Saying names and getting big

Joey is starting to say the boys names! He doesn't get it exactly right, but he is getting it! He calls Jonah, "Nona" and Johnathan, we have been trying to get him to say John which in return, he calls him "Non" Its not perfect, but its great for a 19 month old to be saying! I love my little man! He is getting to be such a big boy. He is communicaing so well with us. For the most part, we can understand what is going on in that little head of his. Sometimes I wish that we hadn't taught him some things, like mommy or Papa because he repeats them over and over. Sometimes I would like to change my name from Mommy or Ma to something that he doesnt know. LOL.

The twins are getting really big too. They are smiling and laughing so much! When you play patty cake with them, they laugh so hard and have the biggest smile on their faces. I showed a picture of them to people at work and they said that they look like they could be Gerber babies. I think they are the most precious babies in the world. They are happy about 90% of the time. They have to be in constant motion unless they are asleep for the night. They nap so well in their swings. I hope that isn't how its going to be from now on. I would really love for them to start napping in their pack and play. Oh well! Not the end of the world. They are going down better than they have been in the last few days. For a few days, they had to be held to go to sleep and if we were lucky, they would stay asleep once I put them down. That was a bit frustrating, but hopefully its over now.

My life is so full. People try and try to have a baby and I have 3 of them who are great little men. I hope that they will grow up to be wonderful, happy men who will treat their future spouses well!

Ugh! I hate being sick! (TMI WARNING)

So for the last week or so, our house has been so sick! Last Thursday I came home from work and immediately got a runny nose, started sneezing, and just felt plain awful. Well I had to buck it up and go back to work the next day. No biggie. Friday was pretty busy so I didn't have a chance to really complain and feel really bad. We went up to my in laws that night after I got off work. That weekend was a nasty nasty weekend. It rained and poured that weekend. It got colder than I thought it would. Sunday morning I was feeding Jonah and he ended up throwing up all over me. He had just ate, so I didn't think too much about it. I got in the shower and I had to jump out and throw up myself. It was awful. I got out of the shower and was getting dressed and ended up having diarrhea. I know its gross, but it is relivant in my story. I had it about 5 or 6 more times before we were going to head home. I didn't know how I would make it home when I had diarrhea that wouldn't stop. I took a Pepto and a Immodium. It worked! I made it all the way home. What I didn't know was that the icky bug started with me and was passed to the twins. Jonah threw up once we got to church and threw up again afterwards. I was starting to get worried about it. I just made sure he was having wet diapers. He got a little extra cuddle time because of him being sick. That night, Johnathan was starting to throw up too. I called the babysitter and cancelled for Monday because I couldn't send sick kids over there. I called into work too.
Monday was a rough day. Both of the babies were throwing up and I didn't know what to do. As funny as it is, I just automatically started keeping track of their intake and output. At work we call it strict I&O's. It helped me really see what was going in and coming out. It gave me more of a piece of mind about everything. Johnathan threw up and then threw up again a while later and it was green Bile. I freaked out. The doctors said that it was probably just stomach bile because he had thrown everything up that he had eaten earlier. I started some pedialyte and that helped alot. Joey ended up getting it. He threw up once IN MY MOUTH! It was so nasty! He had more of the diarrhea aspect of the bug that was going around.
By Wednesday, we were all feeling better. I guess I have made it through the first round of everyone in my house being sick! Here is to having a healthy family!

Thinking about things...

I am blessed. Truely blessed. When I first found out that I was pregnant with Joey, I was scared and excited all at the same time. Planning for your first child is nervewracking. You don't know which crib is best, which stroller is the easiest to unfold/fold, and which bottles are the right ones for your child. Nothing is good enough though. I always had second thoughts on what I should be getting for Joey. What would make him the most comfortable and what would make my life the easiest. Once I had him, I learned things through trial and error. He liked certain bottles and not others. Once he got bigger, we ditched the big stroller for a smaller, more compact and easier to use one. I didn't care as much what diapers he had or that we threw his formula away after exactly 1 hr that he started the botttle. Things were more lax. I truely learned what was important when Joey was about 9 or so months old. My mom was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and lymphoma. It was so scary. I was only 25. Mom was only 50. Thats so young to have reality knocked into you, but it happend. I was so scared that I was going to lose my mom. We all realized what was the most important things in life. It wasn't important if the laundry was done every day or if the dishes were all done. We realized that spending time with each other was the most important thing. Right after we found out she had cancer, I found out that I was pregnant with the twins. Mom and I were soooo sick. I think that we were meant to be sick with each other. Mom was going through radiation and that made her so sick to her stomach, have no appetite, and she was burnt. She had no energy and it was a chore for her just to get up and get around in the morning. She was awesome though. She still watched Joey while I went to work. Brayden (my nephew) was there to help her and I think that he made a world of difference in my mom. He did things for her when she couldn't. I was so sick too. the first few months of my pregnancy was the worst. I lost almost 20 lbs in one month from throwing up so much. I think that God put mom and I through those trials at the same time to teach us to lean on each other.
Anyways, as I was holding my boys today, I realized that lately I have been so stressed out and at my wits end with the kids. I have been stressing about how dirty the house has been and how things haven't been getting done like I wish they would have. I was stressed because the twins only wanted to be held and because Joey didn't want me to hold them. I realized that I need to calm it down. My kids are wonderful. They are perfect in every way. Sooo many people either are not blessed with children, or they take the children they have for granted.
When I was pregnant with the twins and even now, people tell me I have my hands full. I do. I have them so full of love! I wouldn't have it any other way. Someone said about me having twins and a toddler, "better you than me." I responded, "Yes, Better ME than YOU." The way that I look at it is that God gave me these boys for a reson. To raise as good Christian men and husbands. To teach them the RIGHT way to be. I am going to make it a point to make sure they learn how to do their laundry, pick up after themselves, and how to treat women the right way!
I am looking forward to the summer where we can spend a lot of time together outside and enjoying new things. I know that I want to take Joey to the park soon so he can play there. My children and family are the most important things in my life and I plan on making them more of a priority. I do see a need to keep my house clean for my own sanity and for the kids, but I know that its something that is not as important as playing with my boys. So for all of those who are reading this, take a minute to kiss your little ones. Some people don't have little ones to kiss.

Craziness~!

So things have been crazy this week and I haven't had much time to post. I worked Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Thursday, I had an appointment at WIC and then we went out to mom's house and spend some time out there. Joey loves playing out there. He has a good bit of area to run around and climb on things. I haven't hardly had any time to do anything else this week because of working. There are upsides to working 3 days during the week. I get the weekend off! The downside is that I miss whole days of my kids lives and I don't have any time to do anything at home. My dishes are piling up, my laundry is clean, but not folded and put away, and my living room is a mess! I miss spending time with Marc in the evenings too. Next week I have to work 3 days then I am back to only 2 days during the week.
We are starting to plan what we are taking to Oklahoma in June. I am getting excited to take a little time off of the daily grind. Its going to be a challenging weekend, but it will be good to get away. We are going to my mom's dad's side family reunion. They have one every year and we didn't get to go the last two years because I was pregnant. This will be the first one I will go to as a married woman and as a mom! weird! Some of my family hasn't met the boys and some even have't met Marc!
Well its getting busy here at work so I am going to end this. Until later...........

Tiny Tush Winner!~

Congrats to comment #22~~Simply Merry for her comment: I found your blog through Tiny Tush's facebook! Congrats!!
I will give your information to Charlene from Tiny Tush and she will be in contact with you! (I will also email you!

Thank you to everyone who is now a follower of my blog and to everyone that entered. I hope to have more reviews and giveaways soon! Stay tuned!

Big boys!

I can't believe how big the boys are getting. I posted last week about how big and how well Joey is doing. He has learned another sign since then! Thank you! He is such a good little boy (when he wants to be) He loves to steal the boys' bottles. It drives me nuts! I think within a span of 5 minutes yesterday, he stole Johnathan and Jonah's bottles about 40 times. Drove me insane! But he does love his brothers. He always lets me know if he hears them crying.

The twins are getting so big too! They have been sleeping through the night for about a week and a half now. I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want to jinx myself, but they have been pretty consistent now. I feel like a new woman! I actually get some uninterrupted sleep now! I feel like I can actually do things around the house during the day now instead of trying to sleep when they are sleeping. Don't get me wrong, I might take a nap every once and a while, but who doesn't love naps? I weighed the twins last week on our scale at home and they were 12.2 and 12.6 lbs! I can't believe they are double their birth weights already! They are smiling and laughing now which makes my heart melt. I love it when Joey gets them smiling! its nice to know that at least for now, they like each other!

Easter

Family Pictures from Easter!

Johnathan laughing at Daddy!

18 month checkup!

So Joey went in for his 18 month checkup yesterday. I can't believe that he is so big already! He is 25lbs and 32 inches tall! My little man isn't so little anymore. He is so smart too. He knows the signs for more, eat, drink, milk, please, read (even though it is actually the sign for book, at least we know what he wants), and we are working on thank you. He is communicating very well. I wish that I could stay at home with him all the time. He is as onry as ever though. He loves to go "fishing." That means that he climbs up on a toy of his and sticks his hand in the fish tank and splashes the water. I think for that reason, we are going to be getting rid of the fish tank. That and it would free up some space in the dining room. We will need alot of room when the boys start to crawl/move and when they need their exersaucers and jumperoos. Oh well. Here are a few pictures of him from Easter!

Tiny Tush Trim Hemp Fitted Review and Giveaway!

Charlene, from Tiny Tush Cloth Diapers and Supplies, is a friend of my friend on Facebook. She had put out there that she wanted someone to try her diapers and let her know how they were. I of course jumped on the chance to review a cloth diaper. First of all, I had already tried one of her diapers (she doesn't know that yet) and I loved it, so I thought that I would love to try the new diaper that they had just come out with. The Tiny Tush Trim 4.0 Hemp diaper made its debut March 1st, so its brand new.
Some of the special features of this diaper are:

-Made with custom fabric: 80% hemp and 20% organic cotton

-Its super trim!

-The diaper is designed with hidden snaps so that no cold snaps touch your baby!

-The absorbent snap in liner can actually double as a contour diaper which can be used inside a diaper cover (for newborns or smaller babies)

-Tiny Tush diapers are made in the USA!
My Review:

I haven't ever used hemp diapers before. We normally use prefolds for the twins and microfiber stuffed pocket diapers for Joey. Joey is a super heavy soaker, so most diapers have to be changed pretty frequently with him. A normal fitted diaper would have to be changed every 2-3 hours and that would be pushing it. He pees sooo much! I gave this diaper the ultimate test. I put it on all 3 boys and waited to see how long it would take for it to get wet on the outside. Joey was just running around and playing, so therefore I could keep a close eye on it. These diapers do have to have a cover if you aren't at home and able to watch your child. Believe me, I NEVER leave the boys with fitted diapers and no covers. Anyways, I am sure that I interrupted his playtime a few too many times when I was trying them out the first time. I would just walk over and put my hand on the front of his diaper to see if it was wet. It took 3.5 hrs for it to be wet on the outside and I know that he didn't go that long without peeing. The fabric was sooo soft I wish I could have clothes made out of it. Here is a picture of the little man wearing it! Even he is happy to be wearing it!

Another great feature of this diaper is that it is a one size diaper. Not only did it fit my 26lb toddler, but it also fit my 12lb twins. To make it smaller, all you have to do is snap down the front. It took just a few seconds for it to be ready for the twins. It fit them pretty well too. Here they are!

So this diaper stood up to my super wetter and my little guys too. It is designed to fit from newborn to 35+ lbs. It does require a cover. These diapers dried pretty fast. When I received my diapers, a fact sheet about the diaper was included and it gave tips and tricks on using the diaper. Soo.....Here is how you can win one of these great diapers!

Leave comments with the following entries and make sure to leave your email address in the comment so I can contact you if you win.

*MANDATORY ENTRY*- You must complete this part of the entry before any other entries will be valid. Become a public follower of my blog and head on over to Tiny Tush and tell me your favorite product (besides this diaper.)

*Blog about this giveaway for 5 entries (leave the link to your blog in the comment and what number entry it is. Make sure to link back to my giveaway and to Tiny Tush's website.)

*Tell me how you found my blog (1 entry)

*Tell me the cutest thing that a child (either yours or someone elses) has done recently (1 entry per thing they have done) (max 5 entries)

This giveaway will end on Sunday, April 18th at 8pm CST. The winner will be drawn via random.org and I will email you if you win. You have 48 hrs to contact me. If you do not respond in 48 hrs, I will have to choose another winner. I will also post the winner of this contest on the blog.

Thank you, Charlene, for giving me the Tiny Tush Trim Hemp Fitted diaper to review and one to giveaway to a lucky follower!

Spring

So I think that spring is here and it might, just might, be sticking around! I love the warm weather, but where is the inbetween this year? It was either cold (like had to have the infant seat covers on the twins' car seats) or hot (them wearing just a onesie and no carseat cover.) This presents a problem though. I don't have hardly any summer clothes for Joey! I know that its not that big of a deal, but when its warm outside, we have to put him in clothes and I have to wash them right away! Once yard sales pick up, I'll be on the hunt for some clothes for him. The twins need some clothes too, but im not as worried about them because they can just wear onesies. They aren't mobile so they don't have to have full on clothes to protect themselves yet. Anyways, as I am looking at the weather for the next 10 days, it seems that this warm weather is disappearing! Its not going to be very warm. (warm meaning 70's-80's) It is going to be in teh 60's and rainy for some of the days. Oh well. In a few weeks I will be wanting it to be cooler again!