Is it Spring yet?

Since the last post, I've literally took no pictures... Partly because my Dad and Judy left and we had to get back into the real-world of just having two adults per 4 kids and partly because I've been sick since. Not just a little sick, like I feel like I'm dying sick. But luckily I got some meds and had my sister to help Andy last night, while I got about 18 hours of sleep and now I'm good to go. Problem is, is now Andy has it. And Aven had it yesterday and now Stevie today. I feel like our family, mostly the kids, have been more sick then they have been healthy. And, honestly I'm kind of tired of it. So, is is Spring yet?

But one thing has happened since our last post... Bria started walking! Her and Aven are just so proud of themselves... It's too cute! Here's a video of her from tonight.

Spidey...

Yesterday, Andy and I took Declan to the Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark play on broadway. It was AMAZING... I think he was a little scared at first becasue it was so loud, but he got used to it and loved it. It was both Andy and my first show and we were impressed. This one was really interactive because Spider man flew in the crowd and went in and out of the audience. So all and all, it was great and Declan really enjoyed it. My dad and Judy watched the girls, who were angels for them :-)

Here are a few pictures from our day...

And here's a video from the other night... This is Bria (left) and Aven laughing at big brother... I just love their giggles!

Happy 2nd 1st Birthday...

The girls would have been one yesterday had I been able to go full term... Although there is very little chance that I would have been able to go full term, it's still a milestone worth mentioning. I often find myself comparing the girls at their adjusted age to Declan when he was their age. It's silly really since all kids are different, but what I will say is that I think they are almost on track. They are definitely smaller than Declan was, but Aven is walking more than Declan had at this age (adjusted), Bria is about where he was (taking a few steps) and Stevie is still just crawling (but also cruising). None of them are talking much besides baby babbles, although we are pretty sure that Aven has said "momma" and "bye," Bria has said "bye" and today Judy said she said "momma" clear as day and Stevie hasn't said anything that we can recognize yet. I'm usually one that doesn't really count words until they repetitively say them and you can clearly tell what they are saying, but i'll take these :-) All of them love to dance - must be a girl thing because I don't remember Declan ever wanting to dance (until now of course). But one thing all of our kids have in common - they are happy, health, sweet kids!

This weekend I tried taking a few pictures of all the kids. It's basically impossible now given their mobility and a toddlers lack of interest of letting me take a picture of him. But this is as good as I could get :-)

L to R: Aven, Stevie & Bria

Love Declan's face - he's giving Aven the stink eye because she's choking her sister Stevie. Bria doesn't seem to care...

Declan has given up, Aven continues to beat up Stevie who is now crying and Bria, well she's just thinking this whole thing is hilarious...

And tonight we had our ritual dance party... Which is normal in our household. Here's a video of Aven dancing - not very clear, but you can get the jist. Aven definately has the best moves of the bunch and it's just so cute how she shakes her booty...

Here's another video from tonight. I love this video... The girls love their brother and think he's pretty funny... But tonight, all of them got the giggles. Declan was just throwing the cheesehead off of his head, and they thought it was pretty funny :-) It's the little things...

15 Months!

Where has the time gone... It's absolutely crazy that the girls are 15 months... I've had to count it a few times, but it's true, they are that old! Every day they amaze me and for all the times that I thought about what it would be like with just one baby, Now I can never imagine it without all 3 of them. We took the opportunity to have a photo op, just to celebrate their turning 15 months :-)

L to R: Stevie, Bria and Aven

Also, this past Thursday marked one year since Aven and Bria have been home. For as much as I can't remember what I did 20 minutes ago, I vividly remember a year ago. I remember brining Declan to the hospital to pick up the girls. I remember all the nurses hugging all us as we took 2 of 3 home. I remember having to leave Stevie there all by herself. I remember getting home and seeing the sheer joy in Declan's face now that he had 2 of his sisters home. I remember that first night and it not being that bad. I remember the next day telling Andy, "we got this" because it really wasn't nearly as bad as I had expected. I remember thinking, wow these girls are the best babies I've ever seen. Then I remember 10 days later when we brought Stevie home, which changed all of the above statements :-)

Here's the picture from a year ago and a picture from today... How the girls have changed... (L to R: Aven, Declan & Bria)

So long ago...

As my folks and I were sitting at dinner tonight (while babies crawled and whined all over us and Declan was on the iPad), it dawned on me that it's almost a year that 2 of the 3 girls have been home. I honestly couldn't remember the exact date that Bria and Aven came home, so I opened up my trusted blog journal and found that it was February 7th that the two came home. While saving the new blog address as a favorite on my dad's computer, that you can see from outer space, I read through a few posts...

Here's what i discovered... I was way funnier, more clever and creative when I got more sleep. I think this time last year, the only thing that caused me not to sleep is my middle of the night wake ups for pumping. That's nothing compared to where we are today :-) Now when I write these posts I silently say, "please stay away, please stay awake." Reading the posts also seemed like a million years ago... Where has the time gone? Oh, I know where, it's in 1,534 dirty diapers, 2,201 bottles of milk, 2,000 hours of missed sleep and 456 gray hairs.

Here are a few pictures of the girls from today... they are still not back to 100% health, but they are getting closer...

And in the spirit of nostalgia, here's a post from when we brought Stevie home... She was the last to arrive and was about 10 days after Aven and Bria were already home...

Return Policy?
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

It's nice to not have a number in the title, although maybe we should put day 1 and count upward to when Andy and I are admitted to a psych ward... There should be an over under on us somewhere...

So I have to admit - I take back part of what I blogged about last night... The part that said I would enjoy the lack of sleep. What was I thinking? Needless to say, Stevie's homecoming was a little challenging... There was a lot of screaming and crying and swearing - all of these by Andy and I. Stevie just wanted to make sure we knew she was pissed about being the last one home and that she missed out on all that snuggle time. We knew it would be a challenge bringing her home, mostly because she was on a different schedule than the other two girls (and also because I've known from day 1 that she is going to be a feisty little trouble maker). So starting today begins "operation same schedule" - our goal is to get Stevie up to eating every 4 hours like her sisters... Not sure how we're going to handle the feeding 3 at once in the middle of the night, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.  I was about 2 minutes away from calling NICU last night and asking them about their return policy - I was beginning to think Stevie should stay there a bit longer (KIDDING!)

Today Declan had his first bout of being a little stinker about the girls... He wasn't jealous per se, but I think he was just a little annoyed. I wanted to say "welcome to our world buddy," but I didn't... He's going through a lot and it's amazing to me how well he has taken having three sisters at once. So this weekend he's going to go with my mom to my Aunt and Uncles house (Grandpa Jim's) - he'll get to run outside, play with his cousins and just get out of the house. Should be good for him (and us :-))

What's Happening!!!

I can't believe it's February 1st... And I have very valid reasons as to why it's been weeks since I've blogged. But don't worry - I will get you all caught up with what's been going on in the Lawry household. First and foremost... EMILY GOT ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, you heard me right! Em got engaged to Jeff (aka Declan's best friend). I'm not sure who is more excited, Emily or Declan :-) So that is the really big news and so exciting! It is way more fun to help someone else plan their wedding than planning your own (even though I barely remember ours since it was so long ago)... They'll be getting married at the end of the summer, so we have a lot to do!

Here's a pic of Em and Jeff surrounded by our kids - I wonder if he knows what he's getting into :-) insert evil laugh...

Although pale in comparison, here's what else has been going on... We are in the middle of crazy travel right now... Last week Andy and I took Declan with us to a friends wedding in Puerto Rico. Declan had a blast. Swam a ton, dealt with crazy adults and enjoyed some mommy and daddy alone time. My folks came out and watched the girls and got to spend some 3 on 2 time (which is also a rare thing :-)) Then the day after we got back, I traveled to Tampa for work and got back yesterday, Andy left for boys weekend in Wisconsin today and then I leave again Sunday night for a work trip to Buenos Aires (and Andy gets back Monday). Wow, I'm exhausted just writing all of it down. Lucky for us, my Dad and Judy will be here through the whole thing holding down the fort.

Here are some pictures from the wedding weekend... Dec ready for some swimming!

At the beach...

Family time :-)

My men...

Ham...

Family time - Declan was much happier than he looked!

Good friends :-)

Other big news is that Aven is walking more and more! She took about 11 steps for Andy and my parents the other night and then tonight she took a bunch of steps for me. Although she can still get to things quicker by crawling, she is walking more. Honestly, it's adorable! Here's a video from tonight. And this is her with a fever, it will be fun seeing her when she isn't sick (they are all sick AGAIN!).