Advent season a few weeks late...

We did make it to the graveyards to pray on 12/23... nothing like the late minute

And we continued the neighborhood tradition of passing out Christmas goodies and added a note with a plea for people in our neighborhood to SLOW THE HECK DOWN ... I'll keep you posted on that progress

7QTs - Double Strollers, Excellent Starts, Laundry Situations

Linking up with Kelly and co

---1---

Two weeks into life with C...

A and C and I took a walk last Sunday. I never really used the double stroller much with M and A but I have a feeling we are going to be using it a lot with this 2. A seems so massive compared to C. He still doesn't have too much on his mind that he says but he did enjoy looking at this huge worm thing crossing the road. 

---2---

C and I have made our rounds this week. 

Nursing mother's group meeting (that is not affiliated with the hospital) - I seriously think I'm going to write a letter to the hospital about the lack of breastfeeding support, lunch out, the office, normal-ish stuff. 

Next week is bound to be weird with the girls at the beach and the holiday in the middle of the week, doctor appt, swim meet. We are deciding if we are going to watch fireworks with A because it will be past his bedtime but I'm kind of thinking we don't care too much- we shall see. Watching on TV is way easier though : ) 

---3---

My guys.... 

A has gotten super clingy probably because C and me leaving with her and leaving him with the sitter but its okay. Pool season hasn't really let up for Papa so we are both excited about the July 4th holiday/ 5-day-work-week instead of six. 

---4---

He's a mess... 

and his hair is getting longer which means he can get more food stuck in it. I think when I do trim his hair it will be more bowl-cut-ish. 

A had a dance party with Elsa and spun around in circles and ran up and down the hallway shouting GO GO GO! It was A+ 

---5---

C started waking up a little this week

She's still a sleeper but it seems like she's awake a bit more. The girls have finally started asking me if they can hold her. 

---6---

WHY DOES IT TAKE THEM 40 minutes to sort their laundry? 

This is a huge mystery to me because I can do it in less than 10 and E could do it in about that time as well but throw them all together and forget it. Team effort = long, dragged out, time-out filled, screamfest (at times) 

---7---

This is from the swim meet from last week (the one this week was out of town so I didn't go but the girls were fortunate to hitch a ride with some friends : ) 

This was R's first meet of the season 

Probably one of my favorite pictures of her yet

She swam pup squad but is very much determined to swim with the 6 and under this season. This week is kind of a dead week since they'll be at the beach so I'm crossing my fingers that the following week she'll be able to. 

Yay!

E swam her normal fly, back, free. There's a reward on the table for her if her meets her 3 goals for the season. 

1. Dive off the blocks - much improved already so this can be mostly checked off

2. Swim IM without getting DQed - breaststroke is the issue

3. Swim one lap of free and only take one breathe. - Seriously the girl used to take the most longest, drawn out breathes EVER. I think she's getting quicker at taking them but I think she should be able to swim a lap and take one especially at our pool since its slightly less than 25 yards.

Anyhow I have piles of halfway packed beach stuff... soooooo... until next time

7QTs - All about Baby C

Linking up with Kelly and co

---1---

Clare Cecilia was born on Saturday afternoon after what seemed like a never ending start to the labor process. We got to the hospital at 5:45 - 5:30 was just way too early. They got all my info and pitocin was started at 7. The hospital policy is to not allow moms to walk when on pitocin because they have to be hooked up to the fetal heart rate monitor. Okay fine. So until my doctor broke my water at 10:30 or so I did get a few hours of standing up by the monitor time because those hospital beds are for the birds. 

Anyways so it seemed as if zero was happening and at noon at 4. I was pretty sure that I was going to have to have c-section because this was going no where and it was taking forever. I really thought I'd be snuggling a baby by lunch. So 1:30 rolls around and contractions are getting stronger so I hit the Stadol please button - even though I was really hoping to not go that route. 

Then of course things get a little hazy because well, that what Stadol does. The nurse asked if I wanted the full or half dose because it stays with you for about 2 hours and I told her I'd gotten 2 doses with the other kids so we were figuring at least 2-4 hours before baby was born. Well baby had other plans. The heart rate was dropping with each contraction and the nurse had me change positions a few times on the bed and finally I they gave me oxygen and put the bed in a recliner like position - fancy-shamancy-uncomfortable bed. 

I remember begging Lee to get the nurses because I was ready and he said they were coming and then the next thing I remember is the nurse saying - So I guess you aren't waiting for the doctor. Yeah no, I told her well before my pre-medicated state I was NOT WAITING so she took my words to heart and delivered the baby a minute or two before the doctor came. Lee swears it was only about 5 minutes in between the nurse paging him and birth. 

I remember them saying she was a girl and I ripped off that crazy oxygen mask. The other L&D nurse was there and the nursery nurse - at some point before she was born one nurse called that - there was a woman without an epidural having a baby and she needed some back up - I think that was probably L&D nurse #2 asking the postpartum nurses to come to L&D nurses station. The doctor came in just in time to see Clare weighed. I think he was more than a bit perturbed at not being there but not my problem : ) 

The room cleared out soon enough - Clare was not nearly as loud and scream-y as A was so that was pleasant relief. Now, if you were to ask Lee how all this played out he might have a different story and certainly a different perspective. Something about this labor and delivery was different and effected him in a much different way and maybe one day he'll be able to articulate it...

---2---

We headed to the postpartum room and soon everyone came to meet baby

So everyone found out that there was a new girl in the fam. There was no disappointment or tears that she wasn't a he. I really believe that A is an anomaly so he'll remain king of the castle for now. Speaking of which - he wouldn't sit with me or look at me or anything at the hospital - which kind of hurt my feelings a little bit but he likes me now that we are home. 

---3---

The rest of the hospital stay was generally uneventful... 

The food was the pits and the kitchen closes at like 4:45 on Saturday afternoons so graham crackers it was for my midnight snacks. I had to wait for what seemed like forever for my enormous IV needle to be taken out. I did have an endless supply of water and Coke after not getting one immediately after C was born... Next time, I'm going to have the L&D nurse set up a water bottle in the corner for me because seriously I was so freaking thirsty and this is the second delivery I have had to wait forever (10 minutes?) for some water. 

Lee and the kids took to church Sunday morning and C and I hung out at the hospital with a good friend and way-better-than-this-hospital food. Then Lee came to collect us and bring us home. 

---4---

Obviously none of this would have been possible without some serious help... my parents and Jibbe and Aunt Mary all came to our house and corralled the kids while we were at the hospital plus cleaned plus cooked. We are so grateful and very spoiled. 

And C's first week at home would not have been possible without family and friends checking in on us, bringing us dinner (and C scored some cute outfits), helping cart kids here, there and everywhere. 

THANK YOU!

Also this week our summer sitter started - which has been awesome. She's here in the mornings and not having to worry about entertaining the big kids has been most excellent. I got a morning nap in, C and I got to go to our nursing mother's group meeting (so much more I want to say about breastfeeding support but that's for another day), C went to the doctor twice - all sans big kids. And while I won't disclose when I'm going back to work - because I think it makes people nervous for me - the kids hit a home run with this sitter so they should have a pretty fantastic summer. 

---5---

Now, onto other particulars...

What's the deal with her name? 

There's no Clare's in our families - and probably the only connection that is worth mentioning is that Uncle Kev would have been Aunt Clare but he's not - thank the Lord. 

So she's just named after two saints. Just two saints. St. Clare of Assisi founded the religious order - the Poor Clares and was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi. St. Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians and has a crazy story that is worth reading and was the first incorrupt saint. 

And now that we have a girl with a C name - for anyone interested - A would have been Catherine Clare had he been a she. 

---6---

C is a seemingly good sleeper and eater - though I am not 100% convinced that she won't need her tongue clipped like big brother. 

I think her most striking feature to me is that her feet seem enormous - even though they clearly aren't. 

---7---

The big siblings are still pretty indifferent about her and it surprises me they don't ask to hold her more or pick out her clothes. A likes to poke her head and is an excellent dirty diaper tosser... except Papa found one in the toilet this afternoon. 

And so after just over 168 hours of life in the ex-utero side of the world she's being absorbed into love, into the crazy, into the the everything that is our family. So little C, you're a keeper. We like you. We love you. We hope you feel the same way because there aren't any refunds