The Little Things Thursdays: Installment #33

September 19, 2013September 19, 2013Amber 7 Comments

Since today is Thursday, it’s time to link up with Rebecca at A Beautiful Ruckus for the Little Things Thursdays. Each week, we take time to reflect upon some of the small things that made the week special.

1. Today the babies and I took a field trip to visit my Grandma at her home. It was no easy feat getting the four of them and myself ready to leave the house, but it was totally worth it. We came to visit Grandma, but brightened the day of the other residents in the process. Mom and I strolled the babies through the dining room during lunch stopping just a minute to chat with each table. I don’t think the residents could have been more happy to see the babies. Mom told me they seemed much more spry and delighted than on a typical day. Hearing that made my day. I thought it was really cute how the residents asked appropriate questions such as the babies names, ages, and whether they could walk. Not one person asked if the babies were “natural”, that was refreshing.

The babies clearly enjoyed soaking up all the attention. Even the boys flashed toothy grins and waved Miss America fashion. One of the sweet ladies, honored us by giving a treasured Blessed Mary medallion to keep in the babies’ nurseries. She told me she kept it nearly 50 years and was waiting to find someone to bless with it, and she chose us. Very special indeed!

The parakeets were an entertaining amenity at Grandma’s place.

After our visit in the dining room, we let the babies loose in Grandmas room to burn off some energy. Oh how the babies LOVE seeing their reflection in a mirror. When they spotted Grandma’s mirror, they each darted to it.

Grandma kissed each baby on the forehead as we bid our farewells.

2. We’ve been working very hard on teaching the babies to make environmental and animal sounds. They don’t all have all the animal sounds, but they’ve each mastered a few. I compiled a short video of each baby demonstrating their favorite animal sound.

3. George and I took the babies to Costco last week and found our favorite Sherpa blanket on sale for $15. We bought one a few years ago that we LOVE, but it’s getting a bit tatty. We decided it was prudent to snag another. When I spread it out on the rug, the babies all snuggled up in it togehter. Even they knew it was far more plush than the old one.

4. What’s not to love about this picture???

George was sitting on the couch with Mason when Rylin signed, “please” to join them. Before we knew it all four wanted to be there with him.

5. My vintage Cabbage Patch dolls have been in the nurseries since my bed rest days. I thought they added a little charm to the nurseries. Recently, the babies learned to “feed” them bottles and play food. This week, Rylin started carrying this one around. Ironically it is a “preemie” Cabbage Patch Kid, and it’s dressed in the girls’ old clothes from the NICU. Since real men help take care of babies, Harper partook in Cabbage Patch feedings as well. There is video footage to prove it.

What bright spots made your week special?

Hugs!

Amber

The Screaming Quadruplets

September 16, 2013September 16, 2013Amber 15 Comments

Today was one of those days. You know, the kind your mother warns you about. For no discernible reason, the babies were cantankerous all day. There was A LOT of screaming coming from the walls of our home and I didn’t seem to have the power to harness it. I exhausted my bag of tricks by noon. I even resorted to reviving our old dancing, singing Elmo doll. He appeased the babies for a moment, then they screamed over who could touch it. Afternoon nap could not arrive soon enough. At 2:00 pm central time, all babies were in their cribs for nap. Peace flooded our home for exactly 45 minutes and then, more screaming. When I say screaming, I don’t mean just a little fussing. I mean blood curdling, irate stuff complete with red faces and sniveling noses. Clearly, these babies woke on the wrong side of the crib today.

While the babies noshed their afternoon snack of graham crackers and milk, I decided they were getting their evening bath immediately after snack. Baths are relaxing for adults so I figured a bath could calm babies too. This was going to be a fun bath too. I whipped up a batch of tub paints from a recipe I found online. Then, I drew warm bathwater while the babies finished the last of their snack. They were all safely contained in the quad table so I was unconcerned. I was gone approximately one minute, and that’s all the time it took for Harper to reach to the center of the quad table and grab the box of cornstarch used to make the paint. He dumped the entire thing all over himself. A pile of snowy white matter caked his eyelashes, hands, arms, and lap. The other three babies stared at him in awe and envy as he happily spread cornstarch everywhere.

At that moment, I wanted to throw a tantrum, but contained myself. I fouled up and left cornstarch within his reach. Mommy fail. Harper seemed to be having a grand time with a little messy sensory play so I decided his siblings might as well join him. After all, the mess was already made. I did, however, strip the other three down to their diapers to preserve their clothing. For a solid 20 minutes there was not a single scream and the babies were enthralled in the mess before them. I knew it was going to be a real beast to clean up, but the calm was totally worth it.

Once the babies became bored and antsy, it was time for the bath I prepared. The problem: I was alone and had four babies covered in cornstarch. How on earth could I transport them from the kitchen, through the den, down the hall and into the bathroom without making a trail? I certainly wasn’t letting them loose, and I couldn’t well take them one at a time and plop them in the tub. I recalled Harper’s “happy place”, aka a laundry basket. I snagged an empty laundry basket from the laundry room and piled all four into it, then took them on a ride to the bathroom. They loved this adventure and didn’t scream a bit. They did, however, let me know they weren’t all keen on the bath thing. I scrubbed them down as fast as I could manage and started piling them out one by one. By the time I got to the third baby, it was getting really cramped in the bathroom and babies were getting into mischief. Did I mention that Harper knows how to unroll toilet paper, flush the toilet, and open the step trashcan? He does.

For my sanity, I ushered Mason, Harper, and Rylin out of the bathroom, shut the door and planned to quickly dress Sydney without interruptions. I figured it would take under 30 seconds to do this. Then I heard it. A loud, foreign clang. I listened intently trying to make sense of it. I knew it was coming from the front of the house, which is off limits to babies. I snapped Sydney’s onsie and darted to the kitchen where three babies encircled Lily’s dog bowl and enjoyed a buffet of kibble. Seriously? They are becoming finicky eaters these days and they want salmon sweet potato kibble? I’m not entirely sure what happened in the remaining hours before George returned home, but I have hazy memories of sweeping, dinner miraculously being prepared, and an Elmo DVD.

Maybe Harper was onto something, the babies needed a change of pace to liven their spirits. They really enjoyed the mess. I don not, however recommend cornstarch for sensory play. It took FOREVER to sweep up. I'm certain there are still remnants in our grout.

Maybe Harper was onto something. Clearly, the babies needed a change of pace to improve their moods. They really enjoyed the mess. I do not, however, recommend cornstarch for sensory play. It took FOREVER to sweep up. I’m certain there are still remnants in our grout, which will last years.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Each day, the five of us look forward to George’s return from work, but today I was exceptionally excited to see him. The babies were thrilled with his homecoming perhaps just as much. Once all four babies were safely tucked into bed I invented a cocktail I’ll affectionately call, “The Screaming Quadruplets”. It’s a light beverage, but is a nice way to unwind if you’ve spent a day with screaming quadruplets (or screaming babies in general).

I sliced a handful of grapes and lined two wine glasses with them. Then, I poured 1/2 a shot of peach schnapps over the grapes and swizzled them a bit. I filled each wine glass about 3/4 of the way with pink moscato and topped it off with 7 up.

The Screaming Quadruplets

Better luck tomorrow.

Amber

5 Things I’d NEVER Do

September 15, 2013Amber 10 Comments

As a younger version of myself, I was highly opinionated and judgmental of those around me. I had black and white views of how the world should operate and was very certain about how I would handle my future. I had plans for everything and knew how it would all play out. As life unfolds, I’m learning how the circumstances of our lives help mold and shape us. I strongly believe that God uses these circumstances in our lives to help us open our minds and hearts. As my friend and fellow quad mom Becky says, “He really does like to throw us curveballs sometimes doesn’t He?” I have to chuckle at myself when I compile a list of some of my “I’d NEVER…”

1. Get a Yorkie

George and I are undoubtedly dog lovers, and we’ve always preferred the company of small dogs. I think it’s partially because I’m small and I’m totally overwhelmed by dogs my size or larger. Shortly after we were married, I convinced George we needed a puppy in our family. One Sunday afternoon, we grazed the Sunday paper (back then Craigslist wasn’t the rage) seeking a small puppy in our price range. We were on a shoestring budget so our choices were slim, but we knew we wanted a small dog that was NOT a Yorkie. Why? Yorkies look absolutely precious, but are notoriously difficult to train, have copious amounts of energy, and are destructive despite small stature. We left phone messages on approximately six answering machines (yes, before voice mail), and only one breeder returned our call. Thus, our Peke a Poo, Sasha, joined our family. Sasha was our baby and we treated her as such.

As the years passed, we began talk of starting a family and were heartbroken when plans failed repeatedly. I desperately wanted to hit “snooze” on my biological clock. Then one day, my sister called telling me she was trying to help a friend re home a Yorkie puppy. At that time, I desperately needed to fill a void. I needed to nurture someone and Sasha was not a puppy anymore. Without hesitation, I agreed to foster this puppy. I knew full well she’d steal our hearts and would find a forever home at our house, but told George we were “fostering” her. The night Lily was delivered to our house, she was in a pink leopard bag wearing a pink tutu dress. I could have sworn this puppy once belonged to Paris HIlton. At first, Lily was the worst puppy ever. She was a Tasmanian devil of sorts. She destroyed house plants, gnawed a hole in our carpet, and urinated on EVERYTHING. However, I was determined to train this puppy to be an honorable family member. I poured my energy into training her, and it was exactly what I needed then. It took me nearly nine months, but I achieved the impossible. I potty trained a Yorkie puppy among other obedience commands. Lily is a fantastic dog who loves her family dearly, quads included. Lily made me eat my words and, we have a Yorkie in our family.

This is the pink dress Lily was wearing the night we got her.

Even though she was a Holy Terror, Lily really did melt our hearts. She was a four month old, two pound puppy with a big heart.

Now, Lily is the kind of dog who lets Sydney rub her belly (with supervision).

2. Drive a van

Even with hopes of a family, I always retorted I would NEVER drive a van. Who needs a van when there is an array of trendy SUVs to choose from? I figured I’d become an SUV driving soccer mom like everyone else in our suburban community. I mean literally, “Suburban” community. Practically everyone drives a Suburban, or something similar. Plans changed the day we discovered that four babies were in our immediate future. The Honda Accord nor the Jeep Liberty we owned could capacitate four infant seats. When we set out to purchase a family vehicle, we were limited to seven passenger models and SUVs in our price range just weren’t big enough. To my chagrin, the van really isn’t that bad. It’s not as chic as some other options, but it has wonderful amenities that are family friendly, namely the automatic doors. When loading/ unloading four babies it really doesn’t matter so much what the people mover looks like, it’s all about practicality. And, the van gets the job done. Thus, I drive a van.

Here’s the van we bought to hold the quads. I think we should keep it until they are old enough to drive it.

3. Have more than two children

If you’ve ever seen a few episodes of Super Nanny, you probably noticed all of the families have three or more children. Why? Because when the children outnumber the parents, things often go awry. George and I always planned on having two children. We wanted our children to have a sibling, but planned on having a 1:1 parent/ child ratio. Obviously, that’s not what happened. Instead of having a 1:1 parent/ child ratio, we’ve learned that 1:1: hand/ child ratio works perfectly in our house. Each day with the quads is a new one and we realize we can handle more than we ever anticipated. As it turns out, more than two children is just right for us.

A few years ago, I couldn’t fathom a life filled with four children. Now I can’t imagine what life would be without them. They fill our lives with so much joy.

4. Speak publicly (on my own accord)

Public speaking tops my list of things I’d rather not. The thought of public speaking spurs on enough anxiety for sweat to begin dripping and my stomach to start knotting. Yet, I’ve done my share of public speaking thanks to graduate school and my profession. I’ve never wanted to public speak, but have done it out of sheer necessity, hating every loathsome second. Amazingly, I spoke at a public event a few weeks age because I wanted to and I felt good about it. Because of my passion for helping every baby thrive, I agreed to speak at the Infant Mortality Summit kick off event. Public speaking is still not my forte, but on the right topic, I feel capable.

Here I am public speaking and feeling confident about it.

5. Take shortcuts with my children

When I was an aspiring parent, I had all sorts of grandiose ideas about what I would or would not do. I’m sure every parent was like this prior to becoming a parent. In my days of daydreaming, I scoffed at “taking shortcuts” with my kids because I was setting out to be Super Mom of course. Even when I was expecting quads, I had no plans of bottle propping. It’s frowned upon by all the experts as it poses a choking hazard. I also headed the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding television exposure in infants. They suggest NO television until after age two. I really wanted to follow the “rules”, being the rule-bound person I am. However, when the reality of caring four four infants hit me, I learned quickly that my adherence to rules had to change and flexibility was key. I work feverishly to do my best for my children, but some shortcuts literally preserve my sanity. So, I caved and I bottle propped and let the babies watch some limited television during the day.

One evening, the quads enjoyed an Elmo movie in their new tent given to us from a friend.

Instead of saying, “Id never”, I now say, “I don’t plan to….but you never know”, and I allow God’s will to open my eyes to new possibilities every day.

What was on your list of “I’d NEVER…” that you found yourself doing?

hugs!

Amber

The Little Things Thursday: Installment #32

September 12, 2013Amber 6 Comments

Yesterday our nation paused to remember one of the most tragic days in our history- the day the World Trade Center crashed down at the hands of terrorists. 12 years ago, that day devastated the nation as we felt our sense of security unravel before our eyes. With the passage of time, our wounds have healed and we’ve gone back to our daily routines, feeling safe again. Because of events like those, it makes the simple things in life that much sweeter and worth savoring. Thus, it is apropos for us to pause and reflect upon our weekly highlights as we link up with A Beautiful Ruckus for The Little Things Thursdays.

1. For the first time, Aunt CiCi, the girls and I had a “Girls Day”. Six months ago, my sister generously gave me spending money for my birthday, to purchase post-baby clothing. I’m ashamed to say, I after six months I had not carved out the time to spend it. Thus, the four of us hit the mall to help mama find some new duds. There we dined in the food court with a grand view of the carousel. Following our food court fare, we hit several shops where my sister pulled clothes from the racks for me to try, then entertained the girls with the use of mirrors while I tried them on. The girls were exceptionally well-behaved, until the nap time hour approached. We were trapped in a fitting room at Ann Taylor when Rylin had a temper tantrum and a foul odor trailed from Sydney’s bloomers. Clearly, the other store patrons wanted us OUT. We could not escape fast enough! Yet, that embarrassing moment in a mall fitting room was something I yearned for many years. It meant I finally had a family and we were doing something “normal” on a Sunday afternoon.

The girls were totally enamored with seeing their beautiful reflections staring back at them.

And the mirror helped us capture a group picture without bothering a passerby.

We planned to ride the carousel, but the girls were content just watching it so we saved a few bucks.

I'm not sure what transpired during "Guys Day" at home. Definately some football watching and mess making. Mason was dressed like this upon my return home. Notice something funny?

I’m not sure what transpired during “Guys Day” at home. Definitely some football watching and mess making. Mason was dressed like this upon my return home. Notice something funny?

2. When I popped a bag of popcorn for myself, I learned that the rest of my family enjoys it just as much as I do. In less than a minute’s time, I was encircled by 12 puppy dog eyes (four of which belonged to the fur babies) begging for a morsel of my treat. It became a lesson in sitting and waiting patiently for all of them.

I can’t recall who started this snack frenzy, the dogs or the babies..

3. The babies are not allowed in the kitchen unless they are buckled into the quad table. This week, we set up a water play station in the kitchen and the babies seemed to enjoy kitchen exploration more than the water.

I think the girls noticed their reflection in the dishwasher door, much like the store mirrors at the mall.

The underside of the quad table is fascinating.

What little rays of sunshine filled your week?

hugs,

Amber

Navigating the NICU

September 11, 2013November 2, 2015Amber 6 Comments

Over the past few weeks, we’ve returned to Cook Children’s where the babies resided the first seven weeks of their life. Thankfully, we’ve not returned as patients, but as visitors. We returned to deliver a presentation, and also to visit a friend and her twins who are currently in the NICU.

Turning the corner to the NICU corridor back brought back a flood of emotions and memories. I recalled fond memories of milestones being reached, but there were others I repressed. Our experience in the NICU was a good one and we were pleased with our care. Yet, it still was a NICU journey and there were many frightening, difficult moments. The twins are on the same floor where our babies stayed and it brought me back to a difficult place. After reporting to the NICU for 49 days, there were quite a few things I learned along the way. If I could rewind the clocks, here are the things I’d tell myself (and why).

1. Become an active participant in your baby’s care ASAP

In the early days of NICU life, I remember feeling detached from the babies as we peered at them in their little boxes. I was terrified I’d contaminate them or break something, but honestly they needed our gentle touch. George reminded me several times that the wires were not life sustaining, but merely monitored the babies, and that gave me confidence to touch them.

I recall the nurses teaching me how to gently touch their fragile skin (stroking causes preemies pain). I gradually began spending increasing amounts of time just cradling them in my hands through isolette windows as I spoke to them, encouraging them to grow stronger. It wasn’t long before their IV’s were removed and we could finally hold our babies, which meant I could even do more. One of our nurses taught me how to do the “cares”, which involved swabbing their mouths out, changing diapers, checking body temperature, and moving their pulse ox (oxygen monitor) from one foot to the other every three hours. Being able to do those small things helped me bond with the babies, learn their unique qualities, and finally feel as if they were mine.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Being in a hospital in general, let alone the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, can be intimidating. With the quads, we found ourselves surrounded by numerous professionals who tossed technical jargon around as if we were medical school graduates. Several weeks passed that I called the babies’ Pulse Ox (Oximeter) “Pole Socks”. At first, I felt foolish forcing them to stop and explain things, but I learned how important it was. As parents, it is important to know what is happening in your baby’s care and be a stakeholder, advocating for someone without a voice.

3. Bond with staff

We spent a few weeks in the NICU before I learned about “Primary Nurses”. These are nurses who agree to tend to particular patients every time they are on shift. Our primary nurses became imperative team members in the care of our babies. They knew each baby’s nuances, cheered for them, and fought for them (and me). When George went back to work, I spent many days in the NICU alone. I felt helpless, isolated and lonely some of the time. When our primary nurses were there, they not only helped our babies, but kept my spirits up and taught me a wealth of knowledge regarding how to care for a preemie. One nurse even helped make sure I got the Medela pump that worked best for me, even though it meant she had to retrieve and clean it every three hours.

It was vital that when we left our babies, we felt confident in their care takers and that those care takers respected us as parents. By spending my days at the NICU, the nurses and other hospital staff came to know me and in turn wanted our babies to thrive even more. When we were away, they took time to dress the babies to match their linens, make name plates for their cribs, and snapped pictures of things we missed. They did all that not only because they cared, but they knew we did too.

To show our appreciation, I occasionally brought our nurses warm cookies from the cafeteria or a Starbucks drink.

4. Take time for yourself, and your partner

At first, NICU life was somewhat novel and we were absorbing all sorts of knew information. A few weeks in, it got to be nearly too much for me to bear. I felt defeated and that we may never leave the NICU. I needed a break from my new routine of spending the entire day at the NICU only going home to shower and sleep. At that point, George and I enjoyed a few date nights, time with friends, and I did some shopping. I admittedly felt a tinge of guilt for leaving the babies alone when I could physically be there, but I needed breaks for mental health. One night, we even enjoyed a few cocktails and I did the whole “pump and dump” thing with my milk. While breast milk was like liquid gold I didn’t want to toss it, but I needed just an evening for me, even if that meant sacrificing a few ounces of milk.

5. Meet your social worker

I did not meet our social worker until weeks into our NICU stay and I wished I befriended her immediately. She had knowledge about how to access resources and services we needed, such as how to apply for multiple birth programs. Because I met her late in the game, Sydney did not receive benefits she was entitled to based on birth weight.

5. Bring items from home

We were fortunate that our NICU had all private rooms with many amenities including a fold out sofa, television, and laundry facilities. In addition to those things, they provided things such as baby clothing, baby wash, and dish soap (for pump parts and bottles). However, over the course of our stay, I brought other creature comforts to help us feel as at home with the babies as possible. If our NICU nurses had not made name plates, I would have done that as well because it would personalize the space for us. I have a page devoted to items we kept at the NICU in case others would like to know.

6. Welcome visitors

As I mentioned, I spent the majority of my time in the NICU alone. The NICU is a place where emotions are high and being there alone can be intimidating. Fortunately, our NICU allowed four visitors per day (one per baby) and as best we could, we welcomed friends and family to come. Even if someone dropped by for just 30 minutes, that brightened my day. Because of our private rooms, I believe that visiting rules may have been more lax than at other places. If our NICU was more strict, I think I would have welcomed visitors to meet me at the hospital for lunch or coffee at the very least.

Despite welcoming visitors, we were strict regarding who could come visit. Before the babies were even born, we sent a memo to friends and family explaining the precautions we were taking to protect the babies’ health. These precautions were in place during our NICU stay and for the first 7 months the babies were at home. I believe that our efforts, while taxing, were worthwhile. After all, we did not have a sick visit to the doctor until after the babies’ first birthday. That is incredible considering the average baby battles eight colds in the first year!

7. capture memories

We took plenty of pictures documenting the babies’ milestones while in the NICU- the first time we held each of them, first baths, and bottle feedings. What we avoided, was documenting when they were fragile because I feared preserving those memories. Now that we have been away from the NICU over a year, I would like to reflect upon the progress the babies made, but there is little proof. I also took very few video clips, and the ones I have are primarily from when the babies were near discharge. Seeing the twins in the NICU made me want to remember how our babies were once so tiny, but I have no video to review.

Fortunately, our NICU had an art therapist on staff who helped us create memories through art. The babies painted a canvas with their foot prints and molds of their feet. I am in awe each time I pass their first masterpiece hanging in the playroom. If it weren’t for our art therapist, I may have missed out on creating art. However, it would be simple to do even without a therapist, and I’d recommend doing it.

8. Find someone who can relate

I was fortunate to have a network of other moms of quadruplets to support me in the NICU journey and give advice and tips for dealing with the NICU. However, that support was solely online. With the help of a few thoughtful nurses, I was fortunate enough to meet a mom of triplets born five days after the quads in our same NICU. Meeting another mom in person who was right there dealing with the same things simultaneously was immensely helpful. In fact, we continue to maintain communication, supporting each other along the way and we’ve held play dates!

When we returned to visit the twins, George and I took turns watching our own babies in the family play area of the hospital. I think they too enjoyed being on the other side of things at the hospital.

I only wish we had a space in our house large enough for a padded play area.

After the babies had a good romp in the play area, we retreated to the cafeteria for a brown bag dinner.

hugs!

Amber

P.S. In reading the archives from when the babies were in the NICU, I made a great effort to stay positive. Yet, I think I marginalized some of the things we endured, and consequently made it seem easy. For parents currently dealing with a NICU stay, we encountered these things-

respiratory distress- CPAP, oxygen, nasal cannulas; jaundice- bilirubin lights, collapsed lung- chest tube surgically placed, reflux- milk fortifiers/ thickeners, Dani sling, pneumonia- IV antibiotics, MRI- white matter trauma, grade I brain bleed, car seat tests, bradycardias, de sats, caffeine drips, PIC line (through a vein in Sydney’s head because the tiny veins in her arms, legs and feet collapsed. this was horrifying), transpiloric feeding tube, gravity feeds, occupational therapy, physical therapy, blood panels, platelet transfusion, low birth weight, anemia- poly vi sol

How do you make a tissue dance?

September 7, 2013February 1, 2014Amber 4 Comments

Put a little boogie in it!

Sorry for the lame Laffy Taffy joke….I couldn’t help myself since this post is about baby boogies.

Thanks to our lock down efforts, we did not have a sick visit to the pediatrician until after the babies’ first birthday. Now that we are past the days of lock down, we are venturing out to new places more frequently. Naturally, that means we’re exposed to germs, and sick babies are inevitable. As much as I’d love to protect the babies forever, we cannot and will not live within the confines of a bubble. I want the babies to experience childhood fully and as normally as possible so out of our bubble we’ll go.

George will probably not like this picture being posted, but it’s the only one taken at our very first sick visit. We had to take Harper to the urgent care clinic on a Sunday afternoon when he had a double ear infection and nasal congestion.

While the average baby contracts about eight colds within the first year of life, our babies are just now experiencing their first legitimate cold. It’s not the worst cold ever, but there are copious amounts of despicable snot. With tons of nasal suctioning and tissue wiping, the babies noses became raw and irritated. I decided to try my hand at making nose and face wipes to solve the problem.

I simply used the same recipe we use for baby wipes and swapped out the traditional baby wash for Johnson & Johnson’s soothing vapor wash (it contains soothing rosemary, eucalyptus, and menthol) and added a few drops of tea tree oil to soothe the raw areas. The batch cost me about $.50 and they are fantastic! I realize that many people are hesitant to try home-made items, but honestly these are a cinch. If parents of quadruplets can find two minutes to make them, most anyone could.

DIY Boogie Wipes recipe: Cut one Viva paper towel roll in half and stuff into a cylindrical container. Whisk together 1 1/2 c. water, 1 tbs soothing vapor bath, 1/2 tbs baby oil, and 2 drops tea tree oil. Pour mixture over the paper towel roll. Pull cardboard from the center of the paper towels. Voila!

DIY Nose and Face Wipes:
1. Cut one Viva paper towel roll in half and stuff into a cylindrical container.
2. Whisk together 1 1/2 c. water, 1 tbs soothing vapor bath, 1/2 tbs baby oil, and 2 drops tea tree oil.
3. Pour liquid mixture over the paper towel roll.
4. Pull cardboard from the center of the paper towels.
Voila!

For step by step pictures of the process, check out our baby wipes recipe, then swap out the baby wash for soothing vapor wash. Simple!

What home remedies do you use for colds?

hugs!

Amber

P.S. For baby wipes, I prefer to use Bounty paper towels because they are strong. However, for noses, the Viva paper towels are much softer and gentler. Also, the soothing vapor wash is only recommended for infants over three months of age.

When #1 Is Shameful

September 6, 2013September 7, 2013Amber 9 Comments

Most of the time, being #1 is Spectacular. Glorious. Prideful. Everyone wants to be a winner; #1, right? Not when your county is ranked #1 in the state for infant mortality rates. It’s a grim statistic our county is not proud of at all. However, the Infant Mortality Network is coordinating stakeholders including medical professionals, community members, parents, and mental health workers to change that fact. Since September is Infant Mortality Awareness Month, the network holds a summit in the community to promote awareness and help provide solutions to change the trajectory.

Back in the spring, our NICU director invited George and me to speak at the Infant Mortality summit kick-off event at the hospital, specifically sharing what actions we took during a high risk pregnancy to help the babies thrive. I consider myself to be an introvert, and I think most people who know me well would agree. My husband, children and career help me overcome some of my social anxieties, but I am arguably shy by nature. I knew speaking at this event this would mean conquering my fear of public speaking. There would be a large crowd filled with processionals who know far more than I do regarding prenatal care. But, because this cause is close to my heart I agreed without hesitation. Even though said professionals are the experts, I believe George and I were able to give a fresh perspective as parents.

In preparation for the big event, I wrote a blog post outlining points I wanted to share. The night prior to our presentation, George and I did a few practice runs to check timing and help with fluidity. It brought me back to my graduate school days when I was required to do 20-30 minute academic presentations, which were absolutely agonizing to me. An infamous professor intimidated me as he sat in the back of the room furiously tallying when students used filler words such as “like”, “um”, and “hmm”, and deducted points from their grade based on how many filler words were used. While I detested those presentations, Dr. Vitro taught me how to do a presentation, and do it well. I learned that filler words are unnecessary and instead I pause and make eye contact with various people in the audience, making sure to connect with different people in different places. For this presentation, I went back to what I learned in graduate school, and it worked. I felt as if the audience was engaged by what I had to say and it wasn’t dreadful after all. Also, I realized that speaking in public is not terribly challenging when you are talking about something you know well and are passionate about because the words simply flow. Even when I saw the crowd staring back at me waiting to hear the words spill out, I felt calmness about the situation.

Just before our presentation, I was overjoyed by reuniting with one of the babies’ primary nurses, Lisa.

Rylin is not keen on meeting new people and has a tendency to come unglued. She apparently knew that Lisa was no stranger because she was content to listen to Lisa and didn't protest.

Rylin is not keen on meeting new people and has a tendency to come unglued around stangers (I mean, all out scream fest stuff). She apparently knew that Lisa was no stranger because she was content to listen to Lisa and didn’t protest.

Nisey, Grandpa, and Terri graciously kept an eye on the babies while George and I presented.

When we finished, Nisey and Grandpa brought the babies to the front to say, “hi” to the crowd. The strollers surrounding the podium were given to local businesses to promote awareness in the community.

Nisey told me that Mason was waving “hello” to a gentleman standing on the 2nd floor looking down into the atrium. What a ham!

The babies behaved perfectly during our "meet and greet" following the summit presentations.

The babies behaved perfectly during our “meet and greet” following the presentations.

Since I made sure the babies were dressed in their cutest outfits possible, a group picture was in order.

Since I made sure the babies were dressed in their cutest outfits (including matching shoes) possible, a group picture was in order. Naturally, they weren’t terribly excited about yet another photo op.

What causes are close to your heart? Could you speak about them in public?

Hugs!

Amber

The Little Things Thursdays: Installment #31

September 5, 2013Amber 9 Comments

Since today is Thursday, it’s time to link up with Rebecca at A Beautiful Ruckus as we highlight some of the little moments that made our week special.

1. I am always in awe of how fathers and mothers engage with their children differently. Sometimes I find myself getting aggravated when George doesn’t do things “my way”. However, the majority of the time, he’s quite clever. When the babies were fussy one day, I stumbled upon him juggling their nesting cups. He had a captive audience!

Now that the babies have reasonable balance, they are all adept at sitting on the hearth and getting down safely. Amen.

2. Each time I fold laundry Harper slips into my basket. The other night, he was cranky, but became calm after crawling into the laundry basket. It then occurred to me that it’s his “happy place”.

The only problem with this is that he messes up my folding routine.

3. After George and I delivered a presentation at the hospital last week, I was finally able to take the babies to meet Dr. Tabor. We are forever grateful for prenatal care he provided and his keen, watchful eye that helped me carry the babies so far. He was so funny after meeting them, he wanted to know which baby was the “Alpha”. Any ideas who I named as “Alpha”?

When taking pictures with quadruplets, you get what you get. We were lucky the babies weren’t screaming because it was past nap time and they ate lunch in their strollers while we waited for Dr. Tabor to finish with a patient.

While at the hospital, we also got to see Violet again. She was one of the nurses who helped prep me for delivery and saw me through recovery. While delivery day was exciting, it was also terrifying and Violet helped calm me for the event. Also thanks to Violet, I was able to visit the babies in the NICU a few hours after delivery.

I’ll never forget the care I received from Violet and will thank her forever.

4. We are working really hard to transition the babies from a pureed food diet to finger foods. They are doing well with this for the most part. However, Syndey, in particular is averse to picking up wet or slimy textures. This means getting her to eat fruits and veggies as finger foods is almost impossible. Nonetheless, I consistently offer her slices of fruit and veggies the other babies scarf down. I see her eye them, but she never picks them up and she typically spits them out if I spoon feed them to her. Today she turned a corner and picked up watermelon. Granted, she didn’t eat it, but she picked it up and examined it for a long time. It’s major progress!

I became ecstatic when some of her watermelon went missing. Then I realized it fell into the pocket of her bib.

At one point, Sydney had a piece of watermelon in each hand and she gleefully clapped them together.

5. If you follow us on Facebook, you may have seen that we have our first official walker! Please drop by our page if you want to find out who.

What warmed your heart this week?

Hugs!

Amber

P. S. There is still time to enter our September to Remember $200 giveaway! I’d really love one of our readers to win it, and you can only win if you enter.

A September to Remember {$200 Giveaway}

September 3, 2013Amber 13 Comments

The 2013-2014 school year is in full swing, marking the end to lazy summer days. Even though we don’t have the best seasonal changes in Texas, by the end of August I’m exhausted by our heatwave. I yearn for the crisp of fall to begin with the scent of pumpkin spice filling the air and snuggling up in a soft sweatshirt. September means the new season of our favorite television series (a good thing since our DVR is currently void of anything). In the evenings, I relish cool air spilling in from our windows as warm golden lamplight surrounds us. I only wish the autumn could linger a little bit more for us…

Thanks to a group of fab mommy bloggers, we have a special gift for YOU: A chance to win $200 in a fantastic September to Remember Giveaway! With how quickly the years pass, we want to give you a memorable September, whether you use the money for a special family project, or just to fund a little downtime.

This giveaway is sponsored by the clever mom bloggers listed below. They all write blogs that are chock full of ideas, tips, tricks, crafts, recipes, and funny stories, sure to help ease the transition from summer back to school structure. We hope you will take a minute to pop in on some of these blogs, and then enter the giveaway below!

OMG There’s Three | Me & Marie Learning | A Beautiful Ruckus | Making of a Mom

That’s What I’m Here For… | The Happy Family Movement | Four to Adore | LalyMom

Kids Yoga Stories | Mamas Like Me | Teachers of Good Things | My Life and Kids

The Chirping Moms | Delicate Construction | I Choose Joy! | Tips from a Typical Mom

~Giveaway!!~

Enter for a chance to win $200 PayPal Cash OR a $200 Amazon Gift Card (winner’s choice!). The giveaway is open worldwide, and closes at midnight on Tuesday, September 10th, 2013. The first entry option is mandatory, with everything else being optional. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Amber

P.S. Four to Adore received no compensation for sponsoring this event, nor is she responsible for the delivery of the prize. Prize will be paid in United States dollars. Winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond in order to claim their prize. If they do not respond within the 48 hours, they will forfeit the prize and an alternate winner will be chosen.

Three Day Weekend

September 2, 2013September 2, 2013Amber 8 Comments

Thanks to the Labor Day holiday, I got to enjoy a three-day weekend with George. My favorite days are those when the six of us are all together. Life seems much simpler when George and I are cohesive team and I feel far more productive with him. In honor of our time together, George and I set our sights on trying something new with the babies each day.

1. Saturday

All summer we considered taking the babies to the Children’s Museum, but never had the moxie. When Saturday afternoon rolled around, we mustered the courage to go even with a high likelihood of a packed house. Despite the holiday weekend, the museum wasn’t terribly crowded and was easy for us to navigate with two twin strollers. We began in the infant/ toddler area where the babies could roam freely. There, we explored cause/ effect with a switch activated machine. Then, the babies crawled in a padded circle to view critters in a terrarium. Unfortunately, the inhabitants of these terrariums weren’t energetic enough to capture the babies’ attention. After a romp in the baby area, we whisked through the remaining exhibits. Although most of the museum was a bit above the babies’ comprehension level, they seemed content to stroll about in air conditioning while seeing novelties.

Sydney was captivated by the bubbles and lights.

The babies enjoyed watching the pin wheels spin and pom poms float when they activated the switch. When we were done in this area, I washed their little hands thoroughly.

I managed to find shoes for everyone in storage. Now that the babies are mobile, they need footwear for public outings!

2. Sunday

In my opinion, Labor Day weekend is never complete without grilled food and a final dip in the pool. After all, it’s the official mark to summer’s end. We invited my parents and grandmother to help us honor this tried and true traditions. The babies were no strangers to the pool, but this was the first time in a kiddie pool. With the help of my parents, the babies experienced the joys of an over sized shallow pool. Unlike our other trips to the pool, Mason seemed happy swimming since he could stand up and control where he ventured. George was really pleased we made at least one trip to our community pool. Since we pay astronomical Home Owner’s Association fees, he feels better when we use the ammenities.

At first, the rain shower mushroom startled the babies, but soon enough it was fascinating.

George dressed Sydney and saw no need for a swim diaper. About 20 minutes into our swim time, I noticed her hiney ballooning out. Luvs are VERY water absorbent to say the least.

George was in charge of Sydney’s swim attire and sunscreen. About 20 minutes into our swim time, I noticed her hiney ballooning out, apparently he forgot the swim diaper. Luvs are VERY water absorbent to say the least.

Harper enjoyed a little Mommy time.

Rylin blew Grandma kisses and said, "Hi!" from the pool.

Rylin blew Grandma kisses and said, “Hi!” to her.

Grandpa snuggled Sydney post swim.

After we had all the fun in the sun we could handle, we headed back home. As soon as we arrived, I piled all four babies in the bathtub for a scrub down while George and Dad got busy with the grill. Four squeaky clean babies donning fresh pajamas devoured hamburger patties, shrimp, pasta, and veggies. I think swimming revved up their appetites. Also thanks to the swimming, the babies drifted off into slumber immediately following dinner. Swimming and sun have a way of zapping energy even from toddlers. This worked to our advantage because the adults enjoyed a peaceful dinner.

Harper greeted Grandma with his big toothy grin.

Being a novice at walking, Mason hijacked Grandma’s walker.

3. Monday

By the time Monday rolled around, George and I had no energy in the reserves for another outing. Instead, we decided to have a home adventure. We whipped up edible finger paint for a sensory/ art experience. Because the paint was a bit goopy, I knew it would destroy paper. Instead, we taped foil to the table as canvas for our masterpieces. This seemed like a brilliant idea. Before we doled out paint, the babies enthusiastically patted the paper watching the shimmery stuff create a metallic tinkle sound. About a nanosecond later, Harper pulled his off in strips and made a snack of it. The other babies temporarily kept their foil, but they soon figured out how to pull it off. That put a damper on our foil canvases, but everyone enjoyed playing in the paint anyways.

Sydney is not typically allowed to have a pacifer outside of her crib, but we let her during sensory play because it helps calm her with otherwise overstimulating sensory experiences.

Sydney is not typically allowed to have a pacifier outside of her crib, but we let her during sensory play because it helps calm her with otherwise overstimulating sensory experiences.