While You Were Sleeping

It's about 3:30am (that's right a.m.) and no I'm not up because I want to be. Carter has been in an incredibly terrible sleeping funk for about two weeks. He can't go to sleep without Steph or I being in his room with him and if he wakes up in the middle of the night he needs one of us to sit with him until he falls asleep (only to repeat this if he wakes up again - which often happens at least three times a night - we've both spent more than a couple of nights having fallen asleep on his bedroom floor). Side Note:: This is great fun, especially considering we have two babies who need to wake up at night also. Anyway, we're trying all of the expert's advice on helping Carter get back into a normal sleeping pattern. So tonight (or better - this morning) I've been going into Carter's room about every 20 minutes to quickly calm him and then leave (we've been at it for about 90 minutes now). I'm hanging out in the office (adjacent to Carter's room) so we don't have to keep the monitor on and Steph can try to sleep ... well, I think I hear Camden crying ... so much for any of us sleeping.

The great thing about the bottom is that things can only go up from here.

Buzz Lightyear Lives With Us

At least once a day since Christmas we've been visited by Buzz Lightyear - we think he's taken up residence in our home.

The Twins

Harper is rolling over from her back to belly (she hates being on her stomach though). Camden can't quite make it over yet (his torticollis keeps him from getting any momentum). Aren't they the cutest?

Christmas Morning

Every two-year-olds greatest dream - lots of presents just for them - and getting to open brother's and sister's presents too.

Cookies For Santa

Carter had a blast baking cookies for Santa with his mommy.

Steph's Best Friend

Steph's best friend Beki (Camden "Bek" is named after her) was in town for Christmas. She has a one-year-old little girl, Stella, who Carter got to play with one day at Check-E-Cheese.

What Have We Been Up To?

If you've been wondering where the posts have been lately - here is what we've been doing with our time. Everyone seems to be feeling a lot better now, though. Thankfully.

Back to the Doctor

Carter visited the doctor again today. He had been getting better, but started regressing a couple of days ago (bad cough and fever). The doc prescribed him another round of antibiotics and medicine for breathing treatments and added a steroid this round (still looks like pneumonia). If fever and cough aren't better by Friday or he gets worse - we're probably looking at some hospital time. Please add our big guy to your prayers.

We got our first snow last Saturday and while he was feeling better, Carter got to get out and experience playing in the snow for the first time (he stood in the snow last year, but wanted nothing to do with it)::

Carter's Nonna (Steph's mom) was doing some cleaning the other day and Carter wanted to help (and by help I mean he wanted to get the tube out of the paper towels)::

Mommy and Her Kids

Steph took some pictures with all of the kids the other day.

Getting Carter to smile and do what we want instead of doing what he wants (miracle)::
Camden looking nice a preppy::
Harper and her new Diva outfit (perfect match)::

Christmas is On The Way

We dressed the kids up tonight and took some "Christmassy" pictures. Here are the twins looking cute as ever::

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Carter has two more days of breathing treatments (pneumonia) left before we can put away the "fishy mask". Here he is receiving one of his treatments. Remarkably he doesn't mind the treatment, and even likes to help get it ready::

Did I Speak Too Soon?

ICE STORM 2007 (check this link::half of OK without power)
Yesterday I posted that we were lucky we didn't lose our power during the ice storm. Well ... about 8:30a our entire town lost power (including our home). We were without until about 6:00p. We spent the morning at a friend's house and then went over to Steph's mom's and stepdad's apartment. They haven't moved in yet (still completely unfurnished), but it had heat. We kept calling our home number during the day hoping for the answering machine to pick up - and finally it did. So we're glad to be back home getting ready for bed. One big blessing - the apartment complex where the in-laws apartment is, is also home to some very good friends - so we got to spend some time (we love you Meredith!). If you live where it's cold - thank God for your furnace tonight!

Aren't They Cute?

Carter is getting better but we decided today to keep him out of CDO (kinda like daycare) for the remainder of the semester. We have a friend (Robbie) who Carter absolutely adores - she asked if she could keep him a couple of days a week (since he won't be going to CDO) so he can still feel special and have some time away from the twins. What a blessing! Harper continues to be the only healthy baby around here - Camden is starting to have a little cough (hopefully won't turn into anything big - but knowing our luck - we'll just wait and see).

Carter holding his little sis (mostly he pays no attention to the twins, but he has his moments)::
Camden and Harper showing off for the camera::
We put up our little 4' tree this weekend and Carter got really excited about helping (he loves his Christmas tree)::

Ice Storm 2007

Those of you not living in Oklahoma may have seen news about our recent ice storm. Here are some pictures of our home and garden. We really are lucky (we were lucky to not lose power while many in the state are still without power). I ran some errands today and drove past our old home in the Village (an old neighborhood with lots of very mature trees). It looked like a war-zone and the tree in our old front yard was broken all over the yard and I could tell trees had broken in the back as well. I miss the trees (we have none in our new yard), but not during ice storms that's for sure. Please keep the state in your prayers as clean up will take a long time and as I mentioned earlier, some are still without power.

Sick Kids Update 2

Carter visited the pediatrician today and ... he's got pneumonia. So we'll be taking breathing treatments and antibiotics for about 10 days. Camden's (and Carter's) pink-eye have both cleared up really well. And it looks like "girl power" rules as Harper is the only healthy baby around here. Thanks for your prayers.

Sick Kids Update

Carter is still running a fever, has a cough, but the pink-eye is under control. // Camden now has pink-eye. // Harper is healthy.
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Harper on the picture left, Camden on the right::

I know it looks like this picture was staged, but really it wasn't - look at them holding hands - too cute!

Big Bubby

Carter has been sick the past couple of days (fever, runny nose, cough, some sort of eye irritation). "Mommy" seems to be the only comfort during the night (even crawling into his crib with him last night to comfort him) - less sleep than waking up and feeding the twins, which I've been doing while she's been taking care of Carter.
Funny Carter Story // We have a CMT special recorded (Kenny Chesney live in concert). During the concert Kid Rock comes out on stage to sing "Cowboy" and Carter quickly fell in love with this song and Kid Rock - even to the point of asking to watch the performance over and over ... and over. Now this in itself isn't a bad thing until you think about the lyrics to "Cowboy" and the fact that our 2-year-old is a parrot! So ... we went to the bookstore and got him a Switchfoot DVD (he really likes rock and roll), which he loves now and watches at least a half dozen times a day :-).

Showing Off Those "Pearly Whites"

The twins have started to show a little personality ...

Harper smiling::


Camden laughing out loud::


And of course, Carter showing off how big he's getting::

Sorry

Check back some time soon for pics. Blogger is not letting me upload pictures right now and boy do I have some cute ones! Sorry.

Sleep ... Yeah Right!

The kids have all been sleeping really well ... that is until last night. Camden and Harper (on separate occasions of course) have even slept through the night a couple of times each ... but not last night. Carter was up and down all night upset about something ... The twins were each up a couple of times ... Stephanie and I were up all night. I'm quite positive neither one of us slept more than a total of 4 hours. And boy are we feeling it today. I miss sleep! Even sleeping kid-less for two nights in Atlanta I didn't sleep - was too quiet, not my bed, no wife sleeping next to me. I miss sleep ... please come back and visit us!

I've heard recently "through the grapevine" that a lot of folks have been saddened by my lack of posts (translated I believe that means lack of pictures). I am sorry, but hope to get back in the swing of posting more regularly. For now, here are some pictures to wet your appetite ...

Harper in the foreground // Camden in the back.


Carter turned 2 on October 22. Check out his new tractor!


Carter was Elmo for Halloween.


A rare moment when someone isn't crying or eating.


All 3 kids hanging out.

Too Cute!

Our friend who is a photographer came over to the house the other day and took some pictures for us.
The family ...

Harper on top, Camden on bottom of pic ...

Camden Bek ...

Boy=blue, Girl=pink ...

Harper Mae ...

More Big Bubby

Big Bubby, Carter, loves his new babies ... or is he smashing them.
Just today Carter discovered Sonic ice!

Pictures ... Finally

Camden taking a quick nap ... so peaceful (for now).
Harper, up close and oh so cute.
Harper sure loves to cuddle with her big brother, Camden.

Nap Time

Right now ... all three kids are taking a nap at the same time. Yes, I know, Steph and I should be taking a nap right now ... but with at least two hours of sleeping kids, we want to take full advantage of the gift. So we're "vegging out". All is well. Carter seems to be getting a little more jealous everyday, but seems to be taking this change in his life quite well. I've been able to take vacation since the twins' birth, but am going back to the office this Wednesday. I've never taken vacation time and just stayed at home before - it's quite nice.

Who Needs Sl...zzzzzzzz...eep?

Steph and I are running on empty. We're learning what it takes to survive and take care of twins and a toddler on about 4 - 5 hours of sleep / night. We're hoping the twins find a good sleep/eat routine at night real soon. Steph's mom has been a huge blessing ... to the point we want to keep her.

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Everyone is doing well - thank you all for your support and prayers. And please, anytime you want to hold babies, we have plenty to go around! Just come visit us.

We're Home

We're home and everyone is doing well ... mom, twins, Carter, and dad (with the exception of a little bit of lost sleep). Camden and Harper have their first doctor's visit tomorrow ... hope all is well. They both look a jaundiced, but hopefully it's just a little bit. This is the anxiety filled visit (are they getting enough to eat, pooping / peeing enough, too much sleep / not enough sleep, the list goes on and on). We'll be sure to keep you updated.

Big Bubby

Lots of folks have asked us how Carter is doing with the new additions to the family. Well, even though these pics don't quite tell the "whole" story, he is really doing quite well. Of course he doesn't understand the concept of light touches, so we have to watch so he doesn't squash the twins. But he loves to give them kisses and checks up on them often. He has an independent spirit, so he's usually off somewhere in the house doing his own things (mostly playing with his tractors or riding his bike). We still have hopes that he's going to be a wonderful brother and he's definitely heading that way.